By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Although it is only in its second year, the Hillsborough County Championships has quickly gained status as a premier track and field event. And even though it takes place just weeks before district competition, it still draws the area’s best.
That was the case April 2 during the meet at Tampa’s Jefferson High.
Tampa Hillsborough took the boys' team championship with 95.50 points, followed by second-place Tampa Plant’s 72. Tampa Wharton, Tampa Chamberlain and Tampa Sickles rounded out the boys top five.
In girls' competition, Wharton and Tampa Gaither’s season-long battle continued as the two standout programs each had multiple individual winners. Wharton’s girls topped all squads with 128.70 points while Gaither had 91.53 points. Brandon was third at 54, followed by Tampa Bay Tech (50.83) and Chamberlain (31.50).
At the center of the boys competition was the 100- and 200-meter runs where Plant's Lovell Jackson, Hillsborough’s Lindsey Lamar and Chamberlain’s Dentarius Locke all figured to be in the mix in those two events.
Jackson won the 100 meter event with a time of 10.60 seconds, just edging Lamar’s 10.62 and Locke’s 10.64. In the 200 meter race, Locke gained a measure of revenge, winning with a 21.62 while Lamar placed second at 21.86.
On the girls' side, Wharton won six events while Gaither took four.
Wharton’s Katrina Skinner won the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races while twin sister Kathia Skinner took first in the 800 meter run. Wildcat runners were first (Danielle Sermons) and second (Shantrell Pierre) in the 100 meter hurdles and Amani Bryant nipped Gaither’s Yesenia Perez to win the 300 meter hurdles event.
Private School Baseball
Although not garnering the attention of some of their public school counterparts, a couple of the Bay area’s private school baseball teams have enjoyed standout campaigns.
Tampa Cambridge and Tampa Catholic continued to play well last week, both teams enjoying impressive wins.
Cambridge (15-1) trounced Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin 11-1 behind the pitching of Michael Miller, who allowed five hits and struck out five in the six-inning, ten-run rule contest. Bishop McLaughlin came into the contest 14-1.
Tampa Catholic, meanwhile, also enjoyed a big win against a tough opponent. The Crusaders topped Land O’ Lakes 6-4 to end the Gators 14-game winning streak. Tampa Catholic had 11 hits in the game, as chased Land O’ Lakes’ standout pitcher Matt Fuglesang off the mound, scoring six runs in five innings.
The loss was the first for Land O’Lakes (14-2), since its season opening 2-1 setback – to the same Tampa Catholic squad.
Giddins Picked for Under Armour Game
Ryne Giddens, the standout defensive end for Seffner Armwood’s football team, has been selected to play in next season’s Under Armour All-American game.
Giddens (6-foot-4 and 235 pounds), who helped lead the Hawks to the Class 4A state semifinals last season already is being heavily recruited. He was a Class 4A first team All-State selection last year.
The Under Armour All-American game will be play next January at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.
Rodriguez Earns 200th victory
When his team topped New Port Richey River Ridge 4-0 during the Jon Sinclair Spring Fling tournament, the victory earned Gibsonton East Bay softball coach Glenn Rodriguez his 200th career win.
Rodriguez, who has been at the school since 1998, has guided the Indians to 13-9 record this season. His career mark is 200-105-1.
College Signings/Commitments
Tampa Berkeley Prep runner Page Price has committed to the University of Miami. An All-State track and field athlete, Price finished seventh in the 1,600-meter and 800-meter runs at last year’s state track and field meet.
Price captured a victory in the 1,600 meter event at last week’s FSU relays and also posted a personal best in the 800 meters this season with a 2 minutes, 18.11 seconds time.
Also, Tampa Sickles offensive lineman Doug Blake will attend MIT.
A three-year starter for the Gryphons, Blake (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) will attend MIT and play football on a combination academic and athletic scholarship.