Tampa gets double shot at state title

By BRANDON WRIGHT
Published August 4, 2005

Two local teams that took different paths to the American Legion state tournament open play today at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater.

The Terriers Baseball Club (Hillsborough) and Post 248 West Tampa (Jefferson) will represent the central area in the double-elimination tournament, but that's where the similarities end.

The Terriers have spent the better part of the past two weeks fighting "almost literally" through the area tournament to reach state. West Tampa coach Pop Cuesta's biggest fight has been keeping his team sharp.

"We've been working out for the past two weeks," Cuesta said. "Practice is great, but game speed is something else."

West Tampa had the luxury "or the curse" of having the past two weeks off after finishing with the best district record. Since the central area is hosting the tournament, allowing two area teams to qualify, officials decided the squad with the best regular-season record automatically would reach state, while an area tournament would decide the at-large representative.

"We would have liked to have been playing during that time as opposed to not," Cuesta said. "But we had the best (regular-season) record so we got the bye."

Conversely, the Terriers swept Jesuit but went to a third and deciding game against the Ravens Baseball Club last week. Tempers flared between the clubs in Game 2, resulting in the suspension of Terriers middle infielder Alex Cooks for the final. But the Terriers prevailed with a 7-3 win in Game 3 to advance.

Though Cuesta said several players missed some practice time because of vacation or prior obligations the past two weeks, the roster will be almost at full strength for the tournament. Lefty Matthew Ryckman, who injured his arm toward the end of the season and will not pitch again this summer is the lone exception.

"It's been tough not playing in game situations the past few weeks," Cuesta said. "We'll just have to wait and see how the team responds."

The Terriers' first game is against Sanford Post 53 at 9 a.m. while West Tampa plays the nightcap at 7 against Vero Beach Post 39. Sanford won the state crown in 2001 and 2002. DeLand Post 6 won the state title last year and advanced to the World Series.

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:05:20]