World champion Belles starting over

Hernando Youth League's Dixie League team won it all last season, but all but one of those players moved up. This year's version takes the first step toward a defense today.

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- The Hernando Youth League Dixie League tournament begins with a bit higher expectations today. Winning a world championship will do that.

The version of the Belles that takes the field at 4 p.m. at Tom Varn Park technically will be the defending Dixie world champion, but most of that winning team will be spectators, awaiting the Debs division state tournament next week in Zephyrhills.

Seven players of the proper age (13-15) and who played on the Belles title team elected to play for the Debs (16-18) and seek another title in a new division.

"We already had the Belles world title so we thought we would go out and try to win the Debs," said Darin Dampier, who coached the Belles last season and currently leads the Debs.

Only Tonya Stevenson remains on the Belles roster from last season, leaving coach Pam Perdue with a team mostly of rising high school freshmen.

"I think we'll be pretty strong," she said, "but you don't know what to expect with West Pasco back in the tournament."

HYL teams bypassed the district level in recent years when West Pasco did not field teams. The two areas will go head-to-head for spots in the state tourney.

Three divisions will be contested for District 4 championships: Angels (9-10), Ponytails (11-12) and Belles. Games are at 4 and 7 p.m. in a double-elimination format.

Tiebreakers would be played at 7 p.m. Monday at Tom Varn Park.

Getting teams to the tournament, said HYL representative Donna Brooks, would not have been possible without a gift of time and resources by Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative. The company, led by district manager Gordon Coburn, helped upgrade lighting facilities on the third field at Tom Varn Park, allowing teams to finish regular-season games and qualify for district play.

"Without them, nothing would have been possible," Brooks said. "We're talking about a $6,000 to $7,000 job in cabling and wiring and that was a huge effort by them."

Volunteers Danny Taylor, Terry Hilbert and Dean Barnes installed the new equipment.

Three of the five softball divisions -- Ponytails, Belles, and Debs -- are eligible to compete for world championships like the 1999 Belles. The schedules of two younger groups are limited due to age considerations. The Angels can advance to state play beginning June 29 in Zephyrhills, but the Darlings' season will end this weekend no matter how they fare.

DIXIE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT WHAT: Dixie League District 4 Tournament.

WHO: Hernando teams in three divisions -- Angels (ages 9-10), Ponytails (11-12), Belles (13-15) -- against West Pasco.

WHERE: Tom Varn Park, Brooksville.

WHEN: 4 and 7 p.m. today.

FORMAT: Doubleheaders. Teams win their district title with two wins and advance to state championship play beginning June 29 at Zephyrhills. Teams will play tiebreaking games -- if needed -- at 7 p.m. Monday at Tom Varn Park.

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