Pasco: Holiday emerges from shadows

Holiday emerges from shadows

By JOHN C. COTEY

There's no mistaking that the top Little League program in the New Port Richey area is West Pasco, but give Greater Holiday a little credit for some renewed spirit in the battle for the most successful 2001 season.

A 7-1 win by the juniors over Clearwater American on Thursday means all three Holiday teams (9-10, majors and juniors) advanced past pool play.

The 9-10 Holiday boys took on Hudson in the first round of elimination play Monday night.

"I think Holiday is for real," juniors coach Scott Penna said. "That is what we talked about doing, getting all three teams in."

Holiday has been in West Pasco's shadow in recent years. But new coaches and a new president (Rick Cummings) have been stressing more workshops and clinics while focusing on pitching. The benefits are already being seen, and those associated with Holiday hope it strengthens the league from top to bottom.

This year, Holiday was unable to field a senior baseball team because it didn't have enough players, and Penna said all-stars in the past have either quit the sport or switched leagues as they got older instead of sticking with Holiday through seniors.

"Right now, we've got a bunch of boys that are young and have been in this program, and what's happening is these younger guys are coming up and staying," Penna said. "This junior team will be senior all-stars next year. We'll have a team."

And hopefully a rivalry. Though there is rarely cross-league play between Holiday and West Pasco, Penna hopes his junior team runs into the 3-0 West Pasco juniors in the single-elimination round.

"Playing West Pasco could be a great rivalry," Penna said. "I don't think Holiday has ever been able to play with West Pasco and there's always been that stigma. ... We hope it comes down to a showdown with West Pasco."

SO FAR: It appears West Pasco, Holiday and Hudson will combine to advance six of their nine teams in the 9-10, major and junior baseball divisions from pool play to the single-elimination round, a marked improvement from last year.

Factor in West Pasco's senior team, which remains alive in a double-elimination format, and that makes it seven of 11 teams still playing. Other than the Hudson 9-10 team, West Pasco is the only organization playing softball and its 9-10, junior and senior teams were alive heading into Monday night.

ONE MORE WIN: The West Pasco majors beat Hudson 11-1 on Saturday and now need one more win to clinch a spot in the single-elimination round.

"It's simple," coach Greg Connors said. "Win and we're in."

In the victory over Hudson, Charlie Mohr got the win (with relief from Rich Ardizzone) and Eric Slotter hit a home run.

BOUNCING BACK: How much did the West Pasco junior softball team like losing to Palm Harbor in the opening round of the double-elimination championships?

This much: The team has reeled off three consecutive wins to set up a rematch Monday night. If West Pasco wins, it will get a second game against Palm Harbor for the championship.

Since that 8-6 loss to Palm Harbor on June 30, West Pasco has posted 11-0, 12-0 and 10-0 wins.

SILENT BATS: The West Pasco 9-10 softball team, which won its first two games 32-9 and 21-11, dropped into the losers' bracket Friday following a 15-0 loss to Palm Harbor.

"Palm Harbor's pitching was excellent and we weren't hitting," coach Bunny McCleary said.

Palm Harbor appears to be the top team in the 9-10 division -- it has outscored the opposition 35-6. West Pasco wouldn't mind a rematch though, which it can get with a win tonight over either Oldsmar or East Lake, which played Monday night.