Bloomingdale hopes this is the year it brings home its first state baseball banner.
By MIKE READLING
Published May 28, 2004
VALRICO - There are several differences between the Bloomingdale baseball team that made it to the Class 6A state baseball tournament two years ago and the one that made it this year.
Most notable: This year's Bulls couldn't have pulled off their latest team bonding stunt two years ago.
Taking a cue from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and hoping to promote team unity, many of the Bulls players have agreed not to shave until their season is over.
"We're hoping not to shave until Saturday night," catcher Ryan Collins said.
That's when the Class 6A championship game will be played; and when Bloomingdale fans hope to see the Bulls hoist their first state baseball banner at Legends Field.
This year is different than 2002, when the team ignited at precisely the right time to make its state run.
That year, Bloomingdale entered the district tournament with a losing record, but wound up qualifying for the regional tournament. The Bulls then won three road games, traveling as far as West Palm Beach for the region final.
The result was a surprise visit to the state tournament, their first since 1991. Several players on that team were sophomores who didn't realize what an accomplishment that was. Reality sank in the next year when what everyone believed was a much better Bulls squad lost the first district game to Venice. "It was a shock," Collins said. "Ever since then we've kind of been regretting it. What happened? We just wanted to come back and prove that we are the team we have the potential to be. We proved it this year."
The Bulls (25-4) beat Santaluces, the No. 1 team in the state, in the region semifinal then traveled to beat Palm Beach Gardens to earn the state berth.
The secret this year is a group of experienced players who have been playing together for several years. Leading the group is shortstop Mitch Rodriguez, who owns a .439 average and team-high three home runs. He and Collins (.325 average) will both attend Manatee Community College next year.
The rest of the equation is second baseman Tony Thomas (.407, two home runs, 19 RBIs), plus Paul McClay and Ryan Strauss, who alternate between center field and pitcher.
Strauss is likely to be drafted in next month's major league draft while McClay has been the most dependable on the mound, recording an 11-0 record with a 1.20 ERA.
All that's left now is for the Bulls to figure out a way to bring home that heretofore elusive state baseball title.
"I'm real proud of these kids," head coach K.B. Scull said. "I think they've done a lot. We're certainly proud to be where we're at. But we've done this before. We kind of ... well, we want to get the final product."
