Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

The Freedom flag football team has two district championships in the last four years, and the Patriots are hoping a return to the basics will keep them at the top.

“It’s going to be tough with Alonso and Gaither and some other teams,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger, who started the Patriots program in 2006. “It’s about going back to the basics. We got away from that a little bit the last two years because we had a lot of talent, but sometimes that makes you get away from what really wins games.”

The Patriots (3-0) are in District 12 with such area schools as Gaither, Steinbrenner, Sickles and Wharton. Alonso won the district championship last year.

Freedom was 9-0 in 2006, the first year flag football was offered in Hillsborough County. The Patriots won the district title in 2007 and 2008 and were the runner-up in 2009, but did not advance past the district semifinals for the first time last year.

If Freedom is to regain the district crown, a new member of the school will likely have to make a big impact.

Briahanna Jackson, a senior quarterback and defensive back, transferred from Wiregrass Ranch a month ago.

“I didn’t know they had flag football here until my Shade’ (Williams) told me about it,” Jackson said. “It didn’t take me long to come to practice. The day before my first day of school, I came to practice because I was excited to play.”

Jackson said she played flag football until age 13 while living in Citrus County, but she has already established herself as one of Freedom’s leaders.

“She’s just very athletic,” Derflinger said. “She can run, throw deep, throw accurately. So far what I’ve seen, she makes good decisions with the ball too. She can definitely run this offense.”

Jackson led the Patriots to a victory in their season opener against Leto, a 14-0 win. The senior signal caller scored both touchdowns for her new team.

Jackson’s teammate Katie Cerillo, a senior running back and defensive back, has been on the squad for three years. She has seen the sport grow in the area.

“At first it was very small and even now people don’t know about flag football,” Cerillo said. “Definitely within our district, it’s tough and competitive. We’re hoping to come out on top.”

Derflinger agrees.

“It’s a competitive sport,” Derflinger said. “They take it serious. People think of powder-puff football, and this is nothing like that. It’s more competitive than that.”

Freedom next plays at Brandon on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Steinbrenner flag football team is taking inspiration from the girls soccer squad that won the Class 4A state championship only a few weeks ago.

“Our goal is to get to the state championship game and win just like girls soccer did,” said sophomore running back and middle linebacker Alyssa Dawson.

Warriors quarterback Alexandra Fernandez, a sophomore, has the same goal in mind.

“My standards are high, so my goal is to go to states this year,” Fernandez said.

Steinbrenner (2-2) went 1-7 last year, but added several new components, including coach Jen Graham. She is married to Steinbrenner football coach Floyd Graham.

“I had the opportunity to coach, and I knew I could get my husband to help out,” Jen said. “I was on the sidelines for all his football games and am at his practices, so I thought it would be fun to do a little role reversal. I love football and I didn’t get the chance to play growing up. If they offered it when I was in school, I definitely would have.”

The football squad had a tough first year as well, going winless in varsity contests. The Warriors redoubled their work ethic in the school’s second year, and were rewarded with a 5-5 record.

“We’ve modeled our program after what the boys do,” Jen said. “We had seven weeks of morning conditioning at 6 in the morning before the season, which is what the guys do. We couldn’t use footballs, but we were getting ready for the year. They figured it’s what the guys do to get ready for the year and they thought it was cool that they were too.”

Jen also helped attract junior corner back Cary Anne Bame to the team. Bame is the Warriors libero on the volleyball team, which Graham is an assistant with.

“I played libero and defense for flag football, and I’ve noticed a lot of similarities,” Bame said. “In flag football, it’s all about covering your area. In volleyball, it’s the same thing. That’s how the coaches have broken it down for me. Also, in volleyball you have to back your teammates up, and we have to do the same thing as defensive backs.”

Bame, who made the All-Laker/All-Lutz News volleyball first team this season, said she was not expecting flag football to be as extreme as it has been.

“They’re telling me it’s a lot more intense than last year,” Bame said. “So I came out the first day and I wasn’t expecting it to be that intense. So I wasn’t expecting to be doing 100-yards sprints the first day.”

Dawson is another new addition, transferring in from Land O’ Lakes. She feels the preseason workouts will serve them well this year.

“It’s more mental toughness to get here at 6 in the morning and then go to school,” Dawson said. “It gets you ready for the season.”

The Warriors are in one of the more competitive districts, which includes area schools like Freedom, Gaither, Sickles and Wharton.

The Patriots won two district titles in 2007 and 2008. The Cowboys won the title in 2009 and were the runner-up last season. Alonso won District 12 in 2010, making it all the way to the state title game. Jen says that shows how competitive the sport is becoming.

“Before it was just get together and throw a ball around,” Jen said. “It wasn’t really organized. Now it’s much different. Every year it’s getting better, and coaches are really getting into it. I mean, we had a seven-week preseason and now the season, so that’s 15 weeks dedicated to flag football. It’s become big time, and I think it’ll be interesting to see where it goes.”

The Warriors next play at home against Wharton on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

It couldn’t have been a more perfect time for Steinbrenner baseball coach John Crumbley to get his 600th high school win when his Warriors defeated Cambridge Christian 11-0 March 18.

That game was part of the spring break tournament at Leto, where Crumbley graduated from in 1978. The opposing coach was Sam Marsonek, one of Crumbley’s former players when he led the Jesuit program. It was also the two-year anniversary of his father’s death.

“I said my dad (Rodney Crumbley) had us play average early so we could win it on that day,” Crumbley said. “It was a lot of things with that game. To play it at Leto, doing it against my former player, it was just a lot of craziness. We think the moon was lined up for it.”

Crumbley was surprised after the milestone game when Leto retired his No. 7 jersey.

The veteran coach led Jesuit for 22 years before becoming the Tigers athletic director in 2006. He guided the private school to the 1994, 1997 and 2000 state championships, but figured his time as a coach had come to an end.

“I wasn’t going to coach baseball at Jesuit again and my wife knew it was killing me not coaching,” Crumbley said. “We read something about this school called Steinbrenner opening, and she said I should go for it. Fortunately our principal Ms. (Brenda) Grasso and our athletic director Mr. (Eddie) Henderson gave me a chance. ”

Crumbley won 575 games at Jesuit and currently sits at 603 after adding another 28 while at Steinbrenner (10-4). He is the first coach to reach the 600 mark in Hillsborough County. He was also the first to win 500 games.

“It’s amazing and a blessing that I’ve been able to coach for so long with such great kids,” Crumbley said. “When 500 happened, my son (J.J.) pitched that game at Jesuit and it was kind of similar to my 600th because we 10-runned the opponent.

“It was just surreal,” Crumbley continued. “When you think of the great coaches in this area, like Frank Permuy at Gaither, the opportunity to coach 24 years and be the first to 500 and then the first to 600. Hopefully we can keep it going for a long time.”

Crumbley was a shortstop and pitcher while playing at Leto and the University of Tampa.

“I couldn’t play any further than that, and I wanted to stay in the game,” Crumbley said. “I felt teaching and coaching would be the best way to stay a part of the game I love.”

Crumbley’s passion is evident to his players, which is one of the things they enjoy about him.

“Words really can’t describe what it’s been like to play for coach Crumbley,” said junior pitcher Chris Williams. “He’s a competitor and gets the best out of you. He’s a good guy who people love to play for because you know if you listen to him you have a good chance of winning.”

Williams started the first half of a doubleheader for the Warriors in the Leto event against Plant. He left with the lead, but Steinbrenner was unable to get the win. Four hours later, the squad locked up the victory for its coach.

Senior Jason Wilton started the Cambridge game, going four scoreless innings. Sophomore Nick Ringo come in out of the bullpen to secure the win.

“It was really awesome to be the winning pitcher in that game,” Wilton said. “It was the two-year anniversary of his father dying, so I almost got teary-eyed. It was really an honor.”

Steinbrenner next plays at home against Jefferson on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m.

By Kyle LoJacono

Since the spring of 2006, Hillsborough County high school girls have been competing on the same football gridiron as the boys.

That year, the Hillsborough School District Athletic Department adopted flag football as a sport. Pasco County’s department instead opted to offer girls weightlifting around that same time.

“It allows us to get a feel for what the guys go through,” said Freedom senior running back Katie Cerillo. “It also lets us show that we aren’t little weak girls like everyone thinks. We can come out and play a sport just as well as they can.”

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) first offered flag football as a recognized sport in 2003. Hillsborough athletic director Lanness Robinson said those in the department felt it was the best sport to offer to the girls in the county. That decision has created an opportunity for girls like Steinbrenner sophomore Alyssa Dawson, who attended Land O’ Lakes last year.

“I actually like playing sports more here than in Pasco County,” Dawson said. “They do a lot of things differently here. I didn’t get to play flag football in Pasco County and I really wanted to. We actually did petitions to try and get it accepted in Pasco County, but they told us for liability reasons they couldn’t. So when I moved here, I was really excited to participate.”

Dawson said many members of her family have played football growing up.

“My dad (Kevin) was a quarterback and graduated from Gaither High School, so football is something that is in my family” Dawson said. “My little cousin is an amazing quarterback and will be going to Tampa Catholic. So it’s something that runs in my family and I’m very competitive, so I wanted to play.”

Freedom has had its own addition this year. Senior quarterback Briahanna Jackson transferred from Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel this year and is excited to play the sport.

Gaither senior Debra Hollins is a veteran of the sport, playing for the Cowboys the last three years.

“It’s a great experience playing flag football,” Hollins said. “I know a lot of girls who want to play tackle football. It’s a great opportunity, and I think all girls should try it.”

Steinbrenner first-year coach Jen Graham is very interested in seeing where the sport progresses in the coming years.

“I’m glad that it’s stuck around and I’ve heard talk about getting it started in colleges,” Graham said. “That would be great because there are a lot of girls who are as good or better than the guys. I think it’s awesome for the girls.”

The activity is still very new, so most players come from other sports.

“It offers them another outlet to participate in a very fun sport,” said Freedom coach Dennis Derflinger. “We have a lot of athletes from other sports, like basketball, soccer, cheerleading and swimming. They come from a wide variety of activities and this gives them another great experience.”

Cerillo is one of those cross-over athletes. She is also a soccer player.

“It helps with the footwork,” said Cerillo. “You have to have quick feet in soccer and it makes it easier to get around people so they don’t get my flag.”

Even Derflinger, of Lutz, is not limited to one sport. He is also the Freedom boys soccer coach.

Flag football has only one classification unlike most FHSAA sports. Another difference is only the top four squads in each district make the district tournament, with only the champion advancing in the playoffs. In most others, the champ and runner-up move on.

Hillsborough schools played in 2006, but did not participate in the postseason. No county team has won a state title, but Plant City and Alonso made the championship game in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

Freedom will host the District 12 tournament this year April 26 and 27. The state tournament is May 6 and 7 at Boca Raton High.

By Kyle LoJacono

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has suspended Zephyrhills first-year baseball coach Rick Anderton for six weeks after an incident with an official March 14.

The FHSAA ruled Anderton committed an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction in the Bulldogs game against Springstead in the RBI Pasco County Varsity Tournament during spring break at Wesley Chapel High.

The FHSSA report states a Zephyrhills player was called for interference when sliding into second base in the third inning, resulting in a double play. Anderton approached the official, Steve Gonzalez, to get clarification on the ruling.

Gonzalez’s statement to the FHSAA states, “He was told to return to his coach’s box twice. He then placed his hand on my left shoulder and tired to push me toward second base to view the slide mark his runner made. I refused to entertain his antics and again told him to return to his coach’s box.”

The statement continues to say Anderton was ejected after refusing to leave the field. The incident was the second argument he had with the officials during the game.

“In the bottom of the second inning, he approached the plate umpire to argue that the Springstead batter intentionally leaned into a pitch,” the report reads.

The suspension was for the physical contact with an official, arguing a call and refusal to return to the bench. Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden said the school is not appealing the ruling because he is sending a clear message to everyone in the community.

“You don’t put your hands on an official, period,” Van Gorden said. “That’s regardless of the motivation. I don’t think it was done maliciously. I don’t think coach Anderton has a malicious bone in his body, but we need to make sure everyone knows that’s not what Zephyrhills High School is about. We need to be known for good sportsmanship and respect.”

Van Gorden said two of Anderton’s players have also been ejected from games this year, including a senior who was kicked out of the Bulldogs game against Sunlake March 15 and suspended for six weeks for using profanity.

“We can’t let this become a pattern,” Van Gorden said. “We need to move past this and I believe coach Anderton will learn from this and be a better coach because of it next year.”

Anderton, who is not an employee at the high school, was apologetic about his actions.

“I’m very sorry for the embarrassment this has caused the school,” Anderton said. “If I could do it over again, I would handle it much differently.”

The suspension prevents Anderton from coaching in any game until April 25, the first day of the Class 4A-District 8 tournament at Sunlake.

The six-week punishment includes more than half the 10-week high school baseball season.

“It’s a harsh punishment,” said Wesley Chapel coach Chuck Yingling. “Rick was on my staff last year and I’ve always known him to be a pretty low-key guy. He’s out for most of the year when he had his team playing better ball. It seems like a long suspension.”

Yingling said he and all his players were in the locker room when the argument happened and he hasn’t heard from anyone who saw the incident.

“I know Steve and he’s a good official,” Yingling said. “He’s very low key like Rick.”

Gonzalez was also the official in the tournament’s championship game, which Wesley Chapel won 9-8 against Wiregrass Ranch. In that game, a Bulls player was called for interference on a similar play as what happened March 14. Wiregrass Ranch coach Jeff Swymer argued that call as well, but was not ejected and returned to his dugout after a brief discussion.

Anderton can lead practices for the duration of the suspension. The school was also fined $300 for the incident. The coach will have to complete a six-hour course on the fundamentals of coaching before he can return to the sidelines.