Colleges

Buddies square off in NCAA regional

By CHRIS GIRANDOLA
Published June 3, 2005

They became best friends in high school. They have confided in each other and shared advice as they have experienced life as college student-athletes. They keep in touch with each other every week.

But when they step on the field in Gainesville tonight at 8, David Golliner and Brian LeClerc, who both earned all-county honors while at Northside Christian, will be enemies.

"When he gets up to the plate, I'll be messing with him, trying to get him off his game," said Golliner, a freshman catcher for Stetson. "It's all in good fun, but, hey, I'm looking to win and for a little payback."

LeClerc, a sophomore outfielder for Florida, secured the upper hand by virtue of Florida's late-inning victory over Stetson on May18.

But Golliner says the Hatters can beat the No.7 Gators.

"We had the game in hand, but, unfortunately, let it get away from us in the seventh and eighth innings," Golliner said. "We'll give it all we've got, but either way it'll be fun to go against my buddy."

LeClerc and Golliner were part of one of Pinellas County's best teams ever in 2002, as the Mustangs went 32-3 and were ranked No.7 in the country before a loss in the Class A state championship game.

LeClerc graduated the next season and headed to Gainesville. Golliner had hoped to join him in Gator orange and blue, but Florida never recruited him and he ended up at Stetson.

"It's too bad things didn't work out but he's made the most of it," LeClerc said.

Golliner started the season as the backup catcher to John Still, but quickly emerged as the better of the two behind the plate.

"It's not a knock against John, but David has just shown things that prove he's more advanced behind the plate," coach Pete Dunn said.

"His receiving is superior and he frames the zone really well. He has a knack for catching that other players don't."

Golliner also hit .305 with five home runs and 31 RBIs and made the all-freshman team in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Golliner benefited from the coaching of former catcher Sammy Serrano, a two-time All-American at Stetson who was drafted by San Francisco in the second round of the 1998 draft.

He is credited with helping Golliner improve his footwork and blocking the plate.

"There was a play in an intersquad game where David called for a high breaking ball," Serrano said. "That's a tough pitch to catch let alone make it look like a strike, but he brought it in close to his mask and deep enough to make it look like a strike.

"I knew then we had somebody special."

LeClerc has had success at the college level as well.

He has started every game in rightfield in two seasons and batted .261 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs this season. Earlier this year in a game against Florida A&M, he belted three consecutive home runs, all on the first pitch.

Golliner hopes that doesn't happen tonight.

He'll do his part by razzing his friend.

When ESPN announced the pairings for the regionals, LeClerc was in a meeting room with his Florida teammates and Golliner watched the news at a Beef O'Brady's with the Stetson team.

He wasted no time grabbing his cell phone.

"We're gonna get after you all," he said on a voicemail message.

LeClerc could only smile, laugh and mutter, "We'll see."

[Last modified June 3, 2005, 01:17:23]