Florida International University

Saint Leo University gets set for beach volleyball

February 28, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Brooke Turner had her fair share of options to play indoor volleyball coming out of Gaither High School.

But, none could match what Saint Leo University offered: an intercollegiate beach volleyball program.

“I wanted to come here to play both,” Turner said.

“And, it’s also close to home, too.”

The Saint Leo beach volleyball team began practices in January. The first game is March 17. (Kevin Weiss)

Turner, a freshman, is one of 16 players on Saint Leo’s inaugural beach volleyball team.

Like others, she is a crossover athlete who also plays for Saint Leo’s indoor team, as an outside hitter.

Also like her peers, she’s trying to learn the many nuances of the beach sport — from hitting and passing, to its tempo and rapid-fire decision-making.

“It’s just a lot different,” Turner said of beach volleyball, acknowledging she played some recreational matches throughout high school.

“I feel like there just needs to be a little bit more hustle on the beach. It’s harder to run on the sand than on the court with shoes,” she said.

Beach volleyball is also a new competitive realm for Jamee Townsend, who spent four years as a libero on Saint Leo’s indoor squad from 2013 to 2016.

Now a graduate student at Saint Leo, Townsend was able to join the beach team, as NCAA bylaws allow student-athletes to play a fifth year in a different sport.

“I’ve always had an interest in training for beach,” said Townsend, noting she casually played in some offseason beach tournaments, but never seriously trained for them.

“It’s something I feel like I can play forever, versus indoors, which is really hard to play when you’re older. There’s not as much availability in (indoor) pickup games and stuff, so I was interested, and it just worked out that I was able to join.”

For Townsend, “coming out of retirement” to play a new sport has been a challenge physically — but also an invigorating venture.

“It was really hard — still is hard to keep my endurance up — but being a libero in college I wasn’t allowed to hit, so now I’m getting to attack and do a lot more components of the game than I did in indoor, so that’s exciting for me. I’m learning how to block again and doing things that I didn’t get to do in indoor,” Townsend said.

Last May, the university announced the addition of beach volleyball as its 20th sport and 11th in women’s athletics, initially as a nonscholarship offering.

Erik Peterson is tasked with guiding Saint Leo’s beach volleyball program. The inaugural 16 players are crossing over from the university’s indoor team. (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Following that was the completion of a five-court beach volleyball complex — believed to be the largest in Division II — on a portion of the intramural field, adjacent to the Saint Leo Tennis Center.

Beach practices began in January, led by assistant beach volleyball coach Erik Peterson.

The Lions’ first game is March 17 — a tri-match against Florida Southern College and Stevenson (Maryland) University, in Lakeland.

Slowly but surely the upstart program is coming along, the beach volleyball coach said.

“Sometimes we have some great practices, and then sometimes we forget how to do everything which is exactly part of it,” Peterson said.

“There’s some very different concepts and things that we’re trying to get them to comprehend and understand. It’s just a lot of the actual application takes some time and some reps.”

“Out here (on the beach), we don’t have the ability to hide all the deficiencies of indoor where you’re very specialized. For them, they have to pass, they have to set, they have to attack, they have to serve, they have to block, they have to defend, so they’re literally being asked to perform all of those skillsets fairly proficiently — and a lot of it’s new,” Peterson said.

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

Even with a steep learning curve, Peterson said the team has maintained a positive attitude throughout lessons and practices.

“It’s very easy for indoor players to come out to the beach and get very frustrated because there are those significant speed bumps. They kind of just work through it, and they don’t let things weigh them down when they’re getting frustrated. They kind of bounce back pretty quick and always stay mentally dialed in,” Peterson said.

Players also are encouraged by strides made in the last several weeks.

“We’re just now getting to the point where we can be comfortable and be competitive when we play doubles. It was a lot of training and getting back to basics,” Townsend said.

“I think we’ve gotten a lot better, and everyone is ready everyday,” Turner said.

“Everyone enjoys coming to practice, and they’re just excited so it kind of shows, and we’ve gotten better already in a month just practicing.”

Saint Leo is one of four Sunshine State Conference institutions to now offer beach volleyball, joining the University of Tampa and Florida Southern University as the three newcomers. Eckerd College has a program, too.

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

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

Peterson is no stranger to the sand-based sport. He’s been deeply involved with USA Sand Volleyball since 2007 and previously served as head coach for beach volleyball at Division I programs, such as Texas Christian University and the University of Central Florida. Other stops include the University of Oklahoma and the University of South Florida, as an indoor volleyball assistant coach.

With a schedule that includes fellow Sunshine State Conference foes and Division I programs, such as Florida International and Jacksonville University, Peterson said compiling a record of at least .500 in Year 1 “would be a nice measuring stick.”

“I think our biggest thing is trying to just get them to really buy into the process,” Peterson said.

“For this being such a new program and these being such new athletes, I think it’s really kind of hard to put a significant, quantifiable goal. It’s going to be more of just really looking at the growth, and each more individual and personal goals versus a team goal,” the coach added.

Cultivating an upbeat, energetic environment for home matches is another objective in Year 1, Peterson said.

It shouldn’t be too tough, as the Lions brand-new facilities — and imported bleachers — are squarely situated among other athletic complexes and provide for easy walking distance from one Saint Leo sport to the next.

“It’s such a unique type of atmosphere for beach volleyball versus a lot of these other sports that are very rigid in structure,” Peterson said.

“There’s communication, there’s heckling, the crowd can get involved. There are all these different exterior things that are happening — there’s music playing the whole time — so it’s just going to be a really cool atmosphere when we have the opportunity to host home matches, and get the fans and the students excited,” Peterson said.

2018 Saint Leo Beach Volleyball roster
Player Hometown/School
Annabella Arcari, freshman (Shelby Township, Michigan/Eisenhower High School)

Avery Bradshaw, sophomore (Tampa/Steinbrenner High School)

Paloma Da Silva, senior (Pocos De Caldas, Brazil/Park University Missouri)

Allie Daul, freshman (Grayslake, Illinois/Grayslake Central High School)

Anna Garrett, freshman (Merritt Island, Florida/Merritt Island High School

Dallas Jasper, sophomore (Annapolis, Maryland/Broadneck High School)

Jenya Kruglova, senior (Moscow, Russia/St. Petersburg College)

Victoria Omoregie, freshman (Tampa/Newsome High School)

Maddy Powell, senior (Tampa/ Steinbrenner High School)

Ashley Quero, freshman (Hialeah, Florida/Palmer Trinity School)

Fabiola Rosado, freshman (Lakeland/McKeel Academy of Technology)

Britt Sederholm, senior (Ogden, Utah/Saint Joseph Catholic School)

Jamee Townsend, grad student (Plant City/Strawberry Crest High School)

Brooke Turner, freshman (Tampa/Gaither High School)

Reggie Van Devender, sophomore (Phoenix, Arizona/Seton Catholic Preparatory)

Nina Vattovaz, freshman (Trieste, Italy/Liceo Artistico-Alessandro Vittoria)

Published February 28, 2018

Locals shine during 2017-2018 college football season

January 17, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Another exciting and memorable college football season is in the books. In addition to the University of Alabama capturing its sixth national title under head coach Nick Saban and the University of Central Florida finishing with an unblemished 13-0 record, several locals had noteworthy individual campaigns in 2017.

Here’s a look back at some of the top performers from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, including both Pasco and Hillsborough counties, that shined in the Division I FBS and FCS ranks in 2017:

Auden Tate, wide receiver, Florida State University
High School: Wharton High School; graduated in 2015
Tate offered one of the few bright spots for a Florida State team that took a step back in 2017, finishing an uncharacteristic 7-6.

A viable red-zone threat, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior tallied 40 receptions for 548 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdown receptions.

And, his last game was his best.

In the Seminole’s 42-12 win over Southern Mississippi in the Dec. 27 Independence Bowl, Tate tallied three touchdown passes as part of a five catch, 84-yard performance.

Tate has since announced he will forego his senior season to enter the 2018 NFL draft. Many outlets project the wide-out to be one of the top receivers selected, possibly between the first and fourth rounds.

A native of South Carolina, Tate moved to Tampa after his freshman year of high school. At Wharton, he developed into one of the nation’s most sought-after recruits, with his rare combination of size and athleticism.

Chase Litton, quarterback, Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia)
High School: Wharton High School; graduated in 2014
Litton capped off his junior season —and third year as Marshall’s starter— in impressive fashion.

He threw for 3,115 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading the Thundering Herd to an 8-5 record that was capped by a 31-28 win over Colorado State University in the Dec. 16 New Mexico Bowl.

The 6-foot-6, 232-pount Litton became just the second quarterback in school history to complete at least 60 percent of his passes in three consecutive seasons. The other was Byron Leftwich, who spent a decade in the NFL from 2003 to 2012.

Litton, who recently declared for the NFL Draft, cemented himself as one of the Marshall’s all-time great passers. He ranks fourth in program history in career touchdown passes (72); fourth in most pass completions (772); and fifth in career passing yards (8,832).

In four years at Wharton, Litton amassed more than 7,600 passing yards and 54 touchdowns. He was also a standout basketball player with more than 1,000 career points.

Alex McGough, quarterback, Florida International University
High School: Gaither High School; graduated in 2014
The four-year starter guided Florida International to an 8-5 record — tying the best mark in the program’s 16-year history. (FIU also went 8-5 in 2011).

McGough’s senior season was also his best season numbers-wise. Completing 65 percent of his passes, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound pocket passer tallied 2,798 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. A capable runner, he added 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

McGough exits the FIU program with numerous passing records, including most career touchdown passes (65).

His accomplished career came to a bittersweet end in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 21, when he fractured his left collarbone on the team’s first offensive drive. FIU ended up losing to Temple 28-3.

McGough was rather lightly recruited out of Gaither (FIU was his only Division I scholarship offer) despite being one of Tampa Bay’s most decorated passers — amassing more than 5,100 career passing yards and 52 touchdown passes in four varsity seasons. He also played baseball and soccer.

McGough’s younger brother, Shane, also plays for FIU and graduated from Gaither.

Shaheed Salmon, linebacker, Samford University (Homewood, Alabama)
High School: Land O’ Lakes High School; graduated in 2014
The 6-foot-2, 233-pound senior outside linebacker followed up last year’s All-Southern Conference campaign with an even better showing, posting a team-leading 109 total tackles, along with 15.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception. He again received First Team All-Southern Conference honors and was named Third Team Stats FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) All-American.

Salmon had four games with 10 or more tackles, including a career-high 18 in the team’s NCAA Playoff game at Kennesaw State.

He also was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in November.

The defensive stalwart and sure tackler was also one of the key reasons Samford posted an 8-4 overall record (6-2 conference play) and reached the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1992.

At Land O’ Lakes High, Salmon was a three-sport standout, competing in football, basketball and track. In his senior year, he led the Gators in tackles (117), tackles for loss (21.5) and sacks (8.5).

Amani Oruwariye, cornerback, Penn State University (State College, Pennsylvania)
High School: Gaither High School; graduated in 2014

Despite missing two games to injury, the 6-foot-1, 209-pound redshirt junior firmly established himself as one of the Big Ten Conference’s top cornerbacks — posting a team-high four interceptions, along with 12 passes defended and 28 total tackles — helping the Nittany Lions to an 11-2 record and Fiesta Bowl win.

The on-field performance proved good enough for second team All-Big Ten honors — Penn State’s first cornerback to do so since 2008.

Expected to return for his senior season, Oruwariye is regarded for his size, length and athleticism at the defensive back position.

Prior to college football, Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither High and earned team MVP honors his senior year. He also earned first-team all-district honors and was selected to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game.

Other Notables:

Janarion Grant, wide receiver, Rutgers University (Piscataway, New Jersey)
High School: Pasco High School; graduated in 2013
Battled injuries all season long, but still managed to finish with 600 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in seven games. Exits Rutgers as its all-time kickoff return yardage leader (2,857 yards) and tied for the NCAA record for combined kick return touchdowns (8).

Nate Craig-Myers, wide receiver, Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama)
High School(s): Pasco High School; Tampa Catholic High School; graduated in 2016
Dade City native displayed a solid sophomore campaign, tallying 16 receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Will be expected to make a bigger impact in 2018.

Chris Faddoul, punter, Florida A&M University
High School: Wiregrass Ranch High School; graduated in 2017
Freshman averaged 39.4 yards per punt, including eight of 50 or more yards. Also, pinned 16 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Shane Bucenell, quarterback, Charleston Southern University (Charleston, South Carolina)
High School: Wiregrass Ranch High School; graduated in 2015
Sophomore passed for 737 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Also, rushed 164 yards. Last month announced plans to transfer to another school.

Published January 17, 2018

Local football players sign with colleges during early period

January 3, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Several of the area’s top football players took advantage of a new NCAA rule allowing prospective student-athletes to sign their National Letters of Intent (NLI) in December, rather than waiting until February to put pen to paper.

Approved in May, the college football early signing period created a 72-hour window for signings from Dec. 20 to Dec. 22.

The next opportunity to sign an NLI will be at any point between the first Wednesday in February (Feb. 7) and April 1—also known as the traditional signing period.

Here’s a look at a few of the top athletes in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area who participated in the first-ever early signing period for football:

Isaiah Bolden, cornerback, Wesley Chapel High School
College: Florida State University (Tallahassee)
The highest-rated football prospect in Pasco County waited until the third and final day of the early signing period to make his official announcement to Florida State.

But, it was hardly a surprise he was headed there.

Wesley Chapel’s Isaiah Bolden signed with Florida State University, despite being committed to the University of Oregon for several months. The four-star cornerback prospect is the highest rated recruit in Pasco County for the 2018 class. (File)

Bolden de-committed from the University of Oregon on Dec. 5—the same day head coach Willie Taggart left his post at the school to accept the Florida State job, replacing Jimbo Fisher.

Bolden had an in-home visit with Taggart on Dec. 10, then took an official visit to Florida State on Dec. 15 — before ultimately signing with the university a week later.

A consensus four-star prospect, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Bolden is ranked among the top 30 or so cornerbacks for the 2018 recruiting class.

His senior season ended prematurely, however, after he was kicked off Wesley Chapel’s football team in early October, playing in just three games.

The prior year he helped lead Wesley Chapel to a 7-2 record and near playoff appearance, after transferring from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville.

Bolden’s dismissal didn’t deter major college programs from pursuing him, however.

Besides Florida State and Oregon, the rangy athlete boasted about 30 offers from other major FBS programs, including Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Michigan, among others.

Local fans wanting to witness Bolden’s athletic prowess still can. He recently joined Wesley Chapel’s varsity basketball team, where he’s averaging about 11 points and eight rebounds per game as a forward.

Jordan Miner, cornerback, Wiregrass Ranch High School
College: Penn State University (State College, Pennsylvania)
Like Bolden, Miner opted to join one of college football’s blue chip programs at Penn State University — a school he verbally committed to back in July.

A four-star prospect ranked among the nation’s top 50 cornerbacks for the 2018 recruiting class, Miner also had offers from nearly 30 Division I programs, including the likes of Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Wiregrass Ranch’s Jordan Miner signed with Penn State University, a school he committed to in July. Miner was perhaps the most versatile player in Pasco County this season, making an impact on offense, defense and special teams. He’ll likely play defensive back at the next level.

Miner’s productive four-year varsity career at Wiregrass Ranch culminated in the football program’s best record ever (9-3) and first playoff win.

The 2017 Sunshine Athletic Conference East defensive player of the year proved to be a Swiss Army knife, of sorts, for the Bulls this season.

Besides tallying 39 tackles and four interceptions, Miner was an integral part of the team’s offense and special teams—racking up nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.

Various scouting reports laud the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Miner for his speed and fluidity, as well as his ball skills. His size as a defensive back is another noted plus.

Meanwhile, Miner is the second member of his family to play college football.

His older brother, Jaye, was an All-State linebacker at Wiregrass Ranch from 2011 to 2014. He later played college football at Florida Atlantic University, a Division I FBS program in Boca Raton.

Until his college gridiron career gets rolling, Miner can be found on the hardwood as an integral member of Wiregrass Ranch’s varsity basketball team, which currently stands at 10-3.

Its Feb. 9 matchup against Wesley Chapel—and Bolden—will certainly be one to watch.

Michael Penix Jr., quarterback, Tampa Bay Tech (Dade City native, Pasco High transfer)
College: Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)
The Dade City native surprised many when he spurned major college programs in favor of Indiana University, a school that has struggled to win consistently in recent years.

The lanky 6-foot-3, left-handed signal-caller committed to the University of Tennessee in April, but de-committed in mid-December, after a coaching change.

Dade City native and Pasco High transfer Mike Penix Jr., is heading to Indiana University. A Pasco High transfer, the left-handed quarterback finished his career at Tampa Bay Tech, where he developed into one of the Bay Area’s most productive football players.

He also had scholarship offers from Florida State, Oregon, Arizona, South Florida and many others.

Though headed to the Midwest, Penix will be surrounded by Bay Area ties, as the Hoosiers’ 2018 roster is expected to include a dozen players from Tampa, Largo, Clearwater and Spring Hill.

Moreover, Indiana head football coach Tom Allen has several Tampa connections. He was defensive coordinator for the University of South Florida in 2015, and had coaching stints in the 1990s at Armwood High School and the now-defunct Temple Heights Christian School.

Hoosiers quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan also coached at USF in 2013.

Penix played his first two seasons at Pasco High School before transferring to Tampa Bay Tech, finishing his high school career with 6,986 total yards and 76 touchdowns.

He appeared destined for football and athletic success at early age.

His father and uncle both starred on Pasco High’s football team. Penix Sr., later played college football at Tennessee Tech University, where he met Penix’s mother—who was on the school’s track and field team.

Lavel Dumont, offensive tackle, Wharton High School
College: University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio)
Dumont’s first season of organized football was in 2016.

Just two years later, he’s headed to the Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) ranks.

After verbally committing to Toledo in June, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman didn’t change course, signing with the Ohio-based university on Dec. 20.

Wharton High offensive tackle Lavel Dumont (No. 75) signed with the University of Toledo during the early signing period. The three-star prospect is coveted for his size, athleticism, flexibility and potential to improve.

Dumont’ primary recruiter was Toledo running backs coach Marquel Blackwell—

a former standout quarterback at USF, who later coached at Freedom High School in Tampa.

A consensus three-star recruit, Dumont had close to 20 offers, mostly from mid-major schools like Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Central Michigan, Marshall, Tulane, Western Kentucky and others.

A basketball player by trade, Dumont began to take football seriously about two years ago, making significant strides in the weight room and with game fundamentals.

Dumont’s rare combination of size, flexibility, athleticism—and developmental potential — intrigued Division I programs early in the recruiting process.

He reportedly earned his first collegiate offer in June 2016 — from Florida A&M University—before ever playing in a varsity football game.

Meanwhile, Wharton teammate A.J. Hampton is also expected to sign with Toledo during the traditional February signing period; the 5-foot-11 cornerback verbally committed to the school in July.

Donovan Jennings, offensive tackle, Gaither High School
College: University of South Florida (Tampa)
Jennings, like Dumont, is a relative newcomer to organized football—first playing as a freshman in high school because he always exceeded the size limit for youth-league teams.

It’s not surprising why: Jennings stands at a towering 6-foot-5 and whopping 310 pounds.

Gaither High’s Donovan Jennings (No. 72) signed his national letter of intent to the University of South Florida. The jumbo 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle paved the way for teammates to compile nearly 2,900 rushing yards this season.

After early struggles picking up the game, Jennings thrived as an upperclassman.

His blocking skills helped pave the way for Gaither running backs to rack up nearly 2,900 rushing yards this season, and more than 1,500 rushing yards the year before.

Uncommitted throughout the recruiting process, Jennings ultimately picked his hometown team for the next level.

A consensus three-star recruit, he also had offers from Marshall, Old Dominion, Toledo, Central Florida, Virginia and others.

Jennings now joins a long line of Gaither High products to play at the Division I FBS level. Some more recent Cowboys football alums include Decalon Brooks (Florida State University), Estafano Feliciano (Old Dominion University), Alex McGough (Florida International University), Shane McGough (Florida International University), Ernest Suttles (Memphis), Shug Oyegunle (Florida International University) and Amani Oruwariye (Penn State University).

Elsewhere, Jennings’ teammate Matthew Wood signed his national letter of intent to Holy Cross University, a Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) program in Worcester, Massachusetts. Wood tallied 261 tackles in three varsity seasons as a linebacker.

Published January 3, 2018

Locals fare well in 2017 MLB Draft

June 22, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He is a College of Central Florida commit.

Published June 21, 2017

Land O’ Lakes High softball wins state title

May 24, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

They finally did it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Likewise impressive, the Gators won in comeback fashion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saile — now a freshman standout at Florida International University — amassed 517 strikeouts and a career 1.76 ERA in four seasons. She also compiled 41 wins, 31 complete games, 11 shutouts and five no-hitters in her prep career.

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

No matter.

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

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

Hitting shouldn’t be a problem, either.

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

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

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

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

Published May 24, 2017

Area softball preview

March 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The high school softball season in Florida is underway, and several of the top players — and teams — in the state reside right here in our coverage area. From Land O’ Lakes to Steinbrenner, there’s no shortage of prep softball talent.

Academy at the Lakes’ Alexis Kilfoyl
(File)

Some players to watch, as the season progresses:

Pitcher Alexis Kilfoyl, sophomore, Academy at the Lakes: Just a few weeks into the 2017 season, the 6-foot-1 sophomore ace and University of Alabama commit is already living up to the national hype she received throughout the preseason. Kilfoyl, a varsity standout since seventh grade, has won her first five starts, tallying a 0.50 ERA and 50 strikeouts through 28 innings. Her presence is also being felt at the plate, with a .471 average and a team-leading three home runs. Kilfoyl was selected in January to join the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Training Team, along with just 23 other athletes nationwide. She is known for her ability as a drop-ball pitcher.

Infielder/Outfielder Isabella Huff, junior, Sunlake High: A transfer from Bishop McLaughlin, the versatile fielder is on a tear this season for the Seahawks, batting a whopping .625, with two home runs, a triple and seven RBIs, through five games. It’s not a surprise, considering Huff had a breakout season in 2016, batting .441, with four home runs, six triples and 18 RBIs. Huff is also a threat on the base paths (nine steals in 2016). She was a 2016 Miracle Sports All-State Class 3A Honorable Mention.

Pitcher Callie Turner, sophomore, Land O’ Lakes High: This season, Turner has been tasked with assuming the ace pitcher role vacated by Shannon Saile, now at Florida International University. Through five appearances, Turner has handled the challenge swimmingly, compiling a 0.68 ERA and 68 strikeouts through 31 innings. A University of Tennessee commit, Turner is quickly establishing herself as one the region’s top pitchers. As a freshman in 2016, Turner won five games, netting a 0.46 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 46 innings.

Pitcher Hailee DeCicco, junior, Gaither High: The 5-foot-10 right-hander is picking up precisely where she left off in 2016. Through two starts, DeCicco has a 0.00 ERA and 20 strikeouts through 12 innings. Last season, DeCicco was one of the most unhittable pitchers in Hillsborough County, compiling a 0.91 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 100.1 innings. In 2016, she was a Hillsborough County Western Conference American Division First-Team selection and a 2016 Miracle Softball All-state Class 7A Second-Team selection.

Shortstop/Catcher Emma Frost, senior, Carrollwood Day School: Perhaps the most consistent hitter in our coverage area, Frost is looking to put together one of the more impressive four-year prep careers in recent memory. An immediate impact player since her freshman year, Frost has eye-popping career numbers in several categories, including batting average (.664), triples (21), doubles (24), hits (103), runs (92) and stolen bases (51). Through four games this season, Frost has already slugged two homers and is batting .615. A Florida International University signee, Frost is lauded by coaches for her all-around athleticism and deep understanding of the game.

Other key players:
Catcher Kameron Aitken, senior, Wiregrass Ranch
P/INF Emalee Jansen, senior, Steinbrenner
INF Tia Williams, junior, Land O’Lakes
3B Ashley Nickisher, sophomore, Wesley Chapel
P/SS Jordyn Kadlub, sophomore, Pasco High

Three teams to keep an eye on:

Land O’ Lakes High’s varsity softball team looks to return to the state tournament in 2017.
(Courtesy of Edwin Rodriguez)

Land O’ Lakes High: Despite graduating three starters — including former dominant ace Shannon Saile — the Gators, coached by Mitch Wilkins, are still primed as a regional powerhouse. Plenty of skill and depth remain from last year’s 27-win team that advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals. A trio of juniors — Tia Williams, Ashley Smith, Brianna Lindner — expect to offer plenty of support for sophomore ace Callie Turner. Meanwhile, opponents will have to contend with several heady baserunners, like sophomore Shelby Westbrook and senior Jessie McCallister. The Gators are currently 5-1.

Academy at the Lakes: Armed with one of the nation’s elite pitchers in Alexis Kilfoyl, the Wildcats also add a bevy of power-hitting youngsters in eighth-graders Kendra Falby, Brooke Blankenship and Devyne Davis, each of which are already making an immediate impact for the 6-0 Wildcats. It doesn’t hurt, either, to have an experienced Division I coach anchoring the program. In the offseason, the Wildcats hired Diane Stephenson to oversee the team’s move to Class 3A. Stephenson served as the head softball coach at Indiana University from 1987 to 2002. She was also an assistant softball coach at both the University of Iowa (2008-2010) and Purdue University (2010-2013). More recently, Stephenson was the head softball coach at Division II Saint Joseph’s College (2014-2015) in Renssalaer, Indiana.

Steinbrenner High: Already off to a blistering 6-0 start, the Warriors’ winning ways don’t appear to be going away anytime soon, especially under third-year coach Brenda Leach. In addition to having one of Hillsborough County’s top pitchers in Emalee Jansen (a University of Tampa signee), the Warriors return five .300 hitters from the 2016 squad. Also a solid team defensively, the Warriors figure to win several close games. Over the last two seasons, Steinbrenner has 40-13 combined record.

Published March 8, 2017

Land O’ Lakes state title bid falls short

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The score wasn’t indicative of how closely the game was played. At least that’s the opinion of Land O’ Lakes varsity softball head coach Mitch Wilkins on his team’s 5-0 loss to Plantation American Heritage in the Class 6A FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state semifinals on May 6 in Vero Beach.

“I thought we played right even with them,” Wilkins said with authority. “Their bloop hits fell in and ours didn’t.”

Four of the Gators’ top hitters return next season, including sophomore Brianna Lindner, who led the team in home runs (6) this season. (Photos courtesy of Land O' Lakes Softball) — Four of the Gators’ top hitters return next season, including sophomore Brianna Lindner, who led the team in home runs (6) this season.
(Photos courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Softball)

Missed opportunities to score runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings handcuffed the Gators (27-3-1) from mounting a rally against American Heritage (26-2), the eventual Class 6A state champs.

Though Wilkins believes his squad matched up well with the Patriots, he acknowledged American Heritage was likely the best all-around team the Gators faced all year.

“I’d say their pitching was pretty close to Springstead (High), but hitting wise, I thought they were a little bit better than anyone we’ve faced other than maybe River Ridge,” the third-year Gators coach said.

While the Gators fell short in their hopes of winning a state title, advancing to the semifinals, or “Final Four,” will motivate the team to achieve even more success next year, Wilkins said.

“Getting the girls together and making the trip, it put a taste in their mouth that I think they’re looking to get back there,” he said. “We’re disappointed for the outcome, but in the same respect, we’re really excited and really wanting to get at it again.

“The girls were really looking forward to this season, because they knew they weren’t going to stop in the district (playoffs). They knew they were going to get to the postseason this year. They couldn’t wait to get started, and I think we’ll have the same feeling coming into next year knowing there’s a little unfinished business there,” he said.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators lost to Plantation American Heritage 5-0 in the Class 6A state semifinals on May 6 in Vero Beach.

Reaching the state tournament again won’t be an easy undertaking, as the Gators will no longer be able to rely upon the dominant arm of ace pitcher Shannon Saile, arguably the best pitcher in Pasco County this season. Saile, a Florida International University softball signee, compiled a 0.78 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 134 2/3 innings in her senior year.

Handling the loss of Saile’s immense production in the circle is something the Land O’ Lakes coaching staff will address in the offseason and into fall ball.

The team’s No. 2 pitcher Callie Turner (0.46 ERA, 79 strikeouts in 46 innings) is likely to step into the starting role now vacated by Saile, assuming the freshman continues to show the promise she displayed in the circle this past season.

“She’s got all the tools that it’ll take to become as dominant as Shannon (Saile) was this year. She just probably needs a little more experience,” Wilkins said about the rising sophomore. “She just needs to mature a little bit and keep her emotions in check, and understand what her job is. She doesn’t have to do everything — we’ve got a solid defense behind us — and she doesn’t have to strike out every batter, she just has to keep the ball off the fat part of the bat.”

Finding quality pitching won’t be the only aspect the Gators’ head coach will focus on as he looks to build an even more successful squad next season. He also plans to tackle the hitting woes the Gators experienced down the stretch of the state playoffs. In their final three games, Land O’ Lakes scored a total of two runs — each scored in one-run victories over River Ridge High and Springstead High, before being shut out by American Heritage.

“In the last three games, we didn’t hit as well as we needed to,” Wilkins said, “so that’s something that we’ll definitely be working on.”

Luckily, the Gators’ top four hitters are returning in Ashley Smith (.449 avg.), Jessie McCallister (.442 avg.), Tia Williams (.433 avg., four home runs) and Brianna Lindner (.373 avg. six home runs.)

However, putting those hitters in the right spots in the batting order, as new faces are added to the lineup, is the challenge going forward.

“We have to figure out how we’re going to realign our lineup,” Wilkins said, “and figure out what the best combination is going to be…and what works best (to) score some more runs later in the season when it counts.”

Key Departures:

Pitcher Shannon Saile (0.78 ERA, 269 strikeouts)
Catcher Tayler Holt (.347 avg, 14 RBIs)
Infielder Kendall Tipton (.311 avg, 12 doubles, 15 RBIs)

Key Returnees:

Pitcher Callie Turner (0.46 ERA, 79 strikeouts)
Outfielder Jessie McCallister (.442 avg., 14 RBIs)
Third baseman Brianna Lindner (.373 avg., six home runs, 29 RBIs)
Utility player Ashley Smith (.449 avg., two home runs, 16 RBIs)
Shortstop Tia Williams (.433 avg., four home runs, 32 RBIs)

Published May 18, 2016

Area spring football preview: Hillsborough County

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Spring football practices are underway for Hillsborough County schools in our coverage area. Programs such as Gaither High and Freedom High are hoping for turnarounds, while Steinbrenner and Wharton high schools are trying to build off last season’s successes. Carrollwood Day School fits the bill as a possible team on the rise for 2016.

Carrollwood Day School
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (10th year)
2015 record: 7-4

Carrollwood Day School prep fans should be excited about the potential for an entertaining season, and not just because the private school’s football team will be playing at a brand-new athletic complex in 2016. A majority of Carrollwood’s young playmakers on offense return, including incumbent quarterback Raymond Woodie Jr., leading rusher Yahsin Wooten (740 yards, 8 TDs) and leading receiver Markeis Colvin (20 receptions, 501 yards, 4 TDs.) The Patriots also return their top two tacklers from last season in linebackers Ryan Verscharen and Stephen Walters, who will be seniors. Replacing the production of two sack artists in Zac Watson-Parcells and Corey Shamley will be key to take a step forward in 2016.

Freedom High School
Coach: Floyd Graham (1st year)
2015 record: 3-7

Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year. (File photo) — Freedom High School Coach Floyd Graham is likely in for a rebuilding year.
(File photo)

It’s likely a rebuilding year for new Freedom coach Floyd Graham, who was officially hired on April 1. The good news for those that closely follow Freedom’s program is it’s something Graham should be able to handle, considering he created football programs from scratch at both Newsome and Steinbrenner high schools. However, Graham will have some uphill battles to climb in year one. Being hired in April doesn’t give him much time to implement his coaching philosophy, and develop a rapport with both players and assistant coaches. Also, the team is losing a plethora of seniors from 2015, including do-it-all playmaker Nasir Core.

Gaither High School
Coach: Jason Stokes (6th year)
2015 record: 4-6

In order to improve in 2016, the Cowboys must make some strides on the offensive side of the ball. The team scored nine points or fewer in six out of their 10 games. Luckily for Coach Stokes, bellcow running back Alex Rodriguez returns. Getting quarterback Gavin Denboer to cut down on his interceptions (10) is a must. The Cowboys defense should be able to hold its own, with the return of linebacker Decalon Brooks, last year’s leading tackler (114). The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Brooks, the son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks, is widely viewed as one of the top players in all of Tampa. The consensus three-star recruit already has Division I scholarship offers from Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Illinois and University of South Florida.

Steinbrenner High School
Coach: Andres Perez-Reinaldo (5th year)
2015 record: 9-2

The Warriors finally had a breakout season in 2015 under the tutelage of head coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo. Thanks to a potent offense and an at-times smothering defense, Steinbrenner’s only two setbacks last season were against dynasty prep programs in Manatee (Bradenton) High and Dr. Phillips (Orlando) High. On offense, quarterback Collin Wray (56 percent completion, 1,634 yards) returns, as do two of his favorite targets in Brett Bitter (35 receptions, 600 yards) and Carson Kaleo (34 receptions, 277 yards). Replacing the production of 1,000-yard rusher Jayquese Dantley is something the team will need to address. On defense, Coach Perez-Reinaldo and his staff must find some players that can carry the load, since the Warriors lose three leading tacklers in Tyler Mirabella, Patrick Lukert and Zack Deitz.

Wharton High School
Coach: David Mitchell (12th year)
2015 record: 8-2

The Wildcats enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign, with sizable victories over the likes of King High, Gaither High, Wiregrass Ranch and Leto High. However, it won’t be easy to replicate the scoring outputs (at least 30 points in seven games) from 2015. Coach Mitchell will have to replace quarterback Bryce Martin, leading rusher Miles Williams (1,102 yards, 10 TDs) and leading receiver Devontres Dukes (18 receptions, 360 yards) from last year’s squad. They also lost defensive stalwarts in linebacker Hayden Parks (75 tackles) and defensive lineman Godey Coleus (six sacks). One possible breakout candidate to watch is two-way player Shannon King, who will be a junior. The powerful 5-foot-10, 210-pounder rushed for nearly 400 yards, adding 6.9 yards per carry.

Published May 4, 2016

Land O’ Lakes softball primed for deep playoff run

April 20, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes High School softball coach Mitchell Wilkins is taking things “one game at a time.”

Despite wrapping up a marvelous regular season (24-2-1), the third-year coach is trying not to get ahead of himself in looking at the pathway to a state title, though he knows his team matches up well against most opponents.

Head Coach Mitch Wilkins has led the Gators to two straight 20-win seasons. The team will compete in the Class 6A FHSAA regionals, starting April 20. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes Football) — Head Coach Mitch Wilkins has led the Gators to two straight 20-win seasons. The team will compete in the Class 6A FHSAA regionals, starting April 20.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Football)

The Gators are rolling into the playoffs as one of the state’s hottest teams—reeling off 15 straight wins, many by large margins of victory.

“I think we’re set,” the third-year coach said. “I have in my mind how I want to approach as we go through regionals.”

To win the Class 6A FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state title, the Gators will have to win five straight games in the process, starting on April 20.

But, Wilkins is careful not to look too far ahead.

“I can’t be distracted by that, because we know what happened last year—we lost in the second round at the districts semifinals and didn’t get to go any further — so we have to look at each game and figure out what’s the best approach for that game before we start looking at a state championship.”

After finishing 24-3 last season—district semifinals’ hiccup aside— Wilkins knew he had an established team with lofty expectations entering the 2016 season.

“We knew we had good players, but we wanted to see how they matched up — and so far so good,” Wilkins said. “We’re really happy with what we have, not only one through nine, but we’ve got weapons on the bench that I can put in and feel just as comfortable having play.”

One player that Wilkins is always comfortable playing is senior ace pitcher Shannon Saile (four no-hitters, 0.66 ERA), who’s struck out 221 batters —which ranks fifth in the state. Her ability to throw all her pitches—fastball, curveball, screwball, riseball— in each quadrant of the strike zone has made the FIU (Florida International University) softball commit a nightmare for opposing hitters.

“She’s been a monster,” her coach said. “She hits both sides of the plate. …She loves to pitch at the bottom of the strike zone.

“She gets a lot of swinging strikes—pitches out of the zone—because the (opposing) girls know they have to be ready and swing early, because she throws so hard.”

Averaging more than two strikeouts for every inning pitched, Saile’s presence in the circle has taken a significant burden off of the team’s defense, Wilkins said.

“Defensively, when I only have to account for one out an inning — that is such a blessing,” the Gators coach said. “That takes a lot of stress off our defense. The most stressful thing they have is waiting to see if somebody’s going to hit the ball and put it in play. …They have to stay on the balls of their feet the whole time, if somebody does hit it.”

Giving the Gators additional assurance heading into the postseason is the emergence of several young players, including two-way freshmen Callie Turner and Shelby Westbrook, and sophomores Brianna Lindner, Ashley Smith and Tia Williams.

“We have a good mixture of youth and veterans,” Wilkins said, noting eight of the team’s 14 players will earn their first varsity letter. “This year, we are better pitching, but we haven’t hit quite as well as we did last year—but we haven’t needed to. In the same respect, we’ve played better competition this year.”

That “better competition” includes Springstead (24-1)— a team the Gators fell to 1-0 in extra innings in the season opener—whom Land O’ Lakes may rematch if both teams reach the regional finals.

“We know they’ve made some improvements since then, and we’ve made some improvements since then, so it’ll probably be a little bit different game,” Wilkins said, adding, “we’re confident we can play with them.”

“We feel — especially with Shannon pitching and our defense, and the emerging offense from our sophomore starters — that we can compete with anybody in the state.”

Land O’ Lakes Gators softball
Head Coach: Mitchell Wilkins (3rd year)
Record: 24-2-1
Player to watch: Senior pitcher Shannon Saile (15-2 W-L, 0.66 ERA, 221 Ks, four no-hitters)

“Shannon’s been great. She’s done everything we’ve asked her to do and more. She elevated her game a couple summers ago when she realized she had the opportunity to be the No. 1 pitcher. She added some miles per hour to her pitching speed and worked on her different pitches to be that dominant pitcher. She has worked hard to become that.” –Coach Mitchell Wilkins

Sophomore sluggers: Brianna Lindner (.375 avg., 4 HRs, 26 RB)
Tia Williams (.463 avg., 4HRs, 30 RBI)
Ashley Smith (.443 avg., 2 HR, 16 RBI)
X-Factor: Freshman Shelby Westbrook (29 runs scored, 16 stolen bases)

“Shelby has really emerged as a weapon just with her speed. She creates a lot of havoc when she’s on base. All she has to do is put the ball in play, and it’s a really good opportunity for her to get on base.” –Coach Mitchell Wilkins

Published April 20, 2016

New coaching staff leads Wiregrass Ranch softball

March 2, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Wiregrass Ranch High made a coaching change for its softball team at the end of its last season, following complaints from parents and players about the “loosey-goosey” structure of the team.

The new head coach, Yamani Vazquez, and assistant coach, Tyler Finn, have spent the past several years coaching rec league and travel softball in Wesley Chapel.

The first-time high school coaches are using their respective military and law enforcement backgrounds to implement a culture change—better organization, more positivity and more discipline.

The Wiregrass Ranch softball team has two first-time high school coaches in Yamani Vazquez, left, and Tyler Finn. They have spent the past several years coaching rec league and travel softball in Wesley Chapel. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — The Wiregrass Ranch softball team has two first-time high school coaches in Yamani Vazquez, left, and Tyler Finn. They have spent the past several years coaching rec league and travel softball in Wesley Chapel.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Coach Vazquez said he’s incorporated “little things,” such as having players do more fieldwork, having players hustle in between practice drills, and ensuring players remove their headgear before shaking hands with opposing teams at the end of games.

“I have to say they’ve been very receptive and welcoming of our system,” said Vazquez, an eight-year military veteran who currently teaches science at John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel. “It’s definitely a change from last year.

“One of the things (Wiregrass Ranch principal) Robyn White mentioned was the amount of (negative) emails she got from the softball side more than any other sport, and we were like, ‘Okay, we’re going to change that.’ It was a great opportunity for us, because we knew the state of the program and how it was left, so we felt we could get it back up, and change a few things.”

Junior Samantha Hiley, one of the Bulls’ top hitters, said the new coaching staff is paying more attention to details, such as making sure the team’s uniforms are clean, the field is maintained better and team is better equipped.

Junior catcher and Florida International University softball commit Kameron Aitken said the new coaches “have done everything to make our experience better.”

“They’re great coaches,” Aitken said. “They work well with us.”

While the team “practices a lot more,”—five days a week—than prior years, Bulls players enjoy the new staff’s willingness to listen, and value their input on team matters.

“These coaches listen to our opinions and they take into consideration some of the things we say,” junior second baseman Alexis Ridolph said. “They are much friendlier.”

“I really like how they’re open to letting us play how we want to. It’s not, ‘You must do this, this and this,’” said senior third baseman Tylah Remaley, a Florida Tech softball commit.

Junior centerfielder Jaime Valenta noted the new coaches are “really nice and funny” and “listen to us a lot more.”

Finn, a retired New York state trooper and former Saint Leo University baseball player, said taking over the program and working alongside Coach Vazquez has been a “thrill” and a “dream.”

“The great thing for me is I’ve coached almost every one of these kids since they were little,” said Finn, who has two daughters, Karlye and Taryn, on the roster.

“When you get to the high school level, especially with the talent here, you’re not doing a heck of a lot of coaching.

“These kids are seasoned players. We just sit there and guide them, and call the offensive plays when they get up. …These girls are extremely talented, and very bright athletes,” he said.

With a 3-5 record as of Feb. 28, the team is not off to the start they expected.

One reason for the slow start can be attributed to the departures of ace pitcher Lindsey Snyder and three of the top four run producers from last year’s lineup.

With the loss of Snyder, the new coaches have been forced to use three freshmen in the pitching circle, with shaky results.

“We’ve tried out a bunch of young pitchers that are being tested a little bit,” Finn said. “We had no experienced pitchers. Lindsey was a workhorse; we don’t have that right now.”

Alexis Ridolph added the youthful pitching staff is trying to “get into a rhythm.”

“I know the pitchers are working really hard,” the second baseman said. “It’s just the fact they’re young and aren’t as experienced in high school situations. But, I think they’ll be better by the end of the year.”

As the Bulls go through some early season growing pains with the green pitching rotation, they’ll be forced to rely on their hitting prowess to pick up the slack.

Six players currently sport averages of .300 or better, including sophomores Kacie Lemanski (.471), and Keanna Harris (.417). Hiley (.458), Aitken (.364), Remaley (.348) and Ridolph (.304) are the others.

“Hitting is our fine point. There’s no doubt about it,” Finn said.

As the pitching staff gets more comfortable, the team feels they have a legitimate shot to win their conference and district.

“I know the girls believe it. We’re not going to settle for being a .500 team,” Finn said. “We see good things in the future,” Finn said.

Published March 2, 2016