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Clearwater's Luke Loucks, one of the nation's top-ranked junior point guards, orally committed to Florida State tonight. Previously, he had narrowed his choices to the Seminoles, Georgia Tech, USF and St. Joseph's. Loucks was a first-team all-county selection who averaged 14 points and seven assists.
-- Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
The Academy of the Holy Names is seeking a girls soccer assistant, girls soccer junior varsity coach and girls basketball assistant. For information, contact Athletic Director Pete Young at pyoung@holynamestpa.org or (813) 839-5371, ext. 320.
ORLANDO -- For the second time in seven months, the Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors denied an appeal by St. Petersburg Catholic, leaving the school's football program ineligible for the playoffs until 2009 because of recruiting violations and illegal practices.
But SPC still has hope for potential relief of penalties by the end of the summer, thanks to some developments at Thursday's ruling.
Instead of a unanimous defeat like last October's appeal, the board voted 7-6 to deny the request by SPC principal Father John Serio, who asked for the final two years of the three-year postseason ban to be removed due to the school's "swift and serious" restructuring of personnel and policy.
FHSAA commissioner John Stewart, who said in the hearing he wanted to "commend (SPC) to the highest for what they've done," may reassess the penalty this summer, after FHSAA associate commissioner Sonny Hester makes an on-campus visit to the school in July to review the school's corrective actions.
"It seems like a middle way," Serio said of the board's ruling. "Instead of saying, 'No' completely, or saying 'Yes', completely, it's a middle way.
"We're hopeful. But it's up to them."
In May 2006, the FHSAA fined SPC $13,000 and put them on a three-year postseason ban for three counts of recruiting and four counts of illegal practices. SPC has since paid the $13,000 fine out of their general fund, conceding to illegal practices but not the recruiting charges. The school has hired a new football coach in Tod Creneti, and will have a new athletic director soon to replace Ann Marie Mancuso, who stepped down effective the end of this school year. SPC is also setting up informational workshops this fall for parents, coaches, athletes and staff; Serio asked the board to "at the very least," allow the Barons to participate in fall and spring classics starting this season.
Several other board members strongly objected to giving SPC leniency, including Roger Dearing, superintendent for Manatee County Public Schools. Dearing said it sends the "wrong message" to other schools that a program with "egregious and blatant" violations can receive relief for not doing anything "extraordinary" to fix the situation.
Dearing pointed out that SPC was a repeat offender, just coming off probation for recruiting violations when they were slapped again with the sanctions in May 2006. Dearing said the school could have sent out letters of apology to opposing schools for not abiding to "fair play," and admitting to the parents that "We were wrong."
"There's several layers of violations at this school," Dearing said. "There were people who knew who either ignored the rules, or turned their back to them. It requires surgery."
JOE SMITH
In case you missed today's story, St. Petersburg Catholic principal, Father John Serio, said he will ask the FHSAA board of directors to consider removing the final two years of the school's three-year, football postseason ban in Thursday's appeal hearing in Orlando.
It will be the second appeal for SPC, which was handed a $13,000 fine and lengthy postseason ban last May by the FHSAA for illegal practices and recruiting violations involving its football program.
SPC's first appeal - in October - failed, but Serio said the school has made several changes since then, including the hiring of a new football coach and soon-to-be AD.
Both former football coach Dan Mancuso and wife Ann Marie (AD) have stepped down, with Serio saying he "pushed the decision" for Ann Marie to move aside. He admitted having Dan report to his wife was a scenario "fraught with danger."
FHSAA cited three football players who were recruited but didn't attend SPC -- Northeast's Antwan Carson, St. Petersburg lineman Lawon Scott (now at Ole Miss) and St. Petersburg safety Jernois Bradberry. All three spoke with the Times this week for today's story, linked below.
In it, one FHSAA board member said Tuesday that he wasn't moved by SPC's changes, that the charges were so "egregious and blatant," he'd still support the full sentence.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/30/Sports/SPC_gears_up_for_appe.shtml
Download the entire SPC case file, including the FHSAA investigation findings, player statements and the school's response.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/29/SDOC1241.pdf
Check the Times prep's blog Thursday morning for the results of the hearing
-- JOE SMITH
Times photo of new SPC football coach Tod Creneti gathers the Barons and assistant coaches for a pre-practice prayer two weeks ago. The Barons are hoping the FHSAA gives them another chance for postseason. PHOTO BY JOHN PENDYGRAFT
The FHSAA Cross Country Finals to remain at Little Everglades Ranch. Here is a copy of the press release:
GAINESVILLE – The 2007 and 2008 FHSAA Cross Country Finals will be held at Little Everglades Ranch near Dade City, the FHSAA Office announced today. The ranch has been the site of the event for the past two years.
The Pasco County School District will assist with hosting the event.
"We are happy to continue our relationship with Little Everglades Ranch," said Commissioner John A. Stewart. "There is no more beautiful venue in the state for this event."
The dates for the event are Nov. 17, 2007 and Nov. 22, 2008.
Other organizations submitting proposals to host the 2007 and 2008 cross country finals were the Central Florida Sports Commission at the National Training Center in Clermont, Hillsborough County Public Schools for Ed Radice Athletic Complex, the Lee County Sports Authority at Estero Community Park, and Westminster Academy at Markham Park in western Broward County.
Chamberlain softball coach Bob Diez, who led the Chiefs to the Class 5A state tournament earlier this month, has been named the state's coach of the year for his classification.
The award, sponsored by the Florida Dairy Farmers, was voted on by a statewide panel of coaches and media representatives. Diez is a finalist for overall coach-of-the-year honors following a final round of balloting.
Despite missing two prominent players -- suspended while the state looked into recruiting allegations -- for six weeks, Diez's club still finished 28-3 and won the 12th district title of his 16-year tenure. Chamberlain's season ended with a 5-0 loss to Pace in the 5A semifinals.
Jeff McCann, a former high school coach in North Carolina, has accepted the boys basketball coaching job at Dunedin.
McCann, 41, moved to Dunedin three years ago from North Carolina due to a job relocation stemming from his position as service manager for Lokey Automotive Group. He had coached for Woodland Christian Academy in Winston Salem (1989-93) and directed AAU programs from 1994-2000.
Since McCann landed in the Bay Area, the former walk-on at Liberty mainly coached youth basketball.
"The level of basketball here is strong," McCann said. "My desire is to build the program and make basketball what baseball and football is at Dunedin."
McCann and his wife, Kim, have two kids - daughter Kayla (17) runs track for Countryside and a 10-year-old son Drew.
McCann replaces Josh Walker, who resigned after last season for personal reasons.
"I'm big on being strong defensively and pushing the ball," McCann said. "We're going to be a fast-paced team that plays hard man-to-man."
--- JOE SMITH
Don't know if any of you all caught it, but in Sunday's paper we took a quick look at the legislature's attempt to implement a random steroid testing program in high school sports around the state.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/27/Sports/Steroids_testing_hits.shtml
To catch you up to speed, the program would start in the 2007-08 school year and would test athletes in weightlifting, football and baseball. All indications are that Gov. Charlie Crist will sign the bill into law at some point in the near future.
On the surface, the program sounds like a good thing. After all, who wouldn't want to discourage steroid use amongst high school athletes? But there are plenty of people who think pouring $100,000 into a pilot program isn't the most effective way to do so.
A highly-publicized survey estimated that about two percent of high school athletes in the state had used steroids, but it's impossible to know how accurately that figure represents reality.
Just curious to know what all of you out there think. Are steroids a problem in our area? Is testing the best way to deal with it? Feel free to chime in.
--DAVID MURPHY
While Hillsborough County was overlooked in Florida Mr. Baseball balloting, one of its coaches didn't go unnoticed.
Faedo edged Deland's Ric Sperling and Gainesville Buchholz's Bob Smith for the honor. Under Faedo, Alonso won the 27-team Saladino Tournament and Class 6A, District 7 title before falling to eventual state champion Sarasota, 3-2, in the region finals.
Former Robinson High baseball standout Milan Dinga was among three recipients of the United States Military Academy's highest athletic honor presented this afternoon.
Dinga, who shared the male honor with baseball teammate Nick Hill, converted a school- and Patriot League-record 27 career saves, including 23 in a row at one point. He was scored upon only once in both his junior and senior seasons.
Offensively, the 2003 Robinson graduate posted a career .334 batting average with 34 doubles, 14 home runs and 139 RBI. He finished his career as the Patriot League's alltime leader in hits (257), total bases (363) and runs (165).
This year marks the 103rd anniversary of the AAA Trophy.
Chuck Yingling, who led Tampa Catholic to two state baseball titles (1996, 2001) has been hired as head baseball coach at Wesley Chapel. Yingling, 57, replaces Erik Shafer, who resigned two weeks ago after three seasons. Yingling, a Wesley Chapel resident, coached the Crusaders for seven seasons, leading them to the playoffs every year. He has a 152-55 career record. He has not coached since 2002, when he resigned from Tampa Catholic.
"His history speaks for itself,'' said Wesley Chapel AD Steve Mumaw. "We are thrilled to get a coach of Chuck's caliber.''
--John C. Cotey
Mitchell High School has promoted junior varsity coach Scott Wilcox to its head baseball position, replacing Scott Williams, who resigned two weeks ago.
Wilcox guided the Mustang jayvee team to an 8-4 record this season, pretty good considering all the best sophomores were already starting for one of the county's youngest teams. Wilcox inherits a team deep in young pitching talent.
Playing for the West team will be Hillsborough center fielder Michael Burgess, Middleton right-handed pitcher Nevin Griffith, Alonso right-hander/infielder Tommy Toledo, Gaither lefty/outfielder Chris Jones, Wharton right-hander Derrick Stultz and Jesuit ace right-hander Kevin Quackenbush.
The West team plays the East tonight at 7, preceded by the North-South game at 2:30. The losers and winners of both games square off Saturday. The players took batting practice (wooden bats only) and ran the 60-yard dash for scouts Thursday.
Major League Baseball's first-year player draft is set for June 7. Griffith and Burgess are widely believed to be the area's most coveted pro prospects.
Chalk another one up for the small schools.
Keswick Christian stormed out to a 16-point, third-quarter lead on Class 5A Pinellas Park Thursday night before holding on for a 23-21 win in a spring classic in St. Pete.
The Class 1B Crusaders, buoyed by two TD runs from Jared DiMaggio, stopped Pinellas Park on a potential game-tying, two-point conversion with just under two minutes left to seal the deal.
On the play, Pinellas Park QB Jesse Redden scrambled on a bootleg to his left before getting stuffed two feet short by Crusaders sophomores Isaac Huntley and Doug Sanson.
"We've got 150-pound guys vs their 250 pounders," DiMaggio said. "And we held our own."
Much like 1A Northside Christian did in their 27-7 upset over 5A Seminole on Saturday, Keswick Christian executed on both sides of the ball - and were especially strong up front.
Pinellas Park's passing game - sparked by Redden's strong bootlegs and rollout throws -- kept the Crusaders on their toes. The Patriots even pulled out some trickery - a double-pass on 4th-and-3 with two minutes left that turned into a 53-yard touchdown pass from receiver Carlton Green.
But in the end, it was several fumbles (two muffed snaps) by Pinellas Park - along with a spectacular, one-handed interception by Keswick's Tarvin Jones -- that helped make the difference.
"I don't care if there 1B or 6A, they know how to win," Pinellas Park coach Matt Lance said. "They are well coached and they didn't make mistakes."
--- JOE SMITH
Pinellas Park quarterback Jesse Redden #3 attempts to hurdle Keswick Christian's Curtis Fisher (22, down on left) and Roman Bruce
Former Brandon High star forward Zaronn Cann, whose scholarship wasn't renewed by USF coach Stan Heath, committed Thursday afternoon to play for Eckerd College.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Cann was one of the nation's top basketball recruits coming out of Brandon two years ago, getting recruited by the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Florida. But he played sparingly in two injury-ridden seasons at USF, where he underwent two knee surgeries and saw action in eight games.
Cann will likely step right in at Eckerd, having three years of eligibility at the D-II level, and make an immediate impact. The Tritons finished with a school record for wins (27) and lost on a buzzer-beater in the region finals.
-- JOE SMITH
Brandon High assistant Kris Wilken, who spent six years as a player in the Baltimore Orioles organization, has been hired to replace K.B. Scull as Bloomingdale baseball coach.
Bulls athletic director Danielle Shotwell confirmed Wilken's hiring in an e-mail late Wednesday evening. Scull, Bloomingdale's coach the last 12 years, announced his retirement in late April but remained with the team until its season ended earlier this month.
A 12th-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2000, Wilken played two years in Double-A baseball and one in Triple-A before joining Brandon's staff. He was a three-year starter at third base and catcher for the University of Houston, leading the Cougars to an NCAA regional title in 2000.
St. Petersburg Catholic receiver Darin Hess suffered a slight tear in his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The 6-foot-3, 205 pound senior-to-be, got hurt in the Barons intrasquad scrimmage Friday night, but tests on Wednesday revealed no damage to the meniscus.
Hess said the injury won't require surgery, and that after two intense months of rehab, he should be ready to go when practice starts back in August. Hess, who has received interest from USF, Boston College and Eastern Kentucky, will play running back/slot receiver and defensive end for the Barons.
Spring classics: On Thursday night, Pinellas Park will travel to Keswick Christian (6 pm) and Dixie Hollins will travel to Sarasota (7:30 pm)...Osceola's game at Springstead is Friday at 7:30
Check the Times each day, as we'll be putting together comprehensive progress reports for Pinellas County teams coming out of their spring practice. Here's the link to the teams covered so far:
Coming Thursday - Indian Rocks and East Lake
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/webspecials07/special_reports/pinellas_report/
-- JOE SMITH
Photo of St. Petersburg Catholic receiver Darin Hess. Times photo by JOHN PENDYGRAFT
Berkeley Prep baseball coach Justin Houston confirmed his third signing in two days this afternoon, announcing versatile infielder/pitcher Taylor Babich has signed to play with Rhodes College, a Division III program in Memphis.
Babich hit .270 last season, leading the Buccaneers in home runs (four) and RBI (24). On the mound, he won all three of his decisions, posting a 3.11 ERA.
Additionally, Academy of the Holy Names athletic director Pete Young announced six Jaguars athletes signed college scholarships this past school year.
Joining twin basketball standouts Gianna (University of South Florida) and Catriana (Tampa) Messina as AHN signees were swimmers Elizabeth Dowdle (Johns Hopkins) and Gael Carter (Holy Cross), volleyball player Meghan Kacic (Spring Hill) and softball player Kristina Cruz (South Florida Community College).
St. Petersburg High safety Jernois Bradberry has signed to play football at the University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY), an NAIA program in the Mid-South Conference.
Bradberry earned second-team ALL PCAC honors last season. He'll join a program that went 8-3 last year and was ranked 21st nationally in the final poll. He will also run track for the school
-- JOE SMITH
Berkeley Prep pitcher Matt Ryckman and infielder J.B. Meyer have signed with Emory University, a Division III program in Atlanta, Buccaneers coach Justin Houston confirmed this evening.
Ryckman finished 6-0 with 0.63 ERA and hit .317 for Berkeley, which finished 19-9 and reached the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. He threw a seven-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 district semifinal triumph against Tampa Catholic, fanning 12 and walking two.
Meyer (1-2) posted a 1.93 ERA in 25.1 innings, and hit .215.
Gulf and River Ridge will host intrasquad scrimmages tonight at 7 at each team's homefield.
Pasco County does not have jamborees or scrimmages simply because county principals voted in 1991 to do away with spring football altogether because of the cost and risk of injury. Spring football in Pasco County was canceled for one year before returning with the 20-day rule and intrasquad scrimmages allowed.
Though many coaches say they want some sort of game against another opponent, the principals have stood firm.
--IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer
We've added more spring football videos from Pasco County.
And just so you know the more hits these videos get the better the chance we will do these projects in other counties, we hope.
Here's the link. Hope you enjoy.
-- IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer
I was saddened to read the news about Admiral Farragut basketball coach Mike Wells. There have been few people I've known with more basketball knowledge than Coach Wells, and he was always willing to share it with others.
He collected a treasure trove of technical coaching strategies and tips on his web site (URL: http://members.aol.com/coachmjw/pp22.htm). According to the web counter, his site has had more than 1.5 million visitors in 10 years.
I am especially sad for another reason--Wells was my varsity basketball coach when I was a senior at Keswick Christian School. I witnessed him evolving as a coach and mentor into what culminated in his 2004 state championship at Farragut.
There's no doubt he was a passionate guy back then at Keswick in the eighties, even if I didn't see eye-to-eye with him as a player.
I played soccer in the fall. Since Keswick usually went far into the playoffs, anyone who also played basketball got a late start on the season.
I felt as if Wells already had his starting lineup set by October. In my junior year, when we won the state soccer championship on Nov. 13, I couldn't get to basketball practice until the team had already played a preseason game. I got cut from the team for the first time in my life. It
was devastating.
I worked hard the next year, and when we didn't go as far in the soccer playoffs, I was able to get to basketball tryouts and made the team. However, it took me almost the whole season to earn any playing time. Wells had his mind set on five or six players, and he didn't trust the bench enough to bring anyone else on the court.
After I graduated in 1985, however, I saw Wells' style starting to change and mature. When I began covering the Crusaders as a correspondent for the St. Pete Times, he told me that he had changed his coaching philosophy and regretted not having done it sooner.
He realized he didn't have a tremendous amount of talent at Keswick because of the small pool of players. So, he developed a new style of play that emphasized fitness, going 10-11 players deep on the bench, executing a run-and-gun, full court press, Loyola Marymount style of game. In this way, Keswick could run other teams ragged.
It worked well enough to get Keswick to the playoffs seven times from 1987-1998, advancing to the regional finals twice. Before that, Keswick had never gotten past districts.
When he moved over to Admiral Farragut and got some big-time talent such as Felipe Schmidt (son of Brazilian Olympic superstar Oscar Schmidt), Anthony Rintala, and others, he was finally able to break through and win a state championship.
We don't know why God allows good people to be taken away so young. But I know Mike Wells will leave a legacy of sharing, caring, and passion for the game he loved.
-- Jeremy Rasmussen, Times Correspondent
Former boys basketball coach Mike Wells, who won a state title during the 2003-04 season, died Monday. He was 53.
The cause was a heart attack he suffered May 14 after battling a malignant brain tumor for eight months. Mr. Wells was taken off life support May 17, but he continued breathing on his own.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole. In lieu of flowers, there will be a trust fund set up for Mr. Wells three children.
Read last week's story about Mike Wells.-- BOB PUTNAM
Nature Coast boys basketball coach Travis Priddy is heading back to Savannah, where he was an assistant coach at Division II Armstrong State for two seasons. Priddy, 33, will coach at Savannah Country Day, a private school that has a decent athletic tradition. Last year, Priddy said, all but one of its sports teams qualified for the playoffs.
We'll talk more about Priddy's decision in a minute, but here's the biggest news: three of the four public schools in Hernando County are looking for boys basketball coaches. Hernando's Jeff Laing stepped down earlier this spring. Springstead's Craig Swartout resigned a couple of weeks ago. And now Priddy is leaving after three years with the Sharks. Which leaves Central coach Eric Hayes, who just completed his first season with the Bears, as the dean of all Hernando County boys basketball coaches.
Yikes.
To be fair, Hernando is pretty close to hiring a new coach. The finalists are a coach from Georgia named Tim Ellis, a coach from New Jersey named William Meyer, and former Hernando player Anthony Vazquez. Hernando AD Brent Gaustad expects a decision this week. The smart money is on Vazquez.
Back to Priddy: The 33-year-old West Virginia native had a good three-year run with the Sharks. Nature Coast improved every year, and this past season qualified for the state playoffs as the runner-up in Class 4A, District 8.
So why is he leaving? A chance to go back "home" (Though Priddy is from W.V., he says Georgia is like a second home), and $15,000 more in salary.
"It's a perfect situation for me," Priddy said.
He'll coach boys basketball and teach phys. ed.
Nature Coast, meanwhile, is looking for a new coach. Athletic Director Jason Montgomery said he'd like to have the first round of interviews done by the end of next week.
It has been a great week for former high school pitchers from the area. On Tuesday, Dixie Hollins graduate Jesse Litsch allowed one run to pick up the win for the Blue Jays.
It was an even better Sunday. Former Pinellas Park standout Nick Masset, a reliever who was making his first Major League start, allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings for the White Sox.
"As long as I'm throwing balls over the plate and throwing strikes, I have a pretty good chance of having a pretty good outing," Masset told MLB.com. "I got more comfortable as the game went on. I started attacking hitters, and that was it."
That night, former Mitchell star Tyler Clippard made his Major League debut with the Yankees. Clippard threw six innings of one-run ball in the win.
-- BOB PUTNAM
Over the next couple weeks, the Times will give you the skinny on each Pinellas County football team, taking a look back at the progress each made this spring as well as and key questions they will face in the fall.
The first two Progress Reports ran on Sunday, with an inside look at Boca Ciega and Clearwater High. There will likely be at least a couple a day continuing on Tuesday...
Here's the link that will take you to all the teams' reports, as we run them:
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/webspecials07/special_reports/pinellas_report/
-- JOE SMITH
Photo of Boca Ciega quarterback Orhian Johnson. Times photo by Martha Rial
The spring football classics were in full swing Friday night, giving fans their first glimpses at local program's improvements from the offseason.
We'll post some scores below, as well as some highlights:
Same old Harvey: Largo junior running back Brynn Harvey picked up where he left off, rushing for over 200 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to a 14-10 win over Sarasota Riverview Friday night.
Harvey, the Times 2006 Player of the Year, scored on runs of 81 and 45.
"Brynn was already in full stride," Largo coach Rick Rodriguez said. "He had some great runs."
Harvey picked up the slack for the notable absence of junior quarterback Leonard Johnson, who dressed but did not play due to back spasms.
The games key play came in the second quarter, when Riverview was driving with a 3-0 lead. But Largo LB Mike Marry intercepted a pass at the 1, sparking a 99-yard drive (and 45-yard Harvey TD run)
Cardiac kids: Lakewood posted an impressive fourth-quarter comeback, scoring two TDs in the final 69 seconds to beat Barren Collier, 27-21. The catalyst was sophomore quarterback Jacquez Jenkins, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 131 yards and three scores.
That included a TD pass to Joe Powell with 16 seconds left (following a successful onside kick)
Other gamebreakers:
**Northeast junior running back Jeff Brinson had 271 yards and three touchdowns vs George Jenkins. VIkings RB Juarez Wynn had 70 yard catch for a TD from Armando Sanchez and a 55-yard TD run.
**East Lake RB Micah Powell had more than 100 yards from scrimmage, including a 70 yard TD catch.
**Nature Coast running back Tevin Drake (180 yards in 14 carries, including 27-yard TD run)
***Boca Ciega junior QB Orhian Johnson racked up 151 yards passing, including 2 TD tosses to Erick Clayton. Johnson also rushed for 100 to back up Mundrae Francis’ 125 yards and one score on the ground.
** Clearwater QB Luke Loucks passed for 143 yards vs CCC.
** St. Petersburg QB Robert Lemon had a 79 yard touchdown pass to Danny Terrell for St. Pete's only points.
Scores so far:
Gaither 10, Hillsborough 0
Chamberlain 7, Middleton 6
Largo 14, Sarasota Riverview 10
Lakewood 27, Barren Collier 21
Dunedin 21, Southeast 16
PHU 20, Tarpon Springs 13
Jesuit 21, Leto 7
Sickles 10, Alonso 0
East Bay 14, Riverview 13
Brandon 14, Bloomingdale 0
Nature Coast 21, St. Petersburg 7
Boca Ciega 24, Gibbs 10
Tampa Catholic 30, Lennard 0
Spoto 16, Lennard 6
Tampa Catholic, 14 Spoto 0
CCC 28, Clearwater 14
East Lake 43, Port Charlotte 3
Northeast 42, George jenkins 24
-- JOE SMITH
Times photo of Largo running back Brynn Harvey in practice. Photo by Jim Damaske
Largo senior point guard Ben O'Donnell, a second team Times All Suncoast selection, has decided to turn down a handful Division I scholarship offers and attend the University of South Florida as a student.
O'Donnell said there's a chance he may try to walk on for the Bulls; he's spoken with an assistant and plans on playing in the team's next open gym.
"I just really didn't feel comfortable at the schools that offered me," O'Donnell said. "It didn't find the right fit."
A four-year starter, O'Donnell averaged 13 points and five assists for the Packers, leading them to the region semifinals last season. He received scholarship from Tennesee Tech, East Tennesee State, Stetson, Wofford, Idaho and William & Mary.
O'Donnell made visits to both ETSU and William & Mary, and was thought to be deciding between those two.
But O'Donnell instead plans to study exercise science and physical therapy, like his father did. He said he'll probably still feel that itch to play, which means he'll most likely make an attempt to try out with the Bulls.
"That's the one thing I don't want to regret - I don't want to regret at least trying," O'Donnell said. "So we'll see what happens. I hope it'll be a good situation. If it is, great. If not, I'll stick with just going to school....and who knows, maybe next year."
If O'Donnell does latch on with USF, it'd make for quite a potential Pinellas All-Star team. There's already Aaron Holmes (St. Petersburg Catholic), a three-time Times Player of the Year returning to USF after transferring from FSU.
And don't forget, Clearwater junior guard Luke Loucks, a four-star recruit, has USF in his final four; FSU is in the lead, but USF is still in the mix.
--- JOE SMITH
Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta, among those coaching in Sunday's Hillsborough-Pinellas all-star game at Tropicana Field, confirmed Friday morning that Hillsborough outfielder Michael Burgess and King infielder/pitcher Jamie Tutko have been added to the roster.
The pair replace Alonso's Tommy Toledo and Berkeley Prep's Matt Ryckman. According to Cuesta, Toledo opted not to participate, and Ryckman was forced to withdraw because the game conflicts with Berkeley's graduation ceremony.
Burgess, projected as an early-round pick in next month's major league draft, initially wasn't going to play, Cuesta said, but changed his mind when he heard several big-league scouts were asking whether he'd be there.
Leto athletic director Oscar Gonzalez said Friday he has found two coaches with strong Falcons ties to replace cross country coach Mike Boza, who left for Plant without ever coaching a race for the school.
Wrestling coach Allen Ross will take over the boys program, Gonzalez said, while former girls coach Manny Navas re-assumes his old position. Gonzalez said he wanted to hire from within so the program would have coaches in place to oversee summer workouts.
Boza, who led Jesuit's cross country team to four state titles in 12 seasons, joined Leto's faculty as social studies department head in August, but continued coaching the Tigers. He coached Leto's girls track team this past spring and was set to oversee the Falcons cross country program before accepting the boys job at Plant. He also will teach at the South Tampa school.
"I tell you what, for the short amount of time Mike was here he did an outstanding job. We sure hate to lose that quality of a person," Gonzalez said. "You don't always come across a quality individual like Mike Boza. He runs with it; that's kind of a coined phrase, but he does. He's Secretariat."
Wesley Chapel sophomore Tyler Brown, one of the top junior tennis players in the state and a state semifinalist this season, is moving to Texas, Wildcat tennis coach Gerald Savoy told Times correspondent Mike Camunas.
What hurts just as much is the additional loss of younger brothers and budding stars Tanner and Turner, who would have joined big bro at Wesley Chapel during Tyler’s senior season, making them a state contender in 2009.
Brown went 30-2 in two seasons, with both losses coming at state.
The latest Pasco County "Done in 60 Seconds" football preview is up, this one featuring the young Wiregrass Ranch Bulls, who will play their first varsity season in the fall under the watchful eye of Ricky Thomas.
The story, for a more in-depth look, is here. The team capsule is here.
Lemme quickly say that while we came up with the idea and Izzy and I have watched enough ESPN to kind of know what we're doing with a video camera, it is Pasco stud editor Jon O'Neill that is doing most of the work. We film, Jon takes it home and does up a nice little one-minute video for us. And yes, that's his voice you hear on the videos.
I'm not saying it's Barry White, but sometimes, late at night, the wife and I will light some candles and crack open a bottle of wine while we run a loop of the videos in the background, chillin' to the vocal stylings of Mr. O'Neill.
But I've said too much already.
You can also check out the Wiregrass video, as well as the others, by going here.
Tampa Catholic guard Matt Dziagwa, a four-year starter and 1,000-point career scorer for the Crusaders, has committed to North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, N.C.
An honorable mention on the Times' all-Hillsborough County team, Dziagwa, who graduates from TC on Wednesday, will receive a partial academic scholarship to the Division III school, which doesn't offer athletic aid.
He had been invited to try out at Saint Leo and received overtures from East Tennessee State and Division III Mississippi College, but said he enjoyed NC Wesleyan's players and location. The campus is roughly an hour east of Raleigh.
"It's right up there around Duke," Dziagwa said.
NC Wesleyan, a member of the USA South Athletic Conference, finished 12-15 last season, losing in double overtime in the finals of the conference tournament.
"The only way to know if a kid is on steroids is if you have a testing program. That's not an opinion, that's a statement of fact,'' said Don Hooton, whose son, Taylor, a baseball player from an affluent suburb and steroids user, committed suicide at the age of 17. Read John Romano's column about the Hootons and the need for steroids testing in high schools here.
Clearwater junior Luke Loucks, a four-star point guard recruit, has narrowed his potential college suitor to four schools: Florida State, Georgia Tech, USF and St. Joseph's.
Right now, Florida State is "the leader," as Loucks said, with a decision likely coming by June 1st.
Ever since his unofficial visit to FSU months ago, the Seminoles have been Loucks' favorite. The 6-3 junior said "FSU, being in state, everyone dreams about playing for a program like that."
Georgia Tech is right there behind FSU, with USF and St. Joseph's still in the mix. A big reason USF is there is because of new coach Stan Heath, whom Loucks said "has been around so much, he's been like my shadow."
"I wanted to give them a chance," Loucks said. "They're right in my back yard and it's the Big East, so we'll see what they have going on."
What's made things more interesting are the college football coaches making inquiries about Loucks, also the Tornadoes starting quarterback; Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Indiana coaches have dropped by practice. No one has offered - most feeling he'll stick with basketball - but a few asking if he'd be interested in playing both.
"I'm not closing the door on it, but I know it's really hard," Loucks said. "Both coaches would have to be on board."
-- JOE SMITH
Sunlake HIgh has made it official -- Billy Garcia, longtime assistant at Land O'Lakes, is the new baseball coach.
Principal Angie Stone also hired Ramiro Tejada, formerly the coach at Pasco, to coach volleyball.
And former Countryside boys basketball coach Bob Marinak lands on his feet -- he's the new coach of the Seahawks.
Stone confirmed that the job had been offered to Nature Coast Travis Priddy, but he declined and took a job elsewhere.
Hopefully for Newsome's sake, its fan base is late-arriving.
Roughly 15 minutes before the first pitch of the Wolves' Class 5A semifinal against Port St. Lucie, only 40 or so fans are seated behind behind Newsome's dugout -- along third base -- at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium. About 40 more are seated above them, under the awning on the second level.
As for us, we've been here roughly 90 minutes, ready to bring you live updates from the game. The sun is out, skies are partly cloudy, and the wind appears to be blowing out toward left field. Stay tuned.
Top 1st: Ryan Osenton and Stephen Branca struck out. Ethan Lovell reached on a single to left and raced to second on a catcher's throwing error, but was picked off the bag to end the inning. Port St. Lucie right-handed starter Mike McGee (8-1) looks like the real deal.
Bottom 1st: Port St. Lucie's Andrew Durden smacked a two-out double and Steve McGee followed with a single to put runners at the corners before Newsome starter Matt Greer forced No. 5 hitter Chuck Forbes to fly to right, ending the inning. We're still scoreless.
Top 2nd: The Wolves go down in order, all on infield grounders. Still scoreless in Sarasota.
Bottom 2nd: Jaguars center field Josh Prine opened with a single and moved to second on a Greer balk, but was picked off in a rundown between second and third on Colton Rudd's infield grounder. Greer then fanned the Jags' No. 8 and 9 hitters to end the inning. Still scoreless.
Top 3rd: David Jackson flew out to left on the first pitch before Duston Pachoud and Jake Farley struck out. McGee, an FSU signee, threw 10 pitches in the inning and has faced the minimum nine batters so far. The first pitch of the fourth will be his 30th pitch.
Bottom 3rd: The Jaguars mounted their biggest scoring threat yet, putting runners at second and third with two out, but Greer fanned Forbes to end the inning. Through three, Greer has allowed three hits, struck out three and walked one. Newsome 0, Port St. Lucie 0
Top 4th: Alas, Newsome has broken through offensively. Greer's double to the gap in right center scored Osenton, who led off with a single and moved to second on Lovell's sacrifice bunt. Pinch-runner Tyler McGuire then scored on Kyle Copack's single down the right field line. McGee threw 27 pitches that inning, only two fewer than he tossed the first three innings combined. Newsome 2, Port St. Lucie 0
Bottom 4th: Credit Lovell with the defensive gem of the game thus far. With Prine on first, Lovell snagged a Rudd line drive and threw out Prine, who couldn't scurry back to the first-base bag in time, for a double play. Newsome 2, Port St. Lucie 0
Top 5th: The Wolves' chance for some insurance runs is snuffed out by some heady Jaguars defense. David Jackson led off with a single and stole second, but was tagged out at third after trying to advance on Pachoud's infield grounder. Farley then hit into a 1-6-3 double play. Newsome 2, Port St. Lucie 0
Bottom 5th: The Jaguars go down in order, putting Newsome six outs from the state championship game. Greer threw all of six pitches in this inning, and has allowed one hit in the last three. Newsome 2, Port St. Lucie 0
Top 6th: Branca, who fanned his first two at-bats, singles with two out and reaches second on a wild pitch. The Wolves leave him stranded, but the way Greer is throwing, Newsome's two runs are likely to hold up. Newsome 2, Port St. Lucie 0
Bottom 6th: A two-out Jaguars explosion, accompanied by a Newsome implosion, has changed the course of this game. With the bases loaded, burly Port St. Lucie pinch-hitter Max Scarogni ran out an infield grounder to score Forbes, and Rudd came around on a throwing error to tie the score. A Mike Moesch liner, off Branca's outstretched glove, scored two more runs. Mike McGee's triple added another. We were going to bemoan the Newsome fan base's anemic turnout for this contest, but perhaps it's better they missed this. The Jaguars just added consecutive doubles, and Kyle Parker has relieved Greer. A grounder to short has ended this Jags deluge. Port St. Lucie 7, Newsome 2
Top 7th: With two on, Farley has struck out swinging to end the game. We're pondering up here in the pressbox whether we've ever seen the course of a game altered in such bizarre fashion. Final score: Port St. Lucie 7, Newsome 2
Wharton point guard Anthony Gomez and shooting guard Adam Noble have committed to Division II Saint Leo and Eckerd, respectively, and were expected to sign their letters of intent some time this evening.
The pair become the second and third players from the Wildcats' 29-2 squad to sign scholarships. Fellow guard Shawn Vanzant signed with Butler in February.
Gomez averaged 13.2 points and 4.3 assists as a senior; Noble 10.4 points and 4.6 assists. Gomez's four steals per game led Wharton, which fell to eventual Class 5A state champion Winter Park Lake Howell in the region finals.
"I really like the players and I like the coach (Mike Madagan)," Gomez said. "When I visited, I pretty much liked the whole environment."
Noble, who graduates with a weighted GPA of nearly 5.0, selected Eckerd over Indiana-based small schools Depauw and Marion. In his three seasons, Wharton amassed a 76-11 record.
"I just like the (Eckerd) coach (Tom Ryan); of all the coaches I met, he was my favorite," Noble said. "I just liked the school."
Clearwater senior guard Justin Morin, one of the county's top scorers, committed to play for Central Florida Community College next season.
Morin, who averaged 15 ppg last season, had received serious interest from the University of Denver and Eckerd College, but felt that CFCC was the right fit.
CFCC finished as state runner up in the NJCAA tournament last season. Morin liked coach Tim Ryan, saying he knew Ryan's daughter, Veronica, from school.
"I loved it there," Morin said. "They said they can help me get to a good four-year school after a year or two."
In other basketball commitments, Pinellas Park senior guard James Smith signed with Clearwater Christian College.
-- JOE SMITH
Beyond our daily newspaper coverage of Pasco County spring football we've branched out to multimedia.
Our latest venture is video. Over the course of the next week or so we plan to post videos from the 12 varsity football teams around Pasco County. It's simply a start and hopefully the beginning of a new way to cover prep sports beyond print. This could lead to more in-depth features and video on teams in other counties. Hope you enjoy it. Click the link below to see the videos.
Shamon Cox, one of the state's top sophomore small forwards, will not return to St. Petersburg High next season.
The 6-foot-3, 210 pound swingman has been assigned to Lakewood through school choice, his mother, Adriene Thompson confirmed Wednesday.
Cox averaged 16.5 points and 9 rebounds last season for the Green Devils, earning Times second team All-County selection. Thompson said she had "a reason," for her son's move but declined to elaborate. Thompson put Lakewood, Gibbs and St. Pete High as Cox's top three choices through the program.
This came as a surprise to Cox:
"I'm going to Lakewood?" Cox said. "I didn't know my mom put me through choice."
Thompson said she asked for her son's opinion; he wanted to stay at St. Pete. But Thompson said she felt like Lakewood was a better choice "after I weighed all my options and did my pros and cons. I felt like being the parent, I needed to make the choice."
Lakewood, perenially one of the county's top programs, advanced to last year's 5A state championship game, losing to Lake Howell in the final.
Thompson said she's "never' spoken with Spartans coach Dan Wright, but has "admired him from afar."
"I've seen him take nothing and make it into something," Thompson said. "Hopefully he can take something and make it into something much more."
Cox is the second county standout to change schools through choice this offseason. Adam Pegg, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, confirmed he will not return to Palm Harbor for his senior season. Pegg has been assigned to Lakewood after not getting his top three choices -- Clearwater, Pinellas Park, PHU -- but is expected to get into Clearwater by this fall (he's in the top-10 on their waiting list).
For now, here's Lakewood's potential starting lineup; They've replaced two Times All-County players (POY Ed Nixon and Anthony Dorsey) with potential 1st teamers in 2008" - as well as one of the county's top shotblockers in Morrison:
F Mike Morrison, 6-foot-9 junior; C- Adam Pegg, 6-10 junior (17 ppg, 12 rpg), Times second team All-County; F - Iraz Gray (6-6 JR); G - Shamon Cox, 6-3 JR (16.5 ppg, 9 rpg), Times second team All-County; PG - Sean Johnson or Reggie Reed
--- JOE SMITH
Photo of Shamon Cox (right) guarding Sickles Jordan Davis (left). Times photo by Martha Rial
Several county standouts signed, and a few more received their first scholarship offers this week.
Pinellas Park's Dominic Bell (pictured) signed with Grambling, while teammate Quinton King (WR and MVP of the Pinellas All Star Game) signed with Husson College in Maine. Patriots LB Ben Colbert signed with John Carroll University.
St. Pete High had two more signees (lineman Lawon Scott had already signed with Ole Miss). There was OL/ long snapper Kevin Claypool, who committed to Division III Concordia University in Wisconsin; they were 10-0 and Badger Football Conference champs.
Linebacker Marcus Brown signed to play fullback for D-II Saint Anselm College (Manchester, NH)
FIRST-TIMERS: Gibbs seniors-to-be Larry Murphy (WR) and Raymond Brinson (LB) received their first scholarship offers - both from the University at Buffalo.
-- JOE SMITH
Former Dixie Hollins standout Jesse Litsch shined in his major league debut with Toronto. The 22-year-old right-hander filled in for the injured Roy Halliday and allowed one run in 8 2/3 innings.
"The kid was outstanding -- wow," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told MLB.com. "He'll never forget that one. There's only your debut that one time and he did it the right way."
Litsch's performance came on his father's 57th birthday. His dad, Rick, flew up for the game. Family and friends watched at a sports bar in town. Afterward, Litsch was presented with the lineup card and the baseball's used for his first out, first strikeout and final out.
-- BOB PUTNAM
Greetings from Sarasota. CCC's Class 3A state final has started. We'll provide live updates throughout the game.
Top of the first: Sam Mende walks, moves to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Morelli and scores on a single by Ryan Acosta. CCC 1, Trinity Prep 0.
Bottom of the first: Acosta is efficient on the mound. He allowed a walk but no damage. CCC 1, Trinity Prep 0.
Top of the second: CCC's bats are coming alive. James Dowdell triples, then comes home on a single by Nick Leone. The Marauders get two more hits but don't score. CCC 2, Trinity Prep 0.
Bottom of the second: Acosta keeps it going. He walked one but still has not allowed a hit. CCC 2, Trinity Prep 0
Top of the third: Morelli and Dowdell each single but no runs. CCC 2, Trinity Prep 0.
Bottom of the third: Acosta allows two walks and three singles. The Saints take advantage, scoring two runs to tie the game. CCC 2, Trinity Prep 2.
Top of the fourth: CCC chases Trinity starter Will Matthews with two walks and two singles. Morelli's single brings in Matt Darr and Jeff Ijjas. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Bottom of the fourth: Acosta settles down, retiring the side. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Top of the fifth: No hits, no runs for the Marauders. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Bottom of the fifth: Acosta is now cruising with two strikouts in the inning. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Top of the sixth: The Marauders do not do much offensively. Morelli only one to reach on an error. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Bottom of the sixth: Acosta retires the side on two pop outs and a strikeout. CCC 4, Trinity Prep 2.
Top of the seventh: CCC breaks the game open with five runs on three hits. CCC 9, Trinity Prep 2.
Bottom of the seventh: Acosta allows one hit and that's it. CCC wins wins 9-2. State champs!!!!
-- BOB PUTNAM
Christal Kotchman, who starred at Seminole, has signed to play for the College of Charleston next season. Kotchman, who graduated in 2005 and is the brother of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Casey Kotchman, currently plays for Chipola College in Marianna. The Indians recently won the Florida Junior College State Title and will be playing May 17-20 in the J.C. World Series in Plant City. Chipola, 55-5, is ranked No. 1 in the country.
Brandon Wright, Times Staff Writer
Here are te rosters for the Hillsborough-Pinellas all-star baseball game Sunday at Tropicana Field. The game pits the top 25 seniors from Hillsborough versus the top 25 public school seniors from Pinellas and will be played follwoing the Ray's-Marlins game. A ticket to the Rays game gets you into the all-star game.
Hillsborough roster
Joe Castellano, C, Bloomingdale; David Regidor, C, Jefferson; Jerod Atkinson, 1B, Sickles; Nick Drsicoll, 2B, Riverview; Garrett Cox, 2b/RHP, Cambridge; Steven Branca, SS, Newsome; Trace Venagas, SS/OF, Robinson; Jonathon Kosco, SS, Jesuit; Peter Milan, 3B, Jefferson; Todd Brazeal, 3B, Chamberlain; Shane Scanlon, OF, Plant; Sharrod Evans, OF, Freedom; Anthony Langston, OF, Middleton; Chris Turner, OF, Brandon; Juan Carlin, OF/LHP, Riverview; Keith Diaz, OF/LHP, 1B, Hillsborough; Jared Simon, 1B/3B, Armwod; Chris Freshcorn, SS/C/OF; Alonso; Eric Ginn, P, Bloomingdale; Joe Kelley, P, Tampa Catholic; Drew Malley, P, RHP/1B, Gaither; Matt Ryckman, LHP, Berkeley Prep; Kelvin Quackenbush, RHP, Jesuit; Tom Toledo, RHP, Alonso; Derek Stultz, RHP, Wharton.
Pinellas roster
Chris Clinton, C, Seminole; Kyle Hobelman, C, Boca Ciega; Mike Papa, C, East Lake; Donnie Albro, RHP, Boca Ciega; Matt Benedict, RHP, St. Petersburg; Josh Bowman, RHP, Northeast; Shawn Kale, RHP, East Lake; Travis Stortz, LHP, Countryside; Billy Falasco, RHP, Seminole; Austin Yee, IF, Northeast; Dan Catalano, IF, Northeast; Ryan Faison, IF, Dunedin; George Van Riper, IF, Tarpon Springs; Matt Ramsey, IF, Osceola; Raphael Perez, IF, Tarpon Springs; Ben Sorrell, IF, Pinellas Park; Matt Gracie, OF, East Lake; Kevin Maloney, OF, Dunedin; Matt Mooney, OF, Countryside; Bill Perillo, OF, Dunedin; Jose Ramos, OF, St. Petersburg; Brett Rousseau, OF, Pinellas Park; Mike Alberts, Util, Lakewood; Kevin Kunnen, Util, Countryside; Austin Gaines, Util, Northeast.
-- BOB PUTNAM
Here is the schedule for spring football games. All start at 7:30 p.m.
May 18
PHU at Tarpon Springs; Port Charlotte at East Lake; Dunedin at Bradenton Southeast; Clearwater at CC Catholic; Naples Barrn Collier at Lakewood; St. Petersburg at Nature Coast; Northeast at Lakeland George Jenkins; Largo at Sarasota Riverview; Boca Ciega at Gibbs; Dixie Hollins at Sarasota.
May 19
Seminole at Northside Chr.
May 23
Countryside at Naples Lely
May 24
Pinellas Park at Keswick
May 25
Osceola at Springstead
-- BOB PUTNAM
Largo junior quarterback/cornerback Leonard Johnson received offers from Illinois and Memphis, and planned to speak soon with Ohio State coaches.
"I have a good feeling about it," he said.
The dual-threat QB has drawn tons of interest from several BCS conference schools, with Iowa State, Iowa, Mississippi, Miss. State and Nebraska. He made a visit to Florida for their spring game, along with several of the Gators top junior prospects.
The schools all like Johnson as a cornerback, a position he'll play more this year.
Combined with junior running back Brynn Harvey, the Times 2006 Player of the Year, Largo coach Rick Rodriguez said there's been 50-60 college coaches on campus the past month.
"I can't even sit down," he said, laughing. "It's more than we had with Dexter," referring to former star tailback Dexter McCluster, now with Ole Miss.
Johnson said he feels the Packers biggest challenge in district could come from Gibbs, sparked by new coach Yusuf Shakir.
Shakir's practices so far have been extremely organized and fast-paced. The Gladiators have pretty decent numbers -- 50 or so - and appear to be buying into their coach's penchant for hard-hitting, disciplined defense and a strong running game.
Gibbs now has a healthy tailback in Devon McCullough, who battled a back injuries throughout all last season. They'll have an option attack with returning starting quarterback Lamar Hall, and receiver Larry Murphy gives them a potential deep threat.
Odds are, however, the Gladiators will keep the ball on the ground - much like Largo.
OTHER COLLEGE INTERESTS: Boca Ciega junior quarterback Orhian Johnson received his first offer, from Florida International in Miami.....Clearwater junior lineman Joe Marshall, who has been offered by Wisconsin, is drawing interest from Ohio State, as well as Florida, Florida State and Miami
-- JOE SMITH
Clearwater Central Catholic plays Jacksonville Bolles in the Class 3A state semifinals today at 5 p.m. We'll provide live updates throughout the game.
If the Marauders advance, they'll face Winter Park Trinity Prep, which beat Miami Gulliver Prep 2-0 in today's other 3A semifinal. Playing in that game was Gulliver Prep's Darius Dawson, son of baseball great Andre Dawson.
Top of the first: CCC's Ryan Weber gives up two singles, but no runs. Rightfielder Jeff Ijjas makes a nice running catch for the final out. Bolles 0, CCC 0.
Bottom of the first: CCC's Sam Mende reaches on an error, moves to third on a single by Matt Morelli and scores on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Acosta to give the Marauders the lead. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Top of the second: Weber is starting to mow Bolles down, retiring the side with two strikeouts. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Bottom of the second: Matt Darr singles with two outs, but can't score. CCC 1, Bolles 0
Top of the third: Weber gets plenty of help from his defense. Darr, the catcher, picks a runner off trying to steal second. And the Marauders turn in a double play to end the inning. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Bottom of the third: Morelli and Acosta each get singles, but the Marauders can't do anything with it. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Top of the fourth: Weber again gets out of a jam. With runners at first and third withone out, Darr picks off runner at third and Weber strikes out the next batter to end the threat. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Bottom of the fourth: Joe McLemore and Darr each walk with two outs but can't score. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Top of the fifth: The Marauders turn in a double play with one out to end a threat. CCC 1, Bolles 0
Bottom of the fifth: Morelli and Zach Upton single but do not score. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Top of the sixth: Ijjas is having quite a game. With two outs, he threw a runner out heading to home for the final. That's two run-saving plays he's made so far. CCC 1, Bolles 0.
Bottom of the sixth: The Marauders break the game open. McLemore singles, then Darr doubles. McLemore and Darr each score on a throwing error to home. CCC 3, Bolles 0
Top of the seventh: Weber finishes Bolles, retiring the side on five pitches. Game over. CCC 3, Bolles 0.
-- BOB PUTNAM
Jesse Litsch has successfully made the transition from bat-boy to big-league pitcher.
The former Dixie Hollins star was called up by the Blue Jays and is scheduled to make his major-league debut as the starter Tuesday against Baltimore.
With a strong start at Double-A New Hampshire 5-1, 0.96 ERA, seven no-hit innings in his last outing, Litsch, 22, was anticipating a move to Triple A. When he got word late Saturday he was going straight to the majors, he immediately called home to Pinellas Park to tell his dad, Rick, who'd coached him through the youth leagues.
"It was more or less, 'Oh, my God, you're not going to believe this, ' " Rick recalled Sunday. "This is what he's been working toward. As soon as he was old enough to walk he was running the bases, and he's been obsessed ever since."
This was an excerpt from the Times story today by Marc Topkin. Click on this for the rest.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/14/Rays/Litsch_caps_rapid_ris.shtml
-- JOE SMITH
The offers keep coming for Northeast's Jeff Brinson and Javontae Boyd. Brinson, a junior running back, received offers from Rutgers and USF. Boyd, a junior defensive lineman, was offered by Rutgers and Louisville. Last week, Georgia coach Mark Richt stopped by to watch Boyd. Flroida coach Urban Meyer i