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Domaracki Ending On A High Note

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By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

When Gaither High's Brendan Domaracki signed a baseball scholarship with Stanford University, some people had questions.

Namely: Why?

Why travel 3,000 miles to the West Coast when there were opportunities at Florida schools?

"Because I want a Stanford degree," Domaracki told everyone. "And because I want to play in the College World Series."

So here's the dream-come-true story of Brendan Domaracki: He has earned an economics degree (3.24 grade-point average) from Stanford. Today at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., Domaracki is expected to start in right field when Stanford (39-22-2) faces Florida State (54-12) in the CWS opener.

After the Cardinal failed to reach Omaha in his first three seasons, it's the sweetest possible finish for Domaracki. And it's one filled with irony. FSU coach Mike Martin wanted Domaracki, even visiting the family's living room for a recruiting sales pitch.

"I'm sure all of this won't hit me until much later," Domaracki said. "Every college player dreams of getting to Omaha. Hopefully, we won't be too star-struck. But really, I don't think that will happen. We've got some business to take care of."

For Domaracki, business has been good.

His first three seasons were an exercise in patience, a mix of frustration and happiness, culminating in senior-year timely production and confidence. Domaracki is batting .257 with one home run, 19 RBIs and only one error.

"I wish it could've been hitting .400 with 20 homers," Domaracki said. "The numbers aren't as good as I would've liked. But hey, we're going to the College World Series. And it means a lot just to be a regular in the lineup."

Besides, it's difficult to quantify Domaracki's Stanford experience solely with baseball statistics.

"I'm always going to say I learned about 10 times more outside of the classroom than I did in the classroom, not to take anything away from the great education," Domaracki said. "But it has been the friends, the relationships, the growing up a long way from home, the maturity you naturally acquire ... those are the things that stay with you.

"It's a quicker pace. Everybody at this school brings something special to the table. It's a long way from Tampa - and Tampa will always be home. But on the other hand, you get to discover a different world."

His parents, Guy and Lauren, have noticed the change.

"It has been exponential - in baseball, in academics, in life," Domaracki's father said. "When you look at it, that's a pretty drastic change in a lot of areas. He has grown and matured. Now he gets a reward such as this College World Series, and that's a real treat for all of us.

"There have been times when we wished he was closer to Tampa. But there have been experiences he'll remember the rest of his life."

Domaracki might have a full-time return to Florida sometime this summer. He's ready to move on from baseball and join the work force, already exploring some positions around the state.

And he still has a baseball-related dream.

"I'd love to get into the front office of a team," Domaracki said. "Maybe I could work my way up to being general manager of the Rays."

Ah, the Rays.

Domaracki's favorite team.

On a campus filled with fans of the Yankees and Red Sox - not to mention the Giants and Athletics - Domaracki finally has some bragging rights.

"Between Stanford getting to the College World Series and the Rays making a run at their division, this has been one fun season," Domaracki said.

And it's not over yet.

HCC REUNION: Hillsborough Community College's 1988 baseball team, which won the junior-college national championship, recently gathered for a 20th anniversary reunion in Tampa.

Attendees included Jamie Allen, Kevin Langiotti, David Macaluso, Bryan Manicchia, Mark Mitchelson (the reunion organizer), Derrick Pedro, Todd Rodriguez, Russell Romano, Matt Sines, Randy Sodders, Brian Stephens, Matt Ulvenes, Bob Undorf and Ricky Ware, along with Coach Gary Calhoun and trainer Scott "Kiki" Keller.

Keller presented each player with their original jersey, worn during the 1988 season.

Also attending were the parents of Todd Cason, a reliever and spot starter who was killed in a motorcycle accident five years ago. Mitchelson and Calhoun announced that Cason's number would be retired at HCC.

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