Hernando County pipeline runs dry

BROOKSVILLE -- Amateur draft day was worth a modicum of mystery in the county the past two Junes.

Two years ago, Hernando High School senior catcher Chris Cole had the numbers (.520 batting average, seven homers) and the buzz -- Florida Athletic Coaches Association, Class 3A, District 8 Player of the Year and a scholarship to Florida State -- to at least pay attention to the two-day grab of the nation's top preps, four-year college juniors and seniors, and junior college players.

Last spring, Leopards senior centerfielder Dee Brown had similar credentials -- .489 average, 12 homers and a football/baseball scholarship at Central Florida.

Neither player, however, got the proverbial phone call, and both went on to what have been successful college careers. Today, as the First-Year Player Draft begins, there will be little fretting in the living rooms of the county's preps. There are no players such as big-leaguers Mike Hampton (Crystal River) or Bronson Arroyo (Hernando) to be had in this area, according to Hernando High coach Tim Sims.

In fairness, the majority of the starters for Hernando, Central and Springstead were underclassmen this spring and the play of those teams often reflected the lack of seasoned talent. "In our area, it goes that way," Sims said. "One time we spit out a Hampton and an Arroyo or that type, and sometimes we don't. We were young, Pasco County was young. It's one of those pendulum-type movements. We had a pretty good five-year run."

For the Class of 2002, there was nary a radar gun nor stop watch to be seen behind the backstops of their games.

"That's the way you can pretty much tell," Sims said. "When we played Crystal River for the first time, the Orioles and someone else was there to watch the game, and we never saw them after that."

Sims said he expects Pasco shortstop Lee Cruz and possibly Ridgewood pitcher Ronny Lowe to be drafted.

Bert Snow was the last Hernando County product taken in the draft, selected in the 10th round (285th overall) out of Vanderbilt by the Oakland A's in 1998. He appeared on course to make his major-league debut last season before suffering a torn elbow ligament and undergoing "Tommy John" surgery last spring. Snow, 25, is on a rehabilitation assignment with Visalia, Oakland's Class A California League affiliate.

Brent Stentz, 26, was selected in the 33rd round in 1994 and was making rapid progress after a trade to Minnesota. He had 110 saves in his first six minor-league seasons. Stentz suffered an arm nerve injury last year, missed most of the season and is without a contract.

The county's lone major-leaguer, Arroyo, returned to the bigs Saturday with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed 6 earned runs on 7 hits in 3 innings of a 9-4 loss to St. Louis. Arroyo was sent back to Triple A Nashville on Sunday.

Arroyo, 25, is 7-14 with a 5.91 ERA in 45 major-league games.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright