Record-setting Bulldogs coach earns honors

By STEVE LEE
Published June 17, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - Having already coached boys basketball and baseball at Zephyrhills, athletic director Craig Milburn took on softball when former coach Pat Moul resigned before the 2005 season.

Milburn, his players and Bulldogs fans are glad he did.

Zephyrhills capped a school-record 24-win season with the deepest playoff run in its history, coming within a 3-0 region final loss to Palatka in the state tournament. The Bulldogs (24-6) also won an unprecedented third straight district title and a share of the Sunshine Athletic Conference crown.

That helped earn Milburn All-Pasco and All-Suncoast Coach of the Year honors.

"There's a lot of good coaches that could receive an honor like that," said Milburn, 43-13 in two seasons. "I think it's a compliment to the girls. Hopefully we can build on that."

In 35 seasons coaching baseball, boys basketball and softball, Milburn never before had a team advance to a region semifinal, let alone a region final. Admittedly, he looked ahead to a state berth during this year's postseason run.

"It became a realistic thing for a minute," Milburn said. "We almost got there."

Milburn preached fundamentals, which paid off with the county's steadiest infield.

"You've got to make the routine play," Milburn said.

As for the offense, Milburn stressed contact, especially with two strikes, during practices. The result was a .355 team batting average.

Having lost an ace in 10-game winner Sarah Johnson (a 2005 graduate), Milburn turned to senior Hillary Tunker (a 10-game winner) and sophomore Jessica Davis. During the playoffs, however, Tunker played mostly at shortstop, while Davis (11-5, 2.89 ERA, 56 strikeouts) took over on the mound.

"(Davis) threw against the tougher opponents," Milburn said. "I thought we did a pretty good job of getting the most out of the girls who played for us."

[Last modified June 17, 2006, 00:50:09]