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Baseball Notebook: Milestone Awaits Permuy

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: March 27, 2009

Gaither High baseball coach Frank Permuy insisted Wednesday his players have no idea about the subplot for the Cowboys' big district game tonight against Sickles. So, any of them reading this today should gain some extra motivation to play well.

Permuy, who has been Gaither's coach since the program began in 1985, will go for his 500th career victory as a high school coach tonight.

Permuy, who in January was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and has a career record of 499-270, is vying to become the third coach in Hillsborough County history to join the 500-win club.

Former Jesuit coach John Crumbley (575 wins) and longtime Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta (538) are the county's only representatives.

Reaching the milestone, however, isn't Permuy's top priority. He is more concerned about finding a way to spark Gaither's offense, which has averaged only 5.5 runs per game this season - and only 1.5 in the team's four losses.

"We just haven't been hitting the ball," Permuy said, "and it's just puzzling, because that's one of the things we've always done."

To Gaither's credit, the pitchers the Cowboys have faced in their losses have been among the area's best this season - Mitchell standout Patrick Schuster (twice), and Alonso's starting tandem of Ray Delphey and Thomas Dorminy. But with only one regular starter hitting better than .333 - junior OF Drew Doty (.379) - Permuy wants to see the Cowboys (8-4) take a much better approach at the plate.

EARNING A SPOT: Sophomore P Javaris Reynolds has only two career starts under his belt, but he has done enough in those outings in the eyes of longtime King coach Jim Macaluso to earn a chance to be a regular in the Lions' rotation.

Reynolds tossed a complete-game gem Tuesday in a 4-1 victory against a solid Armwood squad, limiting the Hawks to five hits, walking one and striking out two. It was the first complete game for a Lions pitcher this season and helped King (4-8) win its second straight following a seven-game losing streak.

"He's a talented kid," Macaluso said. "He's got a shot to be a good ballplayer."

CONFIDENCE BUILDER: Cambridge Christian performed well last week at the Westminster Sunshine Classic in Fort Lauderdale, winning three of four games and finishing as the tournament runner-up.

Coach Rick Shears said he believes the performance will give the Lancers a confidence boost.

"By winning and reaching the championship game, now they know they can go any place and have a chance to win," Shears said.

Junior OF/P Derek Self and senior IF/P Trent Tagliarini earned all-tournament honors. Sophomore C Andrew Widell earned the Golden Glove award.

EXTRA BASES: When Blake dealt Robinson a 3-2 loss Saturday, it marked the first time since 2006 the Yellow Jackets (2-10) have won multiple games. The win also snapped a nine-game losing streak. ... Plant has received tremendous pitching during its current five-game win streak, with the staff posting three shutouts. Stan Rowe and Tanner Anderson combined on a four-hitter against Blake, Jake Lowe tossed a two-hitter against Robinson and Mychal Givens threw a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts against Hillsborough.

Keyword: Prep Sports, to view the divisions and schedule for the 29th annual Saladino Tournament, which is scheduled for April 4-10.

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