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Adam Adkins

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

Public School Drought Continues

The 1988 Plant High baseball team is planning a reunion in July to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its magical run to a state baseball title.

The Panthers also can celebrate something else during that get-together - they remain the last Hillsborough County public school baseball team to win a state title.

No county public school team has accomplished the feat since the Panthers defeated Fort Pierce Westwood 12-2 in the 3A title game at Baseball City in Haines City. The Brandon Eagles had the latest chance to end the county drought but fell 16-3 in a Class 5A state semifinal last week to Dunedin, the eventual state champion.

That's a fact former Panthers standout Salvy Urso, a sophomore starter on the '88 team, can't believe, considering the amount of talent the county has produced.

"I'm really shocked no team has won," Urso said recently.

Urso, who still lives in the area and coaches youth baseball, thought Brandon had a good chance. The Eagles' run, he said, was similar to the Panthers' in 1988.

"We came out of nowhere, too," Urso said. "We weren't pegged to win anything."

But the Eagles' magic ran out just a bit early.

Needed To Succeed: Leadership, Pitching

John Crumbley remembers two common characteristics on each of the three state title teams he coached during his tenure at Jesuit: senior leadership and dominant pitching.

One team that has that this year? Cambridge Christian, which plays today in the Class 1A state title game against Jacksonville Eagle's View Academy.
Lancers seniors Will Bakos, Erik Shears, Taylor Cabral and Michael Miller are the unquestioned leaders and each are major contributors. The four went a combined 5-for-15 with five runs scored and six RBIs in Monday's 18-0 state semifinal win over Deltona Trinity Christian.

And the Lancers have a great 1-2 pitching combination. Miller, a right-hander and the team's ace, and sophomore right-hander Matt Fishman are a combined 20-2 this season. Both are available to pitch today after Miller was pulled after two innings Monday with the Lancers comfortably ahead.

And that's a huge plus for the Lancers, who are trying to become the first Hillsborough County baseball team to win a state title since Tampa Catholic defeated Orlando Bishop Moore 5-3 in the 2001 Class 3A state title game at Legends Field.

"It winning state is a tough thing to do. I think pitching was the really dominant factor at the end," said Crumbley, who led Jesuit to 11 state final four appearances in 22 seasons and won Class 4A state titles in 1994, 1997 and 2000. "At that point in the state tournament, everybody is well coached, everybody can play defense and everybody can swing the bat a little bit or they wouldn't be there. There's no luck at that stage."

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STATE CHAMPIONS

PUBLIC NUISANCE

Brandon was the 14th Hillsborough County public school baseball team to advance to the state tournament since Plant defeated Fort Pierce Westwood 12-2 to win the 3A state title in 1988. None of the 14 returned home with the hardware. Here is how each team fared.

While a public school team hasn't brought home a state title in 20 years, private schools in Hillsborough County have fared much better, something that should bring smiles to the faces of the faithful at Cambridge Christian, which plays Jacksonville Eagle's View today in the Class 1A state title game. The Lancers are the 17th county private school team to advance to the state tournament since 1988. Five of the previous 16 returned home with a title. Here is how each team fared.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY STATE CHAMPIONS

PUBLIC NUISANCE

PRIVATE PROWESS

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