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The Wharton High School girls cross-country team won its first county title since 2008 at the Western Conference Championship on Oct. 13 at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave.

The Wildcats faced off against 35 public and private schools and came out with the low score (which is better in cross-country) of 44. Last year the team finished runner-up.

They both got past their district tournament. But neither Sunlake nor Wharton will be competing at state.

Sunlake (20-9) and Wharton (22-6) both had successful seasons, reaching the regional round of the playoffs. They each won their first game at that level, too. But in the semifinals, Sunlake fell to Mitchell, 3-0, while Wharton lost to Plant, 3-2.

For the Sunlake Seahawks, the finish is a step back from last year, when they reached the state semifinals. But for Wharton, is was an improvement over 2014, when the team fell in the regional quarterfinals to eventual state champion Manatee.

• Sunlake fell to Mitchell, 21-14, in a 6A-6 district clash Oct. 23. It was the Seahawks’ first loss of the season, leaving them 3-1 in the district and 7-1 overall. Despite the loss, the results of other district matches helped clinch a playoff spot for Sunlake as no worse than district runner-up.

• Nine games into the season, Steinbrenner’s 2015 squad is officially the most successful in school history. With a 51-15 victory over Alonso Oct. 23, the Warriors pushed their record to 8-1, becoming Steinbrenner’s first eight-win team. And with a 5-1 record in 8A-6 district play, they’ll continue their successful year in the playoffs as well.

• With a 40-28 victory over Wesley Chapel, the Zephyrhills Bulldogs improved their record to 6-2, including 5-1 in 5A-8 district play.
They’re doing it with a high-powered offense. Through eight games, the team is averaging more than 43 points per game. With 346 points, they’re more than 80 points better than their closest district competitor. And their defense, with just 183 points allowed, is second only to undefeated River Ridge in their district.

The Pasco-Hernando State College volleyball team defeated State College of Florida 3-0 on Oct. 24. While it was a good win, there were bigger ramifications for the Lady Quistas.
With the victory, the PHSC squad raised its record to 14-9, with four matches remaining. That mark guarantees them a winning record, which automatically qualifies them for post-season action in District P.
While it’s an impressive accomplishment, it isn’t a surprising one. PHSC has never failed to qualify for its regional tournament during coach Kim Whitney’s 12-year tenure.

With a 2-4 overall record, and 0-1 in Class 6A-6 play, the Land O’ Lakes football team didn’t have much room for error in its Oct. 16 matchup against district foe Springstead.

It wasn’t easy, but the team came away with the win. A 19-17 victory on the road upped the Gators’ record to 3-4 on the year. More importantly, it raised their district record to 1-1, and means they still have a realistic shot at the playoffs.

Land O’ Lakes has two district games left, including what could be an important game against 2-0 Mitchell Oct. 30. Sunlake sits atop the district with a 3-0 mark. Pasco (0-2) and Springstead (0-3) are winless in the district, and the Gators face the Pirates at home next week.

Back in 1987, Bill Browning took over a beleaguered Springstead football program and turned it into a winner. Eventually, he made his way to Sunlake High School when that program started back in 2007, and he’s built it into a winner as well.

When those two teams met Oct. 2, the one Browning is currently leading came out on top.

The Seahawks defeated the Eagles, 38-20, to run their record to 6-0 on the season. And being a Class 6A-6 game, the win made Sunlake a perfect 2-0 in district play. It was also Sunlake’s first win against Springstead since 2011.

Browning was happy to get the win, and also to see some old friends on the road.

“Going back to Springstead (Oct. 2) I saw some people I haven’t seen in a long time, so it was really nice to talk to them,” he said. “It’s always good to see some of the people I worked with and coached.”

One of the people he coached is Springstead’s current head coach, Mike Garofano. And Browning also recognized some players’ names on the field. But, the Springstead athletes didn’t play for him. They weren’t even around when he was there.

“I coached their fathers,” Browning admitted. “Time marches on.”

Following their bye week, undefeated Sunlake will continue their schedule Oct. 16 with a home game against Pasco High School.

Gulfside Hospice’s Second Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Aug. 29 at Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs met its fundraising goal with $22,000 raised for the organization.

But, the fundraiser almost fell short.

After 80 golfers hit the links, event chair Linda Fox mentioned at dinner that they were still about $1,500 short of their fundraising goal. Howard Millian of Millian-Aire Heating and Air Conditioning stepped up and made a donation to help the organization to not only meet, but surpass, its goal.

The funds will help Gulfside Hospice provide care to patients and bereavement services to their loved ones.

It was over before halftime.

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs racked up 28 first-quarter points on their way to a 62-point half against the Fivay Falcons in the team’s home football match-up Sept. 28. They held a 44-point lead at the break, and the teams each added a meaningless touchdown in the second half to end the game 69-25.

Junior Antwione Sims led Zephyrhills with more than 260 yards on the ground and three scores. Quarterback Charles Harrison III didn’t get in much work, only throwing four passes the entire game and completing just two. But he made them count, with both going to senior Jackie Tucker for touchdowns.

The win pushed the Bulldogs’ record to 3-1, and a 2-0 mark in 5A District 8 play. They moved to 4-1 and 3-0 in the district after a 52-37 victory against Hudson Oct. 2. Zephyrhills is averaging nearly 46 points per game, and the team’s district schedule continues Oct. 9 with a road contest against Ridgewood High School.

7 Tool Baseball, a baseball instruction organization for individuals ages 10 through 21, has moved from Tennessee to Pasco County. The organization provides classroom and field instruction, as well as weight room training.

7 Tool wants to start a 10U travel ball program this year, with an additional program each successive year. It currently has training sessions by appointment at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, and at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway.

For information, call 813-693-1830, or visit 7ToolBaseball.com.

The Sunlake Seahawks and Land O’ Lakes Gators both have talented football teams. But one is simply better right now.

That team is Sunlake, as evidenced by a 34-0 victory over Land O’ Lakes on Sept. 18. The game was tight in the first half, with just a 7-0 edge for Sunlake at halftime. But the game got away from the Gators, who fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in 6A-6 district play.

The home victory upped Sunlake’s record to 4-0, and gave the team its first win in district play.

Both teams have plenty of district games left to determine who moves on to the playoffs. Sunlake begins a three-game stretch of district play on Oct. 2, while Land O’ Lakes has three district games in a row starting Oct. 16.