FACA Baseball Classic Rosters announced

Posted May 21, 2013 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated May 21, 2013 at 02:01 PM

The 35th Annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association Baseball Classic has announced its rosters for a four-game series held in Sebring May 24-26 as representatives from four sections of Florida will compete in the annual tournament.

The tournament hosted by FACA, the Sebring Firemen, Inc. and Diamond Sports will feature the games as well as a Pro/College Scout workout.

The West All-Stars roster features six Hillsborough County seniors: Plant’s Pete Alonso, Bloomingdale’s Cody Crouse, Durant’s Tyler Danish, Cambridge’s Nick Eicholtz, Gaither’s Oscar Mercado and King’s Brett Morales.

Bloomingdale coach Kris Wilken will serve as one of the team’s assistant coaches. 

WEST ALL STARS
NAME CITY-SCHOOL
Kellen Brown, Dunedin
Kameron Gellinger, Island Coast
Danny Lee, Jr., Manatee
Richie Lacell, Cypress Lake
Tyler Danish, Durant
Sean Brady , Ida Baker
Cooper Hammond, Venice
David Palenzuela, Monsignor Pace
Sean Labsan, Sarasota-Riverview
Christian Arroyo, Brooksville-Hernando
Oscar Mercado, Tampa-Gaither
Chris Okey, Eustis
Nick Longhi , Venice
Brett Morales, Tampa-King
Cord Sandberg, Manatee
Grant Hodges, East Lake
Cody Crouse, Bloomingdale
Pete Alonso, Tampa-Plant
Nick Eicholtz, Cambridge Christian
Brandon Brosher, Springstead
Michael Mann, Seminole
Nick Nolan, Seminole
Head Coach:  Bobby Pringle, Ft. Myers-Riverdale
Assistants:    Kris Wilken, Bloomingdale
                Frank Turco, Estero High
                Justin Budmayr, Ft. Myers-Riverdale

Green seeking funds for trip

Posted May 19, 2013 by Scott Purks

Updated May 19, 2013 at 03:54 PM

Hillsborough superstar triple jumper Jeremiah Green has an invitation to defend his national title at the New Balance Outdoor National Meet in North Carolina June 14-16, but at the moment he doesn’t have the funds to get there.

If you’d like to help fund the trip for Green, who leads the nation this year with a triple jump of 52 feet, 1.75 inches, please contact Hillsborough High track coach Joe Sipp at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

“We thought we were going to have some funding but it fell through,” Sipp said. “If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.”

Area Athletes Shine at Golden South Classic

Posted May 19, 2013 by Scott Purks

Updated May 19, 2013 at 03:47 PM

Two Hillsborough County track athletes had particularly big nights at Saturday’s Golden South Classic meet in Orlando: Plant’s Julia Rodriguez won the 3200 in a blazing 10 minutes, 53.23 seconds and Hillsborough’s Jorian Ordway won the 400 in a personal-best 54.19 seconds.

St. Petersburg Gibbs superstar sprinter Trayvon Bromell also shined brightly, setting a meet record in the 100 meters at 10.27 seconds, breaking the mark of 10.29 seconds set by Palmetto’s Curtis Johnson in 1991. Bromell also teamed with three sprinters from Lakewood—Tim Holmes and Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin—to set a national-best tine for this year in the 4X100 relay at 40.29 seconds.

Seffner Christian’s Hanson picks Liberty

Posted May 17, 2013 by Nick Williams

Updated May 17, 2013 at 05:55 PM

Seffner Christian senior girls basketball standout Tesha Hanson announced Friday she has signed with Division I Liberty University.

This past season, Hanson helped the Crusaders reach the Class 3A state semifinals, averaging 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals a game.

Hanson, who was selected to the Class 3A All-State team, finished her prep career with 2,001 points.

Current Baseball America prospect list boasts five locals

Posted May 17, 2013 by Jarrett Guthrie

Updated May 17, 2013 at 05:47 PM

With the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft just three weeks away on Thursday, June 6th Baseball America has announced its most recent rankings of amateur players on May 17th. Four local prep players rank in the list’s Top 250.

Leading the way is Gaither shortstop Oscar Mercado (No. 38), a Florida State commit, who finished the season with a .286 average, 17 runs scored and 14 RBI. Wharton shortstop Tucker Neuhaus (No.84), a Louisville commit, struggled with injuries this season but his productive junior season included a .329 average, 23 runs scored and six home runs. Durant Pitcher Tyler Danish (No. 96), a Florida signee has dazzled this season yet to allow an earned run on the season including a shutout performance in Friday’s Class 8A state semifinal, 6-0 win over Hialeah American. Fellow Gator commit, King pitcher Brett Morales (No. 117) has had an equally impressive season including a region final win over Mitchell, where the senior struck out 17. Morales will take the mound next Wednesday as the Lions take on Lynn Haven Mosely in the Class 6A state semifinal.

Also making Baseball America’s list is former Jesuit standout and current University of Florida pitcher Daniel Gibson ranking as the lists 100th overall prospect. Gibson has posted a 3.62 ERA this season for the Gators in 28 relief appearances.