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West Pasco Team Set For Sectional

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By CLIFF GILL

Tribune correspondent

Published: July 11, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - It is said a championship is tougher to maintain than to obtain.

Last year, the West Pasco 9-10-year-old baseball all-stars were able to sneak up on the competition, capturing both the district and sectional championships.

"Last year, we were a Cinderella story," Coach Dave Grabowski said. "This year, our 11-year-olds had a target on their backs and every team in District 12 knew about them. Fortunately, this team is stronger and deeper in talent, so we hope to do well for the remainder of the tournament."

If last weekend's district play is any indication, they may do extremely well when the sectional games are held July 18-20 in Seminole.

The West Pasco squad won all four games with scores of 32-0, 14-0, 12-1 and 9-2 in the championship game against Palm Harbor. Due to the 10-run rule, the first three games were shortened to four innings.

"We focus on the basics. Pitching and defense wins games," Grabowski said.

The West Pasco pitchers struck out 31 batters in 18 innings and allowed only two earned runs in four games for a team ERA of 0.67. Three pitchers - Tyler Hawks, Blaize Grabowski and Elliott Desvergnes - have had their fastballs clocked at 60-plus mph.

In addition to the standout pitching, the defense committed only two errors. In the championship game, third baseman Chris Johnson saved a run with a spectacular backhanded stop on a hard-hit grounder.

With the 67 runs scored, there were a fair number of stars on offense, too.
First baseman Mike Dodson led the team with four home runs, 12 RBIs and a .667 batting average. Ryan Glenn hit .615. Blaize Grabowski contributed 10 RBIs. Hawks and Johnson each batted .500.

As the team huddled together at the start of practice at Plummer Field, Dave Grabowski yelled out: "How do we play?"

In unison, the players raise their hands, showing the three letters on their wristbands and bellowed, "MHD."

Mean, hard and dirty.

"We want them to be mean, play hard and be willing to get dirty," Dave Grabowski said.

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