The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Michael Murillo

PREP SPORTS BOARD

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April 6
Baseball
Wiregrass Ranch 8, Pasco 3
Zephyrhills 4, Ridgewood 2
Wharton 4, Freedom 2
Softball
Zephyrhills 3, Gulf 2
Sunlake 15, Wesley Chapel 0
Wharton 2, Freedom 0
Pasco 15, Ridgewood 0

April 7
Baseball
Zephyrhills 6, Pasco 4
Land O’ Lakes 12, Anclote 2
Sunlake 8, Tarpon Springs 4
Steinbrenner 15, Tampa Bay Tech 1
Softball
Wiregrass Ranch 4, Zephyrhills 1
River Ridge 10, Wesley Chapel 0
Sunlake 16, Ridgewood 4
Steinbrenner 15, Tampa Bay Tech 0
Mitchell 5, Pasco 2

April 8
Baseball
Wesley Chapel 11, Weeki Wachee 0
Pasco 14, Anclote 0
Wiregrass Ranch 9, Freedom 4
Softball
Land O’ Lakes 4, Academy at the Lakes 2

April 9
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes 14, Pasco 4
Zephyrhills 2, Sunlake 1
Softball
Sunlake 14, Zephyrhills 13
Land O’ Lakes 6, Nature Coast Tech 5

April 10
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes 11, Tarpon Springs 0
Wesley Chapel 3, Wiregrass Ranch 2
Dunedin 9, Sunlake 4
Plant 1, Steinbrenner 0
Hillsborough 7, Freedom 3
Softball
Hudson 12, Wesley Chapel 1
Plant 7, Steinbrenner 5

April 15
Baseball
Sunlake at Wiregrass Ranch, 7 p.m.
Land O’ Lakes at Wesley Chapel, 7 p.m.
River Ridge at Pasco, 7 p.m.

April 16
Baseball
Wesley Chapel at River Ridge, 7 p.m.
Wiregrass Ranch at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.
Pasco at Ridgewood, 7 p.m.
Steinbrenner vs. Carrollwood Day (at Berkeley Prep), 4:30 p.m.

April 17
Baseball
Durant at Freedom, 7 p.m.
Seven Rivers Christian at Sunlake, 7 p.m.

Source: MaxPreps.com, various

OASIS GOLF TOURNAMENT APRIL 25

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Oasis Pregnancy Centers will host its Sixth Annual Golf Tournament on April 25 at the Sherman Hills Golf & Country Club, 31200 Eagle Falls Drive in Brooksville. The event includes a buffet lunch, contests, awards to top teams, and a one-week vacation in Tennessee as a prize. Sponsorships are also available. It begins at 8:30 a.m. For information, call (813) 406-4965.

Musicians, fans celebrate old time music in Dade City

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When people listen to songs from the 1960s, they might consider it “old” music.

The upcoming Florida Old Time Music Championship also features music from the ’60s.

The 1860s, that is.

Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones will perform at the Florida Old Time Music Championship on April 10 and April 11. (Courtesy of Jackson & Moser Photography)
Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones will perform at the Florida Old Time Music Championship on April 10 and April 11.
(Courtesy of Jackson & Moser Photography)

“It’s the kind of music that people who lived during pioneer times in early Florida would have actually played,” said Jessica Budin, office manager for the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, where the event will be on April 10 and April 11.

Old time music is a genre of North American folk music that contains elements from the European countries from where the settlers came. It is characterized by acoustic string instruments such as the fiddle, guitar or banjo and can be instrumental or include vocals. Listeners might hear some similarities with bluegrass music, but old time music actually pre-dates that genre.

The Florida Old Time Music Championship is an opportunity to bring performers together and celebrate historic music, and the event itself is getting up there in years. Now in its 33rd year, it continues to bring musicians and fans of this style of music from across Florida, and even some from out of state as well.

The event began at the museum, but relocated after about a decade. A few years ago it moved back, and the creators of the competition are happy to see it return to such an appropriate venue.

“It’s been great,” said Jim Strickland, who still runs the event with Ernie Williams. “They love having us, and we love being there. Our stage is the front porch of the Overstreet House (on display at the museum). It’s a beautiful setting.”

Playing old time music on a front porch is especially authentic, since that’s often where it was performed. Another popular venue for this kind of music was church, Strickland said.

The music brought people together and was a main source of entertainment, he said.

While the Florida Old Time Music Championship will have competitions across many categories, Strickland said it’s not a high-pressure event.

When they’re not onstage, performers might get together for an impromptu jam session.

Groups also form on the spot to enter a contest. There’s even a chance a musician may perform as a backup player for a competitor.

“It’s a very friendly, non-threatening atmosphere for a contest,” Strickland said.

The event will also feature music professionals as special guests.

Recording artists Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones, a married couple known for their old time talents, will perform three sets over the two-day event. Jones will also host a guitar workshop on Saturday morning.

While the music naturally appeals to fans of old time, Budin said that the event will also appeal to people who aren’t familiar with the genre. The songs performed are authentic to the time period, but have been passed down from generation to generation and still exist even in today’s culture. It might be a melody or a beat from a commercial, or perhaps something heard as a child, but elements of old time music will be familiar to many listeners.

“Really, anybody who enjoys music will find something that they like to listen to out here,” she said.

The Florida Old Time Music Championship
Where: The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
When: 7 p.m. on April 10, and 10 a.m. on April 11. The banjo and fiddle finals will be at 7 p.m., April 11
The cost is $5 on April 10, and $10 on April 11. Parking is free.
For more information, call (352) 567-0262 or visit FOTMC.org.

Published April 8, 2015

Wesley Chapel prepares to ‘March for Babies’

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It’s April, but the march goes on.

“March” as in March of Dimes, the nonprofit organization that provides funds for research and services to prevent premature birth, defects and infant mortality. And also March for Babies, an event on April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. Teams and individuals will walk while raising money for research.

Jen Cofini's son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtey of Jen Cofini)
Jen Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass.
(Courtey of Jen Cofini)

This is the first year the event will be at The Shops at Wiregrass after several years in West Pasco.

The shopping center is happy to be a part of it.

“It just was something that we felt passionate about,” said Debbie Detweiler, the regional shopping mall’s marketing director. “With all of the families in the Wesley Chapel area and families that shop at Wiregrass, it was something we could be a part of in creating that awareness for March of Dimes.”

The March of Dimes has set an ambitious goal of $240,000 after having to cancel last year’s event due to weather. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part.

Wesley Chapel resident Jen Cofini and her family have been selected to be the ambassador family for Pasco County March for Babies since they have firsthand experience in dealing with premature births.

Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born eight years ago after a 32-week pregnancy. He weighed just 4 pounds. He spent a month in the hospital, and there were many challenging moments.

“When you have a premature baby, you don’t know what to expect,” Cofini said. “The resources that the March of Dimes provide for the parents of premature babies are incredible.”

Cofini found comfort through the organization’s website, too. It put her in touch with other mothers who were going through the same issues. Families can share stories, ask questions and connect with others going through a similar situation.

Though Cofini had Dylan in New York, premature births are common in Florida. According to the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card for 2014, 13.6 percent of Florida births are premature. That’s good for just a “D” grade from the organization.

And while Dylan was born premature, he’s healthy today.

Many other children aren’t as lucky, and have significant defects and disabilities to deal with for years, or even a lifetime.

Those families especially benefit from the research and support from the March of Dimes, Cofini explained.

On April 25, Cofini will be there with her husband, Jeff, Dylan and his little sister, Madison.

And, as community relations manager of Parks Ford Wesley Chapel, she’s recruited support from work as well. They’re sponsoring the event and have a team raising money to walk.

While Cofini is accustomed to supporting the community at her job, the March for Babies is special to her and her family.

“When something touches you personally, it makes you more aware, and that’s why I’m such a huge supporter of the March of Dimes, because they do such great work,” Cofini said. “They support the parents, they’re doing the research and they’re raising the money to give every baby a fighting chance at being born healthy.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the 3-mile walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. A Kids Zone will have face painting and other activities.

For more information, visit MarchForBabies.org/event/Suncoast, or contact Bethany Carlson at (813) 898-4954 or .

Published April 8, 2015

Beer crawl will provide scholarship funds

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Families dealing with autism have a host of special challenges and expenses.

When one child has the condition, it affects the entire family — including brothers and sisters.

Those siblings often make sacrifices such as giving up free time to help with their brother or sister’s therapy, missing events with friends, and being understanding when their sibling requires more care and attention than they do.

Usually the focus isn’t on them.

Regan Black, left, and her sister, Sydney Black, have always had a close relationship. They're the inspiration behind Sydney Has A Sister, which provides scholarship money to students who have a sibling with autism. (Courtesy of Becky Black)
Regan Black, left, and her sister, Sydney Black, have always had a close relationship. They’re the inspiration behind Sydney Has A Sister, which provides scholarship money to students who have a sibling with autism.
(Courtesy of Becky Black)

But Sydney Has A Sister, a local nonprofit organization, puts its energies and efforts toward doing something for the other children in those families.

The organization, now in its second year, provides college money for high school students who have a sibling with autism.

The organization’s latest fundraiser will be a beer crawl on April 11.

The nonprofit began when Becky Black, a career specialist at Sunlake High School, was looking for scholarships for students with an autistic brother or sister. She didn’t find any, and began to daydream about starting one herself.

“I said ‘You know what I would do if I won the lottery? I would start a foundation, and I would give scholarships to students who have a sibling with autism,'” she recalled.

Her husband, Ernie, didn’t wait for a winning ticket. He did the heavy lifting to get Sydney Has A Sister off the ground, and now it’s a family project.

The name comes from the Black’s own family situation.

Sixteen-year-old Sydney Black has made a lot of sacrifices for her 15-year-old sister, Regan Black.

Regan’s autism makes communication a challenge, and that often leaves Sydney to help guide her sister when she doesn’t feel like cooperating with daily tasks like putting on clothes to leave the house.

“For her to get out of her pajamas, Sydney would be that voice of reason for Regan,” Black said.

Sydney also will take her sister to the movies and to eat at restaurants, keeping a close eye on her and looking out for those who might not understand her disability.

When they were younger, Sydney accepted that her sister might break a favorite toy or require more family attention.

Now, she’s very protective of Regan in public, and gives up her time and effort without complaint.

While there are sacrifices, Black has come to realize that the challenges have also forged close bonds between the sisters that surpassed what she thought was possible when her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

“For many years I thought that my kids will never have a typical sibling relationship that I had with my sisters,” Black said. “I realize now that my daughters are probably closer in that way than my sisters and I actually were.”

The entire family has gotten closer by putting in a lot of effort to make Sydney Has A Sister a productive organization.

Last year, they set a goal of providing three $1,000 scholarships to students, and ended up doubling that number. Including smaller donations to schools that have special education programs, Sydney Has A Sister gave out $7,000 last year, and they want to double it in 2015.

They keep a busy fundraising schedule, with a golf scramble, silent auction and wine tasting bringing in money last year. Now they’re adding the beer crawl during Autism Awareness Month, and hope to see 250 participants to raise $4,000 or more from the event.

While a $1,000 scholarship isn’t life-changing for a student, families with an autistic child bear a great deal of out-of-pocket expenses, so extra college money helps. And more than just the dollar amount, Black said the scholarship is about acknowledging the special efforts they make for their family that most people don’t see.

“If it’s just something to recognize their love and compassion and the sacrifices for their sibling, to me, that’s very rewarding,” Black said.

Beer crawl for autism
Sydney Has a Sister, a nonprofit foundation that provides scholarships to college-bound students with an autistic sibling, will host a Beer Crawl April 11 at World of Beer, 402 S. Howard Ave., in Tampa. Check-in is 3 p.m., followed by the crawl at 4 p.m.

The event is for ages 21 and older. The cost is $25 per person and includes a T-shirt, one free beer at each stop, and drink specials and entrance to the after-party at MacDinton’s Irish Pub at 7 p.m.

To register online, visit SydneyHasASister.com, and click on ‘Events.’

Published April 8, 2015

Land O’ Lakes girls reach state soccer finals

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The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team might have surprised some people by reaching the Class 3A state finals. But it didn’t surprise their coach.

“I said at our parent meeting (last October) I have high expectations. I expect to be in the state finals in February,” said coach Vicky King.

The Land O' Lakes girls soccer team reached the state finals with an attacking offense and stifling defense. (Courtesy of Vicky King)
The Land O’ Lakes girls soccer team reached the state finals with an attacking offense and stifling defense.
(Courtesy of Vicky King)

And if King believes something, there’s good reason to take her at her word. After 28 seasons coaching the team, including a state title in 2003, King has established herself as a good judge of talent. And King was right on the money last October, leading the Gators to a perfect 8-0 record in Class 3A-8, a 1-0 victory over Matanzas in the regional final and a close 2-1 victory over Ponte Vedra in the state semifinal that ended with penalty kicks to determine the winner.

Land O’ Lakes eventually fell in a 2-1 overtime loss to defending state champion American Heritage. But they were right where King said they’d be in February and finished with a 24-2 record.

King knew early on she had the talent to go far in the playoffs. In fact, she said this was the most talented Land O’ Lakes team that she’s coached. And they weren’t just dominant in one part of the game.

“It’s a very well-rounded team,” King said. “We’ve always been very good defensively, but we produced a lot more off this year and had a lot of offensive threats.”

There were a few minor setbacks along the way, King said. Late buses, rescheduled games and a late start to pre-season tryouts were just a few obstacles they overcame. But they had some good luck, too, like avoiding major injuries. All 22 players who started the season were available in the state final.

Throughout the season, they played the same attacking style regardless of opponent, and it served them well. Although they were ahead most of the time, they did come from behind in a couple of games during the year. Those comebacks showed perseverance, King said, and an ability to work through difficulties as a team without pointing fingers and blaming each other.

The coach credits the team’s juniors and seniors for keeping expectations high and teaching the program’s philosophy to the younger players. It’s up to them, King said, to be leaders and take ownership in their success on the field.

“I coach them, but it’s their team,” she said.

One of those players is junior Tori Cannata, who has already committed to playing at the next level for the University of Arkansas. She believes that even though the players are the ones on the pitch, the coach is a big part of the team’s success.

“What makes coach King special is the way she runs the program,” Cannata said. “Everyone just respects her completely.”

To show that respect, players give their best effort to prove they belong on the team, and practice hard so as not to let up on the program’s momentum.

This year’s momentum also meant some well-deserved accolades for the coach, as well. King won the 2015 Florida Dairy Farmers Girls’ Soccer Class 3A Coach of the Year award.

While she said it’s an honor to be recognized and appreciates the award, it’s clear she doesn’t like too much attention directed at herself, but instead thinks it should be on the team. She’s won awards before, but when asked for details she preferred not to elaborate on her personal accomplishments.

“If you really need it, I can tell you how many times (she’s won coach of the year awards), but whatever,” King said.

Instead, she likes to focus on the team and maintaining a quality program. She’ll lose four seniors (two of whom are starters), so most of the team should remain intact. And with good depth to help replace the players they’re losing, they should continue to be a competitive team.

While they fell just short of a state title, King can look back on this past season as one of the best.

“We have to consider it one of our most successful seasons as far as level of play, the dominance, going it to the final four, winning the semifinal on (penalty kicks),” she said. “Those were all great deeds.”

Published April 8, 2015

PREP SPORTS BOARD

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March 30
Baseball
Sickles 5, Wiregrass Ranch 4
Pasco 3, Mitchell 2
Softball
Land O’ Lakes 12, Ridgewood 0
Sunlake 8, Tampa Catholic 0
Zephyrhills 15, Pasco 12
Weeki Wachee 5, Wesley Chapel 2 (Game one)
Weeki Wachee 11, Wesley Chapel 1 (Game two)

March 31
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes 10, Wiregrass Ranch 2
Pasco 3, Wesley Chapel 2
Sunlake 11, Ridgewood 8
Zephyrhills 4, Nature Coast Tech 3
Steinbrenner 5, Freedom 4
Softball
Pasco 6, Wesley Chapel 4
Land O’ Lakes 12, Tampa Catholic 0
Sunlake 3, Hudson 2
Nature Coast Tech 8, Zephyrhills 3
Steinbrenner 5, Freedom 4
Freedom 1, Steinbrenner 0

April 1
Baseball
Pasco 6, Nature Coast Tech 0
Steinbrenner 35, Middleton 0
Softball
Wesley Chapel 14, Ridgewood 4
Land O’ Lakes 5, Academy of the Holy Names 3
Zephyrhills 14, Pasco 4

April 2
Baseball
Gaither 7, Wiregrass Ranch 6
Mitchell 3, Land O’ Lakes 1
Central 7, Pasco 6
Weeki Wachee 8, Zephyrhills 4
Steinbrenner 6, Spoto 1
Fivay 2, Sunlake 1 (Game one)
Sunlake 4, Fivay 2 (Game two)
Sickles 7, Freedom 6
Softball
Wiregrass Ranch 4, Gaither 3
Lecanto 4, Sunlake 1
Steinbrenner 17, Spoto 0
Freedom 4, Sickles 0
Pasco 6, Weeki Wachee 2

April 3
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes 11, Hudson 1
Wesley Chapel 9, Gulf 0
Softball
Wiregrass Ranch 6, Wesley Chapel 0

April 8
Baseball
Weeki Wachee at Wesley Chapel, 7 p.m.
Pasco at Anclote, 7 p.m.
Wiregrass Ranch at Freedom, 7 p.m.
Softball
Academy at the Lakes at Land O’ Lakes, 6 p.m.

April 9
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes at Pasco, 7 p.m.
Zephyrhills at Sunlake, 7 p.m.
Softball
Sunlake at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.
Nature Coast Tech at Land O’ Lakes, 7 p.m.

April 10
Baseball
Land O’ Lakes at Tarpon Springs, 7 p.m.
Wesley Chapel at Wiregrass Ranch, 7 p.m.
Dunedin at Sunlake, 7 p.m.
Steinbrenner at Plant, 7 p.m.
Freedom at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.
Softball
Hudson at Wesley Chapel
Steinbrenner at Plant, 7 p.m.

April 13
Baseball
Wiregrass Ranch at Fivay, 7 p.m.
Lake Gibson at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.
Steinbrenner at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.

April 14
Baseball
Sunlake at Wesley Chapel, 7 p.m.
Ridgewood at Land O’ Lakes, 7 p.m.
Freedom at Armwood, 7 p.m.
Pasco at Gulf, 7 p.m.
Steinbrenner at Berkeley Prep, 7:30 p.m.
Hudson at Zephyrhills, 7 p.m.

Source: MaxPreps.com, various

Published April 8, 2015

HOSPITAL FISHING TOURNAMENT MAY 22

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will have its fifth annual Fishin’ for the Mission fishing tournament on May 22 at the Magnuson Hotel Marina Cove, 6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane in St. Petersburg. The event will benefit the hospital’s Creation Health Wellness Center. The tournament includes trout, redfish and mackerel. The cost is $250 per angler and includes boat, captain, fishing equipment, breakfast, lunch, a shirt and giveaways. For information, call (813) 783-6144.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GOLF TOURNEY MAY 3

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The Knights of Columbus – Council 8104 will host its Joe Kaminski & Joe Mason Memorial Golf Tournament May 3 at The Groves Golf and Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes. Registration begins at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon. The cost is $75 per person or $275 per team. For information, call Bob Barbero at (813) 505-7589, or visit KnightsLOL.org.

PHSC DISABILITIES SERVICES 5K APRIL 26

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The Pasco-Hernando State College Office of Disabilities Services will host the inaugural Run, Walk, Roll 5K on April 26 at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Funds raised will help students with disabilities receive the proper testing necessary for accommodations to help them succeed.

The event begins at 8 a.m., and costs $25, or $15 for PHSC students. A 1-mile Fun Run costs $15 and begins at 8:45.a.m.

The deadline to be guaranteed a T-shirt and goodie bag is April 16. To register, visit PHSC.edu/ds-5k.