Sunlake softball players to sign

Posted Jan 15, 2011 by Rick Harmon

Updated Jan 17, 2011 at 12:20 PM

Two Sunlake softball players will sign letters-of-intent next week, Seahawks athletic director Russ Schenk announced.

Catcher/third baseman Shelly Stohler will sign with Hillsborough Community College and first baseman/third baseman Ashley Orta with Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville.

As juniors, Stohler hit .267 last year and had a .971 fielding percentage (3 errors in 105 chances). Orta hit .220 with a .993 fielding percentage (1 errors in 135 chances).

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Boys soccer: Wesley Chapel loses leading scorer

Posted Jan 15, 2011 by Mike Camunas

Updated Jan 15, 2011 at 01:37 PM

Just a week before the Class 4A-District 7 tournament begins, the Wesley Chapel boys soccer team was dealt a huge blow.

Sophomore F/MF Christian Monahan, who is the Wildcats leading scorer with 14 goals and five assists for 33 points, has been declared academically ineligible, coach Brian Dorkowski announced, and could miss the remainder of the season when grades are released this upcoming week.

“This is definitely going to hurt us come districts,” said Dorkowski, who is in his eighth season at Wesley Chapel. “Not every kid is a goal scorer, and as only a 10th grader, he’s proved he can put it in the back of the net.”

Already battling key injuries to assist leader David Santacruz (toe) and productive midfielder Bryan Huynh (leg), the loss of Monahan and resting the two injured players, resulted in the Wildcats (15-3) dropping a 2-1 game to Fivay on Friday night. Though the Falcons are no slouch for a first-year program, Welsey Chapel had had just two loses coming into the game, those were to district foe Pasco (16-0). When the tournament seedings are released Monday, Pasco and Wesley Chapel should be No. 1 and 2, respectively.

“Fivay played really well and they had a real nice goal to win it,” Dorkowski added. “We were down three starters, but (the injured players) probably could’ve played had it been a district game or tournament.”

Dorkowski said he was “really disappointed” with Monahan, who, as it turns out, was in a similar situation last season. The sophomore was ruled ineligible just before the district tournament, yet the Wildcats pulled a stunning upset of Pasco and ended up being district runner-up at 10-14.

“You know, you might understand it from a ninth grader, that they might slip or struggle in high school the first year,” Dorkowski said, “but to be in the same situation, you think he would have learned from last year. Obviously, he hasn’t because the same thing happened.”

However, in a bit of good news for the Wildcats, Monahan’s replacement, freshman Alejandro Chisholm, has already proved his worth, picking up Wesley Chapel’s lone goal in Friday’s loss.

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Those sweet-smelling latrines in the Philippines

Posted Jan 15, 2011 by Tom McEwen

Updated Jan 15, 2011 at 03:21 AM

Some of us involved wonder when the Military Channel or one of these World War II look-back video histories will produce a reenactment of what we call The Search of the WaWa Dam for hidden treasures. Got the name, got the circumstances, got the booty, which turned out to be of no value, and got the military involvement in that WaWa area about 50 miles from Manila in the Philippines and therefore got a story, in which I as a young second lieutenant was involved with future celebrity Joe Garagiola.

Here we go. Almost simultaneous with the American conquest with General Douglas Macarthur of those Philippine areas he so loved, this aside story emerged and I would like to retell it.

As the war was ending, the 785th Tank Battalion - with Colonel John Allen as commander and I as a Company C Third Platoon Leader, with Capt. Ed Howdowaine as Company C Commander along with Lt. Andy Anderson, Lt. Phil Anderson, First Sergeant Eddie Peyton and Garagiola - was aboard a troop ship carrying the entire armored battalion to the Philippines to face the Japanese.

The Manila harbor was difficult to negotiate because of the sunken ships and because the troop ship we were on was old and rickety. But we made it and were put ashore immediately on docking in the port area. The tanks did not come with us; we never saw them again because the first day on ground battalion officers gathered around the commanding General Plank, who advised us that the city dump was behind him in the city port and we were being reassigned as civil affairs officers. We would build the first Armed Forces Western Pacific Prisoner of War Camp, find the guard towers, the fencing, squad tents, and whatever else it took to build quickly a prison which would house up to 2,000 Japanese prisoner of war.

We would guard them and work, feed, cloth, and medicate them until they were moved back to Japan. General Plank said we were a civil affairs battalion, no longer tankers. Then we went to work being guards instead of tankers. No, there would be no training to become the civil affairs battalion that we had just been anointed to become. Move out. We got our first prisoners the next day, just a few, but we got them nonetheless, shoved them around a bit, but not after that. It is not in the nature of the American soldier to be rude to people, even if you were guarding POWs who had killed millions of Filipinos and our Allied troops, including Americans. 

I was to be the Prison Officer, “because you have a little college education,” General Plank said, and handled the prison staffing and all of the prisoner confinement. General Plank left us in front of that city dump with a sign in front of it, reading ‘AWESPAC POW CAMP No. 1’ and we were to be guards for at least a year. The camp quickly grew and had a prisoner total of some 1,200, with materials scrounged by Lt. Andy Anderson from somewhere, from other military units in the Philippines who were in need of that necessary asset—prisoner labor.

General Plank made it clear that we could trade prison labor for food and drinks, clothing, bedding, tentage, all of our needs. None of the American personnel lived inside the prison except when personnel was on guard duty in the towers, on patrol, or other assigned duties. Since I ran the camp, my office was in a small building at the main gate, the upstairs made into a bread and water enclosure for prisoners who had misbehaved.

Need here to say that I had Japanese business men interned who spoke English and cooperated in every possible way. No one ever tried to escape though the bitter Filipinos would drive by at night and fire into the camp. Yes, many prisoners were killed. However those who survived were fit and fed well, but did work there 12 hours a day under guard. In the prisoner compound, which was about two football fields long and one football field wide, they were closely guarded. Not only that, but the imprisoned Japanese were given whatever medical attention could be assembled among the prisoners themselves — there were many Japanese doctors in prison.

I also had, out of necessity, interpreters who had been Japanese businessmen. Isolated squad tents near our command office housed Japanese officers accused of crimes who were awaiting court marshal at the pleasure of General Douglas Macarthur, who was in and out of POW Camp No. 1. Yes, some of those generals assigned to POW Camp No. 1 were sentenced to death and hanged, including General Yamashita.

Almost as suddenly as POW Camp No. 1 was ordered built, after a year, it was ordered closed, and the prisoners who had survived were sent to Japan. We could not have managed this POW camp in the city dump, built it so that it became spotless and generally healthy without the help of the Japanese prisoners who were interned in the camp who could speak English and so valuable.

Well, one of these most appreciated guards was Joe Garagiola and as a result of this, when a prisoner came to me and said he had been a pharmacist and that he and other pharmacists had buried the essence of perfume somewhere near the WaWa Dam, inland about 50 miles. Garagiola was on the detail with me to check out the possibility of the perfume being found and recovered. We took two truck loads of prisoners to the WaWa Dam area and they dug up the side of the mountain so that we could take the bottled essence back to Manila for appraisal. We did.

It was worthless, because the jugs had been corked and the corks had deteriorated. I asked Garagiola to find a good use for the essence and he sprinkled it over the latrines so that the big and fine AFWESPAC POW Camp No. 1 became the mecca of the sweetest smelling toilets in the Philippines.

Garagiola to this day is proud of that and has never forgotten those POW times. Nor have I. Corporal Garagiola still salutes me briskly, but of course, with a wisecrack and the emphasized, “LOOTENENT MCEWEN, can I offer you a San Miguel beer, or a Michelob?”

Babaloo!

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UF football’s Trattou to play in college all-star game

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 11:49 PM

The bowl games have passed, and there’s nearly eight months to go before NCAA football kicks off again.

But Florida football fans will get a chance to see a Gator on the field before then.

Florida defensive end Justin Trattou accepted an invitation to play in the 86th East-West Shrine Game, which will be held Jan. 22 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Gator fans can tune in to the NFL Network that day at 4 p.m. EST to watch a live broadcast.

When he steps on the field later this month, we will join former Gators Ryan Stamper, Drew Miller, Dallas Baker, Steven Harris, Chris Leak, Vernell Brown and Randy Hand as players under Urban Meyer to have played in the East-West Shrine Game. Sixty-two NFL Hall of Famers have also played in the Game, America’s longest-running college all-star football game.

“The East-West Shrine Game has always fielded players among college football’s best,” said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. “With all 32 NFL teams represented by GMs, coaches and scouts during game week, our players have the terrific opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first glimpse of life in the NFL.”

Trattou garnered attention in 2010 by being named team captain and leading the Gators with 12 tackles for loss.

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Florida Gator player selected in 2011 draft

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 09:21 PM

Former University of Florida soccer player Katie Fraine will become the fourth Gator ever to be listed on a World Professional Soccer roster. The Washington Freedom selected her in the fourth round of the draft this afternoon.

Fraine joins former Gator All-Americans Heather Mitts and Abby Wambach, and Stacy Bishop was on the Atlanta Beat in 2010. Mitts played for the Philadelphia Independence, Wambach for the Freedom.

Fraine, who made the All-South Region team as a goalkeeper her senior year, went with the third pick in the final round of the draft as one of only two goalkeepers selected.

She ended her college career with a school-record 27 career solo shutouts. She led the Southeastern Conference in 2010 by matching her career-high season total of 10 solo shutouts.

The Freedom opens its season April 14 against the Independence.

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UF football players undergo surgery

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 08:44 PM

University of Florida football coach Will Muschamp said today that players David Young and Neiron Ball underwent successful surgeries this week.

This is the second operation since September for Young, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2010. He had hardware removed from his left knee that was in place from the previous surgery. The 304-pound offensive lineman is expected to be limited in spring practice.

Ball had surgery to repair athletic pubalgia, also known as sportman’s hernia. He should participate in spring practices. The linebacker played in all 13 games last season as a freshman. His playing time came by way of special teams.

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Pasco’s Jamie Byrd commits to Boise State

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 07:38 PM

Pasco High defensive back Jamie Byrd has given a verbal commitment to play football at Boise State, according to Pirates coach Tom McHugh.

Byrd has led Pasco High in tackles for the past three seasons and has proven to be a very durable defender, switching between linebacker and safety.

Byrd has fielded offers all summer long. In addition to Boise State, Florida Atlantic University, Georgia Southern, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue University, Western Michigan University and Youngstown State University have offered him scholarships.

During his senior season, Byrd collected 73 tackles, forced three fumbles, snagged two interceptions and had one sack. In addition to his defensive duties, Byrd caught 13 passes for 192 yards and also had seven carries for 111 yards and a score.

In 2009, he collected 101 stops, six sacks, forced three fumbles, and recovered four. He also rushed 27 times for 136 yards and two scores, in addition to his two touchdowns on defense. As a sophomore, Byrd led the squad with 83 tackles and added two interceptions.

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Whitney Johnson out at WDAE 620

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 07:21 PM

BY ROGER MOONEY

Hey, Tampa Bay. How the heck are ya?

You won’t hear those words anymore, now that Whitney Johnson is no longer a part of the WDAE 620 AM “The Sports Animal.”

Johnson, who brought us the afternoon sports updates and the occasional joke, was terminated Friday, told that Clear Channel is changing the way they report news and sports.

Stunned at first, Johnson was his usual upbeat self Friday afternoon.

“I had a lot of fun and met a lot of good people,” he said. “It was a good run. I tried to do my best every day, and I can leave with my head held high knowing I did.”

Johnson’s was the first voice we heard when the station turned to the all sports format in 1998. He was a regular at Tropicana Field, One Buc Place and the St. Pete Times Forum as he gathered news for his afternoon updates, ending each with “WDAEEEEEEE.”

Known for his love of rock music, Johnson became a hit during the 2008 postseason when he opened Joe Maddon’s pregame press conference before Game 1 of the ALDS by asking the Rays manager what music he listened to on his drive to the Trop that morning.

The answer, “Start Me Up,” by the Rolling Stones appeared in just about every game story following the Rays 6-4 victory against the White Sox.

Maddon made sure Johnson asked the first question at every press conference during the Rays run to the World Series that fall. It was a tradition that continued through the 2010 postseason.

“I loved this job,” Johnson said. “I got to go to Japan with the Rays (in 2004) and Calgary with the Lightning (during the 2004 Stanley Cup finals). I got to cover the World Series, which was a goal of mine. Super Bowls and Stanley Cup finals. The best had to be that Stanley Cup run.”

Johnson likes to tell the story of running into Lightning coach John Tortorella outside the team hotel in Calgary the night before Game 6. The Bolts trailed the series 3-2.

“Hey Coach,” Whitney said. “Whatever happens, it’s been a heck of a ride.”

“Don’t count us out, Whit,” Tortorella said.

“There’s one thing I really liked,” Johnson said Friday. “People like Phil Esposito, Lee Roy Selmon, hall of famers, knew my name. People I respect, and they’d come up and say, ‘Hi, Whit.’ ”

Johnson, a regular volunteer for the Miracle League baseball program in St. Petersburg for children with disabilities, has no idea what he’ll do now.

“Get in my kayak more,” he said. “Sit in my backyard and read some books.”

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Jesuit’s Chillura heading to Penn

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 04:19 PM

Jesuit senior quarterback Patton Chillura has committed to the University of Pennsylvania, Jesuit coach James Harrell confirmed.

Chillura threw for 1,920 yards and 13 touchdowns this past season for the Tigers, who finished the season 11-1 and lost to Robinson in the Class 2A region final. Chillura, who also had interest from Harvard and Princeton, added 159 rushing yards.

Penn went 7-0 in the Ivy League and 9-1 overall this past season. The Quakers finished the season ranked No. 16 in the FCS Coaches poll and No. 5 in the final ECAC Lambert Meadowlands Poll.

 

 

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Tennis locals take aim at the pros

Posted Jan 14, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Jan 14, 2011 at 03:10 PM

Several of the areas top girls high school tennis players will be competing with professionals.

Plant’s No. 1 singles player Amber Li and Carrollwood Day School’s Jackie Fitz-Randolph are scheduled to be a part of field at next week’s 2011 Ace Sports Group Tennis Classic, a $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, at Cheval Golf & Country Club in Lutz. The event features seven former Top 100 WTA players, including Mandy Minella, who advanced to the 3rd round of the 2010 U.S. Open where she fell to Venus Williams, Alexandra Stevenson (#18), Olga Puchkova (#32), Mashona Washington (#50), Michelle Larcher de Brito (#76), Ahsha Rolle (#82), Julie Ditty (#89), and Andreja Klepac (#99). 

Also included in the draw is University of Florida All-American Allie Will, Northeast High’s Danielle Collins and St. Pete Catholic’s Julia Jones.

Play begins daily at 9 a.m. Sunday through Friday. The semifinals are Saturday at 10 a.m. and the finals are Jan. 23 at noon. Admission is free.

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