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Pasco wants to build on challenging 2013 season

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After three straight undefeated regular seasons, Pasco High School slipped to 7-3 in 2013. They failed to win their district, making the playoffs as a runner-up in Class 5A-District 6.

That record would represent a great season for many schools, but expectations run high at Pasco. And it’s a drop in production from what the Pirates have usually accomplished under Tom McHugh.

The Pirates hope their hard work at practice will help them contend for a district title this season after finishing runner-up in 2013. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
The Pirates hope their hard work at practice will help them contend for a district title this season after finishing runner-up in 2013.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Still, don’t expect the head coach to be disappointed in that outcome.

“Last season with the things that happened within the team internally and the players, I think that we actually overachieved,” McHugh said. “I was proud of the way everybody reacted.”

The team’s starting quarterback was dismissed from the team early in the year, causing an entire overhaul of the offense. The Pirates had planned to run a read-option scheme, where the quarterback reads the movement of the defender on the edge, and either gives the ball to the running back or keeps it himself, based on what he sees. But the team had to shift to a more traditional offense once the season started.

Abandoning the game plan you had all off-season with a full schedule ahead of you would be a challenge for any team. Add in more dismissals and injuries, and the Pirates simply weren’t the team they thought they had at the start of the season.

As a result, they went 2-3 to start the year, including 0-2 in the district. But as the players settled into their new scheme, the Pirates closed the regular season with five straight wins and kept their playoff streak alive by beating Zephyrhills High School to claim the runner-up spot in the district.

Now, with a full off-season to prepare their quarterback Grant Starling for the lead role, McHugh feels like they can not only run their offense more efficiently, but add a few tweaks to make it more effective.

“Now that we’ve run it, we can put some chrome on it now,” he said.

Starling believes having the off-season to work as the starter has already paid dividends with regard to his confidence and effectiveness.

“It really helped a lot,” Starling said. “I feel a lot more comfortable. The players feel more comfortable around me. We’ve worked together more so we have more chemistry.”

The game, he said, is slowing down for him, and he’s doing a better job of reading defenses than he did last season.

The defense also should be in good shape, with the defensive line mostly intact from last season and a strong point headed into 2014. The defensive backfield also stood out and impressed McHugh in seven-on-seven competition over the summer.

“I was really happy with those guys,” he said. “They worked well together.”

Despite some losses on the offensive line, the coach said they also have some returning playmakers and expects that part of the team to be in decent shape.

The Pirates will have some time to get things in order before facing their district opponents. After a preseason game, which McHugh said will be used to evaluate who’s in shape and how the team reacts to in-game situations, Pasco starts the season with three non-district contests.

But there’s no reason to ask McHugh about them, because he has no idea who they are. The coach doesn’t look past the first game — figuratively or literally.

“I know it sounds like I’m making it up, but I don’t ever look ahead,” McHugh said. ”I couldn’t tell you who the second game of the season is until after we play Sunlake.”

While the coach is looking to get back to his accustomed level of success and have fewer struggles than last season, he’s not sorry it happened. He said that the younger players have now learned that they can’t just step onto the field and expect everything to go their way. After fighting through last season and still finishing with a winning record and a playoff berth, McHugh hopes his athletes can apply the lessons from 2013 to have a stronger campaign in 2014.

“Sometimes you can get kind of complacent and you think it’s (winning games) just going to happen, and sometimes a swift kick in the butt will help you,” McHugh said. ”No one likes to lose, so I think in a way it’s probably a good thing that things like that happen once in a while.”

For his part, Starling knows that just being a quarterback for Pasco High School comes with expectations. But he feels the team has the ability and chemistry to live up to them.

“If you go around town, everyone knows Pasco football,” he said. “They expect a lot from you, so you’ve got to show up for them.”

PASCO PIRATES:
LAST YEAR: 7-3
4-2 in district play
Second place in Class 5A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Bowman Archibald, tight end, defensive end
Andrew Ivie, defensive tackle

PLAYER TO WATCH
Jamal Mention, offensive line
“He’s got the football mentality. When he gets his hands on you, it’s a tough thing. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll do.” — Coach Tom McHugh

2014 Pirates Schedule
8/29 — Sunlake
9/5 — at Fivay
9/12 — at Wesley Chapel
9/26 — at Nature Coast Tech
10/3 — at South Sumter
10/10 — Weeki Wachee
10/17 — Hernando
10/24 — at Central
10/31 — Zephyrhills
11/7 — River Ridge

Published August 20, 2014

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‘D’ stands for ‘discipline’ at Wiregrass Ranch

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After back-to-back 0-10 campaigns, the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls turned things around in 2013 with a respectable 4-6 record.

As a result, they lost the losing mentality that comes with winless seasons.

Yori McMillan, left, and Austin Stroup will be part of the offensive line assigned to protect quarterback Shane Bucenell this season. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Yori McMillan, left, and Austin Stroup will be part of the offensive line assigned to protect quarterback Shane Bucenell this season.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Heading into 2014, however, they’ve lost something else: their head coach.

Mike Lawrence parlayed his successful year with the Bulls into a position with Bethany College in Kansas. That leaves Arturo Meza at the helm, who was co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the Bulls last year. Before that, his resume includes Zephyrhills, East Bay and Spoto high schools.

And the United States Marine Corps. Meza said his background will factor into the Bulls’ philosophy this season.

“We have a saying, ‘Discipline is the key.’ You have to say it, you have to think it, you have to believe it,” Meza said. “Discipline is going to be a big thing in continuing to move forward.”

The players already believe it as they move forward with their preparations. At Wiregrass Ranch High School, practice includes a lot of whistles, horns and players rotating to different sections of the field, working hard at drills and remaining in constant motion. And last week, Meza had representatives from the Marine Corps visit the team to instill some mental toughness and add a little something to their physical regimen.

According to Austin Stroup, a senior who plays on the offensive line, the team is feeling the effects of Meza’s approach.

“We run so much,” he said. “We run more than any team I’ve ever been a part of. Everyone’s going to be so disciplined. There are going to be less mistakes.”

Mistakes and a lack of conditioning are part of what prevented Wiregrass Ranch from turning a respectable year into an excellent one last season. Close games and early leads turned into disappointment as the team failed to keep up with their opponents as the games progressed.

“In the Steinbrenner game, we just fell apart,” said senior quarterback Shane Bucenell, recalling how a 17-7 halftime lead against the Warriors turned into a 27-20 defeat last season.

“We have to put in the work every single day and make sure that we finish all our conditioning drills.”

Yori McMillan, a senior who also will protect Bucenell on the offensive line, believes Meza is the right coach to make sure the team puts in the necessary effort to limit errors and advance as a program.

“Coach Lawrence was big on discipline, but Coach Meza, he really wants to enforce that we don’t make mistakes,” McMillan said.

In addition to the Steinbrenner defeat, Meza pointed to the game against Gaither High School as a missed district opportunity, which they lost by 20 points. While the Bulls went 4-6 last year, they were 0-5 in Class 7A-District 7.

One of the team’s goals is to become a force in their district, where they haven’t won in three seasons.

To achieve their goals, Wiregrass Ranch will need steady production from their offense, which Meza considers to be improved over last year, but suffered some losses due to graduation. Meza isn’t as concerned with the offensive line, which lost a few starters, and he has confidence in his quarterback and receivers.

But he admits the running game lost quality players who will be a challenge to replace.

“The running back position is the question mark,” Meza said. “That’s where we’re trying to solidify some things.”

The Bulls’ off-season program has included elements of CrossFit training for strength and conditioning, agility drills and plenty of running. And while it hasn’t been easy, the players have bought into the hard-work philosophy, and are confident in the results it can bring.

Even if they don’t like all the running while they’re doing it.

“I hate it,” Stroup said. “But I know at the end of the season I’m going to be looking back and be like ‘I’m glad we did that.’”

WIREGRASS RANCH BULLS:

LAST YEAR: 4-6
0-5 in district play
Sixth place in Class 7A-District 7

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS:
Jay Minor, linebacker and wide receiver
Austin Stroup, offensive line and defensive line
Yori McMillan, offensive line and defensive line

PLAYER TO WATCH:
Shane Bucenell, quarterback
“He has prepared and studied very hard for the upcoming season, and we expect big things out of him.” – Coach Arturo Meza

2014 Bulls Schedule
8/29 – Gulf
9/5 – at Hudson
9/12 – at River Ridge
9/19 – Tampa Bay Tech
10/3 – Gaither
10/10 – at Ridgewood
10/17 – at Steinbrenner
10/24 – at Sickles
10/31 – Freedom
11/7 – Wesley Chapel

Published August 13, 2014

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Lutz player is simply all soccer, all the time

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Robbie Soronellas is never too far from a soccer ball.

At practice, the 13-year-old is working on drills. In games, he’s the center-midfielder, directing the ball to the teammate with the best chance to advance the attack.

Soronellas’ bedroom is a tribute to his love for soccer, from his bed to his medals to his heroes on the wall. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Soronellas’ bedroom is a tribute to his love for soccer, from his bed to his medals to his heroes on the wall.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

And when he’s at his home in Lutz, he’s usually kicking around a smaller, toy version of a soccer ball.

Soronellas usually earns a lot of praise for his skills. Except when his parents catch him doing it in the house.

“They’ll get mad at me because I might break stuff,” he said.

When it comes to soccer, Soronellas is more likely to break records than home furnishings. He was part of Tampa Bay United’s U-13 team that won the Florida state cup for their age group, and competed in the regional finals in June. The team fell in the regional championship to the Georgia state champion by the score of 2-1.

It wasn’t his first state title — he also won that honor with the Lutz Rangers when he played for the U-11 squad — but Soronellas admits to feeling some pressure in the regional championship.

“I was really nervous going into that game,” he said. “The other team was really big, so I was thinking, ‘Man, it’s going to be really hard to beat them.’”

When it comes to sheer size, big players will always have an advantage over Soronellas. At 5-feet tall and 85 pounds, he won’t tower over any opponents. But he uses his coordination and skills to out-maneuver the other side, and said that smaller players also can pick up extra fouls when players clash.

His team’s success has translated into championships and successful runs in tournaments, but that doesn’t mean a lot of goals to add to his personal statistics. Soronellas didn’t score in the regional tournament or the state cup, and he’s fine with that. As long as the team is doing well and he has space to deliver passes to the team’s scoring threats. It’s more important to put team goals ahead of individual ones.

“My dad always tells me that,” he said.

His father, Frank Soronellas, knows a bit about winning soccer himself. A center-midfielder in his playing days, he helped bring a junior college national championship to Miami-Dade College, and later played for the University of Central Florida.

Soronellas admits his son would have had an edge over him at that same age. He takes pride in watching Robbie play, and notes that it’s his aggressive mindset toward the position that has led to great success.

“He’s a tenacious player,” Frank said of his son. “When he’s on the field he’s not going to let you by.”

That kind of playing style can frustrate opponents, which is exactly what the younger Soronellas wants. Even large, talented players can make mistakes if they’re taken out of the game mentally. It’s part of his team’s strategy, and Soronellas said it becomes obvious when the strategy is working.

“They start yelling at each other and they basically break down,” he said. “Sometimes when you start beating a team really badly, they start getting mad at each other.”

Soronellas tends to stay calm during matches, though he admits to throwing a few tantrums when he was younger (he started playing soccer when he was 4). As he got older, he learned discipline and can now put tough losses in perspective: He’s proud of what Tampa Bay United accomplished in the regional tournament and was excited to see the United States advance to the knockout stages at the World Cup last month.

Perhaps the only time Soronellas gets agitated is when he’s not able to include his favorite game. When there are no matches or practices, he’ll go see his brother Steven play soccer or practice for Steinbrenner High School. Or he’ll do some running at a local community center.

He might even play a soccer video game. And sometimes he’ll grab a smaller ball and do what young athletes have done as long as parents have worried about nice things breaking at home.

“Sometimes around the house I have a mini-soccer ball and I’ll start juggling it,” he said.

Published August 6, 2014

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Zephyrhills coach focused on playoffs, not Pasco

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Three years ago, a late-season loss to Pasco High School derailed the Bulldogs’ chances at the playoffs.

The following year, it happened again: The Pirates won, and Zephyrhills High School stayed home for the postseason.

From left, Tyler Kirby, Ty Tanner, Jalen Pickett and Jackie Tucker will drive the Zephyrhills Bulldogs’ offense in 2014. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
From left, Tyler Kirby, Ty Tanner, Jalen Pickett and Jackie Tucker will drive the Zephyrhills Bulldogs’ offense in 2014.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Last season the division rivals played again, with both sides needing a victory to make the playoffs. And just like the previous two contests, Pasco came out ahead and Zephyrhills was left out.

The rivalry might have fans circling this year’s matchup on their calendar, but to Zephyrhills head coach Reggie Roberts, it’s still just another game on the schedule.

“It’s not something I sit around and think about,” Roberts said. “Contrary to what people believe, I’m not worried about Pasco. We have a lot of games. If we lose all our games and win the Pasco game, we’re still not in the playoffs.”

Making the playoffs is the next step for the Bulldogs and Roberts, who is now entering his fifth year as the school’s coach. The team has finished with a winning record for three straight years, but has fallen short of the postseason each time in Class 5A-District 6.

To build on their success and make the playoffs, Zephyrhills will need to improve over last year, and Roberts likes what he’s seen so far. The team has been working out hard, getting stronger and faster, and has impressed in seven-on-seven drills.

In particular, Roberts thinks the Bulldogs will be known as a defensive force.

“They swarm to the football,” he said. “They’re very speedy, but these guys are strong, too. They’re very strong guys who will hit you.”

But Roberts expects a more dynamic offense on the field as well. With playmakers at the receiver position like Jackie Tucker and Tyler Kirby, Roberts wants to see the offense stretch the opposing defense and not allow them to focus on the running game.

Zephyrhills also will benefit by having more players focus on just offense or defense instead of having to play both ways, Roberts said. In the past, with perhaps just 26 or 27 players on the team, there simply wasn’t enough talent to let athletes concentrate on one side of the ball. This year the coach wants to suit up 40 players, allowing them to stay fresher during the games and focus on where they can best help the team.

He thinks that change alone will make a difference for the Bulldogs this season.

“That was our problem the last three or four years, ever since I took over this program,” he said. “That always hurts when kids have to go both ways.”

It also hurts when a team loses talented seniors, and Roberts admits the Bulldogs took a hit on the offensive line. They lost four seniors at that position, and other players will need to step up and fill those roles.

Roberts feels optimistic about the team’s ability to take the next step, however, in part because he’s been able to change the attitude in the locker room. With a tenure that’s eclipsed a high school athletic career, all the players on the team know Roberts, his philosophy, and his expectations.

They have years of winning under their belts (Zephyrhills has gone 20-10 in its last three seasons) and Roberts has installed an attitude that winning is not only attainable, it’s expected, when they give their best effort.

“Every year is getting easier, I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “It was a little easier last year. It’s hard to change a locker room and the kids from my first year are gone. Right now these kids have the attitude that we can win every time we get on the football field.”

One goal for the Bulldogs is to get off to a strong start (three of their first four games are at home) so they aren’t scrambling for wins later in the year. If it comes down to beating a rival, the team will give it their all, Roberts said.

But he expects the team’s fortunes to be set before they face Pasco at the end of October in their last district game of the year.

“I have a feeling that the playoffs are going to be set long before that game,” he said.

ZEPHYRHILLS BULLDOGS
LAST YEAR: 7-3
4-3 in district play
Third place in Class 5A-District 6

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Ty Tanner, quarterback
Jalen Pickett, running back/wide receiver/safety

PLAYER TO WATCH
Jackie Tucker, wide receiver
“I guarantee you Jackie Tucker is going to be known after this year. He’s a tall kid who’s already gathering a ton of attention.” – Coach Reggie Roberts

2014 Bulldogs Schedule
8/22 – Wesley Chapel
9/5 – Gulf
9/12 – at Mitchell
9/19 – South Sumter
9/26 – at Weeki Wachee
10/10 – Nature Coast Tech
10/16 – Central
10/24 – at Hernando
10/31 – at Pasco
11/7 – at Sunlake

Published August 6, 2014

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Browning, Sunlake eye district title in 2014

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Sunlake High School has come a long way since head coach Bill Browning led the Seahawks onto the field for their inaugural season back in 2007.

They started out by losing 21 out of their first 22 games, and didn’t win a district contest until their third season.

Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Running back Nathan Johnson, left, and linebacker Austin Yeloushan will be key to Sunlake’s fortunes in 2014.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Now they’re enjoying a run, which includes two playoff appearances and just five regular season losses in the past four years. They have playoff appearances, plenty of wins, and a reputation as a tough team to beat in Class 6A-District 6.

But something’s missing.

In all that time, the Seahawks have never won a district title. Three times in their history — including last year — they lost just one game during the regular season, but that game was to the eventual district champion.

And the players want that title for themselves in 2014.

“We’re planning on doing that this year,” said Austin Yeloushan, a senior who plays middle linebacker and tight end. “We’ve been working hard in the weight room.” The team also got in a good deal of game experience against quality opponents at a recent football camp at Stetson University, he said. Those performances give Sunlake confidence heading into their first game, an Aug. 29 road tilt against the talented Pasco Pirates.

While it’s not the only thing on his mind, Browning also wants to see a district title on the team’s resume.

“It’s missing right now, but it really just provides more motivation for us,” he said.

Since last year’s losses were so close — the total time remaining when their opponents took the lead was less than one minute for both games combined — Browning feels the Seahawks are on the right path.

To continue, Sunlake will have to overcome some heavy losses due to graduating seniors. Their defense will be retooled, with nine out of last year’s 11 starters gone from the team.

But Yeloushan, one of the two remaining starters from last year’s defense, believes the changes in personnel won’t hold them back. In fact, he expects them to surprise their opponents with their ability once the games start, and that includes contributing on the scoreboard.

“I think a lot of defensive touchdowns are going to happen this year. We have a lot of playmakers,” Yeloushan said.

Sunlake’s running game should continue to be a strong point, with star running back Nathan Johnson returning for duty. Johnson is ready to build on last year’s successful season — in more than 250 attempts, he lost just one fumble. But Browning believes a good running game is about more than a skilled runner in the backfield.

“He’d be the first one to tell you that the offensive line will be key, of course, in determining the kind of season he has,” Browning said.

Turns out, that’s exactly what Johnson said.

“I love my offensive line. I had 1,500 yards last year, and I couldn’t have gotten any of that without them,” he said.

While the line lost two starters from last season, Johnson believes their replacements are actually better players, and is excited to see what they can accomplish in 2014.

While Sunlake might be considered a run-first team, Browning said they have enough skill at quarterback and receiver to avoid being one-dimensional. The team will welcome back quarterback Dayton Feidon, who went down with an injury last October.

The coach also expects big things from returning receiver Nick Valdes, who has had an impressive offseason.

While Browning can look back at his tenure at Sunlake and note the considerable progress, it’s not in his nature to be happy just winning a lot of games and having a respectable finish each year.

“You always want to take it to the next step,” he said. “As a coach and as a competitor, you’re never satisfied where you’re at.”

SUNLAKE SEAHAWKS
LAST YEAR: 9-2
3-1 in district play
Second place in Class 6A-District 6, lost in first round of playoffs

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Austin Yeloushan, middle linebacker/tight end
Logan Wolfe, outside linebacker and fullback
Nick Valdes, wide receiver

PLAYER TO WATCH
Nathan Johnson, running back
“He was our workhorse last year. Very rarely goes down on first contact. A physical football player.” – Coach Bill Browning

2014 Seahawks Schedule
8/29 – at Pasco
9/5 – River Ridge
9/12 – at Anclote
9/19 – Springstead
9/26 – Ridgewood
10/3 – at Mitchell
10/10 – at Wesley Chapel
10/17 – at Land O’ Lakes
10/31 – Fivay
11/7 – Zephyrhills

Published August 6, 2014

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These athletes are ready to take on the world

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After claiming the gold at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games in May, a group of athletes from Land O’ Lakes will trek to Los Angeles next summer to compete at the 2015 Special Olympics Summer World Games.

The team got the word on July 21 via Skype during a surprise announcement in a mini-auditorium at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Ordray Smith advances the ball during a soccer game at Wesley Chapel High School during the Pasco County Special Olympics Games on Feb. 28.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Coach Vicky King corralled members of the team to the meeting under the guise they would be talking about their gold-medal performance in the state competition at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in May.

But the athletes were really there to hear about their selection as an 11-member contingent of the 15-member Team Florida.

They compete in Division 2 soccer, with seven athletes on each side of the ball. It is a unified team, meaning there are four Special Olympics athletes playing along with three partners, who are there to provide help and support.

The team will join thousands of Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations to compete for international medals for a week beginning July 25, 2015. The games include 21 Olympic-style sports.

School principal Ric Mellin, who answered the Skype call, is delighted by the news.

“Words can’t express how excited I am for these students,” he said. “They put a tremendous amount of effort into preparing for the local games and the state games, and I think the grittiness that they showed impressed the selection group.”

The details regarding costs aren’t yet in, so it is unclear how much the team may need to raise, Mellin said. Besides the trip to L.A., the team also is expecting to spend a week in Indianapolis in a couple months to help prepare.

“If we do need to do some fundraising, that’ll be a wonderful opportunity for the locals here in Land O’ Lakes to provide some additional support,” Mellin said. “We would greatly appreciate it. Our community has always been wonderful when we’ve asked for things in the past, and I’m sure they would step up and help support these students as well.”

Coach King is excited about the experiences that await her athletes.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said.

King is happy the team is being rewarded for its dedication.

“We worked really, really hard this year,” the coach said.

Valerie Lundin, one of the directors for Pasco County Special Olympics, said Land O’ Lakes High has an exceptional Special Olympics program. The unified teams give athletes with disabilities and those without them a chance to gain a better understanding of each other.

“The premise is they get to know one another, they partner together, they travel together,” she said. “So, when they’re in the mall or the cafeteria, they’re friends.”

Ghaida Shehab said her son, Hassan, who plays on the team, is “very happy” that the team has been selected to compete. After hearing the news, he told Shehab: “See mom? Are you proud of me?”

“I think it’s good for him,” Shehab said, adding she plans to go the games, as well.

Tommy Guglielmello, one of the team’s partners, said he enjoys the role he plays on the team.

“The partners help the game move along,” Guglielmello said. “It’s awesome being out there when they score.”

Published July 30, 2014

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Steinbrenner feeling optimism with new gridiron roster

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When a high school football team has to replace 22 graduating seniors, it can be devastating to their prospects the following year.

But in Steinbrenner High School’s case, it might be just what they needed.

Andres Bautista is serious about providing leadership in his senior season, and working hard to get Steinbrenner High School’s football team into the playoffs. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Andres Bautista is serious about providing leadership in his senior season, and working hard to get Steinbrenner High School’s football team into the playoffs.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“The attitude and mentality of everybody is that they want to come and work hard. They saw what we struggled with last year, players just giving up,” said Andres Bautista, who plays on the defensive line. “Those seniors, they’re gone, so now we feel we have a better chance of achieving goals.”

Bautista, now a senior himself, is just one of two players who are entering their fourth year with the Warriors, and he believes the roster changes will improve their fortunes. Too many seniors didn’t give it their all, didn’t respond to challenging times, or simply didn’t perform up to their ability, he said.

As a result, the team finished a disappointing 3-7 overall, and 2-3 in the district last season.

Head Coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo, now entering his third year at the helm, isn’t too concerned with dwelling on last year’s fortunes. He’d rather take what he can from the past and apply it toward a more successful future.

“Every year is different in its own way,” Perez-Reinaldo said. “We look at last year’s successes and struggles, learn from them, and work on the new team and the new year.”

The Warriors gave up a district-high 303 points, but they had problems on both sides of the ball. The offense also struggled, both failing to score and committing turnovers, which put the defense in bad situations.

And when put in those situations, coverage issues allowed the opposing team’s offense to capitalize, Bautista said.

But that doesn’t mean Steinbrenner didn’t have significant bright spots. The Warriors were ranked second in kickoffs and punt returns. Not second in the district, nor the region. Steinbrenner was ranked second in those categories ahead of nearly every other school in the state.

Perez-Reinaldo believes that gives the team a significant advantage and can help improve their record in 2014.

“We hope to continue that,” Perez-Reinaldo said of the high special teams ranking. “If you can win those two — special teams and defense — everything else will fall into place.”

Perez also believes his receiving corps will be difference-makers this season. He credits Coach Michael Bosco for his work with the unit, and believes the wide receivers complement each other well.

While it’s too early to know how everything will fall into place, Perez-Reinaldo likes what he’s seen so far. A good work ethic and some success on the field have given him some optimism headed into the regular season.

“I think it’s important for kids to learn how to compete and then learn how to win,” he said. “This off-season, our team has really come together through workouts and seven-on-seven tournaments. We won our first seven-on-seven tournament ever at Steinbrenner this summer, and I see that as evidence that our team is learning how to win.

“Now it’s a matter to translating that to Friday nights.”

Bautista is looking forward to getting back to playing on Friday nights as well, because he missed a few of them last season. A torn meniscus in his right knee ended his 2013 campaign after just five games, and he had to watch the team struggle from the sideline. Now, after a successful return in a spring game (Bautista says his knee is 100 percent), he’s looking forward to providing the senior leadership he feels was lacking last season.

And Bautista believes the best way to provide that leadership is to show that he’s dedicated to seeing Steinbrenner reach the postseason for the first time in his high school career.

“That’s one of our biggest goals, is making the playoffs,” Bautista said. “I’m going to play how I’ve been playing since freshman year: Playing hard and going 110 percent.

“I love football.”

STEINBRENNER WARRIORS

Last Year: 3-7 (2-3 in district play
Fourth place in Class 7A-District 7

Key Returning Players
Andres Bautista, defensive line
Zack Deitz, linebacker

Key Addition
Quentin Poteralski, quarterback
(was a backup last season)

Player to Watch
Kezio Snelling, wide receiver
“Had a breakout year, and he is definitely a guy to watch,” said Coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo.

2014 Warriors Schedule
8/22 – Sunlake
8/29 – at Plant City
9/5 – at Alonso
9/12 – Spoto
9/19 – Sickles
10/2 – at Tampa Bay Tech
10/10 – at Wharton
10/17 – Wiregrass Ranch
10/24 – at Freedom
10/31 – Gaither
11/7 – Jefferson

Published July 30, 2014

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Wesley Chapel All-Stars tee up a state title

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A batter steps up to the plate with two outs in the final inning of a tied game. He hits a shot near third base and drives in the winning run.

His team not only wins the game, but a state championship as well. The crowd in the bleachers applauds, his teammates cheer, and his coaches are proud of the team’s title run.

The Wesley Chapel T-Ball All-Stars had their skills tested at the district and state tournaments, but came away with the championship earlier this month. (Courtesy of Todd Owen)
The Wesley Chapel T-Ball All-Stars had their skills tested at the district and state tournaments, but came away with the championship earlier this month.
(Courtesy of Todd Owen)

Not bad for an athlete who’s up well past his bedtime.

Lucas Cinnante is just 6 years old, but his game-winning single clinched the state title for the Wesley Chapel T-Ball All-Stars earlier this month. The contest was part of a three-game final day for the team that made it past several must-win games and came from behind in the final match-up.

By the time they won the championship, a 16-15 victory over Sebring, it was nearly 10 p.m.

Cinnante and his teammates didn’t play like they were tired, and he said he wasn’t really nervous, either.

“Not that much,” Cinnante said. “My coach said to hit a ground ball, so I hit a ground ball. I just wanted to win a game and have fun.”

Wesley Chapel won the game and had fun, and their final victory capped an impressive run for the 6- and 7-year-olds on the team. The All-Stars are made up of the best t-ball players during the regular season across several teams, and they get together to compete for district and state honors.

Their run started with a strong showing at their district tournament last month in Wildwood, with Wesley Chapel earning the Dixie Youth Baseball District 6 championship after compiling a 5-1 record in the tournament.

Wesley Chapel then competed for the state title earlier this month in Mulberry, but it wasn’t an easy path to the championship. The tournament split the 12 competing teams into two pools, and Wesley Chapel completed its pool play with a perfect 5-0 record, earning a spot in the double-elimination championship portion of the tournament.

Then things got challenging. They defeated Wildwood next, but a loss to Sebring put them in the elimination bracket, meaning the next loss would end their title hopes.

They would have to keep winning to earn their way back into a rematch with Sebring, and then beat them twice in a row to claim the title. And accomplishing that task would include playing three elimination games in a single day.

Team manager Todd Owen knew that would be a tall order for athletes with just a half-dozen birthdays under their belt.

“Coach Vito (Anello) and I were saying to ourselves, ‘Just let the kids play. Let them enjoy this,’” he said. “It’s going to be a tough, uphill battle to win three games in one night. So let the kids go out, have fun, enjoy it and just be positive for the kids.

“And the kids just took the game over. They were out there just making things happen,” Owen said. “It was pure joy as far as the coaches being able to sit there and watch that.”

But nobody was sitting when the team finally won the title. The players were elated, Owen said. “They were jumping for joy.”

“I’m not sure who was more happy, the parents or the kids,” he said.

The parents were the key to the team’s success this year. Even with good coaching and talented players, the families are necessary to provide support, encourage and show patience with the young athletes, and foster a healthy environment for the team.

Cinnante’s mother, Leslie Cinnante, said that healthy environment was a positive experience for players and parents.

“This group of people is absolutely wonderful,” she said. “Everybody gets along, everybody is encouraging, everyone is positive, everybody helps each other. The All-Star team was a wonderful team.”

While winning the state championship was a special accomplishment, Owen said the team earned another title during the state tournament that was equally impressive. Wesley Chapel received the sportsmanship award.

The team organized group photos with their opponents to remember the fun times they had at the tournament, for example. And Owen was told that, unlike the t-ball championship, there wasn’t as much competition for that particular title. The people who came in contact with Wesley Chapel saw them as respectful and good sports throughout the tournament, he said.

“I did not expect that or anything,” Owen said. “That’s something to be proud of.”

The young Cinnante, who claims Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist as one of his favorites, will move up to a higher level of t-ball next year. But as much as he loves baseball and playing t-ball, there’s one thing he doesn’t like about the game: Having to wait until the next season starts to get back to practice.

“It should start like next week,” he said.

Published July 23, 2014

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Seeking seniors: Sports group offers fun times, friendship

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Seniors might live a less-active lifestyle than they did when they were younger, but Walt Bockmiller thinks they still have time for softball, golf, tennis, bowling and maybe volleyball.

If not all of those activities, maybe one or two of them.

Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Whatever sport a senior might enjoy, Walt Bockmiller probably has something on the schedule for them.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Bockmiller, a Land O’ Lakes resident, started Senior Sports in 2011, and he organizes regular events for older residents that include a wide variety of activities. Whatever people choose to do, there are plenty of benefits in getting out and being active, he said.

“It’s an opportunity for them to get out and start doing something rather than just being home shopping or watching TV,” Bockmiller said. ”It gives them an opportunity to meet people in a different kind of environment.”

Bockmiller began Senior Sports by setting up softball leagues, since many people have some experience with baseball or softball in their youth. That starting point proved extremely popular, and he now has around 90 participants for those games. Counting tennis, bowling and golf, Senior Sports boasts more than 150 participants, and he said that tennis could prove to be the most popular of them all.

While softball is designed for men and women ages 60 and older, the other sports don’t have an age limit. He said players could be in their 40s through their 80s. The oldest softball player turned 90-years-old last month.

At 71 years old himself, Bockmiller might be expected to ease up on his schedule, but it’s simply not in his nature. He worked in recreation and leisure services management, and over his 47-year career, Bockmiller organized several activities, both with and without sports themes.

While he expected the participants to enjoy Senior Sports, he didn’t expect them to have quite as much fun as they’re having. He said people are “finding their smile,” and area residents who normally didn’t get out much are making friends and planning get-togethers off the field or court. Participants often go out to dinner, plan outings to see the Tampa Bay Rays, and even go on cruises together, Bockmiller said.

Senior Sports is about sports, naturally, but without a focus on the competitive side. Instead, Bockmiller keeps the focus on having fun, giving out awards that are earned by good sportsmanship instead of athletic skill. Softball might appeal to more physically fit participants, while bowling is available for those who might not have that level of ability. Or, people can simply sign up to play whatever appeals to them.

The activities are designed to be inexpensive and occur during various dates and times, allowing more seniors to participate. But whether a person plays every available activity or selects their favorite, or simply wants to meet new people, Bockmiller said they’ll come away with some fun memories and good people to share them.

“There are a lot of friends that come out of this stuff. Some of my friends in tennis and golf, especially tennis, are friends for life,” he said. ”There’s a commonality that you have, and because of that you have a lot of laughs over the years. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Co-ed slow-pitch softball is played from September through December, and again from mid-January through mid-April. Golf is played on a variety of courses year-round on Wednesdays. Bowling is played year-round in Lutz on Thursdays. Tennis and volleyball are new to the schedule.

For more information about Senior Sports, contact Bockmiller at (813) 527-8211.

Published July 16, 2014

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Local soccer teams earn gold in Special Olympics

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While soccer fans around the world are watching the World Cup, two teams from Land O’ Lakes High School already are basking in victory.

Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes High School)
Two soccer teams from Land O’ Lakes High School went to Lake Buena Vista to compete in the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games. Both came home with gold medals.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

Two squads, the Grey Team and the Gold Team, each claimed the gold medal in their respective divisions at the Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games, May 16-17 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.

The Grey Team is a Division 2 team with seven players per side, while the Gold Team is a Division 3 team with five players per side. Divisions are set up based on team skill levels.

Each team is unified, meaning athletes play alongside partners to help them and provide support. The Gold Team has four players and three partners playing at one time, while the Grey Team has three players and two partners.

While the players are happy to have achieved their goal, their longtime coach, Vicky King, is equally proud.

“It was a great accomplishment. Our teams have trained really hard this year,” she said.

The Gold Team had little knowledge of soccer before they started playing together a few years ago, King explained. For their first two years playing soccer, they didn’t score a single goal. Now they understand the game, talk about it, and claimed the gold medal in their division.

And the Grey Team has a chance to continue playing at an advanced level. They’re eligible to compete at the World Games, and if selected, they’ll go to Los Angeles to take part next July.

The keys to success are the same as they would be for any championship team, King said. Hard work, a balanced squad, and an emphasis on fitness and skills led the teams to victory.

But the Special Olympics is about more than competition. Land O’ Lakes resident Terry Ahearn said his son, Andrew, truly enjoys being a part of the team and competing in the games.

“He loves it. It’s been really good for him, too,” Ahearn said.

Andrew has participated in Special Olympics for years, and plays soccer for the Grey Team. He has autism, and is high-functioning. His father said that playing has given him more confidence, and even though he can be hard on himself, he always has praise and support for his teammates.

While playing on a unified team allows the athletes to get on-field support, it doesn’t affect the team dynamic. Ahearn said once they start playing, everyone is working toward the same goal.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re playing basketball, if they’re bowling or playing soccer, you really can’t tell the difference between any of the kids,” he said. “They’re just like any other team.”

And like any other athlete, Andrew is happy to have claimed the gold for his team.

“It feels good,” he said. “We did our best.”

The midfielder said participating in various sports — Andrew also competes in bowling, basketball and flag football — and having fun are the best things about the games. He was named Athlete of the Year for Pasco County.

For his father, coaches like King are some of the real highlights of participating in the Special Olympics. The teachers and coaches make the experience more valuable for the participants, he said.

“I’m proud of (Andrew) and how he competes and what he’s learned, but I’m also proud of the teachers and the coaches,” Ahearn said. “Because he would not be where he is right now if he didn’t have the teachers and coaches that gave so much of themselves.

“To do what these kids are doing and to reach them takes a special person. I could not say enough good things about them.”

For more information about the Special Olympics, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org.

Published July 9, 2014

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