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Riverview High Pitcher Provides Team's Relief

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By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

RIVERVIEW - When Bill Leiby's team gets in a tight spot this season he will look to Joe Sumner to provide a sense of relief.

"He's definitely one of our better guys coming out of the bullpen and we'll use him a lot in middle relief and setup situations," said Leiby, who is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Riverview High School baseball team.

Leiby has been Sumner's coach in each of the senior's four years on the team.

Sumner, 18, began playing baseball when he was 4 and hasn't been able to stop.

"I love baseball and I'm not really into other sports that much," Sumner said. "I like the intensity, unpredictability and fighting through the bad days."

Sumner is optimistic about his squad's chances this season.

"I think we're going to be pretty good this year," he said. "A lot of the guys on this team have grown up together."

The farthest Riverview has gotten during Sumner's tenure was a loss to Gaither in a regional tournament two years ago.

While baseball has been a big part of his life, Sumner has other plans for his post-high school career.

He is applying to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga., where he wants to study range management in hopes of becoming a beef cattle manager.

The Balm native is a member of Riverview's FFA chapter.

"When you think of Joe, you think of someone who's a hard worker on and off the field," Leiby said of Sumner, who has been nominated as one of the team's captains.

With college looming on the horizon - Sumner is planning on taking the SATs again this spring - his immediate focus is the Sharks' upcoming season.

"We have one thing on our mind as a team, and that's getting as far as we can this year," Sumner said.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Joe Sumner

AGE: 18

SCHOOL: Riverview High School

GRADE: 12th

SPORT: baseball

FUTURE PLANS: Hopes to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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