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Recruiting

  • Mitchell's McCormick signs with PHCC, Pasco's Duncan commits to Barry

    Mitchell's McCormick signs with PHCC, Pasco's Duncan commits to Barry Two baseball recruiting updates from the North Suncoast: Mitchell RHP Chris McCormick signed with PHCC last week. The 6-1, 175-pound senior posted a 2.23 ERA with 71 strikeouts on the mound and batted .307 with nine doubles to help the Mustangs reach the Class 6A region final. He starred in ...
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    Wed. May 22, 2013 at 10:07 a.m. | Matt Baker

  • Pinellas Park's Pierre Johnson gets first offer from Wofford

    Pinellas Park defensive back Pierre Johnson picked up his first offer from Wofford College, Patriots coach Kenny Crawford said. Johnson, a first-team, all-county selection last fall, has a 3.98 weighted GPA and scored 23 on the ACT. He has received interest from multiple schools this spring but no offer surfaced ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 10:48 a.m. | Bob Putnam

  • Miami Hurricanes offer Blackwood, and other North Suncoast updates

    Three quick recruiting updates from across the North Suncoast from the past few days: Miami became the 13th offer for Nature Coast DE Rohan Blackwood, Sharks coach Charles Liggett announced on Twitter. The two-sport (football and basketball) star also holds offers from USF and West Virginia, among others. The Hurricanes ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 5:26 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • Pasco freshman Nate Craig already a D-I darling

    Pasco freshman Nate Craig already a D-I darling DADE CITY — An Ohio State assistant coach was sitting in a Tampa barbershop this spring, raving about a high school freshman who had just landed a Buckeyes offer. That’s when Unsigned Preps 7-on-7 coach Carlos Blake asked if he wanted to see a real ninth grader. Blake whipped out ...
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    Sat. May 18, 2013 at 10:13 p.m. | Matt Baker

    • Recruit: Nate Craig
      Clemson University, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin

  • AATL's Mauger signs with Division III school

    AATL's Mauger signs with Division III school Academy at the Lakes forward Andrea Mauger officially signed with Division III Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.). The Tampa Bay Times' all-North Suncoast first-teamer, who also played on the softball team, averaged almost 18 points for the Wildcats, who advanced to the Class 2A state final last winter. Mauger also ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 3:32 p.m. | Times Staff

  • Wharton's Drew Vanderbrook signs with junior college

    Wharton's Drew Vanderbrook signs with junior college Wharton low-post reserve Drew Vanderbrook signed Thursday with Indian River State College, a two-year program in Fort Pierce. A 6-foot-8 Freedom transfer, Vanderbrook said he chose IRSC over a handful of other junior colleges and Division III programs. He becomes the second member of Wharton's Class 8A final four team ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • Miami Hurricanes offer Nate Craig, Bethune offers RJ Scaife

    Nate Craig, Pasco WR (6-3, 200) The latest: One of the state's top freshmen has landed offers from all of the state’s top three programs this week. Miami became the last of the big three to offer Craig a scholarship, Pirates assistant Chad Hatfield announced on Twitter. Later in the ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 2:46 p.m. | Matt Baker

    • Recruit: Nate Craig
      Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Miami

  • Durant's Paige Davis signs with juco program

    Durant's Paige Davis signs with juco program Durant senior ace Paige Davis, who helped lead the "Cardiac Cougars" to the Class 8A state title in 2012, formally signed her paperwork Wednesday with South Florida State College, a two-year program in Avon Park. The Tampa Bay Times' All-Suncoast Pitcher of the Year in '12, Davis leaned more on ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 8:46 a.m. | Joey Knight

  • Bishop sophomore Alyssa Mathis commits to San Diego State

    Bishop McLaughlin sophomore Alyssa Mathis has orally committed to play volleyball at San Diego State, Hurricanes coach Doug Chinchar said Thursday morning. Mathis, a 6-foot outside hitter, also had an offer from Wake Forest and was recruited by Tennessee, among others. “She still has lots to learn, but the package ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 8:18 a.m. | Matt Baker

  • Three Hudson soccer players to sign Friday

    Hudson will host a signing ceremony Friday for three girls soccer players headed to college, coach Stephen Jones announced Wednesday. Sarah Staley, the school’s valedictorian, will participate in the formal ceremony after signing with Youngstown State earlier this year. She’s the first player in program history to receive a full ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 1:38 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • Mitchell RHP Christopher McCormick headed to PHCC

    Mitchell RHP Christopher McCormick has orally committed to play baseball at PHCC, Mustangs coach Scot Wilcox said Wednesday in a text message. McCormick, a 6-1, 175-pound senior, was a large part of Mitchell’s run to the Class 6A region final. He finished the season with a 2.23 ERA and 71 ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 1:35 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • WVU football is a dozen offers for Marcus Applefield

    Marcus Applefield, Weeki Wachee OL (6-7, 275) The latest: Applefield landed his 12th offer of the offseason and his eighth in the last week when West Virginia extended him a scholarship opportunity, Hornets coach Mark Lee said in a text message. The Mountaineers are the first Big 12 school to ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 9:21 a.m. | Matt Baker

    • Recruit: Marcus Applefield
      University of Kentucky, University of Massachusetts, University of South Florida, University of Virginia, West Virginia University

  • Offers mounting for Chiefs' Anthony Davis

    Offers mounting for Chiefs' Anthony Davis Chamberlain rising senior DE Anthony Davis said Tuesday he has received a scholarship offer from Middle Tennessee, bringing his offer total to the double-digit stratosphere. Currently deemed a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Davis (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) said he also has been offered by Houston, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Toledo, Tulane, ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 8:40 p.m. | Joey Knight

    • Recruit: Anthony Davis
      Middle Tennessee, Texas Tech, Toledo, University of Massachusetts, University of Minnesota, University of South Florida, West Virginia University

  • Ridgewood's Brandon Green headed to Webber

    Ridgewood's Brandon Green headed to Webber PORT RICHEY - Ridgewood senior guard Brandon Green signed with Webber International during a ceremony today at his high school. Green said his decision came down to Webber’s strong business management program and playing with his brother, Marcus, who played for the Rams and was a freshman for the Warriors ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 7:21 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • Holy Names golfer commits to TCU

    Holy Names golfer commits to TCU Holy Names golfer Emmy Martin has committed to Texas Christian University and received a full scholarship, athletic director Kevin Vargas said Tuesday in an email. Martin, a junior, has won district and region titles the past two years. The two-time Tampa Bay Times all-Hillsborough County first-teamer tied for 15th at ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 3:58 p.m. | Times Staff

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Special reports

Spring football Spring football

Latest news

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Steinbrenner seizing momentum

    The first four-year class at Steinbrenner laid a solid foundation, going 20-19-1 and securing the rare winning record for a fledgling high school football program. • Now, minus 27 graduated seniors, second-year Warriors coach Andres Perez-Reinaldo plans to build on that foundation in the fall. “This is really an opportunity ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 9:15 p.m. | Times Staff

  • State baseball: King's Morales always possessed a special delivery

    State baseball: King's Morales always possessed a special delivery TAMPA — That powerful right arm has almost always dazzled coaches and scouts, from those toddler T-ball leagues to high school all-star showcases. To most everyone else, it seemed a certainty Brett Morales would someday use that arm to become a starting quarterback for a high school football team or ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 8:37 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Allen's career on rise at Dunedin

    HomeTeam Huddle: Allen's career on rise at Dunedin DUNEDIN In three years of crushing heads, Dunedin’s Brenton Allen has followed a remarkably ascendent career path. • Since becoming a starting middle linebacker, he has developed into the Falcons’ most important defensive presence, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound bruiser with the tiptoe finesse of a ballerina. Allen can stop the run ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 8:10 p.m. | Times Staff

  • Seventy-five applicants for Clearwater hoops job

    Tom Shaneyfelt's name has become synonymous with girls basketball. He has led Clearwater’s program to eight state final four appearances, and four runnerup finishes. His 650 wins rank in the top 20 in the state among boys or girls coaches. Now Shaneyfelt wants to give boys basketball a shot at ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 2:11 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • HomeTeam Huddle: New-look passing game at Fivay

    HomeTeam Huddle: New-look passing game at Fivay HUDSON For the past two seasons, Fivay’s passing game has been the backbone of one of the most dangerous offensive attacks on the North Suncoast. • With the graduation of the Falcons’ entire receiving corps this spring, including Andrew Meyer (42 catches, 1,028 yards, 12 touchdowns), Willis Reeves (10 catches, ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 1:53 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere

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Latest Football News

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Armwood DE Cowart already a hit

    When Armwood’s first-team defense completed its goal-line stand with a fourth-and-2 stop to conclude Friday evening’s intrasquad scrimmage, rising junior defensive end Byron Cowart was lined up at nose guard. Cowart (6-foot-5, 250 pounds), shaping up as the area’s top recruit from the Class of 2015, said he’s hopeful of ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 11:13 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • Spring football: Carrollwood Day 41, Bishop McLaughlin 7

    At Bishop McLaughlin Score: Carrollwood Day 41, Bishop McLaughlin 7 Spring game-breakers: CDS’ run game seems to have picked up where it left off in 2012, just sans Robert Davis. Rising junior Elias Earley popped a 33-yarder on the first play from scrimmage and finished with 160 yards on 12 ...
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    Sat. May 18, 2013 at 11:01 p.m. | Andy Warrener

  • Spring football: St. Petersburg Catholic 42, Indian Rocks Christian 14

    Spring football: St. Petersburg Catholic 42, Indian Rocks Christian 14 At St. Petersburg Catholic Score: St. Petersburg Catholic 42, Indian Rocks Christian 14 Spring game-breakers: Relying on a big, veteran offensive line, St. Petersburg Catholic rolled up big yards on the ground Friday, rushing for 322 yards. The benefactors were Jaquan Fuller and Tony Jones, who each rushed for 100 ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 11:24 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • Spring football: Northside Christian 17, Sarasota Out-of-Door 13

    At Northside Christian Score: Northside Christian 17, Sarasota Out-of-Door 13 Spring game-breakers: Northside Christian coach Mike Alstott has said this fall’s running game will be by committee. If Friday night was any indication, he has a pretty good committee. Senior Jhon Williams gained 50 yards on nine carries and scored ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 11:23 p.m. | Rodney Page

  • HomeTeam Huddle: North Suncoast QBs are getting comfortable

    HomeTeam Huddle: North Suncoast QBs are getting comfortable SHADY HILLS One of the North Suncoast’s top returning quarterbacks may not be familiar to those outside of Bishop McLaughlin. • Rising senior R.J. Perciavalle is going into his third season as the starter under center and even saw some looks at quarterback as a freshman.  •  As a sophomore, ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 8:56 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Eagles finding 'better place' with Eychner

    HomeTeam Huddle: Eagles finding 'better place' with Eychner The stretching and special teams work have concluded Friday afternoon at Brandon’s practice when a late arrival, Mario Rodriguez, jogs onto the McLane Stadium field in full pads and presents a signed index card to coach Dean Eychner. “Tutoring?” Eychner asks, gazing at the card with the teacher’s signature. “Uh, ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 8:31 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • Clearwater, Shorecrest cancel spring games; CCC now hosts

    For the past week, Clearwater Central Catholic has worked out in limbo, unsure which football team it will play in its spring game. On Friday, the Marauders found an opponent. CCC coach John Davis said his team will play Lakeland Victory Christian at 3 p.m. Thursday. The game, originally set ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 1:12 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • Spring football: Berkeley Prep 35, Admiral Farragut 6

    Spring football: Berkeley Prep 35, Admiral Farragut 6 At Admiral Farragut Score: Berkeley Prep 35, AFA 6 Spring game-breakers: Berkeley Prep QB Brad Mayes had a shortened spring football season because he also plays on the baseball team, but Mayes didn’t show much rust. He threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns and ran for an 18-yard score. ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 11:39 p.m. | Rodney Page

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Stakes getting higher at Pinellas Park

    HomeTeam Huddle: Stakes getting higher at Pinellas Park PINELLAS PARK Pinellas Park’s Antonio Harris spreads his thumb and forefinger about 3 inches apart to illustrate the interest he has gotten from college coaches.  •   “I’ve got a stack of business cards about this thick,” said Harris, who figures the number to be between 35-40. “All of them from ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 11:03 p.m. | Times Staff

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Time for remodeling at Robinson

    HomeTeam Huddle: Time for remodeling at Robinson First-year Robinson coach Shawn Taylor navigates practices these days in a sleek new golf cart with shiny rims and the Knights’ logo emblazoned on the side.  •  It’s one of the few fully loaded units on Jack Peters Field. Taylor, a Knights alumnus selected to replace retiring Port Tampa icon ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 9:39 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • Get ready: The Battle of the Bay is coming

    Get ready: The Battle of the Bay is coming It's on. On June 22, HomeTeam is teaming up with Ricky Sailor, the CEO of Unsigned Preps, to put on the first annual Battle of the Bay 7-on-7 tournament designed to crown the best team in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco or Hernando counties. The tourney ensures a county vs. county final to ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 7:25 p.m. | John C. Cotey

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Hidden gems of the North Suncoast

    HomeTeam Huddle: Hidden gems of the North Suncoast Spring football gives coaches time to test out players who are new to the sport or evaluate players who have seen little varsity action. • Here are four of the North Suncoast’s secret weapons who saw little or no varsity time last fall but could become game changers this upcoming ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:02 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • Seminole to interview eight candidates for football position

    Seminole has narrowed its list of football applicants to eight finalists who will be interviewed by a committee starting Friday, assistant principal for athletics Tom Scott said. The committee will have a telephone conference call with former Countryside coach Bob Gobel and interviews on campus with Pinellas Park assistant Shawn ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 1:03 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Quality control at Central

    HomeTeam Huddle: Quality control at Central BROOKSVILLE Heading into his third season at the helm, one thing Mike Einspahr has taken away from his experience as coach is quality is more important than quantity. • His first spring in 2010, the 72 players who were on the practice field for Central more than doubled the amount ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 9:20 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Largo's Hale shows off his crossover move

    HomeTeam Huddle: Largo's Hale shows off his crossover move LARGO Donavan Hale still is learning the intricacies of playing quarterback at Largo. • But his athleticism and decision-making already are drawing rave reviews in practice, so much that he could make a seamless transition in taking over the starting position from Juwan Brown, who is graduating. With the same ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 8:31 p.m. | Times Staff

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Other News

  • Cambridge's Marsonek steps down; Texas coach takes his place

    Cambridge's Marsonek steps down; Texas coach takes his place Cambridge Christian, which has won three region championships in the past six years, announced Tuesday its hiring of Sam Blackmon as head coach after the recent resignation of Sam Marsonek. Blackmon most recently coached at East Texas Baptist University, an NCAA Division III school, from 2006-12. He was head coach ...
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    Tue. May 21, 2013 at 12:35 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • Column: One pitch too many doesn't diminish a superb season

    Column: One pitch too many doesn't diminish a superb season FORT MYERS —  Despite passing the 100-pitch threshold,  David Paul still felt good. He had bulldogged his way through seven innings of Monday’s Class 3A state baseball semifinal. Struggled with his control at times. Worked into trouble, then right out of it. Through seven innings, he had stranded seven and ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 5:50 p.m. | John C. Cotey

  • Jesuit's baseball lineup still stellar, just a bit more anonymous

    Jesuit's baseball lineup still stellar, just a bit more anonymous TAMPA — His fourth voyage to the precipice of prep baseball immortality seems mildly different than the previous three. Spencer Trayner believes it’s due to the collection of passengers making this latest May sojourn. The Jesuit senior calls it “the grittiest, scrappiest team yet so far that I’ve been a ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 5:32 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • State baseball: Extra inning leads to extra agony for Clearwater Central Catholic

    State baseball: Extra inning leads to extra agony for Clearwater Central Catholic FORT MYERS — As the innings dragged on in Monday’s Class 3A state semifinal between Jacksonville Providence and Clearwater Central Catholic, it became  apparent  one swing would decide the outcome. CCC’s David Paul and Providence’s Brooks Lockett looked like the aces they have been all season. And when both pitchers ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 4:29 p.m. | Rodney Page

  • Edgewater denies poor sportsmanship allegations by Springstead

    Orlando Edgewater High on Monday refuted Springstead’s allegations of poor sportsmanship in the teams’ region baseball final. In a conference call with the Tampa Bay Times on Saturday, Springstead officials accused Edgewater of making no attempt to protect the field during a brief rainstorm in their Class 6A region final ...
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    Mon. May 20, 2013 at 11:25 a.m. | Times Staff

  • State baseball: A frustrating first final for Durant

    State baseball: A frustrating first final for Durant photo gallery FORT MYERS — Down to a final out, trailing by five runs, the reality of the situation finally rushed over Tyler Danish. He fought back the tears, stepped into the batter’s box and gave a few futile swings. It was one of those rare moments this season when ...
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    Sat. May 18, 2013 at 11:32 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • Pinellas track stars continue to dazzle at Golden South meet

    The Lakewood track trio of Shaquem and Shaquill Griffin and Tim Holmes added Gibbs’ Trayvon Bromell to form an all-star 4x100-meter relay at the Golden South meet. The foursome ran past an impressive field to win the event in 40.29 seconds, the fastest time in the nation this year. Bromell ...
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    Sat. May 18, 2013 at 9:29 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • FHSAA rebuffs Springstead's final appeal to resume playoff baseball game

    Springstead’s baseball team didn’t go down without one last fight this season. A week after a controversial 6-5 loss at Orlando Edgewater in a Class 6A region final —  in which the game was called after five innings due to poor field conditions and darkness — the Florida High School ...
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    Sat. May 18, 2013 at 5:16 p.m. | Times Staff

  • Track: Reunited sprinters ready to dazzle at Golden South Classic

    Gibbs sprinter Trayvon Bromell grew up with Lakewood’s Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin and Tim Holmes. They ran track for the same club teams, separated geographically by zones once they reached high school. Now they are back together, forming a 4x100 relay team that will be the envy of others when ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 8:18 p.m. | Bob Putnam

  • State baseball: Danish does what Danish does best for Durant

    State baseball: Danish does what Danish does best for Durant photo gallery FORT MYERS — Those scouting reports revealed only so much. Phoning up coaching friends elicited all of the predictable acclaim. And the statistics — essentially, lots of zeroes — only confirmed the extent of the challenge. But within a few innings Friday, Hialeah American coach Ricky Gutierrez came ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 4:36 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • Column: Cougars' success is no solo act

    Column: Cougars' success is no solo act photo gallery FORT MYERS — Hialeah American coach Ricky Gutierrez was right about a few things Friday. Yes, Durant pitcher Tyler Danish is a freak and something special. And indeed, Danish is Superman. And I suppose the Patriot coach was technically correct in saying Danish puts his pants on one ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 3:48 p.m. | John C. Cotey

  • East Lake, Berkeley win FHSAA academic team titles

    East Lake, Berkeley win FHSAA academic team titles East Lake and Berkeley Prep have been named FHSAA Academic Team Champions for posting the best cumulative student-athlete grade point averages in their respective classifications for the 2012-13 school year. The academic team championship is determined over the course of the school year. The school with the highest cumulative team ...
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    Fri. May 17, 2013 at 3:29 p.m. | Joey Knight

  • State baseball: CCC's Vaughan appreciates the view from long range

    State baseball: CCC's Vaughan appreciates the view from long range CLEARWATER — There have been days when Clearwater Central Catholic’s Todd Vaughan thought about leaving. After a particularly bad day of practice or disappointing season he has entertained the idea of handing over head coaching duties to somebody else. Those thoughts never last. Vaughan has been around the CCC program ...
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    Thu. May 16, 2013 at 8:32 p.m. | Rodney Page

  • State baseball: With a star frontman, Durant finds way to harmonize

    State baseball: With a star frontman, Durant finds way to harmonize DURANT — On paper, and in the minds of many fans and opponents, Durant is the consummate one-man band: Tyler Danish and the Cougars. Danish leads the team in batting average (.415), RBIs (25) and home runs (a school-record eight). But the UF signee saves his best work for the ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 8:42 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • State baseball: Cambridge Christian can't catch up after early errors in 2A semifinal

    State baseball: Cambridge Christian can't catch up after early errors in 2A semifinal photo gallery FORT MYERS — Since Miami Westwood Christian senior pitcher Danny Garcia was making his final high school start Wednesday afternoon in a Class 2A state semifinal, Warriors coach Luis Padron wanted to give his ace every opportunity to go out with a bang. “We talked before the game ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 4:53 p.m. | Carl Bleich

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