Community

New season starts with a bang

The West Hernando Little League had a big year in 2007. Now it's hoping to build on that success.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Published March 7, 2008

The Indians' Dustin Bauer slides through second as the Mets' Eric Shaeer can't come up with the ball, allowing Bauer to continue to third during the game on West Hernando Little League's opening day. The Indians beat the Mets, 5-4.
	[Will Vragovic | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Will Vragovic | Times] J.T. Williams, 5, of the Sidewinders T-ball team waits patiently for his serving of Rita's Ice served by Rita's co-owner Rich Bellino. [Will Vragovic | Times] Sheriff Richard Nugent chats with Anthony Schnyderite, 12, before throwing the ceremonial first pitch on opening day.

SPRING HILL

How do you follow up a season where your league won four District 15 All-Star titles and placed one team in the state finals?

Show off $10,000 in renovations, raffle off a new 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and have Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent toss out the ceremonial first pitch - that's how.

West Hernando Little League is coming off its most successful season to date. The league's top teams from the Major Angels, Junior (Nationals) and Senior (Astros) divisions won the District 15 Top Team titles.

With those crowns, league president Ray Schnyderite has been pleased with an improvement in volunteerism in the community and expects the league, which is based at Freedom Field on Deltona Boulevard, to do nothing but expand in the coming years.

"This could still be much better," Schnyderite said. "With our kids doing so well on the field, the league is now getting exposure that we didn't have in the past."

The most impressive achievement from last season could be the West Hernando Junior All-Stars' journey to the state finals, one step away from Little League World Series competition. The squad, made up of 13- and 14-year-old players, included current Springstead pitcher Brett Maggard. The team advanced further than any local Little League team had previously.

Three members of the Major All-Star team that went undefeated through the District 15 tournament return this season for the Red Sox. Hannah Charlwood, Zack Figueroa, both 12, and Josh Longden have all been involved in youth baseball for years and take pride in being connected with West Hernando's success.

"It was cool" being a part of the ceremony,Figueroa said. "This was bigger than any of the other opening days I've seen."

With championships earned in bunches during the 2007 campaign, 2008 had to start off right. With sponsorship help from Register Chevrolet, the Tampa Bay Rays and Rita's Ice, Schnyderite was able to organize the league's biggest opening day gala to date Saturday.

Nugent was excited to be invited to the ceremony, one season after U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite. Nugent was asked to address the nearly 300 players, parents and coaches before tossing out the first pitch. His pitch to catcher Anthony Schnyderite, 12, was low and outside.

"I coached baseball for 13 years," Nugent said. "So when Ray called and asked me to throw out the first pitch today, it was important to me - anything for the kids."

The honored guest was most impressed with the renovations that have been made at Freedom Field over the past year. Calling the infield grass "terrific," Nugent, a longtime Spring Hill resident, has seen the changes West Hernando has made since re-emerging in 2001, all without any public tax dollars.

At the pace the organization is growing and achieving, West Hernando could become the hub of youth baseball in the area in the coming years. Regardless of the long-term effects, the sight of local youths with bats and gloves in hand pushes everything else to the background.

"I just love the competition and interaction with other kids who love baseball as much as I do," Hannah Charlwood said.

League facts

- In 2001, the West Hernando Little League reopened in its current incarnation after folding in 1996.

- Last season, four WHLL All-Star squads (Minors, Majors, Juniors and Seniors) went to state tournaments. The last squad from the WHLL to get a berth before that was the 2005 Senior division All-Stars.

- Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays, in conjunction with Major League Baseball and Chevrolet, began a program to support youth baseball in the area. Register Chevrolet in Brooksville teamed with the Rays to not only supply money to WHLL, but also give players discount tickets to certain home games.

- WHLL's softball program includes girls ages 9 to 13 and is in its second season. The Heat are coached by Aurea Ortiz, in her first season, and will play 20 games against teams from Shady Hills and Hudson Little Leagues.

Key dates

May 24: Top Team District 15 Tournament begins.

June 15: Announcement of WHLL All-Stars.

July 1: District All-Star Tournaments begin.

July 19: Sectional All-Star Tournaments begin.

Aug. 2: State All-Star Tournaments begin.

Aug. 9: Regional and International All-Star Tournaments begin.

Aug. 24: Little League World Series Championship scheduled.

[Last modified March 6, 2008, 20:43:15]