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Hometown athletes to watch this college season

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Before becoming college football standouts seen regularly on national television and in massive stadiums across the country, area athletes distinguished themselves on the gridiron locally, in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Big-time college football is now underway this fall — and, with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, a sense of normalcy has returned with fuller schedules and attendance capacity to accommodate thousands of fans compared to 2020.

Dozens of athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are a part of programs at the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and junior college ranks.

Here’s a closer look at some notable hometown players to watch throughout the 2021 college football season:

Dade City native Michael Penix Jr., is generating national buzz as Indiana University’s starting signal-caller. (File)

Michael Penix Jr.
College: Indiana University, redshirt junior quarterback
Local tie: Dade City native/Pasco High School

Michael Penix Jr., is generating quite the buzz among national college football pundits leading into the 2021 campaign for the Indiana University Hoosiers.

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound lefty slinger is ranked No. 45 in ESPN’s Top 100 College Football Players listing. Moreover, Penix is on the Manning Award Watch List, which recognizes 32 of the NCAA’s top quarterbacks in different conferences.

The preseason accolades coming his way are well-deserved.

Penix helped steered the Hoosiers in 2020 to the team’s best season in over 50 years. That included a 5-1 start and No. 12 national ranking before he experienced a season-ending injury.

He completed 56.4% of his throws for 1,647 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and four picks across six games, but suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in November 2020.

The ability to stay healthy will be key going forward, as injuries have cut short all three of Penix’s seasons at Indiana.

Along with the 2020 injury, Penix suffered a clavicle injury in November 2019 that required surgery. He also previously tore his ACL in his right knee in 2018.

Closer to home, Penix played his freshman and sophomore prep seasons at Pasco High in 2014 and 2015, then transferred to Tampa Bay Technical High School for his junior and senior years.

His father, Mike Sr., was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early ’90s.

Deon Silas
College: Iowa State University, freshman tailback
Local tie: Steinbrenner High School

A record-setting running back at Steinbrenner High School, Deon Silas is poised to build off that production for the Iowa State University Cyclones.

Steinbrenner High product Deon Silas is already turning heads as a freshman running back at Iowa State University. (Courtesy of Iowa State University athletics department)

Silas was an early-enrollee into the Cyclones program in January, getting a head start on the playbook and habits required of a successful college athlete.

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound skill player generated buzz in spring practices thanks to his speed and shiftiness.

He has built on that momentum with fall camp, with his name on initial depth chart projections — likely the team’s third-string tailback and possible kick return option on special teams.

Not too shabby for a true freshman joining a program that last year turned heads in by finishing 9-3 (including 8-1 in the Big 12 Conference).

Out of Steinbrenner, Silas was the No. 93-ranked player in the state of Florida and No. 11-ranked all-purpose back in the class of 2021, per 247Sports.com.

He tallied a combined 5,570 all-purpose yards (2,734 rushing yards, 1,428 receiving yards, 1,408 return yards) and 55 touchdowns across an illustrious four-year varsity career.

Silas isn’t the only familiar face on the Iowa State roster. Former Steinbrenner wideout Aidan Bitter is on the squad, entering his sophomore campaign.

Chris Faddoul
College: Florida A&M University, senior punter
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School

Chris Faddoul is one of many FCS players longing for the gridiron, after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out many programs’ chances for a 2020 season, including the Florida A&M University Rattlers in Tallahassee.

Former Wiregrass Ranch standout Chris Faddoul is an All-American punter at Florida A&M University. (File)

Expectations are specifically high for the strong-legged 6-foot-1 special teamer.

He is one of 20 candidates named to the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award preseason watch list as announced by The Augusta Sports Council.

There also have been reports of NFL scouts visiting FAMU practices to watch Faddoul, among other players.

It’s no wonder why — considering Faddoul is a two-time All-American and once led the nation in punting.

In 2018, he led the FCS with an average of 46.8 yards per punt. He followed that up with an average of 46 yards per punt in 2019, second in the FCS ranks.

At Wiregrass Ranch, Faddoul was a multi-sport standout, playing football, soccer, tennis, and also competing in track & field. Faddoul guided the Bulls to a state football playoff appearance as a senior, serving as the team’s starting quarterback, kicker and punter.

Donovan Jennings
College: University of South Florida, senior offensive lineman
Local tie: Gaither High School

Donovan Jennings returns for his fourth year in the University of South Florida Bulls program, where he’s played 29 games (19 starts) over the last three years — and now anchors an offensive line that returns all five starters from last season.

Gaither High School product Donovan Jennings is poised to anchor the University of South Florida’s offensive line this season. (File)

The 6-foot-5, 337-pound senior guard is garnering some big preseason recognition to match his size, too.

Jennings has been named to Athlon Sports preseason 2021 American Athletic Conference (AAC) all-conference second team offense.

He’s also been identified as one of 500 college football players to watch by the NFLPA (National Football Players Association) Collegiate Bowl’s “Big Board,” which identifies 500 draft-eligible senior collegiate football players to watch for the upcoming season.

Jennings generally has been lauded by current and former coaches for his pass protection skills and effectiveness in the run game.

Thanks to a rare combination of quick feet, balance and strength, Jennings often is tasked with blocking opponent’s top pass-rushers in one-on-one situations.

One of the lineman’s brightest spots last season came in the Bulls’ season finale against rival University of Central Florida. He helped pave the way for his team’s offense to post 646 yards of total offense, including 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Jennings, surprisingly, didn’t begin playing football until his freshman year of high school, as size limitations in youth leagues prevented him from playing the sport.

But, he blossomed into an All-State player in four short years at Gaither, graduating in 2018.

Noah Ruggles
College: Ohio State University, graduate student kicker
Local tie: Steinbrenner High School

Noah Ruggles joins blue-chip Ohio State University, where he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining following his June transfer from the University of North Carolina.

Steinbrenner High School product Noah Ruggles joins the prestigious Ohio State University program after transferring from the University of North Carolina in June. The graduate student has two years of eligibility remaining. (File)

Throughout fall camp, Ruggles has been entrenched in a well-publicized field goal kicker battle with redshirt freshman Jake Siebert.

The 6-foot-2 Ruggles has experience on his side for a Buckeyes squad seeking more accuracy over long-range distance and that’s coming off a national championship bid that fell just short in 2020.

Ruggles lost his starting job at North Carolina last season, where he was limited to just one appearance, a made extra-point versus Western Carolina University.

However, Ruggles has demonstrated accuracy in close range before, such as in 2019, where he made all nine of his attempts within 30 yards.

Altogether in that career season, Ruggles appeared in 13 games and was fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring with 102 points. He did that by making 19 of 27 field goals and connecting on all 45 touchdown points-after. (Both marks were the fifth-most in North Carolina’s single-season program history.)

Ruggles also has proven battle-tested in tight situations.

Case in point was notching a game-winning 40-yard field goal with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in 20-17 victory over crosstown rival Duke University in late October 2019.

While at Steinbrenner, Ruggles was a first-team Class 8A All-State selection and earned offensive MVP honors of the Hillsborough All-Star Game. He also was a member of the school’s soccer team.

Scott Patchan
College: Colorado State University, graduate student defensive line
Local tie: Freedom High School/IMG

Scott Patchan has been around the game awhile — as he’s set to begin his sixth college football season (entering his second year with Colorado State University after four years at the University of Miami).

Former Freedom High School standout Scott Patchan looks to finish his lengthy college football career at Colorado State University, on a high note. (File)

The 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman hopes to build off a strong 2020 campaign tapered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In just four contests last season, Patchan tallied 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss overall, adding 22 total tackles and three quarterback hurries — earning first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in the process.

Also, Patchan won on 24% of his pass rushes, securing a pressure on 19% – both figures leading Mountain West players by 3.5 percentage points, according to metrics from the scouting website Pro Football Focus.

Those wondering why Patchan remains in college for six-plus years — the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all 2020 fall sport athletes.

Locally, Patchan played his first three years of prep ball at Freedom High before transferring to Bradenton’s IMG Academy for his senior season.

His final run at Freedom in 2013 proved most productive, as he totaled 8.5 sacks, 56 tackles and 24 tackles for loss.

Patchan’s father, Matt III, won national titles with University of Miami in 1983 and in 1987. Also, Patchan’s older brother, Matt IV, was an offensive lineman at the University of Florida and Boston College.

Others to watch:

  • Florida Atlantic University redshirt junior Chaz Neal (Wesley Chapel High School)
  • Florida A&M University redshirt senior linebacker Ellrie Allen (Wesley Chapel High School)
  • Florida International University freshman quarterback Haden Carlson (Steinbrenner High School)
  • Florida State University redshirt junior linebacker DeCalon Brooks (Gaither High School)
  • Jackson State University junior defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High School)
  • Old Dominion University junior defensive end Estefano Feliciano Jr. (Gaither High School)
  • University of California-Berkeley safety Raymond Woodie III (Carrollwood Day School/Wiregrass Ranch High School)
  • University of Central Florida redshirt senior wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers (Pasco High School/Tampa Catholic High School)
  • University of Cincinnati junior safety Jaquan Sheppard (Zephyrhills High School)

Published September 08, 2021

Fall football preview: Hillsborough County

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Fans of the local prep football scene can finally get excited — the 2021 varsity high school football season is gearing up.

Preseason classics begin Aug. 20 and the regular season kicks off Aug. 27 in the state of Florida.

Here we take a closer look at Hillsborough County teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — Carrollwood Day, Freedom, Gaither, Steinbrenner and Wharton high schools. We look at how they stack up for this upcoming campaign, where some teams figure to be powerhouses, while others are in rebuilding mode.

A preview of Pasco County programs from the coverage area will publish next week.

Carrollwood Day School Patriots (Class 3A-3)
Coach: Marshall McDuffie, first year

Carrollwood Day may be a smaller private school, but expect it to bring plenty of punch on both sides of the ball — thanks in part to a collection of high-profile Division I FBS football prospects.

Among them is rising junior offensive lineman Clay Wedin, who measures 6-foot-6, 290 pounds.

Wedin has garnered strong interest — and ensuing scholarship offers — from a bevy of blue-blood programs, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Tennessee, among others.

Meantime, the defense is propelled by 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior Brandon Cleveland, a North Carolina State verbal commit who posted 46 tackles (including 18 for loss) and 11 sacks last season.

Beyond the trenches, the Patriots seemingly have a limitless supply of budding skill-position athletes who can rack up yardage and touchdowns with relative ease.

Translating talent and counting stats into victories is key for a team of predominantly underclassman, under first-year head coach Marshall McDuffie.

The team went 5-5 last year under former coach Mike Jones, with three defeats by nine points or fewer.

The Patriots should get ample opportunities to see how they stack up against some of the state’s better small schools, including Northside Christian, Ocala Trinity Catholic, Seffner Christian and Cambridge Christian high schools, among others.

Freedom High School Patriots (6A-9)
Coach: Christopher Short, third year

Freedom hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2014 — when former coach Todd Donohoe led that year’s squad to a 6-4 mark.

Coaching turnover hasn’t helped matters, as the program has had three other head coaches since Donohoe.

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The Patriots struggled again last season — with a winless 0-9 record, mired by several blowout defeats.

They allowed nearly 37.9 points per game, while only scoring an average of 12.2 points per game.

The team, however, seemed to show signs of progress, with its final two games of 2020 decided by six points or fewer.

Another positive building block was an 8-7 spring game victory over King High in late May.

At least one issue the team faces is replacing the production of tailback Robby Washington, a University of Miami verbal commit who’s since transferred to a high school in the Miami area.

Washington paced the Patriots with 1,219 all-purpose yards (535 rushing yards, 255 receiving yards, 429 kick return yards) and nine touchdowns.

Despite a somewhat challenging schedule and lingering roster questions, Freedom appears to have a couple winnable games on its slate, such as Blake (1-7 in 2020) and Strawberry Crest (1-8) high schools.

Gaither High School Cowboys (7A-9)
Coach: Kirk Karsen, fifth year

There’s not much to nitpick with a Gaither program that returns myriad contributors from a squad that went 11-1 and reached the 6A regional final before falling to Lake Minneola High last December.

The Gaither Cowboys have formed into a regional powerhouse during the last couple of seasons, including an 11-1 mark in 2020. (Courtesy of Gaither High School Athletics)

Among the larger question marks leading into 2021: Who would be the Cowboys’ offensive leader following the graduation of prolific dual-threat quarterback Kiael Kelly, at Division I FBS Ball State in Muncie, Indiana?

That problem appears solved, with the incoming transfer of junior quarterback Brooks Bentley, from River Bluff High School in Lexington, South Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound pro-style signal-caller has scholarship offers from Division I FCS programs such as Eastern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State.

He is the son of University of South Florida assistant football coach Bobby Bentley, who serves as the program’s wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator.

Brooks’ three older brothers also are recognizable names who played quarterback in high school and college — Chas Dodd (Rutgers), Shuler Bentley (Old Dominion, Murray State) and Jake Bentley (Arkansas, Utah).

The fresh-faced Cowboys quarterback will have at least one reliable target in speedy senior wideout Drelin Pittman, who paced the team last season in receptions (33) and receiving yards (542), to go along with four scores.

Meanwhile, a pair of All-State performers return in senior defensive linemen Mario Eugenio and Tawfiq Thomas — both of whom are highly-touted recruits for blue-chip Division I FBS programs.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Eugenio — who led the Cowboys in sacks (18) last season — is a Michigan verbal commit and consensus four-star recruit.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Thomas — who registered 15 tackles for loss last season — is a consensus three-star recruit who’s considering Arkansas, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Kansas and USF.

The Cowboys have been on quite the roll under head coach Kirk Karsen — going a combined 37-11 since 2017, including 23-3 the last two seasons.

The Cowboys move up from Class 6A to 7A, with district foes now Largo, Leto, Mitchell and Sickles high schools.

Steinbrenner High School Warriors (8A-11)
Coach: Andres Perez, 10th year

Steinbrenner has many impact players on both sides of the ball to replace from last season, several of whom are now entering the college football ranks.

The most notable departure is uber-productive All-State tailback Deon Silas, now at Division I FBS Iowa State.

Silas set multiple school career marks over his four varsity seasons, where he totaled 5,570 all-purpose yards (2,734 rushing yards, 1,428 receiving yards, 1,408 return yards) and 55 touchdowns. It’s no surprise why he was ranked the No. 11 all-purpose back nationally for the 2021 recruiting class by 247Sports.com.

Though big shoes to fill, junior Kirby Voorhees appears poised to handle the void in the running game after rushing for 438 yards and eight touchdowns on 61 carries last season.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound rusher also has generated quite the buzz on social media for his weightlifting abilities.

Meanwhile, the Warriors will have to mold a new starting quarterback after the graduation of Bryce Lowe (Wisconsin’s Carthage College ), though Ty Robinson earned some playing time last season as a freshman.

Steinbrenner does have some strengths to rely upon, meanwhile.

The linebacking corps figures to be in solid shape with seniors Colin Bernstein (66 tackles, seven for loss) and Keenan Cruz (48 tackles, eight for loss).

The legs of senior punter Griffin Wiltse and junior kicker Collin Young help, too.

Wiltse has a career average of 35.7 yards per punt. Young last season made five of six field goals (including a long of 42 yards) and was 28-for-28 on extra points.

Wharton High School Wildcats (7A-10)
Coach: Mike Williams Sr., second year

Wharton looks to build off its first postseason appearance since 2013, under the tutelage of second-year coach Mike Williams Sr.

The Wharton Wildcats are poised to build off last season’s 7-2 campaign — its best mark since 2015. (Courtesy of Wharton High School Athletics)

The 37-year-old coach has brought pedigree and name recognition to a program that was headed up by longtime coach David Mitchell the previous 15 years.

Williams was a seven-year NFL veteran and a first-round pick in 2005 by the Detroit Lions out of Southern Cal — where he earned All-American honors. (He also starred at Tampa Plant High in the early 2000s.)

In Williams’ first season, the Wildcats finished 7-2 last season — winning its first six games in a row before losing two of its last three against Durant (20-9) and Newsome (21-7), respectively.

Finding playmakers — particularly on defense — shouldn’t be a question for the Wildcats, who allowed an average of 10.1 points per game last season (including three shutouts).

Keep a keen eye on All-State senior linebacker Daveon Crouch, a Boston College verbal commit who led the team in sacks (12) last year.

Another player who gets after the quarterback consistently is sophomore Booker Pickett Jr., who was second on the team last season in sacks with eight.

He also has bloodlines on his side. His father, Booker, was a standout defensive end at Zephyrhills High who went on to play for the University of Miami.

Molding a new starting quarterback following the graduations of Emery Floyd and Kadin Durgan is amid lingering question marks for the Wildcats.

The schedule will be far from a cakewalk. Looming foes include the likes of Jesuit, Wiregrass Ranch, Jefferson, Tampa Bay Tech and Armwood high schools, among others.

Schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their 2020 records)

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (5-5)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (0-9)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (11-1)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (4-3)
  • Wharton High School Wildcats (7-2)

Published August 18, 2021

Local athletes ink pro baseball contracts

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First came the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, then came the matter of signing the dotted line to become a professional baseball player — and officially make boyhood dreams become reality.

This was the scenario for several athletes with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Five local ballplayers were taken in last month’s MLB first-year player draft, which spanned 20 rounds (and 612 picks).

All but one of the area selections inked contracts with respective baseball organizations by the Aug. 1 signing deadline.

Sunlake High/University of Florida right-handed pitcher Tommy Mace signed with the Cleveland Indians for $1.1 million. He was taken 69th overall (Compensation Round B) of the 2021 MLB Draft. (File)

Sunlake High alum Tommy Mace, a fourth-year junior from the University of Florida, was the highest selection and had the largest signing bonus, among locals.

Mace signed for $1.1 million with the Cleveland Indians, who took him 69th overall in Competitive Balance Round B between the second and third round.

The imposing 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-hander received well-above the recommended slot value for the lofty pick (slightly under $929,800). The announcement was made official on the team’s website July 24.

The 22-year-old is noted for a respectable four-pitch mix — fastball, slider, curveball and changeup — highlighted by a sinking two-seam fastball that touches 96 mph.

Mace very well could’ve turned pro last year, but returned to school with hopes of further improving his draft stock following the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

This past year at Florida he posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 90.1 innings pitched, along with a 6-2 record.

Across his four-year college career, Mace compiled a combined 4.37 ERA, 1.279 WHIP and 258 strikeouts in 269.2 total innings pitched, with a 22-7 mark.

The long-limbed pitcher has been highly regarded since his prep days at Sunlake, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner.

As a senior, Mace tallied a 1.29 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 77.2 innings, with an 8-2 record in 11 appearances — guiding the Seahawks to the Class 7A regional finals.

He won 19 games during his high school career, posting a combined 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

Mace previously was drafted out of high school in the 12th round (347th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2017, but didn’t sign, in favor of college.

Gaither High shortstop A.J. Graham signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $125,000. He was taken in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of Gaither High School athletics department)

Other area ballplayers selected later in the draft also agreed to contract terms with MLB franchises, for varying dollar figures.

Gaither High senior A.J. Graham signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $125,000 after being the first pick in the 18th round (523rd overall).

Graham has been assigned to the Pirates Florida Complex League. He was signed on July 30 by Pirates scout Nick Presto, according to a team news release.

The 6-3, 180-pound right-handed shortstop batted .346 with two homers, seven doubles, 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 78 at-bats across 23 games this season for Gaither.

Graham comes from an athletic family background.

His mother, Mindy, played volleyball at Ball State University and is a member of the Muncie, Indiana-based institution’s athletics Hall-of-Fame.

His father, Darrell, played defensive back in football at Syracuse University and Ball State University, respectively.

Also picked in the 18th round was Saint Leo University lefty pitcher Jimmy Burnette, landing 542nd overall to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Burnette signed with the club for $50,000 on July 21, according to the team’s website.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt senior led Saint Leo this season in innings pitched (45.0), wins (three) and strikeouts (53) to go along with a 5.80 ERA and 1.53 WHIP and a pair of complete games.

Burnette emerged in the inaugural MLB Draft League, a summer showcase for top draft-eligible prospects providing exposure to scouts, coaches and advanced baseball technologies.

Saint Leo University left-hander Jimmy Burnette signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for $25,000. He was taken in the 18th round (543rd overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft. (File)

Playing for the league’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio, Burnette posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.4 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched.

The league’s advanced statistical metrics underscored Burnette’s standout secondary offerings, including his slider (32.8% chase rate, 41.5% called strike plus whiff rate) and changeup (29% chase rate, 10 inches induced vertical break, 16 inches horizontal break).

Meanwhile, league metrics show a fastball that touches 95 mph, from a quasi-sidearm release.

A Chicago native, Burnette transferred to Saint Leo from the University of Illinois this past season.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams signed for $25,000 with the Kansas City Royals after being taken in the 19th round (559th overall).

The signing became official on July 15, according to the club’s website.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Odessa native starred for a Longhorns squad that had a third-place appearance at the 2021 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

A fourth-year senior, Williams led Texas with 20 doubles and was second with 12 homers, along with a .295 average, 42 runs scored and 51 RBIs spread across 61 starts at third base.

Prior to college, Williams led Gaither to the 2016 7A state championship his senior year and was named Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American.

He originally was drafted out of high school in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners, but didn’t sign, electing for Dallas Baptist University and San Jacinto College before transferring to Texas.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams signed with the Kansas City Royals for $25,000. He was taken in the 19th round (559th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft. (File)

Williams joins a growing list of family members to play professional baseball.

His father, Reggie, played four MLB seasons with the Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers throughout the 1990s.

Williams three older half-brothers all played professional baseball, too.

They include Reggie Williams Jr., who spent three years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization (2010-2012); J.D. Williams played five years in the Minnesota Twins minor league system (2010-2014); and Javier Reynoso spent two seasons in the Kansas City Royals’ organization (2013-2014).

Wharton High shortstop Zach Ehrhard was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round (367th overall), but didn’t sign by the Aug. 1 deadline.

Ehrhard theoretically could’ve received a decent chunk of change — as teams can give up to $125,000 to players drafted in rounds 11 through 20 before tapping into their bonus pool allotments.

He instead will attend Division I powerhouse Oklahoma State University, which has made eight consecutive NCAA tournament appearances (the 2020 pandemic-shortened season notwithstanding).

Interestingly, Ehrhard was one of four Red Sox draftees that chose not to sign.

The others were second-round pick Jud Fabian (University of Florida), 15th- rounder selection Payton Green (North Carolina Pro5 Academy) and 20th-rounder Josh Hood (University of Pennsylvania).

Ehrhard was this year’s recipient of the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, which honors a high school baseball player in Hillsborough County on the basis of outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements.

The a 5-foot-11, 175-pound switch-hitter batted .438 this season for the Wildcats, with three homers, 12 doubles, 29 runs scored and 21 RBIs, along with 26 stolen bases.

Ehrhard’s older brother, Drew, was a recipient of the prestigious award in 2017 and went on to play baseball at the University of Tampa.

Though just outside of The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area in Pasco, Fivay High School/University of Mississippi product Gunnar Hoglund signed with the Blue Jays for $3.25 million, after being picked in the first round at 19th overall.

The signing bonus fell slightly below the recommended slot value of $3.36 million.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander from Hudson was viewed as among the draft’s most polished arms, but slipped slightly after having Tommy John elbow surgery in May, meaning the 21-year-old likely will be out of action through at least summer 2022.

Locals from the 2021 MLB Draft

  • Sunlake High/University of Florida pitcher Tommy Mace— signed with Cleveland Indians for $1.1 million (drafted in Comp B, 69th overall)
  • Wharton High shortstop Zach Ehrhard — did not sign with Boston Red Sox (drafted in 13th round, 376th overall)
  • Gaither High shortstop A.J. Graham — signed with Pittsburgh Pirates for $125,000 (drafted in 18th round, 523rd overall)
  • Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette — signed with Toronto Blue Jays for $50,000 (drafted in 18th round, 543rd overall)
  • Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams — signed with Kansas City Royals for $25,000 (19th round, 559th overall)

Published August 11, 2021

Several local athletes taken in 2021 MLB Draft

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Aspirations of playing professional baseball may soon become a reality for a handful of athletes from local high schools and colleges in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The Major League Baseball (MLB) 2021 first-year player draft spanned 20 rounds (and 612 picks) from July 11 through July 13.

The draft is held every summer by conference call among the 30 Major League clubs.

The clubs take turns selecting players in reverse order of their won-lost records at the close of the previous regular season.

Generally, a player is eligible for selection if the player is a resident of the United States or Canada and the player has never before signed a Major League or Minor League contract. Residents of Puerto Rico and other territories of the United States also are eligible for the Draft.

The basic categories of players eligible to be drafted are:

  • High school players, if they have graduated from high school and have not yet attended college or junior college
  • College players, from four-year colleges who have either completed their junior or senior years or are at least 21 years old; and
  • Junior college players, regardless of how many years of school they have completed.

Representing the highest selection from the local community was Sunlake High alum Tommy Mace, now a fourth-year junior from the University of Florida.

Sunlake High product Tommy Mace has been an impactful right-handed pitcher for the Florida Gators baseball program the past four seasons. He was selected 69th overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 2021 MLB first-year player draft. (Courtesy of University of Florida athletics department)

The imposing 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-handed pitcher was taken 69th overall by the Cleveland Indians — in Competitive Balance Round B between the second and third round.

The recommended bonus slot value for that lofty pick is just under $1 million, at $929,800.

If and when Mace signs, he’ll join another local product in the Indians organization — Gaither High product Oscar Mercado, who earned a call-up with the big league club in June.

Mace, 22, very well could’ve turned pro last year, but opted to return to school with hopes of further improving his draft stock.

This past season at Florida he posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 90.1 innings pitched, along with a 6-2 record.

Across his four-year college career, Mace compiled a combined 4.37 ERA, 1.279 WHIP and 258 strikeouts in 269.2 total innings pitched, with a 22-7 mark.

Mace was ranked as the No. 45 draft prospect, according to MLB.com’s 2021 pre-draft rankings.

He exhibits a four-pitch mix — fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. This includes a sinking two-seam fastball that is viewed as his top offering, touching 96 mph with cutting action, according to various scouting reports, including MLB.com.

MLB.com’s draft profile on Mace otherwise states: “Mace has gotten a bit bigger physically, which could help with consistency of velocity and stuff. He’s always been good at throwing strikes, but has been more a contact, ground ball kind of pitcher, rather than one who misses tons of bats. He did increase his strikeout rate while continuing to fill up the strike zone in 2021.”

Mace has been highly-regarded since his prep days at Sunlake, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner.

As a senior, Mace tallied a 1.29 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 77.2 innings, with an 8-2 record in 11 appearances — guiding the Seahawks to the Class 7A regional finals.

He won 19 games during his high school career, posting a combined 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 165.2 innings.

Mace was rated as No. 72 prep player in the class of 2017 by Perfect Game and No. 15 overall prep player in all of Florida — including the fifth-ranked, right-handed pitcher in the state.

Wharton High senior baseball standout Zach Ehrhard, left, won Hillsborough County’s 2021 Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award on the basis of athletic, scholastic and community achievements. Ehrhard was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Also pictured here is Boggs, middle, and Ehrhard’s older brother, Drew, who also won the award in 2017. (File)

Among other accolades, he was named MaxPreps Second Team All-American and National High School Coaches Association All-Southeast Team.

Mace previously was drafted out of high school in the 12th round (347th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2017.

He, of course, didn’t sign with the Reds, instead opting to pitch for the Gators, which had then come off a 2017 College World Series crown — the first national championship in the program’s history.

Others drafted in later rounds
Mace was one several area players taken, albeit those in later rounds, on day three of the baseball draft.

Wharton High School senior Zach Ehrhard — an Oklahoma State University signee — was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round (367th overall).

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound switch-hitting shortstop batted .438 this season for the Wildcats, with three homers, 12 doubles, 29 runs scored and 21 RBIs, along with 26 stolen bases.

Ehrhard was this year’s recipient of the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, which honors a high school baseball player in Hillsborough County on the basis of outstanding athletic, scholastic and community achievements.

Baseball talent runs in the Ehrhard family.

His older brother, Drew, received the same prestigious county award in 2017 and went on to play collegiate baseball at the University of Tampa.

Another area prep position player, Gaither High senior A.J. Graham, was taken with the first pick in the 18th round (523rd overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 6-3, 180-pound right-handed shortstop batted .346 with two homers, seven doubles, 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 78 at-bats across 23 games this season.

Also picked in the 18th round was Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette, landing 542nd overall to the Toronto Blue Jays.

This season the 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt senior led the Lions in innings pitched (45.0), wins (three) and strikeouts (53) to go along with a 5.80 ERA and 1.53 WHIP and a pair of complete games.

Burnette appears to have emerged in the inaugural MLB Draft League, a summer showcase for top draft-eligible prospects providing exposures to scouts, coaches and advanced baseball technologies.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of University of Texas athletics department)

Playing for the league’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio, Burnette posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.4 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched.

A Chicago native, Burnette transferred to Saint Leo from the University of Illinois this past season.

Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams was taken in the 19th round (559th overall) by the Kansas City Royals.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Odessa native starred for a Longhorns squad that had a third-place appearance at the 2021 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

The fourth-year senior led Texas with 20 doubles and was second with 12 homers, to go along with .295 average, 42 runs scored and 51 RBIs spread across 61 starts at third base.

Prior to college, Williams led Gaither to the 2016 7A state championship his senior year and was named Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American.

He was drafted out of high school in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners, but didn’t sign, opting for Dallas Baptist University and San Jacinto College before transferring to Texas.

Williams’ father, Reggie, played four MLB seasons with the Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.

(Note: While slightly outside our coverage area, Fivay High/University of Mississippi product Gunnar Hoglund went in the first round (19th overall) to the Blue Jays. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander from Hudson was viewed as one of the draft’s most polished arms, but slipped slightly after having Tommy John elbow surgery in May.)

Robust draft history
It’s not uncommon for at least a few ballplayers from area high schools and colleges to be drafted each year.

In 2020, Steinbrenner High/Florida State University right-handed pitcher CJ Van Eyk went to the Blue Jays in the second round (42nd overall), and Wesley Chapel native/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High/University of South Florida right-handed pitcher Carson Ragsdale went in the fourth round (116th overall) to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University athletics department)

(Though slightly outside our coverage area on the west side of Pasco, Trinity native/Mitchell High catcher Jackson Miller went in the second round (65th overall) to the Reds.)

The 2019 MLB Draft also yielded a trio of area selections.

Land O’ Lakes High/St. Petersburg College second baseman Dustin Harris was selected in the 11th round (344th overall) by the Oakland Athletics; Pasco-Hernando State College/University of Tampa pitcher Tyler Beck was selected in 30th round (899th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in the; and Steinbrenner High/Mississippi State University pitcher Cole Gordon was selected in the 32nd round (958th overall) by the New York Mets.

Prior drafts yielded several community picks as well, including four in 2018 and six in 2017, respectively.

Locals picked in the 2021 MLB Draft

  • Sunlake High/University of Florida pitcher Tommy Mace (Cleveland Indians, Comp B, 69th overall)
  • Wharton High shortstop Zach Ehrhard (Boston Red Sox, 13th round, 376th overall)
  • Gaither High shortstop A.J. Graham (Pittsburgh Pirates, 18th round, 523rd overall)
  • Saint Leo University left-handed pitcher Jimmy Burnette (Toronto Blue Jays, 18th round, 543rd overall)
  • Gaither High/University of Texas third baseman Cam Williams (Kansas City Royals, 19th round, 559th overall)

Published July 21, 2021

Checking in on locals during MLB’s All-Star break

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The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has reached its designated July midway point with the All-Star break — with weeklong festivities like the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, MLB Draft, Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game all happening in Denver, Colorado.

The league’s breather offers several days off for ballplayers before returning to the extensive 162-game regular schedule (not including spring training or playoffs)  — with most of the 30 teams out of action from July 12 through July 15.

There are several ballplayers, and a manager, that have their roots in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Here’s a closer look at these locals’ performances, halfway through the Major League season:

Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is a reliever for the San Diego Padres. (File)

Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
Austin Adams has solidified himself as one of the more important bullpen pieces for the contending San Diego Padres (53-40, third in NL West), posting a 1.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48 strikeouts across 31.2 innings pitched in 30 appearances.

Much of the credit for his success harkens to his high-spin slider, which he throws nearly 89% of the time and averages about 87 mph.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty has struggled with command and control at times (issuing 19 walks and MLB-leading 14 hit batters), yet he’s only allowed 14 hits, with batters averaging just .137 against him.

The 30-year-old has had stints in the Majors since 2017, also playing for the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park.

He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009. He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, where he was a cog in the program’s first-ever Big East Championship final in 2012, as a junior. Adams went on become an eighth round draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels, signing for $127,500.

Wiregrass Ranch High product John Gant is a veteran right-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. (FIle)

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
John Gant began the season in the St. Louis Cardinals rotation, but was assigned to a bullpen role weeks ago.

It’s a role he’s flourished with strike-throwing and walk prevention.

Across 71.2 innings in 21 appearances — the second-most innings he’s thrown in his six-year Majors career — the 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty has posted a 3.52 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 60 strikeouts, with a 4-6 record for a Cardinals team that sits fourth in the NL Central at 44-46.

Gant’s arsenal features as many as six different pitches, headlined by a sinker (38.6%) and changeup (21.4%), along with a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter and curveball, according to MLB.com’s Statcast metrics.

Like his diverse pitch selection, the 28-year-old also has gone viral on social media for altering hairstyles and facial hair during the course of a season.

He’s sported everything from a full beard and long hair to corn rows to bushy mustache to some more traditional clean-shaven looks.

Gant made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, but has played for St. Louis since 2017.

Locally, Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and sustaining just three losses in four years.

He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams. His father, John Sr., was a science teacher at the school and longtime varsity girls basketball coach.

Gant was selected out of high school by the New York Mets in the 21st round of the 2011 MLB Draft, where he signed for $185,000.

Bishop McLaughlin product/Odessa native Nate Pearson is a right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. (Courtesy of Major League Baseball Advanced Media)

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (Odessa native)
Labeled one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, many tabbed Nate Pearson to garner American League Rookie of the Year consideration this year for the Toronto Blue Jays.

It’s been anything but that so far.

The 24-year-old right-hander was quickly optioned to the minors in early May after firing just 2.1 innings in one big league appearance — a 7-4 road loss to the Houston Astros on May 9, where he allowed five walks, four hits and three earned runs.

Since then, Pearson exhibited up and down showings for the Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons (4.74 ERA, 1.176 WHIP, 36 strikeouts in 24.2 innings).

Meanwhile, he hasn’t pitched since June 16 as he nurses a right groin strain — a befuddling injury that has him seeking a handful of different medical opinions, according to various media reports.

Measuring 6-foot-6, 250-pounds — aptly nicknamed “Big Nate,” — Peason’s regarded for a high-velocity fastball that can regularly touch 100 mph and above, along with a mid-80s slider and cutter.

He made his MLB debut during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020, so still maintains rookie-level status.

It remains up in the air if Pearson will pitch for Toronto the rest of this season, which is fighting for positioning in the uber-competitive AL East, where they sit in third place with a 45-42 mark.

Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015.

He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.

Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami’s Florida International University, then transferred to College of Central Florida in Ocala.

Pearson was taken by Toronto late in the first round (28th overall) in the 2017 MLB Draft, signing for a $2.45 million bonus.

Gaither High product Oscar Mercado is an outfielder with the Cleveland Indians. (File)

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
Oscar Mercado was one of the Cleveland Indians final roster cuts during spring training, but has since worked himself back to the big league club, earning a promotion from Triple-A Columbus on June 28.

The 26-year-old has cobbled together a respectable .281/.343/.500 line with nine hits (including a homer, triple and two doubles), five runs, four RBIs, three walks and nine strikeouts across 32 at-bats in 12 MLB games, along with two stolen bases. Defensively, he’s seen action in left field and center field.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound right-handed hitter had an impressive debut season in 2019. That season he batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases — finishing eighth in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

But what followed was a subpar 2020 campaign — with a paltry .128 with a .348 OPS in 86 at-bats across 36 games.

Mercado’s since worked to revamp his swing after last season’s slump, with help from the coaching staff and front office, according to various media reports.

He now appears on the right track.

A native of Colombia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old.

He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns and ranked among the nation’s top prep middle infielders.

Following high school, Mercado was picked by St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft, signing for $1.5 million.

He spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018.

Gaither High product/Lutz native Kevin Cash is in his seventh year as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. (File)

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Gaither High School
Unlike most other MLB managers and coaches, Kevin Cash will have on-field duties during the All-Star break.

That’s because he was named manager for the AL All-Star squad — a reward designated for leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a World Series appearance last season.

The 2021 MLB All-Star Game— otherwise known as the midsummer classic — is scheduled for July 13 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The game will air live on FOX at 7:30 p.m.

There, Cash will oversee 34 of the sport’s top players during the contest, including two familiar faces in Rays catcher Mike Zunino and super-utility Joey Wendle, who were both named All-Star reserves.

Cash’s encore from last year’s historic Rays campaign hasn’t been too shabby, guiding the franchise to a 53-37 record — good for second in the AL East (1.5 game back of first-place Boston Red Sox) and tops in the Wild Card race.

The seventh-year skipper has done it navigating tough team injuries (like ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow) and melding an eclectic group of rookies and veterans, with ages ranging from 20 years old (rookie infielder Wander Franco) to 41 years old (lefty veteran pitcher Rich Hill).

Likewise impressive, Cash’s ballclub entered the season with MLB’s fifth cheapest payroll at around $69.1 million — ahead of only the Miami Marlins ($58.5 million), Baltimore Orioles ($58.1 million), Pittsburgh Pirates ($55.9 million) and Cleveland Indians ($52.8 million).

Cash is regarded for his relatability to players, plus his quasi-mad scientist approach to managing, with ever-changing batting orders, substitutions, heavy bullpen usage and substitutions, unique defensive positioning and shifts — all designed to maximize the roster and play to player’s individuals strengths.

Locally, Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz.

He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.

Cash comes from a baseball family, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.

Published July 14, 2021

Spring football preview for area teams

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High school football is back in session — as preseason spring football practices are now underway statewide.

Florida high school spring football practices begin April 26. The first allowable day for full-contact tackling is May 1. (File)

And while the 2021 prep season remains months away, prep gridiron fans can still get a taste of how their teams are shaping up with a series of exhibition games and jamborees in late May.

Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions from April 26 through May, according to Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) guidelines. The first allowable day for full-contact tackling is May 1.

Here’s a closer look at how programs across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, in Hillsborough and Pasco counties:

Hillsborough County:

Carrollwood Day Patriots (Class 3A-3 — up from 2A)
Coach: Marshall McDuffie, first year
Skinny: Carrollwood Day enters the 2021 campaign with a new head coach and losses of All-State players on both sides of the ball (tight end Michael Trigg, Southern Cal; defensive tackle Desmond Mamudi, Virginia Tech). But the program remains well-stocked with other talented young players — several of whom are likewise garnering Division I FBS looks or scholarship offers. Meanwhile, the Patriots have prepared a challenging schedule, facing the likes of Clearwater Calvary Christian (7-2 in 2020), Trinity Catholic (7-4), Seffner Christian (8-5) and Cambridge Christian (9-2) high schools, among others.

Freedom Patriots (6A-9)
Coach: Christopher Short, third year
Skinny: Sure, Freedom went winless last season, with several blowout defeats to boot, but the team’s final two games — on the road — were decided by six points or fewer. Perhaps that yields confidence for a team led mostly by then freshman quarterback Taquawn Anthony. At least one other exciting player to watch is rising junior athlete Robby Washington, who generated a team-leading 1,299 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.

The Gaither Cowboys enter spring camp fresh off an 11-1 record and appearance in the regional finals. (Courtesy of Gaither High School Athletics Department)

Gaither Cowboys (7A-9 — up from 6A)
Coach: Kirk Karsen, third year
Skinny: Gaither will need to mold a new starting signal-caller to replace the uber-productive Kiael Kelly (Ball State University) — and the loss of several other graduating All-State talents. Yet, a pressure-heavy defensive front paced by Mario Eugenio and Tawfiq Thomas should help the transition for a program that’s remarkably gone a combined 23-3 the past two seasons. Eugenio ranked third in the state in sacks (17.0) last season, while Thomas contributed 15 tackles for loss. Also, the Cowboys move up from Class 6A to 7A, with district opponents now Largo, Leto, Mitchell and Sickles high schools.

Steinbrenner Warriors (8A-11)
Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo, 11th year|
Skinny: Steinbrenner must replace several playmakers on both sides of the ball. Besides losing its starting quarterback and top tackler, arguably the most notable departure is All-State tailback Deon Silas — now headed to Iowa State University — though rising junior Kirby Voorhees seems poised for an expanded role after registering 461 rushing yards on 61 carries, eight touchdowns in 2020.

Meantime, special teams figures to be a strong suit thanks to the legs of punter Griffin Wiltse (returning from a torn ACL) and kicker Collin Young (made five of six field goals, including a long of 42 yards, plus 28-for-28 on extra points).

Wharton Wildcats (7A-10 — down from 8A)
Coach: Mike Williams Sr., second year
Skinny: Wharton looks to build off its first postseason appearance since 2013, under the tutelage of second-year coach Mike Williams Sr. The 37-year-old offers pedigree as a seven-year NFL veteran who was a first-round pick in 2005 by the Detroit Lions out of Southern Cal, where he achieved All-American honors. (He also prepped at Plant High in the early 2000s). Having two All-State defensive players (Daveon Crouch, Henry Griffith) returning doesn’t hurt, either. The Wildcats transition down from Class 8A to 7A, with district foes being Armwood, Strawberry Crest, Tampa Bay Tech and Wiregrass Ranch high schools.

Pasco County

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (8-man)
Coach: Shawn Brown, eighth year
Skinny: In replacing nearly half the roster due to graduations, arguably the biggest blow to the Academy at the Lakes program is the graduation of quarterback Jalen Brown. He anchored the team for five seasons (starting as an eighth-grader) and back-to-back 8-man state titles in 2017 and 2018. Moving forward, at least one player to watch is rising sophomore linebacker Latrell Taylor, who garnered Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) 8-Man second-team All-State honors after posting a team-leading 55 tackles in six contests.

Bishop McLaughlin Hurricanes (3A-2 — up from independent)
Coach: Ken Stills, second year
Skinny: Bishop McLaughlin wants to build off a respectable .500 campaign under coach Ken Stills, who played six NFL seasons from 1985-1990 and brings professional coaching experience from the United Indoor Football and XFL, as well as Bradenton’s IMG Academy. Stills seems to have brought stability to a program that’s now had six different head coaches since 2013. Tasks include replacing All-State quarterback Adrian Miller III (transferred to Zephyrhills Christian Academy), and navigating the upward transition to Class 3A from the Independent ranks.

Cypress Creek Coyotes (5A-9 — up from 4A)
Coach: Mike Johnson, fifth year
Skinny: Cypress Creek comes off a disappointing season exacerbated by a tough schedule against local powerhouses such as Mitchell, Tampa Catholic and Zephyrhills. What should bring confidence is the return of one of the area’s top quarterbacks in rising senior Owen Walls, who completed 54% of his throws for 1,233 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in eight games last season. The Coyotes move up to Class 5A, joining a district that includes Hudson, Brooksville Nature Coast, Weeki Wachee, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools.

Land O’ Lakes will play as an Independent this upcoming football season. (File)

Land O’ Lakes Gators (Independent — down from 6A)
Coach: Trac Baughn, second year
Skinny: Land O’ Lakes certainly had a rough go in 2020 under new head coach Trac Baughn and a young roster, going just 1-7 and being outscored by a 72-268 margin. On a positive side, Baughn brings nearly three decades of coaching high school and college football, mostly throughout Mississippi. Interestingly, the Gators have opted to play this season as an Independent — instead of Class 7A — to help ease the program’s rebuild. Replacing the production of All-State defensive end Zavian Mckinon (12.5 sacks, 43 tackles) will be tough, in any case.

Pasco Pirates (6A-5)
Coach: Jason Stokes, third year
Skinny: Pasco seems to methodically be gaining momentum under the guidance of coach Jason Stokes, as he tries to steer the program back to its first winning season since 2014. Stokes has led three other prep programs to playoff appearances and also helped the Pirates notch the elusive win over Zephyrhills in the 9-Mile War in 2019 — after four straight blowout defeats to the Bulldogs under then head coach Tom McHugh. It’s critical to find ways to replicate production from several defensive stalwarts, including its top three tacklers, top three sack artists, and top two interceptions and passes defensed leaders. After all, this was a team defense last season that earned two shutouts, and held three other opponents to eight points or fewer.

Sunlake Seahawks (6A-9 — down from 7A)
Coach: Trey Burdick, third year
Skinny: Sunlake comes off another trying season — one that saw its offense get shut out in half its contests and only two victories coming against equally struggling programs — Leto (1-8) and Land O’ Lakes (1-7) high schools, respectively. Kevin Spillane returning as starting quarterback for a third season should help, as should linebacker Mitchell Hammond, the reigning Sunshine Athletic Conference East Defensive Player of the Year. However, the Seahawks will be without its top three wideouts who each garnered at least 20 catches in 2020. The program slides down a peg to Class 6A from 7A, entering a district which features Countryside, Fivay, Freedom and River Ridge high schools.

Wesley Chapel Wildcats (5A-9)
Coach: Tony Egan, sixth year
Skinny: Wesley Chapel has yet to experience a losing campaign under the watch of coach Tony Egan. There’s optimism for similar steadiness despite a sturdy 2021 slate against the likes of Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills, Brooksville Nature Coast, River Ridge and Mitchell high schools. Yet, the Wildcats have plenty of offensive and defensive production returning, including five All-Conference performers — wideout Nehemiah Morgan, linebacker Aydon Roysdon, tailback Jaylan Blake, offensive lineman Briac Riles, and linebacker Josh Poleon.

Armed with one of the area’s top quarterbacks — in rising senior Rocco Becht — Wiregrass Ranch is poised to bounce back from a 4-5 mark cut short and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School Athletics Department)

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls (7A-10)
Coach: Mark Kantor, seventh year
Skinny: Through Wiregrass Ranch finished just under .500 for the first time since 2015, it was against an objectively daunting schedule facing the likes of Armwood, Mitchell and Tampa Bay Tech (not to mention a season-ending forfeit to Orlando East River due to a COVID-19 outbreak). However, confidence appears amidst the return of rising senior quarterback Rocco Becht, the reigning Sunshine Athletic Conference East Offensive Player of the Year who, an Iowa State university verbal commit. Becht — the son of 11-year NFL veteran and current ESPN college football analyst Anthony Becht — completed 53.4% of his throws for 1,550 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions across eight games last season.

The Zephyrhills Bulldogs are poised to continue the team’s successful run under the guidance of veteran head coach Nick Carroll. The program went 8-3 last year, which included a string of eight straight victories. (File)

Zephyrhills Bulldogs (5A-9)
Coach: Nick Carroll, sixth year
Skinny: Winning consistently and in dominant fashion has been an ongoing theme for Zephyrhills under coach Nick Carroll’s tenure — collecting a pair of district titles (and another runner-up) and posting a combined 42-14 record across five seasons. The 2020 campaign, too, was noteworthy, given the team rapped off eight straight victories after dropping its two games. And six of those eight wins were of the shutout variety — the most lopsided being a 55-0 romp over Anclote in late November. Anticipate similar shutdown defensive performances to continue this year, as the Bulldogs should return five of its six top tacklers, including All-State linebacker Maguire Neal, who boasts multiple Division I FBS scholarship offers.

The Zephyrhills Christian Warriors will open up the 2021 season with a new artificial turf field and weight room. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Christian Academy Athletics Department)

Zephyrhills Christian Warriors (2A-2)
Coach: Mike Smith, seventh year
Skinny: Zephyrhills Christian enters spring camp seeking a sixth straight winning season. The prognosis seems pointed that way, as the squad returns a pair of All-State defensive backs in Quavious Cook and Fred Adams, plus the incoming transfer of All-State dual-threat quarterback Adrian Miller III, from Bishop McLaughlin. This should help boost a team that was already averaging nearly 29 points per game last season. Further adding to the program’s winning swagger is a brand-new artificial turf football field, and weight room, among other frills.

Schools in Laker/Lutz News coverage area (and their 2020 records)

Hillsborough County:

  • Carrollwood Day School Patriots (5-5)
  • Freedom High School Patriots (0-9)
  • Gaither High School Cowboys (11-1)
  • Steinbrenner High School Warriors (4-3)
  • Wharton High School Wildcats (7-2)

Pasco County

  • Academy at the Lakes Wildcats (4-2)
  • Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School Hurricanes (4-4)
  • Cypress Creek High School Coyotes (3-7)
  • Land O’ Lakes High School Gators (1-7)
  • Pasco High School Pirates (5-6)
  • Sunlake High School Seahawks (2-6)
  • Wesley Chapel High School Wildcats (5-4)
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School Bulls (4-5)
  • Zephyrhills High School Bulldogs (8-3)
  • Zephyrhills Christian Academy Warriors (8-3)

Spring game schedule

May 20
Land O’ Lakes at Cypress Creek
Wiregrass Ranch at Berkeley Prep
Steinbrenner, Gaither, Sickles at Tampa Alonso (Jamboree)
Tampa Bay Tech, Freedom, Wharton at King (Jamboree)

May 21
Mitchell at Zephyrhills
Pasco at Sunlake
Miami GDS Academy at Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Hollins at Wesley Chapel

Published April 28, 2021

Locals named to All-State football teams

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Athletes within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were well-represented on the FloridaHSFootball.com’s teams for the 2020 season.

In total, 23 players from 11 schools in Hillsborough and Pasco counties were named first-team, second-team, third-team or honorable mention in their respective classifications.

Wharton junior linebacker Henry Griffith (No. 40) earned a Class 8A All-State honorable mention, after posting a team-leading 82 tackles in nine games, plus three sacks and two forced fumbles. (Courtesy of Wharton High School)

The All-State teams were compiled by FloridaHSFootball.com, along with the considerations of information received from coaches, statistics on MaxPreps, and consultation of all-area/all-county teams as published by various media outlets from around the state. The schedule played by the school was taken into account, too.

Gaither High School (6A) garnered seven selections, the most among local schools.

That shouldn’t come as much surprise, given the Cowboys finished the 2020 campaign with an 11-1 mark and reached the regional finals before falling to Lake Minneola High School, 35-14.

Gaither’s picks were headlined with a first-team choice (junior defensive lineman Mario Eugenio), a second-team choice (senior linebacker Willie Jackson Jr.)  and five honorable mentions (senior quarterback Kiael Kelly, senior defensive lineman Asa Vanburen, junior defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas, senior utility Jordan Oladokun, and Jackson Jr., again, as a punter).

Eugenio, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound weakside defensive end, ranked third in the state in sacks (17), combined with 42 total tackles, seven hurries, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles (one for touchdown) and two pick-six interceptions across 10 games.

A consensus four-star prospect, Eugenio already has more than 30 scholarship offers, including several power five conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12) from the likes of Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oregon, West Virginia and many others.

Gaither senior quarterback Kiael Kelly was named a Class 6A All-State honorable mention after leading his team to the regional finals and an 11-1 mark. Kelly has signed to play football at Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. (Courtesy of Gaither High School)

Jackson Jr., an Ave Maria University signee, also showed why he was deserving of dual All-State designations.

The 5-foot-11, 220-pound outside backer in 11 games tallied 67 tackles (including 16 for loss), eight sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumble recoveries. Also, as the team’s punter, he averaged 39.9 yards per punt on 25 attempts, including a long of 55 yards and four pinned inside the opposing 20-yard line.

Gaither’s offense, meanwhile, was paced by Kelly, a Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana) signee.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound dual-threat signal caller completed 63% of his throws for 1,594 yards, 16 touchdowns and four picks, plus 399 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, across 10 games.

His father is Kenny Kelly, a former starting quarterback at the University of Miami, who also played Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals in the early 2000s; the elder Kelly also was a four-sport letterman at Tampa Catholic High School in baseball, basketball, football and track.

Fellow Gaither standouts — Vanburen (nine sacks), Thomas (15 tackles for loss, three sacks), and Oladokun (1,157 all-purpose yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions) also put up showy statistics.

Steinbrenner senior linebacker Austin Brannen earned a Class 8A All-State honorable mention after posting a team-leading 83 tackles in seven games. He’s headed to Campbell University, in Bules Creek, North Carolina. (Courtesy of Steinbrenner High School)

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area celebrated multiple selections on the All-State list, too.

Steinbrenner High School (8A) had the next most among local schools with three All-State representatives — running back Deon Silas, senior linebacker Austin Brannen and sophomore kicker Collin Young each were named as an honorable mention.

Silas — an Iowa State signee — tallied 1,265 all-purpose yards (771 rushing yards, 357 receiving yards, 185 return) and 14 touchdowns in just five contests.

Brannen — a Campbell (Bules Creek, North Carolina) signee posted a team-leading 83 tackles (including four for loss) in seven games, plus 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. (The 6-foot, 220-pound backer capped his Warriors varsity career with 366 tackles.)

Young was perfect on 28 extra points, and made five of six field goal attempts, including a long of 42 yards.

Meantime, five area programs claimed two All-State selections apiece — Carrollwood Day School (2A), Wharton High School (Class 8A), Wiregrass Ranch High School (7A), Zephyrhills High School (5A) and Zephyrhills Christian Academy (2A).

For Carrollwood Day, senior tight end Michael Trigg and senior defensive tackle Desmond Mamudi took first-team 2A All-State honors.

Carrollwood Day School tight end Michael Trigg collected a Class 2A All-State first-team recognition. The highly touted athlete is headed to the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, where he’ll play football and basketball. (Courtesy of Carrollwood Day School)

Trigg led the Patriots with 30 receptions for 586 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, while Mamudi posted a team-leading 13 sacks in eight games, plus 39 tackles (16 for loss) and a forced fumble.

The pair of highly-touted prospects are poised to make an impact at iconic national brands in the Division I FBS ranks, coming from a small private school.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Trigg has signed to play football and basketball at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, while the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Mamudi is headed to Virginia Tech.

For Wharton, junior pass-rushing outside linebacker Daveon Crouch earned second-team 8A All-State, while teammate Henry Griffith, also a junior backer, took 8A All-State honorable mention.

Both spurred the Wildcats to a 7-2 mark — the program’s best since 2015 — and a stifling defense that surrendered just 10.1 points per game, on average.

The 6-foot-3 210-pound Crouch collected 12 sacks in nine contests, along with 62 tackles (eight for loss), six forced fumbles and two interceptions.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Griffith added a team-leading 82 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games.

At Wiregrass Ranch, senior tight end Grady Clower and sophomore athlete Bryson Rodgers collected 7A All-State honorable mentions.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Clower, who’ll join the University of Central Florida as a preferred walk-on, hauled in 10 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns in eight games.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Rodgers led all Bulls receivers with 47 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a 70-yard long, across eight games.

Wiregrass Ranch sophomore wideout Bryson Rodgers received a Class 7A All-State honorable mention. He led all Bulls receivers with 47 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns. (Courtesy of Wiregrass Ranch High School)

For Zephyrhills, junior linebacker Maguire Neal was named second-team 5A All-State, and senior tailback Zyre Roundtree picked up an honorable mention nod.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Neal registered a team-leading 13 sacks in 11 contests, plus 51 tackles (25.5 for loss) and four forced fumbles. He also is a track star, recently breaking long-held school records in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Roundtree totaled 899 rushing yards on 122 carries (7.4 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns in 10 games, including four 100-yard games.

At Zephyrhills Christian, freshman safety Fred Adams took second-team 2A All-State, while junior defensive back Quavious Cook earned an honorable mention.

The 5-foot-10, 175 pound Adams tied for ninth-most interceptions in the state with six in seven games, plus 12 passes defensed and 28 tackles.

Cook, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound cornerback, wasn’t too far behind, collecting four picks, five passes defensed and 34 tackles (including two for loss).

Elsewhere, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School (Independent), Cypress Creek High School (4A), Land O’ Lakes High School (6A) and Pasco High School (6A) each had one representative on an All-State roster.

Bishop McLaughlin junior tailback Adrian Miller III was an Independent All-State honorable mention — racking up 1,000 rushing yards on 90 carries (11.1 yards per carry) for 10 touchdowns, including a long run of 79 yards and four 100-plus yard contests.

Cypress Creek junior quarterback Owen Walls was a 4A All-State honorable mention — completing 54.6% of his throws for 1,233 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions, including a long pass of 89 yards.

Land O’ Lakes senior defensive end Zavian McKinon was a 6A All-State honorable mention —  tallying 12.5 sacks and 43 tackles (including 12 for loss).

Pasco senior linebacker Gabriel Barnes was a 6A All-State honorable mention — leading his team in tackles (99), tackles for loss (13.5), hurries (11), sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (three).

There were no All-State representatives in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area from Classes 3A or 1A.

Last year, 18 players from four local schools earned various All-State honors.

Class 8A
Daveon Crouch, Wharton, junior, defensive line (second team defense)
Deon Silas, Steinbrenner, senior, running back (honorable mention)
Henry Griffith, Wharton, junior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Austin Brannen, Steinbrenner, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Collin Young, Steinbrenner, sophomore, kicker (honorable mention)

Class 7A
Grady Clower, Wiregrass Ranch, senior, tight end (honorable mention)
Bryson Rodgers, Wiregrass Ranch, sophomore, athlete (honorable mention)

Class 6A
Mario Eugenio, Gaither, junior, defensive line (first team defense)
Willie Jackson Jr., Gaither, senior, linebacker (second team defense)
Kiael Kelly, Gaither, senior, quarterback (honorable mention)
Asa Vanburen, Gaither, senior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Zavian McKinon, Land O’ Lakes, senior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Tawfiq Thomas, Gaither, junior, defensive line (honorable mention)
Gabriel Barnes, Pasco, senior, linebacker (honorable mention)
Jordan Oladokun, Gaither, senior, utility (honorable mention)
Jackson Jr., Gaither, senior, punter (honorable mention)

Class 5A
Maguire Neal, Zephyrhills, junior, linebacker (second team defense)
Zyre Roundtree, Zephyrhills, senior, running back (honorable mention)

Class 4A
Owen Walls, Cypress Creek, junior, quarterback (honorable mention)

Class 2A
Michael Trigg, Carrollwood Day, senior, tight end (first team offense)
Desmond Mamudi, Carrollwood Day, senior, defensive line (first team defense)
Fred Adams, Zephyrhills Christian, freshman, defensive back (second team defense)
Quavious Cook, Zephyrhills Christian, junior, defensive back (honorable mention)

Independent
Adrian Miller III, Bishop McLaughlin, junior, running back (honorable mention)

Published April 21, 2021

Watch these locals during 2021 MLB season

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The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is officially here —with more normalcy, to boot.

Following last year’s COVID-19 pandemic-delayed and shortened season that saw the World Series played at its first-ever neutral site in Arlington, Texas, America’s pastime has returned back to its traditional 162-game schedule on time, April 1 — with live fans allowed back in stadiums.

Sure, quirks remain.

For instance, the Toronto Blue Jays are starting off the season playing “home” games in Dunedin —amid Canadian-U.S. border restrictions.

For the most part, though, the peanuts and Cracker Jacks will be a flowing much like they were in simpler times.

As the big league season gets into full swing, there are several ballplayers, and a manager, that have their roots in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — and are expected to make major contributions to the show.

Here’s a rundown on some of those, with local connections.

Zephyrhills High product Austin Adams is expected to play a major bullpen role for the San Diego Padres this season. (File)

Austin Adams, San Diego Padres, pitcher
Local tie: Zephyrhills High School
Austin Adams is seeking a more pronounced role in 2021 on a contending San Diego Padres squad after garnering limited action last year — where he posted a 4.50 ERA, 12.5 WHIP and seven strikeouts in four innings pitched following offseason knee surgery.

Some experts project the 29-year-old, 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty will have a breakout season, thanks to a high-spin rate fastball and slider, which generate plenty of swings and misses.

But, he’ll begin the season on the 10-day injured list with what’s described as a minor elbow issue, preventing him from making a spring appearance since March 7.

Adams grew up in Zephyrhills, playing little league at Sam Pasco Park. He went on to earn four letters in baseball (and one in basketball) at Zephyrhills High School from 2006 to 2009.

He posted a 2.43 ERA and 80 strikeouts in his Bulldog career.

Adams’ high school pedigree led to a baseball scholarship at the University of South Florida, a program that achieved its first Big East Championship final in 2012, during his junior year.

He then was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. He also spent time with the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners organizations.

His road to the big leagues was lengthy, having thrown more than 250 innings across five minor league seasons before making his MLB debut in 2017 with the Nationals (from where he was traded to by Los Angeles in late 2016).

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Gant, a Wiregrass Ranch High product

John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals, pitcher
Local tie: Wiregrass Ranch High School
Following several seasons of sustained solid output with the St. Louis Cardinals, John Gant has secured the organization’s fifth starter spot to begin the regular season.

The 28-year-old Gant exhibited enough in spring training, making four appearances (three starts) and posting a 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound righty has held a variety of pitching roles entering his sixth big league campaign, including a mid- and late-inning bullpen arm in 2020, turning in a 2.40 ERA, 1.076 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 15 innings.

Gant is known for having one of the more unique windups in all of baseball, whereby he takes a couple left-footed toe taps, then pauses before firing off a pitch.

Part of his repertoire is a changeup nicknamed “The Vulcan,” which involves gripping the ball between the middle and ring fingers. Its nicknamed after the Vulcan salute used by Spock in the Star Trek series.

Gant has other interesting baseball footnotes, too.

He earned 11 wins in relief in 2019, the most of any reliever that year and most by a Cardinals relief pitcher since Al Hrabosky had 13 in 1975. Also, in 2018, he became the only player in Major League history to have hit at least two home runs while never having reached base safely by any other means.

Gant starred on the Wiregrass Ranch High varsity baseball team from 2008 to 2011 — striking out over 200 batters and sustaining just three losses in four years.

He also was a member of the Wiregrass Ranch basketball and swimming teams. His father, John Sr., was a science teacher at the school and longtime varsity girls basketball coach.

The pitching standout signed with the New York Mets out of high school and spent five years in the minors before making his big league debut in 2016 with the Atlanta Braves, then was traded to the Cardinals that offseason.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson is an Odessa native and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product.

Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher
Local tie: Odessa native, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Nate Pearson enters the 2021 season on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right groin suffered in spring training, but is expected to make substantial contributions to a Toronto Blue Jays poised for a second straight playoff berth — as he was all but penciled in to be the team’s No. 2 starter before multiple injury setbacks.

One of the game’s top-rated prospects, Pearson made his MLB debut last season, finishing the year with a 4.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.

The 24-year-old, 6-foot-6, 250-pound righty flamethrower is regarded for a fastball that regularly touches triple digits, plus a low-to-mid 90s slider and a developing changeup.

Born and raised in Odessa, Pearson starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, helping the program to the Class 3A state semifinals as a senior in 2015. He wrapped up his prep career with a career 1.24 earned run average and 144 strikeouts in 101.2 innings pitched, with a 12-1 record.

Pearson went on to play college baseball at Miami’s Florida International University, then transferred to the College of Central Florida in Ocala. There, he was named the Rawlings/Perfect Game JUCO Pitcher of the Year, and subsequently selected by the Blue Jays in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, signing for a $2.45 million bonus.

Pearson has proceeded to shine at each level of the minors, boasting a combined 2.19 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 119 strikeouts across 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.

Staying healthy and available will be key.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Oscar Mercado is a Gaither High product.

Oscar Mercado, Cleveland Indians, outfielder
Local tie: Gaither High School
Oscar Mercado was one of the Cleveland Indians’ final spring training cuts and optioned to Triple-A Columbus, but expect to see the speedy centerfielder garner some action sometime this season if others get hurt or otherwise underwhelm over the course of the long-winded 162-game regular season.

Reports indicate the decision by the team’s front office and coaching staff was to help boost 26-year-old’s confidence following a subpar 2020 campaign where he hit a paltry .128 with a .348 OPS in 36 games.

His spring training numbers didn’t fare much better, batting .214 with a .527 OPS in 28 at-bats.

This is all a far cry from his breakout rookie season in 2019 where the 6-foot-2, 197-pound Mercado batted .269 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 119 games, adding 70 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples and 15 stolen bases.

Getting more reps on a hitting program out of the pressure and spotlight of the major league club should help Mercado’s cause going forward.

A native of Colombia, Mercado and his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in the Tampa area when he was 7 years old. He became a four-year starter at shortstop at Gaither High School from 2010 to 2013, leading the program to back-to-back district crowns and ranked among the nation’s top prep middle infielders.

Following high school, Mercado was picked by St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (57th overall) in the 2013 MLB Draft, signing with the club for a $1.5 million signing bonus. He spent nearly six years working through the Cardinals minor league system until he was traded to the Indians in July 2018.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alum

Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays, manager
Local tie: Lutz native, Gaither High School
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash last year managed his hometown franchise to heights it never before reached — Game 6 of the World Series.

The seventh-year manager and his team are hoping for a similar historical encore, albeit with an altered roster that blends in plenty new faces, particularly on the pitching side, and already enters the season with a handful of key injuries.

But, the reigning American League Manager of the Year surely has myriad solutions in the way of ever-changing batting orders, openers, platoons, shifts, and mixing and matching the rotation and bullpen. His reputation for fostering a loose, welcoming clubhouse to settle players shouldn’t hurt, either.

The question is if the 43-year-old Cash and company can lead the Rays to a third straight playoff berth amid an AL East division that features a financially beefier New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays rosters, plus the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays are once again an underdog, as many media outlets peg them for a third- or even fourth-place finish in the division and winning fewer than 90 regular season contests.

The respected skipper is a key cog to proving naysayers wrong.

Cash spent his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park in Lutz.

He first hit the national scene in 1989 — then a 12-year-old second baseman for a Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series.
Cash later starred at Gaither High School, penning that into a successful college run at Florida State University and eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher mostly.

Cash is a baseball legacy of sort, as his father and uncle both played professionally, the latter reaching the big leagues in the 1970s.

Others to follow:

• Frank German, Boston Red Sox, pitcher: This Bishop McLaughlin product joined the Boston Red Sox in January, in a trade with the New York Yankees, who had selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of University of North Florida. The 23-year-old German was a non-roster invitee to Red Sox spring training, where he faced 14 batters across three innings before a reassignment. German has posted a 3.56 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 128 innings across 111.1 innings of the minors, between rookie ball and Single-A.

• Joe Hudson, Pittsburgh Pirates, catcher: This Odessa native who prepped at Tampa Jesuit (and college at Notre Dame) played in nine regular season games last season with the Seattle Mariners then signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. The 29-year-old Hudson enjoyed a strong spring training as a Pirates non-roster invitee, collecting five hits (including a homer) in 13 at-bats across nine games, which may be credited to a revamped swing.

• CJ Van Eyk, Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher: The Lutz native and Steinbrenner product has yet to play in a minor league game since being drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Florida State University. However, the well-rounded 22-year-old righty thrower could be a quick riser in the Toronto Blue Jays system, considering his college experience and limited action in spring training as a non-roster invitee.

Published April 07, 2021

Girls-only troops work on camping, leadership skills

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Girls had a chance to learn outdoor skills, build teamwork and develop leadership at the Back to Brownsea program in Odessa.

The program is for members of the girls-only troops of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), according to a news release.

Ten-year-old Stella DeStefano, of Cub Scout Pack 37 at Learning Gate School, learns how to use a saw at Back to Brownsea, at Camp Brorein, March 12 through March 14, in Odessa. (Courtesy of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America)

Seventeen-year-old Isabella Trevino, a Gaither High student, was at the camp — held March 12 through March 14 — because she wanted to give something back, by helping the younger girls who were there, the release says.

The younger girls had just “crossed over” to the Scouts BSA program, for ages 11 to 17, from family oriented Cub Scouts packs, which include elementary school-aged boys and girls.

Trevino served as the senior patrol leader (the highest level of youth leadership) for the weekend event, which drew more than 50 participants, including girls as instructors and students and adult leaders, to Boy Scout Camp Brorein, 16901 Boy Scout Road, the release adds.

“People involved in this grow into real good adults,” Trevino said, in the release. “And, we learn a lot about leadership and skills.”

The event was sponsored by the Fort Brooke District of the Greater Tampa Bay Council of Boy Scouts of America, which serves nine west-central Florida counties. It was organized by Terri Hunter, a member of the district’s Activities and Civic Services Committee.

The hands-on activities, taught by older Scouts BSA members, included fire-building, wood-splitting, knot-tying and other basic scout skills exercises to prepare them for independent camping, using the patrol method.

Paisley Murphy, 13, a Pasco Middle School student, with Troop 34, of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes, helped the younger girls work on tying knots.

She said she enjoyed teaching the skill, according to the release.

Her father, Ryan Murphy, an adult leader with the troop, said, “This was a good opportunity to get more experience in leadership roles.”

Published March 24, 2021

Looking to recruit 55 good men

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Super Bowl LV has put an international focus on Tampa during the past week — with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claiming victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, at Raymond James Stadium.

The impact of the Super Bowl, however, goes far beyond football.

Heather Castle poses with Tyrone Keys. Now director of activities and training for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Castle credits Keys for having a positive influence on her life. She wants her organization to have the same kind of impact on young people helped by her organization. (Courtesy of Heather Castle)

Beyond giving Tampa a chance to show itself off to the world, the event is a magnet for megastars and offers the experience of a lifetime for many spectators.

It’s also a chance to gain a huge audience for special causes.

That’s where Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay comes in.

The organization — which covers an eight-county area, including Pasco and Hillsborough counties — has been using Super Bowl LV as its platform to recruit 55 men to become Big Brothers to boys, ages 5 to 13.

Heather Castle, director of activities and training for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, said finding more mentors is especially important during this difficult COVID-19 time.

The push for 55 men is in recognition of the 55th Super Bowl, Castle said.

“The reason for the big push on men is because we have many Little Brothers on the waitlist and not enough male role models,” she explained.

She knows the value, firsthand, of having a mentor take an interest in her.

Heather Castle was 17 when she attended her first Bucs game, accompanied by her mom, Kathy. Tyrone Keys gave Heather the tickets to the game.

Tyrone Keys, a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl championship team, became Castle’s mentor when she a 15-year-old attending Gaither High School.

After his football career, Keys founded All Sports Community Service Inc., which aims to help youths pursue college scholarships.

That’s how he met Castle.

Keys worked with her to help her achieve her dream of playing college basketball, which she did at Saint Leo University.

“He took me under his wing. He believed in me. He sat down with me and said, this is what exactly what you need to do,” Castle said.

He also taught her about the value of community involvement, and helping others, whenever possible.

And now, Castle has come full circle in her current role at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.

“Because Mr. Keys equipped me with the tools, I am able to help them.”

Besides helping youths pursue their potential, the organization provides opportunities for new experiences and fun.

Heather Castle meets on the field with Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David and Litzy Maya-Nopal before the beginning of a Bucs game.

Now, Castle is able to take youths to their first Bucs football game, just like Keys did for her.

She said Keys gave her two tickets to a Bucs game when she was 17, and told her to invite a friend. She took her mom, Kathy Castle, because her mom was her best friend.

She still relishes the memory of that day, especially since her mom passed away five years ago.

While the Big Brothers Big Brothers of Tampa Bay’s current campaign focuses on drafting 55 men, the organization needs the help of women mentors, too, Castle said.

The need for help is obvious.

Her organization currently has more than 500 kids on its waiting list, Castle said, noting mentors can make a profound — and life-changing difference.

Anyone interested in learning more about getting involved can visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay’s website at BBBStampabay.org.

Published February 10, 2021