Hard work helps the Central Citrus 9-10 All-Stars make the most of what they have as they prepare for sectionals.
By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER
Published July 17, 2003
Central Citrus Little League president Michele LoFaro had a feeling.
Only one team had won a district title in the league's existence, but she knew the 9-10 baseball All-Star team would win the District 15 championship and earn a berth in sectionals.
"Because they practice 24-7, I knew they were going to win," LoFaro said.
The 9-10 All-Star Sectional tournament is Saturday at Eustis. Central Citrus plays its first game at 2:30 p.m. against Baker County and will play Eustis in the second.
Manager Larry Swain said the team has been working six or seven days a week for the past month to prepare for teams from leagues up to four times its size.
"Really, it's teamwork," Swain said of the team's success. "When you come from a small league, it's harder to win because there are a lot less kids. We preached teamwork from the first practice on."
Freddy Smith will be the starting pitcher for the first game, and the team has plenty of good pitchers with Steve Arcadipane, Thomas Bevis, Andrew Gage, Gary Levengood and Skylar Summers.
The offense has been led by Jesse Chaffee and Christian Rodriguez.
Central Citrus has been resilient, bouncing back from a loss to Lady Lake in the district tournament to win the title against Crystal River.
Swain said he has a good defensive group and the pitchers don't walk many batters. Central Citrus will be trying to advance to the state tournament in Oldsmar. There are no regionals or World Series for the 9-10 age group.
Central Citrus is not the only area team in Saturday's All Star softball and baseball tournaments.
The Crystal River Junior baseball team is hoping for some more luck when it travels to Jacksonville Heights for sectionals.
Crystal River won the District title when Inverness had to forfeit, and the team wants to take advantage of its second chance.
Manager Dave Robbins expects Freddy Parisi to start the 10 a.m. game at Jacksonville Highlands.
Big hitters are leadoff man Christopher Dobson, Shane Yox and Russell Smith, Robbins said.
Crystal River will be vying for a spot in the Junior baseball state tournaments in Deltona and Port St. Lucie.
The Inverness Senior baseball All-Stars will have a home crowd behind them in sectionals, with games being played on the Central Citrus field in Holder.
The District 19 and District 14 winners play at 11, with Inverness playing the loser at 2 p.m. and the winner at 5.
Pitcher Michael Manos is the ace, and Nick Fray and Randy Hernandez also have pitched well.
"We're at that stage where every inning matters," Manager Bruce Bellamy said. "These kids have heart."
Pitching and defense are the team's strengths, but Inverness has gotten key hits when needed, such as Mark Xenophon's seventh-inning home run to win the district championship.
The best all-around player is first baseman/pitcher Anthony Del Guidice.
If Inverness advances, it will travel to the state tournament in Windemere.
The Crystal River Junior All-Stars are the only area softball team to win a district title.
The team will will play the District 11 winner at Jacksonville Highlands at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will play its second game at 1 p.m. or 4 depending on the outcome of the first game.
Manager Denise Mayor said pitcher Cassidy Rash will get the early start, but the team has the luxury of having six pitchers. Christina Hollback, Amanda Mayor, Brittany Cummins, Dawn DeWees and Laura Beatty are the others.
The manager said most of the players prefer the infield, but have no complaints when they are moved to the outfield.
"The whole team really gets along," Mayor said. "They play well together."
Rash also is one of the star hitters, along with DeWees, and Amanda Mayor has solid bunting skills.
"If we can get the hitting that will be half the battle," Mayor said. "The girls have been working hard."
The Junior softball state tournament is at South Orange.
The Senior softball teams got to skip district and sectional play and will compete in the state tournament in DeFuniak Springs starting Saturday.
The Inverness Senior All-Stars are managed by Chris Martone and include players Krystal Boardman, Ashley Christensen, Laci Gist, Kala Kraus, April Keegan, Natasha Maggiore, Ashley Mangrum, Julia Martone, Nicole Roberts, Sara Wilkins, Katherine Wilson.
Inverness placed third at state two seasons ago, and finished fifth last season.
"Our pitching is real strong," Martone said. "The majority are (Citrus) JV and varsity ballplayers. These are the same girls I've been coaching for about seven years, so we know what we're capable of doing."
The Nature Coast Senior All-Star team also features county players. Jimmy Grimsley of Crystal River is the manager, and local players include Ja'Vonna Grimsley (Crystal River), Nicole Joyce (Central Citrus), Danielle Kettleman (Crystal River), Sara Lavertu (Crystal River), Brandy Liepke (Central Citrus), Heather Priest (Crystal River), Vanessa Swain (Central Citrus) and Tiffany Wright (Central Citrus).
