Finally On The Field

They are the last group of Dixie All-Stars in Hernando County to finally get out on the field and play a meaningful game.

The Spring Hill Junior Boys (age 13) All-Stars have waited quite a while to do something other than practice. With no one in District 6 fielding a team in this age division, Spring Hill went straight to states.

So Spring Hill has waited - and waited and waited some more - for the State Tournament, which begins today at the M.E.R.E. Complex in Marianna.

Spring Hill's first game comes at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. Central Standard Time) against Poinciana.

"We're very happy to go to states, but I think it'd be nice to play in a district tournament," Spring Hill Head Coach Joe Abbadessa said. "It would give us a bit more experience and I'm sure the kids feel a little bit of doubt until you get that first victory. It'd be nice to get that first victory before you go to states."

The roster includes Jose Alonzo, Mason Arroyo, Brandon Brosher, Eric DaCosta, Tom DeCotis, Curtis Foden, Kevin Lips, Chris Nelson, Ryan Nicoll, Nic Pasarela, Jake Schoonover, Kody Stein and Garrett Treverton.

The rest of this nine-team double-elimination tournament, from which the winner will advance to the World Series starting Aug. 2 in Bluffton, S.C., features Central Sports, Hiland Park, Marianna, Messer Park, Okeechobee, Poinciana, West Seminole and West Volusia.

Taking it slow

So with all that free time, what exactly has this team been doing for more than a month?

"At first we were trying to take it slow and easy," Abbadessa said. "We didn't get revved up until the district tournament (for the Senior Boys) was over. After that we went pretty hard everyday.

"I think the toughest adjustment is going up there and getting guys used to game-type pressure."

Fortunately the coach has a group with a decent amount of experience at the state level. Many are holdovers from last year's AAA Majors (ages 11-12) All-Stars that went to states.

"I think we've got good leaders on this team," Abbadessa said. "We have three kids that went to the World Series three years ago (in the AAA Minors) - Brandon, Mason and Nic. With that leadership and experience we have there, I think that will go a long way."

In Brosher, Spring Hill has a hard-throwing ace who can take the mound in a big spot.

Abbadessa figures that Stein and Pasarela are right behind him in the pitching pecking order. DeCotis, Nicoll and Treverton are also listed as pitchers.

"Brandon with the dominating fastball he has, he's developed control and confidence in his off-speed stuff now," Abbadessa said. "We've got him more so pitching than just throwing. I'd stay that about all our pitchers."

The coach also believes he has a very strong defense, particularly up the middle with Brosher behind the plate and the speedy trio of Pasarela at second base, Nicoll at shortstop and Alonzo in center field.

Offensively, he feels his team will need to come up with timely hits, but likes the overall capabilities of his entire line-up.

"What I love about our team is the utility of it," Abbadessa said. "One through nine in our batting order, we have a lot of versatility. I think we'll be able to play a lot of small ball up there."

So, can this incarnation of Spring Hill All-Stars build on the resumes they have built in recent seasons?

"The predictions I'll make, with our pitching and defense we can be in every game," Abbadessa said. "With timely hitting and luck I think we can do what we did (in the AAA Minors) three years ago."

2008 Spring Hill 13s Roster
Name Position(s)
Jose Alonzo CF
Mason Arroyo                   LF
Brandon Brosher C/P
Eric DaCosta                     UTIL
Tom DeCotis 1B/P
Curtis Foden                      RF
Kevin Lips LF
Chris Nelson                      3B/C
Ryan Nicoll                       SS/P
Nic Pasarela 2B/P
Jake Schoonover                RF
Kody Stein                         P/2B
Garrett Treverton               3B/P
Head Coach - Joe Abbadessa
Assistant Coaches - Tom DeCotis, Bob Pasarela
 
COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHO - Central Sports, Hiland Park, Marianna, Messer Park, Okeechobee, Poinciana, Spring Hill, West Seminole and West Volusia.
WHAT - Dixie Youth League Junior Boys (13-year-olds) All-Stars State Tournament at Marianna. Format is double elimination.
WHERE - M.E.R.E. Complex, Marianna.
WHEN - July 19-23.
AT STAKE - Only state champion advances to the Aug. 2 World Series in Bluffton, S.C.
DIRECTIONS - Take U.S. Highway 19 north to Interstate 10 near Tallahassee. Take Interstate 10 west to exit 142 (Marianna/Blountstown) onto State Road 71 north toward Marianna. Follow State Road 71 to Caverns Road and turn left. The park is located at 3625 Caverns Road.