The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 96

8-Polk The Tampa Tribune, Saturday, April 7, 1990 muiiM Lakeland captures girls title Dreadnaughts defeat Winter Haven, Bartow V. .1, v-v- A. I ,1 "I Jm ''v. 4 -X, X. i 11 1 J.

7 I Devils dominate Winter Haven boys win tennis tourney By PATRICK CONNERS Tribune Sports Writer WINTER HAVEN Winter Haven tennis coach Gary Whitman knows a good thing when he walks Into it. So excuse him If he sounds a little reluctant to accept any congratulations following his team's resounding victory in the Polk County boys tennis tournament Friday. "I haven't done a thing," Whitman said. "All the praise deserves to go to the kids." Winter Haven dominated the tournament placing all seven spots in the finals and clinching the tournament victory Thursday. At press time, Winter Haven held a 25-16 lead over Haines City with one doubles match remaining.

Haines City captured both the No. 1 and No. 2 finals from Winter Haven players. In the No. 1 final, Vimal Patel beat Chris Muller 6-3, 6-2.

In the No. 2 final, Brett Stearn beat Eric Dean 6-3, 6-3. Winter Haven's Russell Briggs won the No. 3 final by default over Haines City's Richard Roy, who was out of town because of a death in the family. Winter Haven's first two finals victories came in the No.

4 and No. 5 finals over Lakeland players. In the No. 4 final, Coco Nguyen beat Quoc Truong 6-2, 7-6. In the No.

5 final, Trey Heath beat Will Curtis 6-4, 6-1. "I think this tournament shows that there's not a lot of difference between our top guys and our bottom guys," Whitman said. "It's fortunate that we're so even." a Tribune photograph by GREQ FIGHT land High on Friday at the Polk County Tennis Tournament. Auburndale's Kelly Payne lost in the final of No. 2 singles to Nancy Schultz of Lake- Sebring, Avon Park win conference McBride 6-0.

Gurney and Melendy won the No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-2 over Avon Park's Wentworth and Alex Schneider. "They're as tough as nails right now," Sebring coach Ken Haysley said. "I think we're peaking right now." In the girls competition, the Lady Devils swept every bracket to win their fourth straight conference title. Tonya Farrens had to battle back in the second set to down Sebring's Kim Boone 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) in the No.

1 singles, and Michelle Lambiris took the No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win over The rest of the brackets went to Sebring in straight sets. Jason Heacock won his third consecutive No. 1 singles title, defeating DeSoto's Mike Lamb 6-2, 6-2. Heacock then teamed with Mike Lao, the No.

2 singles champion, to take the No. 1 doubles title by a score of 6-2, 6-1 over David Moretz and Casey Mickler of Lake Placid. Lao stopped Avon Park's David Sanchez 6-1, 6-0 for the No. 2 singles championship. Matt Gurney swept DeSoto's McGee Poole 6-1, 6-0 in the No.

3 singles final, and Russ Melendy blanked Avon Park's Chris Selena Roberts prick brothers a double scoop of baseball talent LAKELAND The last time anyone saw one without the other was on October 28, 1968. Then, in a South Carolina delivery room, Tod Frick, born first, was without his twin brother, Chad, born just four minutes later. "Frick" (Tod) and "Frack" (Chad) have been inseparable since. "We're always together," Tod said. "People around school get us mixed up at first, but we'll answer to anything." As starters for the Florida Southern Moccasins, the two junior transfer baseball players live together, eat together, attend class together and some may say breathe together.

"It's like we are one person sometimes," Tod said. "When we were recruited, we were recruited together. Everything we've ever done has been together. We are so similar in so many ways. I know what he's thinking and he knows what I'm thinking." When FSC coach Chuck Anderson was looking for players that would help the Mocs continue their winning tradition, he found a double scoop of talent "We needed a catcher and an outfielder," Anderson said.

"So we took the package. They are both so similar on and off the field. They are well-like by everyone from the team to the faculty from what I understand, yet they are competitive and have that bulldog desire on the field. "They have that brotherhood bond. They are twins, but they switch between one being big brother watching out for little brother.

They are close-knit youngsters." Even their statistics are as close as stitches on a baseball. As the Mocs catcher and designated hitter, Tod is hitting .360, while Chad is right behind with a .356 average playing in the outfield. At Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina, they shared South Carolina Co-Player of the Year honors and both were named to All-State and All-Conference teams. When they graduated from high school in 1987, they left in tandem to attend Miami-Dade Community College. There they were both named to all-state and all-conference squads.

Tod holds the school's career record with 119 hits, while Chad ranked second with 114. Tod set the school record with 95 career RBI, while Chad was third on the all-time list with 88. "I was never behind him until our freshman year in college," Chad said. "But then he hit .452 and I hit .393. I let him know that would never happen again.

I'd never let him get one up on me like that We kid around a lot" But it's no laughing matter. Actually it's kind of scary how similar they are. Just an example of how they are almost one in the same mind and body, Tod and Chad were interviewed separately, but to compare their responses is almost haunting. "Really, I think we pull for each other more than we do for ourselves," Chad, 5-11, 180 pounds with curly brown hair and a wide smile, said. "If I have a good day and he doesn't I can't enjoy it.

I worry about him. That's the tough part about being twins, you have more than yourself to worry about." "If I don't do well, I want him to," Tod, 5-11, 180 pounds with curly brown hair and a wide smile, said. "I really pull for him more than myself. That's the hardest thing about being twins is that you just don't have yourself to worry about" But it's difficult to believe that this is such a "Leave it to Beaver" sort of existence. Surely there has been jealousy, envy, fights over the same girl, fights over the same position, sibling rivalry and hard feelings.

Surely they get sick to death of one another. After all, seeing your spitting image day after day must wear you down. Imagine the identity crisis. "We've never been apart," Chad said. "We've always gotten along.

We'd have little fights in the back yard, but that's about it I honestly couldn't imagine what it would be like without Tod. The only thing that I can relate it to is when Tod's not playing -1 catcher I feel very weird inside. "When I see someone else behind the' plate, I don't feel the same out there. It doesn't effect the way I play, but it does feel different. But even then, I know he's in the dugout and not far away." But the day will come when Tod and Chad will part ways and the lineup card will list one Frick instead of two.

"Even in Little League, when he pitched, I was the catcher. When I pitched, he was the catcher," Chad said. "We've always said the only time we'd ever split up would be to sign at the pro level. "It's hard to believe that day will come. We're best friends.

I've never wished he wasn't around. Never." By DAVE MORLOCK Tribune Correspondent AUBURNDALE Lakeland High won the Polk County girls tennis team championship Friday at the Auburndale City Courts. Lakeland won with depth and consistency by placing individuals or teams in six of the seven championship matches. Nancy Schultz and Kristen Put-man won singles titles for Lakeland while Schultz and Becky Dee cap-I tured the No. 1 doubles champion-, ship.

Tonya Williams of Bartow just missed winning two championships as she defeated Dee in the No. 1 singles final. But in the No. 1 doubles final, Williams and partner Lee Ann Boren dropped the match to Dee and Schultz. Williams was obviously fatigued as a result of playing three matches in less than six hours.

Winter Haven was second in the team competition followed by Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Kathleen and Lake Wales. Final teams were not available at press time. SlflQttt FlMtl 1 Wit! (6) d. Dm (L) 6-2. 6-2 Hr I Sclute (I) Payna (A) 6 3 6-1: Ht I SjOcIkwi IWH) Wnghl (A) 6-2.

61 N. 4 Putman (II Kesterson (A) 61. 6-7 (7-3). 6-2: Kt. I Carrft (WH) Meddic (L 6-3.

6-3. DwMm Swiltinili M. 1 Dm and Schultz (LI Hanson and Cornell (K) 6-4. 6 4 to. 1 Williams and Bonn (6) d.

Chambers and Wright (A) 6-3. 6-2: to. 2 Burden and Putman (L) Meiter and Tyler (LG) 61. 6-1. to.

2 Siddiqu and Race Kesterson and Payne (A) 6-t. 6-2. OwMts Finals to. 1 Dee and Schultz ((.) d. Williams and Boren (B) 2-6.

S-2. 7-5. tennis titles Sebring's Minnie Casino. Wanda McNeely, Cathy Ryan and Leslie Laye also won singles titles for Avon Park. Farrens and McNeely combined for the No.

1 doubles title, defeating Lake Placid's Dawn Hartman and Pam Galloway 6-2, 6-1, and Lambiris and Ryan swept Sebring's Karlissa Gonzolez and Teryl Clark 6-2, 6-0 in No. 2 doubles. However, Galloway provided the upset in the girls tournament, defeating second-seeded Jeri Ann Parker of DeSoto in the first round of the No. 4 singles. She eventually lost to Ryan 6-1, 6-0.

Baseball City pitching staff its strength By SCOTT PURKS Tribune Sports Writer HAINES CITY The revolving door of the Florida State League traditionally leaves Baseball City with a solid group of pitchers. This year is no different Eight pitchers from the Kansas City Royals' Class A Appleton, club are; walking through Baseball City's door this -season. Appleton's top two starters last season, Greg Harvey and John McCormick, went; 13-7 and 8-5, respectively, with ERAs under 3.50. Bill Drohan and Hipolito Pichardo combined for a 11-5 record and respective ERAs of 1.32 and 2.97. But Mark Parnell, who earned 28 saves and a 2.01 ERA for Appleton, may have the best arm of any this year.

Baseball City's Kevin Shaw (3-1, 2.54 ERA) returns after suffering an injury in June. "Pitching will definitely be our strong point," said first-year manager Brian Pold-berg. "But I'm not that concerned about wins and losses as I am with developing these young arms. The Royals go by a pitch limit and we'll stick to that." Poldberg, who managed Appleton last season, also has the fortune of handling several strong legs and solid hitters. Hugh Walker, an outfielder named the best prospect In the Royals' organization last season by Baseball America, hit .256 with 40 RBI in 103 games for Appleton.

Jacob Brumfield, a Class AA Memphis Chick last season, and Daren Watkins, who missed last season due to injuries, make up the rest of Baseball City's starting outfield. First baseman Mike Beall, second baseman Sean Collins (who hit .322 for Class A Eugene, last season) shortstop Chris Garibaldo and third baseman Jeff Garber fill out the infield. Huascar de Leon, who hit .255 for Baseball City In 103 at-bats last season, will be the catcher. "We have good speed and can hit some," Poldberg said. "We'll probably be stealing quite a few bases." I '3 i By BOB O'LEARY Tribune Sports Writer SEBRING As expected, the Sebring boys and the Avon Park girls tennis teams each won their respective Heartland Conference tournaments Friday.

The Sebring boys swept all but the No. 4 singles title at the Harder Hall courts. The Blue Streaks had to default in the No. 4 singles when Marcel Lottito, an exchange student from Brazil, was called out of town. Lake Placid's Richard Benedict broke' through to win the No.

4 title, winning 6-4, 6-4 over Avon Park's Bryce Wentworth. L-Tigers expect to be strong up the middle By PATRICK CONNERS Tribune Sports Writer LAKELAND The annual unfamiliari-ty has descended upon Lakeland Tigers manager John Upon. Another new season, another roster full of new faces. Some things always change. "That's the best thing about the minor leagues," Lipon said.

"You never know what your going to get or what you've got until the season starts." Last year Lakeland had the best pitching staff in the Florida State League, and on the strength of its defense, the Tigers finished 77-60 and qualified for the playoffs. This year, Lipon said, it appears that defense could again be the team's strength, though it is still too early to say for certain. "I think catching the ball and throwing the ball we should be OK," said Lipon, who is in his 23rd year as a minor-league coach. "We've got some very good pitching prospects here." The top pitching prospects could turn out to be right-handed starters John DeSilva and Greg Gohr. At Brigham Young, DeSilva was named the Western Athletic Conference's Player of the Year, and last year between Niagara Falls, N.Y.

and Fayetteville, he had 78 strikeouts in 77 innings. DeSilva started Lakeland's opener at Winter Haven on Friday night. The most notable prospect could be Gohr, who was the Tigers' No. 1 draft choice in 1989. His first start is tonight against Winter Haven at Marchant Stadium.

Right-hander Ed Ferm and left hander Darren Hursey round out the starting rotation. "All these kids could have the greatest arms in the world, but it doesn't mean anything unless they can get the ball over the plate," Lipon said. "That's what we have to find out." The top infield prospects backing up the pitching staff will be shortstop Keith Kim-berlin, who led the New York-Penn League in four defensive categories last year. At first base will be Luis Cruz, who is expected to be the Tigers' power hitter. The two top prospects in the outfield could be center fielder Jody Hurst and left fielder Jeff Goodale.

United Press International photograph Spring training stretch Tiger pitcher Jack Morris works on a leg stretch before a game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Detroit's split squads were 1-1 on Friday, beating Houston 6-5 in Lakeland and losing 6-5 to Cincinnati in Plant City..