TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Taking It To The Next Level

SEBRING’S SIMMONS, VAZQUEZ SIGN BASEBALL SCHOLARSHIPS

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Front row from left, Nancy Simmons, Adam Simmons and Dennis Simmons are thrilled to see Adam sign a baseball scholarship with South Florida Community College. Back row from left, Sebring principal Toni Stivender, athletic director Terry Quarles, head coach Hoppy Rewis, assistant coach Chet Maxcy and assistant coach Buck Rapp look on Tuesday morning.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: May 21, 2008

SEBRING — After playing together for years in Dixie Majors and leading Sebring High School to the Class 4A state final four last year and the regional finals this season, Adam Simmons and Tony Vazquez's dream of playing college baseball will take them on different paths.

Simmons batted .370 this past season with three home runs and a team-high 32 RBI, and the right-hander was the ace of the Blue Streak pitching staff with a sparkling ERA of 1.04.

Simmons, who was selected to the FACA All-Star South team, isn't going far to realize his dream as he signed a baseball scholarship with South Florida Community College on Tuesday morning.

"This is something I've worked my entire life for," said Simmons. "I'm excited about the opportunity to play college baseball and the fact that I'm able to do it locally is great.
"I'm going to keep working hard and I'm looking forward to playing at SFCC."

Sebring veteran coach Hoppy Rewis thinks Simmons has what it takes to be successful at the college level.

"Adam is a self-made man," said Rewis. "He was a skinny second baseman when he started, but he hit the weights and worked hard to become a good player. "He loves the game, is a quiet leader and always does things the right way.
"He was our top pitcher, was one of our most consistent hitters and we're going to miss his leadership qualities."

South Florida coach Rick Hitt is excited about the prospects of Simmons joining the program.

"We've watched Adam the last couple of years and think that he fits our need of a pitcher and someone that can play the infield," said the Panther coach. "He's got good arm strength on the mound and he also has good composure which is real important.

"We don't have a lot of roster spots available because we have a lot of sophomores coming back, but Adam is a two-way player we look forward to having come out in the fall and making a contribution to our program."

Vazquez, who played a nifty first base, batted .314 with three homers and 27 RBI and signed with Polk Community College on Tuesday.

"This means everything,' said Vazquez. "All the hard work and the hours of practice paid off and I can't wait to get started in college. "I've got to hit the weights to get stronger, because first basemen in college have to hit with power."

Vazquez, who was also selected to the FACA All-Star South squad, will be living away from home for the first time and is looking forward to the college experience.

"It's going to be an adjustment for me being away from home and my family," the Blue Streak athlete said. "But it's the next step in my life and I'm ready."

Vazquez, whose older brother Kiko played for Sebring and is now playing for the University of Central Florida, has the talent to succeed at the college level according to Rewis.

"Tony is such a great person team-wise at the plate," said the Blue Streak skipper. "He has a great eye and defensively, his older brother Kiko is the only first baseman who compares to him around the bag. "He saved a lot of runs for us during the season with his glove, came through with some big hits and was a team leader.

"The strike zone will be more consistent in college and I think that will help Tony, and it won't surprise me at all if he does better in college that he did in high school."

Vazquez and Simmons will don their Sebring jerseys one last time when they participate in the 30th annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Baseball Classic, which runs Thursday through Saturday at Firemen's Field.

The FACA Classic is for the top senior players from around the state and numerous college coaches will be on hand as well as scouts from all the major league teams.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT