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Pirates looking for return trip to state tourney
By JAMAL THALJI © St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 2000 DADE CITY -- Okay, Zephyrhills was supposed to be here. So was Saddlebrook. No surprises there. But Pasco? Suddenly, the 1999 Sunshine Athletic Conference champions are making a move in 2000, advancing to Monday's Class A, Region 3 golf tournament to vie for a berth in the state tournament. The Pirates' remarkable '99 season seemed far off this year. Last season, after winning the SAC and the Class A, District 5 tourney, Pasco advanced to the Class A state championships. This season, though, the Pirates ... just kind of ... disappeared. "We did," Pasco coach Tony Vasquez said. "Because we didn't really make any noise throughout the year. We weren't focused. I think some of my seniors were just going through the motions." This season, without some key seniors from last year's squad, Pasco slipped noticeably. The Pirates finished second in the SAC regular-season standings, but finished third at the conference tournament and shared the runner-up spot with River Ridge. But then came the district tournament at Scotland Yards. Pasco took third, finishing 12 strokes behind district champion Zephyrhills and eight behind runner-up Saddlebrook. But this year, under the new playoff format, the top four advance to the regional, where the top two advance to state. Justin Turner led the Pirates with 75, J.L. Smith shot 77, Justin Sharpe and Jeremy Sanderson both had 85. B.J. Raposa is also another quality score Vasquez hopes to count on. When the regional tourney tees off Monday at 9 a.m. at World Woods in Brooksville, Pasco hopes to extend its season with a return trip to state. Vasquez said his team is finally showing the leadership to do just that. Playing against top contenders like Zephyrhills and Saddlebrook hasn't hurt. "When you play against the good teams, it just brings out the best in you," Vasquez said. "I think at district, Justin and J.L. just got down to business, were really focused and played some smart golf and posted some good scores." Can Pasco overcome Zephyrhills and Saddlebrook? Vasquez believes that, playing on a neutral course, it could be close. "I'm thinking, in order to be in the top two, you're looking at a 305," Vasquez said. "I think we can do it. They're the favorites, so we're going in there with nothing to lose. We're coming in there with a good attitude, and that's all you can ask for." Even if Pasco cannot overcome Zephyrhills and Saddlebrook, that doesn't mean the school won't be represented at state. Vasquez believes Turner, the '99 SAC golfer of the year, has a good shot at claiming one of the two individual qualifying berths. "I think that Justin's got a really good shot at it," Vasquez said. "He was only one off the lead at districts, and he shot himself in the foot on a couple of holes. He missed some easy chips that he usually makes."
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