Back to work, with new goals in mind

One by one they pulled into the back fields at the Max Long Recreational Complex late Monday afternoon, and within a few minutes it was evident that the Cobb family's truck had a decal in need of updating.

On the back window of their black Chevy Silverado - in fine blue trim and perhaps fittingly centered around the Superman logo - was a sticker commemorating Sebring's Dixie Ozone team's victorious march through the District 8 tournament.

They can now add the Ozone state tourney, too.

"To see these kids accomplish what they've accomplished, I'm sure the community is real proud of them," Ozone All-Stars coach Israel Gomez said, "and we're going to try and do our best out there."

The messages - "World Series here we come!" and "World Series bound!" - were plentiful, scribbled in marker on the windows of the families' trucks and minivans, as both the Sebring AAA (ages 9-10) and Ozone (11-12) teams began their pursuit of a national title in earnest Monday.

The initial shock and elation of winning the state championship last Thursday is gradually wearing off. But for the Ozone team, there hasn't really been much time to reflect on what it accomplished last week, when the All-Stars became the first team from Sebring to win a state title in this age division.

There's been too much fundraising. Too much travel. And entirely too much on the agenda.

After making the seven-hour drive Friday from Marianna, site of the Ozone state tournament, the boys headed to Winn-Dixie on Saturday and Sunday morning to begin fundraising.

They stayed for nine hours, each youngster working at least a three-hour shift, in an attempt to raise about $15,000 - or $1,000 a kid - for the upcoming trip to Texarkana, Ark., for the Ozone World Series, which begins on Aug. 1.

"We're hoping the community will step up and help us out," Gomez said.

In desperate need for cash, which would cover expenses like uniforms, airfare, transportation, lodging and food, the Ozone team will:

•Receive 10 percent of all sales at Dairy Queen on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

•Host a car wash at Pool Paradise on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

•Get $2 for each car wash at Love Bugg's next Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

•Collect 10 percent of all sales at Dairy Queen next Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

•Receive 10 percent of all sales at Beef O'Brady's next Wednesday, when there will also be a 25/75 raffle ($5/each or five for $20).

"It's been a rush doing stuff to get ready for the World Series," 12-year-old Andrew Starkey said. "We have no idea how the other teams will be, so we're both nervous and excited."

About 500 yards away, with his team gathered around in a small semicircle, AAA coach Dean Frazier went back to work.

His team stormed through the AAA state tournament, as expected, clinching the title with a 6-1 win over West Seminole in the winner-take-all finale last Thursday - and now it needs to refocus.

"This has been the hardest couple of days since I've been back, trying to gear down from winning a state championship and all of that emotion to where we have to refocus our energy to raising enough money for the kids to get there," said Frazier, whose team will be at Publix on Saturday taking donations through a hat drop.

"You just get stretched short when you come back, you don't realize how much it was going to be when you start representing the state of Florida, and it's a big responsibility," he added. "And we're going to try our best to represent the town of Sebring and the state of Florida, but it's been a bit overwhelming."

Frazier said he has been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support, as he's received calls and notes from community members commending him on the job he's done with the All-Stars.

Now it's time to tweak and fine-tune.

Frazier said that in the three weeks preceding the AAA World Series in Laurel, Miss., his team will work on shoring up its defense and becoming more adept at hitting off-speed pitches. Some will also work with pitching coach Mike Browning, a 17-year veteran of the minor and major leagues.

"They'll just go up there and have fun," Frazier said. "The pressure is off. There should be 11 of our equals up there, and we've got as good a shot as the rest of them."