Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Veteran Eagles eye history

The seniors want to be part of the first Springstead team that reaches the playoffs two straight seasons.

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published October 26, 2005

It was on Kenny Beeker's mind three weeks ago.

"We want to be the first Springstead team to go to the playoffs two years in a row," Beeker said that day, sitting in the school's courtyard while waiting for that week's rivalry game against Hernando.

"Nobody could do that before, but we think we can," he said.

Beeker wasn't being presumptuous, just goal oriented.

"We've mentioned it to them a couple times throughout the season," Eagles coach Bill Vonada said. "Even if it's not "We want to be the first...', we say, basically, "We want to get back to the playoffs.' "

Beeker, Andrew Ortiz, Chris Ferguson and Mike King are seniors trying to make Springstead history. The team sits at 6-2, with Ridgewood (1-7) waiting for the Eagles in Pasco County on Friday night.

Here is the simple scenario: If Springstead beats the Rams, it will go the playoffs. That's a nice, neat, compact bit of information.

If the Eagles don't win, though, things get all screwy.

If Ridgewood wins, the Rams and the Eagles will be 2-2 in district play and the Rams, winner of the two teams' head-to-head game, get in.

But if the Rams win and Central wins, too, there will be a three-way tie atop the division and all three teams will engage in a series of one-quarter playoffs.

What a headache, right?

"Right. So we need to just win and not even get into all that stuff," said Ferguson, standing on Springstead's practice field with King, Ortiz and Beeker.

Most freshmen and sophomores - not knowing what the future holds - don't begin their high school careers thinking about legacies.

These four seniors aren't any different. But forthcoming closure can make the most nonchalant guys a bit reflective.

Ferguson meets many questions with a shoulder shrug.

Wednesday afternoon, after a day of film and practice, he pondered what another playoff berth might mean. Before he could articulate some deep, probing assertion that made something abstract - such as legacies - into a tangible thought, Beeker jumped in.

"Every year we make history," he boasted. "For real, every year since me and Andrew arrived we've been making history."

Ortiz still had his helmet on, so it was hard to read if he agreed. King and Ferguson just laughed and dismissed Beeker's statements as bravado.

"No, really," said Beeker, trying to remain serious. "In 10th grade we were the first Springstead team to go undefeated.

"Last year, we were the first Springstead team to go past the first round in the playoffs, and now we're about to become the first Springstead team to go back to the playoffs," Beeker said.

After Beeker's inclusion, Ferguson and King were a little more apt to agree with Beeker.

"Yeah. I guess that's what we do," Ferguson said. "We make history."

Friday night, they will know for sure.

Vincent Thomas can be reached at vthomas@sptimes.com or 352 424-0177.

[Last modified October 26, 2005, 00:44:15]