Pasco Profile - Shaun Wiemer

Coach Wiemer This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on June 17, 2001.

By JASON VETTER

There was no easy way out for Shaun Wiemer. He didn't get to pick the better of two options. He had to choose between a guaranteed future and his true love. For the betterment of his life, he would leave behind the mistress that captured his heart.

Wiemer had closed his collegiate baseball career by hitting .356 with 10 home runs as the starting right fielder at NAIA Auburn-Montgomery. The Senators had reached the 1992 NAIA World Series and finished third.

Expecting to get drafted following the successful season, Wiemer instead was stunned to learn he wasn't selected. At age 22, Wiemer's life came to a fork in the road. He could follow some of his teammates out west to play in California Independent Leagues or he could stay in school and work toward his Master's degree in physical education.

For most, the decision would be simple. Playing for little money with a minuscule chance of getting to the Major Leagues versus getting a degree that allows for a solid career. For Wiemer, the decision represented the changing of his life.

The blood that flowed through Wiemer's veins contained the smell of freshly cut grass meshed with the feel of the sweet spot. School and life's other responsibilities came a distant second -- if second place was Rafael Belliard against Mark McGwire in a home run derby. Wiemer was a baseball player. Any free time was spent playing or watching the game. All his life was slanted toward one dream. After 17 years of fungo drills and cut-off men, Shaun Wiemer packed his dream away. At the same time, he grew from a boy with a dream into a man taking care of responsibility.

Nine years later, armed with his degree from Auburn University, the former Gulf High standout returned home to take over the struggling baseball program. In his first season, Wiemer guided the Bucs further than they had ever been. He taught the game of baseball the same way he made his life-changing decision: Do things the right way.

"It was a tough decision," Wiemer said of giving up his playing career. "I was close to my degree. That's what I was there for. I was frustrated I didn't get drafted. You've got to close the book on baseball sometime. The game is made to break your heart."

The 2001 edition of Gulf baseball was exactly what Wiemer wasn't as a player. Excellent with the bat, Wiemer slugged five home runs to go with a .436 average his senior season at Gulf. The Bucs of this past season -- the first to advance to the regional playoffs in school history -- were a group of scrappy slap-hitters that relied on pitching, defense and timely hitting to eke out low-scoring games.

Nonetheless, Gulf did everything right Players took the extra base, bunted each other over and were in the right place on defense. Lacking the talent of many of its opponents, Gulf won by doing the little things and always playing with intensity.

"If we had a lot of home run hitters, a lot of gap hitters, we would swing away a little bit more," Wiemer said. "I like old-school baseball. I like to use the small-ball. The percentages are with you. You put the pressure on the defense. Luckily, we were able to win close games with a bunt or hit-and-run."

Wiemer not only brought success but an identity to the Gulf program. To get the team to play at the intensity level he expected, the players ran and ran and ran until they did things right. The Gulf High community took notice.

"We would get people calling up all the a time wanting to know when we were playing next," Wiemer said. "They want to know when we're having another clinic.

"We've had a lot of response from people we played with, a lot of alumni. It's exciting to see everything keep going."

Along with alumni, Wiemer brought his family. His parents, Randy and Erika, run the concession stand at home games. " His grandfather, Robert, can be seen behind the backstop. His aunts and uncles also attend many of the games. Finally, Wiemer brought in his cousin, Ronny Wiemer, as an assistant coach.

"Baseball just goes deep in our family," Wiemer said. "We were always playing ball in the yard. My dad had us in Little League all the way through. My grandpa and dad were always so into it. They would always throw to us and watch us play."

Every Monday and Wednesday, Gulf's baseball team gets together for a two-hour practice. The parents watch as the players scrimmage and work on fundamentals they hope next season will result in the school's first playoff victory. Shaun Wiemer oversees it all. His family has always been about baseball. He has quite a big family these days.

BIOGRAPHY


Players on the baseball team pay tribute to Coach Wiemer
at the athletic awards assembly in May.

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