Loaded Up

The roster reads like a who's who of recent Hernando County prep stars; one part players already in college, one part players headed in that direction.
The Hernando Majors (ages 15-19) All-Stars are comprised of 15 players, 14 of which have graduated from their respective high schools, including Citrus, Hernando, Nature Coast, South Sumter and Springstead.
The roster features two third-team Class 4A All-State selections, Brandon DeRespiris of Nature Coast and Tom Dwyer of Springstead, as well as a former Hernando Today Player of the Year, Hernando grad Monte Ketchum.
The rest includes Hernando grads James Everson, Kai Huff, Ryan Lamb, Kyle Neal, Ford Manuel and Andrew McNeal, Springstead grad Bryan Nicolini, who recently signed with Pasco-Hernando Community College, and Nature Coast grad Kenny Treverton.
Joey Budnick, formerly of Citrus, South Sumter alums Kyle Starnes and Dustin Upshaw, and the only player still in high school - Hernando catcher Ryan Brady - fill out the team.
Now former Hernando High Head Coach Donnie Whitehead, who recently accepted an assistant position at St. Johns River Community College, will lead this group into the State Tournament starting today at Chipley High.
Hernando faces Marion County at 1 p.m. The rest of the six-team field of this double-elimination tournament features Chipley, Jacksonville, four-time defending champion Polk and Wahneta. The winner moves on to the July 26 World Series in Dyersburg, Tenn.
"It's been a good group," Whitehead said. "We really don't have to get on them to work hard. They realize what the light at the end of the tunnel is. They're looking forward to representing the county in the State Tournament and hopefully the World Series."

Pitching depth

The biggest thing that stands out about this group: pitching depth. Budnick, DeRespiris, Huff, Lamb, Neal, Manuel, McNeal, Nicolini and Starnes could all potentially take the mound.
Neal (5-3, 3.26 ERA) and Huff (3-3, 3.10 ERA) paced the 2007 Hernando High pitching staff. DeRespiris went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 31 innings this past season for Nature Coast, while Nicolini went 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 42.1 innings.
"It's definitely the strength of our group," Whitehead said. "You've got anyone of those guys that can run out as a number one against anybody and you'd be confident."
Not that the team doesn't have hitters. Ketchum, who graduated in 2006, hit 18 home runs and drove in 73 runs during his three-year prep career. Dwyer led the county this year with seven homers and 11 doubles, while McNeal had six bombs.
Treverton capped his four-year varsity run with the Sharks hitting .333, scoring 33 runs and driving in 24. He also led that team in stolen bases (23) and triples (4) and should provide a presence at the top of the line-up.
"We can play a lot of different styles with this group," Whitehead said. "We can do a lot of different things. They're all solid; they can handle the bat well, bunting, hitting and running, working the count. But they're also capable of, if they get behind in the count, they can put it in the gap or out of the ball park."
The biggest concern for Whitehead was if his team would receive enough repetitions leading up to this tournament and get on the same page, but he believed the experience factor would help.
"They've played at this level before," Whitehead said. "A few of them have been to the World Series with various age groups. They're not going to be fazed by a whole lot.
"...We're not going to travel to Chipley and spend this kind of money if we don't feel we have a shot. We know the competition level at the State Tournaments in the past have been top-notch. Like I've said many times in the past, I'll take my chances with the group I've got."

COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHAT: Dixie Majors (ages 15-19) All-Stars State Tournament
WHO: Chipley, Jacksonville, Hernando, Marion County, Polk and Wahneta.
WHEN: July 12-17
WHERE: Chipley High School
AT STAKE: State championship and spots in July 26 World Series at Dyersburg, Tenn.
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 75 north to Interstate 10, exit 435. Take Interstate 10 west to State Road 77 North, exit 120.Turn left on Brickyard Road (County Road 280). The school is located at 1545 Brickyard Road in Chipley.

2008 Hernando Majors (ages 15-19) All-Stars
Name Position
Ryan Brady                           C
Joey Budnick                        P/INF
Brandon DeRespiris            INF/OF/P
Tom Dwyer                           INF/OF
James Everson                      C
Kai Huff                                 INF/P
Monte Ketchum                   INF/OF  
Ryan Lamb                            OF/P      
Kyle Neal                               P/INF
Ford Manuel                         P
Andrew McNeal                   INF/OF/P
Bryan Nicolini                       INF/P
Kyle Starnes                         P/OF
Dustin Upshaw                    C/INF/OF
Kenny Treverton                 INF
Head coach: Donnie Whitehead
Assistant coaches: Jeff Laing, Jesse Parkin