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Local pitchers delay pro careers for college

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Two of the area’s top pitchers are postponing their pro careers — for now.

Sunlake High School’s Tommy Mace and Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk — both selected in the middle rounds of June’s MLB Draft — have opted to forgo professional baseball contracts, and instead attend in-state Division I programs.

Sunlake High’s Tommy Mace, who was drafted in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, will pitch at the University of Florida.
(File)

Mace, drafted in the 12th round (347th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds, will pitch at the University of Florida, which last month won the 2017 College World Series — the first national title in program history.

Van Eyk, drafted in the 19th round (577th overall) by the New York Mets, will pitch at Florida State University, which reached the College World Series, but was later eliminated by Louisiana State University.

The draft-signing deadline was July 7; the draft featured 40 rounds and 1,205 picks in total.

Besides higher education, Mace and Van Eyk have a chance to further develop their pitching skillets with advanced college instruction.

Typically, that results in an improved draft stock — and larger corresponding signing bonuses.

Based on MLB guidelines, Mace and Van Eyk will be draft-eligible again in three years — players at four-year colleges and universities are eligible three years after first enrolling in such an institution, or after their 21st birthday (whichever occurs first).

Mace, a lanky 6-foot-7, 200-pound righty, was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 144 overall prospect in the 2017 draft.

The site lauds his projectable 94 mph fastball, and usable three-quarters breaking ball.

One of the more effective prep arms in the Tampa Bay area, Mace tallied a 1.29 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 70.2 innings, with an 8-2 record in 11 appearances — guiding Sunlake High to the Class 7A regional finals last season.

During his three-year varsity career, meanwhile, Mace won 19 games, posting a 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

Van Eyk was equally dominant throughout his prep career.

Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk, who was drafted in the 19th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, will pitch at Florida State University. (File)

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 120 overall prospect in the 2017 draft.

In addition to a blistering 95-mile-per-hour fastball that displays movement and sink, Van Eyk features an effective curveball and changeup.

His senior season, however, was cut short due to arm soreness. In limited action, he posted a 0.73 ERA and 56 strikeouts.

But, throughout his three-year varsity career, Van Eyk was virtually unhittable, tallying a 0.60 ERA and 250 strikeouts in 173.2 innings, and winning 24 games.

Van Eyk surged onto the national spotlight last summer as a member of the USA Baseball 18-and-under team’s pitching staff, helping the squad win gold at the Pan American Championships.

Also in 2016, he led Steinbrenner to its first state baseball title in and was crowned the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year.

Van Eyk wasn’t Steinbrenner’s only drafted player.

His teammate, first baseman Patrick Morris, was selected in the 14th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Morris, however, opted to turn pro, inking a signing bonus in excess of $200,000.

Published July 19, 2017

Youth track club reaches nationals

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One local youth track club has reached the national stage — gearing up to compete against some of the sport’s best.

Speed Starz Track Club recently qualified for the 21st Annual AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Club Championships, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The Wesley Chapel-based club is sending five athletes, ranging in age from 13 to 17, for its first appearance in the national showcase, held July 11 through July 15.

The Speed Starz Track Club recently qualified for the 21st Annual AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Club Championships, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. From left: Landon Williams, Gianna Levy, Melissa Mowery, Arielle Boone and Guadalupe Guerra.
(Kevin Weiss)

The club championships offer the last chance for athletes to qualify for the 2017 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Detroit, Michigan, July 26 to Aug. 5. The top eight finishers in each track and field event qualify for the Junior Olympics.

Representing Speed Starz at the national meet are a trio of athletes from Sunlake High School — rising seniors Arielle Boone and Melissa Mowery, and rising sophomore Gianna Levy.

Joining them are Guadalupe Guerra, a rising freshman at Wiregrass Ranch High School, and Landon Williams, a rising seventh-grader at John Long Middle School.

Since May, the five athletes — along with several others — have been training extensively with BB Roberts, the club’s head coach.

Roberts organized the Speed Starz in 2013 and simultaneously created a sports training company — Fast, Sprint, Quick Athletic Performance LLC.

The AAU circuit is regarded as more challenging than the high school and middle school levels. That’s because it has an increased number of elite-caliber athletes from every region of the country.

“It’s much more competitive,” said Guerra, a long-distance runner who last season was named 2017 Pasco County Middle School Girls Track Athlete of the Year.

“At the school level, there’s not as many people that have as much fast times, so (AAU) pushes you harder,” she said.

The athletes’ emotions have been swirling, leading up to the weeklong festivities.

“I’m happy, and I’m nervous,” said Boone, “because I’ve never been to a national event.”

“I’m kind of just anxious to see what happens,” added Levy. “I feel like this type of competition will give me motivation to really try hard.”

Williams, the youngest competitor at 13 years old, echoed similar sentiments.

BB Roberts is the club’s head coach. He organized the Speed Starz in 2013 and simultaneously created a sports training company — Fast, Sprint, Quick Athletic Performance LLC. (File)

“I’m a little nervous, but it will be exciting,” she said. “I just want to do my best, and beat my previous times.”

The national showcase, meanwhile, provides an opportunity for track athletes — particularly upcoming seniors — to catch the eye of college recruiters, who seldom attend regular high school meets.

“I tell kids all the time, ‘If you really want to get recruited, get involved with this stuff.’ I wish I had done it,” said Roberts. “(Recruiters) go to the state meets sometimes, but they always go to AAU meets every summer.”

Roberts also does his part to ensure the club’s athletes get noticed.

“He makes sure that we have our own portfolio…and he really pays attention when it comes to getting recruited,” said Mowery, who’s competing in the heptathlon.

Roberts, now 31, was a record-breaking sprinter at Wesley Chapel High School, and later at Coffeyville Community College, a junior college in southeast Kansas.

Today, he maintains his passion for track and teaching youth, of all ages and abilities.

“Track can help you do anything,” Roberts said, noting it translates well to other sports, including football and soccer.

His pupils come from all over Pasco, including Dade City, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Land O’ Lakes, over the last few years.

Roberts emphasizes proper running form.

He’s also an advocate of resistance training, utilizing Kbands and speed parachutes, among other products.

Those methods helped Boone set a personal record in the 200-meter dash (25.97).

“My first two weeks working with him, I PR’d by over half a second; it’s been a really big help,” said Boone, the 2017 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East Field Athlete of the Year and one of the county’s top jumpers.

It likewise helped Levy, a 2017 SAC East Second-Team All-Conference sprinter and hurdler.

A former gymnast, Levy acknowledged her running stride used to be “really bad.”

Intense, one-on-one work with Roberts quickly changed that.

“He’s really helped my arms, so now I don’t even think about the way I run,” Levy explained.

“He takes more time to develop you.”

No matter the group’s outcome in Orlando, each is laying the groundwork for next track season.

“If you compare their times back when they ran in March or February, there’s a big difference,” Roberts said.

“If you ask any professional track athlete, during the summertime is when you peak the highest. It’s why the Olympics are in the summer, and why they have tryouts in the summer.”

And, that summer grind has made the athletes eager for the possibilities ahead.

That’s especially true for Boone and her fellow Sunlake High comrades.

“It’s exciting,” Boone said, “because I know when we come back to the high school season, we’re going to do really good.

“We’ve been training all offseason — and that’s when you get better,” she said.

Speed Starz Track Club national qualifiers
Arielle Boone, senior, Sunlake High School
Events: Long Jump, Triple Jump, 200-meter dash, 100-meter dash

Gianna Levy, sophomore, Sunlake High School
Events: 400-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash, 100-meter dash

Melissa Mowery, senior, Sunlake High School
Events: Heptathlon (100m hurdle, 800m, 200m, high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin)

Guadalupe Guerra, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch High School
Events: 3,000-meter run, 1,500-meter run, 2,000-meter steeplechase

Landon Williams. seventh-grade, John Long Middle School
Events: 3,000-meter run, 1500-meter run, 800-meter dash, shot put

Published July 12, 2017

Wiregrass Ranch football loses two playmakers

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The 2017 football season is two months away, but one of Pasco County’s top teams already has taken a hit.

In a week’s span, two varsity standouts from Wiregrass Ranch High School — cornerback Shamaur McDowell and quarterback/safety Raymond Woodie III — have exited the rising program, which last season finished Class 7A, District 8 runner-up, making its first playoff appearance since 2010.

Senior cornerback Shamaur McDowell has transferred to IMG Academy, a boarding school and sport-training destination in Bradenton. (File)

On June 16, Woodie III, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior, announced he was enrolling at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon, a move that allows him to reconnect with his father, an assistant football coach at the University of Oregon.

“…I would like to thank everyone at Wiregrass for taking me in and giving me the opportunity to be successful on and off the football field,” Woodie III said, in a statement. “I will forever be grateful to the coaches and players, and wish them nothing but the best this season. With that being said, my family and I have decided it is best for me to move out to Oregon with them and attend Sheldon High School.”

Just four days later, McDowell, a 5-foot-11, 184-pound senior, announced his intention to transfer to IMG Academy, a boarding school and sport-training destination in Bradenton.

“My parents and I felt like it was the best decision,” McDowell said, in a statement. “It will allow me to focus on being the best student-athlete I can be. It will also prepare me for the next stage in my life.”

Both are widely regarded as elite prospects for their respective classes.

And, noteworthy losses for Wiregrass Ranch, which figures to be one of the better teams in Pasco in 2017.

Woodie III, who landed at Wiregrass Ranch after transferring from Carrollwood Day School in the offseason, is rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect and the nation’s eighth-best dual-threat quarterback for the 2019 class, and boasts scholarship offers from over 20 Division I football programs.

McDowell, a three-year varsity player for the Bulls and verbal commit to the University of Minnesota, is rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect and ranked among the state’s top 300 players for the 2018 class; he also holds scholarship offers from nearly 20 Division I schools.

Junior quarterback/safety Raymond Woodie III has transferred to Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon, a move that allows him to reconnect with his father, an assistant football coach at the University of Oregon. (File)

For McDowell, the transfer to IMG Academy offers an opportunity to further enhance his skills, and raise his national profile.

The academy, ranked as the top prep program in Florida, typically plays a national schedule.

This season, IMG Academy (11-0 in 2016) will play games in Arizona, California, Maryland, Washington D.C., Utah, Alabama and Virginia, facing some of the nation’s other top prep football schools.

Throughout the school year, McDowell will receive training inside state-of-the art facilities from a staff of full-time coaches, trainers and nutritionists.

He will also compete alongside other top talent — IMG’s entire roster is actively recruited by FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools.

Meanwhile, the Bulls remain stockpiled with impact players, even with the two departures.

It all starts with senior defensive back Jordan Miner.

The four-star prospect is ranked one of the state’s top 50 players for the 2018 recruiting class, and claims nearly 30 Division I scholarship offers, including Penn State University, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina and University of Tennessee, among others.

Last season for the Bulls, the 6-foot-1, 177-pound Miner tallied 38 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and 12 passes defensed.

He also racked up nearly 500 all-purpose yards on offense, defense and special teams.

Besides Miner, the Bulls have numerous players with standing college scholarships offers, including wide receiver/safety Daniel Biglow (Fort Lewis College), safety/running back Kwesi Littlejohn (Webber International University), tight end/defensive end Devaun Roberts (Warner University, Webber International) and wide receiver/slot back Adrian Thomas (Webber International).

The return of 1,000-yard rusher Da Da McGee and a potential breakout campaign from junior quarterback Grant Sessums should also help mask the exodus of Woodie III and McDowell.

Save for anymore unforeseen departures from the program, the Bulls look to build on last season’s success, under third-year coach Mark Kantor.

Kantor, who previously coached at Hudson High School, orchestrated an impressive turnaround from 2015 (2-8 record) to 2016 (7-3 record).

But, the upcoming season won’t be easy.

Besides facing tough district opponents like Plant, Gaither and Wharton high schools, the Bulls kick off the 2017 slate against nondistrict opponents Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake high schools — which went a combined 22-7 last season.

The challenging schedule may come in handy near playoff time, however.

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s new playoff system for football stresses strength of schedule, along with overall record. After the four district champs in Class 7A, Region 2, the other four playoff teams will be determined by a points-based system.

In preparation for the rigors of a demanding 2017 schedule, Kantor arranged a May 19 spring game against Tampa Catholic (33-27 loss) and August 18 preseason classic against Clearwater Central Catholic (9-2 record in 2016).

—Stats were supplied by coaches on Maxpreps.com

Wiregrass Ranch High 2017 football schedule
Aug. 18 – at Clearwater Central Catholic
Aug. 25 – Zephyrhills High School
Sept. 1- at Wesley Chapel High School
Sept. 8 – Sunlake High School
Sept. 15 – at Sickles High School
Sept. 22 – Wharton High School
Oct. 6 – at Gaither High School
Oct. 13 — at Freedom High School
Oct. 20 — Leto High School
Oct. 27 — Plant High School
Nov. 3 – at Auburndale High School

Published July 5, 2017

Saint Leo coach seeks to ‘win at a high level’

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Rick O’ Dette won nearly 500 games coaching baseball in the Midwest — now he’s looking for similar results down south in Pasco County.

O’ Dette, who coached at Division II Saint Joseph’s College of Indiana for 17 seasons, was named Saint Leo University’s new baseball coach on June 15.

He replaces Saint Leo alumnus Sean O’ Connor, who surprisingly was let go after a 23-26 record in 2017 — his first losing campaign in five seasons (155-90-1 record).

Rick O’ Dette was named Saint Leo’s new baseball coach on June 15. He replaces Sean O’ Connor, who was let go following a 23-26 losing season. O’ Dette coached the past 17 years at Division II Saint Joseph’s College of Indiana, where he amassed a 494-407-4 overall record. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

O’ Dette, 41, most recently steered Saint Joseph’s to a 35-22 record and the program’s fourth berth in the NCAA Midwest Regional — despite the knowledge that the university would be suspending all operations following the 2016-2017 academic year.

The achievement earned him Great Lakes Valley Conference’s 2017 Coach of the Year. He also was selected as HERO Sports Division II Coach of the Year by a fan poll.

Other college programs expressed interest in his services, but O’ Dette picked Saint Leo, calling it a “hidden gem” among the Division II baseball ranks.

Besides the sunny Florida climate, O’ Dette pointed to Saint Leo’s conference affiliation (the highly competitive Sunshine State Conference), the university’s facilities and resources, and its academic reputation as key reasons the gig is so attractive.

“I thought it was an extremely appealing place…that we could win, and win at a high level,” he said.

He’s done plenty of that.

At Saint Joseph’s College, O’ Dette amassed a 494-407-4 overall record.

In fact, he will begin his first season in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) ranked fourth among active SSC head coaches in total wins behind University of Tampa’s Joe Urso (744), Rollins College’s Jon Sjogren (680), and Barry University’s Juan Ranero (542).

Throughout his 17-year ledger at Saint Joseph’s, O’ Dette coached 56 All-GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) selections, 25 All-Region honorees and four Division II All-Americans.

Moreover, 24 of his players have gone on to play professional baseball, including eight who were drafted or signed as free agents by Major League Baseball teams.

Victories on the diamond aren’t the only hallmark of O’ Dette’s squads.

His players also are known for their classroom success.

Every baseball student-athlete that exhausted his eligibility — during O’ Dette’s tenure at Saint Joseph’s College — has earned a degree.

Additionally, 84 players have earned GLVC Academic All-Conference honors during O’ Dette’s time at the helm of Puma baseball. His most recent squad finished the academic year with a 3.38 team grade point average.

It’s a trend he plans to continue at Saint Leo.

“We want to make sure they’re well-rounded,” O’ Dette said. “It’s just not going to be majoring in baseball, they’re going to have to do something when baseball is over.”

He continued: “We have to recruit the right students. If we’re chasing that guy to go to class, we’re wasting time.”

O’ Dette, meanwhile, can best be described as a baseball lifer.

He was a 15th round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 1997 MLB First-Year Player Draft, and played at four different levels within the Red Sox organization, until injuries halted his career.

He began his coaching career at 23 years old, almost immediately after his playing days ended.

O’ Dette worked as a professional instructor for Championship Sports Academy in Tinley Park, Illinois, as well as the Chicago White Sox Training Center. He spent two summers as the head coach for the Upper Deck Cougars Baseball Organization out of Palos, Illinois, guiding the club to consecutive fourth place finishes at the World Championships.

O’ Dette also spent the 1999-2000 academic year as the pitching coach for Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana.

In a release, Saint Leo athletic director Francis X. Reidy said O’ Dette “was exactly the type of coach we were looking for” in the hiring search.

“He has proven his ability to develop a program built on academic success, athletic excellence and a commitment to the Division II ideal, and I am confident he will bring Saint Leo baseball back to the upper echelon of Sunshine State Conference baseball,” Reidy said.

Additionally, several of O’ Dette’s former players expressed support for the hire on Facebook and Twitter, while fans and alums of Saint Joseph’s College lauded his coaching acumen.

The hire also received support from industry leaders in the sport, including University of Illinois head baseball coach Dan Hartleb, the 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year finalist.

“Rick O’ Dette is an outstanding hire for Saint Leo. He’s one of the most respected recruiters in the Midwest and Chicagoland area,” Hartleb said, in a statement.

“He is a tireless worker, develops great relationships with players, with people in the community and from a recruiting standpoint. Rick will develop the same type of recruiting relationships and reputation in Florida in a short amount of time. Rick will do whatever it takes to ethically build Saint Leo’s program into a national contender.”

Interestingly, O’ Dette isn’t the first ball coach to make the trek from Rensselaer, Indiana, to east Pasco County.

Academy at the Lakes varsity softball coach Diane Stephenson worked for Saint Joseph’s College in 2014 and 2015. She was hired by Academy at the Lakes in July 2016, and last season she led the private school to a 20-3 mark and the Class 2A regional finals.

Published June 28, 2017

Sizing up Saint Leo’s baseball prospects

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The Saint Leo baseball program just experienced its first losing season since 2012 — a mark newly named head coach Rick O’ Dette looks to quickly reverse.

Throughout the 2016-2017 season, the Lions fared well at the plate (.320 team batting average, 6.6 runs per game), but struggled mightily on the mound (6.56 team ERA, 73 home runs allowed).

The Lions’ 23-26 record (8-16 Sunshine State Conference), can partially be blamed on a rash of injuries and a lack of depth.

“Obviously, last year they had a lot of injuries on the mound, so we’re just trying to evaluate the health of each guy, and then our needs. So, getting the pitching staff healthy and adding some depth to it is our first priority,” O’ Dette said, analyzing last year’s team.

Saint Leo outfielder/third baseman Dylan Harris figures to be a key part of coach Rick O’ Dette’s first season at Saint Leo. Harris, a Land O’ Lakes High alumnus, paced the team last season in batting average (.448), on-base percentage (.472), hits (99) doubles (20) and stolen bases (15). (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Besides strengthening the pitching staff, creating positional stability — particularly at catcher— is another initial focus for O’ Dette and his new staff.

“There’s only one catcher on the roster, so our next thing is to find two catchers that can come in. Ideally, one older, transfer type guy and one high school type,” he explained.

Just a few reinforcements could make a drastic difference, considering the team lost five games by just one run.

Saint Leo appears to have a workable nucleus, led by outfielder/third baseman Dylan Harris, a Land O’ Lakes High School graduate who paced the team in batting average (.448), on-base percentage (.472), hits (99) doubles (20) and stolen bases (15).

Other expected key returnees on offense include rising juniors Brett Coffel (.297 average, seven home runs, 28 RBIs) and Derek Gibree (.323 average, 23 RBIs, nine steals), and seniors Lane Stancil (.317 average, eight doubles, 17 RBIs) and Chase Turner (.323 average, seven doubles, 23 RBIs).

Moreover, the pitching staff — if healthy — has a decent base, and figures to be anchored by a pair of seniors in lefty Tyler Bauman (4.75 ERA, 81 strikeouts in 85.1 innings) and righty Oscar Gordillo (4.26 ERA, 25 strikeouts in 31.2 innings).

An early signing recruiting class highlighted by former Land O’ Lakes High ace McCabe Sargent should help, too.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander displayed one of the top arms in Pasco County last season, recording a 1.97 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 67. 2 innings; he also exhibited an elite bat, posting a .455 batting average with four home runs and 28 RBIs.

Meanwhile, O’ Dette will look to bolster Saint Leo’s roster by pursuing prospects from the high school and junior college ranks, as well as utilizing the Division I and Division II transfer market.

Though much of his recruiting ties span major cities such as Chicago and Indianapolis, and states including Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, O’ Dette will first strive to make inroads within the Tampa Bay region — a collective “hotbed” of baseball talent.

“Our goal is to try to get the best player we can out of that area at first, and then try to expand if we need to get the rest,” he explained. “There’s a lot of really good baseball in (Florida), and we’re excited to get with those guys.

“We’re going to use every resource we can, no matter where they’re from,“ he added. “The idea is we can sell the weather; the next step, obviously, is to sell the education and the baseball.”

Once on campus, the Lions’ new skipper will meet face-to-face with current players, and begin to lay the groundwork for his program, which emphasizes a team-based culture.

Perhaps more than ever that can be a challenge, especially with the proliferation of travel ball, baseball showcases, social media and other distractions.

“You’ve got to care about who else is on your team, before you can win,” O’ Dette explained. “I think if you put (players) in the right setting and they trust the coaching staff, you can get them to buy into what you’re trying to do from a team concept; I think kids will do anything you ask them to do, if you get them to trust you.”

He added: “If you put some structure up there and get them to work within some guidelines, usually you’ll have some success.”

Historically, O’ Dette’s rosters at Saint Joseph’s College of Indiana featured “an exciting style of play” predicated on pitching and being “middle strong” defensively — largely the catcher, second base, shortstop and center field positions.

“You’ve got to be able to pick the ball up, and you’ve got to be able to throw strikes,” he said.

“We like to run when we have the right team, and we’ll make adjustments as needed, to make sure that we’re not stuck in one system with the wrong type of player, especially in the first couple of years.”

Published June 28, 2017

Locals fare well in 2017 MLB Draft

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Dreams of playing professional baseball are about to come true for several local athletes.

The 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft wrapped up on June 14, and several baseball players with ties to The Laker/Lutz News Coverage Area were selected.

The first-year player draft is Major League Baseball’s primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges and other amateur baseball clubs, to its 30 teams — which offer up millions of dollars in signing bonuses to its top draftees.

There were 40 rounds and 1,205 picks in total, over the three-day draft.

Of those picks, 135 were from the state of Florida, second to only California, which produced 192 selections.

Remarkably, four former Steinbrenner High School players were selected — Kevin Merrell (first round), Patrick Morris (14th round), Josh Falk (17th round) and CJ Van Eyk (19th round).

The draft was also kind to Odessa natives — Bishop McLaughlin product Nate Pearson (first round) and Alonso High’s Jordan Butler (33rd round).

Other local talent selected included Sunlake High right-hander Tommy Mace (14th round) and Bishop McLaughlin outfielder Paul Coumoulos (40th round).

Just two players with local ties were selected in last year’s draft: Saint Leo’s Troy Sieber was picked in the 24th round by the Houston Astros, while Gaither High’s Camryn Williams was picked in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners. Sieber, a first baseman, is currently assigned to the Greeneville Astros, a rookie-level affiliate in Tennessee. Williams, a shortstop, opted to hold off a pro career to attend Dallas Baptist University, in Texas. He’ll again be draft-eligible in 2019.

Pitcher Nate Pearson (Toronto Blue Jays-first round, 28th pick)

Nate Pearson, an Odessa native, was drafted 28th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2017 MLB Draft. Pearson graduated from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in 2015. (Courtesy of College of Central Florida)

The Odessa native graduated from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in 2015, where he was one of the top pitchers in the state (1.24 career ERA). He attended Florida International University as a freshman, then transferred to College of Central Florida in Ocala. In his lone season there, he posted a 1.56 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 81 innings, and was named JUCO Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game.

An imposing 6-foot-6, 245-pound right-hander, Pearson is lauded for a blistering fastball, which touches 101 miles per hour.

Baseball America ranked him as the state’s second best draft prospect, just behind University of Florida ace Alex Faedo.

Based on his draft position, Pearson could receive a signing bonus upwards of $2.3 million.

Kevin Merrell (Oakland Athletics-first round, 33rd pick)

University of South Florida shortstop and Steinbrenner High alum Kevin Merrell was selected 33rd overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2017 MLB Draft. Merrell graduated from Steinbrenner in 2014, where he was a four-year letter winner for head baseball coach John Crumbley; he also lettered in golf and track. (Courtesy of University of South Florida)

The Steinbrenner High product and University of South Florida shortstop is widely viewed as the fastest college player in the 2017 draft class. On his high school track team, the 6-foot-1, 189-pound Merrell ran a 10.6-second, 100-yard dash. Those wheels translated well to the baseball diamond, where he stole 56 bases in his three-year college career, eighth-most in program history. Besides pure speed, the left-handed hitter boasts an elite bat, posting a career .353 average, and becoming the only player in South Florida history to lead the team in hitting three-straight seasons.

He also showed power in 2017, slugging seven home runs and 15 extra-base hits.

Merrell’s on-field performance earned him several end-of-year accolades, including 2017 American Athletic Conference First Team and 2017 Baseball America Second Team All-American.

Meanwhile, he was ranked as the state’s seventh best draft prospect and 51st overall, according to Baseball America.

Based on his draft position, Merrell is slotted to receive a signing bonus upwards of $2 million.

Tommy Mace (Cincinnati Reds—12th round, 347th pick)
One of the most effective prep arms in the Tampa Bay area, Mace tallied a 1.29 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 70.2 innings, with an 8-2 record in 11 appearances — and helped guide Sunlake High to the Class 7A regional finals.

A lanky 6-foot-7, 200-pound right-hander, Mace has developed a consistent 90 mph fastball, along with a tight curveball and usable changeup. Previously a University of Kentucky commit, Mace has since elected to play baseball at the University of Florida. If he temporarily forgoes a pro career, he’ll be draft-eligible again in three years, likely improving his draft stock.

Should he sign with Toronto, it could mark solid draft value at pick No. 347 for the pro club, as Baseball America ranked Mace the state’s 12th best draft prospect and 88th overall.

Patrick Morris (Toronto Blue Jays—14th round, 429th pick)
A power-hitting, left-handed first baseman, Morris possessed extra-base and home run power the past two seasons at Steinbrenner High, racking up eight home runs, 17 doubles and 43 RBIs cumulatively. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Morris also was a solid pitcher, posting a career 2.71 ERA, with 82 strikeouts in 95.2 innings.

Baseball America ranked Morris as the state’s 89th best draft prospect. He is a Florida Atlantic University commit.

Josh Falk (Oakland Athletics—17th round, 501st pick)

Josh Falk, a University of Pittsburgh pitching standout, attended Steinbrenner and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic high schools. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 17th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh)

Falk began his prep career at Steinbrenner High, and then transferred to Bishop McLaughlin, where he graduated in 2013. He started his college career at Hillsborough Community College, before winding up at the University of Pittsburgh, where he developed into the pitching staff’s ace. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-hander finished the season with a 3.92 ERA, with a record of 3-7 in 14 appearances. He also ranked among ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) leaders in innings (85), strikeouts (75) and batting average against (.228). Falk, who faced elite competition at Pitt, can locate all three of his pitches for strikes, which includes an effective breaking ball.

CJ Van Eyk (New York Mets—19th round, 577th pick)

Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk was selected by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. (File)

A highly touted prospect, Van Eyk possibly dropped in the draft due to medical and signability concerns as a firm Florida State University commit. This past season at Steinbrenner, Van Eyk threw just 38.1 innings and was shut down in April with arm soreness. In his limited action, however, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty was virtually unhittable, posting a 0.73 ERA and 56 strikeouts. Besides a blazing 95-mph fastball, Van Eyk possesses a devastating curveball and effective changeup.

Last summer, the Steinbrenner star jumped onto the national radar, as a member of the USA Baseball 18 and under team’s pitching staff, helping the squad win gold at the Pan American Championships.

Also in 2016, he led Steinbrenner to its first state baseball title and was crowned the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 8A Player of the Year.

Baseball America ranked Van Eyk as the state’s 18th best draft prospect and 109th overall.

Some believe he could develop into a future first-round selection after seasoning at Florida State.

Jordan Butler (New York Yankees—34th round, 1,022nd pick)
The Odessa native starred at Alonso High for three years, morphing into one of the state’s top two-way high school players. On the mound this past season, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound southpaw registered a miniscule 0.85 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 82 innings, with a record of 9-2. At the plate, he hit .451, with eight home runs and 35 RBIs.

Butler will likely forgo a pro contract to attend the University of Florida, where he can raise his draft stock.

Baseball America ranked Butler as the state’s 41st best prospect and 251st overall.

Also of note: he was a teammate of Van Eyk on the USA Baseball 18 and under squad last summer.

Paul Coumoulos (Philadelphia Phillies—40th round, 1,193rd pick)
A four-year varsity player at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Coumoulos proved one of the best pure hitters in Pasco County each season. In 104 career games, the 6-foot, 205-pound outfielder posted a career .378 batting average, .471 on-base percentage, 21 doubles and 62 RBIs. Also a capable runner, Coumoulos racked up 31 steals on 33 attempts in his career.

He is a College of Central Florida commit.

Published June 21, 2017

Saint Leo golfer nominated athlete of the year

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Saint Leo senior Marie Coors has been named the 2017 Division II Honda Athlete of the Year nominee for golf, as announced by Chris Voelz, executive director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

Saint Leo golfer Marie Coors (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Coors is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious Division II Honda Athlete of the Year, which will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the CWSA program, now in its 41st year.

Coors, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association Division II Golfer of the Year and a First Team All-American, captured the individual championship at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship in May, after carding a seven-over 295 over 72 holes. She finished the season with a 72.16 stroke average over 32 rounds, and had the lowest stroke average of any Division II women’s golfer.

The Gross-Zimmern, Germany, native earned First Team All-SSC honors and was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) At-Large Academic All-District team.

She also won the NCAA Elite 90 award for the 2017 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship for having the highest grade point average of any competitor in the national championship.

Coors was the recipient of Saint Leo’s Clara McDonald Olson Scholastic Excellence Award, presented to the member of the graduating class with the highest GPA attained over four years at Saint Leo University.

Coors won three tournaments during the 2016-17 campaign with 10 top five finishes. She finished among the top 10 in all 12 events in which she competed during the season.

All Honda Sports nominees from Division II and Division III become a finalist for the prestigious 2017 Honda Woman Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 26, 2017, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 Division II and Division III NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross-country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and track and field.

Saint Leo adds women’s beach volleyball

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It’s a sport sweeping the nation — and one local institution is taking advantage.

Saint Leo University is the latest Florida college to add women’s beach volleyball as a varsity NCAA sport.

Current Saint Leo indoor volleyball coach Sam Cibrone will move into a new role as director of volleyball. An additional full-time assistant coach will be added for the new beach volleyball program, while current assistant coach Carlos Ramos will work exclusively with Saint Leo’s 2017 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) champion indoor volleyball program.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Competition for the sand-based sport begins Spring 2018, as an independent (non-conference) team. It marks Saint Leo’s 20th intercollegiate sport and its 11th offering in women’s athletics; the recommendation to add beach volleyball was made by the university’s Gender Equity Committee, and approved by University President Dr. William J. Lennox Jr.

It will initially be a non-scholarship sport.

“The addition of beach volleyball will provide additional opportunities for women to compete in the Green and Gold for Saint Leo University and is a natural fit for Saint Leo athletics,” Saint Leo athletic director Francis X. Reidy said, in a statement. “Between our location in Florida and the strength of our existing indoor volleyball program, I believe beach volleyball has a bright future here at Saint Leo.”

Construction will begin this summer on a new five-court beach volleyball complex on a portion of the intramural field, adjacent to the Saint Leo Tennis Center.

The facility — expected to be the largest in Division II — is slated to be “practice-ready” this fall and “competition-ready” by January.

The complex will benefit the beach volleyball program and the university’s intramurals program, as well. There also will be opportunities to host youth, club, and collegiate events at the new beach volleyball complex, generating revenue and exposure for the university and the beach volleyball program.

Sam Cibrone, currently the Lions’ head volleyball coach, will move into a new role as director of volleyball. An additional full-time assistant coach will be added for the new beach volleyball program, while current assistant coach Carlos Ramos will work exclusively with Saint Leo’s 2017 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) champion indoor volleyball program.

Saint Leo University has added women’s beach volleyball as a varsity NCAA sport. Competition for the non-scholarship sport will begin in Spring 2018

The new position appears to be a seamless transition for Cibrone, the winningest coach in Saint Leo volleyball history and three-time SSC Coach of the Year.

A beach volleyball player for more than 20 years, Cibrone created the Clearwater-based Sunshine State Outdoor Volleyball Association in 2004, drawing hundreds of junior and adult teams in year-round tournaments.

He’s taking Saint Leo’s upstart sport seriously, with hopes to make it a national power — like the indoor volleyball program.

In 13 seasons as volleyball head coach, Cibrone has compiled a 255-164 record, guiding the program to eight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including four in a row.

“Our indoor program has a great history of being successful, and we’re going to expect the same thing from our beach program,” Cibrone said. “I want the quality to be at the same level as our indoor program, because we’re not treating this like a club.”

Besides hiring an assistant beach coach, Cibrone’s next step is filling a roster of 16 players. Several athletes from the Saint Leo indoor team are expected to join the beach program for the first year.

Cibrone’s ultimate goal, however, is to mold primarily beach-only players.

“We really want to grow this program as a separate entity,” Cibrone said. “Plus, that’s not going to help our gender equity issue if we just take the same kids and have them play two sports.”

Beach volleyball only calls for two players from one team to be on the court during matches. Both players must work together and become jack-of-all-trades and dominate on many fronts, including passing, setting and hitting. Indoor volleyball, however, calls for players to be much more specialized.

“The kid that can do everything well is a good beach player,” Cibrone said. “You don’t have to be a super phenomenal athlete; you just have to be a good volleyball player.

Beach volleyball doesn’t yet have a strong high school presence, making the recruiting process “completely different” compared to indoor.

As opposed to scouting prep teams, coaches will recruit open club competitions, such as the Dig the Beach Tournament Series in Siesta Key.

“I’m going to be going to a lot of beach tournaments and recruiting through the beach circuit, because there’s tournaments all over in Florida,” Cibrone said. “I think you’re going to see those kinds of big tournaments come to focus.”

Cibrone is also tasked with building a 16-game schedule for 2018.

Many opponents figure to come from in state, he said.

Within Florida, a total of 10 institutions competed in beach volleyball during the 2017 season: Eckerd College, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Jacksonville, Stetson, North Florida, Webber International and Warner.

Additionally, the University of Tampa and Florida Southern College have announced their intention to add the sport for Spring 2018. The growth of beach volleyball has skyrocketed in recent years since it was first approved as an “emerging sport” by the NCAA in 2009. At the time, data showed that more than 200,000 females ages 6-17 played beach volleyball, and more than 60 percent competed exclusively in the sport rather than indoor volleyball.

At the start of the 2016-17 academic year, a total of 66 NCAA member institutions had either added the sport or announced their intention to do so. The NCAA added a national collegiate championship for beach volleyball as its 90th championship in January 2015, after a target of 40 institutions had added the sport.

While building a championship contender is a focus, Cibrone also wants Saint Leo’s beach players to have an enjoyable athletic experience.

“I want to make it a great experience,” he said, “because I understand they’re coming with just their academic money, and so they’re making a sacrifice.

“I think some of these programs that are not fully funded—they’re pushing the kids too hard and making it not a great experience.

“I’m going to make it fun for them, challenging and super competitive.”

Published June 6, 2017

Wharton track standout leaves legacy of excellence

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Bryanna Rivers’ name won’t soon be forgotten at Wharton High School.

She lays claim to three school track records — one individual, two relays.

She’s amassed 11 state track medals — the most in program history.

Wharton High senior Bryanna Rivers has earned 11 state medals — the most in the school’s track program. She has earned a full-ride Division I athletic scholarship to the University of Massachusetts.
(Kevin Weiss)

And, she’s just the second track athlete at Wharton to earn a full-ride Division I athletic scholarship — to the University of Massachusetts; the other was hurdler/sprinter Teona Rodgers, who graduated Wharton in 2007 and attended Florida State University.

Rivers, a senior, placed second in the 800-meter run at the 2017 Florida High School Track & Field State Championships, held May 5 and May 6 at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

She ran a blistering time of 2:10.51 —narrowly behind Miami Southridge’s Kayla Johnson, a University of Miami signee, who clocked 2:10.39.

For Rivers, it was both a personal record and a school record.

”That was probably my biggest accomplishment,” she said about her prep track career.

The local track star shined in other state events, too.

She placed eighth in the mile (5:12.39) and was the anchor leg of Wharton’s 4×400-meter relay that placed third (3:50.21).

Reaching — and performing well — at the highest level is certainly not foreign to Rivers.

In all four years, she’s advanced to the state finals in multiple events, earning corresponding medals.

Besides claiming school records in the 800-meter run and 4×400 (3:48.23) and 4×800 (9:22.04) relays, Rivers is second all-time in the school’s 400 meter (56.32) and 1,500 meter (5:00.95) races, and third in the 1,600 meter (5:04.80).

Wharton’s Bryanna Rivers, left, edges Riverview’s Bailey Hertenstein in the girls 800-meter run, during the Class 4A Region 2 track meet on April 29. A week later at states, Rivers finished second in the 800-meter run (2:10.51), breaking personal and school records.
(Courtesy of Tyler Copeland)

That versatility to excel in short and long distances makes Rivers unique, said Kyle LoJacono, her personal track coach.

“She’s so phenomenally athletic and gifted,” said LoJacono, who also coaches the Wharton boys track team. “She has that natural fast-twitch muscle fiber; she can pretty much be entered anywhere from six to maybe 10 events, and really help a college program.”

Her success didn’t come without some growing pains, however.

Rivers almost quit the sport entirely between her sophomore and junior years.

Though still a standout runner, she wasn’t seeing improvement dating back to her middle school years.

“I wasn’t really getting the results I needed to,” Rivers said. “I came in as an eighth- grader as a 2:14 (800 meter), and at the meets I couldn’t get under a 2:16, so I was just like really disappointed in myself.

“I was so frustrated; there’s definitely a moment where I was doubting myself and thought about stopping.”

All she needed was an altered workout regimen.

“She needed something different,” said her father, Neil Rivers. “She was basically going through three-quarters of her junior year and ran faster as a seventh-grader than she had in three years of high school.

“We had to make some tweaks and had to make some changes.”

That’s when LoJacono agreed to become her trainer, beginning April 1 of last year.

He repurposed Bryanna’s training, placing additional focus on volume running —upping mileage and pace.

He also reduced the number of races Bryanna entered.

“Even though her volume came up on her workouts, we cut her race volume — just to get her much fresher,” LoJacono explained.

Her passion for running was soon rediscovered.

The race numbers — beginning with the AAU club circuit — reflected it, too.

Last June, Bryanna finished sixth in the 800-meter run (2:12.52) in the Emerging Elite division at New Balance High School Outdoor Nationals, in Greensboro North Carolina.

Interest from college track programs ensued.

“That all of a sudden really set her recruiting world on fire; it was a very busy summer for her on the recruiting side,” Neil Rivers said.

She settled on the University of Massachusetts, located about 1,300 miles north of Tampa.

“It ended up being my favorite visit,” Bryanna Rivers said. “They really took the time to get to know me.

“Looking at my options, that was the place that would be most comfortable,” she added.

Besides track, Bryanna will run cross-country for UMass; she plans to study biology and intends to become a postpartum nurse.

One thing she’ll miss back home is the chance to run with her two siblings, sophomore Tre Rivers and freshman Nia Rivers.
“This year was the first year that all three of us ran high school at the same time; it was just so much fun,” Bryanna said.
But, she hopes her success can motivate them to earn athletic scholarships one day.

“Hopefully, I can influence them, like, ‘You can do it, if you just work hard,’” Bryanna Rivers. “I just see them have such a passion for it, and they’re just really determined.”

Meanwhile, Bryanna’s high school career isn’t totally finished.

She will again compete on the club circuit this summer, running for the Trailblazers Youth Athletic Ministry; her last prep competition is the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, on June 18.

Published May 31, 2017

 

Land O’ Lakes High softball wins state title

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They finally did it.

On May 20, the Land O’ Lakes High Gators unseated powerhouse Plantation American Heritage 3-1, claiming the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSSA) softball championship at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach.

The achievement marks the first fastpitch title for Land O’Lakes (29-3) and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.

On May 20, the Land O’ Lakes High Gators defeated Plantation American Heritage 3-1, claiming the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) softball championship at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach. The win marks the first fastpitch title for Land O’ Lakes (29-3) and the first for a Pasco County program since Ridgewood High won in 1992.
(Courtesy of Edwin Rodriguez, Land O’ Lakes Gators varsity softball)

Making the victory even sweeter: The Gators downed the same team that eliminated them in last year’s state semifinals.

And, it wasn’t the first time this postseason Land O’ Lakes exacted revenge.

The Gators twice beat Wesley Chapel High School — in districts and regionals —after the Wildcats bested them during an April 4 regular season game (2-0 loss).

Besides payback, the championship shows the Gators — in recent years one of the region’s premier softball program — can dethrone a state dynasty; American Heritage (25-4) was making its fourth straight championship game appearance and was trying to win its eighth title overall.

Likewise impressive, the Gators won in comeback fashion.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Land O’Lakes found timely hitting —base hits by Callie Turner and Tia Williams  — and benefitted from Patriot mistakes — hit by pitch, wild pitch— to build the lead for good.

Meanwhile, Turner, the team’s sophomore ace, kept the game within reach from the outset, pitching like she has all season long.

The University of Tennessee commit fired a complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out eight against a potent Patriots lineup (.447 team average, 24 home runs).

The Gators’ championship win culminated a pair of close playoff games.

The day before, on May 19, Land O’ Lakes edged North Fort Myers High 2-0 in the state semifinals.

And, on May 12, the Gators narrowly beat Springstead High 2-0 in the region finals.

For followers of Land O’ Lakes varsity softball, the championship isn’t an utter shock.

But, it’s likely eye-opening after last year’s graduation of Shannon Saile, one of the program’s all-time great pitchers.

Saile — now a freshman standout at Florida International University — 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.

Moreover, Gators head coach Mitch Wilkins this season had to replace two key bats in then-seniors Tayler Holt (.347 average) and Kendall Tipton (.311 average).

No matter.

Projecting forward, a state title repeat in 2018 isn’t out of the question.

Armed with Turner (0.21 ERA, 249 strikeouts) and a budding star in sophomore Shelby Westbrook (2.10 ERA, 58 strikeouts in 43.1 innings), pitching won’t be an issue.

Hitting shouldn’t be a problem, either.

The Gators do lose centerfielder Jessie McCallister (.358 average, 17 RBIs) and outfielder Lexi Turner (.293 average, 19 RBIs).

But, the team returns just about everyone else, including sluggers Tia Williams (.444 average, 24 RBIs), Ashley Smith (.390 average, four home runs, 30 RBIs) and Brianna Lindner (.352 average, two home runs, 22 RBIs).

Not to be overlooked, Wilkins’ mentoring should provide a steadying force, too.

After a 13-13 mark in 2014, the team has since gone a combined 80-9 under Wilkins.

Published May 24, 2017