Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Andy Warrener

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Wharton baseball team knew the first playoff berth in the program’s 14-year history wouldn’t come easy, but it battled to a 2-0 extra-innings victory in the district semifinals.

The Wildcats (19-8) had to get by defending state champion Alonso with right-hander Nathan Hahn, who finished the regular season with a 1.76 ERA, on the mound in the Class 8A-District 7 semis April 24 at Durant.

The Ravens (16-8) were riding a seven-game win streak. Seven innings went by before either team scored.

Not that there weren’t chances.

Alonso’s Jordan Ding got the first hit in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Valdes followed with a single, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat.

In the sixth inning, Wildcats pitcher Collin Woody got the strikeout he needed with bases loaded and two down.

Both teams left 10 on base. The Wildcats stranded runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth. The pressure started to get to nine-year Wharton coach Scott Hoffman.

“It was definitely frustrating,” Hoffman said. “You live and die by those types of things. With a guy like Hahn you know you’re not going to get many chances.”

The Wildcats got another chance in the top of the eighth. Danny Molino, who had two hits out of the nine spot, singled to start the inning. Two batters later, Alex Kranick singled to set the table for Woody.

The senior promptly smashed a ball over a retreating Ravens center fielder, which rolled to the fence. Molino scored from second base, as did Kranick from first.

“I was just thinking, just let me get Kranick around third and not trip,” Hoffman said.

Woody finished the bottom of the eighth to send the squad to regionals. He struck out 12, walked three and scattered five hits.

“We felt confident having Woody on the mound today,” Hoffman said. “We wanted the ball in his hand.”

It was a bit of revenge for Wharton getting by Alonso this year after the Ravens knocked the Wildcats out of playoff contention last season.

Wharton hoisted the district title by defeating Durant 1-0 in 12 innings April 26. The Wildcats were held to four hits, but Zack Zaversnik got the critical one to drive in Woody for the game’s only run.

Shaun Rubin pitched the first seven innings, giving up five hits with four strikeouts. Tuck Neuhaus threw five innings of one-hit ball for the win.

By Eugenio Torrens

Land O’ Lakes and Tarpon Springs had met twice this season. The teams split the series, each one nabbing a 1-0 victory.

Through one and a half innings of their Class 6A-District 10 championship, tied at 1 apiece, it looked like more of the same low-scoring baseball played during the regular season.

Then the bottom of the second happened.

“We made one error that cost us a couple of runs, but the bottom line is they outplayed us,” said Gators coach Calvin Baisley.

The Spongers (23-4) tallied five runs on Land O’ Lakes (18-9) in the second to open up a game they won 7-1 at River Ridge April 26.

“They pitched better, they hit better, they fielded the ball better than we did,” Baisley said.

Trouble was brewing when Tarpon Springs’ Kyle Johnson reached first to load the bases with no outs. A Zachary Whitaker fielding error allowed the first  run.

Another error translated into another tally for the Spongers. A sacrifice fly led to the first out, but also Tarpon Springs’ fourth run.

The next ball put in play was blasted. Gators left fielder Connor Stephens backed up toward the fence and initially made the catch, but crashed into the fence and dropped to the ground along with the ball.

Two more runs dashed across safely at home while Stephens lay on the ground, and the Gators were facing a 6-1 deficit.

Land O’ Lakes starting pitcher Ryan Wall was pulled after that and the Gators avoided further damage in the frame.

Despite allowing only one more run to the Spongers, Land O’ Lakes was unable to put runs on the board.

“I think they’ve got a pretty good pitching staff,” said Baisley, reflecting on the fact that his team has scored two total runs in three games against Tarpon Springs.

Gators junior second baseman and leadoff hitter Dylan Harris added, “I feel like we could have come out with more intensity tonight.”

Harris admitted they might have come out lackluster because win or lose, the team was still advancing to the playoffs.

“I guess we knew we were going to succeed, or going to the next game, and we just didn’t play the best that we could,” Harris said.

Harris was at a loss for words when trying to answer why the Gators bats seemed dead.

“I don’t know,” Harris said. “We usually hit the ball a lot better.”

Baisley echoed the sentiment.

“Two hits and one run is not going to win a lot of games,” Baisley said.

‘Canes fall in district finals

The Bishop McLaughlin baseball team lost the Class 3A-District 8 championship 3-2 to Tampa Prep April 27.

The host Hurricanes (18-9) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Tanner Koch single, but the Terrapins (16-9) tied the score in the third and took the lead with a home run by Tyler Jarrell in the ninth.

By Kyle LoJacono

A week after winning its second district title in as many years, the Steinbrenner girls track and field program finished as regional runner-up for the first time at Leto April 25.

The Warriors were fourth last year at regionals while competing in Class 2A. The squad moved up to 3A and rose to the challenge by scoring 41 points.

“You have 30-something teams, so you have to come out and compete strong to finish second,” said Steinbrenner coach Ladd Baldwin. “When you come to a big meet like this you want to know you’ve prepared them the right way.”

The Warriors set the tone in the day’s first race. The 4×800-meter relay team was in sixth place on the final lap, but Lauren Garris made up ground to finish fourth (9 minutes 55.65 seconds), the last advancing spot.

“They made a big move to qualify for states, and I think that showed everyone OK we can do this,” Baldwin said. “They were seeded seventh and ran 13 seconds faster than the school record.”

Jessica Brewer placed fourth in the long jump with a new personal record (PR) 16 feet 11.5 inches.

“When I was taking my last jump I knew I was fourth or fifth, so I told myself jump a little bit farther,” Brewer said. “Pull your heels up more and do it.”

Alexis Wright qualified in her three events, placing second in the 100 hurdles (14.65) and triple (37-3.75) and claiming the 300 hurdles crown (45.48), her last event of the day.

“I wasn’t satisfied with how I did this morning,” said Wright, who won regionals in her three events last year. “I’m definitely capable of more.”

Baldwin said Wright’s ability to rebound in her final event shows her toughness.

“She feels like people expect her to do well, and she has that internal pressure,” Baldwin said. “She’s going in her best events, and we have another week to get her ready.”

Wright’s championship came from Lane 2 after finishing seventh in prelims.

“The lane you’re in is just a number,” Wright said. “Everyone is running the same distance. I laid my heart on the line and went for it.”

Wright won the 100 hurdles state title last year and said the regional performance is fuel.

“There’s always someone out there better than you,” Wright said. “It’s either go get them, or you’re going to settle. I’m not one to settle. My flame is burning, and I’m ready to go out there and get anyone.”

The Steinbrenner distance boys also showed off. The 4×800 won by finishing in 8:05.8. Three members of that relay qualified individually, Matt Magee in the 800 (second place, 1:57.4) and Tyler and Zach Lima by finishing second (9:39.95) and third (9:40.03), respectively, in the 3,200.

“It’s our first states, and it’s actually our first time in regions,” Tyler said. “Zach pushed the pace. Without him I would have slowed down some.”

Zach, who PRed by 23 seconds, said he wanted to keep up with his twin.

“That’s how I run in practice,” Zach said. “We both changed our training this year. It was all about pace work and strength. We basically had no light workout days since cross country.”

The 3A state meet is May 4 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

Cowboys sweep hurdles

Gaither hurdlers Samson Moore and Paul Barrett won the boys 110- and 300-meter hurdles at the Class 3A regional meet April 25 at Leto.

Moore, a freshman, set a new school record by finishing in 14.36 seconds.

“I didn’t suspect to get to states, but I thought if I kept up my goals I’d make it,” Moore said. “I had a bad start. I was probably last out of the blocks. I have to get better at that.”

Barrett, a senior, completed the sweep by posting a personal record 37.85 to make consecutive state appearances. Barrett said he will share with Moore what states is like so they both have a chance to medal.

“I didn’t know what to expect last year,” Barrett said. “I came out and those guys were fast. I didn’t even make the finals. This year I want to make the finals. That’s the first hurdle.”

The Gaither girls advanced Kiana Bryant, who took third in the 100 (12.29).

The 3A state meet is May 4 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

Akachukwu’s eventful day

Freedom junior Sandra Akachukwu left the Class 4A regional track meet at Leto April 25 with more individual championships than anyone.

The King transfer claimed the long jump (17 feet 7 inches), her first event of the day, along with titles in the 100-meter (12.41 seconds) and 200 (25.33). She was also second in the high jump (5-4)

“It feels really good,” Akachukwu said with a smile. “It tells me that I really belong.”

Akachukwu was doing but smiling the week before at districts when she won the 100, but was runner-up in the other events.

Patriots assistant Ryan McGee, who coaches Freedom’s sprint and jump athletes, said Akachukwu was disappointed by clearing 5 in the high jump at districts, which affected the rest of her day.

“It all started when she won the long jump today,” McGee said. “We knew what to expect the rest of the meet.”

Akachukwu said winning the long jump gave her the confidence needed to claim the trifecta. McGee added making it to states in her events is extremely difficult.

“That’s a hard four events she does,” McGee said. “You’ve got a lot of running in the 100 and 200 plus jumping as hard as you can. That separates her. I can’t stress how proud I am of her.”

Freedom’s boys send the 4×100 (fourth place, 43.24) and 4×400 (third place, 3:30.14) relay teams after none of their athletes qualified last season.

“Our coaches have been pushing us every practice,” said Anthony Hendry, who runs the anchor of the 4×400. “There’s no messing around, so when we get to the meet it’s game time.”

The 4A state meet is May 5 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

Barhonovich medals at states

Bishop McLaughlin’s Evan Barhonovich placed seventh at the Class 1A state meet April 27. The senior threw the discus 136 feet 6 inches. No other area athlete finished in the top eight of their event to earn a medal.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Class 3A state track and field meet will see a pair of second-time competitors from Central Pasco County.

Land O’ Lakes’ Hallie Grimes finished third in the girls 400-meter with a time of 58 seconds, while Sunlake’s Travis Manecke qualified by placing third in the boys shot put (46 feet 10 inches) and fourth in the discus (141-11).

Manecke, who attended Wiregrass Ranch last year, is the only Seahawk to reach state, but the junior wasn’t happy with his performance.

“I wish I could have thrown better,” Manecke said. “I usually throw better with good competition like there is here, but just not today. … My elbow has been hurting, which is probably my technique. I’ll work on that before states.”

Last year Manecke finished 12th in the discus (130-4) at states, but didn’t qualify in the shot.

Grimes returns to states with the hopes of finishing better than fifth-place performance she had in 2011. She said she thought 58 would put her in the top four, which earns a spot in the last meet of the season.

“I just wanted to get in the top four,” Grimes said. “I didn’t care what place. I set such high expectations getting to states last year as a freshman.”

Grimes said she will go into states with more confidence now that she has experience at the ultimate meet. She is also running the 400 differently than a year ago.

“Last year, I’d never run the 400 before, and I’d kind of guided it out until there’s 200 left and went for it and got tired out,” Grimes said. “This year I’m sprinting out and keeping stride and going for it in the last 100.”

Grimes earned all six of the Gators’ team points on the day. The Land O’ Lakes boys earned 21 to tie for 10th place, while Sunlake took 19 to tie for 12th.

Three Gators boys will join Grimes at states by finishing fourth in their events. Travis Nichols finished the 3,200 in 9:46.36, pole vaulter Ian McKenzie cleared 13-6 and Chris Wilkinson posted a 1:59.47 in the 800.

The 3A state meet is May 4 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Wiregrass Ranch’s Ermias Bireda finished the third of four laps in the 1,600-meter at the Class 3A regional track and field meet at Leto April 25 in fifth place.

Then he turned on the jets.

Bireda didn’t just qualify for states, nor did he only win the regional championship. The junior did both by finishing with a personal record (PR) 4 minutes 26.43 seconds.

“I’m so happy,” Bireda said. “This is my first region title in anything.”

Last year Bireda was recovering after injuring his left knee, which he hurt by smashing it into a metal bolt. The damage needed stitches, which kept him out of the postseason.

Bireda has a large scar to remind him of the injury but no lingering effects. He can go all out whenever needed.

“They were with me, but I told myself I can do it,” Bireda said. “I gave it everything I had.”

Bireda is the only Bulls boy who finished in the top four of an event to earn a spot at the 3A state meet May 4 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

The Bulls girls send pole vaulter Alisha Henry and distance runner Nikita Shah. Shah took second in the 3,200 (11:22.37) and third in the 1,600 (5:19.54).

“I just wanted to qualify,” Shah said. “Just one week until states, so didn’t want to do anything too crazy. … I feel pretty even. I don’t feel great, but I don’t feel bad either. I’m hoping to get a medal.”

Shah finished ninth at states last year in the 3,200, one spot from claiming a medal. She also wants to lower her PR in the event, which is 10:42.

Henry placed second in the pole vault after clearing 11 feet, just six inches off the championship performance. It is the junior’s first trip to states.

“I feel like I could have done better,” Henry said. She added, “When I think about it I’ve only been doing this for about a year and a half, and I’m already clearing 11 feet. That makes me happy.”

Henry said the problem was her vaulting.

“I can do it in practice, but sometimes when you get a bar up there you just think about getting over it,” Henry said. “You forget about everything it takes to clear 11-6. That’s why I got upset today. I know I can do 11-6 and have the potential to get even higher.”

Wharton girls dominate hurdles

Wharton junior hurdlers Taylor Watson and Mikayla Barber were the top 300-meter hurdlers at districts and showed the same skill at the Class 4A regional meet.

Barber won districts with Watson placing second. The top two were the same, but the order was reversed April 25 at Leto.

Watson finished in a personal record (PR) 44.25 seconds, while Barber also PRed (44.29).

“We can push each other in practice,” said Watson, who took fourth in the triple jump (34 feet 11.5 inches). “Every time before a race we pump each other up. It makes us each run better. I knew it would be the two of us at the end.”

The duo can now show the state what they can do.

“I’d rather it be my teammate than anyone else,” said Barber, who took second in the 100 hurdles (15.49).

Both hurdlers are on the 4×400 relay team that won regional gold (4:01.11).

The Wildcats girls will also be represented by 800-runner Erin Kocher (second place, 2:22.49), pole-vaulter Ashley Cahill (fourth place, 9-6), 1,600-runner Mariah Henderson (fourth place, 5:21.61) and 4×800 relay team, which finished as regional runner-up (9:30.99).

“It’s been a lot hard work to get to where we want to be,” said junior Taylor Griffith, who runs the 4×800 anchor. “It’s a good bond we have. Going together is less scary than going alone.”

Wharton placed third with 69 points, 25 behind champion Plant.

The Wildcats boys send Britton Lewis in the 300 hurdles (fourth place, 41.89) and the 4×800 relay team (second place, 8:10.81).

The 4A state meet is May 5 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

Standing in front of the Academy at the Lakes softball team and a spot in the Class 2A regional finals was a familiar opponent — district rival Hernando Christian.

The Wildcats (14-4) defeated the Lions (16-7) the previous three meetings this season, but only by a combined five runs. The academy completed the sweep with a 3-0 win April 27 to reach the doorstep of the final four for the first time.

“Our school doesn’t have a history with winning in a lot of sports,” said catcher Rebecca Hannah. “We wanted to come out here and prove ourselves.”

On the mound for the academy was Sydney Boynton (8-2, 1.78 ERA). The junior faced the Lions in the first three meetings. She used her overwhelming changeup to freeze Hernando Christian in the district finals but opted for more curveballs, dropballs and screwballs in the playoffs.

“I faced them four times, and they kept saying watch the changeup,” Sydney said. “They were waiting for it, so I tried to sneak something past them, not my changeup. I threw it when it was appropriate.”

The strategy worked. Sydney threw a complete game two-hitter with three walks and nine strikeouts, three on her change.

“They have some great hitters, so it’s tough every time,” Sydney said. “It was tough for us too hitting wise until the fifth.”

Sydney’s sister, Skyler, led off the fifth with a single. The Wildcats loaded the bases after an intentional walk to Lauren Evans and Sydney reaching on an error.

Hannah stepped to the plate and hit the first pitch to drive in the winning run.

“I was thinking I’ve got to hit this girl early,” Hannah said. “She’s a good pitcher. We’ve struggled with her.”

Sydney scored in the inning when an illegal pitch was called, and Hannah was driven in on a single by Brenna Walton to go up 3-0. The academy needed six more outs, but first-year Wildcats coach Jerry English gave them something else to focus on.

“I told them we were losing by one run,” English said. “We can’t play any different losing by one run or ahead by three. We can’t go back on our heels or we’ll fall down.”

The academy hosts Quincy Monroe at Live Oak Little League Park May 1 at 4 p.m.

Bishop McLaughlin falls 5-4

The Bishop McLaughlin softball team dropped its Class 3A regional quarterfinals contest to Lakeland Christian 5-4 on April 24.

The Hurricanes (13-15) scored two in the first inning, but gave up three in the second to the Vikings (12-13). The ‘Canes tied the score in the third, but fell behind for good when Lakeland tallied two in the fourth.

 

 

 

By Eugenio Torrens

Yvanessa Vincent didn’t spend her Senior Skip Day at the beach, lounging in bed or out shopping.

She spent the day phoning coaches as she toiled with the decision of where to play college basketball.

“I just kept comparing every school to Maine,” said the Academy at the Lakes center, who will attend the University of Maine at Machias.

Vincent joined Jarrett Harvey April 17 when they made their college plans official. Vincent is the first Wildcats basketball player, boy or girl, to sign, while Harvey, a running back for the football team, is the first male from the school to do the same.

Harvey will attend Webber International University, an NAIA program in Babson Park.

“It was real stressful, long hours of the night talking to different coaches, visiting different places, going to different states to visit the campuses,” said Harvey, who plans to study sports management.

Harvey thanked Wildcats coach John Castelamare for the role he played in the signing.

“He always knew what I could do, so he was always on top of me making sure I was doing what I was supposed to be doing when I was supposed to be doing it,” Harvey said.

Vincent initially chose Machias through a former teammate and AAU coach’s recommendation, but she decided to wait and weigh her options.

She compared every candidate thereafter to Maine, but no school could dethrone the Clippers from the top of Vincent’s list.

 

 

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Steinbrenner football player Danny Fernandez will continue competing at Florida Institute of Technology.

The three-year starter at cornerback announced his plans April 23 to sign with the Division II program in the Sunshine State Conference.

“What really interested me about the school was their engineering program,” Fernandez said. “That’s what I want to do. Once I saw the football program it just topped everything off.”

The Panthers will play their first season in 2013. The ability to help create a new program appealed to Fernandez as it was similar to what he experienced when Steinbrenner opened three years ago.

“I really liked the building,” Fernandez said. “There’s no backlog of players in front of me at my position, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and helping get things started right away like I did at Steinbrenner.”

Warriors coach Floyd Graham said Fernandez has been a big part of the defense since coming from Sickles after his freshman year.

“He was a team captain the last few years,” Graham said. “He’s just a tireless worker, and that’s what Florida Tech is getting.”