It's Oklahoma Revisited

The faces are so familiar.

So are the names of Spring Hill's 14-year-old All-Star team roster this summer. It reads like a Who's Who.

The Spring Hill Senior Boys squad features: OF Joey Asquith, OF Louis Colaiacomo, OF/1B Anthony Fiocca, P/1B Jon Gaffney, C/OF Mike Kodetsky, 3B/1B Julian Perez, OF Maxx Ruiz, C/OF Trey Scott, 2B/SS/P J.T. Simpson, 2B/SS/P Dante Sollazzo, C/SS Thomas Tambasco, C/OF Ian Townsend, 1B/P David Woop, assistant coaches Vito Tambasco, Howie Woop and Head Coach Mike Sollazzo.

Coach Sollazzo has guided the bulk of this team to back-to-back district titles.

In fact, Simpson, Sollazzo, Gaffney, Fiocca, Asquith, Woop and Tambasco all comprised the 13-year-old District 6 championship team.

Also, Perez, Simpson, Colaiacomo and Townsend were all members of their respective varsity team's baseball rosters by the end of the season.

Spring Hill 101

According to Coach Sollazzo, who is guiding his fourth all-star team, this team is brimming with all the essential weapons.

Offensively, this group of players can mash.

"We've got plenty of guys who can hit it over," candidly stated Coach Sollazzo. "Or they can hit the gaps. It's a talented bunch."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Perez is perhaps the leader of the bop brothers, though Tabasco, Colaiacomo and Asquith aren't too far behind.

The "table setters" according to Coach Sollazzo, includes Woop, Fiocca, Kodetsky, Ruiz, Scott and Dante Sollazzo.

No Southpaws

Pitching-wise, Spring Hill is deep and talented -- and all right-handed.

Simpson is the ace of the staff. "He throws 82 miles an hour on the Dixie mound," said Coach Sollazzo. "He's a polished pitcher, who throws 3-4 pitches over for strikes."

Gaffney has been the workhorse of the staff.

"He always wants the ball," said Sollazzo. "That's not a bad thing."

Dante Sollazzo is "a junk ball specialist. He doesn't look pretty, but puts it across."

Gold Gloves Too

Imagine a catcher, who can just as smoothly play shortstop.

That's a rare find. That's Tambasco.

"I love our defense," added Coach Sollazzo. "We've got some depth and we flat out got some guys who can pick it."

Despite the accolades and past successes the one thing this particular group of players has not done is go the Dixie World Series.

Are the past state failures still fresh in Coach Sollazzo's mind?

"Every year it seems we've run into a team, a little better than us," he declared. "We believe this is the team that we'll break some people's hearts. I think teams will have to out hit us."

What about opening the tourney against the district's toughest foe, Sumter, at 6 p.m. tonight?

"If we lose the first game, it's not the end of the world," shared Coach Sollazzo. "I have all the confidence in the world we can come back and win. Right now, we've five new guys added to mix to solve the puzzle. I think the new guys will help push us over the top."

2008 Spring Hill 14s Roster
Name   Position(s)
Joey Asquith  OF
Louis Colaiacomo OF
Anthony Fiocca OF/1B
Jon Gaffney  P/1B
Mike Kodetsky C/OF
Julian Perez  3B/1B
Maxx Ruiz  OF
Trey Scott  C/OF
J.T. Simpson  2B/SS/P
Dante Sollazzo 2B/SS/P
Thomas Tambasco C/SS
Ian Townsend  C/OF
David Woop  1B/P
Head Coach - Mike Sollazzo.
Assistant Coaches - Vito Tambasco, Howie Woop.
 
COMING ATTRACTIONS
WHO - Host Wesley Chapel, Wildwood, Spring Hill, Sumter, Ridge Manor, Oak Griner and Hernando.
WHAT - Dixie Youth League Senior Boys (14-year-olds) District 6 All-Star Tournament at Wesley Chapel. Format is double elimination.
WHERE - Wesley Chapel Park.