Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

The Steinbrenner baseball team may have gotten off to a shaky start this season, but its players are intent on making sure it doesn’t end that way.

The Warriors (11-6) lost three of their first four games, but under the direction of third-year coach John Crumbley things brightened quickly.

Senior pitcher Chris Williams (4-0, 1.93 ERA) said the squad quickly realized it needed to play as a team.

“It was tough at first because we weren’t really used to losing; it’s not how we’re built,” said Williams, a St. Leo University signee. “We just came together and were just like ‘Hey, maybe we’re not as good as we think we are, and we need to start playing as a team instead of a bunch of individuals.’ I think we’ve done that.”

Crumbley said his focus at the start of the season was to get his players experience, which contributed to the early struggles.

“I just think we were playing people early and trying to give people opportunities to succeed, and it just took us a little while to get to the flow of what we’re going to stick with,” Crumbley said. “I think now we’re doing the little things better, and people have settled into their roles.”

Steinbrenner lost a few of its playmakers last year including three who signed to play in college. However, a new crop of players have filled the void such as first-year varsity pitcher Cole Gordon (5-1, 0.72 ERA) and senior left fielder Sammy May, who hadn’t made a start until this season.

“It’s been fun finally getting an opportunity to play,” said May, who is hitting .346. “Every day at practice I’ve been working on my swing and hitting off the tee. I’m just staying focused and not goofing around.”

The Warriors are currently seeded No. 1 in Class 7A-District 9, scoring district wins over Freedom (12-4), Wiregrass Ranch (13-4) and Gaither (10-7). Crumbley said his team has to play consistently to stay on top.

“We’ve set ourselves up pretty well,” Crumbley said. “As far as district seeding goes, the destiny is in our court. Getting the No. 1 seed is what we’re striving toward. We’ve never had that in our existence in three years, so basically we’re looking at trying to secure that.”

Williams added playing tough district games has made the squad stronger.

“We’re facing a little bit better pitching (in the new district),” Williams said. “So in the beginning it was a little struggle, but now since we’ve gotten used to it we’re doing our jobs and that’s why we’re continuing to keep winning.”

If Steinbrenner makes it out of the district tournament, it will be the first trip to the playoffs for the third-year program. Crumbley said that’s the collective goal.

“We want to get to those postseasons and try and see how far you can go,” Crumbley said. “And as a coach that’s how you’re measured, so we’re looking for hopefully an opportunity to do that this year.”

The Warriors played a makeup game against Brandon on April 2, but results were not available by press time.

Steinbrenner hosts Freedom on April 5 at 7 p.m. Gaither hosts the 7A-9 tournament, with the championship on Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

 

 

Pitching leads the way in early going

By Kyle LoJacono

The 2011 Land O’ Lakes baseball team went 20-9 and made the playoffs as a district runner-up, but was one and done.

The current group of Gators (12-4) is out to make back-to-back postseasons but this time plan on sticking around for a while.

“States,” said senior pitcher Ryan Wall about what is possible this season. “We want to win districts this year and go deep. We need to work to get better, but I think we have the talent to get there.”

Land O’ Lakes has to go against recent trends to make a deep run into May. The Gators last advanced past the regional quarterfinals in 2000 and have never made it to the final eight in the school’s 36-year history.

Land O’ Lakes was close to winning a playoff game last year when they took a 7-0 lead at Mitchell, but lost 11-10.

“It was a tough loss, but it was fun getting there,” said junior second baseman Dylan Harris. “Now we’ve been there and know what it’s like, and we have to take advantage of that experience.”

The Gators have started fast despite losing nine seniors, including four who signed college baseball scholarships.

“I am a little surprised we’ve done as well as we have so far,” said 28-year Land O’ Lakes coach Calvin Baisley. “The pitching was big question mark, but they’ve been better than advertised.”

Wall is one of the guys who has stepped up to replace five graduating pitchers who combined to throw 133 innings with 15 wins and seven saves a year ago.

“The senior pitchers did a good job setting the example last year,” Wall said. “I didn’t really play last year, I only threw one inning, so I watched and learned as much as I could to get ready for my senior season.”

Something must have rubbed off, as the righty Wall has a 4-2 record with a 2.26 ERA.

Land O’ Lakes returns last year’s No. 1 pitcher Brad Hencke. The 6-foot-1 lefty has posted a 3-1 record while fanning 38 batters. He has allowed two earned runs all year for an ERA of 0.40 with an opponent batting average of .122.

Also adding to the rotation is Jake Rawls, who is 1-0 with a 1.94 ERA. The pitching success has created a friendly competition to one-up each other.

“It’s great having other guys on the team who can throw strikes and get outs,” Hencke said. “They don’t give up very many runs. Coach Baisley preaches get the first pitch strike, get the first out and make the inning short. Our defense has really been helping us too.”

The hitting has been the weak spot. The Gators are batting .255 with a .354 on-base percentage while slugging a slim .321. Land O’ Lakes has only lost one game when scoring at least two runs.

“That tells me we have to score two runs more often,” Baisley said with a laugh. “Part of it is the pitching we’ve faced has been good and the hitters are younger than last year.”

Harris said the best solution is to think small.

“I’d like to see us play more small ball to get things going,” Harris said. “Last year we had a couple kids who could really stroke. We don’t have as much power this year, but we still have some really good pitchers, and it’s helping make up for that.”

Harris leads all regular starters with a .400 batting average with seven steals.

“I just look for one pitch and try to hit it hard when it comes,” Harris said. “I look for something I can get good contact on so it doesn’t get past me. … I’m just trying to find a way on so the guys behind me can drive me in.”

Harris has also taken on the vociferous leadership role.

“He’s a very smart player and is very vocal,” Baisley said. “The other players respect that.”

Land O’ Lakes is tied with Mitchell for second in Class 6A-District 10, but are the only district squad to defeat current frontrunner Tarpon Springs. That victory gives the Gators confidence they can be a factor come tournament time.

“We played Tarpon, who I think is the best team in the district, and we beat them 1-0 here and lost there 1-0,” Baisley said. “We just have to keep getting better, but we’ve played with them twice.”

Land O’ Lakes is playing in the RBI Spring Break Tournament this week. The Gators’  next scheduled game is at Wiregrass Ranch on April 11 at 7 p.m. The 6A-10 championship is at River Ridge on April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

–All states as recorded to Maxpreps.con by coaches.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Gaither baseball team has one of the most successful traditions in Hillsborough County.

The Cowboys (10-7) have averaged more than 19 wins the last six years and have made the playoffs every season since 2005, a campaign that included a trip to the Class 6A state finals.

“I like our team, and I told them at the beginning of the year ‘Why not us?,’” said Frank Permuy, the only coach the program’s 27-year history. “We’re just as good as anyone, and it’s not because we don’t work. We have guys who’re capable of playing in the state tournament. We’re as good as we were in 2005.”

Senior designated hitter (DH), outfielder and pitcher Matt Frey also sees something special.

“I think we could be in the final four,” Frey said. “We have a lot of potential. There’s so much talent on this team and we have 14 seniors who have basically grown up playing together.”

Part of that belief comes from Gaither losing only three seniors, but two were pitchers Robert Johnson and Zach Jackson who had a combined 12-3 record in 92.1 innings.

“That’s hard to replace,” Permuy said. “We got Alex Milne back, who had an off year last year and is doing alright. Evan Gainey came out of nowhere, and he’s become a pretty good pitcher.”

Gainey is 4-3 with a 1.46 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 48 innings.

“We have some depth,” said Gainey. “Starting wise we could be a little more consistent throwing strikes, but I think we have great potential.”

Milne, a University of Central Florida signee, is in his fourth year in the starting rotation. He is 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA. Frey (2-1) has helped the rotation after only playing DH a year ago while recovering from left shoulder surgery.

Frey has also been a force in the lineup, hitting .405 with 11 RBI after batting .317 with 11 RBI last year.

“I feel more comfortable in the box,” Frey said. “Sometimes I feel it in the arm, but when it’s good I feel really good.”

Frey’s increased batting average is part of an overall change for Gaither. The squad hit .294 in 2011, which has risen to .319 this year with a .414 on-base percentage. Seven Cowboys with at least 25 at bats are hitting better than .275.

“It really speaks volumes of our coaching staff preaching about the approach we need at the plate,” said senior outfielder Hayden Kelley, who is hitting .370. “That’s the biggest thing that has helped me this year. Just going up to the plate and knowing what you want to do. Is it to get a guy over or in and what do you have to do to accomplish that. Even if you are out be a productive out.”

Junior shortstop Oscar Mercado, a Florida State University commit, has led the way at the plate, hitting.417. He also has 19 RBI and eight steals while shining as the infield’s leader.

“We had a young infield coming in,” said Mercado, who is in his third year starting. “Our first baseman was starting for the first time on varsity. Our starting second baseman broke his jaw, so we had to go with a young backup, and our third baseman is starting for the first time. I felt like I had to show them how to do things.”

Gaither is in Class 7A-District 9, which includes Chamberlain, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wiregrass Ranch. Only the Chiefs are below .500, making the race for the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the district tournament hotly contested.

The Cowboys hosted Middleton on April 2, but results were not available by press time. Gaither hosts Wiregrass Ranch on April 10 at 7 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

By Kyle LoJacono

Academy at the Lakes softball is no stranger to the postseason.

The Wildcats (11-4) have made the playoffs every season since becoming fully eligible in 2008. The current squad has already stretched the streak to five straight, but this year the players are out to bring home the program’s first district championship.

“I thought we’d have a lot more experienced players this year,” said sophomore shortstop/pitcher Lauren Evans, a University of South Florida commit. “I knew it was going to be a good season, and I’m really happy to be playing softball again.”

The squad lost one senior, Kallie Shirling who signed to play at Thomas University.

The biggest change comes at the coaching spot, where Jerry English steps in for Jack Shirling, Kallie’s father.

English coached at Land O’ Lakes for 27 years, where he led the Gators to the state finals in 1995 and to three regional finals.

“The number of players is the biggest difference,” English said. “At Land O’ Lakes we had a varsity and junior varsity team. One year at tryouts I had 90 come out.”

Junior shortstop/pitcher Sydney Boynton said English has a more straightforward approach.

“I knew that coach English would go back to basics, which I thought was good because we had some players who could play but the fundamentals were off,” Sydney said. “Our coach last year was a really good coach, and he was actually my travel ball coach, and he was more used to coaching at a different level.”

English said he believes in focusing on fundamentals, especially given the diversity in the talent and experience of his players.

“This year what we have is a mixture of very good athletes who play travel ball to players who have never played before,” English said. “We had three girls learning how to pick up the ball and throw, but they’re young and working hard to get better.”

Those experienced players are also very young.

“I’ve got one senior, Amelia Oliver, and a few juniors,” English said. “Most are sophomores and freshmen, and I’ve got one eighth-grader. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how young the players are if they make mistakes. The great thing is they all want to play.”

The methods seem to be working as the Wildcats have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A-District 4 tournament, which includes a bye to the championship game. The squad twice defeated Hernando Christian, a team that reached the final four last year, to earn the top spot.

Evans has led the way offensively, posting a .644 batting average with 31 RBI, 10 steals, eight doubles and nine triples while striking out only three times. As a pitcher she has a 5-2 record with a 1.05 ERA and 54 strikeouts.

Sydney, who came to the academy as a sophomore from Wharton High, has a 6-2 record with a 2.00 ERA and 61 Ks while hitting .408 with 24 RBI. Her sister Skyler has a .412 batting average with 10 steals.

“I feel like we’re better, and I know our stats and record are better,” Evans said. “I feel like there’s more of a team feeling. I feel like we’ve bonded a little bit more, and it’s probably because we’re winning.”

The players are also excited because an old tormentor is no longer in the Wildcats’ district or region. Canterbury has beaten the academy all 14 times the squads have played, including four years in a row for the district title.

English points out it won’t be easy to make a deep playoff run just because Canterbury is somewhat out of the picture. He illustrated that by describing the Wildcats’ 5-3 loss to Bishop McLaughlin, a team they beat 20-5 earlier this season.

“We did things we shouldn’t and it cost us,” English said. “I told them after that we’re through sneaking up on people. We’ve played well, and now people want to beat us.”

The 2A-4 tournament is at Hernando Christian. The academy plays the winner of the semifinal between the event host and Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian for the championship on April 19 at 4:30 p.m.

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches

PPAL Land O’ Lakes Gators signup

The Pasco Police Athletic League (PPAL), a youth football and cheerleading program, is having open registration for the 2012 fall season. There are programs for football players ages 5 to 15 and cheerleaders ages 4 to 15. Those interested can sign up at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. or by visiting www.lolgators.com. The cost is $200, with $75 due at registration and the remaining by June when equipment is issued.

Gators March student-athletes

Land O’ Lakes High has announced its student-athletes of the month for March. Gators athletic director Karen Coss selects the winners, who include:

–Baseball, Dylan Harris

–Softball, Ariana Bailey

–Boys tennis, Achintya Patel

–Girls tennis, Kavya Avancha

–Boys track, Darin Patmon

–Girls track, Hallie Grimes

–Boys weightlifting, Carlos Osorno

Harvey picks Webber International

Academy at the Lakes running back Jarrett Harvey has committed to Weber International University, according to Wildcats coach John Castelamare.

When Harvey signs, which is expected to happen in the next few days, he will become the first boy athlete in school history to sign a letter of intent to play in college for any sport. Harvey racked up 1,558 rushing yards on 100 carries while scoring 42 touchdowns for the Wildcats’ six-man football team as a senior.

Webber is an independent NAIA program in Babson Park. The Warriors went 4-6 last season.

Pair of Gators head to Marietta

Land O’ Lakes wide receivers Ricky Bowles and Nico Watts have committed to Marietta College in Ohio, a Division III program in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Bowles said the two visited Marietta during spring break.

“We loved the campus and football program,” said Bowles, who thanked his father for helping in the recruitment process. “We felt it was a good fit for both of us.”

Watts had 12 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns last season while adding 78 yards on six carries and another score. He also played defensive back, where he picked off six passes. Boyles missed a few games due to injury as a senior, but managed five grabs for 56 yards.

By Eugenio Torrens

There were times it didn’t seem Leah Rios would be able to achieve her dream.

The Wiregrass Ranch cheerleader suffered back-to-back injuries in her fourth year of high school that could have ended her ability to compete.

Instead Rios persevered and became the first in the Bulls’ six-year history to sign a cheerleading scholarship on March 29. She will attend Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., an NAIA program in the Heart of America Conference.

Rios said the decision wasn’t too hard once she visited and saw the school’s academic standards as well as the smaller teacher-to-student ratio and of course the fact that the college offered her a scholarship.

“With college, because cheerleading is an evolving sport, it’s an amazing accomplishment, not only for her — but for cheerleading in general,” said Wiregrass Ranch coach Kara Babij. “She’s making her dream come true.”

At points along her dream Rios could have slipped into a nightmare.

Last August Rios fractured her C1 vertebrae, the uppermost bone along the spine that helps connect it with the skull, on a botched landing doing a standing back handspring tuck.

Rios suffered another injury eight weeks later, this time fracturing her hand.

“That was really, really hard for me. Cheering is my passion,” Rios said.

She bounced back in time to compete in the spring season.

“She’s just an amazing, amazing person,” Babij said. “She came back every single time.”

For Rios, not coming back was not an option.

“I was like ‘No, I’m going to cheer,’” Rios said. “’I want to cheer. This is what I want to do.’ I’m just going to put this aside and keep moving forward.”

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Jerry English spent 27 years coaching the Land O’ Lakes softball team.

The veteran skipper was back at his old field on March 26, but this time he was representing the away team on the scoreboard — Academy at the Lakes.

“It brings back a lot of memories,” English said. “I’ve spent a lot of good years in the dugout here.”

The current Gators (4-14) were more interested in the now, winning the contest 8-3.

The game started out promising for the Wildcats (11-4) as they pushed across three runs on four hits in the first inning.

Land O’ Lakes answered with four in the bottom of the frame. Senior catcher Meghan Sfraga, who has committed to Georgian Court University in New Jersey, drove in her team’s first two runs on her first of three doubles.

“The energy was really good,” said Sfraga, who finished 3-for-3 with four RBI. “We were down, but everyone was positive. Just going up to bat we had that feeling that things were going to work out.”

Sfraga also threw out Maria Aumaitre trying to steal second for the first out of the fourth.

“She does great behind the plate and is a really good hitter,” said first-year Gators coach John Clapp. “You always count on her getting on base.”

Clapp was also happy with how his squad battled back.

“They do hit well, but they’re still a young team, and they’re still learning,” Clapp said. “They’re aggressive with the bats and the defense is solid.”

Land O’ Lakes senior pitcher Alyssa Christian shut the academy out for the final six frames.

“After the first inning I started to settle in,” Christian said. “I was feeling really good after we took the lead.”

The Wildcats did load the bases with one out in the fourth. Christian got University of South Florida commit Lauren Evans to pop out, setting up a two-out matchup with the opposing pitcher Sydney Boynton.

Boynton hit a rocket that struck Christian in the leg, but she composed herself enough to get the out at first before worrying about any potential injury.

“I saw it come back and I thought it was going to hurt, but I didn’t feel it because I was thinking about getting the out,” Christian said.

Sfraga is hopeful the energy the squad played with will transfer to their remaining games.

“I’m very proud of how we played tonight,” Sfraga said. “We haven’t had that extra burst to push us to wins. Tonight we had that.”

The Gators host Fivay April 10 at 7 p.m., while the academy hosts Calvary Christian April 5 at 4 p.m.