Posts by Bob Putnam
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Girls region basketball: Clearwater defense clamps down in 7A victory
CLEARWATER — They had watched St. Petersburg’s Jordan Berenbaum score inside with ease and Danielle Daniels grab every rebound in sight. Finally, the Clearwater Tornadoes had seen enough. They took their stand Tuesday night, in the paint and at the rim, and wiped out an early deficit in a 47-42 ...
Read moreWed. Feb. 15, 2012 at 12:42 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Once-natural partnership between track, football withers for one coach
CLEARWATER — When Countryside High School’s Eileen Givens examined her priorities after a bay area record 18 straight district track titles (12 with Lakewood’s girls, six with Countryside’s boys), she was convinced the time had come to walk away. “It was just becoming too much to juggle everything,” said Givens, ...
Read moreTue. Feb. 14, 2012 at 5:29 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Lakewood's Mariah Watts commits to Wisconsin
The most startling thing about Lakewood pitcher Mariah Watts committing this past week to play softball for Wisconsin is that she still has two years left in high school. Watts, a sophomore, wasted no time making her college decision, choosing the Badgers over offers from other schools such as Central Florida and ...
Read moreTue. Feb. 14, 2012 at 3:37 p.m. | Bob Putnam
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Recruit: Mariah Watts
University of Wisconsin
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Recruit: Mariah Watts
CCC's Ian Koch to walk on at FIU
Clearwater Central Catholic offensive lineman Ian Koch had offers from Assumption and Hobart. But the lure of playing Div. I football was too strong. So Koch decided Sunday to become a preferred walk-on at Florida International. “I’d really wanted to play at the highest level,” Koch said. “There’s just more ...
Read moreMon. Feb. 13, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. | Bob Putnam
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Recruit: Ian Koch
Florida International University
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Recruit: Ian Koch
Osceola's Jordan Ramsey, Nate Stearns both sign with Ave Maria
Osceola's Jordan Ramsey and Nate Stearns signed with Ave Maria this past week, Warriors coach George Palmer said. Ramsey, a defensive back, was selected to the Pinellas senior all-star game. Stearns, an offensive lineman, was a first-team, all-conference selection. Ave Maria, an NAIA school, is a second-year program that has ...
Read moreMon. Feb. 13, 2012 at 12:47 p.m. | Bob Putnam
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Recruit: Jordan Ramsey
Ave Maria University
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Recruit: Jordan Ramsey
District boys basketball: Chargers shoot their way to a title
ST. PETERSBURG — Shorecrest has transformed itself into a consistent district contender thanks to an unshakable confidence in the all-around games of Ricky Quiroz and Luke Blume, both of whom make 3-pointers from I-can’t-believe-he-shot-that range. The two took turns shooting with an aggressive style that turned a third-quarter deficit into ...
Read moreSat. Feb. 11, 2012 at 10:41 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Region wrestling: Dunedin crowns three champions
Dunedin scored 133 points to place fifth at the Class 2A, Region 2 tournament in St. Cloud, the highest finish among county teams. The Falcons had three champions, Clarence Arrington (120 pounds) Kyle Goodnow (170) and RJ Ruth (220). Arrington cruised through his weight class, recording a 10-7 decision over ...
Read moreSat. Feb. 11, 2012 at 10:19 p.m. | Bob Putnam
District boys basketball: St. Petersburg tops Seminole on Owens' last-second 3-pointer
SEMINOLE — St. Petersburg’s hopes of winning the Class 7A, District 10 boys basketball title bobbed between negligible and nonexistent late Friday night against Seminole. Once the Green Devils’ reached their desperation point, however, things began to click for them. St. Petersburg’s comeback manifested itself in an unfamiliar but welcome ...
Read moreSat. Feb. 11, 2012 at 12:20 a.m. | Bob Putnam
State semifinal boys soccer: Seminole rides momentum in second half
SEMINOLE — Seminole’s boys soccer team can be controlled on occasion — for a few minutes, maybe a half. Then things seem to explode. Soccer balls start finding their way into the net. The offense becomes unhinged, getting contributions from everyone. Suddenly the frenzy is on and every possession seemingly ...
Read moreSat. Feb. 11, 2012 at 12:10 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Girls region basketball: Clearwater holds off Freedom
CLEARWATER — The celebration, if it could be called that, was muted: some fist pumps and a few lazy high-fives on the court. Even in the locker room, the conversation was brief after a fire alarm forced everyone to evacuate the gymnasium. Still, it was enough for the Tornadoes that ...
Read moreThu. Feb. 09, 2012 at 11:05 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Boys district basketball: Pinellas roundup
SEMINOLE — St. Petersburg and Seminole, the top seeds in Class 7A, District 10, won their semifinals to advance to Friday’s championship game. But the outcomes were anything but a foregone conclusion. Both stretched into overtime. The top-seeded Green Devils trailed most of regulation before taking control late in a ...
Read moreWed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 9:36 p.m. | Bob Putnam
Boys district basketball: Keswick takes big lead, then holds off Canterbury
No. 2 seed Keswick Christian jumped out to an 18-point lead at halftime and held off a brief rally to beat No. 3 seed Canterbury in the first semifinal 69-59. Keswick had a balanced offense with Derek Sanson (21 points), Justen Del Grosso (14), Taylor Angell (11) and TJ Muscarella ...
Read moreWed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 12:34 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Boys district basketball: East Lake stays focused, puts away PHU once again
EAST LAKE — It was hard for East Lake coach Joe Bloznalis not to worry about complacency taking hold with his players in the days leading up to Tuesday’s Class 8A, District 8 semifinal against Palm Harbor University. All week, the Eagles were concentrating on a road game against North ...
Read moreWed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 12:34 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Boys region soccer: Last-minute goal lifts PHU
Since suffering its first loss of the season to Countryside in the district final two weeks ago, Palm Harbor University has had to travel a long road through the playoffs. But the Hurricanes keep passing each test, thanks to a stifling defense and timely offense. In Tuesday’s Class 5A region ...
Read moreWed. Feb. 08, 2012 at 12:32 a.m. | Bob Putnam
Pinellas softball preview: Balanced Palm Harbor University focused on returning to state glory
It was been seven seasons since Palm Harbor University went undefeated and captured its second straight state title in softball. The Hurricanes have not exactly faded from view. They have advanced to the playoffs five of the past six seasons, but have not made the state semifinals during that span. ...
Read moreTue. Feb. 07, 2012 at 5:58 p.m. | Bob Putnam