Alonso's Fernandez to debut with Marlins

TAMPA — Jose Fernandez got the call last week.

Then Landy Faedo did, too.

"He called me before it was written to tell me," the Alonso High School baseball coach said. "He sounded calm, like this was just something he's been working for. Like this was just part of the plan."

This afternoon at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., Fernandez — one of the best pitchers in Tampa Bay high school history — will make his major-league debut with the Marlins at the age of 20, a mere 684 days after leading Alonso to a state championship....

Clearwater boxer Thurman takes next big step

You have to start somewhere, and for Keith Thurman, that's as the WBO's NABO light middleweight champion.

Never heard of it? It doesn't matter.

On his way to bigger and better things, Winky Wright's first title was the NABF light middleweight championship.

The first pro belt Jeff Lacy put around his waist was the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title.

And Antonio Tarver won the NABF and USBA light heavyweight straps on the same night....

Looking back at St. Petersburg boxer Winky Wright's career

Winky Wright announced his retirement last week after losing a unanimous decision to Peter Quillin, a promising middleweight but — it's fair to say — one who would have been easy work for Wright in his prime. • Wright, 40, did it the hard way: amateur career and local cards to start his career; a stint overseas; and a determined trip down a long road that never seemed to go in the direction he believed it would. • But in the end, he won titles, earned millions and made St. Petersburg proud. • Here's a look back at the career of the bay area's greatest fighter....

Should Armwood Hawks have to forfeit, it's not likely to hurt their feelings

The Florida High School Athletic Association is wrapping up the Armwood football case, and so are we. Here are some tidbits we're still talking about, and a few other things that kind of blow our minds:

Stripped! If Armwood's state title and 15 wins are taken away, do we care?

The players don't seem to. The coaches and fans probably don't.

They won it on the field. End of story....

Armwood High School has no defense for football team's FHSAA sins

Armwood High School filed its response Tuesday afternoon.

Or, if you will, its confession.

Yes, principal Michael Ippolito wrote to the Florida High School Athletic Association, my school did have five football players whose parents falsified their addresses, whose parents essentially lied and cheated to get into Armwood.

Yes, one of my school's former assistant football coaches changed his story in an apparent attempt to hinder the investigation....

St. Petersburg boxer Winky Wright, former world champion, retires

A professional career that started at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, wound its way through France, Germany and Monte Carlo, and found its brightest moments under the bright lights in Las Vegas, came to an end Saturday night in Carson City, Calif.

For St. Petersburg's most famous fighter, Winky Wright, the mind was still willing but the body was not. The 40-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to younger, stronger Peter Quillin, 28, in a middleweight bout at the Home Depot Center....

Tampa's Antonio Tarver, 43, looks to defend IBO cruiserweight title against Lateef Kayode

TAMPA

Antonio Tarver is still here. • Still fighting. • Still winning. • Hard to believe, isn't it? • Unless you consider that this is what Tarver does, what makes him special. • He gets down, then up, then down again, then back up. • When you think he has left the building, you turn around and see him standing in the doorway. • "Just when they think I'm out," he said, "I slide back in."...

Clearwater boxer Keith Thurman on path to prominence after win in Las Vegas

Keith Thurman dismantled another opponent Saturday night, then looked right into the camera, smiled and told the rest of the boxing world what it probably already knows:

"Y'all all are going to have to deal with me pretty soon."

Slowed by a knuckle injury that kept him out of action for most of the past year, the 23-year-old Clearwater welterweight is ready to continue his ascent toward boxing's elite. ...

Recruiting: Dunedin back Tramaine Batten grows his confidence and his offer list

Tramaine Batten spent his first year in big school playing little league football.

He spent his second blocking for seniors.

He spent his third bursting onto the scene at Dunedin.

His fourth?

"I just can't wait," Batten said. "Senior season, I'm going all out."

Batten developed into one of Tampa Bay's top running backs last season. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound back with 4.6 speed and a nose for contact, Batten ran for 1,194 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had another three touchdowns on receptions....

Recruiting: Camp efforts can create more buzz for under-the-radar players

Because Tampa Bay is a regular stop for most major college scouts the past few years, this spring is bound to yield a bushel of offers for local players. But how many?

Fifty? 100?

Maybe more?

While most of the well-known players will just see their already significant offer total grow, there's others, such as Andy Embody, hoping to join their ranks.

The Carrollwood Day rising senior receiver knows it won't be easy....