Mitchell wins in 2A-12
By Steve Lee
Sports Editor
DADE CITY — Try as they might, Pasco girls golf teams never won a district crown — until Oct. 19 in Bushnell.
The Pirates can finally put up a championship banner in the school gym after winning the Class A, District 8 crown at Shady Brook in Sumterville.
“It’s a big thing for them” Pasco athletic director Jim Ward said. “They’re really excited about it. You’re talking about a program we’re not used to having in that position, and now we do. This is huge.”
Kellianne May won individual medalist honors with a round of 92 to lead Pasco. Runner-up Spencer Valdespino, of Bishop McLaughlin, finished three strokes back while Pasco’s Mary Kassabaum, Victoria Bryant and Tori Norris also earned points.
Megan Van Etten, her sister Rebecca, Emma Fivecoat, Victoria Kinny and Kristen Pitts led Mitchell to the 2A-12 title at Meadow Oaks.
Rebecca, a sophomore, shot a team-leading 69 as the tourney runner-up. Three-time Sunshine Athletic Conference champion Megan, a senior, carded a 72.
The Mustangs are coached by Scott Schmitz, that school’s former football coach who resigned after last season, but is in his first year with the girls golf program.
At Silverado, Zephyrhills senior Sarah Baniszewski shot a 90 to place fifth in the 2A-6 tourney and advance to regionals.
In A-9 at Plantation Palms, Saddlebrook’s Lauren Riechle won with a round of 90 while Academy of the Lakes’ Ellen Crowley was eight strokes back as the runner-up.
Steinbrenner’s Alex Milan won the A-14 crown at Cheval.
Gaither was the runner-up in 2A-10 at Silver Dollar in Odessa. Wharton also the 2A-11 runner-up at Heritage Isles in Tampa.
