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Locals Fans Savor Tambasco Sauce

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Spring Hill American All-Star Vito Tambasco earned the mound win and belted his team-leading fifth homer of postseason play Tuesday night against Okeechobee.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: July 15, 2008

Through four rounds of this Dixie Youth League AAA Majors (ages 11-12) State Championship, one could argue that Spring Hill American catcher Austin Treverton would be at the center of the discussion for the tourney's Most Valuable Player award.
That's what happens when you reach base 11-of-12 times, including bashing three homers.
Sure, a case could be made for South Lake's Trenton Padgett or teammates Adan Ordonez or Danny Gonzalez. Or maybe Okeechobee's Seth McWorther or Liberty County's Chuck Morris or Hunter Jacobs.
Yet, the other half of Spring Hill's TNT connection, Vito Tambasco, deserves a second look, too.

Tambasco 101

Spring Hill's Tambasco, 11, is the youngest player on the current 4-0 Spring Hill American team. The other 11 rostered players are all 12-years-old.
Tambasco came into state event hitting .429 with three homers and a team-leading nine runs batted in during the District 6 Tourney in June at Wildwood.
So far at the state level at Ridge Manor Community Park, the 5-foot-6, 120-pound Tambasco is 4-of-10 at the plate for a .400 average.
Again, he's leading the team in RBI with seven and has added two more homers. So far this summer he's clouted five homeruns in 10 games.
So he's strictly a basher, right?
Not at all.
"The homers are just coming," said Vito, a Powell Middle School student. "Sure, when I hit 'em I'm hoping they go out, but really all I'm trying to do is get on base."
How has his swing and approach improved?
"The biggest thing," he recalled. "Is I'm much stronger than what I was a couple years ago. I used to pull my head away. My dad (Vito Sr.) has really made me focus on staying down on the ball and keeping my head in. I'm focusing (on the swing) much better."

Vito's ups, downs

Vito's coach, Shawn Laferty, says one of the reasons his team is 8-2 overall and unbeaten at states is
Tambasco's overall performance.
"The kid carried us in districts," lauded Coach Laferty of his team's 4-2 efforts in Wildwood. "He hit the cover off the ball. He literally put us on his back and carried us for a week."
What about the TNT (Austin Treverton 'n Tambasco) combo?
"Those two have kinda grown up together," Laferty explained. "Each has improved their game over the past couple years. It's nice to see what someone can expect to see down the road right now. Both are becoming quality all-round baseball players."
Any defensive issues?
"Vito is a great catcher, too," admitted Laferty. "But why switch now? Austin has done a terrific job behind the plate. And Vito is an exception third baseman. He has not wavered in his defensive skills."
What about his attitude?
On Monday night, Tambasco was victimized by a two-run homer off South Lake's Joey Passino. He permitted an infield hit and then hit a batter before being lifted for reliever Blake Laferty. Laferty held the fort, while Spring Hill rallied for a huge come-from-behind win.
But as Tambasco left the mound after being replaced, he flipped his glove in disgust toward third base.
Fortunately, he never said a disparaging comment and remained in the game.
There were some folks who thought Tambasco should have been penalized for his on-field frustration.
Laferty pointed out, "We had a chat. No matter what happened Monday night, he (Vito) still wanted the ball Tuesday. He wants to be in pressure situations. Some guys don't want the ball in those spots. But Vito is a quality ball player.
"I told him that I did not see what he did, I just heard about it," recalled Laferty. "I told him in baseball there's gonna be games where you strike out three times or drop a popup or let up a homer, but he's too much of a quality player to let that affect him. I told him to put it behind him. You'd be hard pressed to find as good a player at his age in this county or anywhere in this state."
His father, Vito Sr., has witnessed both ends of his son's play.
"I told 'em there are things that he has to learn," the older Tambasco imparted. "I told 'em he does that again that he will not be on the team. I won't tolerate that kinda of behavior and I'm his dad."
Upon hearing Coach laferty's assessment, the elder Tambasco added. "I appreciate Shawn's kind words. Vito goes out and does his job. He may have had a hot hand at Wildwood, but he's nothing without the other guys getting on base in front of him. He knows that.
"I call Vito banana," smiled the elder Tambasco. "Nothing really bothers him. He wants Josh (Lopes), Evan (Webster), Austin (Treverton), everyone, to do well. Because then team will do well. He was upset Monday night. He's only 11. He'd never before given up a homer before Monday night. He'll learn."
So with the Spring Hill American two precious wins away from Hernando County's first-ever AAA Majors State Championship in 53 years, what's the next step?
"We should all just concentrate on our next at-bat," replied Vito. "And defensively, we've just got to make sure the ball doesn't get past us."
Spoken like a true all-around player.

By the Numbers: Vito Tambasco
- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

Game AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB KO .AVG
1 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 .500
2. 3 1 1 0 0 1 4 1 2 .333
3. 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .333
4. 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 .500
TOTALS 10 7 4 2 0 2 7 3 4 .400

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

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