Pinellas Park High School - Occurrences Yearbook (Largo, FL)

Page 227 text:

ositive attitude takes Bading role in softball X AXiJ Batting skills, fielding abilities, and having a positive attitude all took a part in the Patriot softball team. Sportsmanship and hard work were the key [)ri(jrities that I looked for in every girl, ex- plained Coach Darius Holtzclaw. He added, Each girl had to have confidence in herself because that ' s what it took on the field to have a winning season. Before the season began, try- outs consisted of four straight weeks of continuous softball drills such as batting, fielding grounders and popflies, and run- ning bases. Thereafter, continued drills on the basics gave the players the grace to perform under high pressure situations. The Patriots ' toughest rivals this vear were Clearwater and SOFTB.ALL — ROW 1: Beth Kawalec, Carla Har- rington, Amy Dorton, Kris Friend; ROW 2: Stephani Mugavero. Ronnet Graham, |oan Freeland, Susan Falcon, |amie Dorton; ROW 3: Coach Toni Brandes. Kendra Dorton. Linda Piver. Trilby Mallard, Debbie Layfield. Coach Darius Holtzclaw Jamie Dorton, a sophomore returner, fields a grounder with great attention to the ball ' s motion. Seminole. During district tour- naments, the Patriots faced East Bay, Plant, Jefferson, and Robin- son without seeing those teams perform during regular season games. With seniors Carla Harrington, Lynn Collins, and Debbie Layfield, and junior Kris Friend being the only returning starting players, the Patriots mixed old experience with new zeal to have a rewarding year. SOFTBALL 223

Page 226 text:

S THn ffracc mCS -r T- SOFTBALL ■ 2 25-2J Preseason Toiirn. Uh ■ ! Seminole .w ' 3 5 3 7 Northeast i 3 12 Northeast 4 3 13 BocaCiega 3 15 St. Pete 3 19 Countryside 3 20 Osceola 3 22 Tarpon Springs 3 26 Seminole 3 27 Clearwater 3 29 Countryside .,■ Dunedin % ' tk io Largo 4 11 DixiaHollins A 4 16 Lakewood , ' ., ,4 17 .■ Dunedin jSlri|: 4 19 Gibbs ... . Senior Debbie Layfield, a fourth year player, pitches the ball over the plate. Kris Friend, junior, throws the ball in- field looking to tag a runner out. i1 F 5 5! jm Junior Joan Freeland, a third year player throws the ball into second base. 222 SOFTBAl.l, ,Jj i

Page 228 text:

BASEBALL — ROW 1: Reid Colliding, Mike Burgess, |ohn Laberge, Eric Sagro, Brad Byers, Gleni Moore, Scolt Hills: ROW 2: Shawn Hotz, Kent Howard, Jeff Gervato, Mike Mugavero, Dave Youn Chris Wisman, Fred Schumacher, Doug Banks; ROW 3: Bill Milne, Todd Haught, |ohn Wallers, Browilj ing Nagle, Eric Cullens, Wah Schumacher, Randy Cody, Mike Monti; NOT PICTURED: Coach Lf|j Buyers, Ed Noble, Kyle Kimbal 3 1 3 2 3 5 ■- 3 8 3 9 3 13 3 15 3 16 3 20 3 22 3 23 3 25 3 26 3 27 3 29-4 5 . r ' ' j ik? ' -- ■ Underdog image pays off The Patriot baseball team looked to do better this season than last year. With such a high goal set, the team had to work intensely on performance. Last year ' s resounding success was definitely going to challenge them to do better. Last year ' s team finished eighth in the state earning the district and regional championships, an achievement unmatched by any other team in the history of the school. They had the talent, natural ability, and confident attitude that established their formidable reputation on the field. The team, therefore, felt the weighty loss of what senior Reid Goulding called the nucleus of the team. Many new players made the team and they had to be trained and taught techniques. Coach Lee Byers stated that it would be a rebuilding year. Senior Walt Schumacher added, Last year the team rode on abili- ty. This year we had to ride on guts. When the newspaper and other teams rated Pinellas Park as an underdog, the Patriots did not make pains to shed the image. Senior Glenn Moore remarked, Why not let everyone stay under the illusion that we were young and inexperienced, and therefore unable to have a successful season? It could only work to our benefit. Byers explained further, Everyone was capable of play- ing well, he explained. My main concern was how well the players worked together as a team. The team looked to peak at districts, stated Goulding. Meanwhile, the rookies had to get their feet wet. Anticipated rivals included Seminole, Dunedin, and Coun- tryside. Senior Eric Cullens com- mented that the Patriots con- sistently expected a good show- ing from these teams. Practicing hard to go farther this year, the young, inex- perienced team gained a strong spirit that determinedly drove tnem throughout the season. The returning players and newcomers alike bonded together to build an impressive image out of a so- called underdog team that woul resound throughout followir seasons. ' 1 Fourth year player, Eric Cullens, seni ' shortstop, makes a direct hit. Cullei was a team captain. 224 BASEBALL