TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

'From Worst To First'

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Jewels Drake brings out drinks to her customers at Beef 'O' Brady's while supporting her favorite sports team the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in Sebring.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRAD DICKERSON Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2008

SEBRING Toronto native Ray Walker would generally be cheering for the likes of Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays.

His home team ended their 2008 season with 86 wins and 76 losses, finishing fourth place in the American League East. Sitting atop those standings are the Tampa Bay Rays, who earned a trip to the World Series Sunday night after defeating the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Walker, who calls Highlands County home during the fall and winter months, seemed quite surprised to learn of the Rays' victory Monday morning, as he did not catch Sunday's marathon game, which ended just before midnight.

While the Rays might not be his favorite, Walker will be rooting for them as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies in this 2008 edition of baseball's fall classic.

"That's wonderful," he said. "I wanted to see the Toronto Blue Jays win first (though)."

Sherrie Null and Jewels Drake, mother/daughter servers at Sebring's Beef 'O' Brady's, came to work Monday sporting Rays apparel to show support for their favorite baseball squad.

"Isn't it awesome?" Null asked.

She spent Sunday evening watching Game 7 at a friend's home. When the Rays sealed the deal, Null and her fellow fan began jumping up and down and high-fiving in jubilation of the franchise's first World Series berth in its 10-year history.

Null said her family lives in Ohio and throws their support behind the Cincinnati Reds and other northern-based clubs.

"Now, I get to gloat a little bit," she said.

Drake, a former Tampa resident, has rooted for the Rays ever since they were called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It was shortened after the 2007 season.

"I just can't believe how great they're doing," Drake said.

On Saturday, Drake stayed late and took in Game 6 with two tables of Rays supporters. She didn't mind the longer shift - sometime after midnight - and was happy to keep the restaurant open so the fans could enjoy the whole game.

The Rays lost to the Red Sox for the second time in a row but Drake enjoyed working late and socializing.

"I love it," she said. "You get to meet people."

Beef 'O' Brady's manager Will Lovett said he will keep the restaurant open during the World Series games until the last pitch is thrown, no matter how late it gets.

He wants to accommodate the small crowd of Rays fans who have been coming to his bar - a family establishment that caters more to football fans - during the season to catch their local team in action.

Lovett also hopes to bring in some new fans who have jumped on the Rays bandwagon.

"Everyone likes a local team," he said "When they get on fire, they get a lot of new fans."

Like the rest of the country, the residents of Highlands County are reading the gloom and doom headlines about America's bad economic state. The success of the Rays, according to Lovett, serves as a welcome departure.

"It lifts everybody's spirits," he said. "It lets you take a break from all the bad news."

Fans looking to make the trip to Tropicana Field for the Series' first games can expect to pay a pretty penny. Three "amazing seats" for Game 2 are selling on eBay for $4,995.

Those not willing to shell out their hard-earned dollars for Series tickets may just settle for Rays memorabilia. Robert Leonardo, manager of Sports Fan in Lakeshore Mall, is benefiting from the team's post-season success with increased sales.

"I've gone through 48 hats of three different styles," he said. "I've had at least five player T-shirts in here and I've gone through all of them and had to reorder."

Rays merchandise has been outselling other baseball memorabilia powerhouses such as the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs, according to Leonardo.

Monday was a bittersweet day for Leonardo. Although business is good, the Providence, R.I., native had to deal with the disappointment of seeing his Red Sox lose.

Leonardo, a Sebring resident since 1982, was taking the defeat well.

It would have been different if his favorites from Fenway lost to their legendary rivals, the Yankees.

"I'm OK, because it's the Rays," he said. "They went from worst to first. That was unbelievable."

Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT