LAND O'LAKES - A baseball player at heart, Michael Garcia considered not playing football at Land O'Lakes last season.
And though he relished his role as a split end on a team that advanced to the region semifinals, Garcia's focus turned to baseball as soon as football season ended.
"I just really didn't want to play," Garcia said. "At the time, winter ball was going on and I wanted to play that, but it turned out for the best."
The best turned out to be playing for a district champion, something that never had happened in 14 seasons of organized baseball, and returning to the game he loves.
For Garcia, the best may be yet to come. A two-year starter at second base, Garcia has committed to Shelton State Community College and plans to sign an athletic scholarship worth about $9,000 a season with that Tuscaloosa, Ala., school next week.
Garcia is the fifth county ballplayer to sign. He joins Pasco's Matt Smith (Saint Leo), River Ridge's Justin Roth (Lake Sumter CC) and Mitchell's Brian Sommer (Tampa) and Tyler Clippard (South Florida).
Teammate Brandon Vari also has committed to Lake Sumter and plans to sign next week.
"He's a baseball player," Land O'Lakes coach Calvin Baisley said of Garcia. "He loves the game. He probably had better instincts than anybody on the team."
A defensive stalwart, Garcia had one error in 29 games this season.
"He was very steady," Baisley said. "He plays the middle of the infield, so that's very important."
When football ended in November, Garcia and teammate Luis Cevallos, a shortstop, worked with former Land O'Lakes shortstop Adam Shorts. Garcia said Shorts hit countless grounders and helped them improve their technique and double play skills.
As the Gators' No. 2 hitter this season, Garcia batted .281 with 13 RBIs and made six of seven steal attempts. He hit .321 as a junior.
"He did all the dirty work," Baisley said. "He hit behind runners, bunted, things like that."
Garcia comes from a baseball background. His father, Billy, starred at Hillsborough CC and Southwestern Louisiana. Garcia's grandfather, Lou, coached at Tampa Robinson and was a major-league scout in the Cubs, Yankees and Royals organizations.
"It helps a lot," Garcia said of coming from a baseball family. "I wouldn't have had the drive. It taught me to never give up and always try to do your best."
Joining Garcia at Shelton State will be his cousin, Countryside pitcher Josh Garcia, who also got a scholarship.
