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University of South Florida junior shortstop Kevin Merrell, a Steinbrenner High product, was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference first team, selected by league coaches; Merrell earned the same honor in 2016.

The 6-foot-1, 189-pound Odessa native wrapped up the 2017 regular season batting a conference-leading .386, with six home runs, 35 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Lauded for his base-stealing, defensive range and extra-base hit power, the middle infielder is projected to be a first-day pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, which starts June 12.
At Steinbrenner, Merrell was a four-year letter winner for head baseball coach John Crumbley; he also lettered in golf and track.

Land O’ Lakes High alum Shannon Saile earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors following a sensational rookie campaign at Florida International University. Saile boasted a league-best 1.46 ERA paired with a 17-8 record over 33 appearances, tallying 234 strikeouts in 198.1 innings pitched.

During the 2017 season, Saile was recognized as C-USA Pitcher of the Week four times, a conference high.

At Land O’ Lakes, Saile amassed 517 strikeouts and a career 1.76 ERA in four seasons. She also compiled 41 wins, 31 complete games, 11 shutouts and five no-hitters in her prep career.

Pasco-Hernando State College baseball standout Trey Pearce has been named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII Baseball Defensive Player of the Year in NJCAA Region 8 Men’s Baseball by the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA).

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound freshman first baseman and left-hand pitcher fielded .993 with only one error in 145 total chances.

Pearce, a native of Tallahassee, also was named to the NJCAA Men’s Baseball DII All-Gulf District Team.

Joining him from PHSC are: designated hitter Tyree Austin (Pasco High); infielders Zach Ghelfi (Wesley Chapel High) and Alex Reynolds (Land O’ Lakes High); catcher Bailey Partlow (Westfield, Indiana); and pitcher Korey Prince, (Jacksonville).

The baseball team went 25-20 in 2017, the 10th consecutive winning season for the program.

“I was really proud of our ball club this season,” head coach Steve Winterling said, in a release. “The team started 0-7 against some tough competition, but started gelling together in late February. One of my proudest moments was upsetting sixth-ranked St. Johns River State College (on) back-to-back days in April.”

Miracle Sports released their final 2017 state softball rankings; several high schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were recognized across Classes 1A to 9A.

Miracle Sports State Softball Rankings

All Class Top 10
No. 7: Land O’Lakes (6A) 29-3

Class 8A
No. 8.:  Wharton 18-6
No. 9: Steinbrenner 17-6

Class 7A
Honorable mention: Sunlake 18-7.

Class 6A
No. 1: Land O’Lakes 29-3
No. 7: Wesley Chapel 19-7

Class 3A
Honorable mention: Carrollwood Day 11-7

Class 2A
No. 3: Academy at the Lakes 20-3

Land O’ Lakes High
Cross Country
Maddie Toth, Pasco-Hernando State College

 Swimming & Diving
Antonia Beason, California State University-Bakersfield

Football
Dylan Hohenthaner, Indiana State University

Baseball
Brayden Lyman, Pasco-Hernando State College
Jeff Hiner, Oglethorpe University (Atlanta, Georgia)

Sunlake High
Football
Tyler Peretti, Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida)
Carson Reavis, Webber International University (Babson Park, Florida)
Chris Williams, Ohio Wesleyan University

During the South Pasco Bassmasters (SPBM) May 20 tournament at Lake Tarpon, Ken Willis and Dave Panno teamed up to win first place after reeling in five bass, totaling 14.07 pounds.

Joe and Jim Felice, of Team Felice, followed close behind with a 13.71-pound haul.

Elsewhere, the team of Greg Vickers and Kyle Matthew finished third (12.73 pound) and won the tournament’s Big Bass Award, with a 5.77-pound catch.

According to SPBM director John Medvid, a majority of the bass was caught using rattletraps near the edges of the lake’s peppergrass.

The next tournament is slated for June 17 on John’s Lake in Clermont.

Wharton High senior shortstop Drew Ehrhard was honored with the 2017 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, by the Hillsborough County Commission at its May 17 meeting.

The Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award honors a high school baseball player or a team in Hillsborough County on the basis of outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements.

Erhard, a four-year letterman and team captain, has been a starter since his first game as a freshman. He has been named All-Western Conference multiple times, and has more than 100 career hits along with a .383 career batting average.

Off the field, Ehrhard, a University of Tampa baseball signee, has a cumulative grade point average of 6.1 and is involved with several community causes, including Relay for Life and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Meanwhile, Jonah Scolaro of Durant High School and Robby Martin of Jefferson High School received Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award Honorable Mentions.

The County Commission established the award in 2005 in honor of first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame member Wade Boggs. A resident of the Tampa Bay area since he was a boy, Boggs is a 12-time All Star who ended his 18-year Major League Baseball career as a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

On May 8, high school coaches from the Pasco County School District announced SAC (Sunshine Athletic Conference) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2016-2017 spring sports season.

Selections were made for both the East and West Division.

The following high schools from our coverage area were represented in the East Division: Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Spring Sports (Boys)
2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Baseball
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach of the Year: Calvin Baisley, Land O’ Lakes High
Player of the Year: McCabe Sargent, Land O’ Lakes High

First-Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Tommy Mace, senior, Sunlake High
Catcher: Kolbe Lupinek, junior, Zephyrhills High
Infielder: Max Law, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Infielder: Michael Wu, senior, Sunlake High
Infielder: Dustin Harris, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Infielder: Corey Mills, senior, Pasco High
Outfielder: Colden Peeples, senior, Sunlake High
Outfielder: Ryan Capogrosso, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Outfielder: Kyler Roy, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Utility/DH: McCabe Sargent, senior, Land O’ Lakes High

Second-Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Troy Klemm, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Catcher: Jacob Ortiz, senior, Sunlake High
Infielder: Zach Balogh, senior, Pasco High
Infielder: Jackson Fiorelli, senior, Pasco High
Infielder: Marcus Gonzalez, senior, Zephyrhills High
Infielder: Malik Melvin, junior, Wesley Chapel High
Outfielder: Garrett Hester, sophomore, Pasco High
Outfielder: Brayden Lyman, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Outfielder: Colton Bierly, junior, Wesley Chapel High
Utility/DH: Nate Stringfield, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High

2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Boys Tennis
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach of the Year: Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch High
Player of the Year: Noah Makarome, Wiregrass Ranch High

First-Team All-Conference
Noah Makarome, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Kanishkh Ramesh, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High
Destiny Okungbowa, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High
Jonathan Judy-Hansen, sophomore, Zephyrhills High
Albert Xing, senior, Land O’ Lakes High

Second-Team All-Conference
Jared Abrams, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Josh Abrams, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High
Caelen Arreola, freshman, Land O’ Lakes High
Mark Goulbourne, sophomore, Sunlake High
Matt Julien, junior, Sunlake High

Honorable Mentions
Harrison Phillips, senior, Pasco High
Jose Morales, junior, Wesley Chapel High

2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Boys Track & Field
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach of the Year: Marvin Gray, Wiregrass Ranch High
Track Athlete of the Year: Dominic Moreno, Wesley Chapel High
Field Athlete of the Year: Zackary Carpenter, Zephyrhills High

First-Team All-Conference
4×800-meter relay: Nick Barbas, senior, Land O’ Lakes High; Adam Hahn, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High; Joseph Pineda, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High; Alex Normandia, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
110-meter hurdles: Dylan Ridolph, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High
100-meter dash: Isaiah Bolden, junior, Wesley Chapel High
1600-meter run: Dominic Moreno, senior, Wesley Chapel High
4×100-meter relay: Cameron Wilcox, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Nick Merilan, senior, Wesley Chapel High; Dexter Leverett, junior, Wesley Chapel High; and, Isaiah Bolden, junior, Wesley Chapel High
400-meter dash: Dewayne Robertson, senior, Zephyrhills High
300-meter hurdles: Bryant Beacham, junior, Sunlake High
800-meter run: Dominic Moreno, senior, Wesley Chapel High
200-meter dash: Isaiah Bolden, junior, Wesley Chapel High
3200-meter run: Alex Normandia, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
4×400-meter relay: Dexter Leverett, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Cameron Boger, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Isaiah Bolden, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Dominic Moreno, senior, Wesley Chapel High
Shot Put: Zachary Carpenter, senior, Zephyrhills High
Pole Vault: Tucker Brace, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
High Jump: Tre’Pavis Mobley, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Long Jump: Vashaun Williams, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Triple Jump: Javion Hanner, sophomore, Pasco High
Discus: Dillon Teets, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High

Second-Team All-Conference
4×800-meter relay: Carlos Cruz, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Joseph Salerno, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Kevin Jaquez, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Nathan Taube, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
110-meter hurdles: Josiah Gadson, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High
100-meter dash: Nick Merilan, senior, Wesley Chapel High
1600-meter run: Alex Normandia, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
4×100-meter relay: Julian Gonzalez, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High; Dada McGee, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Shamaur McDowell, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Adrian Thomas, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
400-meter dash: Ross Shirmohammad, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
300-meter hurdles: Dylan Ridolph, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High
800-meter run: Carlos Cruz, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
200-meter dash: Darren Johnson, senior, Sunlake High
3200-meter run: Joseph Salerno, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
4×400-meter relay: Jabriri Davis, senior, Sunlake High; Darren Johnson, senior, Sunlake High; Bryant Beacham, junior, Sunlake High; and, Jay Grant, sophomore, Sunlake High
Shot Put: KaSean Ridgel, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High
Pole Vault: Will Lovelace, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
High Jump: Vashaun Williams, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Long Jump: Jabriri Davis, senior, Sunlake High
Triple Jump: Kavion Marbra, sophomore, Pasco High
Discus: Zackary Carpenter, senior, Zephyrhills High

2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Boys Weightlifting
Team Champion: Sunlake High School
Coach of the Year: Matt Smith, Sunlake High
Athlete of the Year: Caleb Huff, Sunlake High

First-Team All-Conference
119 pounds: Caleb Huff, sophomore, Sunlake High
129 pounds: Victor Velez, sophomore, Sunlake High
139 pounds: Alex Hall, sophomore, Sunlake High
154 pounds: Joseph Buscemi, senior, Sunlake High
169 pounds: Cris Galdos, senior, Sunlake High
183 pounds: Christian Austin, senior, Sunlake High
199 pounds: Sebastian Matzza, senior, Wesley Chapel High
219 pounds: Caleb Keeling, sophomore, Zephyrhills High
238 pounds: Chase Oliver, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Heavyweight/Unlimited: Nate Hawkins, senior, Pasco High

Second-Team All-Conference
119 pounds: John First, junior, Zephyrhills High
129 pounds: Connor O’ Malley, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High
139 pounds: Hunter Sweet, junior, Zephyrhills High
154 pounds: Josh Brown, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
169 pounds: Guiseppe Vanoni, sophomore, Sunlake High
183 pounds: Shamaur McDowell, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
199 pounds: Zac Masci, junior, Zephyrhills High
219 pounds: Michael Reyes, senior, Sunlake High
238 pounds: Bryant Reyes, sophomore, Sunlake High
Heavyweight/Unlimited: James Perez, senior, Sunlake High

Spring Sports (Girls)
2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Girls Tennis
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach of the Year: Jewell Frye, Wiregrass Ranch High
Player of the Year: Kayleigh Heather, Pasco High

First-Team All-Conference
Kayleigh Heather, senior, Pasco High
Sitare Sriram, freshman, Pasco High
Precious Okungbowa, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Phoebe Teo, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High
Raquel Julien, senior, Sunlake High

Second-Team All-Conference
Nathalie Sawczuk, junior, Pasco High
Madison Jender, junior, Pasco High
Paige Johnson, sophomore, Zephyrhills High
Jo’ Hide Pierre, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Pepe Bouzas, sophomore, Sunlake High

Honorable Mention
Shannon Chen, freshman, Land O’ Lakes High
Kelly Vester, senior, Wesley Chapel High

2016-2017 SAC East All-Conference Girls Track & Field
Team Champion: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach of the Year: Ryan McGee, Wiregrass Ranch High
Track Athlete of the Year: Natalie Abernathy, Land O’ Lakes High
Field Athlete of the Year: Arielle Boone, Sunlake High

First-Team All-Conference
4×800-meter relay: Julia Blankenbaker, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Abbie Dodge, sophomore, Wiregrass Ranch High; Kerry Reilly, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High; Brenna Moran, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
110-meter hurdles: Mya Neal, senior, Zephyrhills High
100-meter dash: Sydney Parker, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High
1600-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
4×100-meter relay: Arielle Boone, junior, Sunlake High; Melissa Mowery, junior, Sunlake High; Jaymonda Calmes, sophomore, Sunlake High; Nia Johnson, freshman, Sunlake High
400-meter dash: Faith Mercer, junior, Wesley Chapel High
300-meter hurdles: Katelyn Ortiz, senior, Sunlake High
800-meter run: Kerry Reilly, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
200-meter dash: Kyra Swain, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
3200-meter run: Natalie Abernathy, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
4×400-meter relay: Jaymonda Calmes, sophomore, Sunlake High; Gianna Levy, freshman, Sunlake High; Katelyn Ortiz, senior, Sunlake High; Skyla Morales, senior, Sunlake High
Shot Put: Lauryn Beacham, sophomore, Sunlake High
Pole Vault: Marissa Malozzi, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
High Jump: Antonia Beason, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Long Jump: Zharia Wilson, freshman, Wesley Chapel High
Triple Jump: Cache Simmons, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Discus: Kaci Landry, sophomore, Sunlake High

Second-Team All-Conference
4×800-meter relay: Skylen Acuna, senior, Land O’ Lakes High; Elise Noll, freshman, Land O’ Lakes High; Estefania Acosta, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High; Natalie Abernathy, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
110-meter hurdles: Emily Beasley, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
100-meter dash: Sydney Rouser, junior, Pasco High
1600-meter run: Kerry Reilly, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
4×100-meter relay: Vyctoria Boger, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Vivianna Cox, senior, Wesley Chapel High; Sydney Parker, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High; Zharia Wilson, freshman, Wesley Chapel High
400-meter dash: Skyla Morales, senior, Sunlake High
300-meter hurdles: Gianna Levy, freshman, Sunlake High
800-meter run: Brenna Moran, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
200-meter dash: Sydney Parker, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High
3200-meter run: Estefania Acosta, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
4×400-meter relay: Vyctoria Boger, junior, Wesley Chapel High; Janine Dacre, senior, Wesley Chapel High; Sydney Parker, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High; Faith Mercer, junior, Wesley Chapel High
Shot Put: Porcia Boateng, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Pole Vault: Patricia Batchelor, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
High Jump: Kasia Ramirez, junior, Sunlake High
Long Jump: Chelsea Kennard, freshman, Pasco High
Triple Jump: Arielle Boone, junior, Sunlake High
Discus: Janiya Buchannon, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High

2016-17 SAC East All-Conference Softball
Team Champion: Land O’ Lakes High School
Coach of the Year: Mitch Wilkins, Land O’ Lakes High
Player of the Year: Callie Turner, Land O’ Lakes High

First-Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Callie Turner, sophomore, Land O’ Lake High
Catcher: Kameron Aitken, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Infielder: Tia Williams, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
Infielder: Bella Huff, junior, Sunlake High
Infielder: Shelby Westbrook, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High
Infielder: Kacie Lemanski, junior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Outfielder: Kacie Huber, junior, Pasco High
Outfielder: Samantha Hiley, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Outfielder: Jessie McCallister, senior, Land O’ Lakes High
Utility: Mariah Melendez, junior, Sunlake High

Second-Team All-Conference
Pitcher: Jordan Almasy, freshman, Wesley Chapel High
Catcher: Neely Peterson, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High
Infielder: Riley Baxter, junior, Sunlake High
Infielder: Ashley Nickisher, sophomore, Wesley Chapel High
Infielder: Ashley Smith, junior, Land O’ Lakes High
Infielder: Jordan Kadlub, sophomore, Pasco High
Outfielder: Morgan Herndon, freshman, Wesley Chapel
HighOutfielder: Cayley Gottschall, senior, Sunlake High
Outfielder: Jaime Valenta, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High
Utility: Alexis Ridolph, senior, Wiregrass Ranch High

Published May 24, 2017

Teddy Owens, director of basketball operations at the University of Nebraska, has been named the new boys basketball coach at Carrollwood Day School.

Owens, who has been with Nebraska for the past four seasons, including the past three as the university’s director of ops, replaces Mario Lovett, who went a combined 26-53 in four seasons at Carrollwood Day.

Besides coaching, Owens, 35, will work in administration as a part of Carrollwood Day’s advancement and development team.

At Nebraska, Owens’ duties included handling the basketball program’s budget, coordinating the team’s travel, working with the Husker coaching staff on scheduling, and other responsibilities.

Owens previously was the head coach at Lincoln Christian High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the late 2000s, leading the program to the Class 2A state tournament in 2009 and 2010. He also was an assistant at several schools in the Tulsa area.

Before joining the Nebraska staff, Owens was a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma under Lon Kruger, and was a student manager at Oklahoma State University in 2003-2004.

Owens graduated from Oklahoma State and got his master’s from Oklahoma in 2013.