Bulldog bails for Pasco baseball

Zephyrhills, which has one of the youngest baseball teams in the county, got a little younger Thursday when rising senior outfielder/third baseman Dylan Giella announced he was transferring to Pasco.

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published June 1, 2007

Zephyrhills, which has one of the youngest baseball teams in the county, got a little younger Thursday when rising senior outfielder/third baseman Dylan Giella announced he was transferring to Pasco.

Giella, who batted .363 last season and was second on the Bulldogs in runs, hits, doubles and triples, was one of two returning seniors-to-be on the Bulldogs roster. He is transferring to Pasco to be closer to the friends he grew up with.

His best friends on the Bulldogs roster, Geoff Parker and Mike Davis, graduated. Giella is zoned for Pasco and played on numerous all-star teams with current Pirate pals Aaron Brandt, Dustin Brown and Reyes Perez.

"It's really what I want to do, " Giella said. "I've been playing with those guys since I was 6."

Lou Giella, Dylan's father, sent him to Zephyrhills "because I just thought it was a better situation for him at the time." But Dylan has pined for Dade City since.

Last summer, he played on a Dade City Little League All-Star team with many of the Pirates "and wanted to transfer then." But it was too late to make the move.

Giella projects as a third baseman, but the Pirates have Perez and Henry Johnson returning. The ex-Bulldog could move over to second to replace the graduated Will Pullin or take a spot in the outfield.

BARQUIN HEADS SOUTH: River Ridge libero Joy Barquin, who was second in the county last season in digs, signed with Miami-Dade Community College. Barquin helped guide the Royal Knights to a district volleyball title and the region semifinals as one of the team's few seniors.

STARS ON PARADE: The Pasco County School Board will recognize 47 athletes who competed in state championships at Tuesday's meeting.

Those honored: Emily VanEtten (Mitchell), Kayla Barthle (Pasco), Javier Benitez (Pasco), Kristy Bonin (Pasco), Abby Boyd (Pasco), Shaba Brown (Pasco), Kalee Burchfied (Pasco), Matthew Cicanese (Pasco), Lacey Cook (Pasco), Tyler Crisp (Pasco), Samantha Dyal (Pasco), LeeAnn Eble (Pasco), Brianne Farmer (Pasco), Chance Finlay (Pasco), Courtney Frix (Pasco), Sandra Garcia (Pasco), Liz Garcia (Pasco), Ray Groover (Pasco) Matt Jackson (Pasco), Sharita Jenkins (Pasco), Todd Jeter (Pasco), Vidal Jimenez (Pasco), James Knox (Pasco), Demetrious Larry (Pasco), Colena Lazar (Pasco) Colesa Lazar (Pasco), Matt Lemon (Pasco), Megan Newsome (Pasco), Reyes Perez (Pasco), Tanesha Ranson (Pasco), Leandra Roberts (Pasco), Lucy Schneider (Pasco), Eric Stroud (Pasco), Dorinan Tookes (Pasco), Brianna Hooker (River Ridge), Michelle Miller (River Ridge), Cory Bunch (Wesley Chapel), Earon Hicks (Wesley Chapel), Alyson Hoos (Wesley Chapel), Marlon McRae (Wesley Chapel), Eddie Ortiz (Wesley Chapel), Jasmine Pleasant (Wesley Chapel), Kennan Reynolds (Wesley Chapel), Patience Shackley (Wesley Chapel), Alex Turner (Wesley Chapel), Renee Vaughns (Wesley Chapel), Arisa Vaughns-Bush (Wesley Chapel).

[Last modified May 31, 2007, 21:11:46]