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Seffner Christian looks to top pitcher

By Bryan Burns
Published April 20, 2007

While playing in the shadow of Plant City Stadium, Seffner Christian senior Holly Barber took a moment to herself.

She imagined herself in the state softball finals, stepping into the batter's box at the 6,000-seat venue with the game hanging in the balance.

In reality, she was several hundred yards behind the stadium's outfield wall and her Seffner Christian Academy team was hosting last week's SCA Invitational. Still, it didn't matter. Barber, a two-year starter at first base for the Crusaders after transferring from Temple Heights, is on a team capable of scaling the heights of Florida high school softball.

She couldn't help but wonder whether the Crusaders will be playing for a state championship in about six weeks.

"While we were batting, (the stadium) was right there in the background," Barber said. "So it was hard not to think about playing there. I think it would be awesome if we could make it that far."

Seffner Christian would have to be considered one of the early favorites for a state title, which would be the school's first in any sport. The Crusaders finished the regular season 16-2 and are currently ranked No. 1 in the state's Class A poll.

"We've thought about winning it all, but it hasn't really sunk in yet that we could," said Haley Tanner, the team's top pitcher. "I can't wait for the playoffs. It's just going to be such a fun time."

Tanner transferred to Seffner Christian from Bloomingdale for her senior year and brought an immediate answer to questions about pitching. The 2006 season was marked by a number of players filling unfamiliar spots. Despite a potent offense, the team struggled to hold leads and needed ridiculous run totals to win games. In a first round regional game last season, the team gave up 14 runs but scored 32 to advance to the semifinals.

"Last year, I had to pitch, and I'd never pitched in my life before that," said Jordan Raburn, the team's starting catcher. "Because I was pitching, we didn't have our regular catcher, and I wasn't that great of a pitcher anyway."

Tanner gives the Crusaders needed stability on the mound. In 13 starts, she is 14-2 with a 1.87 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 97.1 innings.

"Now, we actually have a pitcher who can pitch, so I can go back to catching and everyone can play where they're comfortable playing," said Raburn, who has a team-leading .500 batting average and 23 RBIs.

"We had a lot of talent last year, but if we would have had a pitcher, we would have been a lot better. We probably would have been in the final four."

The Crusaders will get a chance to prove themselves when the regional playoffs start Tuesday.

"It's exciting, because last year it wasn't fun at times getting annihilated," Raburn said. "I've never been on a team ranked this high. It's cool. At least people are noticing us."

[Last modified April 19, 2007, 07:11:20]