Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

Recent Steinbrenner High graduate and second baseman Christian Diaz committed June 25 to Jacksonville University, a Division-I baseball program.

Diaz, who plans to officially sign when he visits the school on July 9, batted .343 with 17 RBI, seven doubles and recorded one home run.
The three-year starter, who began his high school career at Sickles in 2009, was also an honorable mention for the Wade Boggs Achievement Award in June.

“(I feel) happiness really, glad to get (the recruiting process) over with and have a chance to further my career there,” Diaz said. “I can’t wait.”

He added he is happy for the opportunity to play with the Dolphins.

“It opens a world of possibilities,” Diaz said. “(It) gives me a chance to compete at the highest level possible.”

—Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JeffO_TheLaker

Warriors’ Merrell picks USF

Steinbrenner junior middle infielder/center fielder Kevin Merrell has committed to the University of South Florida (USF), Warriors
baseball coach John Crumbley announced June 28. Merrell played in all 24 of Steinbrenner’s games last season, batting .258 with a .343 on base percentage, 12 runs, seven RBI and six steals.

—Stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

 

Camp also marks Graham’s last duties as Steinbrenner coach

By Kyle LoJacono

The only football coach in Steinbrenner High history had one more duty before stepping away from the post.

Floyd Graham resigned several weeks ago to take care of his sick parents in his home state of Alabama, but he already committed to leading the Lutz Chiefs Summer Football Camp at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz, which ends June 29.

“I came back just for this camp because of the relationship I’ve had with the Lutz Chiefs being our school’s feeder program,” Graham said. “My players are out here running it, so I’m working here during the day and packing at night. … It’s giving me the opportunity to hang out with my players and coaches again before I leave.”

Graham and his wife, Jennifer, are taking a leave of absence from their teaching positions at Steinbrenner, which required them to resign as the Warriors football and volleyball coach, respectively.

Linda Cobb, spokeswoman for Hillsborough County schools, said those with an approved leave of only one year are guaranteed their same teaching position back if they want it. Graham said he and Jennifer would like to return to Steinbrenner for the 2013-14 school year if their family matters are resolved.

About a dozen of Graham’s football players volunteered at the camp, including junior Curtis Fitch. The quarterback, who is the son of University of South Florida offensive coordinator Todd Fitch, said coaching the kids gave him a greater appreciation for what Graham and his father do.

“We do a small game at the end, and we get fired up watching,” Fitch said. “I can only imagine what coach Graham or my dad feels during a game.”

Fitch also volunteered at the camp last year. He said it’s great to give back to the community while helping develop young football players.

“Every other school, like Gaither and Sickles, have been around for awhile and have built off this kind of thing,” Fitch said. “They’re the future of Steinbrenner football, and someday it’s going to be us coming back to see them play when we’re alumni. That’s something I really want to build is pride in our school.”

Graham said having a relationship with the local youth football organization is important for a successful high school program.

“Zach Kilburn is the director here for the Lutz Chiefs, and we’ve worked together on this camp,” Graham said. “He helped get the word out about the camp, and all these young kids are Lutz Chiefs. We’ve had some coaching clinics where his coaches came over in the spring to learn how we’re doing things at Steinbrenner so we’re on the same page.”

The first week of the camp is for players ages 6 to 10 where they teach the basics, followed by a session for those up to 13. The younger players are invited back for the older camp to watch the more advanced drills.

Graham said he received several comments from parents touting the camp’s added benefits.

“I had three sets of parents say to me this is fantastic because they go home and take a nap.” Graham said with a smile.

Logan Kilburn, 10, is a running back/linebacker for the Chiefs midget team and is the son of the organization’s director. He participated in the camp last year and said the drills are improving his game.

“It helps me with my footwork and technique,” Kilburn said. “It also helped me with catching the football and getting faster. That’s what I need to work on because I play running back.”

Another returning camper was Nicholas Testa, 10, who also plays linebacker for the Chiefs super midget club.

“It’s going to help me a lot because they’re teaching me the things that they’re doing in high school,” Testa said. “That’s what I want to do is play football. … They’re teaching me rules about what I’m supposed to do and not supposed to do that I didn’t’ know before.”

One of the newcomers to the camp is Brian Ford, who is volunteering for the first time.

“It’s fun to be a coach,” Ford said with a smile.

Ford, a junior center, started playing football in high school. He said the campers will be ahead of where he was when they start playing under the lights on Friday nights.

“It lets them know all those basics I didn’t know going into high school,” Ford said. “It gives them a lot of good conditioning habits, and we’re telling them how important it is to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. It lets them know what’s expected.”

A lot of fun and teaching happens at the sessions, but football rivalries also bleed through.

Connor Whelan, 10, showed up to the third day of the youth camp wearing a Gaither shirt. The Cowboys have become one of Steinbrenner’s rivals, and the two teams compete in the same football district.

Graham couldn’t let the fashion choice go without at least some lighthearted kidding.

“I told him I was going to have him run extra sprints because he’s got that Gaither shirt on,” Graham said with a laugh.

 

Summer league gives football teams chemistry, rhythm

By Kyle LoJacono

June 19 marked the start of the North Suncoast 7 on 7 Passing League, giving football teams in Pasco and Hernando counties the chance to sharpen their skills before the fall.

Games are each Tuesday at two locations in either Pasco and/or Hernando counties, with eight teams scheduled for each site.  Squads play for about 20 minutes before rotating, allowing players and coaches to see different offensive and defensive schemes.

“It’s an opportunity to compete against other people,” said third-year Wesley Chapel coach Ben Alford. “Having a little bit of competition during the summer is a good thing to keep them in the flow. You also get to see a bunch of different teams each day instead of just playing against your teammates in practice.

“You can go undefeated in 7 on 7 and not win a game during the fall, but I think it helps guys build confidence,” Alford continued. “Especially the younger guys can start feeling some confidence.”

The biggest benefits usually materialize for teams looking to replace key playmakers. Wesley Chapel falls into this category, as the squad graduated 19 seniors, including a Pasco County-leading 13 who signed to play in college.

One of the few Wildcats back with experience is sophomore quarterback Ty Tanner, who started the second half of 2011 under center.

“The biggest thing is just us getting used to each other,” Tanner said. “It’s good for everybody because we can get the timing down, and it’s just fun to play 7 on 7. … We need to get every rep we can, and take everything seriously. We need to get every play straight so that we don’t have to think about it in the fall.”

Tanner also played in the league last year and said that experience helped him transition easier to the fall season, but he did admit the lack of pads and helmets does take some of the fun out of it.

“The thing is, I can’t get mad and hit somebody like I can with pads on,” Tanner said with a smile. “I want to hit somebody, but it’s still fun.”

Wiregrass Ranch was hurt less by graduation, losing 14 seniors, but the Bulls are still figuring out who will start at quarterback.

Sophomore Shane Bucenell, who was Wiregrass Ranch’s junior varsity starting quarterback last season, took the majority of reps under center in Week 1, while senior Jake Day played mostly at wide receiver and cornerback.

A lot of passing goes on, which is how the league got its name, but second-year Land O’ Lakes coach Brian Watchel said it is just as beneficial for the defenders on the field.

“There’s a million different offenses people can run, and you have to be able to check and adjust,” Watchel said. “If you can’t check and adjust you’re in trouble, and this gives us a chance to see a bunch of different teams each week, one right after the other.”

It is that very reason some programs stay away from the league.

Zephyrhills participated two years ago, Reggie Roberts’ first summer as the squad’s coach. The Bulldogs opted out of 7 on 7 last season, but are back to prepare for the 2012 campaign.

“Last year we were installing a new offense, a primary run offense running the flexbone,” Roberts said. “We went to a flexbone camp and spent a lot of time teaching that and putting it in all summer. This year we can do multiple things, and I think 7 on 7 will help us getting our timing down and get our quarterbacks some experience.”

Jeremy Shobe has had his Bulls compete in the league since he took over the program in 2008. Along with reps and timing, he said 7 on 7 helps break up summer conditioning and weightlifting sessions while also identifying which kids are dedicated.

“Right now it’s about who’s committed and who’s putting in the time to develop,” Shobe said. “That shows who’s ready for when the real football starts in the fall, so the coaches are looking for who’s here and who is working and not just going through the motions.”

And whenever different teams are competing, the players still want to win, even if there are no pads, helmets or lineman on a Tuesday afternoon instead of under the lights on Friday nights.

“I still want to do really good out here each week,” said Sunlake senior quarterback Josh Zifer. “I’m coming out and treating it like a game.”

Teams will take next week off because of Independence Day. Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills will be six of the eight squads competing at Land O’ Lakes High on July 10 at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Tampa Bay United (TBU) U18 Girls Premier soccer club went 1-1-1 at the Region III tournament in Greenville, S.C., finishing the event ranked No. 4 in the southeast and No. 16 in the nation.

TBU, which won the state championship to reach regionals, had one of the toughest draws at the event, which included the Nos. 1, 6 and 7 teams in the southeast.

“Every game in that group was a one-goal game,” said Jim Cote, who coaches TBU with Adrian Bush. “It was just the group of death. We were tied for second in the group, but the team we tied was the team that we lost to, so they moved on.

“Seeing their faces; I just felt sick for them,” Cote continued. “They really should have gone through. They played well enough to go through, and I’m disappointed for them. It was hard to talk with them after the game because I know how bad they wanted it and how much work they put in to get there.”

Tampa Bay was leading deep in the second half of the third contest on June 17 thanks to a goal from midfielder Marta Wangard, but South Carolina CESA ‘93 Premier picked up two goals within 90 seconds to take the contest 2-1.

“We had the lead and had two chances at open goals,” Cote said. “Really tough because we were so close, and we’d beaten that team earlier in the year. … We were all in shock that we didn’t move on, but saying that, they played really well against really good teams.”

The first two games were nail biters for TBU.

Tampa Bay trailed 1-0 in the opening contest, which was on June 15, against the top-ranked Georgia NASA 12 Elite II. Forward Cici Gonzalez, a recent Steinbrenner High graduate and University of Tampa signee, headed home a pass from Meggie Dougherty with two minutes remaining to give TBU a 1-1 tie.

“It was a really close game; just back and forth the whole time,” Gonzalez said. “We were just pushing and pushing. Our coach told us at halftime to wait for the last 15 minutes and your fitness will pull you through. Then Meggie got the ball in the (right) corner and sent it across. I just went up for it, and when I saw it go in the back of the net, it was definitely a relief.”

Gonzalez’s late-game scoring came into play again in the second contest the following day.

With the score tied 1-1 against Georgia United FA ’94, Abbey Meckley’s cross found Gonzalez’s head inside the box, which was buried in the back of the net with six minutes left for the winning tally.

Gonzalez also scored the game’s first goal when she found space between two FA defenders and fired a shot past the goalkeeper from 18 yards out. She ended the tournament with three tallies in as many games.

“We were playing teams where most of the girls are going to Division I schools,” Gonzalez said. “To know that I could do well and score goals against those teams with goalies of that quality is a big confidence booster. I feel more confident now going into college after playing with girls like that.”

Cote said the he was most proud of how some of the area’s most talented girls soccer players came together as a team without thinking of their own stats or personal glory.

“They were a very talented group,” Cote said. “I thought we could win every game we played because of how skilled the players are. … They never worried about rankings or records. They just kept on working, and that’s what I’ll always remember about this group. They were really and truly one.”

The trip to regionals came only a year after TBU was formed when Hillsborough County United (HCU) and RSL Florida merged.

Tampa Bay’s roster consists of players from both former clubs. Gonzalez said there was uncertainty about what the team could do when the season started last summer, but that trepidation is long forgotten.

“It was really just the perfect ending to my youth career,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of these girls I’ve played against my whole life. To come together as a team the way we did after no one expected anything from us at the beginning was great. We played really well at regionals, and I think it proved that we are some of the best players in the region. It was a great experience. It taught me a lot. I think I became a lot better player, and it was great to play with such amazing teammates.”

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

John Benedetto was a fixture on the football field at Land O’ Lakes High for 32 seasons, and now the longtime coach’s name will likely live forever on the Gators’ stadium.

The Pasco County School Board placed a proposal to rename the arena John Benedetto Stadium on the consent agenda for its meeting June 19.

District spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli said generally such items are quickly approved, but the action taken was not available by press time.

“That would be something very special,” Benedetto said. “It’s not something I would have ever expected. I really don’t know what to say other than I’m very honored.”

Benedetto took over the program in 1977. His teams went 196-149 during his time at the helm, the most wins of any football coach in Pasco history. The Gators had 18 winning seasons, including a county-record 12 straight postseason berths from 1996 to 2008.

Benedetto was forced to retire after the 2008 season, his final year in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).

A group of community leaders have pushed for the renaming, including former Gators linebacker and current state Rep. Will Weatherford and his younger brother Drew, who played quarterback with Land O’ Lakes, Florida State University and the Tampa Bay Storm.

“It’s great that so many people took the time to go talk to the school board about this,” Benedetto said. “I had a lot of great players and great coaches. They’re really the reason we were able to do what we did.”

 

 

By Jeff Odom

Gaither football coach Jason Stokes kept things simple during his first year at the helm in 2011, and it paid off in big ways.

The team finished runner-up in Class 7A-District 7 and made a deep playoff run before falling to Lakeland in the regional finals with a traditional offense.

Now, with last season in the rearview mirror, Stokes shifted his offensive philosophy toward a multiple threat system that includes an option attack. He got his first look at the offense at a 7-on-7 competition hosted by Tampa Catholic June 16.

“We’re gonna use different offenses to get faster off the ball,” Stokes said. “We’re still getting adjusted and everything and feeling it out.”

Junior quarterback Alex McGough likes what he sees with the new offense despite recent obstacles. The Cowboys didn’t get to compete in their spring jamboree, which was canceled due to lightning. Also, Daryl Steward was dismissed as offensive coordinator near the end of spring practice.

“(The system) has been good for us,” McGough said. “It (hurt) a little when coach (Stewart) left, but (wide receivers coach Charles Lattimore) and coach Stokes have been great play callers and it’s all coming together.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound McGough showed off his arm strength early in the tournament against the Tampa Catholic freshman squad, completing three straight 40-yard passes for touchdowns en route to a convincing win for Gaither.

The competition was meant to let participation teams work on their systems, so no true champion was declared, but Stokes saw many victories for his squad during the event.

The progression the second-year Gaither coach has seen in his quarterback has him very happy headed into next season. He said it’s good to have a leader like McGough guiding his players on and off the field.

“He’s been maturing a lot this offseason, and he is seeing the field so much better,” Stokes said. “I’m so proud of the leadership he’s showing our players every day.”

Another piece of the Cowboys’ success has been the continuing development of running back Shug Oyegunle. The senior, who also played quarterback his first three season, took a majority of reps at half back and caught a touchdown pass from McGough over the middle.

Oyegunle said the spread playbook presents more opportunities to help his team move the ball downfield and stay in the flow of things.

“Coach just made all our plays just more simple, and that made everything more comfortable.” Oyegunle said. “We’ve gotten smarter and competitive in everything we do.”

Other players Stokes sees as possible game changers in the fall are Dimarcus Sexil, Jamari Cord and Blake High transfer Josh Bell.

Stokes said Bell has impressed him with his performance on the field and the respect he shows the coaching staff.

“Bell has been great; he’s fast too,” Stokes said. “The good thing is that he’s a very coachable player.”

Gaither plays Sickles Aug. 24 in the preseason kickoff classic. The regular season opener is at Alonso Aug. 31. Both contests start at 7:30 p.m.