| Baseball is considered America's pastime, and has | | | | found by taking the total bases divided by at |
| even been referred to as "America's national | | | | bats, was .476. During the 6A regional |
| religion." While that description may be a bit of an | | | | quarterfinals, Rudy Lavecchia helped Cypress Bay |
| exaggeration, baseball truly has been an important | | | | High School by hitting a home run in the sixth |
| part of our national culture. Not only are | | | | inning that tied the game, ultimately leading to a |
| professional teams, games, and players widely | | | | win. Following that home run, he also hit a double, |
| watched and followed, but children as young as | | | | which continued with Cypress Bay's domination. |
| four years of age are getting involved with the | | | | Along with Rudy Lavecchia's lean, athletic build, he |
| sport by playing t-ball. Many children spend their | | | | also possesses quick and strong hands. His level |
| summers playing the popular sport and continue all | | | | swing enables him to be a solid line drive hitter. His |
| the way through high school. Some even go on to | | | | excellent footwork helps him quickly get the ball |
| play at the collegiate level, and the best of the | | | | while playing in the outfield, and his good arm |
| best move on to play professional ball in either | | | | allows him to easily return balls infield. While his |
| the major or minor leagues. | | | | current skills make him a great prospect for junior |
| One young man from Florida could be well on his | | | | colleges and even Division II schools, Division I |
| way to playing collegiate baseball. Rudy Lavecchia, | | | | schools are also not out of the question, especially |
| a senior at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, | | | | if he puts on a little extra weight to increase his |
| Florida, plays his position in the outfield, mainly at | | | | size. He shows great potential from which any |
| right field. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall, and | | | | team would likely benefit. However, Rudy |
| only 155 pounds, the outfielder is a right-handed | | | | Lavecchia currently has not decided on his college |
| hitter and fielder, with throws being clocked at 81 | | | | plans yet. |
| miles per hour from the outfield. Rudy Lavecchia | | | | Not only does Rudy Lavecchia show great talent |
| also demonstrates speed by posting a 40 yard | | | | on the baseball field, but he also demonstrates |
| dash time of 5.1 seconds, and a 60 yard dash | | | | excellent academic skills. He currently has a high |
| time of 7.4 seconds. | | | | GPA and plans on majoring in Physical Therapy. It |
| In Rudy Lavecchia's senior season, he had a .333 | | | | seems as though he may be a "total package" |
| batting average, with five runs scored and seven | | | | for any college in both academics and sports. |
| runs batted in. His slugging percentage, which is | | | | |