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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:02 p.m. | Matt Baker
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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. | Joey Knight
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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 2:46 p.m. | Matt Baker
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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 1:03 p.m. | Bob Putnam
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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 8:46 a.m. | Joey Knight
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 ...
Read more
Thu. May 16, 2013 at 8:18 a.m. | Matt Baker
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 9:20 p.m. | Derek J. LaRiviere
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 8:42 p.m. | Joel Anderson
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 8:31 p.m. | Times Staff
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 4:53 p.m. | Carl Bleich
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, ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 4:05 p.m. | Times Staff
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 1:38 p.m. | Matt Baker
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 1:35 p.m. | Matt Baker
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 11:23 a.m. | Joey Knight
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 ...
Read more
Wed. May 15, 2013 at 9:21 a.m. | Matt Baker