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Ridgewood guard Mike Lawrence will sign a letter of intent next week with King College in Bristol, Tenn.
Lawrence, who leaves Ridgewood as the all-time assist leader, averaged 12 points and 9.6 per game and helped guide the Rams to a 24-4 record and a Class 4A region semifinal berth.
--IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Wesley Chapel lineman Kamran Joyer spent two hours with USF coach Jim
Leavitt on Wednesday where he received another scholarship offer. In
fact, he loved what he heard so much he now lists USF as his top choice
followed by Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Miami.
Illinois also offered Joyer this week. He also has offers from
Tennessee and South Carolina with Miami coming to visit next week.
If you're behind on your Hernando County news incoming Hernando
principal Ken Pritz told everyone currently in supplemental positions
they would be welcome to apply for their current jobs but that those
jobs would be posted publicly and others would be considered.
So in terms of football, first-year coach Rodney Byrd is leading the
Leopards through spring practice but Hernando is considering the 38
applicants that sent resumes by today's closing date.
Technically, Byrd is still the coach and he could be the coach after a
committee votes on the three finalists at the end of the month.
Of the 38 applicants - 18 from Florida - here are a few that stood out...
• Port St. Joe coach John Palmer is a former Leopard who graduated in
1983. He is the son of former Leopards coach Dub Palmer and has been
the athletic director and coach at Port St. Joe since 2001, where he
won the Class A state title in 2005. He also held head coaching jobs at
Eustis (1999-2001) and Bronson (1995-99) and was considered a favorite
during the Hernando coaching search.
• Lakewood coach Otis Dixon has led the Spartans since 2005 and guided
them to their first winning season in six years with a 6-4 finish,
narrowly missing the playoffs. He is a Clearwater graduate and played
four seasons at USF under coach Jim Leavitt.
• Former King coach Joe Severino stepped down last year after seven
seasons after going 26-48. He led King to playoff victories in 2000 and
2001. He also coached at Tampa Bay Tech and Gaither and recently
applied for the Sunlake opening last year.
• Celebration coach Eddie Carnley, who also is the athletic director,
has 26 years of coaching experience, mostly in Mississippi.
• Hernando assistant Craig Everhart, who coached wide receivers and special teams. He listed Rodney Byrd as his top reference.
• George Goff, who served as an assistant under former Hernando coach Matt Smith also was a candidate in 2007.
• Springstead assistant Mark Lee spent one season on the Eagles staff and has spent all of his career as an assistant coach.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Zephyrhills volleyball coach Tiffany Bibby has resigned after two seasons.
Bibby had some unforeseen family matters arise that will keep her out
of town for most of the summer. She also is trying to reunite with her
sister hoping to find another teaching job in Texas or California.
Facing those uncertainties, Bibby met with Bulldogs athletic director
Craig Milburn and principal Gerri Painter and explained after two
seasons of progress she didn't want to see the players suffer without a
coach to oversee summer conditioning, camps and tournaments.
"It wouldn't be fair to the kids not to give them any help all summer,"
Bibby said. "It would be better to find someone before school ends so
they have someone for the summer. I like it here, I love Zephyrhills.
It's such a neat community. I love my job here. It won't be fun to be
here and not coach the kids."
Bibby's teams went a combined 45-12 seasons in two years as the head
coach leading the Bulldogs to a region quarterfinal berth and the
runnerup trophy in Class 4A, District 8.
--IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Nature Coast senior pitcher/catcher Travis Murray, who started behind the plate (and called the pitches) when he wasn't on the mound, has signed with Pasco-Hernando Community College, Sharks coach Bob Shepard confirmed.
The Sharks' top hitter this past season (.586, 25 RBI), Murray finished 5-3 with a 1.93 ERA on the mound, typically drawing the most difficult starts. Two of his three losses were to Class 4A region finalist Pasco.
Shepard also said second baseman Kenny Treverton, a .389 hitter as a senior, has not formally signed with PHCC, but will attend the school and play for the Conquistadors. Treverton was successful on all 21 of his stolen-base attempts in 2008.
Mitchell girls basketball coach Stephanie Koslin has resigned her post to spend more time with family.
She gave birth to her first child just weeks before the 2006-07 season. Now with her second child of three months she wants to be sure not to miss those little moments between mother and child.
Koslin coached six seasons for the Mustangs leading them to three district titles and a Sunshine Athletic Conference championship two seasons ago. The opening has been posted and assistant Jake Tavo is expected to apply with Koslin's endorsement.
Koslin said she hopes this is just a temporary break from coaching basketball and that she hopes to return in a few years. Until then, she'll attend games and cheer for Mitchell.
"It's a whole different job this motherhood," Koslin said. "I'm going to be a big fan."
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Former Harvard tennis coach Ed Krass is hosting his 20th annual college tennis exposure camp June 15-20 at USF. What makes it unique is that students are taught exclusively by college coaches because the camp is dedicated to preparing high school athletes for college-level tennis. The staff focuses on helping campers improve match strategy, shot selection and shot placement in hopes of making their transition from junior to college tennis a reality. The camp is open to competitive high school and tournament players ages 15-18. More than 50 college coaches will train on court and conduct classroom seminars on college tennis preparation. For more information, go online to collegetennis.com or call (813) 684-9031.Springstead athletic director Bob Levija recently earned his second major honor in the last eight months when he was formally recognized as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
Levija, 57, “is one of a very elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism,” according to an NIAAA press release.
Levija, Springstead’s AD the last seven years, had to undergo a thorough educational background evaluation and 15 classes to earn certification. Course subjects included law, gender equity and facilities.
“I’ve been working on it for two years,” he said. “We’re trying to get Florida to push it to get all of our AD’s certified. It makes a big difference, the stuff I’ve learned.”
Last summer, Levija, who won more than 300 dual matches in 22 seasons as Eagles wrestling coach, was inducted into the Florida chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Spring football practice starts today, but the real season doesn't begin until August. Even so, there's no time like the present to start planning your fall Friday night schedule. With that in mind, we're here to remind you that we've already posted the 2008 schedules for every area team. To find the ones you're looking for, simply go to highschool.tampabay.com. Under the header "High School Team Pages" choose football in the "Select Sport" category. Right below that you'll be able to select a team. Hope that helps.
-- KEITH NIEBUHR
After a year in Boca Raton, the state's cheerleading championships will head to Tallahassee in 2009 and 2010, the Florida High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday. The event will be held at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, March 13-14, 2009, and March 12-13, 2010. The inaugural championships took place at FAU Arena in March. More than 190 schools entered the two-day competition. State champions were crowned in seven divisions.
--KEITH NIEBUHR
A Senate bill that would allow private school students to participate in public school athletics won House approval Wednesday after heated debate. House members amended the bill so only three counties would launch a two-year pilot program, to begin this fall.
The bill would allow private school students to participate in public school sports at the middle and high school levels, as long as their schools do not offer those programs or are not members of the Florida High School Athletic Association. The pilot program would be held in Duval, Bradford and Nassau counties and still requires final approval by the Senate and Gov. Charlie Crist.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
The buzz in Hernando County on Wednesday morning was whether Hernando football coach Rodney Byrd was out. The school had posted his job Tuesday on the Florida High School Athletic Association's Web site.
A new administration at Hernando has started the process of overhauling its athletic department. Hernando principal Ken Pritz won't officially take over until July 1, but already is making decisions that will restructure athletics. He'll replace current principal Betty Harper, who is moving to Deltona Elementary next fall as part of district-wide restructuring.
Pritz already spoke with Byrd, who remains the coach and will lead the Leopards through the spring to finish his 2007-08 supplement. Byrd, who led the Leopards to a 2-8 mark in his only season, could return next fall though it will be left to a committee to decide. Byrd declined to comment and referred all questions to Pritz.
Continue reading "Hernando athletics faces overhaul (updated: 4:09 p.m.)" »
Land O'Lakes sharpshooter Jerome Harrison will sign a letter of intent with Brevard Community College on Thursday morning, Gators coach Dave Puhalski said. Harrison was the catalyst for the Gators with a well-rounded game in terms of shooting, defense and leadership. He led Land O'Lakes averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 41 3-pointers en route to the Class 5A region quarterfinal and a 21-8 record.
Harrison considered Eckerd College and the prep school route, but as a partial qualifier he will have the option of transferring to a Division I program if that becomes an option. Harrison visited Brevard a few weeks ago and meshed well with the players and coaches.
"He was one of the most explosive players in the county," Puhalski said. "He was just able to put up big numbers quickly."
--IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Seminole reclaimed the top spot in Class 5A in the most recent and final FSWA state baseball poll while local 5A teams Land O' Lakes (Fourth to third), Plant (Fifth to fourth), Brandon (eighth to seventh) and Dunedin (10th to eighth) each made a step up in the poll.
For the complete list, keep reading.
They're driven, obsessive, mildy mischievous and occasionally profane.
But in the end, the 2007-08 Brandon High wrestlers, subject of a documentary airing Tuesday night at 9 on ESPN2, likely will elicity your sympathy and cheers.
The Streak (92 minutes, 54 seconds) follows the team's season, marked by the historic loss to Miami South Dade that snapped the program's national-record dual match win streak at 459. ESPN's cameras had unabridged access to the program as well as the Brandon Kids' Wrestling Club, home of Coach Russ Cozart, and even the homes of several wrestlers.
What results are mini-character sketches of several wrestlers, most of whom seem driven by the desire to not only preserve the streak but live up to legacies forged by dads or older siblings.
That pursuit, at times, borders on the disturbing.
The opening credits appear over shots of the Eagles going through a nausea-inducing sequence of preseason workouts, and footage taken in the school cafeteria shows some wrestlers bypassing lunch to ensure they'll "make weight" for the upcoming matches. At a dinnertime scene in state champion Eric Grajales' home, the family partakes of what appears to be a meal of steak or pork chops while Grajales picks at a plain baked potato.
"Halfway through the season," state champ Joey Cozart (the coach's son) says at one point, "it's not even fun anymore. It's like hell."
Naturally, great attention is given to the Eagles' historic loss, in the finals of the Jim Graves "Beat the Streak" Invitational, and the emotions spawned by it. Director John Hock, however, does a delicate balancing act, conveying the significance of the defeat without exploiting anyone.
And it doesn't end there. After struggling to regain focus and, in some cases, questioning their desire to continue, the Eagles find a degree of redemption at the state tournament.
Ironically, that poignant finish makes The Streak, filmed in the very year in which the streak ended, a tale of triumph.
If you follow recruiting, you'll love this story ...
In a recent article, Illinois coach Ron Zook (yeah, that guy) complained about a new rule that banned Division I-A head football coaches from recruiting during the current open period. But then he took things a step further by saying that recruiting websites work with the schools they cover to sway recruits. "Well, you know what a lot of them are saying," Zook told the Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.). "They're selling their school to these kids, and we're not able to talk to them. To me, we're losing this thing, in my opinion."
Rivals.com editor-in-chief Bobby Burton was quick to respond. And in doing so, he fired back at Zook -- and college coaches in general. He wrote: "Is the media or an Internet site such as Rivals.com perfect? No, we're not. But our eight-year record of following rules and acting judiciously is far better than that of several NCAA member institutions and the NCAA coaching fraternity as a whole." (You can read Burton's entire response to the Zooker HERE)
So tell me, who's right in this debate -- Zook or Burton?
-- KEITH NIEBUHR
In continuing the trend of early commitments, Wesley Chapel lineman Kamran Joyer will announce his college choice June 21 at a party to celebrate his decision. Tennessee remains the No. 1 choice for the junior, but Joyer will visit South Carolina and Georgia during the second week of June. Florida and USF are also on his list of schools.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Day 1 of the Class 2A state tennis tournament ended with a Nature Coach girls doubles tandem in the semifinals, but began with Hernando County's top boys player in despair.
Hernando sophomore Chris Nyholm, the District 6 champion who dropped only one match all season, was disqualified from the tournament's individual singles bracket for arriving late this morning for his 8:15 first-round match at Sanford's Sylvan Lake Park.
The Leopards' lone state qualifier, Nyholm said he spent Sunday night in a hotel, roughly 15 minutes from the park, with some Leopards teammates and Coach Don Bruzzi.
"I'm at a loss for words, to tell you the truth," Nyholm said this afternoon. "If anything, I should've been out there an hour early, not 30 minutes late."
Bruzzi cut short a phone interview Monday, but not before saying, "We just fell behind. It was the first match of the day." He didn't respond to a later phone message seeking more explanation.
The Class 5A All-State boys basketball teams as selected by the members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow:
First Team
B.J. Daniels ( Tallahassee Lincoln) 6-2 Sr. G
Greg Gantt (Gainesville) 6-2 Jr. G
Shaquille Johnson ( Jacksonville Lee) 6-3 Sr. G
Mike Morrison ( St. Petersburg Lakewood) 6-9 Sr. F
Dago Pena ( Punta Gorda Charlotte) 6-3 Sr. G-F
Kore White ( Fort Lauderdale Dillard) 6-8 Sr. C
PALATKA -- The following is the Class 4A All-State boys basketball teams as selected by the members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow:
CLASS 4A
First Team
Kevin Foster (Lakeland Kathleen) 6-8 Sr. C
Sam McLaurin (Havana East Gadsden) 6-6 Sr. F
Eddie Poole (Belle Glade Glades Central) 6-5 Sr. F
Shay Shine (Arcadia DeSoto County) 6-1 Sr. G
Ray Shipman (Miami Monsignor Pace) 6-5 Sr. G
Joshua Wallace (Pensacola Washington) 5-10 Sr. G
Second Team
Kenny Dale (Eustis) 6-4 Sr. F
Kawaun Jakes (St. Augustine) 6-2 Sr. G
Rashard McGill (Havana East Gadsden) 6-3 Sr. G-F
Miguel Paul (Lakeland Kathleen) 6-2 Sr. G
C.J. Reed (Port Orange Atlantic) 6-3 Sr. G
Terrance Saintill (Miami Monsignor Pace) 6-7 Sr. C
Third Team
Derick Beltran (Spoto) 6-4 Sr. G
Rakeem Buckles (Miami Monsignor Pace) 6-8 Jr. F
Victor Cortes (Lecanto) 5-11 Sr. G
Joshua Lockett (Pensacola Washington) 6-7 Sr. C
Marquis Mack (Sarasota Booker) 6-6 Sr. C
Keith McDougald (Jacksonville Bishop Kenny) 6-1 So. G
Mitchell junior Olivia Kline hit her ninth home run of the season to give the Mustangs a 7-2 lead in a Class 6A, District 7 quarterfinal against Alonso. The solo shot came in the fourth inning and helped her pull into a tie with Land O'Lakes junior Michell Bradley for the North Suncoast lead. Kline set the record with eight home runs two seasons ago. Bradley set the new mark with nine earlier this season.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Clearwater Central Catholic fell from the top spot in Class 3A and Saladino winner Brandon made its debut in Class 5A in the latest FSWA state baseball poll.
CCC (20-2), which lost to Miami Florida Christian this past week, fell to No. 2 in the 3A poll, but still received one first-place vote. The other 11 first-place votes went to new No. 1 Plantation American Heritage (21-2). Florida Christian (17-3) is just behind CCC at No. 3.
Fresh off their amazing run in the Saladino Tournament, which included wins over top-five teams Plant and Alonso, Brandon (16-6) crashed into the 5A poll at No. 10. Both Plant (21-2, third in 5A) and Alonso (19-3, fifth in 6A) took a dip in their respective polls.
Seminole (21-0) remained No. 1 in 5A.
To see the entire poll, keep reading.
Continue reading "CCC falls, Brandon debuts in state baseball poll" »
Ridgewood forward Derrick Zio will sign letter of intent tomorrow with Pasco-Hernando Community College. Zio averaged 7.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game helping the Rams to a 24-4 record including conference and district titles.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
PALATKA -- The following is the Class 3A All-State boys basketball teams as selected by the members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow:
CLASS 3A
First Team
Zach Bailey (Hollywood Chaminade Madonna) 6-1 Sr. G
Kenny Boynton Jr. (Plantation American Heritage) 6-2 Jr. G
Brandon Gibson (Marianna) 6-5 Sr. F
Brandon Knight (Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest) 6-3 So. G
Tracy Parks (St. Petersburg Catholic) 5-10 Sr. G
Josh Snodgrass (Gainesville P.K. Yonge) 6-4 Jr. G
That was the headline in today's Miami Herald. And here's what followed:
Recent budget cuts made by the Florida Legislature affecting Miami-Dade County public schools are creating fear that public school participation in some high school sports could be eliminated next season to save money. The subject was brought up for discussion at the county's school board meeting last month by Superintendent Rudy Crew. No specific sports were named, but the topic is expected to be brought up again at the board's next meeting Wednesday. 'All the superintendent said, and I'm paraphrasing, is that `everything is on the table' in terms of what sports could be discussed,'' said Quintin Taylor, the media relations specialist for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. ``He didn't specify any of them at the meeting.''
The Herald went on to report that "Of the 14 sports sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association that Dade public schools participate in, swimming, water polo, tennis and golf are believed to be in the most jeopardy of being cut."
You can read the entire story HERE.
Leadoff: Chamberlain (19-4)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: lost to Dunnellon 3-2; def. Fort Myers 3-0; def. Sarasota 5-4
The Chiefs were out of school and hanging out near the water last week, but that's about as close to a spring break as they got. Their loss to Dunnellon, one of the state's best Class 4A teams, came in the Gold Division semifinals of the prestigious Bill Longshore Memorial Classic in Naples, where they placed third.
Second: Plant (19-3)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Last week's results: DNP
The only thing that will keep Chamberlain and Plant from meeting in the Class 5A, District 10 title game Friday night will be an unforeseen shower. Then they'll meet Saturday.
Three-hole: Durant (20-5)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: DNP
The Cougars are the top seed in the Class 6A, District 8 tournament, which means little in this talented seven-team field.
Continue reading "Bay Area Batting Order (Softball): Final Edition" »
Wesley Chapel junior Kamran Joyer spent the weekend participating at
the Nike Camp at the University of Florida. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound
lineman showed a powerful display pancake blocking several of the
state's top high school linemen. Recruiting has slowed down, but Joyer
has sharpened his focus to mainly SEC schools though he did visit a USF
practice last week and liked what he saw. Joyer still lists Tennessee
as his No. 1 school followed by Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Michigan also has popped up in recent weeks and several Division I
schools plan to send staff members to Wesley Chapel's spring practice,
which begin May 5, his father Jack Joyer said. One school no longer in
the picture is Notre Dame.
Joyer plans to make an oral commitment by the end of May.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
PALATKA -- The following is the Class 2A All-State boys basketball teams as selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow:
CLASS 2A
First Team
Dashan Harris (Montverde Academy) 6-0 Sr. G
Quinard Jackson (North Palm Beach Benjamin) 6-5 Sr. F
Kyle Petersen (Community School of Naples) 6-2 Sr. G
Marlon Rivera (Weston Sagemont) 6-2 Sr. G
David Waller (Tampa Prep) 6-7 Sr. F
R.J. Wright (Jacksonville Arlington Country Day) 6-4 Sr. G
Second Team
Christian Bibi Ndongo (Calvary Christian) 6-7 Sr. F
Matt Goetsch (Pensacola Christian) 6-5 Sr. F
Wally Judge (Jacksonville Arlington Country Day) 6-10 Jr. C
J.P. Kuhlman (Jacksonville Providence) 6-3 Jr. G
Christian Ortiz (Miami Archbishop Curley) 6-3 Jr. G
Billy Serle (Daytona Beach Father Lopez) 6-5 Sr. F
Land O'Lakes defeated Zephyrhills 5-2 on Wednesday to claim the Sunshine Athletic Conference softball title.
The game winning hit turned out to be a recorder-breaker. Gators star Michelle Bradley clubbed a three-run home run deep to left-center field for her ninth of the year to set Pasco County's new single-season record.
The prior record was set by Mitchell junior Olivia Kline two seasons ago.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
The Class 6A all-state girls basketball team as selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow.
CLASS 6A
First Team
Jordan Coleman (Lake Mary) 5-11, Sr., F
Alicia DeVaughn (Hollywood South Broward) 6-4, So., C
Rachel Harrison (Sarasota Riverview) 5-10, Sr., F
Angela Smith (Hollywood South Broward) 5-6, Sr., G
Shawnta Snakovsky (Tampa Sickles) 5-8, Sr., G
Brooke Thomas (Orlando Edgewater) 5-4, Sr., G
The Class 5A all-state girls basketball teams as selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow.
CLASS 5A
First Team
Kelsey Assarian (Naples Barron Collier) 6-1, Sr., C
Pearl Johnson (Leesburg) 5-6, Sr., G
Fabiola Josil (Coral Springs Coral Glades) 5-7, Sr., G
Tiffany Hayes (Winter Haven) 6-0, Sr., G
Kayli Keough (Land O'Lakes) 6-3, Sr., G/F
Andrea Smith (Lakeland Lake Gibson) 5-9, Sr., G
Seminole and CCC held on to their top rankings in this week’s edition of the FSWA state baseball poll while Tampa Catholic (14-5) shot up in the 3A poll to eighth after being in the receiving votes category last week.
For the complete polls, keep reading.
Continue reading "Seminole, CCC still on top; TC movin' on up in latest state baseball poll" »
Leadoff: Chamberlain (17-3)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: def. Lake Wales 5-1; lost to Melbourne Eau Gallie 5-3; lost to Pace 1-0
Chiefs remain No. 1 based on last week's quality wins AND losses. They defeat a defending state champ (Lake Wales) and lose a tight game to an undefeated Class 6A club (Eau Gallie).
Second: Countryside (19-3)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Last week's results: def. Westminster Christian 17-0; lost to Palm Beach Gardens 2-1; def. West Nassau 7-6; def. Rockledge 10-2
Cougars win three of four at Jupiter Spring Break tournament.
Three-Hole: Plant (19-3)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: def. Maitland Orangewood Christian 10-0; def. Ocala Forest 4-1
Senior Hannah Ojeda came a home run shy of hitting for the cycle in each of Plant's back-to-back victories at something called the Kissimmee Klassic. Wonder if she got a kurtain kall.
Continue reading "Bay Area Batting Order (Softball): Spring Breakers Welcome" »
The following is the Class 3A and 4A all-state girls basketball teams as selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow.
First Team
Sasha Chaplin (St. Petersburg Catholic) 6-3, Sr., F
Eglah Griffin (Fort Myers Dunbar) 5-9, Sr. G/F
Crystal Johnson (Gainesville P.K. Yonge) 5-8, Sr., G
Chelsey Lee (Miramar Parkway Academy) 6-2, Sr., C
Riquna Williams (Pahokee) 5-8, Sr., G
Erica Wheeler (Miramar Parkway Academy) 5-7, Jr., G
Continue reading "Class 3A and 4A all-state girls basketball" »
GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors on Sunday voted that it would not offer the position of executive director to any one of the three finalists for the position and instead would continue its search for the FHSAA's next executive director. The Board of Directors made its decision after interviewing the three remaining finalists: Don Bridges, Director of Athletics in Polk County; Sonny Hester, FHSAA Senior Associate Executive Director; and William S. "Sam" Ward, Principal of Fleming Island High School in Clay County. The fourth finalist for the position, Lee County Superintendent James Browder previously withdrew his name from consideration. The three finalists may reapply for the position if they choose. The board's executive director selection committee was to meet Sunday afternoon to develop a new action plan for the selection process. The plan will be presented to the full Board of Directors for approval during its regular business meeting on Monday. Current Executive Director John A. Stewart is scheduled to retire Nov. 1.
PALM COAST -- The following is the Class 2A All-State Girls Basketball Teams as selected by members of the Florida Sports Writers Association. Name (school in parentheses), height, year and position follow.
First Team
Alexa Deluzio (Orlando First Academy) 5-9, Sr., G
Natalie Land (Lafayette) 5-9, Sr., G
Cassie Peoples (Daytona Beach Father Lopez) 5-6, Fr., G
Melanie Warner (Talla. North Florida Christian) 6-0, Sr., F
Sarah Wickham (St. John Neumann) 5-8, Sr., G
Jasmine Wynne (Jax. University Christian) 5-8, Sr., G
Second Team
Tyeshia Battles (West Gadsden) 5-8, Sr., F
Kate Carl (St. Petersburg Keswick Christian) 5-7, Sr., G
Christine Chancy (Miami Country Day) Guard, 5-5, Sr., G
Shaunte Forward (Cottondale) 5-6, Jr., G
Samantha Phillips (Tall. North Florida Christian) 6-1, Sr., G/F
Ayala Wasser (Tampa Prep) 5-5, Jr., G
Continue reading "Class 2A All-State girls basketball teams " »
WESLEY CHAPEL - The Sunshine Athletic Conference track championships took 15 minutes to finish Friday. The meet was postponed Thursday with one event remaining to due weather. The teams met at 10 a.m. to compete in the 4x400. Four teams did not return, but when it was over Wesley Chapel's girls and Land O'lakes' boys had claimed Sunshine Athletic Conference. Here was the scoring through 16 of 17 events:
Girls
Team scores: 1. Wesley Chapel (132), 2. Ridgewood (83), 3. Wiregrass Ranch
(81), 4. Land O'Lakes (73), 5. Gulf (64), 6. Zephyrhills (55), 7. River
Ridge (53), 8. Mitchell (49), 9. Pasco (23), 10. Hudson (9), 11.
(Sunlake (2).
Boys
Team scores: 1. Land O'Lakes (117), 2. Wesley Chapel (108), 3.
Zephyrhills (77), 4. Pasco (58), Ridgewood (56), Wiregrass Ranch (48),
Gulf (46), Sunlake (14), Hudson (14), River Ridge (10).
For individual results click the link below.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Continue reading "Wesley Chapel girls, Land O'Lakes boys win SAC titles" »
Results of Thursday's four-team Hernando County Meet at Tom Fisher Stadium:
Boys Team Results: Nature Coast 92.5, Hernando 80, Central 67.5, Springstead 20
Individuals: Triple jump - Howard Williams (NC) 40-8.5; Shot put - Travis Tyson (C) 42-1; Pole vault -Tom Adams (C) 10-0; 4x800 relay - Hernando 8:30; Long jump - Steven Read (C) 19-11; Discus - Justin Braswell (H) 122-4; 110 hurdles - Glenn Clarke (S) 16.69; 100 - Britt Langley (NC) 11.40; 1600 - Tyler Maier (H) 4:39; 400 - Ben Noury (S) 53.19; 4x100 relay - Hernando 43.56; 300 hurdles - Tony Roberts (NC) 42.0; 200 - Antwan Story (NC) 23.1; 3200 - Tyler Maier (H) 10:24; 4x400 - Hernando 3:43; 800 - Alex Mason (NC) 2:05
Girls Team Results: Central 84.5, Nature Coast 64, Hernando 57.5, Springstead 34
Individuals: Triple jump - Shareka Maner (NC) 31-9; Discus - Sharpe (H) 84-9; Pole vault - Amy Mihak (C) 7-6; 4x800 relay - Springstead 10:33; Long jump - Gina Potito (H) 16-2; Shot put - Alyssa Joens (NC) 34-11; High jump - Gina Relaford (C) 5-2; 110 high hurdles - Kady McCandless (C) 18.13; 100 - Jasmine Hudson (C) 13.06; 1600 - Mikayla Bogulski (C) 5:38; 400 - Danielle Doucet (NC) 59.0; 4x100 relay - Central 51.93; 300 hurdles - Kady McCandless (C) 54.43; 3200 - Melia Orrell (C) 13:16; 200 - Danielle Doucet (NC); 4X400 - Springstead 4:11; 800 - Mikayla Bogulski (C) 2:29
Despite a six-game win streak, it might be inaccurate to say the Hernando Leopards are peaking at the right time.
Pummeling is more like it.
Coach Donnie Whitehead's club (11-6), set to play at Zephyrhills on Thursday night, has scored 51 runs (8.5 per game) during its recent spurt, which included a 2-0 triumph Wednesday against Class 5A Ridgewood.
“It’s typical high school baseball, Jekyll-and-Hyde," said Whitehead, whose club had a four-game win streak earlier in the year, only to drop three of its next four.
"As the weather warms up the bats have started to heat up a little bit. It’s fun to go to the ballpark right now."
Seniors George Fribley (.349) and Andrew McNeal (3 HR, .500 slg) continue to pace the offense, but pitching carried Hernando in the early part of this daunting week, which includes four games in as many nights.
Senior right-hander Casey Adams tossed a three-hitter in Tuesday's 12-2 rout of Central, while senior Kenny Noble and junior Clayton Neff combined to beat Ridgewood the next night. Those efforts saved ace Morgan Rogers (4-0, 2.00 ERA) for Thursday's game at Zephyrhills.
“We spot started (Adams) early in the year against Citrus and he had a rough outing (an 8-7 loss)," Whitehead said. "But has been throwing in relief for us lately and throwing a lot better."
Schuster shines: Mitchell left-hander Patrick Schuster did something Wednesday no other local club has done this year -- completely neutralize Pasco's potent batting order.
Schuster fanned nine Pirates in a two-hit, 3-0 victory. The 6-foot-2 junior faced 28 batters, seven more than the minimum. Two Pirates reached on an error, and another was hit by a pitch.
For the year, Schuster is 4-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings.
Touching 'em all: Zephyrhills' 12-2 loss at home last Friday to Land O'Lakes might have been a total wash had it not been for the encouraging 2008 starting debut of Bulldogs right-hander Austin Adams. Sidelined from pitching most of the season with an upper-forearm problem, the USF commitment struck out eight, walked four and allowed no earned runs in three innings. Don't be shocked if Adams gets the ball this Friday against Pasco. ... Pasco leadoff hitter Dylan Giella has reached base safely in all 15 games in which he has played.
SARASOTA --- Here is the latest 2008 SUN Sports/FSN state high school baseball poll as conducted by the Florida Sports Writers Association, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through March 29, and poll points -- 10 for a first-place vote, one for a 10th-place vote:
No. School (City) -- (1st) W-L, Pts
CLASS 6A
1. Sarasota -- (5) 14-2, 86
2. Jupiter -- (4) 17-2, 85
3. Alonso -- 13-1, 72
4. Park Vista (Boynton Beach) -- 17-1, 63
5. Buchholz (Gainesville) -- 12-3, 48
6. Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) -- 14-1, 43
7. Taravella (Coral Springs) -- 14-2, 22
8. Winter Springs -- 13-2, 20
9. Palm Beach Gardens -- 12-3, 17
10. Goleman (Miami) -- 16-1, 16
Also receiving votes: Miami Southridge -- 12-4, 13; Miami Palmetto -- 12-3, 4; Miami Killian -- 11-4, 3;
Boone (Orlando) -- 16-4, 3.
CLASS 5A
1. Seminole -- (8) 16-0, 89
2. Plant -- (1) 16-1, 81
3. Nova (Davie) -- 15-2, 66
4. Jesuit -- 17-2, 60
5. Charlotte (Punta Gorda) -- 14-2, 59
6. Wolfson (Jacksonville) -- 14-1, 29
7. Niceville -- 10-9, 24
8. West Boca Raton -- 12-4, 21
9. Land O' Lakes -- 14-1, 16
10. Dunedin -- 14-2, 14
Also receiving votes: South Fork (Stuart) -- 13-3, 13; Fort Myers -- 14-2, 7; Pace -- 14-5, 6; Barron Collier (Naples) -- 14-3, 5; Crestview -- 16-3, 2; Parker (Jackonville) -- 14-3, 2; St Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) -- 12-6, 1.
Land O'Lakes was undefeated two nights ago.
Wednesday's softball game only lasted five innings, and in the end the River Ridge grabbed the No. 1 seed in Class 5A, District 7 after a 7-2 win against the Gators. Royal Knights slugger Sarah Simon crushed her fifth home run of the season dropping the Gators for their second-straight loss. The game was called due to weather. Land O'Lakes has dropped two straight heading into a tournament in Naples this weekend. The Gators entered this week as the lone undefeated on the North Suncoast. They now stand at 13-2.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Picture the scene: Michelle Bradley swinging her bat on deck hoping to get a crack at a walk-off grand slam and what could have been a record-setting home run.
Ridgewood decided to write its own ending. The Rams knocked off the previously undefeated Gators 7-4 on Tuesday.
"It was like our Super Bowl," Ridgewood coach Greg Bollinger said.
Ridgewood rallied from a 3-1 deficit to score si runs in the seventh. The Rams have won three straight to climb to 6-15 and could grab the No. 3 seed in the Class 5A, District 7 softball tournament. The upset sets up Wednesday's battle for the No. 1 seed between Land O'Lakes and River Ridge. The Gators (13-1) won the at River Ridge last week.
Bradley tied the Pasco County home run record last week with a pair of home runs - including a grand slam - in a 5-4 win at Mitchell.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
The Buccaneers will host the Florida Athletic Coaches Association's National Athletic Testing System (NATS) test at One Buccaneer Place (3302 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Tampa, FL 33607) on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. High school football players' speed, strength and agility will be measured through a series of standardized athletic tests. The players can also participate in a Princeton Review seminar to educate them on the SAT, ACT and college admissions process.
The deadline to register is Wednesday. Athletes can register online at www.nats.us. No walkups. Players graduating between 2009 and 2012 are eligible. Parents and guests will not be allowed in to watch.
Mitchell setter Lea Weber has orally committed to Valdosta State to play volleyball, her father Brad said in an e-mail. Weber helped guide the Mustangs to a 19-8 record last fall averaging a team-high 2.8 kills per game (243 kills overall). She was second with 357 assists. Weber was named a Times' first-team all-North Suncoast selection.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Leadoff: Chamberlain (16-1)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: def. Hillsborough 11-2; def. Gaither 5-1; def. Middleton 13-0; lost to Plant 2-1 (8 inns.)
Despite an extra-inning loss to Plant, the Chiefs' body of work so far (i.e. 5-1 win at Gaither, previous win against Plant) keeps them atop our list.
Second: Countryside (16-2)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Last week's results: def. Alonso 10-0; def. East Lake 6-1
The Cougars are getting it done with their Bache (as in Alyssa) and their bats. Countryside collected 10 hits in that romp against East Lake.
Three-Hole: Land O'Lakes (13-0)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: def. Central 21-2; def. River Ridge 5-3; def. Mitchell 5-4
Coach Jamie Martin's club has defeated all-comers in Pasco County. The bat of senior Michelle Bradley (8 HRs) has more pop than the soda aisle at the new Publix in Connerton.
TRINITY - Land O'Lakes star Michelle Bradley tied the Pasco County single-season home run record Friday with two home runs in two at-bats in a 5-4 win at Mitchell. She also threw 14 strikeouts.
Bradley crushed a grand slam over the leftfield fence for a 4-0 lead at in the top of the first inning for her seventh home run of the season. Then she belted a solo shot over the opposite field fence for a 5-0 lead in the second for her eighth home run to tie the record.
Pasco's Colena Lazar is second with six. She went 3-for-4 on Friday in a 9-1 win at Springstead. One of her hits bounced off the outfield fence.
Pasco County's home run record was set two seasons ago by Mustangs junior Olivia Kline. She
is tied with River Ridge catcher Sarah Simon with four.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
The Kiwanis Invitational ended last night with Wesley Chapel's girls and Nature Coast's boys taking home team titles. Here is a link to the full results:Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando
Or you can click the link below to view them directly on the blog.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Continue reading "Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando (full results)" »
Pasco star Colena Lazar tagged home run No. 6 of the season in a 8-1 win at Hernando Tuesday. That ties Land O'Lakes star Michelle Bradley, who hit her sixth last week in an 8-2 win against Gulf.
The Pasco County home run record was set by Mitchell junior Olivia Kline, who hit eight as a freshman.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Hernando ace Ari Lowman could available for Wednesday's game against Springstead if she gets the all-clear during a doctor's visit. Lowman finally acknowledged a knee injury March 13 after trying to play her way through the pain for a few games. The original timetable for her return was up to three weeks. Lowman threw 25-30 pitches in Monday's practice and was expected to do the same Tuesday. If cleared, Lowman would probably get 25-30 pitches for Thursday's game against Wildwood then roughly the same workload Friday at Wiregrass Ranch.
"She'll go back to see the doctor Wednesday morning and if everything is okay she'll be allowed to begin pitching again," Hernando coach Kevin Bittinger said. "...Then we'll continue to increase her workload until she can handle a complete game. We're pretty happy with what Erica (Maldonado), Casey (Biledeau), and Stephanie (Sinwelsky) have been able to do so there's no real rush on getting before she's ready."
Lowman took on most of the load before her injury going 6-5 with a 4.89 ERA and 53 strikeouts. The trio of replacements is 2-1 with a combined 10 strikeouts and 4.73 ERA.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Times education reporter Jeff Solochek posted this on his blog The Gradebook:
You send your child to a private school. You like the school's academic program, or its religious focus, or some other aspect. What you don't like is that the school doesn't offer the sports program that your child adores. What's a parent to do?
If a bill moving through both the Florida House and Senate keeps gaining support, the answer would be, choose both. HB 1481 and SB 526 would allow you to keep your football loving son, or weightlifting prodigy daughter, in private school while having him or her play for the local public high school.
Of course, the legislation raises concerns about recruiting violations. Consider, for instance, the fullback who can't pass the FCAT and then moves to a private school that has neither the FCAT nor football. He could return to the field for the team he just left. There's also the question of whether the private school student could use public school choice to transfer to any school in the district for athletics. And another issue is whether public school students could take part in programs that private schools offer but the publics don't.
Members of the House Schools and Learning Council, which approved the measure 14-1 this morning, said such matters could be smoothed out in amendments before the bill gets to the floor. Sponsor Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, said he would work to fine-tune the bill with the Florida High School Athletic Association "so we can limit the abuses but truly let the kids play ball."
Said council chairman Joe Pickens, "It's a wonderful concept, as long as adults don't abuse it."
(Times photo, 2007)
After suffering its first loss of the season -- a 2-1 defeat to Jesuit on Thursday -- Plant fell from first to third in Class 5A in the most recent FSN/Sun Sports Florida Sports Writers Association state baseball poll released Monday night.
Seminole moved up a spot to second and Jesuit jumped two spots to fifth in 5A. Dunedin and Land O'Lakes also received votes.
In the Class 6A poll, Alonso jumped two spaces to third. Pasco debuted this week in ninth in the Class 4A poll.
Clearwater Central Catholic retained the top spot in the Class 3A poll.
Bishop McLaughlin debuted in the Class 2A poll in the seventh spot. Northside Christian also received votes.
Canterbury (second) and Cambridge (up one spot to sixth) maintained their spots in the Class 1A top 10.
Here are is the complete list:
Continue reading "Plant falls to third while Seminole, Jesuit jump in 5A baseball poll" »
Leadoff: Chamberlain (13-0)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Last week's results: defeated Plant, 5-4; defeated Riverview, 1-0
We've been clamoring for the Chiefs to deliver a quality win, and what do they do? Give us two in the same week. Meantime, all three teams ranked ahead of them stumble. Talk about quality and quantity.
Second: Countryside (13-2)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Last week's results: defeated St. Petersburg, 17-0; defeated Gaither, 4-3; lost to Sickles, 4-1
After defeating Gaither behind another dazzling effort by freshman pitcher Alyssa Bache (10 strikeouts), the Cougars had the No. 1 ranking in the palm of their proverbial glove. Then the next night, they go out and lose to an 8-8 Sickles club in what our sports-vernacular textbooks refer to as a "trap" game.
Three-Hole: Gaither (14-3)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Last week's results: defeated St. Petersburg, 15-5; defeated Alonso, 8-0; lost to Countryside, 4-3
We're already anticipating the Gaither-Countryside "rubber match," which likely will be staged in the Class 6A, District 7 title game.
Continue reading "Bay Area Batting Order (Softball)...or shall we say, a new order?" »
Land O'Lakes star Michelle Bradley crushed her sixth home run of the season in an 8-2 win against Gulf on Thursday. That puts her within two of Pasco County's single-season record of eight set by Mitchell junior Olivia Kline in 2006.
Bradley's solo shot sailed clear over the left-center field fence roughly the same shot she hit No. 5 in a win against Pasco. The home run gave the Gators an 8-1 lead in the fourth inning.
"It was a cannon shot," Gulf coach Rick Hohenthaner said. "You knew it was gone when she hit the ball."
Other girls in the hunt are Pasco junior Colena Lazar (five home runs) and River Ridge catcher Sarah Simon (four). The Pirates have a makeup game today at Hudson at noon.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
Former Central star Alex Ruoff played a huge role in West Virginia's 75-65 win against Arizona in Thursday's NCAA Tournament first-round game at Georgetown. The Mountaineers will face Duke on Saturday. Ruoff scored a team-high 21 points and went 5-for-7 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound guard entered the game averaging 13.5 points making 40.4 percent of his 3-pointers. He sealed the win with a final steal in the last minute, then walked the ball past halfcourt to dribble off the final seconds.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
(AP photo)
In North Suncoast softball this evening:
* River Ridge ended a three-game road trip with a 10-3 win at Zephyrhills. That was a followup to Wednesday's 4-3 win at Pasco in 10 innings.
* Pasco ended a two-game slide with an 11-6 win against Lakelad McKeel Academy. Courtney Bradnt went the distance for the win.
* Land O'Lakes remained undefeated picking up a win againts Gulf. That sets up a huge Sunshine Athletic Conference battle at River Ridge on Tuesday. Those teams have had four scheduled games all rained out.
* Nature Coast climbed to 13-2 after a win against Hudson.
* Feel free to e-mail me with updates or to post your own. Thanks.
-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@gmail.com
A couple of interesting developments this week:
* Pasco, a 2007 Class 4A state finalist, lost its second straight game Wednesday to fall to 11-2. The Pirates couldn't overcome a powerful River Ridge lineup falling in 10 innings. Pirates ace Colena Lazar threw 15 strikeouts in the loss. Pasco takes on Lakeland McKeel Academy tonight at 7. The Pirates won the first meeting on the road 5-4.
* River Ridge has climbed to 9-1 and heads to surging Zephyrhills tonig