District 8 lauds Cimorelli, Doyne

By JOHN C. COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 14, 2000

Zephyrhills' Brett Cimorelli and Land O'Lakes Cory Doyne, the two leading contenders for Sunshine Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors, were both named, respectively, the top Class 4A and 5A senior players in District 8 by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Monday night.

The pair were the top vote getters at the meeting, earning an automatic spot on the West roster for the FACA Senior All-Star Baseball Showcase, scheduled for May 26-27 in Sebring.

In Class 3A, Hernando's Chris Cole was chosen.

District 8 includes Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Lake and Pasco counties. Sixteen players were nominated. The top two vote getters get West roster spots, and the next five are put into a wild-card pool and could be chosen by West coach Jim Macaluso of Tampa's King High.

Those five are catcher Matt Armstrong and pitcher Travis Rios of Eustis, Zephyrhills third baseman Mike Stepp, Ridgewood shortstop Carl DiMartino and Cole.

Cimorelli and Doyne will be the first county players to participate in the FACA game since Pasco's Danny Boyd in 1997.

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