4 from bay area help Team Florida win gold medal

The squad goes undefeated over 10 games at the USA Baseball Junior Olympic Trials in Tucson, Ariz.

By MIKE READLING, PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 27, 2000

Team Florida, featuring four bay area players, traveled to Tucson, Ariz., last week for the USA Baseball Junior Olympic Trials and returned with an undefeated record and a gold medal.

Clearwater Central Catholic's Justin O'Keeffe and Shawn Williams, Jesuit's Ryan Stanley and King's Kurt Baxley helped Team Florida win all 10 of its games over a nine-day span, including 8-1 in the gold medal game against Norcal, a Northern California squad.

"It was a beautiful thing," said Jesuit coach John Crumbley, who served as third base coach for Team Florida. Doug Lee of Lynn Haven Mosley was the head coach while Crestview's Karlin Martin served as the other assistant.

Williams allowed one hit in six innings of relief in the final game. He pitched 15 scoreless innings throughout the tournament and had two relief outings of six innings.

In the semifinal game, O'Keeffe threw four scoreless innings of relief against West Covington, Calif. He entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs but got out of the jam without any damage as Team Florida went on to win 6-4.

Five of Team Florida's players were among 32 selected to participate in the Junior Olympic Development Squad tryouts July 21 in Houston.

Also selected for the tryouts was Northside Christian rising sophomore Lastings Milledge, an outfielder who played for the Orlando Scorpions at the trials.

The Junior Olympic team will play in the Pan American Games in August in Monterrey, Mexico.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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