The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Commitments & Offers

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Andre Hevesy (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)
  • Andre Hevesy, a senior right-handed pitcher at Carrollwood Day School, has verbally committed to play collegiate baseball at Belmont Abbey College, a Division II program in Belmont, North Carolina. Last season, the lanky 6-foot-4 Hevesy went 4-1, posting a 1.48 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 28.1 innings.

 

  • Noah Torres, a senior catcher/first baseman at Carrollwood Day School, has verbally committed to play baseball at Christian Brothers University, a Division II program in Memphis, Tennessee. Last season, Torres posted a .281 batting average with five extra-base hits and 10 RBIs. He has played on the Patriots varsity squad since the eighth grade.

 

  • The Saint Leo University softball program picked up a verbal commitment from Kayleice Hooks, a senior third baseman/shortstop at Osceola High School. Hooks posted a .529 average last season, with two home runs, 14 doubles and 24 RBIs. She is expected to play for Lions head coach Erin Kinberger next season.

 

  • Sydney Hiner, a senior outside hitter at Land O’ Lakes High School, has picked up an offer to play collegiate volleyball at Chowan University, a Division II program in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. As of Sept. 25, Hiner leads the Gators in kills (86) and is second in aces (16).

 

Huge Haul!

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(Courtesy of John Medvid)

At the South Pasco Bassmasters’ Sept. 16 tournament at the Kissimmee Chain, Bryan Sampson, left, and Kristopher Sampson teamed up to win first place, reeling in five bass for a total weight of 18.96 pounds. Also shown here, the Sampson brothers receive some help with their haul from Makyla, Emily and Sabastian Sampson (pictured left to right). The next tournament is slated for Oct. 21 at Lake Weir in southern Marion County. For information on joining the club, visit SouthPascoBassmasters.com.

Sharp shooter!

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(Courtesy of Justin Dargahi)

Gaither High School girls varsity basketball coach Justin Dargahi now holds two Guinness World Records for his 3-point shooting skills after teaming up with Florida Gators legend Teddy Dupay to break the record for most basketball 3-pointers made by a pair in one minute — sinking 23 shots. The feat — held in March at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa — became official this month by Guinness World Record judges. Dargahi also is the current record holder for most basketball 3-pointers from NBA range made in one minute by an individual (26). That feat was accomplished in January 2016 at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Wharton High cross-country shines at local meet

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The Wharton High School boys varsity cross-country team took first place in the Wiregrass Ranch Run with the Bulls Invitational on Sept. 2. Sixteen teams competed.

The Wharton High School boys varsity cross-country team won the Wiregrass Ranch Run with the Bulls Invitational on Sept. 2. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

The Wildcats placed its top five runners all in the top 20, totaling 44 points, followed by Robinson High (67 points) and Wiregrass Ranch High (98 points). The Wildcats had 10 runners on varsity for the race:

-Junior Tre Rivers: 17:07 (4th place)
-Senior Sahil Deschenes: 17:19 (6th)
-Senior Eric Jurgensmeyer: 17:29 (11th)
-Junior Josue Reyes: 17:59 (15th)
-Senior Frankie Godbold: 18:05 (19th)
-Junior Anthony Stephens: 18:34 (28th)
-Sophomore Jackson Blanchard: 18:43 (31st)
-Senior Dennarius Murphy: 19:04 (43rd)
-Sophomore Eric Rabil: 19:05 (44th)
-Freshman Thomas Walter: 19:18 (52nd)

Meanwhile, the Wharton High girls varsity cross-country team placed third at the meet, tallying 114 points, behind George Jenkins High (52 points) and Seminole Osceola High (69 points). Wharton entered eight runners in the girls varsity race:

-Junior Nicolina Otero: 20:47 (8th)
-Senior Rachel Lettiero: 21:30 (9th)
-Sophomore Nia Rivers: 21:57 (26th)
-Sophomore Jinia Johnson: 22:17 (32nd)
-Sophomore Michelle Sullivan: 22:26 (34th)
-Junior Amanda Brake: 23:06 (43rd)
-Freshman Callie Zack: 24:03 (60th)
-Sophomore Jessica Perez: 24:21 (63rd)

—Information courtesy of Kyle LoJacono, cross-country coach at Wharton High

 

Lightning Fan Fest set for Sept. 16

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The Tampa Bay Lightning will host its annual Fan Fest Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive in Tampa. Fan Fest, presented by Florida Blue, will be the first chance for fans to see and interact with the 2017-18 Lightning. As in previous years, fans will have the opportunity to watch numerous practices, and get autographs and selfies with Lightning players in training camp. The event also will include food trucks, a merchandise sale, a kids play area, and more. The first 10,000 fans will receive a voucher redeemable for a player interaction at either an autograph or photo station. The public event is free, but guests must get a Fan Fest ticket by visiting NHL.com/lightning/fans/2017-fan-fest.

Local commitment

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Huston Richter, a senior at Steinbrenner High School, has verbally committed to play baseball at Saint Leo University, a Division II program. Richter, a 6-foot lefthander, posted a 2.85 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 51.2 innings, with a 5-2 record in 2016. In June, Saint Leo hired Rick O’ Dette, a former league pitcher, as its new head baseball coach. The Lions roster currently features seven players from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Saint Leo runner collects conference honor

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Colett Rampf (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo senior Colett Rampf opened her final cross-country season with a first place at the Holloway Park Preseason Festival on Sept. 2 in Lakeland, boosting the Lions to a team title and her earning the first Sunshine State Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week honor for 2017.

Rampf posted a time of 10:18.09 in the 3K race (pace of 5:32.3 per mile) to finish first in a field of 116 runners. She led a Saint Leo contingent that finished in the top three, with junior Alyssa Bayliff and senior Lauren Csubak coming in second and third, respectively.

The weekly honor marks Rampf’s 13th SSC Runner of the Week award all-time during her four-year career. Meanwhile, Saint Leo finished with 27 team points, 10 better than second-place finisher, Embry-Riddle (37 points).

The Lions’ next event is Sept. 16, when they travel to Daytona Beach, for the Embry-Riddle Invitational.

Shoes-4-Schools golf tournament set Oct. 6

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Shoes-4-Schools will be hosting its first “Bare Feet 2 Soles” golf tournament on Oct. 6, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Opportunities are available for sponsorships and golfer foursomes. Golfers will be provided with a mixer and light dinner, raffles and goodie bags. Awards will be given to first-place teams and winners of the longest drive, closest to the pin and putting contests. Also, a 2017 Acura ILX provided by Ferman Acura of Tampa will be awarded to the winner of a hole-in-one contest. Shoes-4-Schools is a nonprofit 501 (C) 3 organization created in 2013 for the main purpose of providing footwear for needy school children in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. For information, visit Shoes-4-Schools.org, or call (813) 505-1378.

PHSC volleyball opens home slate Aug. 30

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After opening the regular season Aug. 22, the Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) women’s volleyball team kicks off its home slate on Aug. 30, with a 6 p.m. match against Santa Fe College.

The 2017 team is the school’s first to compete as the Bobcats — PHSC’s new athletics moniker since retiring the Conquistadors last spring.

The Pasco-Hernando State College women’s volleyball team opens up its home slate on Aug. 30. Top row: Amanda Michels; Deann Newton, assistant volleyball coach; Cheyenne Miller; Abby Epstein; Lindsey Moore; Tyler Hunter; Natasha Bannister; Courtney Rottum; Kim Whitney, head women’s volleyball coach; Mary Manning, athletic trainer. Bottom row: Zoe Murchio, Camden Bitter, Brie Tsamis, Sarah Asbury, Emily Schoonover, Marissa Niedermeyer, Kim Johnson and Morgan Church. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Under longtime head coach Kim Whitney, the volleyball program returns seven players from last year’s 12-18 squad, including captains Tyler Hunter (middle hitter) and Cheyenne Miller (outside hitter). Also returning is outside hitter Marissa Niedermeyer; middle hitters Lindsey Moore and Wiregrass Ranch-product Courtney Rottum; and, liberos Kim Johnson and Zoe Murchio.

The team also is buoyed by a freshman class that includes setters Brie Tsamis (Mitchell) and Sarah Asbury (Weeki Wachee); middle hitters Natasha Bannister (Nelson, New Zealand) and Abby Epstein (Crystal River); outside hitters Camden Bitter (Belleview, Ocala), Carla Butler (Hornby, New Zealand) and Emily Schoonover (Sunlake); and, libero Morgan Church (Harmony, St. Cloud).

Meanwhile, PHSC added Deann Newton as an assistant coach. Newton spent the past four seasons as Sunlake High’s head volleyball coach, who compiled a 76-38 career mark and two district championships.

Admission is free for all home matches, which are at the PHSC West campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

Immediately following all home matches, PHSC will host a free volleyball clinic for elementary and middle school children, ages 6 to 13 years old.

Area commitments

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Kylie Coffin

Kylie Coffin, a sophomore at Carrollwood Day School, has committed to play softball at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a Division I program. On the mound, Coffin posted a 3.16 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 117.1 innings pitched, with an 11-7 record last season. At the plate, she batted .407 with six extra-base hits and 18 RBIs. The standout right-handed pitcher/third baseman has played varsity softball since the seventh grade.

 

Rodrigo Montenegro

Rodrigo Montenengro, a senior at Carrollwood Day School, has committed to play baseball at St. Petersburg College, a Division I junior college program. Last season, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior posted a .472 batting average with nine doubles, three triples and 17 RBIs. He also led the team in stolen bases, with 12.