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Gator picks his spots with loads of success

Anthony Santa keeps opposing defenses on their toes.

By FRANK PASTOR
Published April 23, 2006

LAND O'LAKES - Overload the left side of the field, and he'll double down the rightfield line. Shift right, and he'll drive the ball the opposite way. Guard the lines, and he'll smack the ball up the middle.

Land O'Lakes' Anthony Santa is an opposing manager's worst nightmare, a player who finds more holes than gloves in the field and seldom strikes out.

"He's been consistent, but to his credit he's made a lot of changes," coach Calvin Baisley said. "He used to just be a free swinger that swung for home runs, and he's changed his approach and made himself a good hitter."

One of the best in the county.

Santa, a junior third baseman, ranks second in the area with a .494 batting average, including three hits in Land O'Lakes' 4-3 victory over Hernando on Thursday. He has hit safely in 24 of 25 games and had a 19-game hitting streak earlier this season.

Entering this week's Class 5A, District 7 tournament at Ridgewood, where Land O'Lakes (21-4 overall, 8-0 district) is the No. 1 seed, Santa is on pace to break the school record for batting average (.471) set by Jeff Baisley in 2001.

Ever since he started playing baseball, Santa tried to swing as hard as he could. When he wasn't getting the results he wanted, he stopped trying to pull the ball and started hitting it where it was pitched.

"I noticed over the summer, 90 percent is placing the barrel on the ball," Santa said. "That's all you need, and that makes a big difference."

By making solid contact, Santa found power came naturally. Of his 43 hits this season, 13 are doubles and six home runs. His 42 RBIs rank third in the county.

Santa has been so consistent at the plate, Baisley put him in the cleanup spot, behind first baseman Caz Piurowski. Opponents who try to pitch around Piurowski, who set a county home run record with 17, will have to face Santa. Should they choose to avoid both hitters, catcher Ricky Howroyd (.343, four HRs, 11 RBIs) awaits.

"If they're going to walk Caz, we want a guy hitting .500 behind him," Baisley said. "(Santa) was a big part of our offense last year and he's a bigger part now, and he'll probably be a bigger part next year."

No matter what he does at the plate, Santa will play a bigger role for Land O'Lakes next season. A No. 1 starter for his Amateur Athletic Union team, Santa wasn't needed to pitch this year because of the Gators' great depth.

He focused on improving his hitting and fielding. His improved glove work was evident last week, when he assisted on five putouts and started a double play against Hernando and Zephyrhills. He even scooped up a frog that found its way on the field and moved it to safety.

"I had to take it out of there," said Santa, who has seen frogs on the field during practice but never during games. "I didn't want it to die on us."

Land O'Lakes' hopes won't die next season, though it graduates 16 seniors, including pitchers Jono Cornelius, Jeff Bloomer and Piurowski. Santa, a hard thrower with one of the better curveballs, is expected to join junior Matt Smith in a revamped rotation.

"Some games, I want to have the game in my hand, but I know we have a lot of great pitchers and their concentration is just pitching," Santa said. "Right now, mine is third base and hitting the ball."

Wherever it is pitched.

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