Once overshadowed by its soccer program, Clearwater Central Catholic has become what coach Todd Vaughan once thought impossible.
A baseball school.
Back-to-back visits to the state semifinals, including a 2002 state championship, will do that. Though schools with a history of excellence such as Dunedin and Seminole (that national title helps, too) are often held up as examples of Pinellas County's baseball prowess, the Marauders quietly have built their own dynasty.
As any good dynasty, its players have set the bar higher than it's ever been.
"I think it gets harder each year," said right-handed pitcher Ryan Webb. "I think it's more pressure each year because we kind of expect it. Not to do it, that would be really disappointing. And with this team, I think we have more of a chance than we've ever had. We've got all the tools that make a championship team."
The Marauders made the state final last year after losing the majority of its state championship team, including the co-Players of the Year in Shawn Williams and Justin O'Keeffe. From last year's team, pitcher Cody Rainer and shortstop Jude Maloney were notable losses.
Vaughan is either real lucky, or smart enough to balance his teams with seniors and younger players. This year's team is led by Webb, a 10-game winner, and experienced players, such as John Petika, Chris Heil and Dave Papa.
There is a also a wealth of young talent, from junior hitting machine Bobby Uzdavines (.494 last year) to Seminole sophomore transfer Riley Cooper to role players, such as Burke Hedges and Stefan Schuereman, who have waited their turn.
"I think since we've been winning, people keep coming to CCC," Petika said. "There's a lot more talent coming to school."
Petika compares it to Dunedin, a school he says built such a good reputation local little leaguers wanted to play there in high school. "Dunedin is a good example, and I think those things definitely snowball," he said. "They know when you have a good program, that you go to state, and they want to come to your school."
Vaughan has been masterful at finding roles for his players - even if it is merely as a pinch runner or defensive replacement - until there is room in the lineup. Even Webb, who has signed with Wake Forest, was a reliever and spot starter his first season. The Marauders laud their coach's ability to make everyone a part of the winning.
"I think Coach Vaughan has gotten a lot of good players, and when he gets them, he knows what to do with them," Webb said. "He just lets us play."
CCC has designs on a third consecutive trip to the state semifinals, something that only three other county teams have done - St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Catholic and Boca Ciega.
That was in a different time and a different era, each school's accomplishment occurring between 1953 and 1961, when there weren't the dozens of schools and various other factors that make the current baseball landscape ultra competitive. Vaughan already has guided CCC to four state semifinals - in 1991, 1994, 2002 and 2003. One more trip would tie him with coaching legend Jim Vigue for the most times in the semifinals with five (Vigue took three different teams).
The Marauders, now Class 3A, will have to go through a tougher district that includes Tampa Catholic and Jesuit.
"The competition is definitely going to be a step up, but we've always played higher class teams anyway," Petika said. "It'll be tough competition, but we'll be all right. We still expect to go back to the final four."
PLAYERSTOWATCH
Ryan Koch, Sr., RHP, Osceola
Koch was the ace of Osceola's staff last season, getting the win with a dominant shutout performance in the regional quarterfinals. The USF signee was 6-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched during the regular season, and also led Osceola in RBI.
Ryan Webb, Sr., RHP, Clearwater Central Catholic
Webb, who has signed with Wake Forest, was the Marauders' big game pitcher, and rarely failed to deliver. He tossed a no-hitter in the district final and won the state semifinal. Webb was 10-3 with a 0.90 ERA, and led county with 20 strikeouts.
Cody Reed, Sr., RHP, Seminole
Reed is one of the county's top power pitchers. The Florida-signee had 61 strikeouts in 41 innings last season, and posted a 6-2 record to go with a 2.20 ERA.
David Golliner, Sr., C, Northside Christian
Golliner is one of the few leftovers from the Mustang teams that won more than 50 games over the past two seasons. The Stetson signee had a huge sophomore year before dropping off his junior year, but still batted .384 with 24 RBI.
Bobby Uzdavines, Jr., 3B, Clearwater CC
Uzdavines was Mr. Clutch for CCC last year and had the highest batting average (.494), most RBI (29) of any returning player in the county. He also had three home runs, four triples and scored 17 runs.
DISTRICTSNEAKPEEKS
CLASS 5A, DISTRICT 9
SCHOOLS: Clearwater (13-14), Countryside (7-17), Dunedin (25-6), East Lake (21-5), Largo (3-22), Palm Harbor University (20-8).
OUTLOOK: This district gets a lot tougher with the addition of Dunedin, which moves up from 4A. The Falcons lost a lot of skill, such as MLB draft pick Ryan Harvey, but picked up a few talented transfers that will start. They return pitcher Ricky Rogers and outfielder Alan Mason, an honorable mention all-county pick, but little else. East Lake is 4-0 and won the Tom Varn Invitational behind returning players Pete Ganci and Bill Manion. Two of their best hitters graduated - Times Player of the year Chris Coghlan and power hitting catcher Nate Huegel, but their brothers, Kevin and Evan (respectively) should contribute. Former Dunedin assistant John Vigue takes over a young team at Palm Harbor. Clearwater and Countryside try to rebound from poor seasons.
CLASS 5A, DISTRICT 10
SCHOOLS: Boca Ciega (9-15), Dixie Hollins (14-13), Gibbs (6-15), Northeast (6-19), Pinellas Park (17-14), St. Petersburg (16-10), Seminole (24-4).
OUTLOOK: Seminole is expected to win its seventh straight district title. Shortstop Brian Campbell (.384) and catcher Ricky Nolan (.355) are two of the best in the area, and the Warhawks will have a strong pitching staff led by Cody Reed. Last year's surprise, Dixie Hollins, lost its best players, as did Pinellas Park. The Patriots return power hitter Ken Almeida and solid pitching. St. Petersburg returns all-county picks Nolanm and Dale Brannon.
OUTLOOK: The Spongers, who lost in the district tournament last year despite throwing a no-hitter against Hudson, lose their best two arms from 2003, Raleigh Evans and Mark Davis, and top hitter Chris Ferjo. Coach Dan Genna does have a blend of RHPs (Donnie Vasterling, Kyle Midgette) and LHPs (Bobby Hartman, Justin Wilson). The Spongers are off to a 3-1 start, which bodes well in a district where only Ridgewood is a consistent contender.
OUTLOOK: Osceola's pitching staff might be the county's best, with Ryan Koch (7-1, 1.02 ERA, 88 Ks), Kyle McDowell (63 Ks) and Kyle Griffith (54 Ks). The Warriors also return catcher Gene Civello (.397, 11 doubles) and outfielder Mike Thompson (team-high .408, 10 steals). The Warriors are moving up from 3A, and inherit the old district Dunedin dominated the past two seasons. Lakewood still is trying to revive its struggling program.
CLASS 4A, DISTRICT 9
TEAMS: Sarasota Cardinal Mooney, Clearwater Central Catholic (26-6), Jesuit, Robinson, St. Petersburg Catholic (15-12), Tampa Catholic.
OUTLOOK: CCC had the benefit of playing in an easy district the past two seasons, but that benefit is gone. Jesuit and Tampa Catholic have combined for 12 state titles, and throw in CCC's three and you have a district with 15. The Marauders have only missed the playoffs once since 1995, and have a strong nucleus returning, including the county's top returning pitcher (Ryan Webb: 10-3, 120 strikeouts) and hitter (Bobby Uzdavines: .494 BA). Starters John Petika (.365 BA, 5-0 on the mound), Chris Heil (24 RBI) and Geoff Craig are also back, and sophomore Riley Cooper has star potential. The Barons will lean on pitcher Michael Tavernier, who already has two wins.
CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 11
TEAMS: Admiral Farragut (21-7), Indian Rocks Christian (19-9), Northside Christian (23-3), Bradenton St. Stephen's Episcopal, Shorecrest (14-13), Tampa Prep.
OUTLOOK: Indian Rocks Christian and Northside should fight it out for the district title. The Golden Eagles return a strong core of Matt Sitton, Frankie Gross, Caleb Welsh and Chris Seely. Northside probably has the best players (P.K. Keller and David Golliner) and pitcher (Chris Wallace) in the district, but lost a ton of talent. Still, the Mustangs are off probation and eager to return to state. New Admiral Farragut coach Joe Holtsclaw says he has a contender if he can find pitching. Shorecrest has John Kubicki (.347) and Anthony Katchuk (.311) heading up a team that could surprise for coach Don Reed.
CLASS A, DISTRICT 7
TEAMS: Bayshore Christian, Calvary Christian (3-15), Cambridge, Canterbury (7-15), Keswick Christian (10-16), Oldsmar Christian, Tampa Baptist, Temple Heights Christian.
OUTLOOK: Lots of new coaches litter the A-7 landscape. Ken Kmet has a young team at Calvary Christian, Bob Hamilton has five 8th graders on his 11-player roster, and Josh Zabloski has one of the district's top players to build around in pitcher Seth Montgomery (2.03 ERA, 96 Ks) at Keswick. Bayshore Christian and Cambridge are the teams to beat, with the local squads needing a year to grow up to contend.
