By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
If Tampa Alonso makes a run in the state's Class 6A baseball playoffs, it may look back to its performance during the Saladino Tournament as a springboard. An annual spring break ritual for Tampa prep baseball teams, the 27th edition of the tournament saw Alonso firing on all cylinders.
The Ravens won five of six games to win the tournament, defeating Lithia Newsome 4-1 for the championship. Along the way, the efficient Ravens displayed a balanced team with outstanding pitching, solid defense and bats when needed.
Junior left-handed pitcher Alex Panteliodis routinely threw in the 90-mile per hour range while tossing a five-hitter in the title game, striking out seven batters and walking none. He was even more dominant in Alonso's first game of the tournament, striking out nine in a 10-0 six inning victory against Tampa Catholic.
Alonso put four players on the all-tournament team. In addition to Panteliodis, designated hitter Nate Hardin made the team, as well as University of Florida signee Tommy Toledo. Sherman Johnson was named the tournament's best defensive player.
Alonso (14-3) returns to action April 3 against Class 6A, District 7 rival Tampa Sickles.
Tampa Jesuit Runners Solid at Distance Carnival
Jesuit's Connor Revord and Hunter Clausen took first place in their events at the University of Tampa's Distance Carnival track and field meet March 24. Revord won the 3,200-meter event with a personal best time of 9:29 while Clausen won the 800-meter race in 1:54.80, two seconds ahead of St. Petersburg Catholic's Kevin Harley.
The event, featuring athletes from throughout Florida, also had Jesuit runners win the 4x400 meter relay. Tampa Sickles' Derek Wehunt took first place in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 4:27.60 while Tampa Berkeley Prep's Robert Livingston was second at 4:30.70.
Tampa Gaither's Katie Quick took the 3,200-meter girl's race with a 11:40.60 finish and the Tampa Bay Tech girls 4x400 meter relay team won their race in 4:10.
Durant Big Winner at Spring Fling
Softball power Durant had little trouble in the championship game during the Memorial Spring Fling tournament during spring break. Durant pounded out 17 hits, only one of them not a single, en route to an 11-1 victory against Tampa Plant.
Mindy Corbett and Brittany Crabb led the way for the Cougars, each collecting three hits. Sara Demuth added two hits for the Cougars, who were playing without starting infielder Cari Curfman.
The championship was the third for the Cougars, who also won the event in 1999 and 2003. Ranked 14th in the state in Class 5A, Durant is 17-0 on the season.
Barons Ace Triumphantly Returns
St. Petersburg Catholic pitcher Deanna Henriott was down - and out. Nailed in the arm by a line drive in early March, Henriott was on the mend for two weeks.
She returned to action March 21 in a big way.
The senior right-hander's first game back on the mound was against district rival Tampa Academy of the Holy Names. Henriott limited the Jaguars, who eneterd the game ranked fifth in the state in Class 5A, to one hit in a 4-1 St. Petersburg Catholic victory. The win kept the Barons perfect on the season at 10-0 and ranked 8th in the state.
Henriott struck out 12 in her complete-game victory, retiring 12 straight batters at one point and not allowing the lone hit until the fifth inning. Henriott, 7-0 this season, has eight career no-hitters, three of which have come this season.
St. Petersburg Catholic and Academy are 1-2 in the Class 3A, District 11 race and the rivals have another meeting April 2.
Swimmer Goes International
Clearwater Calvary Christian swimmer Jose Crescimbeni will compete at the FINA World Aquatics championships this week in Melbourne, Australia. Crescimbeni, a member of the Peruvian national team, will be competing in the 50-, 100-, and 200-fly events.
The 200-fly event is of particular interest to Crescimbeni, who will try to swim an Olympic qualifying time in that event. The qualifying time is two minutes, .01 seconds - Crescimbeni's previous best time in the event is 2:03.
