Coming Sunday: Live chat—Brandon vs. Venice in Class 7A state baseball final

Posted May 19, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 20, 2012 at 03:27 PM

Join Tribune prep writer Rick Harmon live from Port St. Lucie as Brandon High attempts to win its first state baseball title when the Eagles battle Venice at 4:35 p.m. in the Class 7A championship at Digital Domain Park.

We’ll begin the chat at 4:15 p.m. with starting lineups and take you through the final pitch. You can also follow on Twitter at @TBO_PrepSports or @RickHTampaTrib

---

Live chat: Class 7A state baseball—Brandon vs. New Smyrna Beach

Posted May 19, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 19, 2012 at 08:50 AM

---

County AD: Arwmood’s response to FHSAA charges could “take a while”

Posted May 16, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 16, 2012 at 09:59 PM

Hillsborough County athletic director Lanness Robinson said Armwood’s response to the allegations presented by the Florida High School Athletics Association on Monday could require the 10 full business days allotted to it by the association.

Robinson said much of that time would likely be spent by he and Armwood principal Mike Ippolito speaking to the parents whom the FHSAA report claim either falsified documents to gain entry into Armwood or did not make the required full and complete move prior to registering for the Seffner school.

In addition, Robinson said he and the school need to sort out the eligibility status of the five other players mentioned in the report that arrived at the school this year but are not eligible to participate in spring drills currently taking place.

“It’s going to take a while,” Robinson said Wednesday. “There are five kids named from last year, and five additional kids from this year, whom the FHSAA want information about as well.”

The Tampa Tribune received a copy of the FHSAA’s tentative findings but have chosen not to name the players involved due to their ages.

FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing says Armwood can respond to the allegations in one of three ways: 1) Yes, there was a violation; 2) No, there was not a violation and the investigator got the facts wrong or 3) Yes, there was a violation but there were extenuating circumstances that caused a violation. Dearing said for the second or third response, it’s up to the school to present evidence to the FHSAA proving the point.

Dearing said there was no evidence of recruiting with Armwood’s football program, which last fall went 15-0 and won the Class 6A state championships. All violations and potential current violations regard residency issues with former or current players.

Once Armwood responds to the FHSAA’s allegations, the FHSAA has 10 business days to give its final letter to Armwood listing fines and sanctions. Dearing said unless the Hawks can prove all five former players met residency requirements, the team would have to forfeit any and all games they participated in, including the playoffs.

If that happens, it means Armwood will officially lose its state crown—its third since 2003—and the 6A title will be vacated.

“Our investigator could be wrong—it has happened before—but it doesn’t happen very often,” Dearing said.

---

Rocha named Tampa Catholic girls hoops coach

Posted May 16, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 16, 2012 at 05:16 PM

Ridgewood girls basketball coach Matthew Rocha has been named to the same position at Tampa Catholic, principal Thomas J. Reidy announced Wednesday.

“Coach Rocha attended Catholic high school, is an expert in the sport of basketball, and has great passion for the game,” Reidy said. “His values as a coach and educator match well with Tampa Catholic’s traditions of ‘Faith, Excellence & Family.’ I welcome him to the TC family.” 

Rocha, a Jacksonville native attended Bishop Kenny High School and began his coaching career at the Jacksonville school. In two years at Ridgewood, Rocha compiled a 34-20 record.

Tampa Catholic won back-to-back state titles in 2010 and 2011. Last season, The Crusaders went 20-11 and advanced to the Class 3A region finals. Rocha will have three starters returning from that team.

---

Another Fulmer heads to Ridgewood

Posted May 16, 2012 by Andy Villamarzo

Updated May 16, 2012 at 11:42 AM

Former Hudson quarterback Will Fulmer has officially enrolled at Ridgewood, he said via text early this morning.

Fulmer, who played at Gulf his first two years of high school before going back to Hudson, his home school, after his father, Jay Fulmer, was forced to resign his coaching position at Gulf prior to the 2010 season.

Will only played two games last season for the Cobras, before an ankle injury in the second game against Clearwater Central Catholic derailed the remainder of his junior campaign. Through two games, Fulmer completed 2-of-14 passes for 22 yards and rushed for 38 yards.

When Jay Fulmer was hired as head coach at Ridgewood, it was expected Will would follow but he couldn’t officially enroll until Jay was teaching at the school. With the move, Will will have the opportunity to play his first varsity season under his father and that’s something that means a lot to the both.

“I’m just extremely happy he’s here,” Jay Fulmer said. “It just really means a lot to me that I can get to coach my son in his senior season. I think he will be a great addition to the team.”

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter at @andyvillamarzo.

---

Coming Thursday

Posted May 15, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated May 15, 2012 at 08:38 PM

Jesuit continues its quest for its fourth state baseball championship when the Tigers face Plantation American Heritage on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Join prep writer Rick Harmon and other Jesuit fans live from Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie with live coverage.

---

Stetson’s Courtney Brandt named to A-Sun All-Tourney Team

Posted May 14, 2012 by Mike Camunas

Updated May 14, 2012 at 06:52 PM

Stetson freshman pitcher and former Pasco ace Courtney Brandt was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Tournament Team his past weekend in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Brandt, who threw a 1-0 shutout against third-seeded host South Carolina Upstate on Wednesday and drove in three RBI in the Thursday’s 7-2 win over second-seeded Kennesaw State, helped lead the sixth-seeded Hatters (26-20) to a third place finish in the A-Sun tourney. Brandt, who led Pasco to a region final berth in 2011, went 11-11 this season with 97 strikeouts and a 2.20 ERA.

Brandt, the 2011 Pasco Tribune Player of the Year, also drove in a team-high 27 RBI.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or follow him on Twitter @MikeCamunasTrib.

Follow us on Facebook here and Twitter here.

---

Hillsborough’s Green lands first offer

Posted May 7, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 7, 2012 at 07:58 PM

Fresh off his state championship in the triple jump at Friday’s Class 3A track and field meet, Hillsborough’s Jeremiah Green landed his first college football scholarship Monday when South Alabama made a pitch for the Terriers’ starting defensive back, coach Earl Garcia said.

Garcia also announced that his star defensive end, Jordan Sherit, received yet another Division I offer, this one from Cal-Berkeley. Sherit already has one from the Golden Bears’ local rival, Stanford, along with nearly two dozen other D-I schools like Florida.

Some other significant D-I offers that came in for county players over the weekend: Plant coach Robert Weiner announced offensive lineman Richy Klepal added the University of Southern California to his growing list and safety Paris Bostick picked up West Virginia.

---

Jesuit seeking spring jamboree game

Posted May 3, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 3, 2012 at 09:35 PM

James Harrell says he knows it’s getting kind of late to find an opponent, but if anyone wants to play his Tigers football team in a spring jamboree game later this month, he’s interested.

Harrell says the date the Tigers would need the game to be played is May 25. Unlike Hillsborough County’s public schools, Jesuit can play a four-quarter game. And within reason, Harrell says it doesn’t matter where the game is played, either home or away.

Any school interested in the game on that date should contact Harrell at Jesuit High.

---

Steinbrenner hosting youth hoops camp

Posted May 2, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated May 2, 2012 at 12:42 PM

Steinbrenner High will be hosting a youth basketball camp in June for boys and girls ages 8-16.

Cost for the camp is $80 per player, $140 for two siblings and $200 for three siblings. The camp is slated for June 25-28 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day. Staff will include will include the coaches of Steinbrenner’s girls basketball team, which last season won the Class 7A-District 9 title and finished with a 22-3 record.

Instruction will focus on individual fundamentals and how to utilize those skills in a team concept. Each player will be age grouped and ability grouped to offer the best instruction.

For more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

---