Staging its 30th edition this year, the prestigious Saladino Tournament always features some of the Bay area’s best in prep baseball. This year, the tournament featured a neat highlight: Hillsborough County’s newest team, led by one its more experienced and successful coaches.
First-year Steinbrenner (Lutz), named after the Tampa resident and New York Yankees boss George M., made its Saladino debut. And the man guiding the Warriors, coach John Crumbley, has quite the resume:
* 22 seasons at Tampa Jesuit
* 575 career victories before this season
* 11 state Final Four appearances
* Class 4A state championships in 1994, 1997 and 2000
"I thought it would be a huge motivating factor,’’ Crumbley said, "of starting this thing from scratch.’’
And the Warriors have gotten off to a great start, winning 15 of their first 18 games. Two of their losses (12-2 and 4-2), however, came against Crumbley’s former team and still powerhouse Jesuit (Tampa). That’s the same Jesuit team that has secured the top seed in the upcoming Class 4A, District 9 tournament that Steinbrenner will host as the No. 2 seed.
And if Steinbrenner, which won two of three games in its first Saladino, gets another shot at Jesuit in the district tournament?
"The first time we played them, we didn’t do so hot,’’ said Steinbrenner’s top pitcher, Chad Witkowski. "The second time we came back and played better. The third time – we’re going to win.’’
Best of the Bay
The Florida Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game was punctuated with great performances on both the Blue and White sides.
Palm Harbor University’s Sharee Booze led all scorers with 24 points to lead the White squad to a 102-72 victory. Teammates Jerica Coley (St. Petersburg Catholic) and Colette Eule (Tampa Catholic) added 21 and 19 points, respectively. Booze is being recruited by Division II programs St. Leo University, Florida Tech and the University of Tampa. Coley is headed to Florida International and Eule has signed with Air Force.
Tampa Plant’s Michelle Taylor scored 13 points for the Blue team. Another solid all-star game performance was turned in by Clearwater forward Okaro White. The 6-foot-8 White, who has signed with Florida State, scored 14 points in the Florida vs. USA Hardwood Classic played in Orlando. Team USA topped Team Florida 139-111. The game features the top 12 Florida players against a team national all-stars.
Recruiting news
Tampa Cambridge pitcher Peter Miller has committed to Florida State. Miller, a right-hander whose fastball reaches into the 90s, is 3-0 on the season, including the no-hitter he tossed against Keswick Christian (St. Petersburg) earlier this season. Miller has yet to yield a run this season and has 48 strikeouts. He also has been effective at the plate, batting .305 with 16 RBI.
Seminole Osceola quarterback-linebacker Mark Oliver is headed to Quincy (Ill.) College. Oliver (5-foot-7, 165 pounds) threw three touchdowns out of the Warhawks’ run-based offense. … Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch DB Asaad Nevel has signed with Division III Mount Union College in Ohio. Nevel had two interceptions last season and returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. … Clearwater Central Catholic football players Kyle Massey and Greg Rein have announced their college plans. A fullback, Massey will play at Foothill Junior College in Los Altos Hills, Calif. while OL/DL Rein will play at Springfield College in Massachusetts.
Other Bay area happenings
Two Bay area soccer players have been named Player of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmers. Palm Harbor University forward Catherine Brinkman won the girls Class 6A award while Tampa Prep’s Wes Sever was named the state’s top boys player in Class 2A.
Brinkman scored 40 goals this past season while leading the Hurricanes to a state championship. Sever scored 31 goals as he helped lead the Terrapins to the Class 2A boys crown.