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Highlands Today

The Boys Of Summer

Lake Placid Baseball Team Stays Busy Under The Sun

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Lake Placid’s CW Vought (left) is congratulated after scoring in the fifth inning against DeSoto on Saturday at Head Field.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: July 2, 2008

AVON PARK — Darrell Heckman stood on the mound and went through a pitching motion with Lake Placid's Dillon Calahan on Saturday during the middle of the Green Dragons' morning game against DeSoto at Head Field.

Heckman, an assistant coach at South Florida Community College and former Green Dragon head coach, watched his protégé put the tips to good use, as Calahan struck out the next batter to end the inning.

"This is the time of the year you get rid of any bad habits," Heckman said. "You don't really have time to walk out and adjust a pitcher's motion when you're in a game during the season."

The Green Dragon varsity squad, along with coaches Dan Coomes and Matt Garcia, were taking part in a weekend mini-tournament in Avon Park that featured the Red Devils, Sebring, DeSoto and Hardee.

The summer tournament schedule has been beneficial to all the players, including Calahan, who missed last season due to a broken arm.

"He's really progressing nicely," Coomes said. "His motion is fluid, and I know he's just happy to be back out on the field."

Lake Placid showed off some pop in their bats in the escalating temperatures and humid conditions.
Catcher Brad Stayton smacked an RBI double for the Green Dragons first run of the day, but a surprise came in the form of CW Vought, who sent a pair of long shots to the wall and drove in a pair of runs, while scoring on a close play at the plate in LP's five-run third inning.

What's surprising about Vaught isn't his offense, but that he was wearing Lake Placid green, since the incoming senior was with the Blue Streaks during the spring.

"I just really wanted an opportunity to play, and Lake Placid was the best place for me to get that chance," Vought said. "I'm excited to be with the Green Dragons and to help this team anyway I can."

Vought, who'll play pitcher and outfield for his new team, got his only start last season for Sebring against Lake Placid in the Green Dragon Spring Break Classic, and that experience gave him a newfound respect for his new team.

"They played hard right until the last out," Vought said. "It was a real test for me, and I had to work to get their batters out."

When Vought told Coomes of the move to new territory, the Green Dragon head coach thought it was a joke.

"[Coomes] thought I was messing around when I told him I wanted to play for Lake Placid," Vaught said. "I feel that I've got the talent to make this team better. I've always had the pop in my bat and the hustle to make plays, and I feel that now I'll have the chance to show what I can do."

Like most of the varsity squads, the Green Dragons are using the summer to keep the veteran kids in shape, along with getting a chance to look at some up-and-comers.

"We're not wasting any time this summer," Coomes said. "We've been playing really well lately and it gives a chance to just go out and play with no pressure. If they make a mistake now, it's OK, but we also want to correct them and use this time for more instruction and team-building."

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