Can Lightning Strike Twice?

SEBRING -- Lightning in a bottle was what the 2007 Sebring High School baseball team was if you ask Blue Streaks head coach Hoppy Rewis.

"We had an amazing ride," Rewis said. "That was a great group of kids. We had to run them out of the batting cages. They played with no fear and was the definition of a team. They never gave up, which was evident in that they scored a ton of runs with two outs."

Last year, the Streaks rode the crest of a wave that saw the team defeat defending regional champion Tampa Jesuit 4-2 to reach the state semifinals for the first time since 1966.

"I remember going crazy when we beat [Jesuit]," Sebring first baseman Tony Vazquez said. "Last year, we had a team full of all-stars and we played hard until the final out. It's an experience I'll never forget."

Turn the page to this year and the Streaks are reloading for another run at defending their district and regional championships, but the loss of seven starters will see Rewis and his coaching staff tested to find the right players to fill those spots.

"This group has a lot of potential," Sebring assistant coach Brian Rapp said. "As backups last year, these kids worked just as hard to be ready when their names were called."

"Most of these kids could have been starters on other teams," Rewis said. "We just didn't have enough playing time for everyone. This is their time to shine now."

Vazquez, a three-year varsity starter, is one of the top power hitters in the district, but he can also spray the ball to all fields, making him a very dangerous man at the plate.

Replacing the one-two punch on the mound of right-hander Chaz Abeln and left-hander Corey Ritter is no easy task, but Adam Simmons and Steven Fortner have the arsenal to compete with any staff in the district.

Simmons showed his dominant side by throwing a one-hit, 10 strike-out game in a 6-1 win over arch-rival Avon Park in last Friday's Bill Jarrett Early Bird Tournament at Head Field. His curveball and fastball kept the Red Devils guessing and kicked off the season on a positive note for the Streaks pitching staff, which is void of any lefties.

"[Adam] threw strikes and kept the ball down," Streaks assitant coach Chet Maxcy said. "He's a very intelligent pitcher and his curve looks like a fastball, which keeps batter's off balance."

In the field, the Streaks sport a solid infield with second baseman Cory Watt, shortstop Cody Higgins and third baseman Josh Chavis to go along with Vazquez.

All earned extensive playing time last season and that experience should pay dividends as the season progresses.

Graduating Charlie Peck and J.T. Tomlinson has left Sebring with a very green outfield.

Israel Gomez, Gus Williams and center fielder Jordan Bassett shore up the green pastures and the hope is their maturation process is a quick one.

"Jordan is a great defensive player," Rapp said. "He's shown that he is as solid as they come. He can play with anyone at that position."

The memory of last season's glory still lingers with the Streaks and the experience was not wasted on this year's squad, many who watched from the dugout as Abeln recorded the final out against Tampa Jesuit.

"They haven't forgotten that night at all," Rapp said. "That kind of experience stays with you and I know many of these kids hope they can put their own stamp on Blue Streak baseball like that team did last year."