The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa Sports

Pirates-Bulldogs: Winner gets playoffs, loser goes home

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In high school football, every game is meaningful. If it involves two good teams, it’s a little more important. And if the playoffs are on the line, that ups the ante.

But if it’s a rivalry game, it has the makings of something really special.

Friday’s match up featuring the 5-3 Pasco Pirates and 7-1 Zephyrhills Bulldogs qualifies as all of the above.

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Bulldogs coach Reggie Roberts has beaten the Pasco Pirates more than once as a player, but now he’s looking for his first win against his rival as a coach. And the playoffs are on the line. (File photo)

When Pasco visits Zephyrhills, the game will feature two strong teams in the top half of 5A-District 6 in terms of points scored and points allowed. And while South Sumter sits atop the standings in both district and overall play (already clinching the top spot in the district), the Pirates and Bulldogs are battling for second place and the trip to the playoffs that goes with it.

The winner of this game earns that spot, while the loser has to accept defeat and will be sent home at the hand of their rival.

While making the playoffs is a goal for every team, Zephyrhills is looking to end a long post-season drought. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, with just two winning seasons in that span (both occurring since Head Coach Reggie Roberts took over in 2010).

Pasco, on the other hand, is used to post-season appearances. During the years that Zephyrhills has been kept out the playoffs, Pasco has earned six district championships and three undefeated regular seasons.

Now, with one game determining who makes the playoffs, Zephyrhills will either break their streak of futility, or Pasco will continue its run of success. With a 4-1 district record, Zephyrhills’ Roberts is excited about his team’s prospects.

“We’re a better football team than we have been in the past,” Roberts explained. “The last two years, we tasted a little bit of the possibility of the playoffs, and these kids really want to get there. And they’re playing like that right now. I’ve got a bunch of motivated kids on my hands.”

Two of those motivated kids are sure to be the focal points of Zephyrhills’ offense, and the biggest concerns for Pasco’s defense. Senior Devon Brockington is not only one of the rushing threats in the Bulldogs’ run-first scheme, but he’s also the top target when they throw the ball. But if the Pirates find a way to contain him, they’ll still have to contend with Jaylen Pickett, a senior who serves as the lead back and workhorse when Zephyrhills does their damage on the ground.

There’s no question the Bulldogs have had a good year, as evidenced by Roberts being named Coach of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for District 10. But Roberts, who attended Zephyrhills in his playing days, still has some unfinished business with Pasco. As a linebacker and tight end, his Bulldogs teams were undefeated against their rival, but it’s been a different story as a coach: In three previous opportunities, he has yet to win when facing the Pirates.

And while the game is important for reasons that go beyond his personal history with the team, he’s aware of the disparity in records as a player and coach.

Roberts and the Bulldogs are also aware of the rivalry aspect of playing Pasco. Whatever his coaching staff designs in preparation for the contest, manufacturing motivation and excitement among the players won’t be necessary.

“That’s our rival. The kids always get up for that football game,” Roberts said. “It’s always a good match up; a good rivalry. They’re going to be ready to play. Now you put the district on top of that, and the possibility of the playoffs on top of that? Yeah, it’s not going to be hard to get up for this football game.”

Overcrowding creates challenges at Wesley Chapel District Park

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When Wesley Chapel District Park opened in 2007, the county hoped that residents would use the 140-plus acres for a variety of activities.

And they have. Football, baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and soccer draw thousands of participants each year. The park has become a magnet for local youth sports, and that’s considered a good thing.

Only now it might be too much of a good thing. Overcrowding is creating a difficult situation for concurrent activities, but a few fields also need repair, and that means even less space for everyone.

Repair work at Wesley Chapel District Park has gone on longer than expected, with the commute to Zephyrhills creating concerns about attracting new players to the various recreational sports there.
Repair work at Wesley Chapel District Park has gone on longer than expected, with the commute to Zephyrhills creating concerns about attracting new players to the various recreational sports there.

As a result, some participants have been pushed out of the area altogether until the repair work is done: Eight soccer teams and 120 players now have their practices and games at the Samuel W. Pasco Recreation Complex in Zephyrhills. That extra 20-mile round trip can be a challenge to participating families, despite the fact that they paid a convenience fee to park at the Wesley Chapel Park.

Jeff Olsen, a soccer coach whose daughter now plays in Zephyrhills, says the situation is anything but convenient.

“It places a burden on the families. There’s lost time as a family, there’s lost time for homework,” he said. “There’s an extra rush on the evening schedule and extra costs for gas. So there’s a burden there.”

The teams started their season on Aug. 1 and estimated they’d be displaced for about six weeks. But more than two months later, there’s still no timetable for return.

Aside from the inconvenience, playing outside Wesley Chapel can impact the area’s reputation regarding youth soccer. Gil Gonzalez, a coach who also leads public relations efforts for the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, says local parents want their children to play locally. If their first taste of local youth sports is a lot of inconvenience, it affects their impression of the organization.

“I think the biggest impact, in my opinion, is for newer parents, who don’t have the background in terms of understanding that this is really a temporary issue,” he said. “But if we have new parents and new players, I think it creates a negative experience for them.”

If word of mouth is negative as a result of those experiences, families might start considering competing programs for their children. If not resolved, those issues could affect recruiting and the program’s ability to grow.

The displaced teams aren’t the only ones dealing with issues related to overcrowding, Gonzalez said. The players and teams who are still at the park have to contend with their own problems.

Scheduling can be a challenge, with some teams dealing with later practices. The games themselves also are affected: Gonzalez said that matches are so close together that parents cheering at one game might have to duck incoming soccer balls from a nearby contest.

Throw in some long walks due to crowded parking lots, and it’s a situation everyone hopes is resolved quickly.

Unfortunately, predicting how and when the county will provide a satisfactory resolution is a bit more difficult. Interest and participation in youth sports has increased since the park opened, while related budgets have decreased. According to the Wesley Chapel Soccer Club, the county has decreased park and recreational spending by more than 28 percent since 2006.

Still, Gonzalez — whose daughter also now practices in Zephyrhills — is hopeful that there will be both short-term solutions (resodded fields at Wesley Chapel District Park) and long-term solutions (more space) on the horizon, whenever that may be.

“I think what will happen is there will be continued discussions for the county to acquire additional property near the district park to expand it as well,” he said.

If there’s a silver lining, it might be that player interest in soccer hasn’t really waned as a result of the extra challenges. Olsen said that even those who have to play in Zephyrhills still enjoy the sport and the competition.

“Do they mind? They like to play,” Olsen said. “But nobody wants to take a 30-minute drive out there when the rains start coming down, then take a 30-minute drive home.”

Freshmen golfers on course to exceed expectations at Wesley Chapel

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When your high school golf team is mostly made up of freshmen, it’s probably a rebuilding year.

The team at Wesley Chapel High School had a couple of players from the golf team graduate last year, and even lost some talent to other sports this season. Because of that, Coach Mike Rogers was expecting his team to learn from this year and build up experience for the future.

The Wesley Chapel High School golf team has already surpassed last year’s victory total with a 6-4 record in September. That’s despite having a team made up primarily of freshman. Helping in that winning effort are, from left, Aaron Hoyte, Zack Marquadt, Zack Lemmens, Tyler Rover, Alex Nay, David Lee and Ben Wolfman. (Photo courtesy of Randy Rover)
The Wesley Chapel High School golf team has already surpassed last year’s victory total with a 6-4 record in September. That’s despite having a team made up primarily of freshman. Helping in that winning effort are, from left, Aaron Hoyte, Zack Marquadt, Zack Lemmens, Tyler Rover, Alex Nay, David Lee and Ben Wolfman. (Photo courtesy of Randy Rover)

Instead, his golfers earned a 6-4 record in September and have already eclipsed last year’s win total of four victories.

“It’s been quite refreshing to see how we’ve come through,” Rogers said. “To beat some of the teams we’ve beaten, I’ve been pretty impressed.”

Wesley Chapel opened the season with a victory over Wiregrass Ranch, a team that beat them in 2012. Rogers said they even had respectable showings in losses to perennial powerhouses Plant and Jesuit.

Having a lot of young players to go along with a few sophomores and upperclassmen might be a frustrating challenge for some coaches, but Rogers enjoys it. Now in his third year coaching boys golf, he sees a team with a lot of talent and athleticism, and he appreciates the individual attitudes and personalities on it.

And those players are responding with good play on the courses — especially some of the freshmen. In fact, Rogers said his top athlete, Tyler Rover, is one of his many players who are new to the high school sport experience.

“He’s my No. 1 golfer at this moment,” Rogers said of the freshman. “He’s just been outstanding for his first year in high school golf.”

While Rover is new to the high school format (he’s never played golf as a team competition before), he’s no stranger to the sport itself: He’s been playing in amateur golf tournaments since he was 9. And his enthusiasm runs in the family. His father, Randy, is a PGA Club Pro at the Avila Golf & Country Club in Tampa. He also volunteers with his son’s golf team and offers tips and advice to both the newer and experienced golfers.

With his father and a new coach guiding him in high school, Tyler has learned to appreciate having a team component to an individual sport.

“I think it’s definitely a little relieving since you have a few teammates behind you to pick you up if you’re down,” he said. “You go up and play the best you can for each shot, and if your friends play well, it’s even better.”

Tyler explained that golf can be mentally and physically draining — that’s what he enjoys about the sport — so it’s a positive experience to participate with other students and have a coach help him.

Even though the team is still working its way through the season (with individual competitions at the district, regional and state levels to follow), Tyler said he’s already seen benefits from working with Rogers.

“Coach Rogers has definitely given us lots of opportunities,” he said. “I think it’s good to get some different knowledge about my game.”

For his part, Rogers believes that his team’s success lies mostly with the ones who are making the tough shots.

“They’ve put a lot of work and time and effort into it,” Rogers said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily anything I’ve done. I think it’s what they’ve put into it, and some good old-fashioned talent as well.”

Whoever deserves the credit for the team’s success, both the players and coaches know that the team’s prospects look even better down the road, as freshmen turn into experienced upperclassmen. Rogers is excited to see the team grow together, and Rover knows they have a bright future as well.

“That’s what we’ve been talking about all year,” he said. “If we get our new players to keep improving and learning new things, we’ll definitely be good for the next three years.”

Wanted: Your best football photos

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Think you have the best eye when it comes to prep football pictures? Then your work could end up in this very section, complete with your own photo credit.

The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)
The Laker/Lutz News is looking for photos at football games, whether they are of the cheerleaders, crowds, or even game play if you can zoom in well enough. We’ll publish our favorite ones right in this section. (File photo)

The Laker/Lutz News wants your pictures from local gridiron games. Whether it’s of a special play, a new routine from the cheerleaders, or even screaming fans from the grandstands — we want you to send it.

Each week, we’ll select the best pictures and post them to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/TheLakerLutzNews, and our favorite could actually end up in print in the paper’s sports section.

Pictures should be submitted by email, but only one picture per email. Each entry must include the full name and address of the photographer, which game the photo was shot at, and identify all the prominent people in the photo.

They should be submitted no later than 3 p.m. each Monday to .

Anything can happen on any given Friday, and here’s your chance to be a part of it.

Swimmers scramble to compete at elite level

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When Brian Vaile took over as coach of the boys swim team at Land O’ Lakes High School this year, he saw a lot of things he liked: A dual-meet winning streak spanning more than a decade, a few very talented athletes, and an interest in maintaining a strong program.

Cam Hilgenberg is part of a small family dynasty that has been part of the Land O’ Lakes swim team’s dual-meet streak dating back to 2000. He had to recruit some new swimmers to make sure that streak remained intact this season. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Cam Hilgenberg is part of a small family dynasty that has been part of the Land O’ Lakes swim team’s dual-meet streak dating back to 2000. He had to recruit some new swimmers to make sure that streak remained intact this season. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But it was the one thing that was missing that worried him: Swimmers. As in, not enough swimmers to field a competitive team.

“Unfortunately, you could win first place in every event and still lose the meet,” said

Vaile, who has more than 15 years experience as a swim coach. In high school swimming, teams need more than just the fastest athlete in the pool. They need enough competitors to challenge for the second- and third-place spots and collect those points as well.

Otherwise, a team could win individual competitions but still lose the overall contest if their opponent takes the points associated with the other places. And without enough swimmers to challenge for those spots, Vaile knew his team would face a lot of disappointment no matter how fast they swam: The school’s win streak would evaporate and be replaced with a season of frustration.

With just seven experienced swimmers on the roster — and needing to increase those numbers quickly — Vaile called upon his team to recruit others to join the cause. And the team responded; the Land O’ Lakes boys swim team now has 12 members.

While Vaile would have liked 16 swimmers, the Gators have enough to compete in their meets. And he feels good about where the team is headed this season.

“I’m a science teacher. I look at it like an atom: We have a really good nucleus,” he said. “You’ve got seven strong swimmers who can swim almost any stroke or event you ask them to.” And with the added depth, they can work toward keeping their winning streak intact.

That streak is important to the team, but it’s a source of family pride for Cam Hilgenberg.

The senior has been with the team since his freshman year, but he’s not the first of his family to swim for Land O’ Lakes. His brother Craig was on the team when its dual-match streak began back in 2000. Another brother, Curt, kept it going after him. His mother, Robin, even coaches the girls swim team.

So a lack of numbers that threatened the Gators’ winning ways had Hilgenberg worried.

“At the end of last year we weren’t sure what was going to happen,” he said. “Even at the beginning of this year, until the week before (the first meet), I was still pretty nervous.” Hilgenberg is the youngest of his siblings to compete for the Gators.

“I’m the last Hilgenberg,” he said. “I’m just trying not to blow the winning streak.”

As one of the team’s leaders and top swimmers, Hilgenberg did his part to boost their numbers: A member of the school’s baseball team, he recruited one of the pitchers to compete in the pool as well. And along with the other experienced swimmers, he helps guide and advise the new members, working on techniques and providing pep talks when necessary.

That work has paid off. The team has won all their meets so far, and the members have confidence as they complete the schedule.

“I think if we keep on the same path as we’re on right now, I think we’ll do pretty well,” Hilgenberg said.

Vaile wants to prepare the swimmers for conference, district and state competitions, but he still has an eye on the dual-meet schedule. He said they’ve defeated some quality opponents and still have challenges on the schedule, but he feels confident the streak won’t end under his first season as coach.

“I think it’s safe for the rest of this year,” he said.

Youth movement: Eighth-graders anchor Academy volleyball

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Most people expect to see teams full of seniors in varsity sports. Sometimes there are a number of talented juniors, and maybe even a sophomore or two. Once in a while, a special freshman might make his or her way onto the roster.

Academy at the Lakes volleyball coach Brian Gonzales rallies his young team during last weekend’s tournament at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. The Wildcats have welcomed four eighth-graders to the team this year, a chance for them to build for the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Academy at the Lakes volleyball coach Brian Gonzales rallies his young team during last weekend’s tournament at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. The Wildcats have welcomed four eighth-graders to the team this year, a chance for them to build for the future. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

But even at a private school, you probably wouldn’t expect to find eighth graders. And at Academy at the Lakes, there isn’t a single eighth-grader on their varsity volleyball team: There are actually five of them. And four are starters.

But if opponents think they can take the young team for granted, the Wildcats say that would be a big mistake.

“I hope they don’t underestimate us,” said Julia Mollick, one of the starting eighth-graders on the volleyball team. “If we didn’t have some of them (young players), we wouldn’t have the team we have today. We’re a lot better with them.”

The older players have embraced the addition of their young teammates, Mollick said, offering advice and support as they prepare to face juniors and seniors from other schools.

While starting young talent has been good for team chemistry, it’s not a decision the coach made easily. Brian Gonzales, now in his second season with the team, had to really think about front-loading his varsity squad with eighth-graders.

“I went back and forth a little bit,” said Gonzales, who has nearly a decade of volleyball coaching experience. “I didn’t want to put that much pressure on them. I wanted to make sure they could handle that, being as young as they are.”

But after going through school-wide tryouts, those players emerged as the best options for the team, and he didn’t want them to be held back due to their age.

The need for experience also played a role in his decision, Gonzales said. While the girls could have participated as junior varsity players, the level of competition is very different and he didn’t think it would prepare them for high school-level opponents.

So far, he believes the girls have adjusted well to being varsity players, and meshed well as a motivated team. Mollick, who only started playing volleyball a couple of years ago, supports that belief with a real passion for her chosen sport.

“When you’re up in the air and you’re hitting that ball, I love it,” she said. “When I’m playing, my mind is clear.”

While Academy at the Lakes has had an up-and-down start to the season — they started at 3-6 after playing some big schools — Gonzales also has an eye toward the future when it comes to his team. With growing experience and years of eligibility left for his young athletes, he sees successful seasons in the future for the academy’s volleyball program.

“Two or three years down the road we can really have something there if we keep them all together,” he said.

Mollick agrees. She’s enjoying her time on the varsity team this year, but she knows the team could be something special if the young players grow and compete together in the future.

“I can’t wait to see how far we get,” she said.

Sunlake stays calm, steady even after Pasco upset

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Every high school football team has some optimism when they start a new season. But if your first opponent is considered the best in the county — riding a 38-game regular season winning streak — that optimism might be tempered.

Unless you’re the Sunlake Seahawks.

Sunlake Seahawks head coach Bill Browning doesn’t want his team to become content. Despite ending Pasco High School’s four-year win streak, there is still a long road to the district title. (File photo)
Sunlake Seahawks head coach Bill Browning doesn’t want his team to become content. Despite ending Pasco High School’s four-year win streak, there is still a long road to the district title. (File photo)

The Seahawks never trailed in a 17-6 home victory over the Pasco Pirates on Aug. 30. And even though the gridiron crew from Sunlake High School is considered a strong team in their own right, they know it was a special accomplishment to beat someone who hasn’t seen the losing column in the regular season since 2009.

“I hate to rank victories, but it was obviously a huge victory just from the fact that Pasco has dominated everybody in the regular season for so long,” said Coach Bill Browning, who has been with Sunlake’s football program since its inception seven years ago. That tenure includes a few previous losses to the Pirates, but Browning feels that other milestone wins in the school’s history contributed to a sense that they could finally turn the corner against the county’s regular-season juggernaut.

The Seahawks had a small lead when the marching bands took the field halfway through. While Browning was feeling good about his team’s chances, it wasn’t until the opening plays of the second half that he felt like it was going to be Sunlake’s night.

“It was a close game going in at halftime,” Browning said. “We went out (to start the third quarter), received the football and took the first play for a long touchdown. That was huge. I think that gave us the momentum in the second half and they (Pasco) could never re-establish that momentum.”

That play was a 64-yard touchdown run by the team’s starting fullback, junior Logan Wolfe. It was Wolfe’s second touchdown of the night and made him the team’s star in one of the school’s biggest wins. But he’s not interested in taking much credit for himself.

“The huge run would never have happened if it wasn’t for this team’s offensive line. They produced that huge hole for me to run through, so that 64-yard run was all them,” Logan said.

In fact, he credits his teammates on the other side of the ball — the Seahawks’ defense, which frustrated Pasco throughout the evening — with the key to the victory. He believes they have one of the best defenses in the state.

Whoever gets to share credit for the big win, Browning is making sure they don’t get too overconfident from it: The Seahawks’ reward for toppling the Pirates was a tough week of practice to prepare for their next game this past weekend.

Yet Sunlake persevered, beating River Ridge 25-0, and improving to 2-0 on the season.

The team’s goals are the same as before — win the district title and reach the state playoffs. But Browning acknowledges that the win gave the Seahawks a boost and a little swagger, and shows the athletes what they’re capable of accomplishing.

But Browning isn’t adopting any new swagger himself: With around 35 years of coaching experience and more than 20 years in the head coach’s role at schools like Hernando High School and Springstead High School in addition to Sunlake, he doesn’t allow himself to become too elated and dejected following a single game.

In fact, it wasn’t long after the Friday night win that Browning turned his attention to their next opponent.

“To be truthful, Saturday morning I was focused on River Ridge,” Browning said with a laugh. “I’m one who never gets too high, and I don’t get too low. I try to stay at a happy medium. Coaches who don’t do that get on roller coaster rides, and they’re the ones who have a tendency to burn out and don’t last very long in the game.”

Tampa Bay Rebels may look abroad for competition next year

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If you’ve never seen the Tampa Bay Rebels, a semipro basketball team that plays its home games at Freedom High School in New Tampa, you might wonder if they’re any good. Can a local team really play entertaining basketball at a high level?

According to team founder and head coach Fernando Rojas, you’d be pleasantly surprised.

Tampa Bay Rebels head coach Fernando Rojas gives his semipro basketball team a pep talk from the bench during last year’s 10-2 regular season campaign. (Photo courtesy of Fernando Rojas)
Tampa Bay Rebels head coach Fernando Rojas gives his semipro basketball team a pep talk from the bench during last year’s 10-2 regular season campaign. (Photo courtesy of Fernando Rojas)

“My opinion is this: We play the highest level of basketball in the Bay area,” he said. “We have had players from the NBA’s Developmental League, players that played on NCAA championship teams, and many players with experience in European basketball. This combination of skill and maturity elevates the game higher than any college level.”

If Rojas sounds confident in his team, it’s because they have the history to back it up. Playing in the Florida Basketball Association, the team went 11-1 last year before dismantling the Heartland Prowl in the league’s championship game. And in 2013, they followed it up with a 10-2 regular season and another trip to the championship game.

This year, the Rebels came within a basket of back-to-back titles, losing 111-109 to that same Heartland Prowl club they defeated the year before.

According to Rojas, building a winner in such a short time — the club started operations in 2011 — is no accident. He follows a corporate philosophy, which involves individual responsibility and goal setting, and he wants everyone onboard.

That includes staff as well as players. Rojas’ director of scouting, Andrew Phillips, has been onboard since before the Rebels existed. Phillips was also involved with the Tampa Bay Sharks, a touring team Rojas founded before the Rebels, and he believes the Rebels’ success begins with its founder.

“I think a lot of it just has to do with leadership and the vision that Fernando has put into place,” Phillips said. “From an organizational standpoint, we try to have clear goals and objectives, and we’ve been fortunate to be able to meet most of those.”

Those goals include finding talent and executing on the court, but it doesn’t stop there. The Rebels stay involved in the community, Rojas said, and he believes it’s important for a local team to partner with local charities.

“We all live in the same community: Players, fans and coaches,” he said. “It just makes sense to participate and make the lives of others better.”

The Rebels already have supported groups like Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity, and will be involved with the Police Athletic League next season. Rojas said he hopes to work with others in the future as well.

The Rebels play their games at Freedom, but that’s not the only connection to the school. Rojas is in his fourth year as a volunteer assistant coach for the school’s varsity team, and he enjoys giving his student-athletes a chance to connect with veterans who have attained success at the collegiate and professional level.

“Bringing my semipro team to Freedom gives the young players an opportunity to see players who attended renowned college programs and follow their dreams,” Rojas said.

Even though the team’s season ended last month, the Rebels aren’t the kind of franchise to sit idle. Tryouts are scheduled for next March, and Rojas is looking into taking the team abroad to face some foreign competition.

And Phillips already is looking at improving the roster for next season with a focus on size at the power forward and center positions. He hopes to add players who will provide depth, and challenge existing team members for expanded playing time.

As part of his scouting, Phillips looks at local colleges and leagues for athletes who want to continue playing and have the skills to compete at the level the Rebels demand, which ensures that the team retains its local roots.

But regardless of the names on next year’s roster, Phillips has confidence in the team because he has confidence in the man guiding them.

“We know what we can do, we know what the goals are, and that they can be met,” Phillips said. “And there’s a willingness on (Rojas’) end to put in the time to get it done.”

For more information on the Rebels, visit www.tampabayrebels.com.

Buddy Baseball a big hit with special needs community

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Athletes cheer each other on, talk strategy, share high-fives and enjoy the camaraderie of playing a team sport.

They make friends, celebrate good plays and congratulate each other while parents watch the games and support their children. After the game, everyone leaves with a smile and a desire to take the field again the following Saturday.

The only thing missing is the hard-core competition: There isn’t any. The score is an afterthought at best.

April Dean receives a game ball at Buddy Baseball, an organization that allows children with disabilities to participate in team sports with the help of on-field assistants who provide physical and emotional support. (Photo courtesy of Russ Oberbroeckling)
April Dean receives a game ball at Buddy Baseball, an organization that allows children with disabilities to participate in team sports with the help of on-field assistants who provide physical and emotional support. (Photo courtesy of Russ Oberbroeckling)

Just getting a chance to play is what matters, because the athletes might be in a wheelchair, have autism, or have some other physical, psychological or neurological challenge that makes playing more difficult. But none of those challenges prevent them from playing in the Buddy Baseball League, which partners each athlete with a “buddy” who guides them through the game, offers encouragement and allows them to take part in an experience that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Now in its fifth year, Buddy Baseball plays its games on Saturdays, beginning in late September, at the Temple Terrace Recreation Complex, 6610 E. Whiteway Drive. But its players — boys and girls with special needs ages 10-22 — come from all over the Tampa Bay Region (some even as far away as Sarasota or Plant City), and the league provides helmets, bats and balls, as well as hat and T-shirt uniforms to all participants.

Each player is also assigned at least one buddy and will get a feel for their role during a designated practice before each scheduled game.

According to Russ Oberbroeckling, Buddy Baseball commissioner, the format allows disabled children to go from permanent spectators to instant athletes.

“They really can’t play baseball on a regular team because their disability holds them back,” Oberbroeckling said. “Now they can play on a team and be successful at it because they have a buddy there to help.” The activity also allows them to make friends and enjoy the camaraderie of organized sports.

Oberbroeckling also explained that the buddies, who are normally in the same age range as the participants, enjoy helping the players and being part of a special organization. But Buddy Baseball impacts people off the field as well: Parents get to cheer on their children and be part of a sports community that otherwise might not be available to them.

“It’s very social for the parents,” Oberbroeckling said. “For an hour and a half, they can go out to a baseball game, sit in the stands, enjoy the game and they’re meeting other people with similar situations.”

Amy Dean, a Lutz resident whose daughter plays Buddy Baseball, agrees that parents also benefit from the organization.

“We’ve gotten to where we know each other now, because the same parents tend to be there,” Dean said. They give each other tips and advice, and enjoy the games together.

But the biggest recipient is her daughter, April. The 20-year-old, who has hypotonic cerebral palsy, is starting her fifth season with Buddy Baseball (the league plays two seasons a year), and she’s gone from knowing nothing about the sport to practicing with her family between games.

“She’s looked forward to it from day one. Just absolutely loves it,” Dean said. The social component is also important, as Dean wants her daughter to be comfortable interacting and making friends in an atmosphere that includes people without disabilities, such as the buddies.

And April has had no problem making friends and enjoying herself at the games.

“I’ve been having fun at Buddy Baseball,” she said. “The coaches and the helpers, they help us with the batting and the pitching. We have a lot of fun at the games.”

While the Buddy Baseball League continues to grow in popularity (the league will have 90-100 players in two age divisions this season), it remains an expensive endeavor. A nominal fee for players only covers a small portion of the cost, and they offer a number of scholarships for families who might have financial difficulties. The league depends on outside sponsorships, donations and a charitable event to continue operating.

That event is the third annual Buddy Run 5k and Fun Run, which will be Nov. 3 at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Last year’s event featured approximately 260 runners and raised more than $10,000 for Buddy Baseball and Congregation Beth Am, a Reform Jewish congregation serving Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Westchase and all surrounding areas. The event includes a competitive 5k Run at 8 a.m., a one-mile Fun Run at 9 a.m. and a Buddy Dash for runners with special needs only.

For information about the event, e-mail . To register online, visit www.active.com and search for “Buddy Run 5k.”

The upcoming Buddy Baseball season runs from Sept. 28 through Nov. 9, and registration ends on Aug. 28.

For more information about Buddy Baseball or registration, visit www.buddybaseball.org, e-mail , or call (813) 416-5742.

By Michael Murillo

 

Romeo to match golf talents with PGA Champions

By

Terese Romeo combines above-average athletic ability with strong perseverance and character to get eye-popping results on the golf course. And that hard work is paying off as she’s set to take part in the Nature Valley First Tee Open in Pebble Beach next month.

The open, Sept. 27-29, will give Romeo a chance to pair up with members of the PGA Champions Tour, who serve as mentors.

“I had to apply for a spot,” said Romeo, a member of The First Tee of Tampa Bay, a golf group designed to provide affordable and accessible golf to children from moderate socio-economic backgrounds.

Terese Romeo tees off during a practice round at Rogers Park, part of The First Tee of Tampa Bay. Romeo, who participates in the group designed to provide affordable and accessible golf to children, will take part in a Champions Tour event in Pebble Creek in September. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa YMCA)
Terese Romeo tees off during a practice round at Rogers Park, part of The First Tee of Tampa Bay. Romeo, who participates in the group designed to provide affordable and accessible golf to children, will take part in a Champions Tour event in Pebble Creek in September. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa YMCA)

Romeo is one of 81 participants selected from First Tee chapters from around the country, and was the only girl asked to apply from the Tampa Bay chapter.

“You have to write essays, and have volunteers hours, along with golf,” she said.

The 16-year-old Freedom High School junior from Tampa Palms has already accomplished quite a bit, both on and off the links. Just last year, she won the Class 2A-District 10 golf championship as well as a regional title en route to an 11th-place finish at states — all after recovering from surgery.

“Terese had surgery and came back with a cast,” Freedom girls golf coach Rich Simard said. “She had to play four matches to qualify for district, and I had her go out and play. She used her left hand and swung with one hand. I’ve never seen anything like that all the years I’ve been around golf.”

The team played off the red tees, which are typically placed behind the white tees for championship tourneys.

Romeo has battled with injuries in the past. She hurt her wrist competing in gymnastics a couple years back, forcing her to miss her entire freshman golf season. Now, after two surgeries, Romeo is poised to have her best-ever high school season on the links.

“Now everything is great,” she said. “I hit the ball really straight and put the ball in places where I need to place it.”

Romeo competes in American Junior Golf Association tournaments, and is a longtime member of The First Tee of Tampa Bay, a program of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.

“I’ve known Terese since she first started with us when she was eight or nine years old,” First Tee golf coach Jeff Leonard said. “She’s such a competitor. Her putting and chipping comes naturally, and her swing is consistent. She can drive the ball 230 yards.”

Leonard is also impressed with Romeo’s work off the links, amassing at least 400 volunteer hours, mostly as a park camp counselor for younger kids.

“The First Tee has been really good for her,” Leonard said. “It gives her a place to channel her energy.”

And now it will give her a chance to play with a PGA legend at Pebble Creek where the competition will be tough, but there will be a lot to learn as well.

“I’d like to play with Tom Watson or Hale Irwin,” Romeo said. “I met Hale during a senior tour tournament here in Tampa. I was in the gallery during the pro-am event and his amateur walked over to me and asked me to hit his golf ball.”

It was a par-3 hold, and Romeo had to hit it on the green.

“Hale came over and talked with me, and walked with me down the fairway,” Romeo said. “I’ve seen him a couple of times since, and he remembered me. He’s a nice guy.”

“It was a par-3 hole and I hit it on the green. Hale came over and talked with me and walked with me down the fairway. I’ve seen him a couple of times since and he remembered me. He’s a nice guy.”

The 5-foot, 93-pound Romeo works hard at refining her game when she isn’t competing against opponents.

“I practice almost every day,” said Romero, who scored a hole-in-one when she was 13. “I’ll play four, nine or 18 holes. I need to practice more.”

Romeo’s plans for the future include playing golf in college — just to start.

“I want to become a teaching pro out of college,” she said. “Then maybe try to make the LPGA tour.”

And if anyone can accomplish that, it’s Romeo, her Freedom coach added.

“Terese has a great attitude for the game of golf,” Simard said. “I think if she continues to progress like she has progressed, she could be one of the top high school players in the country.”