Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Pole vaulting isn’t for everyone.

The event takes speed, strength and, some would say, insanity to execute.

Most high school track and field teams have one, maybe two, brave enough to focus on the pole vault. At Wharton, there are six girls scoring buckets of points for the Wildcats.

The group has a pair of experienced seniors in Britainy Smith and Ashley Cahill leading the charge.

“I started as a freshman, and I didn’t even really know what it was,” Smith said. “I was on the cheerleading team, and a senior (London Enos), who actually won states her junior and senior year, she told Ashley and I to come out and try it because they needed new pole vaulters when she left. We said, ‘Why not?’”

Ashley was also following in her older brother Alan Ford’s footsteps as a Wildcats vaulter.

“When I first came out there was a little bit of fear, but once I started I knew it was where I wanted to be,” Ashley said. “Running down a runway is such a good feeling, especially when you PR.”

Smith, whose personal record (PR) is 11-feet, earned district titles the last two years and placed 10th at states during her sophomore season.

“Making it to states was so exciting,” said Smith, who plans to walk on at the University of Alabama. “I wasn’t expecting it. I was just trying to jump. I just wanted to PR at regionals, and I made it to states. Junior year was a little rough, didn’t make it, stuff happens, but this year I’ve been trying to work harder, focus on techniques and breaking bad habits. That’s helped me a lot.”

Ashley (PR 10) made her first state appearance in 2012, where she finished ninth.

“Regional was so hard because there were a bunch of us at the same height, so it came down to attempts,” said Ashley, who wants to walk on at the University of Florida. “Going to states was so exciting, and Britainy and I want to go together this year.”

Sophomores Mandy Lewis (PR 8), Khalesha Gibson (PR 8) and Abby Delisle (PR 7-06), along with freshman Amber Cahill (PR 7), round out the vaulting group.

“We’re like sisters, and it’s nice to have five teammates watching and telling you good job after a jump,” Ashley said. “They can also see something that the coach didn’t, and because we know each other so well we can say something another way that works for each of us.”

Delisle was convinced to compete by Smith and Ashley, who are her cheerleading teammates. Amber picked it up to follow her older sister Ashley.

Gibson needed some recruiting from coach Wes Newton, who also leads the cross country squad.

“I wasn’t going to do track,” Gibson said. “I was conditioning with the cross country team, and one day when I was stretching (Newton) told me that I looked like a pole vaulter.”

Lewis needed no encouragement.

“I always thought it looked really, really cool,” Lewis said. “I always wanted to try it. … It looked scary, but I like challenges.”

Delisle said the seniors always help the underclassmen while they prep for a run at states.

“They know what it’s like to just be starting out,” Delisle said. “They were where we’re at a couple years ago, and they do whatever they can to help.”

Gibson added that the performances of Smith and Ashley are motivating.

“They’re at 10 and 11 feet, and that’s where I want to be as a senior,” Gibson said. “I look up to them.”

Only four of the six can compete in any meet. The coaches use that as motivation, but the vaulters don’t feel like they’re working against one another.

“It’s not really competition; it’s just fun being around each other,” Amber said.

Delisle added, “You’d think you wouldn’t want someone to be better, but we’re always helping each other and really happy when any of us does well.”

Newton said the group gives them a big advantage.

“We’ve had a lot of good ones here, and it’s an event that really helps us because most teams don’t have so many pole vaulters,” Newton said. “It lets us score a lot of points in meets, and that sometimes makes the difference.”

Wharton used that edge to score 28 points in the pole vault at the Western Conference National Division meet to help claim the team title this year. Smith and Ashley also took first and third at the county championships to score 16 in the Wildcats’ runner-up effort.

“We know some teams don’t even have pole vaulters, so it’s a great feeling to be able to get those extra points that we need,” Gibson said. “It lets us know that we’re a big part of the track team.”

The vaulters and the rest of Wharton’s squad compete at the Class 4A-District 6 meet at Leto April 17.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Wesley Chapel track and field athletes participated in the Class 2A-District 9 meet April 12 at Berkley Prep, and three Wildcats girls earned spots in regionals by placing in the top four of their event.

The top Wesley Chapel performer was senior Courtney Prengaman, who finished as the district runner-up by clearing 5-feet, 2-inches.

Prengaman, a Samford University signee, is the defending 2A state champion and was going for her fourth straight district title, but came up four inches short of Anclote freshman Emily Gauvey’s jump.

“I’m not sure what happened,” said Wildcats girls coach Brad Allen. “I don’t know if she’s having trouble with the pressure, and actually she usually does very well with pressure. That’s why in the past we’ve had her jump with the boys in meets.

“The thing was it looked like she wasn’t getting her feet over quick enough,” Allen continued. “Her back was getting way up and over. … We can fix that because she has the power to get over without a problem. She’s got everything she needs to get the job done.”

Prengaman will still be either the No. 1 or 2 seed at regionals because she cleared 5-08 earlier this year during a meet at Sunlake, which matches the best performance in 2A this season.

Fellow Wesley Chapel senior Abby Hudak earned a spot in regionals for the fourth straight year by placing third in the pole vault (9-06). Hudak, who is seeking her first state berth, has been fighting through ligament inflammation linked to a broken left ankle suffered a few months before the season during a skateboarding accident.

“I think I am capable of getting there,” Hudak said. “I’ve got two more weeks to get healthy and get better. Yesterday and the day before in practice I was doing pretty well. I was getting over the 10-foot bungee easy. That’s what I wanted to do today, but my leg just got very inflamed. I think there was a lot of mental stuff today too watching other girls PR when I still haven’t PRed this year.”

Bob Leidel, Hudak’s coach with Florida Pole Vault Academy, said she has been besting her personal record (PR) of 10 regularly at practice.

“Some days she’s actually close to clearing 11 and easily clearing 10,” Leidel said. “The injury that she had definitely played into the amount that she can practice and the quality of her practices, but she has had some really good jumps; they just haven’t happened in meets this year. Hopefully next week it happens at regionals.”

Sakari Worrels rounded out the Wildcats’ regional qualifiers by taking fourth in the long jump (15-07), besting her previous PR by seven inches. The senior last ran track while in eighth grade.

“I liked running track, but I always played AAU volleyball during the spring and couldn’t,” Worrels said. “I just wanted to see what I could do. I figured whatever happened would happen, and I’m really happy right now.”

The trio competes at regionals at Titusville Astronaut April 18. Those who finish in the top four at the meet will earn a spot in states April 27 at the University of North Florida.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

First-year Carrollwood Day School (CDS) track and field coach Travis Hall showed he has a budding crop of young Patriots at the Class 1A-District 8 meet April 12 at Calvary Christian.

The CDS boys, who scored only 15 points at the same meet last year, totaled 48 to finish fifth at the event. The girls posted 36, eight more than a season ago, to place fourth.

“It’s been fun, and I think they (the kids) have fun too,” Hall said. “We sacrifice points to build team camaraderie and overall sportsmanship.”

The two standouts of the day were Elias Earley on the boys side and Kailiece Harris for the girls.

Earley won district championship in the 200 meters (22.97 seconds), which also set a new personal record. The sophomore also took second in the 400 (52.02) to earn a regional berth.

“After running the 400 I was so tired (for the 200),” Earley said. “I didn’t expect to win, but once I hit the turn and I saw only the Seffner kid (Robbie Shell) in front, I just kicked it into gear.”

Harris, who is only a seventh-grader, won the 400 in 59.27. She also helped the 4×400 relay take third.

The Patriots duo will be joined by four teammates at regionals.

Sophomore Lauren Meaney took second in the 1,600 with a time of 5:50.07. Freshman Stephen Yafee placed third in the 400 (53.84), and seventh-grader Jack Pironti got the fourth qualifying spot in the 1,600 (5:08.67).

Pironti fought off a late attempt from Seffner Christian’s Danny Pontello to keep his qualifying spot.

“I never thought I could do it,” Pironti said. “I usually lose those because the other guy has longer strides. I was surprised I actually beat him.”

Senior Adam Morse also qualified with a fourth-place throw in disc (108-feet, 9-inches), but the Patriot effort belonged to the youth.

“As more students see kids like Harris and Jack they will come out and join the team,” Hall said. “It’s going to help us being a strong program the next couple years.”

Academy at the Lakes senior Alex Gittens also qualified for regionals in the girls 800 by placing fourth (2:36.20).

Advancing athletes compete in regionals at Orlando First Academy April 18. Those who finish in the top four of their events earn a berth in states April 26 at the University of North Florida.

 

//‘Canes claim four district titles

The Bishop McLaughlin girls track and field team captured four titles at the Class 1A-District 9 meet April 11 at Clearwater Central Catholic.

Hurricanes senior Camill Baumrucker claimed championships in the long (16-feet, 2-inches) and triple (33-09.50) jumps, while juniors Rachel Verscharen and Desireé Nathe took first in the discus throw (93-11) and high jump (5), respectively.

Nathe also earned a regional berth by taking third in the 400 meters (1 minute, 4.37 seconds), as did sophomore Kate Comfort by finishing as the district runner-up in the 800 (4:43.60).

The ‘Canes earned 79 points to place fourth at the event, while the boys totaled 15 to take sixth at the eight-team meet.

Advancing athletes compete in regionals at Shorecrest Prep. Those who finish in the top four of their events earn a berth in states April 26 at the University of North Florida.

–Kyle LoJacono

 

 

 

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Kailiece Harris is on a mission to become the first girl in Carrollwood Day School (CDS) track and field history to earn a state medal.

The 400-meter runner enters regionals, which is April 18 at Orlando First Academy, as the No. 2 seeded competitor after setting her personal record of 59.23 seconds at the USF/Steinbrenner Invitational earlier this year.

If she reaches states and finishes in the top eight, she earns a spot on the medal stand, and will do so as a seventh-grader.

“(Kailiece) has surpassed even her own expectations,” said first year Patriots coach Travis Hall. “We all knew she could compete, but I don’t think even she knew the level of talent she’s discovered this year.”

Kailiece won the 1A-8 district championship in the 400 (59.27) April 12.

She still remembers her first encounter with track, which she picked up at age 6.

“I remember we were just driving in the car by Hillsborough High School and we saw a bunch of kids my age practicing,” Kailiece said. “We pulled over and asked how old you had to be to practice. They said 6, and that’s when I started.”

Her father Kay Jay, a former member of the track and field team at Tampa Bay Tech, said Kailiece has more than 70 medals from different meets, including winning the Junior Olympics in long jump in 2007.

Kay Jay sought out the experience of Roosevelt Cooper, her AAU coach.

“It’s unbelievable how strong she is,” Cooper said. “Most kids her age are not anywhere near that powerful.”

They have developed her power with a technique called overspeed, which is when the trainer tethers themselves to the athlete and runs, dragging them to faster times.

“As long as I know how fast she can run, I can pull her,” Cooper said.

The Harris track bloodlines also run through Kailiece’s younger brother Kyle, 10, whom Kay Jay said can already run in 5-kilometer races with adults.

“We use him (Kyle) as a rabbit for Kailiece,” Kay Jay said. “We put Kyle on the track in front of her and tell her go catch him.”

Kay Jay said Kailiece can easily outrun her little brother in a flat out race, but it makes for a great challenge and family entertainment that can’t be had anywhere else.

The top four performers in each event at regionals advance to the 1A state meet April 26 at the University of North Florida.

 

 

By Don Trello

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Sunlake coach Dick Rohrberg might be the high school equivalent of former St. Louis Cardinals managers Whitey Herzog and Tony La Russa when it comes to what he believes it takes to play winning baseball.

Herzog’s teams were known for the ability to manufacture runs using base hits, walks, stolen bases, hit-and-runs and sacrifices. His managerial style was dubbed Whitey Ball and became known as small ball, which La Russa took to a new level during his tenure.

“I want kids that want to learn the game and get better,” said Rohrberg, who is in his fifth season as Seahawks coach. “I want them to be fundamentally sound and play the game the right way.”

Rohrberg’s background includes stints as an assistant coach at Dayton University and 12 years as head coach at Chamberlain. He also works as a talent evaluator for the Baseball Factory.

“(Assistant coach) Mike Peeples played AAA for the Rockies and Jays,” said Rohrberg. “My background is college and his is pro baseball. This is his first year as assistant coach, and we complement each other well.”

Sunlake practices and pregame preparations mirror those of college and professional teams starting with batting practice, including emphasis on bunting skills and work on fielding. Players are constantly in motion and not allowed to sit on the bench.

“I tell the kids to decide what fun is,” Rohrberg said. “I ask them if they want to come and goof around and not become better baseball players or if they want to come out and learn how to win. … We have 14 players, and every one of them is willing to put the work in and they are getting there. We’ve shown we can be competitive.”

Sunlake (8-8) has the chance at its first winning season since 2009 when it was 13-12. Major contributors to the resurgence are senior first baseman Travis Doyel and junior left-handed pitcher David Castillo.

“Castillo has a tremendous upside and could be a premium pitcher if he works hard,” Rohrberg said. “He’s an aggressive hitter with quick hands that puts the ball in play.”

Castillo is 3-2 with a 1.28 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. He also is the second leading hitter on the team with a .340 batting average.

“I was a pitcher and outfielder my freshman year, but I didn’t make the team,” Castillo said. “My brother was a senior starter, and I thought I was better than him. I never got to play with him, and that motivated me to try harder.”

Castillo made the junior varsity team his sophomore year as the No. 1 pitcher.

“I didn’t move up to the varsity, but it wasn’t a big deal,” Castillo said. “I’m an aggressive hitter and I love hitting, but I like pitching best. I just love playing baseball.”

Doyel leads Sunlake with a .368 average, and has also seen duty as a pitcher.

“This is the best start the team has had since I’ve been here,” said Doyel, who started as a sophomore. “We are making contact and hitting the ball harder. … Last year we would get into a losing streak and just let it happen. Now the team plays hard to the last inning. We are all tired of losing.”

Castillo and Doyel combined to pitch the first no-hitter in school history March 4 in a 10-2 win against Anclote.

“I was happy about the no-hitter, but I could have done better,” said Castillo, who pitched four innings and struck out 11 batters. “I had five walks and gave up two unearned runs because of a bad pickoff throw and a wild pitch. … I didn’t know about the school not having a no-hitter until after the game. It’s good to make history, but I’d like to do it again.”

Doyel relieved Castillo and pitched the last three innings. Doyel was somewhat bemused when he recalled the unusual ending of the game.

“David let me know there was a no-hitter and I better not give it up,” Doyel said. “I knew we never had a no-hitter, and that was extra motivation. … I walked two guys with one out in the seventh inning. Then there was a fly ball to left and Castillo dropped the ball. He picked it up and threw to third for a force out, and the third baseman threw it to second to complete a double play. I never saw a game end like that.”

Rohrberg said he hoped to use the first no-hitter as a building block for his program seeking its first playoff berth: “It’s something you can build on.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Freedom flag football team clinched the top seed in the District 16 tournament by winning its final three league contests.

Securing the No. 1 spot appeared nearly impossible for the Patriots (6-1, 5-1) after dropping a 12-6 home contest to Steinbrenner April 1 thanks in large part to the Warriors’ (5-2, 5-1) fourth-quarter interception returned for a touchdown.

“After we lost to Steinbrenner we knew we’d have to win our last three district games to have a chance at the No. 1 seed,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger. “That was a really tough loss because we had the ball near the end zone when they intercepted it, so we go from looking like we’re going to take the lead to losing by six.”

The Patriots responded with a win at Wharton three days later, but faced a much tougher challenge April 8 when two-time defending district champ Alonso came to their field.

The squads entered halftime 0-0, but the Ravens scored on their first possession after the break to go ahead 6-0.

“We didn’t have any doubt that we could come back because we trust each other,” said senior linebacker/wide receiver Ashle Thompson (32 flag pulls, 368 receiving yards, five touchdowns). “We knew what we had to do to beat them. That’s all we were focusing on.”

Sophomore rusher/wide receiver Taylor Mort (eight sacks) rose to the challenge by scoring on a 2-yard run with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Senior Veronica Bell tacked on the extra point with a catch over the middle to put the Patriots ahead for good 7-6.

“We have some extra point plays that we’re pretty confident in,” Derflinger said. “The bigger thing was stopping them on their extra point. I tell them that can be the game when you stop an extra point, and it was for us.”

Derflinger pointed to a key 24-yard pass from senior quarterback Missy Dunbar (13 touchdowns) to sophomore wide receiver Mackenzie Dyer to set up the winning score.

Alonso beat Steinbrenner April 4, tying the three squads atop the district. The outcome gave Freedom the inside track for the top seed because the Patriots have three road wins within the league to the Warriors’ and Ravens’ two, which is the third tie-breaker.

Freedom just had to beat Sickles at home April 11 to clinch the No. 1 seed.

The Gryphons (1-6) scored on their opening possession to go ahead 6-0, but the Patriots responded with three first-half touchdowns to win 21-6.

Sickles threatened to make it a one-score contest, but senior linebacker Lauren Repp’s interception with 2:40 left in the contest iced the game.

“I saw that she was going to throw over the middle, so I thought I could make a play on it,” said Repp, who had a game-high nine flag pulls. “Just stepped in front and caught it.”

Dunbar completed 14 of 25 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. She also picked off three passes while playing safety.

Sophomore running back Tia Jackson (355 yards, four touchdowns) had 72 receiving yards, including a 52-yard touchdown. Thompson had five catches for 94 yards and a 30-yard score.

The District 16 tournament is at Alonso April 22 to 24, with the final April 24 at 7 p.m.

Freedom hosts East Bay April 15 and Chamberlain April 18 to close the regular season. Both contests start at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Land O’ Lakes baseball coach Calvin Baisley wasn’t sure what to expect from his team against Wiregrass Ranch April 10 after a puzzling loss to Ridgewood two days earlier.

It took the host Gators (17-3) just one pitch, a lead-off home run by senior Dylan Harris, to give him the answer he was looking for as his squad got to Bulls (13-6) pitcher Zach Drury early en route to a 7-3 win.

“Our kids respond to a challenge,” Baisley said. “We have faced the best pitchers around, and they take it as a challenge. … Dylan just got right on that first pitch, and that set the tone from there.”

Harris, a Saint Leo University signee, said he was looking for a good pitch to drive early in the at bat.

“I was trying to get our team started, and we hadn’t been scoring runs the last few games,” Harris said. “I saw a pitch elevated in the zone, and I got it and drove it out.”

After Harris’ homer, Drury walked Josh Nissen and allowed Alex Reynolds to reach on an error.

That’s when they broke it open.

Pitcher Zach Whitaker singled to right field to score Nissen, followed by Quintin Perez’s two-RBI base hit to left field two batters later to extend the Land O’ Lakes’ lead to 4-0. Drury ended the inning with two strikeouts.

The Bulls responded in the second inning.

Alex Goebel, Shane Bucenell and Alex Fernandez each singled to start the frame. Goebel scored on Ryan Girard’s fielder’s choice, and a wild pitch allowed Bucenell to score from third.

A single to center by Austin Drury made it 4-3, but that’s all Wiregrass Ranch would get.

“I was just getting bad luck on a few hits and I threw good pitches, but they were able to get a few bloopers,” Whitaker said. “I tried not to get too rattled, because sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me.”

The Gators took advantage of three walks, a Connor Stephens double and another error to add three more runs in the second inning to go ahead 6-3.

Drury departed with one out in the third after an infield single by Austin Conner, another wild pitch that allowed another run to score and a double to right field by Harris. The Wiregrass Ranch junior finished with five earned runs, four walks and five strikeouts in his second-shortest outing of the season.

Whitaker kept the Bulls scoreless for the next three innings, but it wasn’t easy.

Wiregrass Ranch loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but came up empty. The Bulls also had runners in scoring position in the fifth, but again couldn’t take advantage as Nissen relieved Whitaker and forced a groundout.

Nissen stifled the Wiregrass Ranch offense the rest of the way with six straight ground balls to secure the win.

“I know they’ve got good hitters, but I wanted to make sure I hit my spots and pick up Zach,” Nissen said. “He worked hard out there on the mound all night and he got some jams, but our hitting and defense had our back.”

Land O’ Lakes travels to Central April 17 and Wiregrass Ranch plays at cross-town rival Wesley Chapel April 16. Both games start at 7 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The third annual Wiregrass Relays April 9 gave several area track and field teams the ability to prep for the Class 3A-District 6 meet in a relaxed setting.

“It gives them a chance to see the track before districts,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Don Howard, whose school hosts the 3A-6 event April 16. “We do it as a relay just to have some fun with it.”

All seven participating schools are in 3A-6 and competed in such relays as the 4×1,600-meter, 4×400 coed and the highly popular throwers 4×100, which only included those who did the shot put and/or discus throw at the meet.

The Bulls girls won their side of the throwers relays, while Land O’ Lakes claimed first for the boys (49 seconds).

Gators junior Shaheed Salmon, who ran the second leg of the throwers relay, said they were confident going in.

“This is the first time we’ve done it this year, but we were confident,” said Salmon with a big smile.

The Wiregrass Ranch girls ended up winning consecutive event titles with 69 points, besting second-place Land O’ Lakes by 11. The Gators boys also repeated as champs with 72 points, 15 more than the Bulls.

Howard said winning the event likely won’t have any bearing on his squad going for its fifth straight district crown, but it also doesn’t hurt.

“I like where we are,” Howard said. “We have some girls who are hurt who have to get healthy, because we have no wiggle room. … It’s us and Belleview; it came down to seven points last year, and it looks like it’s going to be that close again. If the girls perform and do what they’re capable of doing, unless Belleview surprises us with something, we should win, but there’s no room for any one girl to have a bad day.”

Wiregrass Ranch’s 4×800 relay team posted a 9:49, its best performance of the year.

“The 4×800 team running a 9:49 is where we want to be,” Howard said. “I told the girls I believe they still have another eight to 10 seconds to take off that. We just started the work to get their times to drop, and it dropped immediately. We’ve still got more workouts that we routinely do through the postseason. They’re ahead of the game right now.”

Senior Nikita Shah, the relay’s anchor, said she couldn’t be prouder of the 4×800 squad.

“Definite shout out to Elise (Cedre), Berlin (Waters) and Maddie (Conway),” Shah said. “We all had our best times of the year, and as a team by 20 seconds. You don’t ever see that in the 4×800. We’re ready to go to states and see if we can medal there.”

Waters led off the relay with a 2:29. The Saint Leo University signee, for both cross country and soccer, is in her first season running track.

“It’s been really fun to come out and do this for the first time, and my last time,” Waters said. “I’m really looking forward to districts.”

Waters passed the baton to Conway, a freshman who posted a 2:27.

“I was not expecting to go 2:27,” Conway said. “I was hoping just to break 2:30.”

Shah called Conway a “prodigy” for what she’s accomplished in her first season.

“(Conway) is very much talked about on our team,” Shah said. “She’s really talented and works really hard.”

Cedre, a junior, and Shah closed the relay with a 2:30 and 2:23, respectively.

Shah reached the 3A state meet last year in the 1,600 and 3,200, placing third in the latter.

“I feel really strong and confident going into the postseason,” said Shah, a Harvard University signee.

Bulls teammate Hannah Eder also had a breakout day at the relay by surpassing her own program record in the triple jump (35-feet, 5-inches). The senior, who won districts last year in the triple and long jumps, said she was unsure about her steps earlier in the season, which resulted in a lot of scratches.

“Early in the year I was just not running as fast as I can on the runway, and now I’m more confident and less tentative,” Eder said. “Putting the speed with the steps is coming together and it’s getting farther.”

Wiregrass Ranch freshman sprinter/jumper Gelisa Jenkins, who scored in four events at the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet, said she will be prepared for districts with some late fine tuning.

“I think I can still improve my technique and how I pace myself,” Jenkins said. “My biggest thing is mind over matter, so when I feel like I can’t go anymore I have to remind myself that I can, and when I do I can go way farther than I think I can.”

The Bulls boys 4×800 relay also posted a season best time (8:28). A key member of the squad is senior Ermias Bireda, the defending district and regional champion in the 1,600.

“My workouts have shown me that I can definitely compete for that medal,” Bireda said. “I’m in the shape I need to be. I’ve just got to perform now.”

Bireda said he’s motivated by last year’s state meet when he was in third place rounding the final turn of the 1,600, only to be tripped with about 100 meters to go and dash his chance at a top eight finish and a medal.

“I keep what happened at states last year in mind during all of my races,” Bireda said. “It’s hard to forget. This is my last season, my last chance to get a medal.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

Academy’s Lauren Evans posts eye-popping stats

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Jerry English has spent half a lifetime coaching high school softball.

The veteran skipper, who is in his second season leading the Academy at the Lakes program, has seen many talented players in his 30 years coaching, but junior shortstop Lauren Evans is different from anyone else.

“If you put a list of the 10 things you look for in a good player, some of the best have eight checkmarks or seven,” English said. “Most have some weakness. Lauren has a perfect score.”

The 6-foot, University of South Florida commit started playing T-ball and baseball at age 7 because they didn’t have a softball program at the Land O’ Lakes Little League at the time.

“Then I moved to softball,” Evans said. “I had to pick between soccer, basketball or softball, and I chose softball and stuck with it.”

The decision has worked out of Evans, who is hitting .600 with a .694 on-base percentage, 24 runs, 15 RBI and 11 steals this season. She uses a simple mindset when stepping to the plate.

“I always tell myself don’t focus on numbers, don’t focus on stats, just try to put the ball in play and make hard contact and drive the ball,” Evans said. “That’s really what I’m thinking every time I’m up. I don’t try to think it would be really nice to hit a home run here because we’d win the game. I just think get on base and let the team do what we know how to do.”

The opposition has taken notice of Evans eye-popping numbers, so she rarely gets good pitches to hit. Pitchers will often intentionally walk her multiple times in a game as to not risk the slugger’s power.

“Either way is fine for me if I walk or hit it,” Evans said. “I’m still getting on base. I don’t really mind. Sometimes it does bother me because I do like to hit, but if they walk me I can’t really do anything about it.”

She did enter the season feeling some stress after posting a .652 batting average with 44 RBI, 33 runs and four home runs as a sophomore.

“Last year was the best year I’ve ever had,” Evans said. “There’s a lot of pressure. It’s still a team, but we all rely on each other. So there’s pressure to do well and stay up there, but there’s pressure from the school as well because so many teams are doing so well. Hopefully we can keep that up.”

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

One of the key players in Academy at the Lakes girls basketball’s ascendance as a state powerhouse has committed to play at the next level.

Wildcats senior forward Andrea Mauger announced she will continue her career at Franklin & Marshall College, a Division III program in Lancaster, Pa.

“It’s an amazing dream come true for me,” Mauger said. “This is what I’ve been working for since the seventh grade, so to be able to say that I got here means a lot to me, and it just proves to me that you really can get whatever you want in life if you work hard enough.”

Mauger transferred from Wesley Chapel after her freshman season. The academy was 0-15 the year before her arrival, and she helped the squad finish 19-5 and reach the regional finals in her first season with the squad.

The academy went on to post 23-6 and 25-3 records in 2011-12 and 2012-13, respectively, while reaching the Class 2A final four both years, including a state runner-up finish in February.

“The whole experience has been an amazing one,” Mauger said. “I couldn’t have asked for a more successful career. We started at nothing and really built the program over there. It was exciting to see everybody jump on board and support us. I think we really turned around the attitude of winning at that school. People come out and expect us to win now. … To have two state appearances, I think if you’d have told them that a couple years ago they’d have just laughed.”

Mauger, who was named The Laker/Lutz News Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2012, finishes her high school career with more than 1,500 points. Her squad reached at least the regional finals every season in high school.

Mauger said the Franklin & Marshall coaches are looking for her to be more of a shooting guard.

“I chose the school based on academic performance as well as basketball, and a place where I could make a difference instead of just going for the school name,” Mauger said.

The Diplomats went 8-17 last season, 5-15 in Centennial Conference play.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker