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Softball: Iamurri says 12th state title his best accomplishment
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PLANT CITY — Naples High has been among Florida’s elite softball programs for more than 20 years. Coach Robert Iamurri has been there through it all. Twenty-three years coaching, 646 wins, 12 state championships.
Following the Golden Eagles’ 5-2 victory over Pembroke Pines Charter on Saturday afternoon at Plant City Stadium, Iamurri was asked to rank this year’s Class 4A state championship among all those other coaching milestones at Naples.
He hesitated just a second, then smiled.
“Well, this has got to be our best. We were probably a six-run underdog, and I don’t think we’ve been in that spot before.
“But this team played with heart, and that was the difference.”
Saturday’s win against Pembroke, who was ranked No. 1 nationally by Rivals.com and stood at 30-0 heading into the state championship, re-established the Golden Eagles among softball’s elite.
Naples was ranked No. 25 nationally before the championship, and that ranking will only go up. With zero Division I signees and just one hitter with a batting average above .400, what Naples accomplished Saturday was tribute to the team’s ability to make the most of what it had.
Fate did seem to be on the Golden Eagles’ side, too.
First, there was the Naples football team, which won a state championship during the fall — also for the first time since 2001, the last time Naples softball won a state championship.
Then there’s the scoreboard at Naples High, which Iamurri said had room for just one more state championship year.
Before Saturday’s game, assistant coach Steve Weigle used that fact to motivate the players.
“Let that space be yours,” Weigle told the Golden Eagles before the game.
They did.
After the game, the differences between the Naples and Pembroke players were striking. Pedigreed, tall, wearing sunglasses to shield their tears — the Jaguars spoke slowly and measuredly. Most of them have plenty more softball to play. They were clearly experienced dealing with the media.
Minutes later, the Golden Eagles veritably bounded into the press conference. Seniors Erin Beal and Ashley Pinkerton likely won’t play college ball next season. But for now, they were soaking up the moment.
Asked to introduce themselves, Beal started things off.
“I’m Erin, and I leadoff and play third base,” she said unassumingly.
The rest of the girls giggled, carefree with the elation of a championship season.
Iamurri added to their excitement by mentioning that they’d have to reprint a T-shirt his program had used after the 2001 state title.
Its message reflects the past, present and future of the Naples softball team — which could likely find itself back at next year’s state championship with so many athletes returning.
“The shirt says, ‘We may be has-beens, but at least we won ... and we will again,” Iamurri said proudly.
Tired of being stuck behind that cement mixer? Wondering if you need to buy stock in Bob's Barricades? 
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Naples High Softball: much to be proud of! Congratulations.
#1 Posted by jsgnaples on May 10, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Bob,
Unbelievable how you bring out the best in our girls! Congratulations! You and your girls are very special!
#2 Posted by almasonlybar on May 10, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naples Girls' Softball is consistently the strongest program in the county. We are hugely proud of them. But then "Girls Rule!"
#3 Posted by leprechaun on May 11, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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