Small Colleges Report

By Joe Smith
Published April 3, 2007

Nothing terrible about Titans

ST. PETERSBURG - There are mid-year pickups. Then there are steals. That's what St. Petersburg College baseball coach Dave Pano found in closer Tommy Meagher. The New Orleans native tried out at Louisiana State but was rebuffed, falling into the open arms of Pano in January. Meagher is one of the nation's leaders in saves eight with a 1.65 ERA, one reason the Titans (30-11) are No. 20 in the NJCAA poll and running away with the Suncoast Conference.

"He's sort of a Greg Maddux type," SPC sophomore Chris Garcia said. "When people don't expect it, he'll surprise you."

SPC, the 2005 state champ, is now in a familiar spot - priming for a playoff run. They're doing so by ripping the cover off the ball. The Titans lead the state in hitting, led by sophomore Garcia's state-best 56 RBIs.

Garcia, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, hopes to follow the same mold as former high school teammate Pedro Beato, a right-handed pitcher selected in the first round by the Orioles last year. Beato was the 52nd Titans player to sign a pro contract since Pano took over in 1998. SPC hasn't missed the state playoffs since. "That's what we come here for," Garcia said. "To play for states - and get to Colorado."

SPC by the numbers

9 Straight state playoff appearances

52 Players signed professional contracts since 1998

.451 Batting average for third baseman Chris Garcia

20 Rank in nation in NJCAA poll

30 Wins this season

Move over, Rickey

Blink and you might miss SPC freshman Rachael Harrison. The speedy centerfielder led the nation with 52 stolen bases on her first 52 attempts.

Legendary leadoff men Rickey Henderson and Lou Brock were rarely so efficient.

Harrison, an Orlando native, has shattered SPC's school record of 36 steals. To be sneaky, SPC coach Lance Lamport tries to "hide" Harrison in the fifth spot in the order.

"She's unbelievably fast," Lamport said. "She's Division I superstar fast."

The Titans (38-13, 12-2) have kept pace in the Suncoast Conference with Manatee (39-8, 14-2), splitting the two meetings with the nation's fifth-ranked team. The teams meet April 12 at 5 at Clearwater's Eddie Moore Complex.

Eckerd hoops reloads

Eckerd coach Tom Ryan picked up two recruits in the early signing period, hoping to build off one of the program's best seasons. There's former Clearwater star Trevor Lee, a 6-foot-6 versatile forward who played the past two years at Pasco-Hernando Community College.

Ryan compares Lee to outgoing senior forward Craig Hazel, "an explosive athlete with an outside game; he'll compete for minutes right away."

Then there's Adio Mutima, a 6-6 center from P.K. Yonge. Mutima, an aggressive rebounder and shot blocker, likely will be a role player for the Tritons next season.

Eckerd won a school-record 27 games last season, losing in the South Region Final to Montevallo on a 40-foot, buzzer-beater.

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

[Last modified April 2, 2007, 23:07:01]