Originally published January 27, 2009 By Steve Ellis - DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER
FSU's Lopez hopes move from shortstop to catcher pays off
See his FSU profile link HERE

Grab a catcher's mask and a glove.

With those words, Rafael Lopez began a career at a new position, and one that could land him in a starting role for Florida State's season opener. Lopez was wearing street clothes when he positioned himself behind home plate as a Florida State assistant coach sent the pitching machine whirring.

"After that, he said let's give it a try," Lopez said.

Lopez, who was recruited out of community college to play shortstop, had toyed with the idea of being a catcher since his high school days at Summit Christian School.

"I bought into it because I wanted to play there," Lopez said. "I've been told my whole life I was too slow to play D-I baseball. I figured professionally I would be a second baseman or someone would turn me into a catcher."

That person was FSU coach Mike Martin Jr., who had directed Lopez to put on a catcher's mask for the first time.

"I was really curious to see what he would look like," Martin Jr. said. "He looked pretty solid and we said let's go for it. He's a fast learner. He's a knowledgeable baseball rat which helps a lot.

"He's got a chance to be pretty good. The hands coming from shortstops, the hands are always going to be there. A lot better than most catcher's hands."

Martin Jr. wants Lopez to work on his lower-body strength to prepare for a long season crouched behind the plate. But the former FSU catcher said that Lopez has the kind of body that is already showing to be durable.

Another former FSU catcher, Buster Posey, said the greatest challenge for Lopez will be to get him physically prepared to toil behind the plate. Posey earned All-America honors at shortstop as a freshman before moving to catcher as a sophomore. As a junior last season, he won the Golden Spikes Award and the Johnny Bench Award, among dozens of other honors.

"I think it's just a matter of getting your body in shape enough to squat back there for nine innings and the movements it takes to get down and block a ball," Posey said.

Posey, who recently married and bought a townhouse in Tallahassee, has just renewed working out in Dick Howser Stadium in preparation for San Francisco's spring training in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The top pick of the Giants in the 2008 MLB Draft received an invite two months ago to join the parent club in spring training. He has not seen Lopez at work yet.

FSU coaches have in Lopez a catcher who is learning from scratch and that, said Martin Jr., can be a good thing.

"You don't have to go back and get rid of bad habits," Martin Jr. "That's half of the battle."

Catcher was a position that Lopez had considered playing in high school. Instead, he earned all-county honors as an infielder at Summit Christian. From there he went to Boston College but redshirted during the 2007 season.

"I can remember Easter weekend it was snowing against UNC and I'm pulling tarps and cleaning ice off the tarp," Lopez said.

Lopez transferred to Indian River Community College after getting offers from four-year colleges and hit .375 with seven home runs, 43 RBIs and 18 stolen bases last season. He earned a spot in the Florida Junior College all-star game.

All along he was determined to return to the ACC — but in a warmer environment.

After baseball, the son of a doctor wants to be a pharmacist. In the meantime he's focusing on science classes and learning his new position on the diamond. His teammates, especially the pitchers, like what they've seen thus far.

"He's really adapted and looking good behind the plate," said freshman pitcher Austin Wood. "And he can hit the ball well."

Is there one pitcher Lopez is having more difficulty catching than another?

"I would say Johnny Gast. Every ball he throws moves," Lopez said. "Fastball moves one way one pitch and next way next pitch."

Lopez, who has recovered from minor knee surgery in October, is also working on his accuracy on his throws to second as well as his communication with FSU's young pitching staff.

"I'm getting comfortable there, that's the big thing," Lopez said.

Beebe Soberal Shines at Warner Southern
Ivana returns for her sophomore year after being named to the All-FSC Team her freshman year.  Ivana was the third leading scorer last season, averaging 11.6 ppg.  She also was named FSC Player of the Week two weeks consecutively. Ivana, also entered the Royals record books last season, as she tied for second all-time in three-pointers made in a game with five and is eight for three pointers made in a season with 62 three-point field goals made.

Prior to joining the Royals, Ivana had an illustrious high school career at Summit Christian School in West Palm Beach, Fla.  In her senior year Ivana was named 2006-2007 Palm Beach County Player of the Year. Previous to that she was named All-County First Team two seasons in a row, '04-'05 and 05-06. As a freshman in '03-04 she was named to the All-County Second Team

Kyle Stryker, Class of 2004
Kyle fast-tracked to a B.S. in Film from Full Sail University in Orlando FL in May of 2007. He immediately relocated to Los Angels, CA and started work on a Prelude Pictures’ film, The Perfect Game which will be coming out this spring.  After that film wrapped, he started work on The Chosen One. Watch Kyle’s latest demo reel.

You can contact Kyle at 561-707-9689