Conquistadors to depend on pitching, depth

By STEVE LEE

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 4, 2001

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco-Hernando Community College faces a stern test right off the bat and coach Tom Ryan wouldn't have it any other way.

On Feb. 10, one day after hosting North Florida Community College in its season opener, PHCC plays in the St. Petersburg Junior College tournament, which will include four teams from last year's state tournament.

"Let's face it," Ryan said. "Those are the games you want to play.

"You want to play the stronger teams early because it prepares you for the strong conference games you'll play later."

Taking on tough opponents early has paid off for the Conquistadors in recent years. PHCC has appeared in the past four state tournaments, was the Suncoast Conference champion in 1998 and runner-up in 1997, 1999 and 2000.

For the most part, a fifth consecutive state berth depends on the right arms of sophomore pitchers Laura Helt (who is from Citrus and went 12-7 last season) and Michele Spina (18-9).

"Both were a vital part of our success last year," Ryan said.

Both pitchers were all-conference selections and are among eight returners with state playoff experience, a factor Ryan said "trickles down to the freshmen coming in. We have some excellent sophomore leadership this year."

Besides Helt and Spina, third baseman Ana Mena (Hernando) and first baseman Amanda Bradley are also team leaders.

Mena, the leadoff hitter who batted .307 with 15 stolen bases last year, is "a spark plug. She gets everything going. Ana is a bundle of energy, which is a great thing to have," Ryan said.

The middle of the infield took the biggest hit from graduation with the loss of shortstop Stacy Guengerich, who set a school record with 70 hits last season while batting .335.

Marin Lazaris and Erin Derkevics (River Ridge) are the shortstops while Candace Hohenthaner (Ridgewood) and Kristi Kurjack will share time at second base.

Also sharing time will be catchers Sarah Ronnlof, who also can play the outfield, and freshman Kristin Turner, who led her Indiana high school team to a state championship.

With all three outfield starters graduated, Ryan said no fewer than seven players could see time at those three positions. They include Melissa Gant (Hernando), Becky Stanzione (Gulf), Raina Pilon, Julie Ragans, Leah Plummer (River Ridge), Nicole Behning and Ronnlof.

The outfield is crowded, but Ryan doesn't foresee a problem with complaints about playing time.

"There's a lot of camaraderie," the coach said. "They realize we're all in this together. That's another intangible here."

Strong pitching, depth in the outfield and having "one of the hardest working teams" in Ryan's seven seasons, the coach said, makes the Conquistadors a good bet to qualify for a fifth state series.

The following schedule lists home games in capital letters.

February

9 -- NORTH FLORIDA CC, 2 p.m.

10 -- St. Petersburg tournament, Clearwater, TBA

13 -- Central Florida CC, Ocala, 2 p.m.

15 -- ST. JOHN'S RIVER CC, 2 p.m.

20 -- WARNER-SOUTHERN COLLEGE, 2 p.m.

23 -- GANNON UNIVERSITY, 2 p.m.

24-25 -- Hillsborough tournament, Tampa, TBA.

March

3 -- Santa Fe Round Robin, Gainesville, TBA

6 -- St. John's River CC, Palatka, 2 p.m.

8 -- HILLSBOROUGH CC, 2 p.m.

10-11 -- FCCJ tournament, Jacksonville, TBA

12 -- CONCORD COLLEGE, 2 p.m.

13 -- POLK CC, 2 p.m.

15 -- ST. PETERSBURG JC, 2 p.m.

20 -- CEDARVILLE COLLEGE, 2 p.m.

23 -- BRIARCLIFF CC, 2 p.m.

24-25 -- PHCC TOURNAMENT, TBA

27 -- MANATEE CC, 2 p.m.

29 -- Hillsborough CC, Brandon, 3 p.m.

April

6 -- Manatee CC, Bradenton, 5 p.m.

10 -- St. Petersburg JC, Clearwater, 5 p.m.

12 -- Polk CC, Winter Haven, 5 p.m.

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