By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
A funny thing happened on the way to Tampa Hillsborough’s Saladino baseball tournament championship – Brandon swept in and took it from them.
Brandon, with its roster full of sophomores and tournament upsets of area powerhouses Tampa Plant and Tampa Alonso, had one last trick up its sleeve after reaching the prestigious tournament’s championship game.
The Eagles scored two runs in the ninth inning of the Saladino title game to win 5-3. The win gave Brandon its sixth Saladino championship in school history, more than any other Hillsborough County school in the 28 years of the tournament.
Brandon’s Michael Smith, Roderick Shoulders, James Ramsey and Chase Sparkman each made the all-tournament team. Ramsey earned MVP honors and set a tournament record for hits with 13.
Brandon’s Derek Dungan was named the tournament’s outstanding defensive player.
But the Eagles (16-6) won’t have much time to celebrate their title against Hillsborough. Their first post-Saladino game? Against those same Hillsborough Terriers later this week.
Tampa Catholic Lacrosse Loses in Region Final
Just a four-year-old program, Tampa Catholic’s girls lacrosse squad had blazed through the state playoffs this postseason but saw its Cinderella run end at the hands of powerhouse Vero Beach.
Tampa Catholic fell 21-1 to Vero Beach in the region finals last weekend.
Vero Beach hasn't lost to a Florida school in two seasons.
Still in its infancy in the Tampa Bay-area, lacrosse programs have been popping up at area schools. Tampa Catholic finished its season 9-3.
District Softball on Tap
Tampa Plant, Tampa Chamberlain, Clearwater Countryside, Land O’Lakes and Dade City Pasco are among the squads that could win championships as district softball opens this week.
But none may do so without a little competition.
In Class 5A, District 10 top-seeded Chamberlain will vye for the title with rival and host Plant. In Class 6A, District 7, Countryside will have to tangle with Tampa Sickles, as well as third seed Tampa Gaither.
In Class 4A-8, Pasco has steamrolled through the regular season but could face a solid Brooksville Nature Coast or Zephyrhills team somewhere along the line. And Pasco County’s other powerhouse team Land O’ Lakes could face stiff competition from New Port Richey River Ridge in the 5A-7 event.
In private school softball action, top seeds Tampa Academy of Holy Names and St. Petersburg Catholic likely will square off in Class 3A, District 11. Tampa Prep and Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin are the favorites in 2A-9 and Tampa Cambridge is the top seed in A-10 action.
District Tennis Roundup
Tampa Sickles’ Andy Wang has made the most of his lone season with the Gryphons.
Wang captured the Class 4A, District 5 individual boys’ singles crown last week in dramatic fashion. A Rice University signee, Wang came back from a set down and beat Tampa Alonso’s Tyler Snook 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 for the title.
Meanwhile, St. Petersburg won the 4A-5 girls team title, winning all seven finals to move past Palm Harbor University and defending champion Alonso.
In Class A, District 9, Tampa Berkeley Prep took the boys’ team title behind the solid play of no. 1 singles player Alex Hallenbeck. Tampa Prep won the girl’s title as Kelly Palmer and Ellie Walling were individual champs at nos. 1 and 2 singles.
In Class 2A, District 10, Tampa Jesuit failed to win the crown for the first time since 1992. St. Petersburg Catholic saw to that, winning three singles matches, two of those against Jesuit players.
Michael Kopelman, Zach Hotz and Luke Burton all took individual crowns for St. Petersburg Catholic.
The winning teams and individuals advance to next week’s regional tennis tournament throughout the state.
