Fans make long trek

By GREG AUMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 12, 2000

AUBURNDALE -- In neutral but somewhat hostile territory, two hours from home and a mere 10 minutes from their opponents' campus, Hernando still had a strong showing from Leopards fans who made the drive for Thursday's Class 3A Championship.

From shirtless students wearing purple and gold leis and bearing messages on their backs to a decidedly hot Leopards mascot to principal Elaine Sullivan, Leopards fans were outnumbered, for sure, but offered support even as their team trailed 7-0 after four innings.

"We knew at school that a lot were going to come, and we've had good crowds all year," coach Ernie Chatman said. "It was nice, though, and impressive."

At times, the Leopards fans might have been too loud. An FHSAA representative made her way through the crowd to ask former Leopards third baseman Ana Mena, a freshman at Pasco-Hernando Community College, to stop using a horn-like noisemaker, which she trumpeted from the front row just to the side of home plate.

FINAL MARGIN: Thursday's six-run margin of victory was the exception to what is normally seen in championship games -- last season's six title games were decided by a total of six runs. Only three teams had scored seven or more runs in 30 title games the previous five seasons.

You don't have to tell Bartow what it's like to be on the wrong Bartow lost 8-0 to Naples in its first title appearance.

EVERYBODY IN: Up 7-0 after four innings, Bartow cleared its bench, allowing all five reserves to pinch-hit in the late innings. Hernando, too, allowed reserves Caitlin Sears and Nicole Young to pinch-hit, just to get the experience of playing in a state championship game.

"If I'm on the bench, and I get a chance to play, I just run. Play defense. Swing a bat," coach Glenn Rutenbar said.

HISTORY REVISITED: Much like Brandi Chastain in the 1998 women's World Cup, Bartow designated hitter Ericka Jenkins pulled off her jersey to reveal a sports bra as she celebrated the Yellow Jackets' final out, a pop fly to centerfield. Jenkins, one of six freshmen starting for Bartow, had her jersey back on by the time the teams exchanged postgame handshakes.

ALL-STARS: Katye Altieri and Beth Chatman, the team's seniors, will represent Hernando at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star game on May 20.

"Last year, nobody from our school went, and the year before, only one person got to go, so it's pretty cool," said Altieri. Both schools had just two seniors in their starting lineups, and whenasked about the possibility of a rematch in next year's championship game, Chatman smiled and gave her one-word response: "Revenge."

"I expect them to come back next year," Altieri said of her teammates. "We'll be here, but we (seniors) just won't be on the field. They don't know it yet, but we're painting our chests."

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