County investigation clears Countryside's Schlereth

Countryside High School principal Gary Schlereth has been cleared of allegations that he harassed baseball coaches after they benched his son.

“I cannot conclude that, in fact, the principal abused his authority to influence playing time for his son,” wrote Pinellas County schools athletic director Nick Grasso, who conducted the investigation.

Schlereth, 50, declined to comment this week.

In April, the school district’s Office of Professional Standards launched an investigation after former Countryside assistant Tracy Paulton filed a complaint against Schlereth.

Paulton’s complaint contended that Schlereth pressured the coaching staff to get better playing time for his son Nick, a senior.

In the complaint, Paulton said the trouble began early last season after Nick Schlereth compiled a .077 batting average, striking out seven times in 15 at-bats, and was benched. After that, he said, Gary Schlereth “abused his power” and began harassing coaches.

That did not happen, Schlereth told the Times in April.

“I have not confronted any coach out here about my kid’s playing time,” he said.

Paulton made his complaint the month after then-head coach Darnell Coles resigned because of time issues and problems with “out-of-control parents.”
Paulton said Wednesday he was fine with the investigation’s outcome. He said is pleased that the matter was investigated and that coaches now know that they have a place to go when they have concerns.

“The investigation brought light to a dark room,” Paulton said. “There was too much being said behind closed doors that needed some light. Hopefully out of this, coaches will now know that they have an avenue and that someone is going to listen.”

Kevin O’Sullivan, a former assistant baseball coach at Dunedin High School, has been named Countryside’s new coach. O’Sullivan, 37 and a teacher in Pinellas for nearly four years, also will teach math at the school.

-- An excerpt from a Times story by Demorris Lee

To read full story, click here http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/21/Northpinellas/Principal_cleared_of_.shtml

-- JOE SMITH joesmith@sptimes.com

Voss has qualified

USF signee Alton Voss confirmed he has talked with the NCAA Clearinghouse and is academically qualified clearing his path to USF. The former Gulf quarterback is headed to USF on June 27 for summer classes.
Read more about Voss clearing his last hurdle in Thursday's edition of the Pasco Times.

-- IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
igould@tampabay.com

Time to start working on your aim, athletes: steroid testing is now law

As expected, Gov. Charlie Crist signed H.B. 461 into law this afternoon, meaning up to one percent of high school athletes in the state of Florida will be subjected to random steroid testing this upcoming school year.

The FHSAA plans on meeting with Rep. Marcelo Llorente's office in the near future to hammer out the logistics of the programs. With a seemingly meager $100,000 in funding from the government, the association will have to work to stretch its money. It remains to be seen how many athletes are tested but steroid tests can range between $100 and $200 a pop.

Ex-Lions Star Arrested Again

Former King High and Saint Leo University basketball standout Marquis McCullough was arrested Monday afternoon on charges of attempted murder and cocaine trafficking.

The 2005 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year, McCullough, 21, was arrested by Hillsborough County deputies and booked into the Orient Road Jail. He was set for his first court appearance this afternoon.

A sleek, 6-foot-1 point guard, McCullough was dismissed from Saint Leo's team in October 2005 following his second arrest in five months. At that time, Lions coach Mike Madagan said the door remained open for McCullough to work his way back onto the team.

But the school severed all ties with McCullough when he was arrested twice in a three-week span last summer. The second arrest included 11 charges, seven of them felonies.

The charge report from this latest arrest indicates McCullough is unemployed.

Should girls and boys be tested equally for steroids?

In case you missed it, in Sunday's paper we took a look at some gender bias issues lingering around the state legislature's attempt at implementing a steroid testing program in conjunction with the FHSAA.

The three sports the legislation calls for testing are 94 percent male. In addition to raising some legal issues -- couldn't male athletes claim they are being discriminated against based on their gender -- the apparent singling out of male sports assumes also begs the question: are girls doing steroids too? While survey data suggests that boys are more likely to be using steroids than girls, the Center for Disease control recently estimated that 3.5 percent of high school girls in Hillsborough County had tried the stuff at least once in their lifetime.

Have 3.5 percent of high school girls really tried steroids? Should girls be tested as equally as guys?

Here's the article:

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/17/Sports/Gender_bias_a_concern.shtml

--DAVID MURPHY

dmurphy@sptimes.com

Another Day, Another Top-100 Poll

If the arrival of those sleek college football preseason magazines on the shelves of your local supermarket didn't adequately provide your June football fix, maybe some prep recruiting rankings will.

There are dozens online from which to choose, the latest being from rivals.com, which is fairly generous in its assessment of some local talent.

Five Hillsborough County players are on the Web site's list of the top 100 senior prospects from Florida. Leading the local contingent are two Armwood standouts: left tackle Matt Patchan (No. 6) and tailback Eric Smith (No. 27). Both are deemed four-star candidates on a scale of one to five stars.

Other locals on the list are Hillsborough defensive tackle (and recent Middleton transfer) Moses McCray (No. 29, four stars), Riverview running back Jahleel Addae (No. 93, three stars) and Chamberlain receiver Fred Sykes (No. 98, three stars).

Northeast duo cracks rivals.com top-100

Northeast standouts Javonta Boyd (No. 39) and Jeff Brinson (No. 99) cracked rivals.com's top-100 senior football prospects from the state of Florida.

Boyd (6-foot-3, 290), an imposing defensive tackle and tight end, has received nearly a dozen Division I scholarship offers - including Georgia, Rutgers and USF. Brinson, a bruising running back, has about as many offers, including Iowa, Nebraska and USF.

There were several Bay Area seniors on the list, topped by Armwood lineman Matt Patchan (No. 6). Teammate Eric Smith, a four-star recruit, is at No. 25

Moses McCray, a Hillsborough lineman and FSU commit, is 29, and Chamberlain receiver Fred Sykes is No 98, right before Brinson.

For the full list, click on the link below

http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=1853&Year=2008

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Photo of Northeast rising senior Javonta Boyd. Times photo by Martha Rial

O'Donnell to walk on at FSU

Largo senior point guard Ben O'Donnell will join Florida State's basketball program as a preferred walk-on.

O'Donnell, a first-team Times All-County selection, had several Division I scholarship offers, including Tennessee Tech, William & Mary and East Tennessee State; but in his visiting process, he never really found the right fit.

The four-year starter considered attending USF and trying to walk on, but found FSU's exercise program - and basketball situation - better.

"I may not get into a game, but I'll get to practice with the guys - which will be a great experience," O'Donnell said. "There's a chance (I can play), but, I mean, they've got Toney Douglas."

And, in another year, FSU will also have fellow county standout Luke Loucks. The Clearwater point guard, a four-star recruit, recently orally committed to the Seminoles.

"Me and Luke are good friends, so it'll be fun," O'Donnell said.

LYTLE UPDATE: Largo senior center Charlie Lytle plans to visit Florida Southern, and could have a decision soon on where he intends to play next season. He's visited schools like Mercer and received offers from Nichols State. But it appears likely he'll go with a program like Florida Southern or a JC for a year before making the jump.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

PHU's Kiley signs with Yankees

Former Palm Harbor University pitcher Jason Kiley has signed with the Yankees.

Kiley, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, just finished his senior season at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he left as the program leader in career wins (25). He was drafted by New York Friday in the 25th round and plans to leave Saturday for Single-A Staten Island to start his professional career.

“The Yankees have such a great history in winning championships,” Kiley said. “Of any team to get picked by, the Yankees are probably the best.”

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Griffith A First-Team All-American--We Think

Former Middleton right-handed ace Nevin Griffith has been named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger High School All-America baseball team released Wednesday.

Thing is, we're not sure if he's a first-teamer or honorable mention; his name is listed in both places. We're trying to get to the bottom of it.

Griffith, a second-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in last week's Major League Baseball first-year player draft, was among 35 pitchers listed on the first team, which features more than 100 players. Only two other Florida pitchers -- neither from the bay area -- made the first team.

On the honorable mention list, Griffith is joined by ex-Bloomingdale standout Zach Pietrzyk, who has signed with the University of South Florida.

Wiregrass Ranch hires AD

Wiregrass Ranch hired David Wilson as its new athletic director Thursday.
Wilson, who coaches boys soccer at Wiregrass, replaces Doug Elias.
Wilson was a finalist last for the AD job last year. He will continue to coach boys soccer.
Read more about Wilson's hiring in Friday's Pasco Times or in our preps section on tampabay.com.

-- IZZY GOULD, Times staff writer
igould@tampabay.com

Former Bulls first-round draft pick a candidate for Hernando A.D. job

We've got some contenders for the vacant athletic director position at Hernando High.

Outgoing A.D. Brent Gaustad says the goal is to have a successor in place by Wednesday (that's next Wednesday). The school interviewed a couple of folks today. Right now, there are six local candidates and two out of town candidates.

The in-house contenders:

Kevin Bittinger: He's the Hernando softball coach by night, teacher by day.

George Goff: An assistant football coach and teacher.

Rodney Byrd: The jack-of-all trades at Hernando High. He's been the school's A.D. before. Now, he's the football coach.

Jeff Laing: Another native son, Laing is the junior varsity baseball coach and recently wrapped up six years as head boys basketball coach.

Herman Scriven: A teacher at the school and a former assistant football coach.

The out-of-town candidates are highlighted by former Bulls first-round draft pick Dave Schellhase, Gaustad said. Schellhase was selected by Chicago with the 10th overall pick out of Purdue in 1966. Schellhase later coached at both Indiana State and Moorhead. The other out-of-towners are Ryan Erlacher (perhaps the Leopards could convince his Homonym to come play middle linebacker?), currently a graduate assistant at Florida State, and John Morgan of Jacksonville.

Clearwater's Salava commits to Belmont

Clearwater rising senior Channing Salava, a Times first-team All Suncoast setter, has orally committed to play for Belmont University, a Division I program in Nashville.

Salava also visited Florida Atlantic and Florida Gulf Coast, but was immediately drawn to Belmont, which was "completely different from anything I thought I wanted."

Salava, a second-team all-state selection in Class 5A, offered a unique blend of setting and hitting talent for the Tornadoes, which reached the region final. Known for her explosiveness, leaping ability and, strong southpaw jump serve (just ask Times writer Brandon Wright - see below), Salava will be the one that sets the tone this year for Clearwater.

She just wanted to make sure her college plans were set - early.

"I wanted to feel secure my senior year," Salava said. "I know all my sisters friends and teammates that graduated this past year - they were running all around their senior years, stressing out about it. I wanted to get it done earlier.

"And when I stepped on Belmont's campus, I absolutely knew I wanted to go there."

Belmont is coming off its most successful season in program history. The Bruins went 24-7, winning the Atlantic Sun championship and earning the team’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

And for those of you who missed Wright's first-person story last year on trying to return Salava's serve, here's a second chance:

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/11/02/news_pf/Sports/Serve_me_up_a_big_pie.shtml

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Times photo of Clearwater's Channing Salava. Photo by Kathleen Flynn.

Guthrie Hired at TBT

Joe Guthrie, whose diverse resume spans several time zones and at least one war zone, has been hired as baseball coach at Tampa Bay Tech.

An Iraq War veteran who spent five years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, Guthrie replaces Zac Walker, who resigned to become coach at Newsome. He inherits a team that finished 4-19 in 2007.

A graduate of Tuscaloosa County (Ala.) High, Guthrie, 28, had brief stints at two SEC baseball programs -- Kentucky and Alabama -- but didn't letter at either. Currently a part-time scout with the Marlins, he spent one year as coach at a prep school in Seattle before relocating with his wife to the bay area.

This past season, he taught physical education and assisted the middle school baseball team at St. Petersburg Canterbury.

"He kind of raised himself above the rest (of the applicants) after we interviewed him," said TBT principal Chris Farkas, who formally interviewed seven candidates.

"We knew playing in the SEC and being a scout for the Marlins that his baseball knowledge is solid, and we feel like his life experiences are pretty impressive. ... He can teach our kids the whole picture of being a student-athlete."

A versatile prep/college player, Guthrie signed with Kentucky out of high school, exited after one semester, then spent the next year and a half at Bevill (Ala.) State Community College. He moved to Alabama and spent his junior season as a redshirt before calling it a career.

"I was one of those guys who had a lot of injuries and was tired of being in the whirlpool," Guthrie said.

He joined the National Guard as a senior at Alabama and continued to serve while earning his masters degree at Jacksonville (Ala.) State. From October 2004 to September 2005, he served as a liaison officer in Iraq, where he worked closely with various Iraqi combat groups.

A resident of Lithia, he likely will teach P.E. and/or social studies at Tampa Bay Tech.

"When I was growing up in Tuscaloosa, I always heard how good baseball was in Tampa, and when I got down here I thought it would be great to get a job at a place that maybe hasn't had a lot of success, and try to put a stamp on the program," Guthrie said. "I think there's that potential there."

A Trivial Triumph

Anyone out there ever strike out Wade Boggs? Pin Russ Cozart? Tackle Jarrod Fayson in the open field? Then you know how I'm feeling today.

I helped take down Tony Saladino in baseball trivia.

Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, on a frozen tundra in the House that Ruth built, a six-member team representing the St. Petersburg Times ended Saladino's seven-year stranglehold on his annual baseball trivia contest with a dramatic victory Sunday night.

My wife, well into her ninth month of pregnancy, was on hand to witness this dynasty being toppled. Only a breakage of water would've overshadowed this glorious night in my otherwise mediocre athletic life. If you've ever attended a Saladino Award dinner, you understand why.

The contest is the annual finale to the dinner, held by Tony and wife Bertha in honor of the top senior player in Hillsborough County. Tony even has a trivia-game plaque for the occasion, with the winner's name engraved each year.

Thing is, Saladino's name covers the plaque the way lovebugs cover the grill of an 18-wheeler. He and his team of baseball-obsessed cronies typically own the competition, which also features teams representing The Times and Tampa Tribune. On a normal year, the Rays' middle relief would stand a better chance against the '27 Yankees than the media does against the host trivia team.

But this was no normal year. As the only Times representative at the event, the odds were stacked against me from the outset, prompting some gleeful ridicule from Tony. I needed some teammates with a respectable Major League Baseball trivia acumen.

Fortunately, Alonso coach Landy Faedo, Rey Toledo (grandfather of '07 Saladino Award winner Tommy Toledo), Sal Giardina (father of '06 winner Carmine Giardina) and Alonso scorekeeper Hector Valdes came to my rescue.

The questions centered mainly on Hall of Fame players (clues were given, we had to identify the player) and years (again, clues given). With Durant basketball coach Jeff Shotwell asking the questions and his wife Danielle (Bloomingdale athletic director) keeping score, we built a surprising early lead.

Then, mild controversy ensued. We correctly identified Rod Carew as an American League MVP who won the award without hitting a home run, but were accused of reading the lips of a Tribune member discussing the answer with his team. The dust settled, we moved into the final round deadlocked with Saladino at 10 points each.

The last question involved a year. Among the clues: It was the year in which Andre Dawson won the National League MVP award for a last-place team. As a Cubbies fan and child of the '80s, I knew it was 1987. Saladino's group guessed '86. Tony winced. We roared.

I squeezed my wife's hand as we left the Saladino residence. I tried to convey the significance of what she'd just witnessed. She told me she had just felt a contraction.

Suddenly, the victory seemed...well...trivial.

DiSalvatore picked for US Junior National Team

Countryside senior GiOnna DiSalvatore saw the weird area code on her cell phone, and almost didn't asnwer Saturday afternoon.

Boy, is she glad she did.

DiSalvatore was in Las Vegas, at a break between back-to-back AAU games when she received a call from the USA softball offices. A few middle infielders on the team were hurt - they asked if DiSalvatore would be willing to join Team USA for the Junior Worlds (June 16-30)

"I didn't expect it at all," DiSalvatore said. "I was excited - and surprised."

DiSalvatore, the Times 2007 Player of the Year, will now have a whirlwind week before her first trip out of the country. She flew back to Florida Sunday to meet up with Team USA at Altamonte Springs. They will practice for a week, and then make the trek to Netherlands for the Worlds.

All DiSalvatore needs is a passport; she ordered one 10 weeks ago, but it still hasn't arrived.

"Team USA hasn't won junior worlds before," DiSalvatore. "It'd be great if we could pull it off."

DiSalvatore, a UCLA signee, hit .506 with 34 RBI for the Cougars this season, leading them to the Class 6A state semifinals. She was named to the first-team All State.

Coming up: The Times will post its All-Suncoast softball and baseball selections in Tuesday's paper.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Another Sunlake hire

Sunlake, the new Pasco County school set to open in August, has hired Bob Kamps to be its first girls basketball coach. Seahawks athletic director Matt McDermott said an official announcement will be made Monday.
Kamps previously coach at Academy at the Lakes and has extensive basketball coaching experience, McDermott said. McDermott was out of the office and did not have any more information on Kamps.

-- IZZY GOULD, Times Staff Writer
igould@tampabay.com

Locals Dominate 5A-6A All-State Softball

More than a dozen bay area players -- including three from Palm Harbor and four from Chamberlain -- help compose the roster of the Florida Sports Writers Association's Class 5A and 6A all-state softball teams.

Here are both teams:

Class 5A
First team
C Kellie Todd, Ocala Forest, Sr.
P Molly Manning, Jacksonville Bartram Trail, Jr.
P Sarah Hamilton, Tallahassee Chiles, Sr.
P Kira Orr, Pace, Jr.
P Katy Neal, Pace, Jr.
P Jenee Loree, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer, Jr.
INF Felicia Taylor, Venice, Sr.
INF Jessica Mouse, Tampa Chamberlain, Sr.
INF Kalin Lasseter, Pace, Sr.
INF Brittany Hipple, Venice, Sr.
INF Lindsey Hansen, Niceville, Sr.
OF Allison Collins, Niceville, Sr.
OF Lindsey Powell, Lakeland George Jenkins, Sr.
UTIL Janine Richardson, Auburndale, Jr.

Second team
C Hannah Renn, Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee, So.
P Brittany Cavalli, Tampa Chamberlain, Sr.
P Lana Vaughn, Niceville, Sr.
P Lindsay Richardson, Fort Myers, So.
P Danielle Moreau, Jacksonville Bartram Trail, Sr.
P Ashley Stubbs, Lithia Newsome, Jr.
INF Natalia Ojeda, Ocala Forest, So.
INF Maddie O’Brien, Palm Harbor,  Fr.
INF Maureen Sandidge, Venice, Jr.
INF Kacie McCloud, Tallahassee Lincoln, Sr.
OF Jaime O’Hara, Lithia Newsome, Jr.
OF Ashley Hanewich, Bradenton Lakewood Ranch, Sr.
OF Mary Kate Smith, Tampa Chamberlain, Jr.
UTIL Crystal Meeks, Tallahassee Lincoln, Sr.

Third team
C Kirstyn Joiner, Pace, Jr.
P Shelby Plank, Winter Park Lake Howell, Sr.
P Christine Clark, Naples Barron Collier, Jr.
P Brittaney Alderman, Lakeland George Jenkins, So.
P Chris Donovan, Gainesville, Jr.
P Lindsey Moates, Ocala Forest, Sr.
INF Kendall Arnold, Tampa Wharton, Sr.
INF Marissa Menendez, Tampa Chamberlain, So.
INF Kayla Gabel, Lakeland George Jenkins, Jr.
INF Brittany Dowle, Pace, Jr.
OF Grace Turner, Fort Myers, Jr.
OF Dana Cauthen, Ocala Forest, So.
OF Jessica Soupart, West Boca Raton, Jr.
UTIL Lauren Bubeck, Stuart South Fork, Jr.

Honorable mention
C Norma Luna, North Fort Myers, Sr.
P Emily Crawford, Seminole, Fr.
P Stephanie Sullivan, Venice, So.
P Tiffany Byrd, Jacksonville First Coast, Sr.
P Brittany Anderson, Auburndale, Sr.
P Courtney O’Connell, Palm Harbor, So.
INF Kaylee West, Auburndale, Jr.
INF Lisa Ryan, Ocala Lake Weir, Sr.
INF Elysha Agen, Palm Harbor, Sr.
INF Kaci Huneke, Seminole, Jr.
INF Kirsten Frame, Palm Bay Bayside, So.
OF Jessie Haladyna, Jacksonville Bartram Trail, Jr.
OF Ami Austin, Daytona Beach Seabreeze, Sr.
OF Corey Hanewich, Bradenton Lakewood Ranch, Fr.

CLASS 6A
First team
C Stormi Grzybek, Cooper City, So.
P Kelsi Dunne, Port Orange Spruce Creek, Sr.
P Lauren Schmalz, Miramar Everglades, Sr.
P Caitlin Houk, Miami Palmetto, Sr.
P Alexis Sarradet, Miami Sunset, Sr.
P Kelly Saco, Miami Palmetto, Jr.
INF GiOnna Disalvatore, Clearwater Countryside, Sr.
INF Brittany Bell, Riverview, Sr.
INF Laura Fountain, Cooper City, Jr.
INF Carolyn Corry, Miramar Everglades, Sr.
INF Jessica Lanci, Orlando Timber Creek, Fr.
OF Kelly McCarver, Port Orange Spruce Creek, Sr.
OF Katie Afflerback, Coconut Creek, Jr.
OF Katie Girardi, Hollywood McArthur, Jr.

Second team
C Jackie Reese, Melbourne Eau Gallie, So.
P Morgan Grove, Tampa Gaither, Jr.
P Heidi Penna, Southwest Miami, Jr.
P Diana Rojas, Miami Lourdes, Sr.
P Taylor Fawbush, Winter Garden West Orange, So.
P Morgan O'Keefe, Jacksonville Mandarin, Sr.
INF Lauren Guzman, Miami Palmetto, Jr.
INF Rachel Talenfeld, Parkland Douglas, Sr.
INF Jessi Pozo, Miramar Everglades, Sr.
INF Ashley Stager, New Port Richey Mitchell, Sr.
INF Dana Ericson, Miramar Everglades, Jr.
OF Stephanie Kujawa, Cooper City, So.
OF Brittany Licari, Deltona, Sr.
UTIL Kendall Dawson, Plant City, Jr.

Third team
C Alyssa Allbritten, Clearwater Countryside, Sr.
P Richelle Raley, Winter Springs, Jr.
P Desiree Baker Clearwater Countryside, Jr.
P Sara Demuth, Plant City Durant, Jr.
INF Courtney Ray, Miami Palmetto, So.
INF Clara Kendall, Jacksonville Mandarin, Jr.
INF Morgan White, Orlando Edgewater, Sr.
INF Cindy Cuare, Miami Ferguson, Sr.
INF Cari Curfman, Plant City Durant, Sr.
INF Carly Speerin, Lake Worth Park Vista, Jr.
OF Alysse Pujol, Cooper City, Jr.
OF Michelle Moultrie, Jacksonville Mandarin, Jr.
OF Brittany Crabb, Plant City Durant, Sr.
UTIL Kayla Ouellet, Orlando Boone, Sr.

Honorable mention
C Abbey Shipman, Orlando Freedom, Sr.
P Heather Simpson, Jupiter, So.
P Lizzy Corrigan, Palm Beach Gardens, Fr.
P Casey Jackman, Deltona, So.
P Megan Still, Plant City, So., P
INF Katie Forbes, Tampa Gaither, Jr.
INF Peggy Alex, Clermont East Ridge, Sr.
INF Iriseldis Soberon, Miami Sunset, Sr.
INF Caroline Torre, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
INF Kaylyn Graydon, Lantana Santaluces, Jr.
OF Laura Mendes, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
OF Rachel Helman, Miami Palmetto, Sr.
OF Khrystyne Ely, Tampa Sickles, Jr.
UTIL Amanda Marquez, Miami Palmetto, So.

Joyce, Cozart Named State's Best

Brandon High senior middleweight Sean Joyce and Eagles coach Russ Cozart have been named the 2007 Florida Dairy Farmers wrestler and coach of the year, respectively.

Joyce, who will wrestle at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, finished 48-0 this past season, winning his fourth individual state championship. Academically, he graduated with a weighted GPA of over 5.50.

Cozart led the Eagles to the Class 2A team title, their seventh consecutive state crown and 18th overall. All but one of Brandon's state titles have come under Cozart.

Baseball draft

And here we go....liveblogging the baseball draft, at least from the local side of things, so it could be slow-going here for a while.

ESPN2 is televising live from Disney's Wide World of Sports. This should be enthralling. Cough.

Storylines: Big high school class. Lots of lefty pitchers. Signability a big factor. No more draft and follows, gotta be signed by Aug. 15.

Devil Rays on the clock. They take every last second before surprising no one and picking LHP David Price from Vandy.

Now we sit and wait for some of our local high school heroes. Let's call it the Michael Burgess Watch, shall we?

5:03 p.m.: Uh-oh. First mention of players "slipping." I'm not sure that's the case with Burgess or Middleton's flame-throwing Nevin Griffith just yet, but Brady Quinn just called and said he will be wanting his claim to fame back if ESPN tries to pass it off to the Hillsborough County kids. Which by the way, in a draft that is such a crapshoot and with so many young kids and so much less refined than the NFL draft, would be just cruel.

We have a draft pick! Michael Burgess, Hillsborough stud, taken 49th overall by the Washington Nationals. Technically, it kinda goes down as a first round pick, but let's go with 1.5-round pick.

Former Plant standout Corey Brown, whose Okalhoma State team takes on Louisville in a Super Regional beginning today at 1 p.m., was taken 59th overall by Oakland as a supplemental first round pick.

Middleton pitcher Nevin Griffith was picked 89th by the Chicago White Sox. Dude throws 91-ish, from what they say. Scouting report has this: "When he keeps his fastball at around 91 mph, it has some nice tail and dive and it runs well. When he ups the velocity, it flattens out a little."

Former Bloomingdale standout Tony Thomas (FSU) goes 97th overall  (third round) to the Cubbies. A 2B,  Thomas led the nation in hits (97) and doubles (28).

Alonso RHP Tommy Toledo goes 117th to Padres in 3rd round. MLB.com scouting report summary says:

Summary:	Toledo is an athletic right-hander with a good arm and compact delivery. He's got an excellent feel for pitching and has the ability to throw three pitches for strikes. A good competitor, Toledo maximizes the stuff he does have by locating his pitches and keeping hitters off-balance. Pitchability is usually a term reserved for left-handers, but it works for Toledo.

We're in the fourth round, and former Dunedin pitcher Tim Bascom is taken 129th overall by the Orioles. Bascom is most recently of the University of Central Florida and was taken by San Diego in the 6th round last year. But things didn't work out and he did the independant league baseball this year. His story is here.

Jonathan Holt, the University of Tampa's ace pitcher this season (okay, so he was the closer but he did throw a CG in the Division II championship game), goes early in the fifth round as the Indians snatch him up with the 167th pick.

Seffner Christian Duo Named All-State

Seffner Christian seniors Haley Tanner and Jordan Raburn have been selected as first-teamers on the Class 1A all-state softball squad, chosen by the Florida Sports Writers Association.

Tanner, a pitcher, finished 15-3 with a 2.03 ERA for SCA (17-3), which reached the Region 3 semifinals. In 110.1 innings, she struck out 100, and recorded two shutouts. Offensively, she hit .382 with four doubles and three triples.

Raburn, an infielder, led the team in hitting (.479), RBI (23), stolen bases (13) and hits (34).

No other Hillsborough County player made the 1A or 2A all-state teams. The 3A-6A squads are expected to be released later this week.

Several locals picked for All-State softball

Canterbury sophomore catcher Macey Hall (left) was one of several bay area standouts selected to the All-State teams in either Class 1A or 2A.

The selections were released Wednesday evening by the Florida Sportswriters Association. 

Hall made first team for 1A after leading the Crusaders to the region finals this season, the program's second in district play. Hall, a second-team Times All-County selection,  hit .463 with three homers for Canterbury.

Three of Hall's teammates were also honored. Seventh-grade pitchers Jennifer Crosthwaite and Emily Winesett, which split starts for the Crusaders, each were picked for second team. Senior outfielder Nora Brody was named to third.

In Class 2A, Northside Christian catcher Danielle Crisco earned second-team honors. Crisco hit .551 with 28 RBI, and was also a second-team Times All-County selection. Crisco's teammate, freshman second baseman Stephanie Bonalewicz, earned third-team honors in 2A.

For the full list for Class 1A and 2A, click below. The tentative release dates for 3A-4A are Thursday and for 5A and 6A (Friday).

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Second thoughts on FHSAA appeal process - and SPC's chances

The most noteworthy procedural aspect to come out of last week's FHSAA appeal hearings was this; for the first time, the board verbalized a directive to put the final decision back on commissioner John Stewart.

Essentially, the FHSAA's "Supreme Court," as one official called it, had passed the buck.

And after observing some interesting outtakes from the appeal hearings for St Petersburg Catholic and Horeb Christian last Thursday -- the jury is out whether it was a good decision.

Here's how appeals work: This board (13-17 members) meet five times a year, and openly discuss and deliberate on appeal hearings at each one. They are supplied with a case file a few weeks before, and typically come in with an opinion. Each school can try to sway it in their 20-minute oral presentatation.

The board can ask questions, make comments, etc. Then they make a motion and vote.

Apparently, some board members come in more prepared than others.

Case in point: Tom Greer, a board member from Osceola County School Board, told me after the board denied SPC's appeal, 7-6:

"I didn't know (SPC) was a repeat offender....until it was mentioned in the hearing.....It wasn't in my packet."

It may not have been in Greer's packet that day, but the fact SPC was a repeat offender (postseason ban in 2001 for recruiting) was a big reason why the school was given a stiff penalty last May (three year postseason ban and $13,000 fine for recruiting violations and illegal practices). 

SPC's 2001 recruiting charge violated a one-year probation it received in 2000 for improper contact with a Gibbs player. FHSAA assoc commissioner Sonny Hester said last fall that "you have to try to find something that will deter them in the future."

Yet the fact Greer - and he probably wasn't the only board member -- didn't know the background for a school that one board member admitted, "was one of the most flagrant violaters in several years," makes one wonder about the process itself.

Granted, Greer did in fact vote to deny SPC's appeal, but he was also in favor of giving Stewart an option to lessen the penalties by end of summer, when assoc commissioner Sonny Hester will make on campus visits to see how much SPC has corrected itself....

For more analysis, and a prediction on what Stewart will do with SPC, click here...

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Steroid Testing Bill is On the Clock: T-Minus 15 Days. . .

Cue the outro beeping sound effect from "24". . .

The steroid bill is on the clock.

House Bill 461, better known as a pilot program for the steroid testing of high school athletes, has reached the desk of Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist now has 15 days to sign or veto the bill. He has made few public comments on the bill, but state Rep. Marcelo Llorente, who sponsored the legislation, and FHSAA commissioner John Stewart, whose organization will be responsible for implementing it, both expect Crist to pass it into law.

First, to catch you up on the process thus far, you can check out this story we ran last week.

The FHSAA has already begun preparations for the implementation of the bill, but the majority of the plannning will wait until after it has been signed into law. Stewart said his office will meet with Llorente's office immediately after the program becomes official. Crist has until June 20 to sign.

The FHSAA is planning on hiring a person who will spend a large chunk of his or her time administering the testing. That position has been posted on the association's web site.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE UPDATE: The FHSAA met for over an hour yesterday (Monday) with two senators who were instrumental in pushing through a last-minute amendment that briefly threatened to split the FHSAA into separate organizations for public and private schools. Commissioner Stewart said the meeting with Sen. Jim King and Sen. Stephen Wise went well. The goal of the FHSAA is to take a proactive approach toward some of the discontent that prompted the last-minute amendment, which was tacked on to the steroid bill and called for the creations of an organization called the Florida Private High School Atheltic Association. The amendment was ultimately defeated, but Stewart said he would like to avoid any future legislative action. The FHSAA's Board of Directors considered a couple of measures that it felt might address some of the concerns, including adding a state board of appeals that would hear some of the more controversial cases, and altering the make-up of the sectional appeals board. But the measures were tabled until the group's next meeting in September.

"By and large, we wanted to work out whatever concerns there were," Stewart said.

The two groups will continue to talk throughout the year, Stewart said.

RECRUITING UPDATE: One of the measures the Board of Directors approved last week was an affadavit that every transfer student in the state will have to sign upon enrolling at a new school. The affadavit will then be sent to the FHSAA, which will use it to monitor transfers in its fight against recruiting. Essentially, it boils down to this: every time an athlete changes high schools, he or she will have to fill out a form declaring the transfer. This will then be sent to the FHSAA, which will be able to use it to monitor transfers. Right now, there is no such system in place. The affadavit system will become effective July 1. Any athlete who does not register his transfer will be inelligible.

Stewart said Tuesday that the FHSAA was still figuring out the logistics of how it would track transfers.

--DAVID MURPHY

dmurphy@sptimes.com

Bogie QB offered by Ohio State, USF

The recruitment for Boca Ciega's rising senior Orhian Johnson is heating up.

The 6-4, 190-pound quarterback has recently received offers from Ohio State, USF and Indiana, along with Western Kentucky and FIU.

The Buckeyes came into play after the Pirates spring classic; initially they liked him as a defensive back (which Johnson played as a sophomore), but they're targeting him as an athlete - one who could play receiver, QB, or DB. USF likes him as a quarterback, where he's been a dual threat for the Pirates.

Johnson said he has qualifying scores on the ACT, and carries a 3.4 GPA. What scouts also love, however, is Johnson's size and 4.41 40 speed.

"It's real exciting - it's something I hoped for, but didn't know if it was going to happen," Johnson said of the interest. "I'm just going to try to do the best I can..."

PACKERS PACKING ON OFFERS: West Virginia has offered both Largo qb/db Leonard Johnson and running back Brynn Harvey. Johnson, who has about 10 offers, also picked one up from Oklahoma State recently.

GIBBS NEWS: Gibbs senior running back Devon McCullough has been offered by Florida International.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

East Bay Tabs Colome

Former East Bay junior varsity assistant Billy Colome, whose coaching experience ranges from Little League to collegiate wooden-bat leagues, has been hired as Indians baseball coach.

Athletic Director Scot Tipton announced this morning Colome, 30, had been hired over four other finalists that included local candidates Mike Valerius (Indians volunteer assistant) and Ernie Johnson (former Brandon assistant). He replaces Nelson Menendez, who resigned in May after three seasons.

"Coach Colome blew everybody away in the interview and we feel at East Bay he's going to give us the energy involved to take us to the next level," Tipton said.

A 1995 graduate of Miami Southridge, Colome played collegiately at College of Charleston, earning third-team Division I All-America honors as a middle infielder in 1999. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians in '99, and spent parts of three years in pro baseball before his release.

Since then, Colome has been busy diversifying his coaching resume. He spent a year as an assistant at Southridge, has helped out with the East Bay Little League, and served two years as an Indians junior varsity assistant.

He's currently entering his fourth year as player-coach of the Tampa Elite, a collegiate wooden-bat team that finished second nationally last summer in the Stan Musial League. 

"The biggest challenge, I feel, is establishing a program, establishing structure to where it's a situation where (East Bay) will be constantly reloading, not rebuilding," said Colome, a married father of one.

"It's a growing environment here. The East Bay and Gibsonton area is constantly developing. I see growth in the East Bay Little League and I see growth in the community. Talent has not been an issue."

TC's Kelly, Arena Bound For Division II

Tampa Catholic senior right-hander Joe Kelly and left-handed classmate Ryan Arena have committed to Division II Catawba (N.C.) and Saint Leo, respectively, Coach Rich Arena confirmed Friday.

Kelly, named the Crusaders' most outstanding pitcher at their recent team banquet, may have possessed the area's most deceiving numbers in 2006. He finished 0-2 with a 3.32 ERA, but six of his 10 appearances were against Class 3A state champ Clearwater Central Catholic, 4A region finalist Jesuit (twice), 3A playoff team Berkeley Prep (twice) and 6A region finalist Alonso.

Arena, the coach's nephew, already has signed with the Lions, Rich Arena said. Used in spot duty, he finished 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA in only nine innings last season, but impressed Lions coaches with his performance at a tournament at Saint Leo, Rich Arena said.

Oh, It Has Been Brought: Cheerleading Is A Sport!

Yesterday, cheerleading was a recreational activity.

Today, it is a sport.

The FHSAA hath spoken. The association's Board of Directors uananimously approved a state cheerleading championship at it's meeting today, meaning competitive cheerleading is now a "recognized sport.

"This is huge," said FHSAA associate director of athletics Jamie Rohrer. "This is a really big deal."

And with that, FHSAA commissioner John Stewart did a backwards summersault with a half-twist. . .just kidding.

The cheerleading season will run from the first day of football and conclude with a FHSAA-sponsored championship in March, likely on the second weekend of the month.

Schools may enter a team in one of eight categories broken down by squad size. Two of the divisions will be co-ed.

Cheerleading is an infamously dangerous sport, so all coaches will be required to be safety-certified, which Rohrer said has never before been required.

There's no word on whether the FHSAA will retroactively consider awarding Times staff writers John Cotey and Izzy Gould varsity letters.