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Paradise Post 79 on the hunt for state berth

By STEVE LEE
Published July 29, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Paradise Post 79 had never won 20 games before 2001. The bar has been raised since that 22-win season.

The team of West Pasco players (25-4) has won at least 20 for the third time in the program's 16-year history.

"It's a plus for the program," general manager and team founder Ed White said. "The kids want to play and we've got a good coaching staff."

The single-season record notwithstanding, not to mention winning the Fourth of July tournament at Bradenton for the first time, Paradise is after its first state berth. That goes to the winner of the Southwest Area tournament.

That series, hosted by Post 79 for the first time, began with Thursday's Bradenton Post 24-St. Petersburg Catholic matchup in St. Petersburg (White made an exception for the opening-game site to accommodate Bradenton's request).

The remaining games are at Gulf's field with Paradise taking on Madeira Beach Post 273 today at 2 p.m. The losers from the first round play tonight at 6.

"The familiarity with the field, hopefully, will give us an advantage," said Dennis Laliberte, in his fourth season as Post 79 manager.

Paradise's recordbreaking 23rd win came at home on July 21 in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of North Port. Laliberte said the players were composed after that 7-3 win, which followed a 10-0 victory.

"They just said, "Hey, did we break the record?' They didn't go crazy," Laliberte said. "They just took it in stride."

Jeremy Coolidge (Ridgewood) sparked the offense in the doubleheader against North Port with two home runs, including a grand slam, and five RBIs.

Brandon Decker, Norberto Navarro and Cory Patterson (teammates at Gulf) each hit .333 in those wins to back winning pitchers Brian McKonly (River Ridge) and Kevin Fagan (Gulf).

Coolidge also homered in Post 79's 16-5 loss to Bradenton, a two-run shot.

"He's on fire right now," Laliberte said.

Blaise Simon (Gulf) and Patterson each had three hits against Bradenton, which won both meetings against Paradise this season, including a 9-3 win.

"Bradenton has a strong team," White said. "It's not that we can't beat them. We've just got to come to play ball."

Paradise got two forfeit wins on Saturday when the St. Stevens Falcons did not show up for a doubleheader at Gulf.

[Last modified July 29, 2005, 00:51:17]