Special to The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

University of Tampa (UT) baseball has established itself as a national power.

The No. 2 ranked Spartans (26-5, 9-3) have won 14 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) championships, 14 South Region titles and five Division II national crowns.

UT is known from coast to coast and time zone to time zone, but the Spartans haven’t had to look nearly as far and wide to stock their lineup.

“There’s just so much talent in this area, and we’ve tried to keep that going,” said 13-year UT coach Joe Urso. “That’s the way this program was built.”

The 2013 squad fits that mold, with 16 of its 36 players from high schools in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas or Polk counties. Even the coaching staff is from the area with firsthand knowledge of how local talent has brought the program greatness.

“I played here for four years and coach (Sam) Militello player here three years, and we’re proud of continuing the tradition of UT baseball,” said Urso, a second baseman for the 1992 Spartans national championship squad. “I went to Plant, and coach Militello went to Jefferson.”

Wharton graduate Zach Gawrych and Bishop McLaughlin product David Heintz are examples of starters who came right to UT from high school.

Gawrych, a starting outfielder, had interest from Air Force and the University of South Florida before picking the Spartans for baseball and academics.

“I knew being from Tampa this was a great program that would help me succeed not only in my baseball career, but also in my life in general when I’m done with baseball,” said Gawrych (.298, 26 RBI, five home runs). “The academics here are so great. It helps you pursue your career either in baseball or in anything else.”

Heintz, a right-handed pitcher, missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery in his throwing elbow, but has worked his way into the starting rotation as a redshirt freshman. He was thrilled UT offered him a scholarship despite the injury.

“When a school like this asks you to come, it’s kind of an easy decision,” said Heintz (4-0, 1.99 ERA). “The program itself is pretty incredible. They run their practices and games like it’s a professional team.”

True freshman left-handed pitcher Brad Hencke (2-0, 2.45 ERA) had a similar reaction when the Spartans gave him a chance to play on scholarship after graduating from Land O’ Lakes.

“I was really excited when they offered me,” said Hencke, who has worked mainly out of the bullpen. “I think I jumped around and wanted to sign right there. … It had everything I wanted.”

Urso said the rest of the country has caught on to the area’s talent.

“It’s been harder to keep everyone we want, but we’ve done a good job of tracking players, even when they go to junior colleges, to bring them back to Tampa,” Urso said.

A couple of those they’ve brought back are juniors Mike Danner and Drew Doty, both Gaither graduates.

Danner, UT’s starting first baseman, attended Polk State College for two years before joining the Spartans.

“You come to a place where you know the area, and it helps you be more relaxed,” said Danner. “You don’t have to find your way around somewhere new.”

Danner said that comfort playing at home has helped him hit .362 with 24 RBI and 23 runs.

Doty, a starting outfielder, had two stops before finding his way to UT. He attended Saint Petersburg College for the first semester of his freshman year and then went to Santa Fe College before joining the Spartans.

“UT was a place I was looking at, but I wanted to get out of Hillsborough County when I first graduated from high school,” said Doty (.232, 17 runs, 16 RBI). “After two years I realized I was kind of homesick and wanted to come back here. … The main reason was I wanted to come back and play at home, and my parents can come watch me.”

Having so many recruits from one area has the side benefit of the players already knowing each other from playing with and against each other growing up.

“A lot of teams have problem with chemistry, but with us it came naturally,” Gawrych said. “It think with a lot of us being from around here and growing up playing together really helped with that. We had that bond right off the bat.”

Urso said personality and character are looked at closely when going after recruits.

“I think those things are as important, if not more important, when we look at if a kid is the right fit for us,” Urso said. “All these kids are talented. They wouldn’t be putting on a University of Tampa uniform if they weren’t talented. When we’re out recruiting we ask a lot of questions of their coaches, and we try to sit down with each of them at dinner to get a good read what they’re about and what their family life is about.”

Urso has led UT to a pair of national titles and sees the championship qualities in the current squad.

“The health of a No. 1 pitcher is so important,” Urso said. “Jon Keller is coming off an (elbow) injury and is progressing very well. Keeping him healthy is key, and we’re going to need to get better defensively in the infield to make that championship run. The personalities are in place. I could not be happier with what I’m seeing from these guys on and off the field. We had our highest GPA (3.15) of any semester since I’ve been here this fall. I think it’s all going to equate to great things if we stay healthy and get better defensively.”

Doty said they have confidence in their skipper’s methods: “Coach Urso is a good coach, and I know he’ll lead us to the championship.”

The Spartans next home game is April 9 at 4 p.m. against Embry-Riddle University.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Steinbrenner boys track and field took runner-up honors at the Western Conference American Division meet March 26 at Jefferson, the fourth-year program’s best finish at the event.

The Warriors led by as many as 14, but the host took a late lead to win 129 to 121. Gaither finished fifth with 67 points at the nine-team event.

Seniors Tyler Lima and Chris Cerreta gave Steinbrenner a late push by placing first and sixth in the 3,200 meters, respectively, to close the deficit to five going into the 4×400-meter relay, the last event of the day.

The Dragons dashed any hopes of a conference crown by taking second in the 4×400.

First-year Warriors coach Mike Bosco said he was pleased with his athletes.

“All of our guys have bought into our program and what we’re trying to do,” Bosco said. “Our distance program with coach (Bobby) McConnell and coach (Bob) Ennis is phenomenal, and coach (Cedric) Roberts, coach (Dean) Robertson and myself have been working to get our sprinters and our hurdlers to that level. Our field events have improved. We’ve tried to build that toughness in our kids, and they showed it today.”

Lima battled through the flu to claim his first individual conference title (10 minutes, 6.42 seconds). He generally competes in the 1,600 and 4×800, but limited himself to the 3,200 with the hopes of qualifying for the Hillsborough County championships.

“I couldn’t go all out,” Tyler said. “I took the first mile slow, and when I saw I could win I just went for it.”

Fellow Warrior Matt Magee won the 1,600 (4:41.76). The senior was followed by teammates Tanner Biles and Zach Lima, Tyler’s twin, in second and third place, respectively.

“We really wanted all of us to advance, so to get one, two, three is great,” Magee said. “We really try to push each other, and I think that helps us on the track.”

The trio ran behind the leaders before exploding together on the final lap, which helped block a strong wind that was steady all day.

“We did not want to be the ones running into that the whole time,” Magee said.

Logan McKnight captured gold in the shot put with a toss of 46-feet, 5-inches, breaking his own program record. The senior is in his first season with the squad after previously playing baseball during the spring.

“I had hopes and dreams that I could do this after I quit the baseball team,” McKnight said. “I’ve practiced hard every day, and I think I’m still getting better every week. … Hopefully next week I’ll get 50.”

Gaither’s Matt Williams and Samson Moore each captured a conference track title.

Williams claimed the 300 hurdles (42.10) while placing second in the 110 hurdles (15.65).

“I thought I could win the 300, but I never thought I’d take second in the 110s,” said Williams with a laugh. “I hate the 110s. I hate it, so I’m surprised.”

Moore, a sophomore, won the 200 (22.26).

“I’m really happy to win this,” Moore said. “I looked at the times coming in, and I thought if I ran a good race I could come up with a win.”

Cowboys pole vaulter Ryan Hagen also won a championship (11-06).

The Steinbrenner girls took third place by earning 85 points, 94 behind champion Plant. Gaither was fourth (66).

Cowboys senior Kiana Bryant claimed a pair of championships, taking first in the 100 (12.39) in consecutive years and winning the 200 (25.41). Her goal was to win the 100, but was surprised to beat out Sickles’ Dominique Williams in the 200.

“I thought I could stay with her,” Bryant said. “I’ve never beaten her before, and that made me really happy. … I just stayed with her until the final 100, and then I kicked it in.”

Jennifer Kingsley added to Gaither’s title count by winning the 100 hurdles (16.41) while taking second in the 300 hurdles (51.51).

The senior was second in the 100 hurdles prelims after coming in seeded first.

“I got a little thrown off by this wind,” Kingsley said. “When I heard I was second after prelims I knew I had to dig in and make it happen.”

Warriors senior Jessica Brewer, a state qualifier and district champion in the long jump last year, was limited by a right Achilles tendon injury suffered in the Charles Johnson Invitational early this season.

Brewer pulled out of the triple jump after the injury limited her in the long jump to ninth place and 14-01.25, which is about two feet less than her seed, but she fought through to run leadoff of the 4×100.

“It doesn’t hurt when I run, just when I push off to jump,” Brewer said. She added, “I didn’t want to let my team down and not run.”

The relay advanced by placing fourth (52.59).

The top four in every event at the three conference meets, plus four wildcards, advance to the county championships April 2 at Jefferson.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

 

Wharton girls track and field team sneaked by rival Freedom 155.5 to 129 to claim the Western Conference National Division championship March 26 at Armwood.

The Patriots entered the meet as the favorite based on virtual scoring, but the Wildcats were able to claim seven conference titles to Freedom’s two.

“When we ran the virtual meet it had us losing to Freedom by eight points,” said Wildcats coach Wes Newton. “This was a 20-point swing.”

Wharton also scored with multiple athletes in several events, principle among them capturing 28 points in the pole vault by taking fifth, third, second and a first-place performance by senior Britaney Smith (11-feet).

Wharton’s seniors Mikayla Barber and Tyler Watson finished first and second and first and third in the 300- and 100-meter hurdles, respectively.

Barber broke her personal record in winning the 100 hurdlers by completing the event in 14.70 seconds. She also put up her best time of the year in the 300 hurdles (45.00).

Then the Wildcats delivered the final blow in the 3,200 with junior Kallie Gollicher winning the conference title in 12:16.20. She was followed by teammates, junior Mariah Henderson in second and sophomore Mollie Gollicher in fourth.

Henderson also won the 1,600 (5:24.90), Watson captured the triple jump (34-08.75) and Wharton’s 4×800 relay also placed first (10:33.78).

The Patriots titles were won by senior Sandra Akuchukwu, who earned gold in the long jump (17-03.25) and the high jump (5-02). The Western Kentucky signee also placed second in the 100 (12.20) and third in the 200 (25.00).

Senior Faith Woodard took second in the high jump (5-02) and 400 (1:00.60) while scoring in the 200 for Freedom. Fellow senior Jasmyn Perry finished as runner-up in the 100 hurdles (15.10) while helping 4x400m relay take third (4:18.90).

On the boys side, Freedom had a late surge that lifted the squad to second place with 95 points, 25 behind the championship pace of Hillsborough.

The Patriots got a boost early by winning the 4×800 relay (8:43.81), the meet’s opening event. Derik Harvey took second in both the boys 1,600 (4:53.40) and the 3,200 (10:31.60).

The top four in every event at the three conference meets, plus four wildcards, advance to Hillsborough County championships April 2 at 1 p.m.

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Sunlake boys track and field’s two top scorers are on the same mission.

Senior sprinter Eddie Burgos and thrower Travis Manecke have set the goal to have their final high school competition come in the Class 3A state meet at the University of North Florida May 3.

For Manecke, it would be his third straight trip; for Burgos, it would be the first of his career.

“Getting to states would mean a lot,” Burgos said. “I’ve been hitting all my goals this year, and getting to states sounds like a good way to go out. I don’t even care if I place or anything. Just if I can make it would be a great ending.”

Nick Carroll, the only coach in program history, said Burgos has a unique goal to go along with making states.

“Last year when we took Travis we asked for a Sleep Number bed,” Carroll said. “We told that to Eddie, and he said his goal is to get a Sleep Number too.”

Burgos started competing in track while in eighth grade at Rushe Middle. His father convinced him the sport would make him faster for football, his primary sport.

“I just fell in love with it,” Burgos said. “I still see it as a building block for football because it keeps me in shape and makes me faster. It makes me one step ahead of everyone when the season starts, but at the same time, yeah, I do love it.”

Burgos said the event he first liked was the long jump, but he has since grown fonder of sprint events like the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay. The 100 is his favorite.

Burgos won the Sunshine Athletic Conference championship in the 100 the last two years.

He also set his personal record of 10.93 seconds to finish second at districts as a junior, but came up just short of qualifying for states the next week at regionals where Burgos finished in fifth (10.97), one place and 0.09 seconds from a spot in the 3A final.

“It was actually so close they had to go back and look at the camera a couple times because third, fourth and fifth was that close,” Burgos said. “I guess I just didn’t make the cut, and boy I was mad.  … It really has fueled me, and coach Carroll has been on me about that, and every time I feel tired and don’t want to keep pushing that gets me going again.”

Manecke became the first in the program’s six-year history to make states last year when he qualified in the discus and shot put. He also made it in the discus while attending Wiregrass Ranch as a sophomore.

Manecke won district titles in the shot and discus events and claimed first in the shot at districts in 2012, but had to settle for runner-up in both at conference this season.

“I’ve been trying to get back to where I was last year and the year before,” Manecke said. “I’m a little behind, but I’ve got a couple more weeks to get better.”

Carroll said Manecke has worked as hard to get stronger this year.

“His shot isn’t as long as it was last year. He’s throwing 44(-feet), when last year he threw 48 at districts, but his disc is better this year than it was last year at 147-10, so we’re working on his form and working to find some techniques to help him,” Carroll said.

Carroll added that both have done a lot to bring attention to Sunlake’s program.

“We score a lot of points with those guys,” Carroll said. “The younger guys coming in from Rushe seeing Eddie run as fast as he does and seeing Travis throw as far as he does gives them some motivation. I remind Eddie he ran as slow as molasses the first time he came out, so those younger guys can look and see what their hard work has done for them.”

The Seahawks will compete in the Class 3A-District 6 meet at Wiregrass Ranch April 16, followed by regionals at Leto April 24 and states at the University of North Florida May 3.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Wesley Chapel baseball has been known for its pitching in recent years, and the squad’s current ace fits right in line with that trend of strength on the mound.

Senior Chase Ingram has led the Wildcats’ (11-5) rotation the last two years. The 6-foot-3 righty said his time working out of the bullpen as a freshman and sophomore allowed him to learn from former teammates like Brandon Mumaw, Marcus Crescentini and Matt Wynne, all who are currently pitching on scholarship in college.

“My first two years we were stacked with older pitchers, so I was just relieving a few times,” Ingram said. “I learned a lot from those guys, and last year I had to use that because I was starting a lot. This year seems a little bit easier with that experience.”

Wesley Chapel coach Chuck Yingling said he always saw a special quality in Ingram.

“We were pretty fortunate with Chase because he’s always had the mental side of the game,” Yingling said. “He just had to begin to develop more pitches. … He feels he can win every time no matter who he plays, and you have to have that.”

The feeling with his teammates is mutual.

“With Chase we always know we’ve got a really good chance to win,” said junior first baseman Turner Imhoff. “We just have to get him a run and that’s all he needs. He gives us so much confidence.”

Ingram said a big focus for him this offseason was developing his knuckle curveball to go with his fastball and change-up. The combination has him posting a 6-0 record with a 1.19 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 47 innings.

The Wildcats ace also captured a bit of program history March 8 when he threw Wesley Chapel’s first perfect game in a 4-0 win versus Gulf. Ingram needed only 68 pitches to toss the gem while striking out 13 batters.

“I was a little tight in warm-ups because it was kind of cold,” Ingram said. “Sometimes you feel great and you pitch bad, and some games you feel all right and pitch good, and that’s what happened. All three of my pitches were working that night.”

Ingram, who struck out 16 batters the week before against Fivay, didn’t realize he was close to a perfect game until it had almost happened.

“With two outs left in the seven inning I threw a strikeout, and the catcher threw it down the first base, and I started thinking that nobody has been on base,” Ingram said. “I was like I really wish I hadn’t realized this right now. … After that we got two groundouts, so it was just a few pitches after that.”

Yingling said Ingram has the personality to maintain his composure in such pressure situations.

“The thing with him is when he doesn’t do a solid job, which isn’t often, he puts it on his shoulders,” Yingling said. “Other kids his age sometimes don’t do that. Some blame it on the umpire or someone for not making the play. Chase doesn’t do that. He has a commodity, and when people in college begin to realize that they’ll jump on him.”

That is if the pro ranks don’t come calling first.

“To me, he’s a draft choice this year,” Yingling said. “Probably in the late rounds, and he might not get drafted because we’re Pasco County and they don’t realize who he is. He’s throwing consistently 86 to 88 miles per hour right now, and I think he’ll be hitting 90 before the end of the season. Hopefully with the perfect game and striking out 16 the week before will help get him some more attention.”

Ingram is projected to start the Wildcats’ home game against district rival Anclote April 5 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

The Steinbrenner baseball team locked up the top seed in the Class 7A-District 9 tournament by beating cross-town rival Gaither 1-0 at home March 28.

The Warriors (14-1, 6-0) had beaten the Cowboys (9-7, 5-2) 11-0 earlier this year, but fourth-year Steinbrenner coach John Crumbley said they anticipated a tougher meeting in the rematch.

“It wasn’t our best offensive game, but the defense was special,” Crumbley said. “Gideon (Dunn) and Logan (Lapace) threw what we expected from them. Jesse Haney was solid behind the plate throwing out guys, and we got that one big hit from Cole (Gordon).”

Gordon delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the fourth inning when he took the first pitch thrown by Gaither senior Hunter Henderson over the right-center field fence for his fifth home run of the year.

“I was looking for a mistake,” Gordon said. He added, “I usually try to think fastball and adjust to anything else.”

Dunn made the solo shot hold up by throwing five innings of shutout ball while allowing two hits.

“Gideon is always great,” Gordon said. “He works hard in practice and pitches big for us in games. We know we can count on him. He’s been consistent all year.”

Dunn (6-0, 1.34 ERA) has slotted as the Warriors’ No. 1 pitcher because Gordon has had an arm injury all season, which has limited him to being a designated hitter.

“We told him in the fall we expected him to compete for time, and he’s done nothing but take it by the horns and go,” Crumbley said. “We expect greatness out of him every time he goes out. I just hope he expects it out of himself.”

Dunn found himself in a jam early. Gaither leadoff hitter Tyler Tyson worked a walk to start the first inning followed by a Cory Chandler single. A passed ball sent the Cowboys to third and second with nobody out.

That’s when Dunn locked in.

The junior forced Florida State University signee Oscar Mercado to pop out to second, followed by a weak grounder to third by Chris Minor and another infield fly by Randy Oliva to end the threat

“At that point I just thought they’re not scoring,” Dunn said. “I’ve already given them enough, and I had to put my foot on their throat and end it right there.”

Lapace closed the contest for his second save this season.

Henderson, a senior knuckleball pitcher, gave up five hits over six innings.

“That’s a heartbreaker; it’s hard for a pitcher to lose a ball game like that,” said 29-year Cowboys coach Frank Permuy. “He kept his composure for most of the game and did a good job for us. Coach Crumbley said that’s the best game someone has thrown against them this year. We just didn’t hit the ball. We couldn’t do anything. We squandered some opportunities, especially in the first inning.”

Permuy gave credit to Steinbrenner’s defense, which recorded three outs on the bases including left fielder Alex Hanson gunning down Mitchell Martinez trying to stretch a single into a double in the fourth.

“They made some great defensive plays,” Permuy said. “We had a couple guys thrown out running the bases and stuff. Probably could have gone either way a couple of times.”

Now that his squad has locked up the top 7A-9 seed for the second straight year, Crumbley said the goal is to advance out of districts for the first time in the program’s four-year history.

“That’s been the focus from Day 1 since last year,” Crumbley said.

Steinbrenner plays at 7A-9 rivals Chamberlain and Freedom April 2 and 4, respectively, at 7 p.m. Gaither can clinch the No. 2 district seed with a win at Wiregrass Ranch April 2 at 7 p.m.

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

Wharton softball coach Ashlee Cappucci sighs when she thinks of her team’s 15-year district championship drought.

“It has been a very long time,” she said with a smile.

The Wildcats (8-5) own the only blank banner inside the school’s gymnasium, having never won districts in program history. But Cappucci senses a different vibe around the squad this season.

“They want to be the first ones to do it,” Cappucci said. She added, “That’s the will and the drive in everybody’s heart. They want this to be the year, and they all want it, and they do have that passion to make it happen and make school history.”

And Wharton has the pieces in place to do just that.

The Wildcats jumped out to a fast start this season with wins over Alonso, Freedom and last year’s Class 7A state champions Chamberlain.

The offense has been led by sophomore shortstop/catcher Erica Matich and junior first baseman Nicole Dixon.

Dixon, who’s batting .323 with four RBI, said the surprising start gave the team confidence moving forward, something she believes it will need to get past tough opponents.

“I didn’t really expect us to come out here and blow everybody out, because I thought it was going to be more difficult,” Dixon said. “We’ve bonded as a team, and we’ve always had fun out here dancing all the time. So it’s been fun.”

While Wharton has enjoyed its share of success to open the year, it could be more difficult as the season progresses because of the level of talent in Class 8A-District 7.

Four teams in the district — Durant, Plant, Newsome and Bloomingdale — have winning records, forcing the Wildcats, which have not had a losing season in five years, to play every game almost perfectly.

It’s an expectation that puts a lot of pressure on many players, but senior third baseman Sam Hathcoat said Cappucci’s various drills in practice and team chemistry takes a lot of the weight off their shoulders.

“We have to have our effort and keep working at it,” Hathcoat said. “If we do something wrong (in practice), we have to run. So, we have consequences for everything, but it pays off in the end, and hopefully we’ll come out on top.”

One of the toughest hurdles Wharton has to overcome is having Makeleigh Dooley pitch all but three innings the year. The senior has stepped up in big ways for her squad so far though, compiling a 8-5 record with a 1.47 ERA in 71.2 innings.

Cappucci disagrees that her squad is at a disadvantage having to rely so heavily on one pitcher because of the amount of talent she sees on her roster.

“There’s a fire that every girl has in every game we played,” Cappucci said. “I mean, we were 8-1 at one time. It’s amazing to see that kind of passion and the battle because we respect every opponent. … You know any night can be anyone’s ball game, but we have enough talent that this team can go all the way.”

Matich, who leads the team hitting .438 with nine runs scored and seven RBI, agreed with her coach, adding the recent four-game losing skid made players understand they won’t just walk over opponents.

“It just really takes some recommitment to dedicating our time and working hard for what we have to do out here,” Matich said. “We have to learn from mistakes we’ve made out here and keep our work ethic up and keep our mental game good.”

The Wildcats will wrap up their regular season district schedule at Bloomingdale on April 2 at 7 p.m. The district tournament is at Durant April 15 to 19.

Cappucci said the team must be on the same page to win a district title.

“Every girl has got to come out to practice and give 110 percent if there was a scale that big,” Cappucci said. “It’s going to take every single girl. It can’t just be five or four or three. It has to be a team effort with leadership. … I do believe in my heart that we have a state championship team here. They have to know that too.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

 

Alyssa Dawson puts the collective sense of the Steinbrenner flag football team in simple terms.

“On a scale of one to 10, I’m at a 10 for excitement level, and everyone feels the same way,” said Dawson, a senior running back/linebacker.

The Warriors (2-1) have a lot to be excited about.

The fourth-year program is coming off its first playoff berth last year, a season that also included their first postseason win, while finishing as the District 16 runner-up to Alonso.

Gregg Puskas, who was named The Laker/Lutz News Flag Football Coach of the Year following last season, said the success has created interest.

“We had 58 girls try out and we kept 18 on varsity,” said Puskas, who is in his second year at the helm. “That’s the most we’ve had. The success we had last year has helped push us up in interest level. … It’s come a long way and really progressed nicely.”

The numbers included athletes the squad was unable to attract in previous years, such as senior wide receiver/linebacker Justice Thigpen and sophomore rusher/running back Paige Cimino.

“Justice coming out from the basketball team is a huge addition, and Paige is splitting time with the softball team,” Puskas said. “Those are some of the athletes we haven’t been able to get out here before.”

Thigpen, who was a first team The Laker/Lutz News selection in basketball, said she wanted to give the sport a try in her final high school season and is happy with the passion and ability on the squad.

“Our team is really competitive, and we’re really striving to be the best,” said Thigpen, who played flag football growing up. “I like competition. … We have a lot of players who are versatile. We have a lot of athletes. I feel like people don’t really expect us to go that far, but we will. We’re going to states.”

The confidence is mutual with the returning players.

“It was heartbreaking losing to Alonso, but now we’re ready, more ready than last year, and we’re really hungry,” Dawson said. “We have a good group of seniors who know this is our last chance to get what we want.”

Dawson, a first team The Laker/Lutz News selection last year, was a key member of the Warriors defense in 2012, racking up a team-high 27 sacks.

The offense brings back sophomore wide receiver Jessica Taylor, another first team The Laker/Lutz News member who racked up 1,023 total yards and 10 touchdowns last year.

Steinbrenner also returns senior quarterback Alexa Fernandez. The third-year starter completed 130-of-253 passes for 2,433 yards and seven touchdowns while adding another seven rushing scores last season, and was named The Laker/Lutz News Flag Football Player of the Year following the campaign.

Fernandez said having Puskas back is also big for the program.

“We had different coaches the first two years, so I think having coach Puskas as our coach the last two years has helped,” Fernandez said. “We’re running the same plays and doing the same things. We know what he’s going to say and do before he tells us. A lot of that comes out to success.”

Puskas also made an addition to his staff.

“We’ve brought in Austin Dacanay from the football team,” Puskas said. “He was a professional rugby player, and he’s helping us with our pitching, and that part of our game has gotten much stronger. Coach (Cathy) Tintera has done a great job with our defense, and she’s been here from the first year. We have a good coaching group, and the girls have really bought in.”

The Warriors have had to replace five graduates.

“We lost some really good kids and some good athletes, but with some of the new kids and the young ones who have progressed, we really haven’t lost a step,” Puskas said. “Not to say we don’t miss our seniors, because it’s tough to replace players like Cary Anne Bame, Heather Zweben and Melisa Stankovich, but the team’s unity has brought us to a new level.”

Steinbrenner’s fast start began during its 2-0 performance in a preseason tournament, including a victory over an East Bay squad that has won its district the last five years.

“It was the first time we’d beaten (East Bay),” Taylor said. “I’ve got butterflies every time I step on the field for a game, but it’s because we think we can beat a team that even last year we didn’t think we’d be able to beat. We’ve come so far.”

Steinbrenner plays at district rival Sickles March 25 at 7:30 p.m.

*Last year’s stats

—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Freedom softball team responded to a home loss to Chamberlain March 26 with an 8-3 win at Class 7A-District 9 rival Gaither the following night.

Patriots (12-2, 6-1) second baseman Caroline Whiteside started a three-run fifth inning with a two-RBI single to put the heavy-hitting Patriots (12-2, 6-1) back in gear as they cruised to the win over the Cowboys (5-10, 1-6).

Whiteside, who finished 3-of-4 with a double and two stolen bases, said the team needed to come out with a win to keep its confidence up, especially after losing 1-0 to district rival Chamberlain, which is tied with Freedom at the top of 7A-9.

“It was totally a team effort tonight like it is every night,” Whiteside said. “We finally just caught on, and it might have given us a little confidence, a little boost … because once we get our bats going, there’s just no stopping us.”

Freedom struggled at the plate to open the game and didn’t collect a hit against Gaither pitcher Bethany Kursch until Rachel Carlson doubled to the left field wall in the third inning.

That’s when confidence began to rise in the Patriots’ dugout.

Kayla Maczuga reached on a fielder’s choice followed by Carlson reaching on a dropped third strike. Maddy Hall was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Whiteside to come through in the clutch.

The senior smacked a hard line drive that ricocheted off the glove of Gaither second baseman Ashley Masuck with two outs to break the scoreless tie.

The Patriots added another run in the inning thanks to an errant throw by Cowboys catcher Jess Sirignano on a steal of third by Hall.

Freedom assistant Ashley Alpizar, who filled in for coach Autum Hernandez after she was suspended for two games following a postgame ejection at Chamberlain, said it was good to see the team come out and respond well following a loss.

“All we can ask is for them to come out and play hard every game, and that’s what they do,” Alpizar said. “They practice hard, they play hard and they stick together as a team. No doubt it was a hard hit (against Chamberlain) for the loss as a team, but we keep pushing forward one inning and one game at a time.”

Gaither would get two runs back when Masuck doubled in a run in the fifth and Kursch hit a solo homer in the sixth, but that’s all the Cowboys would get. The Patriots pulled away for good in the seventh when Whiteside scored on another error by Sirignano and Chavez belted a home run to drive in two against freshman reliever Sammi Grat.

Whiteside said the team’s policy of not dwelling on negatives played a factor in the win.

“We had to get over ourselves to prepare for (Gaither),” Whiteside said. “I think we kept our heads on straight, and we came out here to play. Might have taken us awhile to get warmed up, but we definitely did it, because that’s the kind of team we are.”

Freedom plays at Blake April 2 before closing out district play by hosting Steinbrenner April 5. Gaither plays at 7A-9 rival Wiregrass Ranch April 2. All games start at 7 p.m.

 

 

By Jeff Odom

 

The Weightman Middle girls soccer team made program history this season by winning the East Pasco Conference Championship for the first time since the sport was instituted in 1998.

The Wildcats (7-0-1) allowed just two goals all season and defeated crosstown rival John Long, which hadn’t lost a game in more than five years, 1-0 March 5 to clinch the outright conference title.

First-year coach Tom Mine, who has been with the school as a physical education instructor since it opened in 1991, gave all the credit to his players and their parents for the hard work on and off the field. He added that the talent of his players caught his eye before the season began.

“All the kids and the parents were all really looking forward to the season, because they knew that these girls had been playing for a number of years competitively at the (Wesley Chapel Athletic Association) and other leagues around this area, and it made my job a lot easier,” Mine said. “We really anticipated a good season, and after watching them at tryouts I knew we had a really good team and a lot of good players that were focused, prepared to succeed in each game.”

The Wildcats dominated thanks in large part to goalkeeper Sydney Reeves (five shutouts), forward Tori Mitchell (seven goals) and leading scorer Bailey Hern (eight goals, 17 assists), a midfielder/forward.

Hern said to make history as the only group to ever win a conference championship is a special feeling and added that she hopes their success this season lays the foundation for the future.

“It means a lot and it means we’re different than the other (girls soccer) teams that this school has had because of what we did,” Hern said. “We were like underdogs, because before no one had ever won one before, and it shows that we made history. It’s like the greatest feeling ever.”

Reeves returned to the team this season after missing much of last year.

“I was really proud of myself, because only letting in two goals all season is a big deal, and it felt good after last season when I broke my finger on the very first game of the season in warm-ups,” Reeves said. “To have (my defense) helping me out really helped me, and we definitely improved a lot, and the girls who came in this year were just really good.”

After a tie with Pine View to open the season, the Wildcats had to play two weeks without Mitchell because of an injury. Mine told his players they needed to all step up and fill the void.

The result still makes him smile.

Weightman defeated Rushe 2-0 before knocking off Pasco 3-1 in the pouring rain. That’s when Mine realized how far his team could go.

“There’s a banner up in the gym that had no championships on it, and over the years a lot of people notice that,” Mine said. “They would come up into the building and see no girls championships. I had been hearing from many parents that this is the year we were going to put up a championship, and, you know, the parents were right.”

As for the future, Mine hopes this is just the beginning for his budding squad. He said it will take a lot of work to put another banner up next year, but knows they have what it takes to be successful.

“These girls played with a lot of determination,” Mine said. “It’s a thrill, and being here since the school opened up, I’m just very thankful to be able to have coached these girls, and I’m very proud of what they did. They’re really just super, super kids, and they’re very good soccer players. … Hopefully, we can do it all over again.”