The 'Price' Of Success

The past two years Bruce Price coached the Hernando Youth League AA Rookies (ages 7-8) All-Stars, twice leading his team to the State Tournament.

This season, Price has moved up to coach Hernando's AAA Minors (ages 9-10) squad, which starts play today in the District 6 Tournament at Kenny Dixon Sports Complex in Bushnell.

Hernando faces San Antonio at 1 p.m., hoping to begin yet another run under Price that goes through the State Tournament starting July 5 in East Lakeland. The district's top two teams advance.

Price's roster consists of Colson Cannon, Brad Ellis, Kurt Eppley, Pierce Kimbrough, Tyson Lindengood, Daniel Miller, Owen Morgan, D.J. Orlando, Cameron Price, Elijah Ramirez, Travis Ritter and Price Sartor.

"Minors is a little more competitive division, you have some older kids," Coach Price said. "But the kids have been working really hard.

"Just tons and tons of experience. We have the same goal of winning the district twice in a row and going to states twice in a row. Experience hopefully wins ballgames."

Price figures he'll have a strong defense to support his pitching staff of Ellis, Sartor, Price, Miller and Kimbrough.

"We've really been working on defense a lot," Price said. "We want to be ready for anything that comes our way. We have a real sound defensive team that could win you some ballgames.

"Hitting we're going to be middle of the road. We're not going to set anything on fire. We're looking to play basic baseball. Hopefully things bounce our way."

The coach figures the tournament will feature 3-5 top-notch teams that will force his club to play its best game in order to compete.

His realistic goal is to finish in the top five, however he'd certainly like to see his team's state streak continue.

"We've gone to states two years in a row, maybe the third trip is the charm," Price said. "But the competition level is tough. We're going to have to work really, really hard to get to that spot."

For the second consecutive year, Ridge Manor recorded wins in T-Ball and AA Rookies after previously having never won a game at any level.

Ridge Manor could not carry that success beyond Dixie's two youngest age groups in 2007. This time Candie Sullivan, who coached the AA Rookies team last year, leads a squad looking to change that.

Her roster includes John Paul Birchfield, Derek Helm, Travis Lewis Jr., Thurman McBee II, Anthony McLeod, Mitchel Meisberger, Jacob Peacock, Eric Pettry, Patrick Puentes II, Wyatt Roberts, Jacob Sullivan and James Thompson.

Ridge Manor draws Spring Hill American today at noon in first-round action of this 11-team double-elimination tournament.

"We've got six returners from the 7-8 all-stars last year," Sullivan said. "Three from (last year's) 9-10 team also.

"Our fielding is pretty good. Our batting is pretty good. Our pitching is pretty good. We've got a couple pitchers that are really on the dot, but we're going against a tough team our first game."

Puentes and Sullivan are considered the two strongest pitchers, with Helm and Lewis also listed at that position.

Sullivan said those four plus Meisberger, Peacock and Birchfield all have a lot of power at the plate, and McLeod "can put the bat on the ball every time."

What about the fact that Ridge Manor has proven it can at least compete and possibly win a few games?

"We have confidence we'll do well," Sullivan said.. "I think these kids have come a long way. We're not the same Ridge Manor team we have been in the past. We have better coaching than in the past and I think these kids are something, that's why they're on the team.

"I hope we go further than we have been. I know the 9-10 team in the past has struggled. I hope this time we pick up where we left off last year."

2008 HYL AAA Minors (ages 9-10) All Stars
Name Position
Colson Cannon RF/3B
Brad Ellis RF/P
Kurt Eppley RF/P
Pierce Kimbrough LF/P
Tyson Lindengood CF/P
Daniel Miller 1B/P
Owen Morgan C/P
D.J. Orlando 2B
Cameron Price 3B/P
Elijah Ramirez RF
Travis Ritter RF/P
Price Sartor SS/P
Head coach: Bruce Price
Assistant coach: Jimmy Kimbrough, Daniel Miller
 
2008 Ridge Manor AAA Minors (ages 9-10) All Stars
Name Position
John Paul Birchfield UTIL
Derek Helm P/1B
Travis Lewis Jr. P/SS
Thurman McBee II UTIL
Anthony McLeod UTIL
Mitchel Meisberger C/OF
Jacob Peacock C/UTIL
Eric Pettry C/INF/OF
Patrick Puentes II P/SS/1B
Wyatt Roberts 2B
Jacob Sullivan P/3B
James Thompson OF
Head coach: Candie Sullivan
Assistant coach: John Jernigan, John McLeod