Bulldogs eye wins, not record

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Three shopping carts full of tattered baseballs were pitched to the best hitting team in the state this year, and none vanished over the outfield fence.

Not one Zephyrhills baseball player, or coach, even mentioned the lack of home runs during batting practice on Wednesday.

Odd considering this is a team just one shy of tying a glamorous state record for home runs in a season.

The prevailing attitude throughout the season is that the home run record won't win a state championship for the Bulldogs and that there shouldn't be any pressure to break it.

"It's not important," Zephyrhills coach Bruce Cimorelli said. "I'm not a big one for stats. It's the W's that count."

Still, that doesn't mean the Bulldogs are ignoring the record.

"We all know it's right there within our grasp," said junior outfielder Danny Wardell, who leads the Bulldogs with 15 home runs. "A lot of people want it, but we know the games are a lot more important than what we're doing with the home runs."

The record is 60, set by Merritt Island on its way to the Class 5A state title last year. Zephyrhills has 59 with at least one game to go -- against Winter Haven (22-10) at 7:30 p.m. today in the Class 4A, Region 2 semifinals at John F. Clements Field.

"We don't talk about it a whole lot," said senior infielder Mike Stepp, who has 12 home runs. "It's not something we concentrate on because we know we can't."

Judging by their average of 1.90 home runs per game, the Bulldogs (29-2) look like a lock to at least tie the record against the Blue Devils tonight.

"You can't go up there concentrating on it, or otherwise, you're going to strike out," Stepp said. "It's always on your mind. You just try to hit the ball as hard as you can.

"If you're a home run hitter, then the ball will go out. If not, you know you need to hit the ball harder."

Zephyrhills, ranked No. 9 in the Baseball America poll, most likely will be chasing the record against Winter Haven without 14 home runs in the batting order.

Senior Brett Cimorelli will undergo surgery this morning to repair three broken bones on the left side of his face. The injury occurred when he was hit by a pitch during Zephyrhills' regional quarterfinal game against North Marion on Tuesday.

Cimorelli expects to dress for but not play in today's game. He said he definitely will be in the lineup should the Bulldogs advance to the regional final on Tuesday.

"That just gives us more motivation to win," Stepp said.

Standing in Zephyrhills' way of a regional final berth is a Winter Haven (22-10) team that has won four consecutive games. The Blue Devils beat Daytona Beach Seabreeze 9-0 on Tuesday.

"I've heard they're a good ballclub and very good hitting team," Winter Haven coach David Saliba said of Zephyrhills. "Everybody that's left now is a pretty good ballclub. Pitching and defense will be important."

The Blue Devils boast a .330 team batting average, have hit 24 home runs and scored 39 runs in their past four games.

Senior Andy Parish, who pitches and plays third, is the leading hitter followed by cleanup hitter Joey O'Neill. Both are batting over .400.

Parish went 4-for-4 with four RBI against Seabreeze on Tuesday. Winter Haven also got multiple-hit games from Brian Conner (2-for-3, two RBI), Sean Greear (2-for-3, triple, two runs, RBI) and Sam Sheffield (2-for-4, double, run, RBI).

Parish (7-5) or junior left-hander Derrick Comparato (3-0) will start on the mound for the Blue Devils.

"We went and watched them play (April 25)," Bruce Cimorelli said. "They hit the ball well. They've got some good pitching. Two of the pitchers are going to Manatee (Community College), so they're probably going to be pretty good."

Zephyrhills will throw either Wardell (2-0, 2.56 ERA) or Graham Taylor (7-1, 1.84, 59 strikeouts).

Whoever gets the start is sure to get some run support. The Bulldogs are led at the plate by Wardell (.521, 38 RBI), catcher Brooks Boyette (.464, 32 RBI) and Stepp (.402, 52 RBI).

Zephyrhills averages nine runs per game, and Stepp said he hopes if the Bulldogs score against Winter Haven, at least one run will be the tying or tiebreaking homer.

"We were hoping to get it over with the last game," Stepp said.

"This is something that comes once in a lifetime for a kid."

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