Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

The Pasco softball team entered the Class 4A-District 7 tournament as the No. 1 seed, but on a two-game losing streak. However, the Pirates had been playing without a key player — Jordan Lane.

Lane, who plays third base and bats cleanup for Pasco, injured her ankle sliding back into first base a few weeks ago against Land O’ Lakes. She played in her first game in two weeks in the championship game, where she smacked a base-clearing double in second inning to help Pasco defeat Mitchell 8-0 for the title.

“We needed her and she got that big hit for us,” said second-year Pasco coach Lisa Herndon. “Vanessa Mills filled in batting fourth for us while Jordan was out and she did a good job, but Jordan is a little more of a power threat. She came through with a big double. To get three RBI when she’s not 100 percent says a lot about her.”

Lane is second on the team with four home runs, behind only senior pitcher Courtney Brandt’s five round trippers. Brandt went 3-for-3 at the plate in the finals, but was even bigger on the mound.

Brandt (13-4) struck out 15 Mitchell batters and allowed only two hits in the complete game win.

“What was also big is she had no walks,” Herndon said. “She kept them off the bases all night and they can’t score if they aren’t getting on base. She really shut them down and didn’t let their good lineup come back.”

The Pirates defeated Wesley Chapel 18-3 in the district quarterfinals, and then defeated Ridgewood 5-0 in the semis.

Mitchell (18-7) beat Pasco (24-6) for the district championship last year. The win this season allows the Pirates to host their 4A regional tournament quarterfinals contest against Lecanto on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

About a year ago, Land O’ Lakes girls soccer player Jayme Forcier saw her older sister Nicolle sign to play at Mississippi Valley State University.

The younger Forcier must have liked what she saw as she signed her own letter of intent with the Delta Devils April 19.

“I first started playing because of my sister,” Forcier said. “I just kind of followed in her footsteps. Me and my sister work very well together on the field and we’re best friends. She knows where I’m going to go and I know if I get her the ball, she’s going to do something good with it.”

Forcier started playing soccer at age 4, and it is the only sport she has ever played. She is most comfortable playing defense or as a central midfielder, like her sister, but played more outside midfielder as a senior.

“She’s been a great player for us,” said Gators coach Vicky King. “We were lucky to have both her and her sister.”

The newly signed Forcier was born in Connecticut and moved to Florida in her eighth grade year. During her time at Land O’ Lakes, the Gators reached three regional tournaments. She scored seven goals and added two assists her senior season to help the Gators go 12-6-3 and reach the district semifinals.

“It’s been the best experience,” Forcier said. “Coach King has really helped me get better. Playing here in Florida, it’s more physical and competitive and she taught me how to use my strength to my advantage. It’s the reason I was able to get my scholarship.”

Mississippi Valley is a Division I program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Delta Devils went 7-13 last year, but reached the conference championship game before losing to Jackson State University.

Forcier plans to study physical therapy and physical education so she can stay active in athletics.

“When I was younger I didn’t see myself playing in college,” Forcier said. “As I got older and saw that I could play with the better players it seemed more realistic. It’s really a relief to get the chance to keep playing.”

–All high school stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Wiregrass Ranch boys and girls track and field teams dominated almost every meet they entered this year, including the Class 3A-District 7 event April 21.

The Bulls were the meet’s host and both squads claimed team district championships. For the girls it was their third straight district crown and the first for the boys.

“It says a lot about these young ladies,” said second-year Bulls girls coach Don Howard. “We have a core of seniors who have been here for all those district titles and we’ve got some great underclassmen to contribute to the team as well. That combination goes a long way.”

The Wiregrass Ranch girls scored 176.5 points, 83.5 more than second place Mitchell, and had three event titles. The boys posted 137 points to second place Ridgewood’s 106.5 and can boast eight event championships.

Boys coach Phil Kerr is in his first year as coach and will not accept any praise for the program’s first title.

“I believe in the program I’ve put in place, but all the credit goes to the kids for putting in the work,” Kerr said. “I just can’t say enough about them and I hope they see what hard work can do. It paid off in their case.

“To a person they didn’t care if they win the event because they wanted to win for the team,” Kerr continued. “We had that motto all year. That was our goal on the first day to win the first title for the program. Nothing else was good enough.”

One of the highlights for the boys came in the 1,600 meter. The Bulls swept the top four spots, qualifying them all to the regional meet. Senior Josh Reilly took the crown in 4:34.30, followed by Logan Selzer, Ryan Pulsifer and Tyler Mattera.

“It couldn’t have ended any better,” Reilly said. “It’s the best feeling in the world to have three of my best friends going with me to regionals in the same event.”

Sophomore Travis Manecke also shined, recording a personal best in winning the shot put with a toss of 50-7. He also won the discus district crown with a 143-02.

“I really wanted to break 50 feet in the shot, but I wasn’t expecting to get it,” said Manecke, who is in his first year on the team. “I was constantly at 44 feet and then I come out and throw 50 twice in districts. It’s special.”

Junior Jamel Nunez took home the 200 meter boys championship in 22.98 seconds, edging Gulf’s R.J. O’Conner by 0.25 seconds. He will be competing in regionals for the first time, but mentioned there was no shock of the competition level in districts.

“I was talking to a couple of my teammates and it’s really like another day at practice,” Nunez said. “We run like this every day and push ourselves to this level.”

For the girls, sophomore Nikita Shah won the 3,200 meter in 12:12.36 showing she is finally close to 100 percent.

“Last year I got second place at regionals, but I’ve been anemic all season this year,” Shah said. “I found that out about five weeks ago. It’s been tough to train through that and it feels like my training is behind what I should be at this time of year. I’m behind, but I’m hoping to get at least fourth in regionals to get to states.”

Shah has been taking iron supplements the last five weeks and is over the setback now.

“I haven’t broken 12 minutes yet this year in the 3,200 (meter) and last year I was consistently under 12,” Shah said. “Hopefully I can turn that around in regionals.”

Shah’s teammate Ariel Grey took second in the 3,200 meter and also runner-up in the 1,600. Consistent scoring in the distance, sprint and field events made the Bulls the runaway girls champion.

“I feel really happy for our whole team,” Shah said. “We have a solid team and that’s what Wiregrass track is all about. Not just in a few events, but all around.”

Both Howard and Kerr received ice water showers out of a cooler from their teams after the meet.

“It’s never felt better,” Kerr said. “I wasn’t expecting that and it’s an amazing feeling.”

All athletes who finish in the top four of any event qualified for the regional meet at Harmony on Thursday, April 28 at 1 p.m.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Chase Oliver and Matthew Severson did something never before accomplished by any teammates in the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association Majors baseball division.

The two 11 year olds combined to hit four home runs, more than any other teammates in the division’s five-year history. Chase hit three round trippers and Matthew added a grand slam in a 15-0 victory against the Rangers. Chase, a third baseman, went 3-3 at the plate with eight RBI, while Matthew, a pitcher and catcher, also went 3-3 with seven RBI and two doubles along with the homer.

“I can’t even explain what it was like,” said Chase, who attends Sand Pine Elementary. “The first one I didn’t think it was going out. I thought it would hit the fence, and I didn’t know it was a homer until my coach told me to keep running. The last two I knew were gone.”

After the game, Chase had four home runs on the year with a .470 batting average. For Matthew it was his first homer.

“I felt like it happened in just a second and then I was around the bases,” said Matthew, who attends Quail Hollow Elementary. “I was getting jealous of Chase hitting all the home runs, so I wanted to hit one myself.”

Matthew hit doubles with the bases loaded in his first two at bats, with Chase hitting three-run shots right after each. Matthew’s grand slam came in his third at bat and Chase following with a solo homer.

Matthew’s father, Jeff, coaches the team.

“It’s been a joy to watch them both become better players,” Jeff said. “They’ve played together with the WCAA Cowboys football team for a couple years, but they’ve never been on the same baseball team.”

Jeff said before this season, Chase never batted much higher than the .250s.

“I knew he had a lot of talent because he’s so athletic on the football field and he’s just blossomed this season,” Jeff said.

Matthew was the starting pitcher in the record setting game, going three innings without giving up a hit. The game ended after the fourth inning after the Athletics built a 15-run lead, so the game was also a no-hitter from the squad.

Jeff said the team struggled to start the season, dropping its first three games. The squad has rebounded to win its next four by a combined score of 56-3 thanks in part to the production of Chase and Matthew.

“We make a good team,” Matthew said. “The whole team is good.”

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Steinbrenner freshman and No. 1 girls tennis player Grace Korta reached the Class 2A state singles tournament, knocking off Zephyrhills ace Sarah Vande Berg along the way.

“She really played well and the moment wasn’t too big for her,” said first-year Steinbrenner coach Domenic Colangelo. “She’s been our leader all year and we’re all very excited about what she did.”
Korta was given a bye through the first round and defeated Vande Berg 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 in the second round. She lost her next match to the top-seeded Lindsay Graff from Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 6-1, 6-0.

“I was very happy to get as far as I did,” Korta said. “Sarah is a really good player and I was surprised to win.”

Vande Berg, a junior, had lost only one singles match all year entering the event. She was suffering from an injury to the inside of her right elbow, her dominate arm, since just before the district tournament began.

“I know she wanted to go further than she did, but it’s still a great accomplishment to make it to states,” said Zephyrhills coach Lorraine Hinkle. “The elbow wasn’t hurting her as bad as it was during districts and she’s planning on going to another tournament this weekend, so she’s feeling a lot better.”

Vande Berg reached the state tournament in 2010, but did not win a match individually. She took down Alex Barrett from Naples Lely 6-1, 6-1 in her opening match.

“My goal was to go further than I did last year and I did that,” Vande Berg said. “I wanted to go further than the second round but it’s still an honor to get to states.”

Korta teamed with senior Kaleigh Wagner in the doubles tournament and were matched against the Zephyrhills team of Vande Berg and Sydney Owens, a freshman. The Hillsborough County duo got the better of the Pasco team, winning 6-0, 6-0. The tandem was knocked out in the quarterfinals to the top-seeded team from Pine Crest 6-1, 6-1.

“It’s really amazing to have it happen in my first year,” Korta said. “It makes me just want to go out and work even harder in the summer. Kaleigh is graduating and it’ll be hard to fill her spot, but I think we’ve got something special going on with our team.”

Roller just misses title shot

Land O’ Lakes No. 1 boys tennis player Colin Roller, a junior, made it to the Class 2A state singles tournament semifinals, but came out on the wrong side of a three set match.

Roller, who lost only one singles match all year entering the event, received a bye in the first round and defeated Orlando Bishop Moore’s Mathew Plumley 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. He then took the first set from Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest’s Roy Lederman, but lost the contest 3-6, 6-0, 6-2.

“It was a really good experience,” Roller said. “Last year we made states as a team, so I didn’t know what to expect. There were some really good players and I’m glad I got to play them.”

Roller paired with Harrison Luong for the state doubles competition and received a bye in the first round. The central Pasco team was defeated in the next round by the team from Orlando Bishop Moore 6-2, 6-1.

Fitz-Randolphs’ trip to states

The Fitz-Randolph tennis family connection has taken Carrollwood Day to heights never before seen for the private school.

Eric Randolph, a sophomore, is the first Patriots boys tennis player to reach the state tournament, and his younger sisters Jacque, an eighth grader, and Lauren, a sixth grader, also made program history by making the Class 1A state doubles tournament.

The sisters made it all the way to the championship match, falling to the No. 1 seeded Gainesville PK Young team of Kiah Turner and Jazz Whittaker  6-3, 6-0. The two were given a bye in the first round and knocked off the team from Shorecrest Prep 6-1, 6-2 in the second round. They then took out Jacksonville Episcopal 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in the semifinals.

Eric got through his opening round match in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 against St. Augustine St. Joseph’s Ander Henning. He was unable to make it two straight, losing 6-3, 6-1 to Bradenton Christian’s Dominic Cotrone.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

Wiregrass Ranch athletic programs are seeing its athletes hard work paying off with opportunities to play in college in the school’s fifth year.

Three more Wiregrass Ranch student-athletes signed to play at the next level on April 21, giving the Bulls 12 kids who have done so this school year. Girls basketball player Jeileen Mas signed with East Wyoming College, girls tennis player Hannah Still picked Huntingdon College and football player James Tringali is headed to St. Norbert College.

Both sides of cross-town rivalry

Mas, a shooting guard, became the first Bulls girls basketball player to sign with a school. She played her senior season at Wiregrass Ranch, but spent her freshman and sophomore years at Wesley Chapel, reaching the Class 5A regional finals in 2009.

She had to sit out her junior season after coming to Wiregrass Ranch because of Florida High School Athletic Association transfer rules.

“I don’t regret transferring at all,” Mas said. “I love it here at Wiregrass Ranch.”

Mas started playing at age 10 and fulfilled a long-term goal by signing with East Wyoming.

“It’s a dream come true,” Mas said. “Ever since I started, all I wanted to do was get a chance to play in college. I’ve done a lot of hard work to get a chance to play at the next level. Now that I have, it’s amazing.

“The coach there showed a lot of interest,” Mas continued. “I had interest from other schools, but their coach really let me know I was wanted there.”

Mas put up 13.5 points per game as a senior while adding 41 3-pointers, 46 assists, 41 steals and 73 rebounds. She also played volleyball as an outside hitter, recording 229 digs, 68 kills and 43 aces this year.

Mas also excels in the classroom, where she has a 3.9 weighted grade point average. She will focus on math classes while at the Division I junior college so she can be an electrical engineer.

Topping team and class rankings

Still is accustomed to seeing her name at the top of lists. She was the Bulls No.1 girls tennis player this season, and her 4.0 weighted grade point average puts her near the top of her class rankings as well.

Still started playing tennis at age 7 and ever since, she wanted to play in college. She gets that chance at Division III Huntingdon, located in Alabama, as the second Wiregrass Ranch girls tennis player to play at the next level.

“Out of all the schools I ended up looking at, my biggest dilemma was to stay in state or not,” Still said. “I went to the campus in Alabama and fell in love with it. It’s beautiful, I love the coach, and I love all the girls on the team.”

Still said the Huntingdon coaches told her she will have the chance to play as a freshman. She plans to study athletic training.

Still lost only twice during regular season singles matches while in high school, including a 10-1 record as a senior. The Bulls won a Sunshine Athletic Conference and Class 3A regional championship in her junior year and she will also remember playing at Wiregrass Ranch.

“The first year wasn’t as competitive as it has come to be because we were a new school,” Still said. “My sophomore year more girls started playing and then my junior year we got to states as a team. I’m going to miss playing here.”

Bulls QB to lead Green Knights

Tringali has been the Wiregrass Ranch quarterback since midway through his freshman season and is the program’s all time leader* with 3,219 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.

Tringali became the third Bulls football player to sign with a college this year. The number of football signings illustrates where the program has come from the 1-9 records in 2007 and 2008. The Bulls went 6-5 in 2010 and won the Class 4A-District 6 championship.

Tringali was also a guard on the Wiregrass Ranch basketball team that went 22-8, claimed the 4A-8 district championship and won its first 4A regional quarterfinals contest this year.

“It was a real uphill battle and it all culminated with this year winning two district championships in football and basketball,” Tringali said. “It was a hard building process, and I think that everyone who stuck through it is a better person for it. It was a lot of character building. A lot of losses, but we all gained much more.”

Tringali started playing flag football at age 7 and began tackle football in eighth grade. He started 34 straight games while at Wiregrass Ranch.

He has a 3.9 weighted grade point average and plans to study business while in Green Bay at St. Norbert.

“I took a couple visits and there was some point during the trip I said this could be my home for the next four years,” Tringali said. “They have a great combination of academics and athletics. St. Norbert doesn’t have any championships, but they’ve been in the playoffs seven of the last 12 years, so they’re really building in Division III.”

*Stats not kept in 2007

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Academy at the Lakes softball team has played in the Class 1A regional tournament every year since 2008 and the current Wildcats made sure that streak will live on.

The academy (8-8) advanced to the finals of the Class 1A-District 9 tournament by defeating Cambridge Christian 10-0 on April 19.

“It’s a feather in the players’ caps,” said Wildcats second-year coach Jack Shirling. “They’ve really worked hard to get better all year and this says a lot about what they’ve put into this season. It’s really about the older players helping the younger girls.”

The Wildcats faced off against event host Canterbury April 21, but could not bring home the program’s first district crown losing 6-0 on April 21. The academy still advances as the runner-up for the fourth straight year, the first team to do so in the Wildcats’ history.

“It’s really special for our school,” said Wildcats athletic director Tom Haslam. “We’ve had some make it two years in a row, but never this many. The girls have really stepped up and have really done special things during the last few years.”

The academy had a one run lead in the semifinals until the sixth inning. The Wildcats exploded for nine runs during the last two innings, banging out 15 hits. Lauren Evans and Sydney Boynton combined to pitch a shutout.

Canterbury knocked off Carrollwood Day in the other semifinals contest 16-0.

The Wildcats will next play at Sarasota Christian on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Last year the academy won its opening round game 2-1 against Sarasota Christian, the first regional win for the school.

“We’re very excited about building the program here,” Shirling said. “There are challenges with being a small program, but the kids really embrace that role. We only have one senior, so hopefully this continues into the future.”

 

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner baseball team entered last year’s Class 4A-District 9 tournament poised to advance to the regional tournament, but something got in the way.

That something was an 8-0 loss to Jefferson in the district semifinals, ending the Warriors (15-7) season one game away from qualifying for the playoffs. The bitter taste from last year is driving Steinbrenner to perform at a higher level in 2011.

“We want to win districts,” said senior first baseman and pitcher Chad Witkowski. “We don’t want second place and definitely nothing lower than that.”

The motivation is there, but coach John Crumbley is looking for that victory to spark the team going into districts.

“The kids are definitely more talented, but we need to find a way to win a signature game,” Crumbley said. “We’re beating the people we’re supposed to and play just good enough to lose to the better teams. We need to get over that hump. They’re a year wiser and we have several more exhibition games before it really counts in the district tournament.”

The Warriors are also motivated by the 4A state championship won by the girls soccer program this year, the first for the second-year school.

“They give us a hard time about it,” said junior pitcher Chris Williams. “They let us know they were the first ones. We have to get something for ourselves.”

Senior catcher and pitcher Jason Wilton, who attended Sickles his sophomore season, says his goal is to make people fear playing the Warriors.

“We want to build respect for our team,” Wilton said. “People didn’t have a lot of respect for us last year. They took us very lightly. I don’t want anyone to take us lightly. We’re a good ball program.”

Witkowski, who has already signed his letter of intent to play at Eastern Michigan University, is of the biggest leaders for the fledgling program. He led the squad with nine home runs last year and has added five this season. He is currently batting.528 with 19 RBI and seven doubles.

“I try to keep everything to the opposite field and hit line drives,” Witkowski said. “If you do that you’ll get lucky sometimes and they’ll go out.”

Witkowski, who attended Wiregrass Ranch his freshman and sophomore years, said his passion is hitting, but he is also working to improve his fastball, curveball and changeup while working on the pitching mound. He is currently 3-2 while leading the Warriors with 30 strikeouts.

Williams has locked up the No. 1 spot in the Steinbrenner rotation.

“He’s been our main pitcher since we started the program,” Crumbley said. “He’s been successful. He’s been in some big games and he’ll continue to be in those games.”

Williams, who attended Sickles as a freshman, throws a fastball, sinker, cutter, curveball and changeup. Most high school pitchers have only two to three pitches to choose from.

“I didn’t through a curveball until I turned 15, and I just learned the sinker and cutter recently,” Williams said. “The cutter is the newest because I was looking for something else to add to my repertoire.”

While Williams is laid back off the field, his mentality changes when he toes the rubber.

“On the mound I’m really intense,” Williams said. “I’m only trying to get you out. I figure here is my stuff. If you can hit it then fine, but you probably won’t. That’s how I get the most out of myself.”

Williams has done that this year, posting a 6-1 record with a 2.81 ERA.

Sophomore Nick Ringo has been Steinbrenner’s main closer, recording one save in 10 appearances with a 3.17 ERA and 14 Ks.

Wilton (4-3) rounds out the Warriors pitching rotation. He is also batting .491 with 26 hits and a homer.

The Warriors strength has been with their hitting this season, posting a .408 team batting average, a .504 on-base percentage and a .584 slugging percentage.

“Last year our pitching was stronger from top to bottom, but out hitting is much better now,” Witkowski said. “Top to bottom in our lineup we have guys who get on and guys to drive them in.”

The 4A-9 tournament begins on Tuesday, April 26 at Jesuit. The championship game is three days later at 7 p.m.

“The first goal is reach regionals,” Crumbley said. “If you get out of districts everybody has a chance. It’s always my goal to play in the state final four and win a state championship. I think we have quality kids in our school and quality administration here. The kids are learning how to be successful athletically, but more importantly academically.”

–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.