Incomparable Dragon

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Collazo's penchant for power hitting landed him two Jefferson records.

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published June 12, 2005

TAMPA - A hot dog with mustard and ketchup.

That's what Jefferson's Josh Collazo ate before every game. But there was more to it than simple hunger.

"I'm superstitious," said the 6-foot, 250-pound slugger. "I had to have my hot dog."

So teammate Shawn Farris' mom, who worked in the Jefferson concession stand, obliged him. She loaded the hot dog up with the appropriate condiments and Collazo would devour it. Just like he did to area pitchers this season.

And it was Collazo's appetite for driving pitches over the fence that earned him a school record for home runs and Times' Hillsborough County player of the year honors.

"I would always check to make sure Josh had his hot dog," longtime Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta said. "Then he would just go out and hit those long bombs."

Fourteen of them to be exact. Collazo set the school single-season record for homers and RBIs (43), both marks held by former Dragon and current New York Yankee Tino Martinez. Collazo's 16 jacks also broke Martinez's career home run record of 14.

"I've coached guys like Tino and Luis (Gonzalez) and Freddy (McGriff)," Cuesta said. "Josh hits the ball farther than any of those guys."

Assistant coach Ronnie Brown tinkered with Collazo's mechanics before the season, opening up his stance. This allowed Collazo to get a better look at pitches and wait until balls were deeper in his hitting zone before turning on them.

The results usually were awe inspiring.

"Kids just walking by ... everybody, would stop and watch Josh hit in batting practice and driving balls over the lights," Cuesta said. "I had umpires come up to me after the game and ask me, "How did (Collazo) hit that one out' because it was a foot outside the strike zone."

Collazo said his teammates even had a nickname for the rocket shots he routinely sent out of the yard.

"They would call them Col-lasers," he said."

Collazo led Jefferson to its second straight district crown and the Dragons fell one game short of the state final four, losing to Winter Haven 9-0. Despite all the home runs and the Dragons' success, Collazo pointed to being named captain as the highlight of the season.

"It was an honor because (my teammates) picked it," Collazo said. "After I leave this year there will be rookies coming up who now want to do what I did."

In addition to his exploits at the plate, Collazo was Jefferson's top pitcher, going 9-2 with a 2.38 ERA and four complete games.

"He just did it all for us," Cuesta said.

Collazo isn't sure where he'll play next year but plans to sign somewhere by the end of the month. He has received interest from Division II Ranger College (Texas), Florida College and Hillsborough Community College. Cuesta said Collazo likely will get more attention after scholarship money is freed up by incoming recruits who were drafted and will sign professionally.

"He hasn't signed yet but he will," Cuesta said. "He's got too good of a stroke and once some of these kids sign (professionally), there will be more spots opening."

[Last modified June 12, 2005, 00:39:15]