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Hernando Today

Local Trio Tabbed All-State

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: June 19, 2008

Following a season in Hernando County with an unprecedented spread of talent, three local players were named to the Class 4A All-State Team released yesterday by the Florida Sports Writers Association.

The county's two-time Player of the Year, Nature Coast Technical's Travis Murray, was selected to the second team as a catcher, while teammate Brandon DeRespiris made third team as a pitcher.

Also, Springstead High shortstop Tom Dwyer earned third-team honors. All recently completed their senior campaigns.

Murray, the county's lone all-state selection last year, followed up his third-team performance in 2007 by leading the county in hitting (.531) and runs batted in (28).

He also went 7-3 with a 1.45 earned run average and 57 strikeouts as a pitcher.

"It's awesome," Murray said. "Last year I was third team, so I'd be happy if I got better than that. I'm happy everything paid off.

"It was a surprise to me last year. I was excited about it last year. It was one of my goals to make it higher in the state rankings."

DeRespiris went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 31 innings, his first full season as a pitcher. He also finished second in the county to Murray with a .458 average and drove in 20 runs.

"It's pretty exciting," DeRespiris said. "It's something I worked for. I got it, so I'm happy."

Both Murray and DeRespiris, who are the first two all-state picks in program history, agreed that their selections meant a great deal to establish the program.

"It's putting us on the map," said Murray, who signed with Pasco-Hernando Community College. "It's good for us when we're going off to college and other things like that."

"It says the team worked hard to get where it's at and it's showing," said DeRespiris, who recently tried out and made the team at Southeastern University in Lakeland. "It says a lot about our program and where it's headed to."

Dwyer, also going to P-HCC, hit .417 with a county-high 11 doubles and seven home runs along with 23 RBI. He recorded a hit in 26-of-27 games.

"I'm honored. I think it's pretty cool," Dwyer said. "I always thought it'd be nice. I never thought I'd be able to do it."

FSWA Class 4A All-State Baseball Team

FIRST TEAM
Pitchers
Mark Alfonso, senior, Monsignor Pace (Miami)
Jesse Ginley, senior, Dunnellon
Neil McClellan, senior, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville)
Nate Gahafer, sophomore, Riverdale (Fort Myers)
Catcher
Ryan McChesney, senior, Riverdale
Infielders
Cameron Graves, senior, Wakulla (Crawfordville)
Luis Lumpuy, senior, Mater Academy (Hialeah)
Jake Schrader, junior, Pasco (Dade City)
TJ Spina, junior, Santa Fe (Alachua)
Outfielders
Alex Mendez, senior, Bishop Moore (Orlando)
Justin Richardson, senior, Riverdale
Ben Gamel, sophomore, Bishop Kenny
Utility
Brian Johnson, junior, Cocoa Beach
Designated hitter
Ben McMahan, senior, Bishop Moore
 
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers
Frank Dejiulio, senior, Belleview
Brandon Vazquez, senior, Santa Fe
Laramie Hayman, junior, Godby (Tallahassee)
David Trexler, junior, Bay (Panama City)
Catcher
Travis Murray, senior, Nature Coast (Brooksville)
Infielders
Lucas Calderon, senior, Belen Jesuit (Miami)
Gabby Lima, senior, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
Joe Sclafani, senior, Jensen Beach
Frankie Ratcliff, junior, Key West
Outfielders
Anthony Bondarenko, senior, Pembroke Pines Charter
Cody Campbell, senior, Harmony
Alberto Cardenas, junior, Palmetto Ridge (Naples)
Utility
Ken Stalls, senior, Bishop Kenny
Designated hitter
Ryan Smith, junior, Wakulla
 
THIRD TEAM
Pitchers
Brandon DeRespiris, senior, Nature Coast
Joel Fein, senior, West Florida (Pensacola)
Carlos Hechevarria, senior, Monsignor Pace
AJ Hillenbrand, senior, Rockledge
Catcher
Corey Brooks, junior, Santa Fa
Infielders
Raiko Alfonso, senior, Key West
Tom Dwyer, senior, Springstead (Spring Hill)
Tyler Bighames, junior, Estero
Brandon Lee, junior, Palatka
Outfielders
Clint Horvath, senior, Rockledge
Dustin Brown, senior, Pasco
Chad Cabrera, junior, Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale)
Utility
Aaron Preistes, senior, Lake Wales
Designated hitter
Cade Smith, senior, North Marion (Citra)
 
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitchers
Randy Dotson, senior, St Augustine
Cole Gray, senior, Godby
Justin James, senior, Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach)
Vince Keen, senior, Braden River (Bradenton)
Brett Lee, senior, West Florida
Charlie Overturf, senior, Palatka
Ryan Ware, senior, Milton
Josh Ziemba, senior, Jensen Beach
Shawn Ferris, junior, Rockledge
Gage Upthegrove, junior, Bartow
Eric Whaley, junior, Cardinal Gibbons
Catchers
Beau Taylor, senior, Rockledge
Reid Wynn, senior, Bay
Infielders
Dylan Giella, senior, Pasco
Will Haga, senior, Nease
Ricky Ingram, senior, South Fort Myers
Chase McNeal, senior, Palatka
Michael Slabach, senior, Palmetto Ridge
Chris Turino, senior, Archbishop McCarthy
Ryan Welke, senior, Rickards (Tallahassee)
DJ Chapman, junior, LaBelle
Mikey McMillion, junior, Milton
Clint Warwick, junior, Palatka
Ambrose Young, junior, Bartow
Aaron Cohn, sophomore, Suncoast (Riviera Beach)
Brad Fieger, sophomore, Naples
Outfielders
Charlie Stewart, senior, Lincoln Park (Fort Pierce)
Josh Stoudmire, senior, Lake Wales
Ertugrul Gonen, junior, Cocoa

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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