But the biggest cheer was reserved for a quick team meeting following the event.
Ravens coach Landy Faedo gathered his players, congratulated them on their recognition, then closed with these words:
"No practice tomorrow, guys.''
Talk about a morale boost.
"That's a really good deal,'' Alonso shortstop Tito Martinez said. "Hey, I'm in.''
"This has to be a pretty big thing because it's the first time we ever haven't practiced on a Saturday,'' Alonso second baseman Tyler Ding said. "We're excited.''
When the players began to scatter, Faedo chuckled.
"The field is going to be underwater anyway,'' said Faedo, pointing out the recent cold inclement weather. "But hey, the guys deserve to feel good about themselves. This was a really, really nice thing. We're honored to even be in this company.''
Alonso baseball was selected over Plant football, which won the Class 5A state championship (the program's third state title in four years), and Palm Harbor University's soccer program, which also captured a state title.
"We all thought it was going to be Plant, we really did,'' Ding said.
"That's why it really says a lot about our school and our team,'' Martinez said. "This was like the best of the best. We proved last season we were the best in our sport, but now we're recognized against great teams in other sports. It's like an added bonus.''
Alonso, 30-3 last season, was the first Hillsborough County public-school baseball program to capture a state title since Plant in 1988 (and the first overall since Tampa Catholic in 2001).
With virtually all of their key components returning, including pitching ace Thomas Dorminy, repeating that championship feat might be a realistic expectation for the Ravens.
"Every team will give us their best shot,'' Ding said. "We've got to be ready for that. We can't be complacent. We have the talent to do well again, but we've got to be focused.''
"I think this year is going to be a lot like last year,'' Faedo said. "I don't look at it so much as having a big target on your back. Every time you play, the other team wants to beat you. That's the competition level of this county – always has been – and it's no different now. As great as last season was, we have to turn the page and start a new one.''
The Sports Club honor gave Alonso baseball one last opportunity to look back and celebrate.
"When you accomplish something like that, it involves many, many people,'' Faedo said. "And I'm talking about more than the players and coaches. There's the administrative support. And there are the parents. Our parents are great. They are really involved in our program and they make things easier for me. I can just coach.'' |
