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Fresh Faced Rams Look To Continue Success

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: February 25, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY - During his 25 years at the helm of the Ridgewood High baseball program, Larry Beets has built the Rams' program into a perennial force throughout Pasco County.

Coach Beets' trams have reached the state playoff series in each of the past seven years, compiling an eye-popping 153-55 record during that span.

Last season, the Rams were fortunate to have a large, experienced senior class to lean on and deliver another 20-win season.

Yet because of that pesky reality known as graduation, this year's Ridgewood roster is, at many positions, as green as the grass of Beets Field.

Are there going to be rough patches to maneuver through?

Absolutely, Beets said.

"We've got no choice," he said of how he feels the younger players will respond. "We're put in this situation, and it's either success or failure, that's it."

The most glaring absence from the Rams lineup is Ben Koenigsfeld. He is in his first year playing college ball at West Point.

Not only was he a monster at the plate – he led in every major batting category – Koenigsfeld was also Ridgewood's staff ace on the mound. He had a sub-1.00 ERA, completed all 10 games he started, and struck out 111 batters.

As a whole, the pitching staff returns only one member with any varsity experience at all, junior Jay Mattos.

Penciled in as Beets number-one starter, Mattos begins the 2008 season still recovering from slight nerve damage in his pitching elbow. He will indefinitely be on a limited pitch count.

Beets will count on junior southpaw David Clouthier, and a pair of right-handers, senior Ryan Simpson and big freshman Andrew Donaldson, to eat up quality innings throughout the year.

Offensively, Ridgewood also took a hit from the transfer-bug by losing catcher Doug Burlett. The newest Mitchell High Mustang was right behind Koenigsfeld in most offensive stats.

Burlett's departure means the Rams' top four bats need replaced.

Stepping up to lead the way will be catcher Mike Vavasis (.303 BA in 2007), Mattos (.288 BA), senior John Collins and first year starter Jon Balk.

Ridgewood averaged six runs a game in 2007, and Beets said this year's squad will have to continue learning the art of manufacturing scores to compete. Vavasis is the only player on roster to have registered a varsity home run.

Leadership is also an intangible Beets agrees he lost with Koenigsfeld and other graduated seniors. He said he is still waiting to see who will assume the role.

"A leader is someone with ordinary abilities and extraordinary compassion for the game," Beets said. "Nobody has stepped up yet, but someone's going to have to."

The long-time skipper is prepared for the 2008 campaign to be challenging, but he said the annual objective for any Rams team remains the same.

The goal every year is to get into the playoffs," Beets said. "We've had three months now to get ready."

To reach that height once again, the coach's time-tested motto, Hit The Top Step Running, will need to be fully realized by this youthful bunch. The letters HTTSR can be found smattered all around the Ridgewood campus as a reminder.

On Beets' teams, hard work is a requirement, not an option. Looking at the Rams in the early goings, they have nice talent but will need to be giving their coach all they've got to keep the tradition and streak alive.

Beets knows it is not an insurmountable task.

"It's not like it's some debilitating disease we have," Beets said of his boy's lack of experience. "We have the opportunity now to get better, that's the thing. It's a process."

With 33 total years of high school coaching under his belt, the Rams can for now rely on Beets' consistency until their greenness morphs into the leadership of the Ridgewood Blue and Orange.

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