Fans give team big send-off

By CAREY FREEMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 5, 2000

INVERNESS -- One never would have thought Debbie Lattin's only connection to this team was her niece, Brittany Doyle.

At Friday's send-off for the state champion Inverness Senior All Star softball team to the national tournament -- the first time a Citrus team has ever challenged for anything on a national level -- Lattin could have been crowned Team Mom.

Then again, Lattin may be the best example of this community's spirit regarding this team.

As one of more than 100 residents at the send-off at Withlacoochee Technical Institute, including Citrus High School principal Gary Foltz and Inverness Mayor Joyce Rogers, it was obvious that Lattin spent a lot of energy preparing her gifts.

Lattin came to the event loaded with a tray full of neatly packaged bags, each one including what she described as "things softball players need." That included all of the essentials -- hair spray, bubble gum, Kleenex and hair scrunchies -- the girls would need for their 20-hour drive to Waco, Texas, and their ensuing effort at the Senior Softball South Region Championships, held on the campus of Baylor University.

"Really, what brought me out was the fact that is this is the biggest thing in Citrus County and . . . everybody should be out here," Lattin said.

"It's just a great thing and a great honor and if they never win another game it's still the best thing in the whole world. I'm real excited and if it wasn't a 20-hour bus trip, I'd be going with them."

The girls, however, will not be alone on their ride to Texas. The group, which includes players, coaches, parents and other interested fans, left Inverness by charter bus at 6:30 Friday and are expected to reach Waco -- after driving through the night -- a little after noon today.

The team plans to rest for much of the day Sunday, with just a light practice, before playing its first game Monday.

Tournament officials plan to set the tournament draw on Sunday after all four teams have arrived. Inverness will play its first game at either 1 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on its draw.

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