By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Dade City Pasco has remained undefeated throughout this baseball season. But that was before the Orlando National Tournament.
The Pirates, ranked second in the state's Class 4A poll, lost 8-5 April 4 to Orlando Olympia in the semifinals of the Orlando National Tournament. Pasco then fell 4-2 to Class 6A No. 1 Palm Beach Gardens in the third place game.
The losses left Pasco 20-2 on the season.
Pasco had played seven games in a stretch of 10 days leading up to the losses that ended tits 20-game winning streak. The Pirates have three regular season games before the Class 4A, District 8 tournament begins.
All-Staters Announced
The Florida Sports Writers Association announced its boys basketball all-state teams and Tampa Bay area players were among those selected.
Tampa Prep's Walter Perkins and David Waller were both named to the Class 2A All-State team. Perkins, a 6-foot-6 senior center, was named to the first team. Perkins led the Terrapins in scoring at 17 points per game average and in rebounding with 11 per game.
Waller, a 6-foot-5 junior forward averaged 14 points en route to being named to the second team. The duo combined to help lead Tampa Prep to the Class 2A state semifinals.
Bayshore Christian senior guard Daniel Martinez was named to the Class A All-State first team after averaging 26 points per game and leading the Faith Warriors to the Class A region semifinals.
Seffner Christian (Class A) senior guard David Norwood and Tampa Catholic senior guard E.J. Ciaccio (Class 3A) were All-State honorable mentions.
Tampa Sickles runners excel at Florida Relays
They may have finished a disappointing seventh during the cross country state finals but the quartet of Sickles distance runners reestablished themselves among the prep running circles by performing well at the University of Florida Relays last week.
Ciprian Mejia, Sean Jansen, Dan Wehunt and Derek Wehunt placed second in the distance medley relay. The Gryphon's relay squad ran a season-best 10:48 time, just two second behind event winner Hernando. Derek Wehunt later ran a personal best in the 3,200 meter event with a fifth-place time of 9:32.
Riverview Takes Klassic Championship
With heavyweights Tampa Plant and Chamberlain eliminated, Riverview seized an opportunity and captured the Kissimmee Klassic softball tournament championship last weekend.
Plant and Chamberlain were both eliminated on the last day of the tournament, opening the door for Riverview make a run. The Sharks beat Class 3A No. 1 Orlando Trinity Prep 15-1 to advance to the title game, where they shutout Frostproof 9-0 to earn the event championship.
Riverview's Brittany Bell was named MVP after hitting six triples and recording 10 RBI in the tournament. Sharks Ashley McClain and Katie Gwinn also were honored. McClain was named Outstanding Hitter and Gwinn was awarded Outstanding Defensive player.
College Signings
Tampa Chamberlain sophomore Marissa Menendez has already decided where she will play college softball. Batting .500 this season for the No. 1 ranked Class 5A Chiefs, Menendez has verbally committed to the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Two Tampa King football players have signed with West Virginia Wesleyan College. Linebacker Kevin Donaldson had 97 tackles and three sacks last season. Also, wide receiver/defensive back Lionel Fuentes had 20 receptions on offense and 25 tackles on defense and scored two touchdowns.
Tampa Sickles infielder Matt McLaughlin has signed a baseball scholarship with Jacksonville State University. McLaughlin, a third baseman, is batting .349 with 12 RBI this season.
What a Game
Tampa Plant's Jared Womack had a dream game against Tampa Blake last week. In his first at bat, Miller hit a grand slam to right field. In his next at-bat, Womack blasted a shot over the center field wall, again with the bases loaded.
His next at bat was a little less dramatic.
Womack only hit a double. His linescore for the game showed two home runs and a double and nine RBI. Plant won the game 25-0 in five innings.