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Nature Coast 2008: Season Over

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: November 22, 2008

Updated:

The Hail Mary was batted down.

The last desperate attempt by the Nature Coast Technical High football booster club to save the Sharks' season ended Friday afternoon at the Hernando County Courthouse.

Judge Kurt Hitzemann ruled against the injunction filed by the Nature Coast Boosters, upholding Wednesday's decision by the Florida High School Athletic Association.

The decision laid out the penalties incurred by both Nature Coast and Groveland-South Lake High for the teams' roles in what game officials categorized as a bench-clearing brawl after the stadium lights went out.

Part of that decision included Nature Coast having to vacate its spot in the Class 3A state playoffs, which began last night.

As the Class 3A, District 6 champions, the Sharks would have hosted 3A-5 runner-up Williston High. The boosters filed the injunction Friday morning hoping to allow that game to be played.

"Obviously we're disappointed, but I understand his ruling," said Nature Coast Boosters chairman Larry Dodson, who was present when the decision was rendered. "Basically he felt we didn't present a strong enough case.

"...We felt it was an uphill battle going in. But we felt we had to try," he added.

A call made to Judge Hitzemann's chamber Friday afternoon was not returned. Judge Donald Scaglione did not hear the case as originally anticipated.

Scaglione coincidentally had a speaking engagement Friday at Nature Coast and removed himself from hearing the case because of logistical and ethical conflicts.

Nature Coast Principal Tizzy Schoelles admitted to being out of her league in terms of the legal aspects, but expressed disappointment, especially for the team's seniors.

"We felt the injunction was a long shot to begin with," Schoelles said.

Schoelles did speak with Dr. John A. Stewart, the FHSAA's executive director, in a failed attempt to appeal the decision.

Nevertheless, Schoelles will appeal the $10,400 fine levied on her school, including $4,800 for 48 counts of unsportsmanlike conduct. That appeal will be heard in December.

Nature Coast maintains that the majority of its players retreated to the fence line at South Lake's stadium, a plan put in place following a postgame incident with Central High last season.

"I'm still very concerned," Schoelles said. "The fine situation indicates every student was involved in a bench-clearing brawl and I know that's incorrect.

"As far as the team is concerned, it's time to move forward, look to next year and put corrective measures in so we never face this situation again."

Nature Coast Head Coach Jamie Joyner did not return a call seeking comment. The appeal of his six-week suspension remains up in the air. Had the Sharks played Williston, he could not have coached or attended the game in any capacity.

As a teacher, he has been removed from the classroom pending an investigation by the school system. He still remains on campus and can have contact with students, but cannot be left in a supervisory role.

Meanwhile, over in Williston, Head Coach Jamie Baker admitted a sense of relief that the status of the game was resolved.

"It's been pretty hectic for us too," Baker said. "We've had to sit around and wait not knowing what's going to happen. It's pretty nerve-wracking.

"...It's good (moving on to the second round) because we've got a chance of seeing our district foe (3A-5 champ North Marion) in the next round. It'd be nice. They barely beat us for the district championship. But our kids were ready to play regardless."

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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