But that won't stop the Warhawks coach from stressing fun as his team tries for a fifth straight title. After all, he wants a spring break too.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published March 21, 2004
With eight starters returning from last year's team that went 24-4, Seminole stands a good chance of claiming its fifth straight Steve Georgiadis Tournament title this week.
That's nice, but Warhawks manager Scott Miller said championships are not the only objective.
"We don't use this tournament as a barometer to see how we compare to other teams," Miller said. "This is more of a relaxed situation. We don't put a lot of emphasis on winning. We stress having fun."
The tournament, which starts Monday and ends Friday, honors Georgiadis, a former Seminole star (1988 graduate) and University of Florida pitcher who died in 1990 of complications after shoulder surgery.
It also coincides with spring break for public-school students in Pinellas County.
Miller wants his players to enjoy the privileges that come with having a week off. Rather than go through marathon sessions in the batting cages, he would prefer his players run their toes through the sand. "I try to encourage them to stay away from the field," he said.
Miller's reasons for wanting the team to let up this week are personal.
"The longer they stay away from the field, the less batting practice I have to throw," he said.
But Miller knows there's virtually no chance of that happening.
"They love the game and want to be around it," Miller said. "I can't keep them away."
Such devotion is a big reason Seminole has started 6-2. The Warhawks, who open with a bye, play the Lakewood-Dixie Hollins winner Tuesday. If Seminole gets past that game, it could meet East Lake in the semifinals Thursday. That game would be a rematch of last year's final, which the Warhawks won in extra innings.
"This is a very competitive tournament, and we're certainly in the mix for the title," Miller said. "But there are plenty of other teams capable of winning. We'll just play and see how everything turns out."
