Rave reviews at first

Stanley's obsession with film transcends time - from Cary Grant to Jim Carrey, and Casablanca to Cars.

By JOE SMITH
Published March 22, 2007

SEMINOLE - Osceola senior Taylor Stanley, a movie fanatic, typically teases teammates with a line from one of her favorite Jim Carrey flicks: "If I'm not back in five minutes - wait longer." Stanley's obsession with film transcends time - from Cary Grant to Jim Carrey, and Casablanca to Cars.

"Oh my God, she has hundreds of tapes," her mother, Lucy Stanley said, laughing. "They're stacked all over her bedroom floor."

Stanley has earned critical acclaim for her role reversal this season, moving from shortstop to first base while recovering from last season's shoulder surgery.

The 5-foot-11 slugger has a county-best six homers, including three Tuesday against Gibbs, and is batting .524 in the cleanup spot for the defending Class 5A, District 11 champs.

"I've been seeing the ball really well," Stanley said. "Our whole team, though, our bats are on fire."

Stanley has also fit in well at first base, stretching her sturdy frame into the splits to save errant throws. On Monday night, she wowed the home crowd with a diving stab of an East Lake line drive.

From her knees, Stanley completed the double play with a toss to second.

"She stretches better than anyone I've seen," Osceola coach Bill Rassmussen said. "She plays through pain every day."

Stanley tore her labrum in her right shoulder during volleyball season her junior year. She underwent surgery in January and missed 75 percent of the Warriors softball games.

Stanley played in the final eight, including Osceola's memorable postseason run - from 8-8 underdogs to district champions. She hopes for a sequel this season, as the Warriors (8-4) come down to the final month of the regular season.

"Anything can happen," Stanley said. "We've got the pitching, and we've shown what we can do before."

Fittingly, what Stanley may do in a future career was partially sparked by a movie. After watching Al Gore's documentary, The Inconvenient Truth, on global warming, Stanley's ambition to work in environmental sciences was emblazoned.

So the senior will not pursue college athletics like her brother Nick, a catcher for South Florida Community College, and instead study at USF St. Petersburg.

Stanley said, "I want to make a difference."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or at (727) 893-8129.

Fab five

1. Countryside (13-1): The Cougars boast arguably the county's top hitter - UCLA-bound shortstop GiOnna DiSalvatore - and a strong ace in Desiree Baker.

2. St. Petersburg Catholic (10-0): Barons boast big wins over Lakewood Ranch (No. 8 in Class 5A) and Academy of the Holy Names (No. 5 in 3A).

3. Northeast (12-1): Senior pitcher Dani Seibert has helped carry the Vikings with her arm and bat.

4. Palm Harbor (17-2): Hurricanes going for their 10th straight 20-win season. Only losses to Pinellas Park.

4. Seminole (11-2): Freshman pitcher Emily Crawford is one to watch; only two losses to Northeast.

5. East Lake (13-6): With junior pitcher Kim Mazzapica, the Eagles are threat to win any game where she's in the circle.

Honorable mention: Pinellas Park (10-6), Tarpon Springs (9-6), Canterbury (9-3), Northside Christian (10-3), Osceola (8-4), Boca Ciega (9-8).

Games to watch:

Palm Harbor Tournament, tonight and Friday at Clearwater's Eddie Seymour Fields. The four-team showcase pits Pinellas Park vs. Seminole at 6 p.m. and Palm Harbor vs. Boca Ciega at 7. The losers play each other at 6 on Friday and the winners play at 8.

Alumni update

USF junior outfielder Kit Dunbar (Countryside) leads the Bulls in hitting (.403) and stolen bases (eight). ... LSU sophomore pitcher Dani Hofer (Palm Harbor) is 11-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 130 strikeouts.

[Last modified March 21, 2007, 23:38:23]