Locke Sixth In UF Relays 100, Demps Just Misses 32-Year-Old State Record

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 07:17 PM

Chamberlain’s Dentarius Locke finished second in his heat and sixth overall in 10.73 seconds Friday afternoon in the 100-meter dash of the Florida Relays in Gainesville.

In another heat of the 100, Groveland South Lake’s Jeffrey Demps scorched the Percy Beard track with a jaw-dropping time of 10.17, which is the fourth best time ever by an American high school sprinter. Demps’ time just missed the state’s all-time prep record of 10.16, set way back in 1976 by track legend Houston McTear of Baker.

Demps’ time would have placed him second in the UF Relays’ college/open division Friday, won by former Palm Bay High and Louisiana State star Xavier Carter in 10.15. Carter has turned pro and runs for Nike. Also in that heat with Carter was former Hernando High and UF standout John Capel of Brooksville, who was fifth in 10.36 and ninth out of all heats. Capel is just back from a two-year competition ban for testing positive a second time for marijuana and is attempting to qualify for this summer’s U.S. Olympic track trials in Eugene, Ore.

Also Friday afternoon, Chamberlain’s Francisco Llanos was fourth in the long jump (21-11.75), Wharton’s Amani Bryant was 11th in the girls long jump (17-0) and 17th in the 100 hurdles, teammate Danielle Sirmons was fifth in the 100 hurdles (15.29), Middleton’s Travis Buie was 10th overall in the 100 (10.92) and Leto’s Jeremy Deering and Antwoun Howard were 16th and 17th in the 110 hurdles.

In the day’s final prep event, the invitational girls and boys 1,600, Hillsborough County was well represented. Wharton senior Katrina Skinner turned in a lifetime best of 5:00.63 to earn fifth place while Durant freshman Grace Van De Grift also ran a personal record (5:03.49) for seventh place. In the boys race, Jesuit junior Connor Revord eclipsed his personal best by more than 2.5 seconds with his third-place finish in 4:14.51. Sickles Derek Wehunt was seventh in 4:22.17, his best time ever, while Durant’s John Mitchell was 12th in 4:28.70. The winner of the boys race was Joe Franklin of Tallahassee Godby, who crushed the field with a 4:09.13. Orlando Boone’s Brittany Koziara was also dominant in the girls race, winning in an impressive time of 4:54.18. Both winning times are state leaders this season. 

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Lineups and a doubleheader

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 03:18 PM

NEW YORK—Well, it’s looking good for a game now. The field is set up for BP.

Before we get to the lineups, we have a make-up date for yesterday’s rainout. The Rays and Orioles will play a rare twi-night doubleheader on Sept. 23 at 5:05 p.m. That’s the middle day in the Rays’ final trip to Baltimore. You hardly ever see straight doubleheaders anymore, as teams don’t like to lose a gate, but I guess that tells you something about the Orioles’ miserable ticket sales these days.

As for today’s action, Maddon is sticking with the lineup he posted yesterday afternoon. That means Eric Hinske gets his first start at third base since July 22, 2006 for the Blue Jays against the Yankees. Incidentally, he homered off Chien-Ming Wang that day.

Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Floyd DH
Gomes RF
Hinske 3B
Navarro C
Bartlett SS
Sonnanstine P

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Flames Beat River Rats, Win Division

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Nick Murray

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 11:12 PM

The Gulf Coast Flames cruised to a 10-0 victory against the Naponset River Rats at the USA Hockey Under-12 Tier II National Championships, and leapfrogged the Northbrook Hawks to win their pool in Hackensack, N.J. on Friday.

The Flames went 4-for-5 on the power play, and scored five goals in the first period on their way to victory, including four in the first 5:01 of the game. Jimmy Jones scored twice for the Flames, while Caleb Fizer, Joey Fabec and J.C. Bradley also found the net in the first.

Drew Fineberg and Jeremy Butterworth also found the net, and are tied for the team lead with seven points apiece through three games. Reid Simpson and Blake Redden combined to make 11 saves for the shutout.

The Flames jumped Northbrook to win the pool when the Hershey Jr. Bears beat the Hawks in a shootout after the teams played to a 3-3 tie after overtime. The Flames will play the fourth-placed team from Pool B, the Bud Bakewell Bruins, on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. If they advance, they would play in the semifinals at 4:15 p.m. before a potential championship game on Sunday.

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To play or not to play?

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 02:37 PM

NEW YORK—Greetings from the Bronx, where in case you haven’t heard it’s the last season at Yankee Stadium. The new one across the street is starting to look like a stadium at this point. Hope it’s got nifty overhead heating in the press box like this one.

We’re all somewhat mystified by the weather forecast for tonight. All we’d heard was it was going to rain non-stop here starting last night, as it did in Baltimore. We rolled into town this morning and there have been only a few stray drops since then. Still very gray and overcast, and weather.com still calls for a 90 percent chance of rain tonight, but I’m not seeing it. Looks like there’s some stuff on the radar coming in from the west, but nothing huge like yesterday’s front.

Nonetheless, the tarp is on the infield here, so maybe the grounds crew is getting mixed signals, too. All we can do is wait…

Perhaps I spoke too soon. The tarp is now being rolled up, and checking the hour-by-hour on weather.com, it looks like we’re probably going to get this one in. No one will be more pleased to hear that than Andy Sonnanstine, I imagine…

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Hillsborough vs. Pinellas Rosters

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 01:21 PM

Here are the Hillsborough County boys and girls basketball team rosters for the Hillsborough vs. Pinellas County All-Star games Saturday at Berkeley Prep. Games begin at 1 p.m.

Girls
No.; Player; School
5 Katie Mackenzie, Sickles
10 Sierra Crawley, Chamberlain
12 Charlet Davis, Freedom
13 Melissa Ramsey, Sickles
23 Michelle Gingras, Tampa Catholic
25 Kelly Maronic, Freedom
31 Shaneen Canody, King
32 Samara Shepard, King
33 Chanelle Patton, Blake
34 Shawnta Snakovsky, Sickles

Head coach: Mark Key, Sickles

Boys
No.; Player; School
10     Dantavis     Adkins,  Chamberlain  
12     Blake       Allen,        Brandon      
20     Jake         Seymour, Jesuit            
21     Marcus Morrison,      Brandon    
22     Dylan       Fugate,  Newsome      
23     Archie Barnes,  Berkeley Prep. 
24     Kornilous Donnell, Gaither      
24     Adam         Sollazzo,      Armwood  
30     Zak         Kazanski,      Berkeley  
55     Chandler     Flom,        Plant    

Head Coach:    Mike Phillips, Plant
Assistant Coach:      John Henson, H.B. Plant

3 Point Contestants:              Kornilous Donnell (Gaither), Zak Kazanski (Berkeley Prep.)
Slam Dunk Contestants:            Marcus Morrison (Brandon), Adam Sollazzo (Armwood)   

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Young Boxers Showcase Talent This Weekend

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 12:51 PM

If you want to check out Florida’s up and coming boxers, head to Xtreme Total Health & Fitness Saturday afternoon for amateur boxing. Here’s the info:

WHAT: Amateur Boxing
WHERE: Xtreme Total Health & Fitness, 936 South Howard Ave., Tampa
WHEN: 4 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2008
TICKETS/INFO: $12, general admission; $25 ringside; $250 VIP table. The event, coordinated by former lightweight champion Francisco Arreola, will feature up to 30 bouts, including a bout with Bowling Green’s Daniel Lozano, who competed in the U.S. Olympic boxing trials in Houston. For information, call (813) 258-2639.

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Bucified is Back and better (and slimmer) than ever!

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by By Albert Owens

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 11:56 AM

Bucified Bert, Teamed up with co-worker Nancy Rayan, to conduct a tour of the Newscenter for the students from Wesley Chapel Elementary, the students learned about the Bucified acronym.

The schedule for the preseason is out. I know we are a long ways off but it is also time to get ready for draft day, yes this Is Bucified Bert…my fanatical friends…..I’m Back!

My Fanatical Friends, it been a while since I had the chance to blog but I have been very busy trying to keep my Dream Seeker OLE IS Alive Scholarship program going. As you all know, I have to give out Five scholarships this year and I have to work hard because a lot of People are waiting to see if my 2007 presentation can be topped, and trust me, every year we will get better. I had dinner with the last year’s recipient and she can`t wait to see the DREAM SEEKER OLE IS ALIVE 2008 Scholarship Presentation. I told Phlicia, about my SUPER BUCIFIED PROGRAM for this year MOTHERS DAY WEEK, and she loves what the program has to offer and is very excited about the presentation.

Let’s catch up on football a little….First…The GIANTS beat everybody in the world. Yes, they are the World Champs. What this translates to is, if they can beat the Buccaneers, then NOBODY COULD Beat Them. New England would have made history, but now you have to wait until the 2008 season,  and I have a strong feeling you will see history! THE SUPERBOWL WILL BE PLAYED IN TAMPA BAY….SO I REALLY have to get in shape, and trust me I will be very ready….my goal is to lose 40 pounds, I want to be lean and mean (so far 30 lbs. gone 10 to go!) Also in the PRO BOWL Game, the Buc’s Quarterback Jeff Garcia won the game for the National Football Conference. The conference was losing until he came in and helped the team score 14 points! That’s nothing to sneeze at my fanatical friends…... between both conferences, this was the greatest upset in a long time that led to our sweet NFC Pro Bowl Victory…

Let me reflect on something else that made me extremely happy, one thing in particular being the huge response to the video that Kristen Guilfoos put together about my DREAM SEEKER OLE IS ALIVE Scholarship PROGRAM…and trust me I love all the comments and thank you all for taking the time to put your feelings out there. One response in particular that made my day was the one that came from Kristen’s parents. The evidence was so clear to me when I first met their Daughter. I knew immediately that she was raised by caring parents, so I as delighted as I was with their email, it didn’t surprise me to read such inspirational words from them. I appreciate it very much. I enjoyed reading all of the comments as they give me confirmation that what I am doing is making a positive impact in the community. Your feedback motivates me to continue on. You all inspire me each day to be the best I can be and carry on my mother’s legacy. My mother is an angel now and all the things the DREAM SEEKER OLE IS ALIVE Scholarship Program stands for is are the things that have made my Mother’s legacy so important and so poignant.  I never knew a more kind, gentle, loving and caring woman. I know my mother is smiling.=-) Thanks My Fanatical Friends for taking a moment out of your busy schedule to praise my mothers legacy! And a yahoo and a shout out to Kristin!  She is working now, and I am so, so happy for her!!! She is a general assignment reporter at KFDA News Channel 10, the CBS affiliate in Amarillo, Texas.

The Buc’s are wheeling and dealing. I told you about Bruce Almighty, this is his time to shine and we have the ability to put our money where his talents are and let him do his thing. I like what is brewing so far at the Buc’s camp, especially the running backs, the center position and the Quarterback moves. This was a great free agent work out. Now let’s get ready for draft day, so we can integrate some speed and agility with our new players and lay out the daunting path they will face this new season. I am so ready…. Be Bucified, arrive alive and Buckle-UP!!

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It’s Official: LOL Boys, Wesley Chapel Girls Win at SAC Meet

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Bart O'Connell

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 07:13 PM

WESLEY CHAPEL—The Sunshine Athletic Conference meet at Wesley Chapel concluded this morning, following Thursday’s postponement due to lightning, with the Wildcats taking the boys 4x400-meter relay and Ridgewood capturing the girls 4x400.

The Land O’ Lakes boys, by virtue of not getting disqualified in the 4x400, clinched the boys title (123 points), with Wesley Chapel second (117.5). The Wildcats did win the girls team title for the sixth consecutive year with 138 points, 45 more than runner-up Ridgewood.

Wesley Chapel senior Jeff Webster added a third victory of the meet Friday morning in the 4x400, to go along with individual wins in the 110 and 300 Hurdles. He joined Felix Soto (800, 1600, 3200) and Jasmine Pleasant (100, 200, 4x100 relay) as the only triple-winners.

Friday Results

Sunshine Athletic Conference
at Wesley Chapel

Boys Team Results

1. Land O’ Lakes 123; 2. Wesley Chapel 117.5; 3. Zephyrhills 85; 4. Mitchell 75; 5. Pasco 60; 5. Ridgewood 60; 7. Wiregrass Ranch 53; 8. Gulf 46; 9. Sunlake 17; 10. Hudson 14; 11. River Ridge 10.5.

Girls Team Results

1. Wesley Chapel 138; 2. Ridgewood 93; 3. Wiregrass Ranch 86; 4. Land O’ Lakes 81; 5. Gulf 64; 6. Zephyrhills 55; 7. River Ridge 53; 8. Mitchell 49; 9. Pasco 27; 10. Hudson 9; 11. Sunlake 2.

Boys 4x400 Relay—1. Wesley Chapel 3:32.60; 2. Zephyrhills 3:34.00; 3. Land O’ Lakes 3:40.20. Girls 4x400 Relay—1. Ridgewood 4:11.80; 2. Land O’ Lakes 4:12.50; 3. Wesley Chapel 4:19.30.

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Middleton Names Murphy As New Basketball Coach

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Nick Williams

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 07:23 PM

Middleton announced Gibbs boys varsity basketball coach Larry Murphy as its new boys basketball coach.

Murphy will inherit a team that advanced to the Class 5A regional quarterfinals with an 18-10 record. He replaces Derek Smith, who was suspended by the Hillsborough County School Board during the season and later resigned.

Gibbs went 18-9 this past season and lost in the 5A region quarterfinals.

 

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Selvie, McKenzie on Lott list

Posted Apr 4, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Apr 4, 2008 at 10:35 AM

USF senior LB Tyrone McKenzie and and junior DE George Selvie are among 42 defensive players named to the 2008 Lott Trophy Watch List.

Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.  Now in its fourth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

With the success Selvie had last season, I’m sure he’ll be on every single defensive “watch list” there is this season. But the “watch lists” aren’t that important. After all, Selvie couldn’t be found on any “watch lists” before the 2007 season and he ended the year becoming USF’s first consensus All-American.

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