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Talk of the town
By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER CRYSTAL RIVER -- It doesn't take long to get used to star treatment. Just ask the Crystal River Dixie Majors, whose entourage headed out Thursday to Monroe, La., for the World Series. "We're proud to be Pirates," second baseman E.J. Gerrits said. "It's amazing when everyone in the community knows where you've been and how you did." Crystal River has proven worthy of the attention, which began increasing when last year's Dixie Majors team reached the World Series, then the high school squad qualified for the Class 3A Final Four. All but one Dixie Majors member, Adam Crabtree, played prep ball at Crystal River. After going undefeated on the Dixie circuit and capturing their second state tournament this summer, a World Series trophy does not seem like a stretch to the Pirates. They went 2-2 in last season's tourney. "I think our confidence level is so much higher than last year, when we didn't know what to expect and didn't know the level of competition," said shortstop Jonathan Runnels, among seven returnees on the club of 17-18-year-old players. "Going to the Final Four in high school was great preparation," he said. Runnels and Gerrits are among seven members of the Times All-Citrus/Hernando team and three honorable-mention picks who suited up for Dixie League play this summer. Crystal River teammates Jimmy Metz and Clayton Trenary made the Class 3A all-state first team, and Marcus Galvan was a third-team selection. Florida has been cued in to their talents, and so has first-round World Series foe North Charleston, S.C. The squads square off Saturday at 7 p.m. (EST). "I saw them play a couple of games last year, and that Metz kid is a really good pitcher," North Charleston coach Kenny Wilkinson said. "And I coached Clayton Trenary for the Dixie National team in Joplin, Mo., this past June. He's a good one, no doubt." The Pirates will be facing an equally talented team. North Charleston played host to the World Series last year, and lost to Meridian, Miss., 7-5 in 10 innings in the championship. Six players are back from a North Charleston program that is making its fifth Series appearance and fourth consecutive with its Majors team. "We're pretty solid as far as pitching and defense, but at this level you've gotta have a little bit of luck and a few breaks to propel you to the title," Wilkinson said. This year's championship game is scheduled for Aug. 1., and Crystal River has every intention of being in it no matter who the Pirates have to go through. Crystal River assistant coach Scott Carnahan saw that resolve as he ran Wednesday night's practice in manager Brent Hall's absence. It was the club's last workout before taking off on the 750 mile trek to Louisiana. "Their goal is to go there and come back with the trophy, and their mindsets are real good and they're focused so it was a good practice," Carnahan said. "These kids have been playing together a long time and, at this point, you just try to fine tune them. They all know their jobs and responsibilities, and you've just got to let them play." Wilkinson has not decided whether Paul Anselmo, Wynn Pelzer or left-hander Ryan Owens will pitch in Game 1. There is no doubt who will get the start for Crystal River -- Metz, Carnahan said. "He's been our big guy all year and the one to get us our first win," Carnahan said. The winner will meet Halifax Co./South Boston, Va., or Monroe, La., in the winner's bracket, and the loser of those two games will play in the loser's bracket Sunday. There will not be any payback opportunities for Crystal River. Defending champion Meridian, Miss., which handed the Pirates their first loss last year in double-elimination play, won't be back. Laurel/Jones County, Miss., took that state's crown this season. Lufkin, Texas, eliminated Crystal River from last year's World Series, but was replaced by a new state champ. The 11-state bracket includes Andalusia, Ala., Nashville, Ark., Toccoa, Ga., West Robeson, N.C., and Chester County, Tenn. Louisiana state champion Bossier City and host Monroe will be represented to round out the field to 12 teams. Crystal River will not be intimidated by the competition, even though many squads it will battle count players from different high schools and counties. "We've matured so much in the last six months that we're very confident but not too cocky," Gerrits said. "We know we can play with anybody." The Pirates have an idea of what it will take to win the Series. Runnels said they will rely on a pitching staff that is stronger than last year, but will have to hit the entire tournament. An errorless game is needed, Gerrits said, because it will be the team that plays solid defense and gets the hits in crucial situations that will be taking home the trophy. So what separates Crystal River from the rest of the field? "I definitely think it's our work ethic," Gerrits said. "We don't have any No. 1 draft picks," he said, "but we have 15 guys who come to practice and put in the work it takes." The Pirates have sentimentality on their side. The World Series is the last time they will play together. This fall, Scott Miller is headed to Santa Fe Community College, Kyle Griffin will play at St. John's River C.C., and Ryan Starkey will be moving on to Florida Southern. Trenary, Metz and Galvan will have their careers at Central Florida Community College. The returning Majors would like to make sure their last games are memorable ones. "They basically prepared the way for how Crystal River is going to be from now on; they were like the pioneers of our team," Runnels said. "For their last game to be the last time playing with us, it'd be great to win it." -- Kristen Leigh Porter can be reached at 564-3628 or porter@sptimes.com.
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