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Gaither ace Ryan Anderson's rise did not go unnoticed as he receives the Tony Saladino Award as the top baseball player.
By SCOTT PURKS
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 9, 2001
BRANDON -- In one year, Ryan Anderson went from the third man in Gaither High's rotation, to the state's Class 6A Player of the Year, a 14th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins, and on Sunday, the recipient of the 31st Tony Saladino Award, given every year to Hillsborough County's top baseball player.
"Oh it's definitely been quite a year," said Anderson, who received a three-foot trophy in the annual surprise ceremony at Tony Saladino's house. "It has always been a dream to have a year like this."
Anderson, a left-hander, raised his stature with heavy off-season workouts, improving his fastball from 85 to 90 mph. He also developed a sharper curve and a slider.
This year Anderson went 10-2 with a 1.49 ERA, threw three one-hitters and had a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts against Bloomingdale.
"If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have gone nearly as far this season," said Gaither coach Frank Permuy, whose team won Hillsborough County's Western Conference title and was a district runner-up. "He assumed the No. 1 role, throwing against the best teams, and he really responded.
"He has a great sense of humor and likes to have fun, but when it was game time, he was all business. There was never a doubt that we could depend on him every time."
Anderson said he signed with University of Lousiana-Lafayette early, but has since verbally committed to St. Petersburg College, where he intends to stay for at least a year.
"Playing for a junior college gives me a chance to go into the draft every year and that's what I'm looking at," Anderson said. "It was a big honor to get drafted, but maybe I can improve my position next year."
Gaither High's Paul Williams won in 2000.
Other Saladino-award recipients include current major leaguers Dave Magadan (Jesuit, 1980), Tino Martinez (Jefferson, 1985) and Gary Sheffield (Hillsborough, 1986).
Five other Saladino winners played in the major leagues: Mike Heath (Hillsborough, 1973), Lenny Faedo (Jefferson, 1978), Vance Lovelace (Hillsborough, 1981), Rich Monteleone (Tampa Catholic, 1982) and John Ramos (Plant, 1983).