The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Baseball player honored

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(Courtesy of Joe Neal)

The awards keep coming for one of Pasco County’s top baseball players. Cypress Creek High’s Ethan Petry earned MVP honors for the West at the 43rd Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-Star Baseball Classic. The two-day event was held for recently graduated senior baseball players from across the state. The classic took place at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, also known as Tigertown, where the Detroit Tigers has its Class A baseball team in Lakeland.

Petry went four for six with 2 RBIs playing for West All Stars.

This season, Petry, a third baseman, batted .479 on 34 hits with 18 RBI, nine doubles, two triples and a team-high six homers. Petry also stepped up on the mound this season, going 5 and 2 with a 1.97 ERA and a team-high 60 strikeouts. While the senior is committed to the University of South Carolina, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander has risen up the draft prospect charts as a two-way player.

Also playing for the West All Stars was Wharton outfielder Ellijah Dukes, who batted .338 with 24 RBI on 22 hits, including a team-high six homers. The Wildcats finished 20-8.

Wesley Chapel outfielder Zach Showalter also was on this team, after batting a team-high .333 with 21 RBI and a team-high four homers. On the mound, Showalter led the Wildcats with a 0.78 ERA and 89 strikeouts.

Shoemaker plays at U.S. Open

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Bailey Shoemaker (File)

Dade City teen golfer Bailey Shoemaker made her professional debut, playing in the 2022 Women’s US Open from June 2 through June 5 at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club is a country club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

The 17-year-old senior, who is committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Southern California, finished tied at 48th, with a combined score of 293 (9 over par).

Shoemaker played well in the first three rounds, however, seemed to struggle in the final round on June 5 when she shot an 8-over-par 79. Her best round came on Day 2 when she shot a 1-under 70.

Shoemaker, who does virtual schooling in Pasco County, also plays on the East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour (ECWPGT), a golf association that helps prepare amatuer and former collegiate golfers for the Epson Tour — the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA — and, of course, the LPGA.

Lutz man was former MLB player, coach

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John Cumberland, a former Major League Baseball player and coach, was living in Lutz at the time of his death in April. (COURTESY OF BLOUNT & CURRY FUNERAL HOME-CARROLLWOOD)

John Cumberland, a former left-handed pitcher who appeared in 110 Major League Baseball games from 1968 to 1974, passed away in his Lutz home, on April 5.

He was 74.

Cumberland was a member of the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and California Angels, and then went on to manage in the majors for 23 years.

Originally from Maine, Cumberland made his major-league debut with the Yankees in late 1968 and then was traded to the Giants in the offseason. He spent most of his pitching career with the Giants, but ended his nine-year playing career after a brief stint with the Cardinals. He finished his career with a 15-16 record, six complete games, two shutouts and two saves. Over 334 1/3 innings pitched, he gave up 312 hits, 142 earned runs and 46 home runs, walked 103 batters and struck out 137. His career ERA was 3.82.

Cumberland began coaching in 1982 as pitching coach of Class A Lynchburg of the Carolina League. He was there three seasons, including in 1983 when he coached 18-year-old phenom and Tampa native Doc Gooden. Cumberland worked as a minor league coach for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres.

He was briefly the Boston Red Sox pitching coach, in 1995, before becoming a scout for the team. From 1999 to 2001, he was the Red Sox bullpen coach. In 2002, he became the Kansas City Royals pitching coach, until he finally retired from baseball on June 29, 2004.

Cumberland, who also was in the Army Reserve and inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, is survived by his wife of 52 years, three sons, a brother, a sister and three grandchildren.

Published June 8, 2022.

South Pasco Bassmasters Fishing Tourney Results

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South Pasco Bassmasters (SPB) had its monthly tournament in May, this time fishing at Lake Panasoffkee in Sumter County.

Tim Troutt teamed up with Derek Boswell, as the two brought in fish with a winning weight of 21.29 pounds. Troutt and Boswell caught their fish cast- ing chatter baits, Rattle Traps and flipping soft plastics around scattered grass in 2 feet to 5 feet of water.

SPB’s next tournament will be on Lake Kissimmee, on June 18.

For more information, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Published on June 8, 2022.

Marathon Hockey Tourament

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On June 10 and June 11, the Tampa Warriors Hockey Club (TWHC) will host a Hockey Heals 22 event at AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The event entails 22 hours of continuous hockey play to raise awareness and provide support to veteran suicide prevention. The 22 hours of play was chosen because, since 2009, 22 has been the daily average of veteran suicides.

TWHC is a 501(c)(3) team organized to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, for disabled veterans and first responders.

The event, open to the public, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on June 10 and concludes at 5 p.m. on June 11. It will include the games, raffles, food and more.

For more information, please email TWHC executive director Chris Scangarello at .

Published on June 8, 2022.

Dade City teen golfer in US Open

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Dade City resident and amateur junior golfer Bailey Shoemaker hits a shot at Lake Jovita Golf Course during a three-day tournament hosted by the East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

Dade City teenage golfer Bailey Shoemaker is set to tee off at the U.S. Women’s Open, which begins June 2, at Pine Needle Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

It will mark the first major golf event for the local, amateur golfer, who is, remarkably, just 17 years old.

Shoemaker, who is an online student and committed to play women’s collegiate golf for the University of Southern California, qualified for the U.S. Open after shooting a 1-under-par in a 36-hole event at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart in May.

Shoemaker prepared for that by playing in various events, including those hosted by the East Coast Women’s Pro Golf Tour (ECWPGT), which is an amateur golf tour for young women who are in high school, college or recent graduates from collegiate golf. She played in one event that was held at her home course, Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, in March and finished tied for eighth place (+4).

“It’s great that everyone is encouraging us (young women) to get out and play,” Shoemaker told The Laker/Lutz News in March. “I know when I started golfing, just after I was born, that’s when women’s golf really started to boom and then the women (golfers) started to get longer and longer (on shots). Now, with each generation, you keep seeing everyone getting better and better.”

For those hoping to see Shoemaker in her professional golf event debut, the opening rounds of the U.S. Open on June 2 and June 3 will air on the streaming service, Peacock, and the Golf Channel.

Published on June 1, 2022.

Saint Leo Baseball earns honors after stellar season

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Saint Leo baseball junior outfielder Bobby Sparling and coach Rick O’Dette were named the 2022 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, on May 16.

Saint Leo baseball coach Rick O’Dette picked up his 100th win with the Lions on March 27 and his 600th career win on April 12. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics)

The two are a big reason the Lions are making their first NCAA postseason appearance since 2001. Saint Leo’s season came to a close on May 22 when it lost to Lee University (Tennessee) in the NCAA South Regional Tournament.

Sparling led the SSC in home runs (21), RBI (62), hits (72), slugging percentage (.758) and on-base plus slugging (1.214). He also was fourth in conference batting average (.371) and seventh in runs scored (46). Sparling is the third Lion to win Player of the Year honors and the first since 1998.

O’Dette, in his fifth season, led the Lions to a 35-15 record, a regional hosting bid and numerous national team rankings. O’Dette also secured his 100th win with the Lions on March 27 and his 600th career win on April 12.

Published June 1, 2022.

AATL Softball Players Awarded

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From left, Academy at the Lake sophomores Addy Aliano, Molly Blackwood and Sydney Klein hold up their Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) awards. (Courtesy of Charlie Aliano)

The season for Academy at the Lakes’ (AATL) softball team (14-12) ended on May 17 in the Class 2A region semifinals, however, three players were named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-State and All-Academic Teams.

Sophomores Addy Aliano, Molly Blackwood and Sydney Klein all were named to the FACA teams. Aliano led the team in batting with a .442 average with 38 hits in 86 at bats and a team-high 30 runs scored. Blackwood led the team with 23 RBI and a team-high three homers, while Klein drove in 17 RBI, but was their top pitcher with 124 strikeouts and a 3.43 ERA.

Published June 1, 2022.

Spring Sports Sunshine Athletic Conference Awards

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The 2022 Sunshine Athletic Conference Awards were recently announced, honoring the student athletes in this school year’s spring sports season. Here are the player and coach East Division award winners.

Baseball

Player of the Year: Ethan Petry, Cypress Creek

Coach of the Year: Rusty Guynn, Zephyrhills

Softball

Player of the Year: Kylee Johnson, Wiregrass Ranch

Coach of the Year: Mitchell Wilkins, Land O’ Lakes

Boys Tennis

Player of the Year: Ninad Raut, Wiregrass Ranch

Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch

Girls Tennis

Player of the Year: Sofiya Janos, Land O’ Lakes

Coach of the Year – Jennifer Gaete – Land O’ Lakes

Boys Weightlifting

Lifter of the Year :Jayden Cruzado, Cypress Creek

Coach of the Year: Mark Kantor, Wiregrass Ranch

Boys Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Year: Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills

Field Athlete of the Year: Isaiah Tavo, Land O’ Lakes

Coach of the Year: Bryan Thomas , Zephyrhills

Girls Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Year: Catherine Fleming, Wiregrass Ranch

Field Athlete of the Year: Latia Dove, Wesley Chapel

Coach of the Year: Brett Hodros, Sunlake

Girls Lacrosse

Offensive Player of the Year: Luna Khatib, Wiregrass Ranch

Defensive Player of the Year: Caroline Johnson, Mitchell

Coach of the Year: Craig Havemann, Wiregrass Ranch

To submit notable sports news, event information, and individual or team accomplishments, email .

Published June 1, 2022.

Warriors looking for deep postseason run

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The Steinbrenner softball team has always been successful.

In fact, the Warriors haven’t had a losing season in the program’s 13-year existence.

“I knew I was taking over a good program,” said first-year coach Jason Gordon, who replaced longtime coach Brenda Leach. “But these girls have stepped up and made this season fun. We talked about how happy we are for the season, but know we still have to take it one game at a time.”

The Steinbrenner softball team celebrates winning the Lady Canes Spring Classic, the annual softball tournament held in March by Palm Harbor University High. The Warriors defeated the highly ranked Bartow, 9-2. (Courtesy of Jason Gordon)

As of May 3, prior to the Class 7A-7 district tournament, Steinbrenner is 19-4 and ranked 18th in the state. The Warriors entered that tournament as the top seed and hope to take another district title, putting them in the regional tournament, which begins May 11. Once there, Steinbrenner hopes to avenge last season’s first-round departure in the regional quarterfinals when it lost to eventual Class 7A state champ, Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton).

Gordon figures this might be the toughest region in the state. The Mustangs (ranked No. 1 in the state and 7A) are state champs, while Venice (eighth in 7A) and Newsome (fourth in 7A and defeated the Warriors 6-2 on April 12) are looming.

“We’re hoping to get shots at those teams in the tournament,” Gordon said.

Steinbrenner entered this season with lofty goals, especially after it returned all but three players from the 2021 season.

Leading the way on offense has been sophomore Lilian Holtje, who is batting .373 with team highs in doubles (eight), homers (three) and RBI (25). Senior Madi Frey has a team-high .459 batting average with six doubles, a team-high four triples, and 20 RBI on 28 hits and a team-high 10 steals, while fellow senior Emily Chiarella has a team-high 31 hits, 22 runs scored and 10 steals.

On the pitching side, sophomore pitcher Saige Sampson is 11-3 with a 1.88 ERA and a team-high 43 strikeouts, while junior Haven Leggett is 8-1 with a team-best 1.49 ERA and 40 strikeouts.

“I think our pitching and defense has been top-notch this year,” Gordon said.

Regional tournaments for both high school baseball and softball start May 11, and results for both can be found at MaxPreps.com.