TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

More of the same?

DIXIE DEBS STATE SOFTBALL

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

HYL Debs skipper Paul Sinwelski seeks his third straight title this weekend at Tom Varn Park.

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: July 2, 2009

Hernando skipper Paul Sinwelski has guided the HYL Debs (ages 16-18) to back-to-back state crowns.
After finishing runner-up in the Dixie World Series in 2007, his 2008 squad slipped to 1-2.
This time, Coach Sinwelski is seeking his third straight title beginning Friday at Tom Varn Park.
Interestingly, Spring Hill skipper Louie Caiazzo has notched back-to-back state crowns in the Belles (ages 13-15) division.
Like Coach Sinwelski, Caiazzo's team had a walk-over to reach this far. Because of a shortage of Debs teams, the 2009 State Debs Tourney features only five softball squads.
The expected five-team field features: Spring Hill, West Pasco, Wahneta, Mulberry, and host Hernando in a double-elimination format.

HYL 101

Coach Sinwelski rests his chances of a state three-peat on a 12-member roster featuring: Alex Hayden, Ch'antia Sanders, Audrey Allen, Stephanie Sinwelski, Brittany Parker, Sarah Whealdon, Brittany Rudy, Alicia Field, Madison Manuel, Amber Suiters, Katie Killingsworth and Erica Yunka.
The squad definitely has a prep flavor. There are seven members representing Hernando High including: Hayden, Sanders, Sinwelski, Parker, Whealdon, Suiters and Killingsworth. All but Suiters was a starter for HHS Head Coach Kevin Bittinger. None, however, has ever been named All-County though Parker came the closest after hitting .345 this spring.
State finalist HCA is represented by Allen, Field and Manuel while Central is represented by 2008 graduate Rudy and 2009 graduate Yunka.
Coach Sinwelski will be aided by assistant coaches Dave Corder and Cliff Manuel.
What are Sinwelski's first impressions of this team prior to states?
"Overall, I think we look just as strong as we did last year," emphatically stated Sinwelski. "Last year, I thought we had a better team than the one that finished second in the Series. We were deeper, but we lost some tough one-run games. I think our past experience at this level will help us. We've got six players who played here last year. With the new nucleus, it'll be interesting to see how it all comes together."
Biggest loss?
"We lost a couple of proven power hitters in Mary Ellen (Langley) and Destinee (Mormando)," replied Coach Sinwelski. "But I'm feeling good about the other facets of the team."
What does Coach Sinwelski like most about his nine?
"I like the way the nucleus of this team is really coming together; they're jelling as one," he said. "But what I like most is our pitching. It's solid. We've got three proven high school pitchers in Stephanie (Sinwelski), Alicia (Field) and the lefty - Erica (Yunka) - and a couple middle relievers in Sarah (Whealdon) and Amber (Suiters). I'm confident with our pitching. They're not overpowering, but they move the ball around real well."
How critical is HYL's first game in a tiny five-team bracket?
"It's absolutely huge," Sinwelski acknowledged. "You lose and you're on the brink of elimination. Nobody wants to fight for their lives out of the loser's bracket."
Biggest uncertainty?
"It's probably the lack of game experience with this group," he responded. "We've scrimmaged, but we haven't played anybody and we haven't seen any competitive pitching."

Spring Hill 101

To understand how important pitching is to a Coach Caiazzo team, here's a stat.
In 2008, the Spring Hill Belles captured District 4 and state championships before running out of gas with two losses in two games in the Dixie World Series. As a whole, the team went 7-4 overall last summer scoring 48 runs, but allowing 40 runs.
"Pitching and defense go hand-in-hand," explained Coach Caiazzo. "I like our defense. In practice we concentrate more on defense than anything else. The way we've hit in the past, maybe we should have practiced more on our hitting. I'm a firm believer that you can be in any softball game with pitching."
What the about the prospects of playing in the Debs State Tourney this year without the benefit of any previous action.
"I think it'll be a very competitive series," said Coach Caiazzo. "This isn't like the Yankees and Red Sox. A lot of people don't know us and we don't know them. Playing against the unknown is the problem every year."
Spring Hill's Debs features: Heather Brown, Linda Thompson, Alexis Adams, Katie Munsey, Shannon Cataldo, Toni Palermo, Gina Thompson, Ilaina Miller, Cierra Woods, Megan Baker, Keeria McKenzie and Brooke Schreiner. Tony Brown and Cheryl Thompson will assist Coach Caiazzo.
Central High has the most representatives on the squad with four including Gina and Linda Thompson, Baker and McKenzie. The fleet-footed McKenzie was the lone All-Hernando County selection.
Springstead is represented by Cataldo, Adams and Miller. Cataldo was a 2008 All-County pick.
NCT is represented by Woods, Schreiner and 2008 graduate Palermo.
Brown played for Hudson last spring.
Playing to his team's strength on the hill, look for Caiazzo to include a staff rotation of Adams, Baker and Brown.
"The key with our pitchers is you have to have a strategy," reminded Coach Caiazzo. "You want to save your best arms for the games that mean the most."
And hitting?
"We have some people who knock the cover off the ball," insisted Coach Caiazzo. "Now, it's just a matter of doing it. Overall, this is a young Debs team, but we realize you've got to score runs to win."
Biggest uncertainty?
"The biggest question surrounds our hitting," said Caiazzo. "If we make outs, we need to make productive outs. The key for us to put the ball in play and force the other teams to make plays against us."

COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHAT: Dixie Debs (ages 16-18) All-Stars State Championship Tournament.
WHO: Five-team field: Spring Hill, West Pasco, Wahneta, Mulberry, and host Hernando in a double-elimination format.
WHEN: July 3-7.
WHERE: Tom Varn Park Complex, 306 Darby Lane, Brooksville, FL 34601.
AT STAKE: State champion in each of the five age divisions will represent Team Florida in the July 31 Dixie World Series in Sumter, N.C.

Hernando Debs (ages 16-18) Roster
NO. NAME POS.
01 Alex Hayden 1B
04 Ch'antia Sanders 3B
05 Audrey Allen SS/C
07 Stephanie Sinwelski P/UTL
08 Brittany Parker RF
11 Sarah Whealdon P/2B
12 Brittany Rudy C
19 Alicia Field P/1B/OF
33 Madison Manuel CF
37 Amber Suiters P/SS
69 Katie Killingsworth LF
99 Erica Yunka P/UTL
Head Coach - Paul Sinwelski.
Assistant Coaches – Dave Corder, Cliff Manuel.

Spring Hill Debs (ages 16-18) Roster
NO. NAME POS.
00 Heather Brown P/C/2B
02 Linda Thompson 2B/SS/LF
03 Alexis Adams P/3B
07 Katie Munsey C
10 Shannon Cataldo 3B/SS
11 Toni Palermo C
13 Gina Thompson 1B
15 Ilaina Miller RF
23 Cierra Woods LF/RF
24 Megan Baker 2B/P/LF
33 Keeria McKenzie CF 
51 Brooke Schreiner LF/RF
Head Coach – Louie Caiazzo.
Assistant Coaches – Tony Brown and Cheryl Thompson.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT