TAMPA - Beth Holmes was one of the busiest graduates of 2004.
The lone senior on Palm Harbor University's team had to wear many hats Thursday as she tried to pull double-duty. Holmes was attempting to attend graduation ceremonies at 5 p.m. at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg and play in the Class 5A semifinals at 7:30 at Ed Radice Park in Tampa.
She did both - barely.
School officials agreed to accommodate Holmes by giving out her diploma at the beginning of the ceremony. PHU principal Alec Liem gave a short speech before calling Holmes on stage. He explained her plight and what she hoped to do.
Holmes then grabbed her diploma and was out the door.
She hopped into the car as her parents, Ed and Alice Holmes, drove to Tampa. The three hit rush-hour traffic but managed to get to the field with 15 minutes to spare.
"It was a neat experience, one I'll never forget," Holmes said.
THE SHORT AND LONG OF IT The smallest player on the field, and maybe in the entire tournament, came up with the biggest hit in one of the state's longest games ever: an 18-inning, 2-0 Class 3A victory by Fort Myers Bishop Verot over the West Nassau Warriors.
Standing at maybe 5-feet tall, the hero was second baseman Meagan Gargano, who after going 0-for-6 drove a double into left-center field to bring home the winning runs.
"I just went up there thinking hit the ball as hard as you can," said Gargano, who came to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs. "When I hit it I thought, man, that's going pretty far.
"What a relief because we were ready to go home after all those innings. I have to give credit to (pitcher Bishop Verot pitcher Melissa Geissler) because she threw the equivalent of two and a half games. Wow, what a performance."
Geissler finished with 21 strikeouts while allowing just three hits and two walks.
At last year's state tournament another game went 18 innings, a Class 2A state semifinal eventually won by Lake Highland Prep, 5-1 over Florida Christian.
NO SHOW?: Holmes had to juggle graduation ceremonies and a game Thursday.
Today, Naples has to do the same.
The Golden Eagles have a conflict with graduation ceremonies and the state final.
With three seniors, including two starters, Naples players have a decision to make.
And it might not be the game.
In fact, Naples coach Robert Iamurri doesn't know if the team will show.
That would be welcome news for the Hurricanes, who have lost to the Golden Eagles in the postseason the two seasons.
