East Bay retires Ballenger's number

The jersey number of former East Bay quarterback Rex Ballenger Jr. was retired in a halftime ceremony during the Indians' final home game against Newsome tonight.

Ballenger was killed in a car accident last spring. His family was presented with a plaque of Ballenger's No. 10. A plaque retiring Ballenger's number will hang in East Bay's gym and in the team's football field house.

"There aren't words to describe how this feels to us," said Ballenger's father, Rex Sr., "I know it wasn't easy to get this done. Coach (Brian) Thornton and Rex had a great relationship. And just like I know Rex would do anything to play football for him, I know Coach Thornton did everything to get this done."

-EDUARDO A. ENCINA

East Bay swimmer Ball has finalists

East Bay senior swimmer Tyler Ball said Thursday that his college decision is down to two schools -- West Virginia and South Carolina.

Ball, a standout in the 500 free and 100 back, said he's been told he will receive an offer from both schools within the next two weeks. He's made two visits to each school.

"They're both even," Ball said.

Ball said Florida State is also "an option," but the Mountaineers and Gamecocks are definitely his leaders.

Ball won the 500 free and 100 back at Thursday's Class 3A-4 district meet. He was a state finalist in the 500 free last year and has switched to the 100 back from the 200 IM in hopes of advancing to state in that even as well.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Cambridge's Tagliarini commits to Quincy

Cambridge shortstop Trent Tagliarini committed to play baseball at Quincy (Ill.) University Thursday night, Lancers coach Rick Shears said in an email.

Tagliarini will officially sign his letter of intent Nov. 12 at the school. He was accepted to the school about a month ago, Shears said.

Tagliarini, who hit a team-high .506 and led Cambridge with four homers, seven doubles and five triples, helped lead the Lancers to their first baseball state championship game last spring and a school-best 25-3-1 record.

He will be the third Cambridge athlete heading to Quincy. Shears' son, Erik, is attending Quincy and playing football there and former Lancer football player Austin Welti is a junior linebacker there and is second on the team with 3 1/2 sacks.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA.

Memory Lane with the Bloomingdale Bulls

Okay, you all know the deal: If Bloomingdale (5-2) beats Brandon (1-6) tonight, the Bulls will clinch the first winning season in program history. It also would get them into the playoffs.

So clearly, a victory would go down as the program's biggest.

This got me thinking: What currently is the biggest win in Bloomy history?

Here's your answer: Bulls 24, Lakeland 14.

NOOOOOOO, I'm not making that up. It actually happened. Seriously.

The Year was 2003. Bloomingdale went 4-5 that season. That night against Lakeland, the Bulls outrushed the mighty Dreadnaughts 246-190. Bloomingdale QB Tony Thomas accounted for 177 yards.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Fotopoulos new Gators assistant

Each girls was asked to introduce themselves by name, then offer a little bit of background on the first day of Land O'Lakes soccer tryouts.

It would have been fun to hear how Danielle Fotopoulos introduced herself.

The NCAA's Division I all-time leading scorer (118 goals) recently joined the Gators as an assistant soccer coach. She also will coach tennis in the spring.

Fotopoulos, who played collegiately at Southern Methodist and Florida, also was a member of the United State national team that won the 1999 World Cup and an Olympic team alternate. She recently rejoined her Florida teammates for the 10th anniversary of winning the national championship, a 1-0 win against North Carolina.

Fotopolous scored the only goal.

She is teaching at the Land O'Lakes, currently involved in a program called H.O.P.E. - health opportunities through physical education. Gators coach Vicky King realizes what a great luxury it is to have Fotopoulos, who was a two-time All American at Lyman High in Orlando, on staff.

"It's an awesome thing," King said. "She's very humbled about all the things she's done. She brings so much experience. She has so much to offer with her coaching and playing experience. She's been around the world."

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@me.com

The Chamberlain-Plant blog

It's not a district game. And it won't determine who makes the playoffs or who doesn't. But despite all of that, tonight's Chamberlain-Plant game at Dads Stadium is a big one. That's because 1. The teams are two of the state's best, 2. The schools have been playing each other for years, 3. The Chiefs and Panthers each have incredibly vocal fan bases, 4. There might be more talent showcased in this game than any contest in the state tonight. If that's not enough to get you excited, you're probably not breathing (if that's the case, call 911 immediately). In this post, I'm asking you to break it down for us, tell us how you think things will go down and, of course, pick a winner. Talk smack if you must, but have fun and keep it clean. Anyway, here's my take ...

I like Chamberlain tonight. Plant is good. Very good. Even with star QB Aaron Murray sidelined with that injury. The Panthers have what I consider the county's two best receivers in Orson Charles and Allen Sampson, and if new QB Phillip Ely gets some protection the Panthers will score. That's a big if. Although Plant's offensive line isn't bad, Chamberlain has probably the county's second best defensive front. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs have incredible balance. QB Dontae Aycock is having an all-state season, his receivers are solid, the line has played excellent and running back Kenny Allen is the city's best-kept secret. I expect a good game. One that should be reasonably close. It's worth noting that since the start of the 2006 season, Plant has lost a grand total of three games. All were to Armwood. That's right, nobody else has beaten the Panthers during that stretch. In other words, those guys in black and gold are pretty good. But at the end of the day, when you add up all the pluses and minuses for each, it's hard to go against Chamberlain.

Prediction: Chamberlain 30-23

--KEITH NIEBUHR

USA Today bumps up Hawks

This actually happened a few days ago, so pardon my delay in reporting it:

The Armwood football team jumped one spot in this week's USA Today Super 25 football rankings, which is probably the most well known of all rankings in high school sports. The Hawks (8-0) are now ranked No. 4; they trail Euless Trinity (Texas), Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Monroeville Gateway (Pa.). Armwood was fifth last week, but then-No. 1, South Carolina's Byrnes High, was beaten.

One other note:

Two teams that could stand between Chamberlain (8-0) and a Class 5A state title are ranked -- St Thomas (No. 2) and Lakeland (No. 11).

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Jackson forced out of Friday's game

Armwood quarterback Mywan Jackson has been suspended from school, meaning he will not be able to play in Friday's district game against Freedom, Hawks coach Sean Callahan said.

Callahan said Jackson and safety Angelo Hadley "both broke a school rule," but only Jackson was suspended. Hadley will play Friday.

"It was a school situation and we support the administration's decision," Callahan said.

Callahan said senior Rob Jones and freshman Tanner Emmons will play in Jackson's place, but  said Emmons, who led the Hawks JV to a 6-0 record, will receive most of the snaps.

"I don't want him to get mop-up duty," Callahan said of Emmons. "He's going to be a three-year starter for us, and we've usually only had two-year starters here, so I want to get him some game experience."

- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Jesuit swim star down to four

Jesuit swim standout Vinny Donnelly has narrowed his choices of potential colleges to four and intends to commit "soon," he told the Times on Thursday. His finalists are Florida State, Indiana, LSU and Purdue.

A decision could come as early as this weekend.

Donnelly has taken official visits to each finalist. He tripped to LSU last weekend and had front-row seats for the LSU-Georgia football game. "I had a lot of fun," Donnelly said.

Donnelly, who has a 3.4 GPA, plans to study civil engineering in college and that will be a factor in his final decision.

At state in 2007, Donnelly was fifth in the 500 freestyle and sixth in the 100 butterfly. He will concentrate primarily on distance events in college.

-KEITH NIEBUHR

PAL all-star golf tourney tees off Saturday

With the high school golf season over following the conclusion of yesterday's state championships, graduates in the class of 2009 will have one final opportunity to represent their team on the golf course.

The Pinellas Sheriff's Police Athletic League will host a senior all-star tournament Saturday at Airco Golf Course in Clearwater.

All senior high school golfers are invited to attend. The cost is $15, and tropies will be given to the top three finishers. The tournament will tee off at noon.

For more information or to register, contact East Lake golf coach Terry O'Reilly at 727-463-1720.

-- BRYAN BURNS