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Recruiting

  • 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

  • Florida, Florida State football offer Pasco WR Nate Craig (with highlights)

    Nate Craig, Pasco WR (6-3, 200) The latest: One of the state's top freshmen now has the attention of two of the state's power programs. The Gators became the first state school to offer the sophomore-to-be, Pirates coach Tom McHugh announced on Twitter. UF coach Will Muschamp called McHugh to ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 12:04 p.m. | Matt Baker

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

  • FAU is first offer for Pasco ATH Malik Johns

    FAU gave Pasco ATH Malik Johns is first college offer, Pirates coach Tom McHugh announced Tuesday morning on Twitter. “FAU!!!” McHugh said. “It is about time.” Johns was one of the North Suncoast’s most dynamic weapons as a junior. He returned five punts for a touchdown – including in the ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. | Matt Baker

  • Alonso WR/DE Davis nabs first offer from FAU

    Alonso receiver and defensive back Derius Davis has received his first college scholarship offer, to Florida Atlantic, he said via his Twitter account Monday. Davis, a rising senior, seemed primed for a big summer on the 7-on-7 circuit and autumn with the Ravens until suffering a severe knee injury last ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 9:47 a.m. | Joel Anderson

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Special reports

Spring football Spring football

Latest news

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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Latest Football News

  • 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

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Numbers on Tampa Catholic's Watson don't lie

    HomeTeam Huddle: Numbers on Tampa Catholic's Watson don't lie TAMPA Tampa Catholic linebacker Tre Watson is getting bigger to go along with big numbers. • The numbers strain credulity, those 161 tackles and 16.5 sacks that Watson tallied in 12 games last fall. • But the Crusaders invite you to watch his highlight film, ask one of the coaches, ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 4:05 p.m. | Times Staff

  • HomeTeam Huddle: New Clearwater boss Abraham looking for solid commitment

    HomeTeam Huddle: New Clearwater boss Abraham looking for solid commitment CLEARWATER — Donnie Abraham’s debut as Clearwater coach has not gone exactly as hoped. Abraham, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer standout who took over the Tornadoes from longtime coach Tom Bostic, started the offseason by losing starting quarterback Jordan Leston (East Lake) and defensive end Justus Reed (Clearwater Central Catholic) ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 8:42 p.m. | Times Staff

  • HomeTeam Huddle: Straightforward approach at Sickles

    HomeTeam Huddle: Straightforward approach at Sickles In terms of style points, don’t expect Sickles to contend for the county scoring title in 2013. As long as the offensive and defensive fronts remain healthy, the Gryphons could be wildly vanilla and victorious. Coach Brian Turner isn’t secretive about his plans to run 1,300-yard rusher Ray Ray McCloud ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 8:20 p.m. | Times Staff

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Other News

  • 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

  • Lin-sanity overtakes Tiger Palace

    Lin-sanity overtakes Tiger Palace The fervor over the Jesuit basketball team's state championship season reached a new level of euphoria Tuesday afternoon. Lin-sanity. Beneath a shroud of secrecy, Houston Rockets PG Jeremy Lin made a 90-minute cameo Tuesday at the Tiger Palace, where he engaged in a pickup game with the seniors from Jesuit's ...
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    Wed. May 15, 2013 at 11:23 a.m. | Joey Knight

  • State baseball: Cambridge's early-season doubts now a distant memory

    State baseball: Cambridge's early-season doubts now a distant memory TAMPA — The first practice of the season has now become the stuff of legend, almost entirely because of how truly awful it was. Cambridge Christian welcomed about a dozen players to that February practice, hoping as many as five of them would be able to replace graduated starters. That ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 7:58 p.m. | Joel Anderson

  • East Lake's Estes steps down from softball, volleyball

    East Lake's Estes steps down from softball, volleyball Mike Estes has stepped down as coach of East Lake’s volleyball and softball teams to take a job as the pitching coach for Eckerd College’s softball program. Estes, 51, resigned from both positions at East Lake within the past two weeks but did not publicly announce the decision until Tuesday ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 10:37 a.m. | Bob Putnam

  • Coaches announce PCAC baseball teams

    Pinellas County public school baseball coaches recently voted on the PCAC north and south county teams. Here are the first and second teams and honorable mentions: North County First team Pitchers: Nick Nolan (Seminole), Brad Deppermann (East Lake), Jake Mielock (Countryside) Catcher: Grant Hodges (East Lake) Infielders: Corey Baptist (Seminole), ...
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    Tue. May 14, 2013 at 9:39 a.m. | Rodney Page

  • Column: Expecting the best at state baseball

    Column: Expecting the best at state baseball TAMPA — The question, as it often is with state high school baseball semifinals, is whether to throw your ace in the semifinal or save him for a potential title game matchup. Over the years, that question seems to get answered mostly like this: ace. Get there. Then worry about ...
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    Mon. May 13, 2013 at 7:32 p.m. | John C. Cotey

  • HomeTeam Hot Shots: Winners for May 4-10

    HomeTeam Hot Shots    A spotlight on the Times’ bay area players of the week. Female Hot Shot: Caroline Whiteside, Sr., Freedom Sport: Softball Skinny: Whiteside, whose real first name is Sunday, typically batted second this season to move leadoff hitter Maddy Hall over. But with two out and the ...
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    Mon. May 13, 2013 at 5:19 p.m. | Times Staff

  • FHSAA explains controversial Springstead ending

    Springstead cannot appeal the controversial ending to Friday’s Class 6A region final that ended the Eagles’ season, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association. “Once it’s final, it’s final,” FHSAA spokesman Corey Sobers said Monday afternoon. To recap: Springstead trailed host Orlando Edgewater 6-5 at the end of the ...
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    Mon. May 13, 2013 at 1:23 p.m. | Matt Baker

  • PCAC boys and girls tennis teams announced

    Public school coaches met last week at Clearwater High to vote on the PCAC boys and girls tennis teams. Here are the results: PCAC boys all-conference teams First-team singles No. 1: Dan Stefan, Boca Ciega; No. 2: Dylan Sleszynski, St. Petersburg; No. 3: Carl Gallauer, St. Petersburg; No. 4: Langdon ...
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    Mon. May 13, 2013 at 10:43 a.m. | Rodney Page

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