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Can't keep a couple of bruised and battered Rams down

By FRANK PASTOR
Published April 23, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood's centerfielder has a cast on one hand that might not fit over his glove and he can't swing a bat. Its top pitcher and shortstop has to wear a catcher's mask to protect his face.

But make no mistake, the Rams are ready to host the Class 5A, District 7 tournament.

"We're good to go," coach Larry Beets said. "We're doing what we should be doing at this time."

Second-seeded Ridgewood (18-6, 5-3) has hit the ball well, played solid defense and thrown strikes in winning eight of its past nine games and four in a row, including an 11-1 victory over Gulf on Thursday.

But the Rams will have to deal with the fallout from the collision in shallow centerfield during a 4-0 victory over Hernando on April 12 that left centerfielder Eric Slotter with a broken right wrist and shortstop Jeff Roxby with four broken bones in one cheek.

Roxby, wearing a catcher's mask for protection, returned to the lineup Thursday, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance. He hoped to turn his cap backwards so the mask would fit over it and allow him to pitch for the first time since the injury Friday against Zephyrhills.

"It looks like the catcher's mitt will sustain a bullet, so I think it'll protect him," Beets said. "We'll just have to see pitching-wise how they structure the hat as far as the uniform goes."

Slotter, batting .377 out of the leadoff spot, can only swing with one arm because of the cast on his right, nonthrowing hand. But he will play, even if he is limited to bunting or baserunning, Beets said.

"We're going to try to get him in somehow because he's done too much for the program," Beets said. "If all he can do is bunt, I can take whatever happens because that kid is going to give 100 percent."

CATCHING FIRE: Zephyrhills coach Bruce Cimorelli tells his players it's not how they start, but how they finish that matters. For the second straight season, the Bulldogs (14-10) ended the regular season playing as well as any team in the county.

With victories over Land O'Lakes and McKeel Academy last week, Zephyrhills had won six of seven games entering the 4A-8 tournament.

"I knew going into season we had enough talent to compete with anybody," Cimorelli said. "I thought we had our best team since 2000. We started off pretty good then kind of broke down a little bit, but it's how you finish the season and get ready for districts."

Now second-seeded Zephyrhills hopes to avoid a repeat of last season, when Gulf's Kevin Fagan doused the Bulldogs in an opening-round game. "I think our district is wide open," Cimorelli said.

GOOD TIMING: As the eighth seed, Hudson (4-18) drew No. 1 Pasco (20-3) in the opening round of the 4A-8 tourney. Fortunately for the Cobras, they are playing their best ball of the season.

With Sam Donataccio, Vince Ferlita and Danny Russo leading the way at the plate and Boby Rondos providing steady pitching, Hudson has won three of four after a 1-17 start. The Cobras beat Wesley Chapel 14-6 and River Ridge 9-3 and 6-4.

"They're playing complete games," said Ferlita's father, Vince, who is Hudson's coach. "We've always been able to get some people on base but never finished and got them across. Finally, we're getting some timely hitting and complete pitching."

LOOKING AHEAD: Though they hope to extend their high school careers beyond the district tournament, five Land O'Lakes seniors have made plans to play in college. Pitchers Jono Cornelius (Florida Tech) and Jeff Bloomer (South Florida Community College), shortstop Danny Sutton (Florida Tech) and catcher Ricky Howroyd (Hillsborough Community College) earned baseball scholarships. First baseman Caz Piurowski will play football at Florida State.

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 00:50:21]