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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
For 91 seasons – or since Woodrow Wilson resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and First Lady Edith Wilson ran the country – prep baseball has been a staple in Hernando County.
The county has grown from one prep diamond program – at 122-year Hernando High School – to feature five varsity baseball programs (Weeki Wachee will officially become the sixth in 2012).
Yet during this span, reaching the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Baseball Finals has been akin to Melville’s Captain Ahab’s incessant quest for a white whale.
Sure, Beluga whales are white and they’re exceptionally rare – just like baseball titles.
How rare?
No Hernando County program except the Purple and Gold has reached the Final Four. The Leopard nine has reached the Final Four three times.
Make it four with this year’s HHS entry guided by Leopard alumnus Tim Sims.
But reaching states doesn’t necessarily translate to success bagging a white whale.
According to the FHSAA records, in 1930’s eight-team bracket, Hernando downed Tallahassee-Leon, 9-4, then solved Palatka, 6-5, but dropped the title game at Rollins College to Lakeland Senior, 5-2.
Ten years later, HHS returned to states and was immediately dismissed by Miami in the opening round, 15-2.
Then in 1967, or 44 seasons ago, Hernando High returned to states under the leadership of Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Famer Tom Varn Sr.
Varn’s squad accomplished what no local team has done before or since – capture the Class B (the classifications weren’t numbered the way they are now) state championship.
Ironically, it was the first and last time the FHSAA State Baseball Finals were held in Hernando County at HHS’ Emerson Field. Interestingly, Emerson Field was re-designed prior to the 1967 season.
Here’s their story.
’67 Leopard roster
Coach Varn’s ’67 roster was top-heavy with underclassmen. The 15-member roster featured seniors Bruce Wilson (1B), Buster McGee (SS), Grover Ellis (3B), Charlie Barnett (C) and Donnie Moen (OF); juniors Sammy Sharp (P) and Kenny Frazier (P); sophomores Tom “Bubba” Varn Jr. (2B), Rick Teele (RF), Hale Lee (CF), Larry Lee (LF), Larry Farmer (INF/P), Richard Frazier (P), Randy Raines (P) and freshman Eddie Moen (OF).
The team manager was Skeet Ragan and the team’s bat girls were a pair of teachers at the time: Barbara Manuel and Betsy McQuaig.
Coach Varn was assisted by Fred Farmer.
Manuel, who along with her husband Steve owns Hernando County Radio (WWJB/WXJB), spoke fondly of that 19-2 season.
“I’ve always loved baseball, even before we moved to Brooksville. My brother played baseball,” recalled Manuel, who taught at Brooksville Elementary that year before beginning a 30-plus year teaching gig at Hernando High the following year. “What I remember the most was we had a lot of fun in those days. Betsy (McQuaig) and I were kinda the cheerleaders for the team, yelling from the dugout and stuff. It was so much fun, I enjoyed every minute. … Looking back, that was one heck of a baseball team.”
It was a magical run for the Leopard nine. HHS lost twice that season, once in a disputed game to Turkey Creek in the West Coast Conference final in Clermont, 6-5.
The home plate umpire, a coach at Turkey Creek, disallowed two homers including a grand slam by Ellis, after he lost his batting helmet running around first base.
The other loss was to Tampa Catholic, 6-1.
Like all tremendous baseball teams, Hernando dominated the arms race. Press clippings noted that the HHS pitching staff notched eight shutouts, including seven one-hitters.
The team was led by Sharp, a southpaw, who finished 9-1, and right-hander Kenny Frazier (no kin to Richard Frazier), who finished 5-0.
As for two of the team’s other pitchers, Bubba Varn went 2-0 while Wilson went 3-1.
How solid was the mound staff? HHS permitted three runs during its postseason run.
Offensively, HHS was no slouch, outscoring its opponents by 112 runs, or 146-34.
McGee and Varn batted 1-2 in the lineup and each batted over .500 for the season.
Teele, Wilson and Hale Lee represented the heart of the lineup and each batted over .400.
How athletically gifted was this squad?
The Lee brothers allegedly turned down baseball scholarships for football scholarships at Southern Mississippi.
Sharp eventually played for Central Florida Community College and Stetson University.
Teele went to what is now Saint Leo University and Bubba Varn played two years at Seminole Community College.
Stretch run
Like most outstanding teams, the ’67 HHS squad closed with a flurry. In the Group Tournament (now called districts and regionals), the Leopards outscored their foes across four games, 37-1.
On the hill, Sharp, Wilson and Frazier scattered 12 hits in 23 innings.
Sharp pitched what would be today considered the regional final, a 2-1 win over heavily-favored Sebring to reach states.
In the state semifinal at Emerson Field, Frazier twirled a four-hitter in a nail-biting nod over Pensacola-Jay, 2-1.
HHS trailed after five innings, 1-0. In the sixth, McGee tripled and then scored on an error to tie matters, 1-all.
That’s the way it stayed until the ninth inning when Wilson singled and stole second base. But on the play, the MCC catcher threw the ball away allowing Wilson to scoot home, 2-1 Leopards.
McGee was the batting star with three of Hernando’s six hits in the final.
On the hill, Sharp went the distance allowing three walks while fanning nine
In the state final against Melbourne Central Catholic, HHS won, 2-1, scoring both runs in the fifth.
McGee doubled and scored on a subsequent throwing error. With two outs, Wilson singled, Bubba Varn walked and Hale Lee knocked in Wilson with a single.
For their efforts, five Leopards were named to the All-State team: McGee, Ellis, Sharp, Teele and Bubba Varn.
Memory lane
If a ’67 team reunion were held today, 14-of-15 players could attend.
Unfortunately, both Coach Varn and Coach Farmer have passed away along with one player – Raines, who according to his brother Chuck, died of complications from cancer in 1999.
Despite the years, Ellis carries a vivid picture of the team with him.
“We were a group of guys that Coach Varn had raised since Little League,” said the 62-year-old Ellis, who is a maintenance supervisor for the Hernando County School District. “Everything just seemed to click into play that season.
“The thing I remember most – it’s something you can’t ever forget – is getting two homers disallowed against Turkey,” added Ellis. “Let’s just say we got served some home cooking.”
What would Ellis say to the Leopard players prior to Monday’s 1 p.m. Class 4A state semifinal tilt against always-tough Tampa-Jesuit?
“I’m absolutely happy for the entire team and for the job Tim (Sims) has done with those boys,” said Ellis. “I’d tell them to stick together and play as one and they’ll have a good shot (to win).”
“Being from a small town like Brooksville and winning states was something,” admitted Richard Frazier, who owns B&F Septic Systems and is part owner of Frazier Farms in Brooksville. “What makes that season stand out is it’s not been done again.
“The thing I most remember is playing Little League with Bubba. We started together playing wiffle ball in the backyard,” recalled Frazier. “We were a close-knit group. We only had what four Little League teams back then and everybody knew and played against everybody. Our Northside team had me, Bubba and Larry on it.”
What about the impact of Coach Varn on his life?
“Coach Varn was a great friend and a great coach. The Varns lived right behind us,” said Frazier. “Coach would take us kids hunting. It was great.”
What advice would Frazier have for Sims’ players?
“They’ve got to do the best they can. If you give 90 percent and lose, it’s your fault,” noted Frazier. “If you give 100 percent and lose, so be it.”
“Back then baseball was a way of life. We didn’t have all these other choices in sports. That season was totally awesome,” commented Eddie Moen, who works for UPS. “As a player, we lost a couple state Little League title games by one run, but finally winning it in 1967 meant a lot, especially to the older guys on the team, like my brother.
“To me, it was awesome. Whether you were on the bench or not, we worked as a team,” emphasized Moen. “That teamwork and sense or purpose has helped me in life.”
What about Coach Varn’s role?
“He’s probably the best coach I’ve ever played under,” said Moen. “He knew each player and what they were capable of. Ball was his life and he knew the game inside out. If you were having a bad game, he’d know it. … The man cared deeply about kids. And he was there for all of us.”
Eddie’s older brother, Donnie, also commented prior to leaving Tuesday for Minnesota. You see, Donnie Moen lives in Brooksville half the year and lives the other half up north.
“What I remember of that ’67 team was we weren’t the greatest bunch of athletes this school’s ever had, but we pulled together probably better than anyone else,” stressed Moen, who served as a principal at F.W. Springstead and Moton Elementary until retiring a few years ago. “I remember I hit close to .300, but we had some great hitters like Rick (Teele).”
What were the keys to success?
“The thing that Coach Varn hated for us to do was walk,” recalled Moen. “‘Make them hit the ball. Make the other team make a play on us’ Coach Varn would repeat each day.”
What about the team’s last loss against Turkey Creek?
“It was one of the worst experiences of my life,” recalled Moen. “That umpire flat out stole the game from us. I’ll never forget that day. But I’ll always remember when Grover (Ellis) finally did touch home plate; he bowed and took his hat off to salute that umpire.”
What does Moen remember about the title game against Melbourne Central Catholic?
“I’ll never forget (Coach Varn’s) pregame speech,” Moen said. “I still get goose pimples. He talked about us getting so close before, but never closing it out.
“I also remember during the course of the game our great hitter, Buster McGee, striking out and walking back to the dugout and telling everybody ‘That will never happen again.’ And it didn’t.”
Why has no one before or since won a baseball state title in Hernando County?
“Looking back, the enormity of that season never goes away,” pointed out Moen. “Hernando’s always had good ball teams. We’ve had parent support, but I’m not sure there’s an ever been a group of guys that worked so well together. It’s one I will never forget.”
And Coach Varn’s impact?
“He’s looked at as an icon,” Moen said. “He’s one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. He treated us well. Between the lines he was an aggressive coach and if someone wasn’t play well, he had the sense to make a change. Coach also liked to play all the guys.”
How was the team honored after the state title?
“We didn’t do the things they do now,” shrugged Moen about getting a state medal, state ring, etc. “Back then it was a simpler time. I remember we got half a day off and Coach Varn took us all to Mudd Lake and we had a barbeque. Our happiness was intrinsic.”
Meanwhile, the search for the next white whale continues Monday afternoon at Port St. Lucie.
1967 Hernando High Leopards Baseball Roster (19-2)
Head Coach – Tom Varn Sr.
POS. YR PLAYER OCCUPATION
1B 12 Bruce Wilson Rents cottages in Cedar Key.
2B 10 Tom “Bubba” Varn Jr.$ NCT Asst. Principal.
SS 12 Buster McGee$ Publix meat manager in Hernando Co.
3B 12 Grover Ellis$ Maintenance Supervisor – HCSB.
P 11 Sammy Sharp$ School administrator – Putnam County.
P 11 Kenny Frazier Retired Hernando County detective.
C 12 Charles “Charlie” Barnett Lives in New Port Richey.
RF 10 Rick Teele$ Worked for SunTrust/Played at St. Leo.
CF 10 Hale Lee Over-the-road trucker/hauler.
LF 10 Larry Lee Over-the-road trucker/hauler.
OF 12 Donnie Moen Retired school administrator.
INF/P 10 Larry Farmer Cemex employee/Played at St. Leo.
OF 9 Eddie Moen UPS employee/retired from Winn Dixie.
INF/OF10 Richard Frazier B&F Septic/Frazier Farms in Brooksville.
P 10 Randy Raines Deceased/auto parts industry.
Mgr. 10 Skeet Ragan Lives in Georgia.
Assistant Fred Farmer Deceased.
Head Coach Tom Varn Sr. Deceased. FACA Hall of Fame member
$ – Denotes All-State selection
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at 352-544-5278 or [email protected].
