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His Rayhawk Strikes Out At School

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By KEITH MORELLI

kmorelli@tampatrib.com

Published: October 9, 2008

TAMPA - At 12 years old, Zachary Sharples is a lifelong Tampa Bay Rays fan.

"I've been a Rays fan since they started playing," he said. "I went to the second game in Rays' history with my mom. I was 2. My dad went to the first game."

His zeal for the team and the fact that they are in the playoffs for the first time got the best of him Sunday. After the Rays beat the Chicago White Sox to advance to the American League Championship Series, he, his father and his 4-year-old brother trucked to the barber shop and all got mohawks - aka Rayhawks.

That proved his undoing when he showed up for class at Lincoln Middle School in Palmetto in Manatee County on Monday: He was summarily dumped into an in-school suspension for violating the dress code.

Mohawks are stylish in the Bay area now because several Rays players - and scores of fans - have them.

The style didn't fly at school, Zachary said, even though the night before he washed out the blue dye. He knew the blue would cause problems, but he didn't think the style itself violated anything. He said he has never been in trouble before, but he has resolved to keep the style.

"I'm not shaving it off until they win the World Series," he said.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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