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Hernando coach gets tough

Several top players have sat out recent matches as focus shifts to the district tournament, but Pete Lahey is confident they'll respond.

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 19, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando boys coach Pete Lahey said his recent philosophy of strict discipline has nothing to do with the way his team flopped in the district tournament last year.

No matter the Leopards entered that match at Scotland Yards at 16-1 and the pre-eminent team in the district, only to flop to fifth as Zephyrhills, Saddlebrook, Pasco and Lecanto advanced to region play.

He does hope, however, that holding Matt Johnson (38.4 average), Keegan Ledford (38.1) and Fred Farmer (37.8) out of matches the past two weeks will sharpen the focus lost since the 9-5 Leopards cruised to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title by 25 strokes on Sept. 24.

"I believe in discipline, and they'd been goofing off," Lahey said. "They know if they're goofing off, then I'll discipline them.

"You want to have fun, but you also are there to work on the weak part of your game."

Lahey assures that Hernando will have its top players Tuesday for the Class A, District 6 tournament at Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel.

And he's confident a redux of that windy day at Scotland Yard is not imminent.

"I think they're a little more concentrated this year," he said. "More committed to it, willing to do well in districts.

"They have to do what's right, because they know if everyone's not focused, then there are several teams out there that can play. It's not a cakewalk."

The top four teams and top four individuals not on those teams advance to region play.

Hernando's Farmer, who played in the state tournament, Ledford and Central's Andrew Coogan advanced to regionals last year.

-- Staff writer Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1407. Send e-mail to

brant@sptimes.com.

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