PAGE 8 - April 30, 2008
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
Man Charged - Continued from page 1
Dunnellon Senior Signs Baseball
the child's death and charges against Spagnolo could be elevated.
Deal With Charleston University
During the interview with the detective on the 24th, Spagnolo described the inci-
dent with the child he said had occurred around 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. on the 23rd, when he was
Special to The Newscaster By
his best effort in the weight room, the class
babysitting. He said that he was kneeling on the bed, throwing the child up into the air, using
Doug Johnston
room and on the playing field". Beasley has
more force each time he tossed the child into the air, and the child's head hit the ceiling. He
guided a contingent of DHS football players
said the child fell from the ceiling, hitting the back of his head on a wooden table near the
Andrew Stichter's journey through
to college scholarships during his tenure at
edge of the bed, then he fell onto the concrete floor, hitting his head and coming to rest on his
high school has been a success story. He
DHS and seeing Andrew earn a baseball
back. After the injury, Spagnolo said the child's teeth were clenched and he was unrespon-
has excelled in two sports and in the class-
scholarship is satisfying too. "Andrew is a
sive. He said he waited for about an hour, or an hour and a half, until the boy's mother came
room. His performance and hard work bore
good kid who has worked hard. He does
home, then he waited another hour before taking the boy and his mother to a local hospital,
fruit last week as the Dunnellon High School
things the right way and we are all very proud
in order to seek medical attention for the child.
senior signed a baseball scholarship with
of him", Beasley said.
The report stated that the child sustained severe head trauma and was transported
Charleston University, (formerly Morris
Although his athletic prowess is
by helicopter to Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, due to the severity of the injuries. The
Harvey College) a Division II University in
well documented, Stichter is no slouch in the
medical staff informed the sheriff's office that the victim had suffered severe head trauma, a
Charleston, West Virginia. Although several
classroom either. He finishes his career at
brain stem injury, and massive retinal hemorrhaging, and that there was a possibility the
colleges appeared ready to offer Stichter an
DunnellonvHigh School with a cumulative
victim would not survive the injuries.
athletic scholarship or a financial aid pack-
grade point average of 3.5.
Spagnolo demonstrated to the detective how the incident had happened. He ex-
age, the decision of where to further his edu-
Stichter will take another visit to
plained that he is the boyfriend of the boy's mother, and that he had not been truthful with
cation came down to two Charlestons.
Charleston before enrolling later in the sum-
her or law enforcement personnel investigating the incident, however, the report did not
"I visited Charleston Southern (in
mer. He will be a part of an athletic program
state what Spagnolo had told them. While in the interview room, Spagnolo called the boy's
Charleston, South Carolina), and a couple of
that boasts 16 teams and competes in the
mother and explained to her that he'd injured the child. Spagnolo told the officer that he could
schools were showing an interest in me to
West Virginia Athletic Conference. The
not have held this in any longer and that he owed it to the child to tell the truth about what
play football", said Stichter. "But my first love
school has an enrollment of 1,200 students
had happened.
is baseball and I really like Charleston (West
from 30 states and 20 countries. It is cradled
Spagnolo was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. The detective
Virginia). The school has a strong radiology
in the beautiful mountains of central West
requested that Spagnolo be held without bond "due to the severity of the injuries inflicted
program and that is going to be my major".
Virginia. His visit in December gave him a
on the victim and the possibility of the victim not surviving."
Stichter visited the Charleston cam-
hint of the cold weather he will have to deal
pus last December and was impressed with
with, but he is excited to begin his college
the school and felt at home with the Golden
career and didn't consider the weather a fac-
Eagles coaching staff. "I liked everything
tor in deciding which school to attend and
about my visit and the coaches really made
Charleston head baseball coach Tom Nozika
me feel at home. I also like their baseball facil-
is happy with that decision too.
ity. They share it with a minor league team
"Great kid, great athlete, great fam-
and it is really nice".
ily and he is a great student", said Nozika.
Stichter lettered four years on the
"We are fortunate that Andrew decided to
DHS baseball team as a middle infielder. He
come to Charleston. He has a chance to make
played shortstop and second base for the
an impact right away as a freshman. He will
Tigers and hit .397 as a junior. This season
get a quality education here and he will be
Stichter began the year with modest num-
busy with his academic load, weight training
bers, but has come on strong as the season
and fall conditioning right from the get go.
progressed. He is now hitting .347 and a
We will keep him pretty busy".?
leader on a Tiger squad that finished the regu-
The Golden Eagles also have a foot-
lar season winning 13 of their last 14 games.
ball team, but Stichter intends to focus his
On the gridiron, Stichter was the
extra-curricular efforts strictly on baseball. "I
starting quarterback for the Tigers his junior
am looking forward to getting started", said
and senior years. He amassed over 2,000
Stichter. "In the past I had to go to football
yards passing and a 1,000 yards rushing for
camps during the summer because of my
the two seasons while accounting for 14
position (quarterback).
touchdowns this season. His football coach,
This off-season I can concentrate
Frank Beasley is glad for him, but will have
strictly on baseball. The coaches have told
Andrew Stitchter, a senior at Dunnellon High School and an employee of Food Ranch
big shoes to fill next season. "Andrew is a
me that they expect me to play second base,
supermarket in Inglis (center), with Head Coach Tom Boss (left) and Assistant Coach Shane
leader. He is one of the hardest working kids
but said I may play some outfield too. They
Balley (right), both from Charleston University in Charleston, WV. The coaches recruited
at Dunnellon since I've been here. He gives
have made me feel like family".
Stitchter to play second base and outfield with the school's baseball team.
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