Team Florida Makes History

Posted Jul 8, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Jul 9, 2008 at 10:46 AM

Team Florida 16-Under softball coach Frank Arcuri doesn’t like to boast about his team, but he couldn’t help himself after watching his travel squad succeed at the Louisville Slugger Independence Day Tournament in Boulder, Co. over the weekend.

Team Florida reached the championship game of the 32-team, 16U tourney, where it lost to the Southern Cal Lady Magic, 8-0. The squad finished with a record of 11-2-1 and Arcuri said it was the best finish of any Florida travel team at the prestigious tournament. He said a team from Clearwater finished third in the 1990s.

The team has already earned a bid to the ASA Nationals in Kentucky July 27-Aug. 3.

The roster is comprised primarily of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk County standouts. Team members are: Erika Arcuri (Plant), Sarah Bowling (Plant), Kayleen Boatwright (Riverview), Kaelyn Castellanos (Bloomingdale), Bailey Schinella (Newsome), Ronnie Gajownik (Hagerty), Alyssa Bache (Countryside), Alex Rogers (Sunlake), Mariah Reynolds (Auburndale), Chloe Saganowich (St. Pete Catholic), Cassidy Whidden (St. Stephens), Lauren Cumbess (West Normal), Bailey Schinella (Newsome) and Ronnie Gajownik (Hagerty High School in Oviedo).

To view the team’s website, Click Here

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Artyukhin officially signed, Bochenski question answered (sort of)

Posted Jul 8, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jul 8, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Here’s the team’s release announcing the new contract for Evgeny Artyukhin to a two-year deal:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed right wing Evgeny Artyukhin to a multi-year deal, owners Oren Koules and Led Barrie have announced.

        “We are extremely happy to have Arty back in the fold after playing in Russia the previous two seasons,“ vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said.  “He brings a real unmistakable presence to the ice as soon as he comes over the boards and having his size and speed, along with his willingness to use them physically, will make us a tougher team to play against each night.”

Drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round, 94th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-foot-5, 254-pound right wing played 72 games for the Lightning during the 2005-06 season and recorded four goals, 17 points and 90 penalty minutes. The fan favorite made his NHL debut on October 20, 2005 at Atlanta and scored his first goal November 5, 2005 at Toronto.

Before his recall to Tampa Bay, Artyukhin played four games with Springfield of the American Hockey League, posting two goals and one assist with four penalty minutes.

A native of Moscow, Russia, the 25-year-old forward spent the past two seasons in the Russian Super League. Artyukhin played 44 games with Yaroslavl in 2006-07, where he had five goals and eight assists with 183 penalty minutes.

Artyukhin split the 2007-08 season between Avangard Omsk and CSKA Moscow. He played 19 games with Avangard Omsk, scoring three goals and recording five points with 40 penalty minutes.  Artyukhin played 23 games with CSKA Moscow, recording three goals and nine points with a plus-3 rating and 99 penalty minutes. He scored four goals in six playoff games with Moscow.

Artyukhin played 102 career games in the AHL with Springfield and Hershey, recording 14 goals and 37 points with 257 penalty minutes. He spent the 2002-03 season with Moncton of the QMJHL, playing 53 games and posting 14 goals, 40 points and 204 penalty minutes.

I have a lot of questions, so here’s the answer some of you have had in regards to Brandon Bochenski, whose name has shown up on a few websites as being part of the Lightning’s organizational depth chart. I asked around about him and I was informed that while Bochenski has not signed a deal, the sides are indeed speaking and could be close to a deal. It would be a two-way deal if he signs.

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Lightning still retooling, add a defenseman

Posted Jul 8, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jul 8, 2008 at 12:00 AM

While not official, Tampa Bay is expected to announced that defenseman Andrew Hutchinson has agreed to join the Lightning. While I know this isn’t the veteran defenseman many of you have been looking for, at least its a defenseman with NHL experience, limited as it is.

But I’m not convinced how much more they can add at this point. They currently have seven defenseman signed to one-way contracts (including Janne Niskala and Hutchinson, who was part of the Carolina team that won the 2006 Stanley Cup), and that doesn’t include Matt Smaby or Mike Lundin. So unless they use some of that young talent in a deal, I’m not sure where they are going to find the fit for some veteran experience.

And here’s a hint from owner Len Barrie as to what they may have in mind.

““You can hear from me first, our defense is better than people think,’’ Barrie said. “That’s why we are loading up on forwards because I really, really like our young defense.’‘

Barrie didn’t flat out say that they have no intention of bringing in more on defense and he did indicate that more deals are in the works, especially since they have 14 forwards on one-way deals, not counting Evgeny Artyukhin, who is expected to be signed this week, possibly as early as Tuesday.

Now, I’m not going to rule out that the Lightning could easily add another defenseman by packaging a forward or two plus one of its young defenseman for a top-level blue liner. I’m also not going to rule out the possibility of keeping track of the waiver wire for a contract another team might be looking to dump. And let’s not forget that they have two first round picks and a pair of seconds in next years draft, so the assets are there.

“I don’t think in the last little while you could say that Tampa Bay has had depth; now we have some depth to make some moves,’’ Barrie said.

But what those moves could be will make for some interesting conversation in the coming days. Hey, the fans were promised a radically different looking roster in October, correct? Well, you’ve got it.

One other note, Lightning chief scout Jake Goertzen was fired on Monday. An original member of the Lightning, Goertzen spent 16 seasons with the team, first as a Western League scout before making his way up chief scout. The past few years he has been responsible for running the draft for Tampa Bay. Goertzen is a top-notch person and he will be missed within the scouting staff. No doubt, he’ll be back working for somebody soon.

Here is a comment Goertzen sent out in his email informing those he knows that he was let go: “It has been a good run. I have been very fortunate in my hockey life, to have been with one pro organization as long as I was. Life will go on.’’

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Toney Dominates In South Brandon Win

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 09:25 PM

South Brandon Little League starting pitcher Chris Toney allowed only one hit while striking out 10, and Sean McChord hit a grand slam as South Brandon beat Bloomingdale 9-0 on Monday night in the District 13 Senior baseball All-Star tournament.

Toney walked four as South Brandon forced a second championship game by handing Bloomingdale its first loss of the tournament. The two teams will play again on Tuesday for a place in the Section IV tournament that begins in Dade City on July 18.

Andrew Dowse also had a first inning home run before McChord went deep in the fourth inning for his third homer of the tournament.

All the other District 13 games scheduled for Monday night were rained out, and rescheduled for Tuesday.

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Town And Country Mustangs Celebrate State Title

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 08:32 PM

The Town and Country PONY League Mustang team will play for a national championship after winning the state title in Miami last week, going undefeated in the three-team double-elimination tournament.

Town and Country won its opening two games against Orlando and Royal Palm Beach, and faced Orlando in the first of a possible two championship games last Tuesday. But rain in the Miami area caused delays, and the teams were pulled off the field at the 11 p.m. curfew. At that point, Orlando held a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth, with Town and Country having a runner on third and no outs. The two teams were expected to continue the game the following morning at 9 a.m., but Orlando’s team failed to appear, giving Town and Country victory in the game they trailed by default, and the state title.

“It’s been unbelievable for this team and the parents and the coaches.” Town and Country manager Keith Brackin said. “We’re basically undefeated in tournament play, we won the district at Forest Hills, and then went down to South Florida and won our first two games to get into the winner’s bracket.”

Brackin said he wasn’t overly concerned even if the Orlando team had returned to close out the game and force a deciding contest, since he had held back his best pitcher, Louis Duran, for the potential second game. Duran was the pitcher when Town and Country defeated Orlando 5-4 earlier in the tournament.

Now, the team is beginning preparations for the national finals, which begin on July 18 in North Richland Hills, Texas. Brackin said he thinks his team is ready to go right now.

“There’s a lot of anticipation, and the boys have a lot of confidence in their teammates,” he said. “They’re ready to go and win another tournament, that’s how focused they are.”

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Now Mark Recchi joins Lightning?

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 08:34 PM

At least according to TSN. Still waiting on confirmation, but sounds like it will be finalized and announced soon.

Recchi is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having helped Pittsburgh to a title in 1991 and a key component as a trade acquisition for Carolina in 2006. He started last season with the Penguins but was placed on waivers after scoring eight points in 19 games. The 40-year-old was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 8 and finished with 12 goals and 40 points in 53 games with the Thrashers.
In 1,410 career games, Recchi is nearly a point-a-game player with 522 goals and 1,381 points.

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U.S. Coach Full Of Praise For Hamrick

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 06:28 PM

U.S. Junior Rowing coach Steve Hargis praised the effort and dedication of Plant High’s Molly Hamrick as she was officially named to the U.S. Junior Rowing team’s Women’s varsity 8 on Monday.

Hamrick made the team a year ago, winning a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships as a member of the same boat in Beijing. This year’s World Junior Championships are to be held in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria beginning on July 22. Hamrick is one of nine returning members of the team.

“What’s impressed me about Molly is she is so focused on the task in hand,” Hargis said. “It would have been easy for her not to have trained at the level she did, to say ‘well I made the team last year, so I’m going to make the team again this year.’ As I watched her through the year and having talked about Molly to her coach and the training programs she was in, I think it was clear that to her, it was a brand new experience. She didn’t come in with any assumptions that she was on the team, let alone in the boat, and she just worked at a whole new level.

“What impressed me the most is that for the girls that did not go to the youth invitational, the weekend before our selection camp, we offered to kids whose teams did not go to that to come to a formal pre-camp so they can work on their skill-sets and get ready while the other kids were also racing. I have to tell you I was pleasantly surprised that Molly took that opportunity, because for someone who was on the team last year, who won a medal overseas and was the stroke of the 8, to come to pre-camp and be 100 percent sure she was ready for the experience was very impressive. It set a tone for the camp, and it certainly sent a message to everyone attending that this was the real deal, and you’d better come ready to play.”

Hamrick was one of three local rowers who attended the selection camp, and Hargis also had encouragement for Plant’s Elisabeth Murray and Hillsborough’s Katie Burke. Both were selected to the U.S. High Performance team which will go to Germany later this month.

“Ellie and Katie, this is their first selection camp, and I thought they did a really nice job,” Hargis said. “Handling the day-to-day grind of selection camp, having to compete against other athletes, they did a really nice job, and now we want to see them expand upon that as part of the High Performance team.”

Hargis added that he thought the performance of the three Tampa rowers, and the approach coaches in Florida in general are taking said a lot about how the sport is progressing in the state.

“I’m very impressed with Florida rowing and how it has developed,” Hargis said. “I think they’re done a great job of exposing their athletes to these other opportunities. One of the things we have seen is that it certainly has been an under-represented group for a long time, but I think they have shown great interest in what they need to do to get their athletes ready for the international level. The ID camp we hold in DeLand is always extremely well attended, not just by athletes, but we had a record number of coaches there, so there is a clear commitment to be part of the international rowing scene and to get their rowers on the international stage, and I respect that and appreciate that.”

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Letson Second After Day 1 Of Boys Junior Golf Championship

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 07:44 PM

Plant High’s Doug Letson finished Day 1 of Florida’s 54th Boys Junior Golf Championship after shooting an opening round 67 Monday at the Country Club of Orlando.

Letson, a rising senior, is one stroke back of the Lake City’s Blayne Barber in the boys 16-18 division after carding the 4-under round.

Letson entered the tournament following an impressive three rounds at the recent American Junior Golf Association’s First American Title Junior Classic at Avila Golf and Country Club, where he finished fifth after playing the tournament 3-over.

Letson is the only local player in the top 10 after the first round, but Mitchell High’s Kenny Cavender and Plant City’s Kyle Martin are in the top 20 in the field that includes several local high school golfers. Both Cavender and Martin are tied for 14th after opening round 72s. You can find the complete results of the tournament here.

The 54th Boys Junior Championship is a 54-hole event. Players play 18 holes each at the Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park (par 72) and the Country Club of Orlando (par 71) before the tournament’s lone cut is made to include the top 50 players and ties. The final 18 holes are played at Interlachen. The tournament is scheduled to conclude Wednesday.

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Local Golfers Tie For Third At NSJGA Event

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 03:48 PM

Freedom High’s Matt Camara and Chamberlain’s Gary Buffington III recently tied for third place at the North Suncoast Junior Golf Association’s event at the Dunes Golf Club in Brooksville.

Camara and Buffington, both rising sophomores, each shot 78 on the par 72 course and finished two strokes back of the winner in the boys 13-15 year old advanced division on July 1.

With their top 3 finish, both Camara and Buffington qualified for the NSJGA’s Tournament of Champions at World Woods Golf Club on Aug. 11-12.

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Tampa United Wins Bronze Medal at Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships

Posted Jul 7, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Jul 7, 2008 at 03:42 PM

Experience goes a long way.

Tampa United, a recently formed 18-U club volleyball team, was the only team from Tampa (four qualified) to take home a medal at the 2008 USA Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships in Dallas last week. United went 7-3 to tie for third and win the bronze medal.

But guess who was on the team? From the two-time defending Class 5A title Plant squad, setter and incoming Duke freshman Kellie Catanach (Tribune Volleyball Player of the Year) and rising senior Danielle Erb; former Academy of the Holy Names hitters Maureen Colligan (Colgate) and Hillary Hunt (Mississippi State) and eventual Florida walk-on and former Gaither libero Elissa Hausmann.

The Tampa Bay Juniors 16-under Black team, which includes rising juniors Maddie Martin (Plant) and Lindsay Young (Berkeley Prep), finished fifth in the 16 Open Division with a record of 6-2. The 17U National team went 6-3 to finish 13th while the 15U team went 2-9 to place 22nd.

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