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Lutz Sports

He aims to make Gaither basketball ‘relevant’ again

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The Gaither High School’s varsity boys basketball team hasn’t had a winning season since 2006, but new head coach Jose Jordan wants to change that losing trend.

“We need to raise the expectations,” said Jordan, who is stepping into the new role after spending the past four seasons as the program’s junior varsity (JV) coach.

Jose Jordan is Gaither High School’s new varsity basketball coach. He replaces Dwayne Olinger, who was the team’s head coach for 16 years. Jordan’s appointment was effective on June 20. (Courtesy of Jose Jordan)
Jose Jordan is Gaither High School’s new varsity basketball coach. He replaces Dwayne Olinger, who was the team’s head coach for 16 years. Jordan’s appointment was effective on June 20.
(Courtesy of Jose Jordan)

Jordan replaces Dwayne Olinger, who resigned after 16 seasons — the last 10 being consecutive losing seasons. Jordan’s promotion took effect on June 20.

“It’s a rebuilding program,” said Jordan, a former Gaither High point guard who graduated in 1988. “There’s no way around that.”

Jordan’s last head varsity boys basketball coaching job was at Seminole Presbyterian School (now Cambridge Christian) in the late 1990s. In total, Jordan has 22 years of basketball coaching experience.

Despite the program’s ongoing struggles, Jordan relishes the opportunity to become the head coach at his high school alma mater, especially since he already understands the inner workings of the school’s administration and athletics department.

“I’m very grateful for the job,” Jordan said, adding that he doesn’t think there’s another job in the county that he would have preferred.

But, the coach acknowledged it will take some time to turn around the basketball program and raise its level of expectations.

“My goals are to make Gaither basketball relevant again and to compete for championships,” he said. “We’ve got a tough district…but I think that we can definitely compete.”

While the varsity squad is likely to “take some hits” in Jordan’s first season, he hopes the group can make significant improvements in his second and third seasons.

The rebuilding process will begin with players buying into Jordan’s coaching philosophy and core values.

“I want my players to play together, play for each other and play the game the right way,” he said.

“One of the expectations that I have is that you have to practice hard. A lot of young people think they can rise to the occasion — if you don’t rise to the occasion, you’re going to fall to the level of your preparation,” he said.

In the 2015-2016 season, Gaither finished 9-15, losing seven games by 20 points or more. As the program’s JV coach, Jordan witnessed many of those listless performances.

“We got our butts kicked some nights,” he said. “You could always say it’s a lack of talent, but I don’t like to use that excuse. I don’t think our guys played to their potential, but in all fairness, this is a very tough district. Freedom (High) has an excellent basketball team. So does Sickles (High) and Wharton (High). Those teams have been good for a while.”

He continued: “If we set expectations, we focus on the right thing and our preparation is better, we can turn it around sooner rather than later.”

To quickly steer the program in the right direction, Jordan said he plans to focus more on player development, and extensive strength and conditioning.

Advancing players’ overall skillsets — ball handling, passing, shooting and rebounding — also will be key, he said.

“I think our focus will not be so much on the Xs and Os — at least not initially; the focus will be on…improving our skills,” Jordan said.

Jordan said the team’s personnel will ultimately dictate the offensive and defensive playbook, but acknowledged Gaither will run an up-tempo style of offense with a pressing defense.

“We do like to get out and run every chance we get,” he said. “The more three-on twos, two-on-ones we can create, the better. Obviously, you want to be effective in your half-court offense…but if you’re playing five-on-five, your shooting percentage is going to go down.”

“I do like to play to press as much as we can, whether it’s full-court or half-court traps,” Jordan added.

The recently hired coach expects to have “six or seven” players returning from last year’s varsity team; he’s currently in the process of filling out the rest of the roster.

“The first place that we need to (look for players) is Gaither High School’s hallways,” he said.

Jordan is also actively seeking assistant coaches, which he referred to as an ongoing process.

“I’ve got some former players that I’m looking at joining the staff,” he said.

The school hasn’t hired a JV coach or varsity assistant, but Jordan said he has a list.

“Those are key positions, and I’ve got to make sure that we get those right,” Jordan said.

Published July 20, 2016

Steinbrenner pitcher makes national trial team

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The accolades are piling up for Steinbrenner High School’s right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk.

He’s led Steinbrenner to its first state baseball title.

He’s been crowned the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year.

And now, the rising senior has achieved another prestigious accomplishment: pitcher on the USA Baseball 18U National Trial team.

Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk was one of 40 prep players selected to the USA Baseball 18U National Trial team on June 26. Six other players from Florida made the team. (Courtesy of Steve Fiorindo)
Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk was one of 40 prep players selected to the USA Baseball 18U National Trial team on June 26. Six other players from Florida made the team.
(Courtesy of Steve Fiorindo)

Van Eyk, a Florida State commit, was one of 40 players nationwide selected to the roster on June 26 following a scouting and evaluation period in Cary, North Carolina.

“It was definitely surprising, but I thought I had good shot,” Van Eyk said about his selection.

It wasn’t much of a shock for Van Eyk’s high school baseball coach, John Crumbley.

“He’s right up there with some of the top pitchers that I’ve coached in my career,” said Crumbley, who’s amassed four state titles and over 700 wins in his 25-plus year coaching career at Jesuit and Steinbrenner high schools.

“If he stays healthy, his upside is so high.

“Now, this is just going to put him in the national spotlight,” Crumbley said.

The trial games run from Sept. 11 to Sept. 15 in Houston, Texas, when the 20-man 18U National Team roster will be finalized. If Van Eyk makes the 20-man roster, he will participate in the COPABE Pan Am “AAA” Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2.

Last season, Van Eyk proved to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the entire state. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound flamethrower ranked first in Class 8A in strikeouts (130) and wins (12), and fifth in earned run average (0.77).

With a four-pitch repertoire that includes a 92 mph fastball, high school opponents often left the batter’s box bewildered by Van Eyk’s pitching dexterity.

“When you’re throwing in the 90s, that usually gets attention,” Crumbley said. “His fastball has gotten more velocity as his career at Steinbrenner has gone along — I think the first thing that people see is his velocity that he has.”

Moreover, his other three pitches were just as demoralizing to opposing hitters, his high school coach said.

“They are all plus pitches that he’ll throw at any time,” Crumbley said. “Sometimes, he’ll get out more (batters) with his splitter or changeup. And, his curveball is devastating.”

Crumbley added Van Eyk’s competitiveness, too, is a key reason for his massive successes on the mound.

“He’s just goes at it and gets it done.”

With a goal of one day playing high-level professional baseball, Van Eyk is constantly honing his craft — he’s currently striving to throw his fastball in the mid-90s by the 2017 season.

“I’ve been working to get my velocity up, and keep commanding my pitches better,” Steinbrenner’s ace pitcher said. “There’s always room for improvement, no matter who you are or what you want to do.”

According to Crumbley, Van Eyk always showed flashes of potential, but said he really emerged toward the end of his sophomore year, when he finished 7-0 with a 0.16 ERA in 44.1 innings.

“As a ninth-grader he had a good arm, but I think he just needed to understand how to harness what he had because he was a little more inconsistent,” Crumbley said. “As a sophomore, we brought him along where he was pretty much the guy at the end after we used him more in relief (at the start of the season). We didn’t have to hurry him along — he was able to play infield and develop as a pitcher without being thrown to the wolves early on, so I think all that helped.”

Though the start of the 2017 high school baseball season is more than seven months away, Crumbley said his team is already eager to defend its state title, especially with its best player returning.

“This is the most returning pitching that got us to a high level, and more returning starters than we’ve ever had, so we’re excited,” Crumbley said. “We know the target will be on us.”

Van Eyk is also bullish on the Warrior’s 2017 prospects, and believes the team can repeat as state champs.

“I’m pretty confident in (the team), and I think we can do it again,” he said.

CJ Van Eyk
Pitching stats
Junior year: 12-1, 0.77 ERA, 130 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched
Sophomore year: 7-0, 0.16 ERA, 64 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched

–Stats compiled from Maxpreps.com

Published July 13, 2016

Steinbrenner and Gaither claim state titles

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The varsity baseball teams for Steinbrenner and Gaither high schools each completed impressive seasons, with both teams capturing state titles.

Steinbrenner High School baseball players celebrate the school’s first varsity baseball state title. They defeated Oviedo Hagerty in a 9-4 win in the Class 8A Florida High School Athletic Association state championship game. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High baseball)
Steinbrenner High School baseball players celebrate the school’s first varsity baseball state title. They defeated Oviedo Hagerty in a 9-4 win in the Class 8A Florida High School Athletic Association state championship game.
(Courtesy of Steinbrenner High baseball)

Steinbrenner took its first baseball state title with a 9-4 win over Oviedo Hagerty in the Class 8A Florida High School Athletic Association state championship game on May 21 at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.

The Warriors (27-5) trailed Hagerty 4-1 in the sixth inning before erupting for an eight-run seventh inning, thanks to timely run production from junior Patrick Morris, and seniors Ryan Russell and Drew Burkhart.

On the mound, Morris and fellow junior Dave Crawford combined to pitch seven innings, giving up four runs (two earned).

The Warriors entered the state championship game on a 13-game winning streak, with their last defeat being a 7-3 road loss against Hillsborough High on March 29. For next season, the Warriors lose eight seniors, but return ace right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk (12 wins, 0.77 ERA, 130 strikeouts in 91 innings). Morris, the team’s top power hitter with four home runs and 11 doubles in 2016, also returns.

Gaither’s team prevailed in a nail-biting 2-1 extra-inning game over Venice High, securing the program’s first Class 7A FHSAA state championship.

Players from Gaither High School’s varsity baseball team signal that they’re No. 1. The team beat Venice High to secure the program’s first Class 7A FHSAA state championship. (Courtesy of Gaither High baseball)
Players from Gaither High School’s varsity baseball team signal that they’re No. 1. The team beat Venice High to secure the program’s first Class 7A FHSAA state championship.
(Courtesy of Gaither High baseball)

The Cowboys (20-9) held a 1-0 into the third inning before Venice tied the game 1-1. The Gaither offense finally got a spark in the eighth inning when leadoff hitter Jose Cadenas singled, and eventually scored the winning run on a Venice throwing error. Gaither senior pitchers David Masuck and Josh Bobrowski held Venice’s offense in check, combining to allow just one run on seven hits (no extra base hits), and one walk.

The Cowboys lose eight seniors from this year’s squad, including ace lefty Gavin Gillespie (0.79 ERA, 89 strikeouts in 88 and two-thirds pitched). However, second-year coach Nelson North will have the luxury of getting back five of the team’s top six hitters in 2017, including Cadenas, Chipper Holland, Kenny Rodriguez, Danny Gutcher and AJ Drisdom.

Steinbrenner and Gaither met once during the regular season, with the Warriors defeating the Cowboys 7-3 on March 31 at Gaither High.

–Information and statistics were gathered from FHSAA.org and Maxpreps.com.

Published June 1, 2016

Middle school wrestler to compete at nationals

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Truman Noble, an eighth-grader at Martinez Middle School, has qualified to competed at a national wrestling tournament next month.

The wrestler, the son of Steinbrenner High wrestling coach Paul Noble, will face off in the USA Wrestling Schoolboy National Duals in Indianapolis, from June 8 to June 12.

To take part in the prestigious tournament, the 136-pounder first had to make the Florida Schoolboy National Team roster.

Truman Noble, left, grapples with fellow wrestler Justin Moran during a recent practice. (Courtesy of Paul Noble)
Truman Noble, left, grapples with fellow wrestler Justin Moran during a recent practice.
(Courtesy of Paul Noble)

He did that after winning his weight class (for his age group) at both the 2016 Father Devine National Qualifier, and the Freestyle and Greco Roman State Championships in Osceola.

“It felt good, it was shocking,” Noble said about making the roster. “I’m excited to see what I can do (at nationals).”

Despite Noble’s recent success, his father, Paul, noted that his son “struggled for years” at the sport until he began flourishing during the last 12 to 18 months.

“He’s started to really turn the corner,” said Paul, who’s been coaching wrestling at Steinbrenner High since the school’s opening in 2009.

“His skillset has always been pretty high as far as his technique, but getting things done on the mat hasn’t always translated from drills to being able to do it in a match situation. That’s just really kind of started to happen in the last year to year in a half,” he added.

The high school coach attributes his son’s recent triumphs on the mat to a heightened maturity and an increased commitment to becoming a more refined wrestler. He noted that the middle-schooler trains nearly every day.

The wrestler concurred. He said he has improved by “working hard and not giving up” when he loses.

Having a passion for the sport, combined with a competitor’s mentality, doesn’t hurt, either.

“It’s just fun,” said Truman, who’s been wrestling since third grade. “I like to compete at anything, just like if it’s backyard football or something.”

His son shows immense potential, but Paul noted that Truman will likely be facing older wrestlers when he enters Steinbrenner High because of his weight class.

Many gifted ninth-graders competed in the 106-pound or 113-pound weight class, but Truman is competing at a heavier weight.

That means there will be a steeper learning curve in order to be successful, the high school coach explained.

“He’s going to come in at 132 or 138 (pounds), and those kids are going to be juniors or seniors in high school. It’s going to take more of an effort to get to where he wants to be,” Paul said.

That work starts with hitting the weight room extensively this summer.

“I think his technique is fine, he’ll just have to continually get stronger and be ready for kids that are going to try to get him off of his game, get him out of his comfort zone — that’s what they’ll try to do to freshmen,” Truman’s father explained. “Some juniors and seniors don’t wrestle all year long, so they get kids that they know are probably more skilled than they are…and they try to beat them just with their physical prowess.

“If he gets stronger, he’ll be better,” he said.

Truman agrees, but said, “it definitely helps” to have a father that can continue to develop his wrestling skillset. He’s also excited to work with his dad more frequently once he joins the Steinbrenner High wrestling team.

Paul is “excited” too, but acknowledges that of the two, Truman is likely more enthusiastic about the future father-son wrestling scenario at Steinbrenner High.

“It’s nerve-wracking a little bit,” Paul acknowledged. “It’s a little different when it’s your kid, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Published May 25, 2016

Area spring football preview: Hillsborough County

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Spring football practices are underway for Hillsborough County schools in our coverage area. Programs such as Gaither High and Freedom High are hoping for turnarounds, while Steinbrenner and Wharton high schools are trying to build off last season’s successes. Carrollwood Day School fits the bill as a possible team on the rise for 2016.

 

Carrollwood Day School
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (10th year)
2015 record: 7-4       

Carrollwood Day School prep fans should be excited about the potential for an entertaining season, and not just because the private school’s football team will be playing at a brand-new athletic complex in 2016. A majority of Carrollwood’s young playmakers on offense return, including incumbent quarterback Raymond Woodie Jr., leading rusher Yahsin Wooten (740 yards, 8 TDs) and leading receiver Markeis Colvin (20 receptions, 501 yards, 4 TDs.) The Patriots also return their top two tacklers from last season in linebackers Ryan Verscharen and Stephen Walters, who will be seniors. Replacing the production of two sack artists in Zac Watson-Parcells and Corey Shamley will be key to take a step forward in 2016.

Freedom High School
Coach: Floyd Graham (1st year)
2015 record: 3-7

Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year. (File photo)
Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year.
(File photo)

It’s likely a rebuilding year for new Freedom coach Floyd Graham, who was officially hired on April 1. The good news for those that closely follow Freedom’s program is it’s something Graham should be able to handle, considering he created football programs from scratch at both Newsome and Steinbrenner high schools. However, Graham will have some uphill battles to climb in year one. Being hired in April doesn’t give him much time to implement his coaching philosophy, and develop a rapport with both players and assistant coaches. Also, the team is losing a plethora of seniors from 2015, including do-it-all playmaker Nasir Core.

Gaither High School
Coach: Jason Stokes (6th year)
2015 record: 4-6

In order to improve in 2016, the Cowboys must make some strides on the offensive side of the ball. The team scored nine points or fewer in six out of their 10 games. Luckily for Coach Stokes, bellcow running back Alex Rodriguez returns. Getting quarterback Gavin Denboer to cut down on his interceptions (10) is a must. The Cowboys defense should be able to hold its own, with the return of linebacker Decalon Brooks, last year’s leading tackler (114). The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Brooks, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks, is widely viewed as one of the top players in all of Tampa. The consensus three-star recruit already has Division I scholarship offers from Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Illinois and University of South Florida.

Steinbrenner High School
Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (5th year)
2015 record: 9-2

The Warriors finally had a breakout season in 2015 under the tutelage of head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo. Thanks to a potent offense and an at-times smothering defense, Steinbrenner’s only two setbacks last season were against dynasty prep programs in Manatee (Bradenton) High and Dr. Phillips (Orlando) High. On offense, quarterback Collin Wray (56 percent completion, 1,634 yards) returns, as do two of his favorite targets in Brett Bitter (35 receptions, 600 yards) and Carson Kaleo (34 receptions, 277 yards). Replacing the production of 1,000-yard rusher Jayquese Dantley is something the team will need to address. On defense, Coach Perez-Reinaldo and his staff must find some players that can carry the load, since the Warriors lose three leading tacklers in Tyler Mirabella, Patrick Lukert and Zack Deitz.

Wharton High School
Coach: David Mitchell (12th year)
2015 record: 8-2

The Wildcats enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign, with sizable victories over the likes of King High, Gaither High, Wiregrass Ranch and Leto High. However, it won’t be easy to replicate the scoring outputs (at least 30 points in seven games) from 2015. Coach Mitchell will have to replace quarterback Bryce Martin, leading rusher Miles Williams (1,102 yards, 10 TDs) and leading receiver Devontres Dukes (18 receptions, 360 yards) from last year’s squad. They also lost defensive stalwarts in linebacker Hayden Parks (75 tackles) and defensive lineman Godey Coleus (six sacks). One possible breakout candidate to watch is two-way player Shannon King, who will be a junior. The powerful 5-foot-10, 210-pounder rushed for nearly 400 yards, adding 6.9 yards per carry.

Published May 4, 2016

Local soccer player signs with Division 1 team

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Mikey Connell — the son of a former local soccer legend — has signed a national letter of intent with the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

The Steinbrenner High standout is the son of former Tampa Bay Rowdies star Mike Connell.

The 6-foot-1 midfielder will be coached at the Division I college by Derek Marinatos, who’s in his sixth year as UNF’s head coach.

Connell signed his national letter of intent with UNF on Feb. 3, two weeks after ending his high school soccer career.

Connell, left, was accompanied by his father Mike on National Signing Day on Feb. 3. Connell’s father played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the ’70s and ’80s. (Photos courtesy of Mike Connell)
Connell, left, was accompanied by his father Mike on National Signing Day on Feb. 3. Connell’s father played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the ’70s and ’80s.
(Photos courtesy of Mike Connell)

While Connell had a few other college offers, he decided on UNF after meeting with the coaching staff and visiting the campus.

The three-time All-County selection is relieved to have the recruiting process behind him.

“It was a very stressful process,” Mikey said, “because you’re always thinking about where you are. If a school doesn’t offer you, you’re thinking, ‘Oh no, I’m running out of time; signing day is coming up.’ Once I committed, it was easy going into the (soccer) showcases and just focusing on playing, and not worry about attracting coaches to my style of play.”

He will be joining a team which has finished over .500 for three straight seasons. The university became an even more attractive option for Connell after one of the team’s players, midfielder Alex Morrell (of Lakeland), was drafted 22nd overall in the 2016 MLS (Major League Soccer) SuperDraft.

“That was a big factor in my decision,” said Connell, who hopes to play professional soccer after he finishes college. “The fact they can produce those type of players gives me an opportunity to prove myself on that big stage.”

His father noted it was important to “put (Mikey) in the hands of someone that will take him to the next level.”

“Certainly, the coaching staff there understands the challenge of preparing players and delivering players to the professional ranks, which was very important,” Mike said.

This past season, Connell was one of the most productive players in Hillsborough County, scoring 26 goals and dishing out 19 assists.

“While he’s been a very, very good high school player, everything resets and now (he’s) going to go and have to do it again,” Connell’s father said about playing Division I soccer. “The fact that he has the opportunity to improve himself at this next level is all you ask for. Now, it’s up to him to go and understand the challenge.”

Steinbrenner High’s Mikey Connell will be playing Division I soccer at the University of North Florida in the fall. He scored 26 goals and dished out 19 assists this past season.
Steinbrenner High’s Mikey Connell will be playing Division I soccer at the University of North Florida in the fall. He scored 26 goals and dished out 19 assists this past season.

Throughout his illustrious high school career, Connell said he’s become more confident in his abilities, which is highlighted by his attacking style of play, and his penchant for facilitating scoring opportunities for teammates.

“I feel like I see things that most players do not see,” said Connell, who helped guide Steinbrenner to a district championship in 2014 and a regional championship in 2013. “I’m left-footed, so that’s a unique characteristic. I can take people on with the ball, I can score goals, and I can assist.

“I’ve really tried to hone my game into an all-around kind of player over the past few years.”

His father, a 10-year veteran of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, agrees with that assessment.

“He’s very confident receiving the ball and holding the ball when he has it. He doesn’t panic under pressure,” Mike explained. “His strongest asset is his vision of the game, the creative side of the game.”

Additionally, Mike said his son has become a “better leader of his teammates” since he started playing for Steinbrenner.

“He’s seeing the game on a bigger scale. …Just maturing with the game and the expectations of a bigger, stronger, more physical game,” Mike said.

Mike believes his son has the talent to play professionally, but adds there’s “still a lot of development to come.”

“There’s the right of passage to ‘fight the fight’ against everyone out there that may have that (professional) ambition,” Mike said. “Certainly, had he grown up in the soccer environments of South Africa or Europe, he would be further along.”

In addition to playing for Steinbrenner, Connell also plays for the Tampa Rangers, a club soccer team directed by his father.

The opportunity to be instructed by someone who’s played professional soccer for over a decade has been a key to Connell’s development.

“He’s the biggest impact on my life, coaching wise,” Connell said about his father. “He’s been my main coach since I was 11 when I was on his club team, and he’s been coaching me on my own whenever I started walking.

“He’s definitely been the biggest influence in my life on the game of soccer,” he said.

Published March 23, 2016

Girls fast-pitch coming to Lutz

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Dwindling registration in recent years has prompted the Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball organization to add a recreational fast-pitch league for the first time in its 37-year history.

The league expects 15 teams, across four age groups, and the deadline for registrations is Feb. 1.

Girls in the fast-pitch league will transition to new bats, which are several ounces lighter than bats designed for slow-pitch softball. (Courtesy of Lutz Leaguerettes)
Girls in the fast-pitch league will transition to new bats, which are several ounces lighter than bats designed for slow-pitch softball.
(Courtesy of Lutz Leaguerettes)

The Lutz Leaguerettes, a nonprofit organization, has provided slow-pitch softball to girls ages 5 to 18, making it the lone recreational slow-pitch girls’ league in Hillsborough County.

Other softball programs — the Brandon Leaguerettes, North Tampa Leaguerettes, Tampa Bay Velocity and FishHawk Miss Tampa Bay Softball — all transitioned exclusively to fast-pitch over the past few seasons.

“The Lutz Leaguerettes is the last of a dying breed,” said Mike Cook, president of the Leaguerettes.  “Slow-pitch is kind of dying out, because a lot of people want to play fast-pitch, and they see all these college girls playing fast-pitch; there’s just a lot more interest in fast-pitch.”

Jennifer Parry, who’s the league’s secretary, said the increased desire for young girls to play in high school also has had an influence.

“I think with the popularity of (former Olympic gold medalist softball pitcher) Jennie Finch, the Olympics and all these girls playing softball in college, it’s really changed softball for kids,” she said. “So many more kids want to play softball in high school, so they’re having to learn how to play fast-pitch. The registration numbers are dwindling for slow-pitch, so now we’re adding fast-pitch. …We’re trying to get girls excited and out there playing.”

The Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball recreation league is adding a fast-pitch program for the first time in its 37-year history.
The Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball recreation league is adding a fast-pitch program for the first time in its 37-year history.

Before the rise of fast-pitch, Cook said the Leaguerettes once had 400-plus girls playing in the league. Now, the league has around 120 girls participating in the slow-pitch category.

The dip in participation has made scheduling difficult, and the competition monotonous.

“Last season, my daughter played in the Pixie (ages 5-9) division and there were five teams, and this season there’s only three,” Parry said. “Just for the kids, to be able to keep it going, you got to have more participation.”

Ideally, the Leaguerettes would like to offer both slow-pitch and fast-pitch leagues, with the former running from November to January, and the latter starting in February each year.

“We’re going to see what happens. If we have to give up slow-pitch by the wayside, then we’ll make a decision when the time comes,” Cook said. “Until then, we’re going to try to continue with both leagues.”

Cook noted that “fast-pitch isn’t all that different from slow-pitch,” but there will be a few adjustments. For example, there are a few rules that differ for fast-pitch, as well as the type of equipment required for players to be safe and effective.

Additionally, the offensive strategy for fast-pitch softball contrasts with slow-pitch.

In fast-pitch, the general offensive approach is to play ‘small ball,’ where bunting, slapping and hitting singles are heavily relied upon to generate runs. Conversely, offensive players in slow-pitch softball are often taught to hit the ball as far as possible, due to the relative ease at making contact.

Typically, fast-pitch age divisions are separated every two years, but the Leaguerettes will start with just four age divisions: 8U (ages 6-8), 12U (ages 9-12), 16U (ages 13-16) and 18U (ages 17-18).

The deadline for registrations is Feb. 1. The league expects 15 teams, across four age divisions
The deadline for registrations is Feb. 1. The league expects 15 teams, across four age divisions

“I’d be willing to bet we’ll have 15 teams divided up among the divisions,” said Parry, who expects about 150 girls in the league’s inaugural fast-pitch season. “The 18U is our toughest (to fill) right now, because the girls at that age don’t want to transition from slow-pitch to fast-pitch, because they’ve been playing slow-pitch their entire life, and that’s a big adjustment…but, the 12U division is blowing up and is by far the fullest.”

A majority of the games will be played at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex in Lutz, with the league hoping to host some tournaments that feature rec teams throughout Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Brandon and Temple Terrace.

The league has already been selected to host the all-county Early Bird Tournament from Feb. 26 to Feb. 28, which will include up to 10 different leagues.

“We’re in the process of scheduling some tournaments,” Cook said. “We’d love to have some tournaments at our field, because it’s a wonderful fundraiser, and it just creates a buzz at the field like no other. …When you have three fields going — three different games, six different teams playing, concession stand buzzing — it just gives a feeling of belonging.

“The concession stand is, bar none, the best you will find in the county. It’s clean, they provide quality service and have monthly specials, and it’s volunteers that run it all,” he said.

Getting the league back to its height of popularity isn’t the only goal. League officials also stressed the importance making sure the participants’ experiences are rewarding and enjoyable.

“It’s an opportunity for the girls to make new friends. All the girls can commiserate and create friendships that last a lifetime,” the league president said. “The lessons that they learn are lessons they’ll carry for the rest of their life — patience, understanding, tolerance and communication.

“There’s a number of things the girls learn and a number of tools they receive that they utilize for life that they don’t even realize at the time,” Cook said.

Published January 20, 2016

Carrollwood Day School soon to get home field advantage

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A $1 million matching gift donation program has paved the way for the construction of a new athletic complex at Carrollwood Day School.

Located near the west entrance of the school’s Bearss Avenue campus, the new athletic complex will be a well-lit, multi-use space for the private school’s football, baseball and soccer teams.

This $2 million multipurpose sports complex at Carrollwood Day School will also include a baseball facility. After this season, the baseball program will no longer have to travel to Citrus Park to play their home games. (Photos courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)
This $2 million multipurpose sports complex at Carrollwood Day School will also include a baseball facility. After this season, the baseball program will no longer have to travel to Citrus Park to play their home games.
(Photos courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Billionaire entrepreneur Todd Wagner, and his wife, Keri Wagner, made the donation program possible by agreeing to put forward a $1 million pledge in August, contingent on the school also raising $1 million.

The school reached the $1 million mark by mid-December, through contributions from numerous other families with ties to the school.

“It kept coming in bunches,” said Head of School Ryan Kelly. “We had a number of families step forward from smaller amounts to larger amounts, from three figures to six figures.

“It just was a community effort, and I’m just thrilled that families stepped up and supported it.”

The multi-use athletic complex is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, just in time for the high school football season. And, instead of playing on a grass surface, home football games will be played on turf.

Carrollwood’s soccer program has played their home games on a leased parcel of land. Next year, their games will be played in the new sports complex.
Carrollwood’s soccer program has played their home games on a leased parcel of land. Next year, their games will be played in the new sports complex.

“There aren’t that many (turf fields) around here, so I think from that standpoint, we’ll be one of the few independent schools that have a turf field,” said Kelly, who has been at the school for eight years and has been head of school for three years.

The school’s athletic director, Baker Mabry, also is enthused about the turf field, which he referred to as the “shiny piece” of the new complex.

“We really pushed hard for turf,” said Mabry, who’s in his ninth year as the school’s athletic director. “Anybody that has to manage a field that has natural grass knows the headaches with that. I think everybody is pretty excited about the turf.”

Being able to have stadium lights at the complex is another feature that stands out for Mabry, who noted other private schools like Tampa Catholic have “had to wait years” before getting approval for lights.

“To be able to host night games, you know everybody loves the ‘Friday Night Lights’ with football, but just for athletics across the board…I think it’s really going to be a neat thing for our school,” Mabry added.

The complex, which will also include a press box and enough bleacher seating for 500-plus people, should make Mabry’s job easier, as he won’t have to worry about leasing off-site fields for the various athletic programs’ practices and home games.

Carrollwood Day School’s new athletic complex will feature a football field with a turf surface. Previously, the football program played their home games at Skyway Park.
Carrollwood Day School’s new athletic complex will feature a football field with a turf surface. Previously, the football program played their home games at Skyway Park.

“It should streamline everything,” he said. “Having everything on campus, for me personally, will really help streamline that process, but I also think it’s going to raise expectations for our program, which is a great thing also. It keeps our coaches motivated. It keeps our athletes motivated. Hopefully, we’ll just continue to build.”

Mabry believes the new complex will increase athletic participation and has other benefits, too.

“I think it increases school spirit, and I think it’s going to increase participation across the board with our sports,” he explained. “We’re also hoping it increases enrollment, as people see our facilities and people see that we are a school on the move, and a school that’s growing. It entices more families to attend CDS (Carrollwood Day School).”

Mabry said there’s been an added emphasis over the past years to get the school’s athletic facilities up to par with its highly regarded academic facilities.

“The No. 1 thing that we hear is the academic facilities are fantastic,” he said. “But people would ask, ‘When are the athletic facilities coming in line?’”

The athletic complex is the second phase of the school’s capital campaign program, known as Patriot Pride. The first phase of the program, a 25,000-square-foot gymnasium, is currently under construction. Once completed, it will house three volleyball courts, two full-size basketball courts and a weight room.

The facilities are a step forward for the school, Kelly said.

“For our campus, I think it’s going to be a huge enhancement for our athletics and also our PE (Physical Education) program. We’ll be able to match what we do on our athletic side with what we do on our academic side,” he said.

Carrollwood’s athletic director concurs with that assessment.

“I think it’s just one of the final pieces that makes Carrollwood Day School one of the top schools in the area,” Mabry said.

Published January 13, 2016 

Record-setting start for Steinbrenner football

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The Steinbrenner High School coaching staff knew its team was special when it defeated Riverview High School by a 38-17 margin on Sept. 18. That gave the Warriors a 4-0 start for the first time in school history, and eclipsed the team’s win total from last year’s entire season, when it won just three games.

Steinbrenner head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo talks with linebacker Tyler Mirabella at practice. The defense has helped lead the Warriors to a 4-0 record. (MIchael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Steinbrenner head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo talks with linebacker Tyler Mirabella at practice. The defense has helped lead the Warriors to a 4-0 record.
(MIchael Murillo/Staff Photo)

But coaches also knew the team was special when it defeated Chamberlain on Sept. 11 to go 3-0.

And, the week before, when the team defeated Blake High School to go 2-0.

The team had never done those things before, either.

In fact, it became the first varsity team at the school to even start 1-0 with an opening win against Gaither High School. (The team’s first victory in its inaugural season in 2009 counted as a junior varsity victory).

Head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo had an inkling about their potential a lot earlier than the start of the regular season. In fact, the realization dawned on him late last year.

“I had a good feeling last December,” he recalled. “We were planning on starting our off-season conditioning in January. I had a group of these seniors come up to me and say ‘Hey coach, we want to start now, in December.’ When those kids do that and take that kind of initiative, that lets you know you have a special thing going on.”

If the team has been special, its defense has been spectacular. The defense gave up 17 to Riverview and allowed 10 points to Chamberlain, but previous outings were even better. Neither Blake (31-0) nor Gaither (13-0) put up any points against the Warriors.

The coach admits that a stifling defense is a big key to the team’s success and keeping opponents frustrated.

“Our defense right now is the heart and soul of the team,” he said. “If they (opponents) can’t score, they can’t win.”

It’s a philosophy that resonates with the players, and gets repeated frequently.

“As the defense we knew that we were going to really be the glue of the team. If they don’t score, they’re not going to win,” said middle linebacker Patrick Lukert in a separate interview.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound senior has helped the team off to its impressive start, but he’s not surprised. He expected to see scoreboard success after watching the players come together and focus before the games started. He just thought it would happen with a different quarterback.

Expected starter Cason Byrd suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Preseason Classic, meaning backup Colin Wray had to step in with little notice and perform.

He’s led the team to an undefeated record, the most wins in one season since 2012 and an opportunity to think about the school’s first-ever playoff berth.

Again, Lukert said he isn’t surprised.

“We have confidence in Colin. Colin’s been practicing just like Cason has. Since last December he’s been working out. We knew he was going to be all right,” he said.

The coach credits the entire offense for helping pick up the slack with a new quarterback behind center.

“Those guys, that wide receiver corps and offensive line and running backs have just rallied around our quarterback position, making him the best that he can (be). And that support has been huge for him,” Perez-Reinaldo said.

A strong start has created a lot of optimism and excitement, and the coach said it’s a product of athletes taking classwork seriously and buying into the program. It’s a lot of hard work, but after coaching for about 10 years (this is his fourth season at Steinbrenner), Perez-Reinaldo said it’s still fun.

“Friday nights. There’s nothing like it,” he said.

Steinbrenner Warriors 2015 remaining schedule
Sept. 25 at Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Manatee, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Newsome, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 vs. Palm Harbor University, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Alonso, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Berkeley Prep, 7 p.m.

Published September 23, 2015

Steinbrenner adds on another district title

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The Steinbrenner High School baseball team had a great season, winning many games and establishing themselves as a force in their district.

But really, that’s not news.

They’ve done that every year since the school opened in 2009.

The Warriors didn't always score a lot, but they usually got what they needed by manufacturing runs and getting smart play from players like Andrew Lindsay. (Courtesy of Evan Abramson)
The Warriors didn’t always score a lot, but they usually got what they needed by manufacturing runs and getting smart play from players like Andrew Lindsay.
(Courtesy of Evan Abramson)

What is news is how the high school team — which loses players every year to graduation and turns over its entire roster every few seasons — continues to operate at a high level of success.

All signs for that achievement point to head coach John Crumbley.

He’s been a constant presence since the Warriors began playing baseball.

But Crumbley isn’t taking the credit for the team’s consistent success.

“We’ve got good kids at our school, and we have coaches who feel we have a formula that works,” Crumbley said.

Still, what has worked at Steinbrenner the past six years also worked at Jesuit High School, where Crumbley coached baseball for 22 years and was athletic director for three years.

The coach’s resume at Jesuit includes 11 trips to the state final four, two runner-up finishes and three championships.

Now, with two district titles in six years, Crumbley wants the Warriors to experience the same kind of success as Jesuit’s team achieved.

“I kind of want these kids to feel that experience of what I’ve been fortunate enough to succeed at in my career,” he said.

At first, it didn’t look like this season would be like the others.

The team struggled when the year began.

The Warriors lost their first two games and were still struggling a quarter of the way through their campaign. But they righted the ship, at one point winning 10 out of 11 games in a row. In one three-game span during that run, they outscored their opponents 56-2.

But most of their games were closer, and Steinbrenner came out on top most of the time with good defense and pitching. They held their opponent to one run or less 15 times, and went 13-2 in those games.

Unfortunately, one of those two low-scoring losses came in the regional semifinals, when Durant High School beat the Warriors 1-0 in extra innings. Steinbrenner finished the year with a 19-7 record, a Class 7A-8 district title and matched the school’s farthest journey into the playoffs to date.

Crumbley credits the team with sticking with the game plan, even when the wins weren’t coming early on, and following the path to success they’ve built at Steinbrenner.

“The kids and teams that buy into our system, our philosophies and our techniques — those teams are able to do a little better,” he said.

According to senior pitcher Ryan Fatzinger, part of those philosophies and techniques involve limiting mistakes and finding ways to manufacture runs.

“We’ve had a lot of success with discipline at the plate. We don’t strike out much, and we minimize the errors on defense,” Fatzinger said.

Knowing that he has a strong defense behind him gives him confidence on the mound, since the pressure isn’t solely on him to perform.

Fatzinger will carry the confidence he gained at Steinbrenner to Pasco-Hernando State College, where he’ll be part of the Conquistadors’ potent baseball program.

He feels prepared to join a successful college program after being a part of a successful program at Steinbrenner, which he attributes in part to Crumbley’s straightforward attitude with his players.

The coach’s successes — at Jesuit and now at Steinbrenner — are widely known, and motivate his players to not let him down, Fatzinger said.

“People don’t want to lose, especially with him as the coach,” he said.

The Warriors haven’t done much losing with Crumbley at the helm, regardless of who’s on the field in any particular year.

Next season will definitely include some new faces: Steinbrenner will lose 10 seniors, although not all of them were starters.

There were effective pitchers, like Fatzinger, that they’ll have to replace, but Crumbley is confident his developmental team has the players necessary to provide a roster that will enable Steinbrenner to continue its pursuit of excellence.

For now, Crumbley can reflect on the year, appreciate the team’s accomplishments and recognize this year’s performance as a successful continuation of Steinbrenner baseball’s already-strong pedigree.

“Winning the district title is huge,” Crumbley said. “and being that we’re six years old, and we’ve got two of them already, that’s pretty quick for a lot of places.”

Published May 20, 2015