• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Academy goes five for five

April 4, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Academy at the Lakes softball is no stranger to the postseason.

The Wildcats (11-4) have made the playoffs every season since becoming fully eligible in 2008. The current squad has already stretched the streak to five straight, but this year the players are out to bring home the program’s first district championship.

Academy sophomore shortstop/pitcher Lauren Evans, a University of South Florida commit, is batting .644 this year.

“I thought we’d have a lot more experienced players this year,” said sophomore shortstop/pitcher Lauren Evans, a University of South Florida commit. “I knew it was going to be a good season, and I’m really happy to be playing softball again.”

The squad lost one senior, Kallie Shirling who signed to play at Thomas University.

The biggest change comes at the coaching spot, where Jerry English steps in for Jack Shirling, Kallie’s father.

English coached at Land O’ Lakes for 27 years, where he led the Gators to the state finals in 1995 and to three regional finals.

“The number of players is the biggest difference,” English said. “At Land O’ Lakes we had a varsity and junior varsity team. One year at tryouts I had 90 come out.”

Junior shortstop/pitcher Sydney Boynton said English has a more straightforward approach.

“I knew that coach English would go back to basics, which I thought was good because we had some players who could play but the fundamentals were off,” Sydney said. “Our coach last year was a really good coach, and he was actually my travel ball coach, and he was more used to coaching at a different level.”

English said he believes in focusing on fundamentals, especially given the diversity in the talent and experience of his players.

“This year what we have is a mixture of very good athletes who play travel ball to players who have never played before,” English said. “We had three girls learning how to pick up the ball and throw, but they’re young and working hard to get better.”

Those experienced players are also very young.

“I’ve got one senior, Amelia Oliver, and a few juniors,” English said. “Most are sophomores and freshmen, and I’ve got one eighth-grader. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how young the players are if they make mistakes. The great thing is they all want to play.”

Wildcats junior shortstop/pitcher Sydney Boynton has six wins while hitting .408 this season.

The methods seem to be working as the Wildcats have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A-District 4 tournament, which includes a bye to the championship game. The squad twice defeated Hernando Christian, a team that reached the final four last year, to earn the top spot.

Evans has led the way offensively, posting a .644 batting average with 31 RBI, 10 steals, eight doubles and nine triples while striking out only three times. As a pitcher she has a 5-2 record with a 1.05 ERA and 54 strikeouts.

Sydney, who came to the academy as a sophomore from Wharton High, has a 6-2 record with a 2.00 ERA and 61 Ks while hitting .408 with 24 RBI. Her sister Skyler has a .412 batting average with 10 steals.

“I feel like we’re better, and I know our stats and record are better,” Evans said. “I feel like there’s more of a team feeling. I feel like we’ve bonded a little bit more, and it’s probably because we’re winning.”

The players are also excited because an old tormentor is no longer in the Wildcats’ district or region. Canterbury has beaten the academy all 14 times the squads have played, including four years in a row for the district title.

English points out it won’t be easy to make a deep playoff run just because Canterbury is somewhat out of the picture. He illustrated that by describing the Wildcats’ 5-3 loss to Bishop McLaughlin, a team they beat 20-5 earlier this season.

“We did things we shouldn’t and it cost us,” English said. “I told them after that we’re through sneaking up on people. We’ve played well, and now people want to beat us.”

The 2A-4 tournament is at Hernando Christian. The academy plays the winner of the semifinal between the event host and Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian for the championship on April 19 at 4:30 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Exciting things are happening at Del Webb Bexley, the 55+ active adult residential community just off Sunlake Boulevard, … [Read More...] about New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

TPA-Parkview-Myrtle

Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to thoughtful details and meaningful value … [Read More...] about Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza on April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be bounce houses, games, music, food trucks, and scheduled egg scrambles. The event will be at the outside football fields and basketball court. Registration is required to participate in the egg scrambles. The cost is $3 per child. Children ages 2 to 10 can register with their age division and time frame at Secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl/catalog. For questions, call 813-929-1220. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

The Downtown Dade City Art Walk will take place April 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be more than 20 art locations for guests to meet the artists and shop local artwork, as well as a little Pre-Casso Exhibit for young aspiring artists. There will be an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., along with a map distribution, at Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

Hope City Church, 5513 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an Easter Bash on April 1, for the whole family. Admission is free. For information, call 813-948-7555. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

04/01/2023 – Historical Association

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet on April 1 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Participants can discover and discuss historical events, places and people of Zephyrhills and Pasco County. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Historical Association

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: