In preparation for Friday night’s Class 3A region semifinal football game between Lakewood and Pasco, a pep rally will be held for the Pasco Pirates football team Thursday night at 6 at the downtown Dade City Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. Pasco’s cheerleaders and band will perform, celebrating Pasco’s third consecutive district title and back-to-back Sunshine Athletic Conference title.
By FRED EVERSON
Weather and water clarity have improved, but local inshore fishing has been slow. I got out Monday morning with my fishing buddy Keli Emery. The winds were light and the tide was slack so we decided to try some deep-water spots around the channel for grouper and snapper.
Netting bait was pretty easy by November standards. We found plenty of pinfish off the Cockroach Bay entrance channel, then Keli threw the net on a school of good-sized sardines. Sadly, that was the end of our catching. We tried bottom fishing for grouper for a couple of hours with only one hook-up, and that fish broke off. Then we headed into Simmons Park to look for snook or redfish. We didn’t find either. It was a bright, sunny day with a slight breeze — a great day to fish, but the catching wasn’t so hot.
Later that afternoon I went upriver with some of the leftover bait. I hooked a snook at the railroad trestle on the Little Manatee River, but it jumped off after a series of leaps. I tossed a few baits out as chum, and I finally saw a good fish pop one of the baits 20 yards from the boat. I cast a big white bait where I saw the boil and it disappeared a few seconds later. A few minutes later I landed a keeper snook, right at 28 inches with the tail pinched.
Captain Rick Bollinger had better luck trolling the shipping channel. He caught grouper, big Spanish mackerel and a kingfish.
I got out for a couple of hours Tuesday afternoon looking for redfish with some cut bait, but I never had the first hit. Redfish have done the disappearing act on this side of the bay for the entire month.
I’ve been skipping a few pompano off Mangrove Point, just north of the mouth of the Little Manatee River, but have yet to hook up. Every time I’ve stopped and made a few casts, I’ve hooked some big ladyfish, but no pompano.
Visit captain Fred Everson’s Web site at http://www.tampabayfishingguide.com for charter info or call (813) 830-8890.
Follow us live for the Class 5A state volleyball semifinals between Newsome and Martin County at 8 p.m.
Robinson’s boys soccer team has opened the season well, a 2-2 draw with Jesuit on Monday night opening some eyes around the bay area, and the Knights will get another stern test when they host a Sickles side that has been dominant in its first three games on Thursday night.
Robinson (2-0-1) has been an athletic and somewhat physical team in previous seasons, but is now seeing young players with greater playing ability join the program. Thomas thinks the discipline his young players have shown is the principle reason why his side has been able to have the success it has so far.
“We definitely lost six or seven seniors last year that were primarily athletes more than soccer players,” Thomas said. “In the process, we’ve picked up about four or five soccer players to replace the athletes with. I think because of the youth, the younger players coming in are more receptive and more open-minded, which makes them more disciplined, which is really the key to our success so far.”
At the center of the team the Knights have Kody Thomas, who will be a pivotal player in Thursday night’s game. The Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first half against Jesuit before Thomas was ejected for a second yellow card. With Boris Simeunovic (five goals) leading the Gryphons (3-0-0), and Ben Wiley providing an able accomplice, Thomas will have to play a disciplined game if the Knights are to compete with the Gryphons.
“(Kody) is going to be absolutely huge in tomorrow’s game plan, because it’s no secret (Simeunovic) is an absolute scoring machine for them, you can tell they like the play the ball through him, and (Wiley) likes to get his assists through (Simeunovic),” Ken Thomas said. “Tomorrow night is going to be a true test of Kody’s composure, maybe more than of his soccer skill.”
From the other sideline, Sickles coach Tony Calvo said he is looking forward to the challenge Robinson should pose his side.
“This is a very interesting game for us,” Calvo said. “They tied Jesuit a couple of nights ago, which really shows that Robinson is finally becoming a team. I know they’ve had a lot of young players in the past when we’ve played them. I know his goalkeeper (Tony Seleznick) is phenomenal, I had the privilege of coaching him a few years back, so it’s going to be an interesting game.”
Calvo credits the strong start his side has made to the season to the rigorous training sessions they have been through. The work that the side has put in on the training field certainly paid off competitively, with five Gryphons having multiple goals already this season.
“They’re training every day hard, and they’re taking one game at a time,” Calvo said. “They’re treating every opponent as a strong opponent.”
Wharton senior swimmer Sarah Menendez committed to Wagner College in New York. She signed her letter of intent during a ceremony at the school on Wednesday.
Menendez is coming off a season where she was the four-time district champion in the 50 free, 100 fly, 200 free relay and 200 medley relay and also won a regional title in the 200 free relay.
Last weekend at the FHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Orlando, Menendez earned a fifth-place medal in the 200 free relay and finished 10th in the 200 medley relay, 12th in the 50 free and 23rd in the 100 fly.
Follow the state volleyball Class 3A semifinals between Berkeley Prep and Jacksonville Bolles live below.
Robinson’s football team is gearing up for its first home state playoff game in more than three decades, and the Knights certainly will have their hands full.
The Knights welcome in Arcadia DeSoto County, which has one of the state’s top running backs in senior Marcus Shaw.
Shaw has put together consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons and enters Friday’s playoff game at Jack Peters Field – the first there since 1977 – with 2,361 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns this year.
Knights coach Mike DePue is well aware of Shaw, who could be a familiar name to some Hillsborough County football fans. After all, Shaw was a catalyst in ending Spoto’s season last year, rushing for 196 and three touchdowns in an opening-round playoff win against the Spartans.
Perhaps the most worrisome aspect for the Knights is the method in which DeSoto County’s offense moves the ball – out of the Wing-T. Robinson had trouble with another Wing-T team (Newsome) and its standout runner (fullback Conner Powers) earlier this season. The Knights suffered their only home loss of the season to the Wolves, 41-20, as Powers rushed for 179 yards and four touchdowns.
“I think the difference is we matchup up front with them (DeSoto County) a little better,” DePue said last wee. “I think that might give us a little bit of help there.”
If not, Robinson could be forced into a shootout with the Bulldogs. The good news is the Knights have averaged 39.8 points per game this season.
“It could end up being a barn-burner,” DePue said.
Six years ago, former high school basketball coach Jan Bennett acted on a suggestion from a former Tampa Tribune reporter to start his own tournament between teams coached by his former players. Now in its six-year, the Jan Bennett Pre-season Hoop It Up tournament has become a tradition for many high school programs in the Bay Area and in the last five years, has donated $5,840.00 to the Tampa Bay Basketball Coaches Association and the Doug Walker Scholarship Fund.
“It gets me in the gym for two days,” said Bennett, who is 20th all-time in Florida basketball with 576 career wins. “I just hope it helps a bunch of young people.”
Bennett coached at the high school and collegiate level for more than three decades, with stints at Tampa Bay Tech (1974-76), Brandon (1976-81), Robinson (1986-94), Fort Meade (1997-98), Seminole Presbyterian (1998-2000), University of South Florida (2001-2003) and Tampa Prep (2005).
Bennett said all of the gate receipts from the tournament go towards the TBBCA, which help pay for its annual banquet, awards and scholarships. He said without the help of the West Coast Officials Association, which pay for the officials during the two-day tournament, Valrico State Bank, The Brew Crew and former Plant High basketball coach Richard Dyer, the tournament wouldn’t be possible.
This year’s tournament will be played Thursday and Friday at Seffner Christian Academy. Teams expected to participate are Seffner Christian, Tampa Bay Tech (head coach Adrian Johnson played under Bennett), Newsome, Armwood, Durant and Bloomingdale. This is the fourth year the tournament has been played at Seffner Christian. The first two tournaments were played at Cambridge Christian in Tampa. Tickets are $5.
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday: Tampa Bay Tech vs. Newsome, 5 p.m.; Bloomingdale vs. Armwood, 6:30 p.m.; Durant vs. Seffner Christian, 8 p.m.
Friday: Bloomingdale vs. Tampa Bay Tech, 5 p.m.; Newsome vs. Durant, 6:30 p.m.; Armwood vs. Seffner Christian, 8 p.m.
By ROY CUMMINGS
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TAMPA – Now that Arron Sears is back, the Bucs plan is take it slow with him. Real slow.
Back following an absence due to a personal matter that dates back to April, it Sears will spend this week working out on his own. It will be next week at the earliest before he returns to the practice field and possibly next season before he sees game action again.
As for the problem that has beset the Bucs young guard, the Bucs still aren’t saying. Nor is Sears. As part of his slow indoctrination back into pro football, the Bucs plan to keep him away from the media until next week at the earliest as well.
Sears returned to the Bucs on his own, according to Bucs general manager Mark Dominik and is “hungry’’ to get back on the field.
Armwood’s football team faced a huge problem entering the 2009 season. A ton of talent was lost to graduation from the Hawks’ 2008 defense, and the unit sorely needed playmakers to emerge to fill in the gaping holes.
Jermaine McKinney firmly believed he could be a solution to the problem. A starter at linebacker as a sophomore in 2008, McKinney was productive, totaling 84 tackles and four sacks. The Hawks needed better this season, however. And McKinney (No. 4 in photo) knew it.
“I just knew I had to come hard this year,” McKinney said. “I told Coach Cal that this was my year.”
There’s little doubt as the Hawks gear up for another postseason run that McKinney, a junior, has answered the call by elevating his game. Known by the nickname Juice - he got it in youth league after wearing No. 32 (O.J. Simpson’s number) and playing running back - McKinney has emerged not only as one of the Hawks’ top playmakers, but also as one of the top defensive standouts in Hillsborough County.
“He was one guy that we knew could bring everything to the table for us: the speed, knowledge of the game and (someone who could) make big, impact plays,” Armwood coach Sean Callahan said.
To read the rest of the story, which appeared in today’s Brandon News and South Shore News zone sections, click HERE.
The following is the 2009 All-Western Conference (Hillsborough County public schools) Volleyball Team. The teams are selected by Hillsborough County public school varsity volleyball coaches.
AMERICAN DIVISION
1ST Team
Maddie Martin, Plant; Leah Jordan, Plant; Becca Howard, Plant; Lauren Ramsey, Sickles; Kristen Ligouri, Steinbrenner; Laura Ackart, Gaither; Libero - Ali McCurdy, Plant
2nd Team
Fatima Domingush, Leto; Alex Johnson, Plant; Jenna Clark, Gaither; Tina Catanach, Plant; Alex Biver, Aloso; Katie Daorai, Plant; Libero -Cary Anne Bame, Steinbrenner
Coach of the Year: Leanna Taylor, Plant
FEDERAL DIVISION
1ST Team
Sarah Burrington, Riverview; Nicole Higgins, Brandon; Devin Whale, Brandon; Jonni Raga, Newsome; Lindsey Watson, Brandon; Lauren Zellmer, Newsome; Libero—Katlyn Messick, Durant
2nd Team
Hillary Byrd, Newsome; Chelsea Bowden, Durant; Aly Woodlee, Brandon; Aly Wade, Durant; Taylor Hackemack, Durant; Danielle Jenkins, Bloomingdale; Libero—Alix Hooker, Plant City
Coach of the Year: Kate Correa, Newsome
NATIONAL DIVISION
1st Team
Emilee Taylor, Armwood; Jasmine Linville, Freedom; Timber Times, Wharton; Brandi Dilts, Strawberry Crest; Laura Smith, Armwood; Jordan Lansford, Chamberlain; Libero—Khambria Hudgins, Tampa Bay Tech
2nd Team
Sabrina Beckles, Armwood; J. J. Rodriquez, Tampa Bay Tech; Kayla Sanchez, Chamberlain; Lindsay Taggart, Freedom; Jamee Townsend, Strawberry Crest; Jasmine Dody, Tampa Bay Tech; Libero—Alyssa Reidy, Armwood
Coach of the Year: Michael Wyatt, Armwood
Plant City pitcher Mackenzie Audas still has another year before she leaves high school, but has already decided which college she wants to attend.
The junior pitcher verbally committed to Central Florida on Saturday, Plant City coach Heidi Kouveras said.
As a sophomore, Audas went 7-2 on the mound with a .80 ERA, 118 Ks and 16 walks. She also batted .347 with 25 hits, 20 runs, 17 RBIs and a team-best 10 extra base hits, including a team-high two home runs.
Tampa Tribune columnist Joe Henderson wrote in this morning’s newspaper about how USF coach Jim Leavitt handles all the criticism from fans following a dismal loss like Thursday’s 31-0 setback at Rutgers.
Leavitt says he doesn’t “live in that world’’ of online message boards and radio call-in shows. Nor should he. That would be a scary place for a head coach.
Still, Leavitt might not say it, but he knows fans couldn’t be happy after Thursday’s game and that the Bulls’ 1-3 performance over the last four games has raised questions about his future once again.
Regardless of whether you think Leavitt is the guy to lead USF to the next level or not, his job seems pretty secure. Click here to read Henderson’s column.
I wrote a story for this morning’s Trib on the offense’s disappearing act at Rutgers and how the unit is determined to help out the defense in Saturday’s game against Louisville. Click here for that story.
I’ll be doing more blogging throughout the day, so please check back in.
In case you missed the story in Wednesday’s Tampa Tribune, Wharton basketball player Drake Williams is recovering at University Community Hospital after collapsing during a Saturday morning practice.
You can read the entire story here
One of the highlights of Alonso’s turbulent season was a 35-10 victory over Newsome. The two teams meet against in the first round of the playoffs Friday night, but this time, the Ravens are a different football team. At least their roster is.
Gone is Jesse Anaya, the senior running back/receiver who quit the team a couple of weeks ago. But the Ravens have gained defensive end Anthony Chickillo and receiver Franklin Mosley.
Chickillo and Mosley missed the regular season meeting against Newsome with injuries. Since his return on Oct. 23 from a broken collarbone, Chickillo’s added seven sacks to his season total of 11. Mosley also returned on Oct. 23 after recovering from a broken hand. In four games, he has 13 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
“Both of them are great players,” Alonso coach Mike Heldt said. “They’ve been playing great football once they came back. It’s going to help.”
So will having receiver Dylan Fisher back in the lineup. Fisher missed last week’s regular-season finale against Armwood with a concussion, an injury he sustained in Alonso’s 42-6 victory against Gaither on Nov. 6.
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