Taking The Next Step

AVON PARK -- The countless hours of extra batting practice and the thousands of ground balls that helped to hone his fielding have paid off in a big way for Steven Levine.

The South Florida Community College baseball player will continue to chase his dream of making it to the major leagues by playing for Florida Southern College in Lakeland in the fall of 2008.

The 19-year-old Levine, who played third base and batted .330 with a team-high 42 RBI for the Panthers last year, is excited to be able to play for the Moccasins, after signing a baseball scholarship with the Division II powerhouse last week.

"I'm really looking forward to playing for Florida Southern because I felt comfortable when I visited the campus and they have some nice facilities," Levine said. "The coaches were great and it's definitely a baseball school and that's what I wanted.

"My dream is to play in the major leagues and this is the next step in that process."

Florida Southern is a nine-time Division II national champion, with the last title coming in 2005.

The Moccasins play in the highly competitive Sunshine Conference against top teams like Tampa University, St. Leo, Rollins and Eckerd, and it's that kind of competition that attracted Levine to the small 1,948 student college.

"They play a tough schedule in conference and out and I've always enjoyed going up against the best," the Panther third baseman said. "They have a senior playing third base this season, but if I work hard and swing the bat well, I may be able to get some playing time next fall."

Levine, who was Highlands Today's 2006 Player of the Year as a senior at Lake Placid, led the Green Dragons to the first district championship in school history and a win in the first round of the state playoffs under the guidance of Coach Dan Coomes.

"Steven worked his tail off to make himself the player he is today," the Lake Placid coach said. "He played for me for four years and he never stopped working to make himself better at every aspect of the game. "He knows the game and is one of the best hitters to come out of this area in a long time.

"He is a versatile athlete that can play several positions and I think Florida Southern is a good fit for him."

Levine, who missed almost a month with injuries to his face after being struck by a pitch last year, can't wait for the spring to arrive so he can get back on the field for the Panthers.

"I got off to a good start last season and then took a ground ball to my nose and then got hit with a fastball that broke some bones in my face," the affable Panther athlete said. "I'm healthy now and I've been working hard and I wish the season was starting next week."

Levine's quick bat attracted SFCC coach Rick Hitt and nothing has changed.

"Steven has a bat that has a chance to be very good," the Panther coach said. "He is a hard worker, a quality guy and if he can stay a disciplined hitter, has a chance to be a quality player for us and for Florida Southern.

"They've had an outstanding program for years and I think Steven will fit in well there."

The pipeline to Florida Southern came through the words of former SFCC coach Mike Metcalf, who is now an assistant with the Moccasins.

"Steven made the adjustment to college pitching pretty quickly," said Hitt. "Florida Southern got a chance to look at him and they were impressed. "We are proud of our program and we try to prepare our players for the next level academically and athletically.

"Florida Southern has a strong program and if Steven continues to mature, he has a chance to make an impact in the middle of a pretty good lineup."

Levine knows that success doesn't come without hard work and overcoming adversity.

"Nothing has ever come easy for me, but my mother and father have always supported me and I've always kept working toward my dream" the future Moccasin said. "But that's OK, because when you work for something and are able to overcome things, it makes you appreciate what you have accomplished that much more."