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Bucs, barbecue a perfect combination

By STEVE LEE
Published March 31, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - A baseball/softball doubleheader with pregame festivities and barbecue went over so well at Gulf the organizer plans to make it an annual tradition.

"This barbecue's going to be a continuation next year," Gulf softball coach Rick Hohenthaner said. "What I'm trying to create is an event that the school can rally around; that the community can look forward to."

Billed as the "Great American Backyard Barbecue," the event included country music by Chris Mosher, a Gulf maintenance worker, the Gulf band and choir, and an appearance by Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Doug Waechter. A doubleheader, played simultaneously, followed with the softball team beating Springstead 2-1 and the baseball team losing 14-4 to South Sumter.

The barbecue and doubleheader combo is a change from Hohenthaner's previous team functions. The fourth-year coach entered his team in the Chasco Fiesta parade for three seasons.

"We started off with the parade to show the girls they could be proud to wear the Buccaneer uniform," said Hohenthaner, adding that some freshmen were disappointed about not being in this year's parade.

Moments after Waechter threw out the first pitch for the baseball game, he walked over to the softball diamond for a pregame toss. Not before being instructed on a fast-pitch windmill delivery by Gulf pitcher Alisha Maxey.

"She said, "No, no. You don't throw overhand, you throw underhand,' " Hohenthaner said of Maxey's advice for Waechter. "He stood on the mound and wound up and let it fly."

TOP DOGS: With victories over Class 6A Mitchell, along with wins against 5A teams Land O'Lakes and River Ridge, Zephyrhills not only is the county's top 4A team, but may be the best overall. The Bulldogs cracked the top 10 of the Florida Sportswriters Association's 4A poll Wednesday, ranked at No. 8. The Bulldogs rallied from a three-run deficit March 23 to beat the host Gators 5-3 in eight innings. Jessica Davis' home run and Ashley Anderton's two-run single erased Land O'Lakes' 3-0 lead before Davis and Hayley Decker scored on Kim Hapeman's single in the eighth.

"It was totally awesome," said pitcher/infielder Hillary Tunker, who turned 18 March 23 and earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief. "I was nervous, because Jessica ( Davis, who started) worked so hard out there. I didn't want to lose it for her.

"We never give up," Tunker continued. "This gets us ready for when we go further (in the playoffs), and we're going to go further."

As has been the case most of the season, Tunker was on the mound when it counted most. She leads the county in wins and has yet to lose, but the senior, who also plays second base, is not her team's ace.

Davis (6-2) has started 10 games and pitched 73 innings to Tunker's eight and 37, respectively.

LONG BALL: Pasco has a county-leading 11 home runs. Brianne Farmer has five, followed by Colena Lazar and Kalee Burchfield with two each. Colesa Lazar (Colena's sister) and Lucy Schneider have also homered.

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 01:09:18]