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Meet 'Perfect Man'

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: July 14, 2008

In a roster teaming with All-Stars, most local fans would have a hard time pointing out the only player who has reached base in every game, in every at-bat so far.
Spring Hill American AAA Majors (ages 11-12) catcher Austin Treverton does not have a moniker. Nor does he have a nickname. Nor does have a spokes person. Actually, he's very soft spoken.
He's probably the least assuming player on Head Coach Shawn Laferty's current 12-man squad.
Yet, half-way through the week-long, 12-team, double-elimination event at the Ridge Manor Community Park, the 5-foot-6, freckled-faced backstop is center of attention at the plate.
And never mind the fact, that he's been an Iron Man -- not missing a pitch behind the dish in the sweltering Florida heat.
You see, he doesn't say a whole lot. He let's his actions speak for themselves.

Treverton 101

Through six district games, "AT" as Coach Laferty calls him came in batting .429. He collected six hits in 14 at-bats at Wildwood during Spring Hill American's 4-2 jaunt at Millennieum Park.
That .429 average tied him for second on the team with Vito Tambasco. Only leadoff batter Josh Lopes at .583 was hitting higher than Treverton.
In Saturday's first-round state game against Ridge Manor, Treverton, hitting from the No. 5 slot, walked, then stole a base and followed with a double and and single in Spring Hill American's 13-3 win.
In another mercy-rule shortened game on Sunday, he walked twice and scored once in Sping Hill's 11-1 nod over South Walton.
Then against South Lake's talented team late Monday night, Treverton upped his game. He reached base four times in four at-bats. He walked his first three times, including a key bases-loaded free pass in the third that forced home Lopes.
Against reliever Matt Garner in the sixth, he whacked the first offering to him over right-center field fence -- some 200-plus feet away for a game-clinching two-run homer in a sterling come-from-behind 8-5 win.
So through nine plate appearances his on-base percentage matches his batting average -- 1.000. Maybe that's why he might be called Mr. Perfect -- at least for the time being.
"He's a quiet kid, a fun kid," described Coach Laferty. "He's improved so much in two years.
"Defensively, he hasn't missed a play for us," Laferty said. "He's solid back there. We're learning each other, I told him initially he's got to move more. To set up batters. He's starting to do that more and more."
What about his arm strength?
"He's so valuable behind the plate," added Laferty. "But he's got a arm. I have no qualms about ever using him in a pinch on the mound."
And at the plate?
"So far, he's Mr. Perfect," smiled Coach Laferty. "And this is after he hit over .400 for us in disricts. When he's in a game focused in, he really comes through.
"I think he strggled offensively a few years ago," said Laferty. "But he's a lot more confident at the plate now. It shows. We saw him during the regular season, but he never hit the way he's hitting now off our best pitchers. He's gotten better and better."
What do you like most?
"My younger son is a catcher," replied Laferty. "And I now when you're not squatting and getting beat on behind the plate, how much higher you can hit. It takes a toll playing catcher. But there's never one complaint from Austin. Not one."
At this point, Laferty says that if a Team MVP had to be selected, Treverton would be his choice.
So while he returns behind the plate Tuesday against Okeechobee, there will plenty of times in future to make iron man references.
No, don't compare him to Robert Downey Jr.
And no, Treverton will never be mentioned in the same breath as the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig.
Nor will anyone ever mistake him for another Hall of Famer, Iron Man Cal Ripken.
But for Spring Hill American's AAA Majors, right now Treverton is Mr. Perfect.

By the Numbers: Austin Treverton
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

Game AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB KO .AVG
1 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.000
2. 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000
3. 1 2 1 0 0 1 3 3 0 1.000
TOTALS 3 4 3 0 0 1 3 6 0 1.000

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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