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Hernando Today

2008-09: HERNANDO TODAY SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW

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- Compiled by TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: December 30, 2008

NO. 25 – RAISING THE BAR

1/10 Eagle goalkeeper Jennifer DeFrancesco sets new shutout standard (14) while Springstead ties school mark for longest non-losing skein (16). Eagle senior striker Taylor McKinney rushed in and headed Cristina Passafaro's feed into the back of the net at 69:29. McKinney's team-leading 15th goal of the season was backed by a stifling Springstead defense handcuffing the Inverness crew to two shots on goal in pacing the Lady Eagles' 1-0 win.
The backline defense paced by Paige Alexsuk, Kaitlyn Duke, Ashley Southall and sweeper Jackie Holtje made things easier for senior goalkeeper Jennifer DeFrancesco (two saves) to etch her school-record 14th shutout of the season.
Friday's blanking snapped the old school mark of 13 shutouts set by Julie Taylor in 1993-94 and tied by DeFrancesco last winter.
Just as important, for a team that graduated six seniors from its school-record squad in 2006-07, the Lady Eagles managed to tie Head Coach John Bifulco's 1992-93 school record for longest non-losing skein (16 matches).
The Lady Eagles, who fell at Zephyrhills on Nov. 7 (4-1), stretched their non-losing streak to 12-0-4 since.

NO. 24 – TAKING BOWLING TO HEART

9/22 Spring Hill's Eric Millican has endured four heart surgeries in his young life, but still fuels his competitive fire on the lanes.
For years people have argued the legitimacy of bowling as a sport. It certainly doesn't carry the same respect as the more mainstream sports such as football, basketball and baseball.
Just don't tell Eric Millican that bowling isn't important. The 16-year-old Spring Hill resident, a junior at Nature Coast Technical, admits that bowling has "basically turned into my life."
Millican can't play football or basketball or baseball, or any other outdoor, contact sports. A heart condition he has dealt with since birth limits the amount of stress his body can endure.
"It's the one thing that makes me feel like I can do something," Millican said. "It's the one thing I can do that's a challenge. I it's the one thing that makes me strive to do better."
Millican suffers from severe tetralogy of Fallot – in his words the valves of his heart aren't properly connected.
A nurse detected this defect immediately, and Millican went through surgery at 3-days-old, 17-days-old and 13 months.
A fourth surgery came shortly before his 10th birthday, and Millican believes he'll need another one within the next five years.
Over the years he has made countless trips to the hospital and said he often must deal with chest pains and migraine headaches.
"I've got to give a lot of credit to my mom," said Millican, talking about his grandmother. "She's been pushing me to do these things. She's probably the main reason I'm alive."
In 2007 he helped Nature Coast win a state title, carrying a late 10-pin on a pivotal strike that shifted momentum to the Sharks in the championship match.
He bowled for Nature Coast in both years of the program's existence and figured to take on an even bigger role this season. However, the team will not compete this year because the school failed to find a coach.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A short time after this story Millican committed suicide in his grandparent's home.

NO. 23 – MEN OF TROY: HARRIS & ROTUNDA

8/21 Central graduate DuJuan Harris and Hernando High's Windham Rotunda are set to play bigger roles in second year at Troy University.
Last year two former Hernando County prep stars came to Troy University in Troy, Ala. following two very different paths.
One came fresh out of high school and left an immediate – though relatively small – mark on the Division I Trojans.
The other came with the seasoning of two years at the junior college level, yet never played a down instead redshirting for the season.
As the Trojans prepare for this upcoming season, running back DuJuan Harris and center Windham Rotunda are set to play bigger roles in their second go-round at Troy, a team that went 8-4 in 2007.
The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Rotunda served as a back-up center for the 8-5 Trojans.
Harris blossomed as the feature back with team-leading 1,128 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. All told, Harris tallied a team-best 14 touchdowns in 13 games.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Troy dropped the Dec. 21 New Orleans Bowl in overtime to Southern Mississippi, 30-27.

No. 22 – THE NFL CAN WAIT

8/19 With an Ivy League degree in hand, ex-Springstead Eagle Jose Yearwood's next obstacle isn't tackling wide receivers; its serving customers for J.P. Morgan in New York City, NY.
When Jose Yearwood graduated from F.W. Springstead High School, little did he think he would end up his college career with as many accomplishments as he has attained.
Yearwood, who this past spring graduated from Brown University of the Ivy League, started for the Brown football team, earned two tryouts with teams in the National Football league, and has a job awaiting him with the financial firm of J.P. Morgan.
"I mean, I would love to play in the NFL, but I have a degree from Brown, I won an Ivy League title as a sophomore and I've got that ring. In the end, it was the best decision I ever made."
And while sports is an important part of Yearwood's life, academics is also very important. "Academics are second to none," he said. "It gives you great opportunities after school."
"It pushes you. It's a really big challenge and I definitely think it will make you a better person in the long run."
But if asked what accomplishment he's most proud of, Yearwood says quickly it was playing football and graduating from Brown.
"People talk about student-athletes. But I think playing in the Ivy League is the ultimate," he said. "You're held to an extremely high standard. And when you're in the real world with an employee, an Ivy League degree is something to say you played ball and still balanced a tough academic load every week."

NO. 21 – NCT: SECOND TO SEBRING

03/12 Shark cheerleaders finish runner-up to Sebring in large varsity coed division at first FHSAA state competition.
For the first time in its history, the Florida High School Athletic Association has recognized competitive cheerleading as a sport.
Last Friday and Saturday, the First Annual FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships took place at Florida Athletic University in Boca Raton.
Nature Coast Technical competed with five other squads in the large varsity coed division on Saturday, finishing second with a final score of 379.5 to state champ Sebring High (407).
"It finally gives it true stability," Nature Coast Head Coach Chris Clifford said. "It really gives some validity to the sport, some much needed validity. I don't think people realize how hard these kids work. I'm so proud that the state finally stepped up to offer that for these young men and women."
Clifford, finishing his 18th year of coaching cheerleading and third at Nature Coast, referred to the fact that many different competitions refer to their winners as state champions.
In his view, the sport now has a true state champion. The FHSAA recognition of competitive cheerleading may have also helped boost participation.
"It really has made a difference in our sport just calling it a sport," Clifford said. "We may go into tryouts with 45 athletes. This year at the first meeting, we had 88 kids there and 112 trying out. I don't know if it's because of the new classification but it certainly can't hurt."

NO. 20 – TWO SHARKS CHARGED IN STRING OF BURGLARIES

7/11 Of the five teenagers arrested Tuesday in a string of recent area burglaries; two have been identified as Nature Coast Technical varsity football players.
Back-up running back and kick return specialist Johnny "Eric" Williams, 18, is charged with grand theft auto; while the other, a starting defensive back was charged as a juvenile with burglary of a structure.
The news shook the NCT football office.
Shark Head Coach Jamie Joyner said Thursday afternoon he was disappointed with his player's involvement in the brush with the law enforcement.
"We've got to let the process run its course," said Joyner, who'll begin his fifth year at the helm next month. "It's an unfortunate situation. We've got to let the law do its job. Right now, there's no action I can take. Both the guys are members of the program.
"Obviously, the first concern is for the welfare of the kids. The law will sort out what went on and what actually happened."
"If the kids are charged with a felony, or whatever, then there will be a course of action," he added. "As a coach can we correct the errors and try to help out these boys. Or we kick them off the team completely. People make mistakes. Kids make mistakes, but this is a pretty big one."
So what's the players' current status?
"The kids are part of the program," Joyner said. "When we get all the information in, you can either feed these kids to wolves over their mistake and their football careers are over. Or we can try to overcome it and help the kids."
EDITOR'S NOTE: The players involved were suspended 2-3 games for their actions. The sentiment among the anti-NCT crowd was the players got off too easily.

NO. 19 – A TIGER'S TALE: FROM WORST TO FIRST

10/11 Fox Chapel goes from a winless season in 2007 to tying pre-season favorite Challenger K-8 for the county championship.
Rarely, if ever, do coaches survive winless seasons.
In sports, a zero in the win column represents a titanic struggle at many levels.
Traditionally, it also translates into the scarlet letter for the sport's head coach.
Scarlet letters are hard to shake. So are the pink slips that usually follow.
Look at how many years -- a decade -- it took for the Tampa Bay Rays to avoid being mentioned in John Herbert columns?
Same with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under former owner Hugh Culverhouse, the Bucs were the poster child for losing.
Ditto for the New York Mets. The Shea Stadium crew went through the same growing pains before Seaver, Koosman, McGraw and Co. helped changed the complexion in the clubhouse.
Of course, having talent never hurts.
Interestingly, this comparison arrived when the curtains just came down on Hernando County's Middle School Athletic Conference's volleyball season.
It was no surprise to see the Navigators repeat as county champions, finishing with a brilliant 9-1 season.
What was shocking and eye-opening was how Fox Chapel tied Challenger for first place in the county.
Fox Chapel athletic teams have traditionally not fared well, especially during the past decade.
What were Head Coach Vanessa Ferrier's initial thoughts when the team was selected?
"Without knowing anything about anybody else, I felt like we had the best team in the county," declared Ferrier. "The biggest reason was their team unity. We did a lot of team-bonding stuff to make sure this team not only played together on the court, but hung out together off the court."

NO. 18 – KING OF THE HILL

10/6 – Former two-time Springstead High wrestling state champ Corey Hill is back home in Spring Hill, but continues to train for his budding MMA career.
In some ways Corey Hill is closer to the Springstead High wrestling program he left behind 11 years ago. In other ways, he's as far as ever from his days on the mats.
The 30-year-old still trains on campus, which he once again lives nearby. But his matches aren't exactly the same.
Hill, a 1997 Springstead graduate, recently relocated back to Spring Hill with his wife, Lauren, and three young children, his 7-year-old daughter Seytia, 5-year-old son Keenan and 5-month-old son Corey Jr.
But the former two-time state champion with the Eagles has just begun to prepare for his next bout, a Dec. 10 meeting with Dale Hartt.
This is the latest move in Hill's newest career in mixed martial arts (MMA) as a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) circuit.
"I've learned from my last fight if he's in UFC and he's fighting, you better bet he's tough as nails," Hill said. "When you train hard you want a war. If I'm busting my butt I want him to be the toughest guy possible. I want him to push me and I want to push him back."
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Dec. 10, Hill unfortunately suffered perhaps a career-ending injury breaking his right leg in match against Hartt. He is still recuperating in a North Carolina hospital.

NO. 17 – CAN'T QUITE SEAL THE DEAL

5/30 After leading by four shots after 54 holes, ex-Hernando High golfer Tara Allen finished third in NAIA Women's National Championship Tournament in San Diego.
The past week has been one of some huge ups and downs for former Leopard star, now Embry-Riddle University golfer, Tara Allen.
Last week at the NAIA National Women's Golf Championship in San Diego, Allen went into the final round leading the tournament by four shots.
The down side is that on the last round, the Brooksville junior went out and shot a 15-over-par 87 to finish in third place overall, missing out on winning the title by six strokes.
For some people, that would be a reason to hide in the corner and not talk with anyone, but Allen who goes to school in Daytona Beach does not look at things that way.
"I was excited to be in that position just to shoot as good as I had," Allen said. "I struggled and basically what it boils down to is that I wasn't playing as well as I had earlier in the week."
Up to the final round, Allen fired 18-hole rounds of 76-74-77 to lead by four shots going into the last round.
But on the final round, the usually stable Southern California weather soured.
"The conditions were a bit rougher," she pointed out. "It was about 55 degrees and the wind was blowing about 30 miles per hour."

NO. 16 – WHITTAKER: BLAZING A NEW TRAIL

6/18 Springstead graduate Huey Whittaker has found a football niche as the leading receiver for Arena Football League's Utah Blaze.
Since the days when he starred at the University of South Florida, Class of 1999 Springstead High graduate Huey Whittaker has lived the life of a football journeyman.
Bouncing from various NFL training camps, to a stop in NFL Europe, to trying to just crack the roster of the Tampa Bay Storm, his pigskin pursuits have taken in him down a long and winding road.
Finally, the 26-year-old who turns 27 tomorrow has found a foothold with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.
With one game left in the regular season, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Whittaker is the Blaze's leading receiver with 122 catches for 1,490 yards and 31 touchdowns.
He has also tallied eight rushing touchdowns, though he has only carried the ball 19 times for 15 yards.
"I'm good. I'm living life," Whittaker said. "I'm out there doing what I have to do as far as doing my family right and handling my business. I just want to keep going. I'm moving right along."
Whittaker joined the Blaze late last season after a frustrating season and a half with the Storm. He did not record a single reception with the Storm last year after catching four passes for 22 yards in 2006.
EDITOR'S NOTE – Whittaker was tabbed as a first-team All-Arena League selection. Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate, the AFL ceased operations in December. The league will not play in 2009. It is hoping to restart in 2010.

NO. 15 – TIMES A CHANGIN'
 
2/18 In a double treat Hernando High's Kristen Stephens, Central's Johnisha Jackson each place in the FHSAA state girls weightlifting finals at River Ridge.
In 1964, musician Bob Dylan penned one of his most lasting lyrics: "Come mothers and fathers. Throughout the land and don't criticize. What you don't understand your sons and daughters are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly again.
Please get out of the new one; If you can't lend a hand; For the times they are a-changin."
Dylan lyrics waxed prophetic Saturday at the Florida High School Girls State Weightlifting Championship Tournament at River Ridge Middle/High School.
Kristen Stephens of Hernando and Johnisha Jackson of Central combined to do something no other female lifters in Hernando County have ever done -- place in the same meet.
Stephens finished fourth in the 183-pound weight class while Jackson came in third in the unlimited class.
"I came in here in sixth place and it was border-line with another lifter. So to move up three places and bring home the first medal ever for Central, it's awesome," said Jackson.
Last season, Springstead High's Christina Alberts became the first Lady Eagle at place at states (fourth).
In no surprise, Spruce Creek won the team title Saturday for the fifth straight year with a team score of 56 points as five of their lifters won individual titles. Navarre and New Smyrna Beach tied for second with 11 points.
Jackson, a senior with the Bears and in her fourth state tournament in a row, lifted 190 pounds in the bench press and 160 in the clean-and-jerk for a 350-pound total to win the first medal in girls weightlifting for the school.
Meanwhile Stephens, a senior in her second state meet, lifted 210 pounds in the bench and 140 in the clean-and-jerk for a 350-pound total to take fourth.
Stephens tied for third place with Talluya McKinnie of Navarre with 350 total pounds, but McKinnie was awarded third place because she weighed less.
"It feels good to finish third (tied)," she Stephens. "It went OK but I'm a little upset about my clean and jerk because I thought the last lift was a good one."

NO. 14 – SULLY LEADS THE WAY

4/19 While it was not a first-place trophy, Springstead High junior Steve Sullivan did very well for himself Saturday at the 34th annual Class 2A state weightlifting tournament at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach.
Sullivan, appearing in his first state tournament, finished in third place at 139 pounds with a combined lift of 480 pounds for the best showing of any of the five county representatives at the tournament.
Besides Sullivan, Springstead lifters Zach Magrini finished in eighth place at 119 pounds, Stephen Nelson came in 12th place also at 139 pounds and Luis Delgado was 15th at 219 pounds.
Nathan Brazeau, the lone representative for Central, wound up finishing in 17th place in the 199-pound weight class.
While in last year's state tournament, Springstead's Josh Magrini won the state title at 129 pounds, this year the closest anyone from Hernando County could do was the third place spot earned by Sullivan.
The Eagle sophomore, who won the 2A Section IV title, made four of his six attempted lifts as he lifted 480 pounds.
First-place winner Kris Slimick of Sarasota High had a combined total of 525 while Adam Watkin of Jupiter lifted 505 pounds.
"I was shooting for first place but I thought I would need one of my best days. And in the bench press I did, but not in the clean-and-jerk," Sullivan said.

NO. 13 – CARBON COPY…

4/26 Doucet, Potito bring home state medals again. For second year in a row, the same two Hernando County female athletes put exclamation point on season.
No, this wasn't simply a carbon copy of last year's Class 2A FHSAA Finals recap.
The latest state meet did indeed take place Saturday at Showalter Field in Winter Park – the same facility that hosted states in 2007.
The results, however, remained remarkably similar, with the same two girls toting home state medals. As they did a year ago, Nature Coast's Danielle Doucet and Hernando's Gina Potito earned a top-eight finish.
Doucet, a sophomore, finished sixth in the 400. Last year as a freshman, Doucet finished sixth in the 400. This time, however, she ran considerably faster, running a 57.88 compared to 59.00.
"It's all right, I was just looking for a better time," Doucet said. "I ran a little faster, but I had more experience. I knew what to expect, so it wasn't a shock.
For the senior Potito, this marked her fourth consecutive state meet appearance, all in the high jump. She medaled as a freshman (third, 5'4") and a junior (fourth, 5'4").
This time she cleared the bar at 5'0" to place seventh overall, good enough to earn a third medal in the final meet of an impressive prep career.
Potito's achievements include seven county championships and two district titles, as he spent her four years competing in high jump, long jump and hurdles.
"It meant a lot being here last year," Hernando coach Shawn Bingham said. "She's a top athlete. She's humble. Whatever mistakes she makes, she listens to the coaches and capitalizes on those mistakes.
"I'm very happy. She did pretty good in practice this week. Coach (Rodney) Byrd gave her a couple pointers. She went out and did that and did pretty good."
In the 2A Boys State Meet, HHS senior Tyler Maier medaled.
Maier wonders what could have been, had he not waited until this junior season to join Hall of Fame coach Ernie Chatman's vaunted distance program.
On Saturday night at Showalter Field in Winter Park, the Hernando High senior ran the 3,200 at the Class 2A State Finals, the only state appearance in his abbreviated prep career. He ran a 9:54.30 to finish seventh, earning him a medal for a top-eight performance.
"It means a lot," Maier said. "It's my last race. I wanted to do something. I felt it was important to make an impact.
"I think I ran pretty good. It was a little windy, but it was a good time. I can't complain."

NO. 12 – RELAFORD RISES TO MEDAL STAND
 
5/2 Central freshman Tikiera Relaford comes in fourth in high jump to become county's only medalist.
Coming out of West Hernando Middle School, Tikiera Relaford never expected her rookie high school campaign would end on the state medal stand.
Yet by finishing second to South Lake High's Monica Carney in the Class 3A, District 7 and Region II Meets, the Central High freshman earned her way to the 33rd annual Florida High School Athletic Association Finals.
The Lady Bear shook off nerves and inexperience Friday afternoon at Showalter Field in Winter Park, to leap 5'4".
Though she didn't match her personal best of 5'6" set at regionals a week earlier, that height placed her fourth. The top eight earned medals.
"It's really good, I'm excited," Relaford said. "A lot of practice (made it happen); a lot of hard work. Last year (in middle school) was really easy.
"…I kind of think I could have done better, but everybody has good days and bad days. I wanted to place."

NO. 11 – WON 'N DONE

9/15 The Nature Coast Technical boys won't have the opportunity to defend their state championship, as the school will not field a team this season.
They swarmed one another on the approach, a celebration equal to any seen on a playing field or hardwood court.
The Nature Coast Technical boys bowling team accomplished a rare feat for Hernando County, regardless of the sport, collecting a state championship last November (2007) at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando.
In their two years of existence, the Sharks won two district titles in addition to that state crown, while the Nature Coast girls won a district championship of their own last year and finished third in the state.
But when the top bowling programs again converge on Boardwalk Bowl for the Florida High School Athletic Association Finals starting Nov. 11, the Sharks won't have the opportunity to defend their title.
The school has decided not to field a bowling team this year because it cannot pay, and has thus not found, a suitable coach.
"I think it's sad because the kids want to do it, not just because we were successful last year but the kids are genuinely interested in bowling, the parents are genuinely interested in it," Nature Coast Athletic Director Travis Lamle said. "But we can't find anyone to coach it."
"I thought (winning the state title) was freaking awesome," said Chris Polizzi, the captain and anchor of the boys' team the past two years. "I figured since we won the state we'd get a little more respect, but obviously not.
"…It's not right. We're the only team Nature Coast had that won states and they didn't do anything to keep it."

NO. 10 – RUOFF BACK IN A NEW ROLE

1/28 Central grad makes second road appearance against USF, this time as West Virginia's leading scorer.
They cheered as he went by in the pre-game lay-up line. They roared every time he touched the ball, and jokingly jeered when he gave it up to a teammate. 'Give it to Alex' they cried over and over again.
Yep, Alex Ruoff had come home – or at least as close as he can on a college basketball court.
The 2005 Central High grad and his West Virginia University Mountaineers took on the University of South Florida in a recent Big East conference battle at the St. Pete Times Forum.
His family, friends and local fans followed, tracking his every move.
"We don't get to see him very often," said former classmate Sara Tooman, sitting among a small Ruoff cheering section behind press row. "We're having a blast."
"It's a big event," said Jessica McNeil, a USF student and Central grad who grew up as a neighbor to Ruoff and sported a T-shirt dubbing her USF's Biggest Alex Ruoff Fan. "We prepare for it.
"When I lived across the street from him, he was always out there playing basketball, by himself or with a neighbor."
The son of Spring Hill's Kim Ruoff, the 6-foot-6 junior guard had a relatively quiet, yet solid day with 14 points, five assists, two steals, two rebounds and a blocked shot.
Though only going 3-of-8 from the field, he knocked down two three-pointers, and went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the Mountaineers' 69-52 victory over the host Bulls.
"It was good. It was good," Ruoff said. "Could have shot the ball better but we played great. We had guys step up big.
"…I was real pumped for the game. I had like three shots before the first horn blew. I was excited to play; excited we got the win. I'm ready to go see my family."
 
NO. 9 – YEAH, BABY! PERFECTION ATTAINED!

11/6 Parrott Leopards (7-0) complete historic unbeaten, unscored upon season by solving Powell, 26-0.
For those fans in attendance Wednesday night at Hernando High's Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium, they experienced the equivalent of witnessing Halley's Comet.
You know the sight, the rare occurrence that can be seen maybe once in a lifetime – or every 88 years.
The Parrott Leopards completed its middle school football campaign for the ages behind its signature defense, solving gutsy Powell for the second time this fall, 26-0.
With the victory, Parrott collected its 19th straight win and its 12th straight shutout.
More importantly, the Purple and Gold pocketed its sixth consecutive county championship and seventh in eight years.
The curtains also came down on a campaign where the Leopards out-scored their opponents, 302-0.
Despite the scoreboard, Powell's fourth-year Head Coach Ron Blackwell praised his team's effort.
"Our objective all season was to get to this game," said Blackwell, who slipped to 0-8 lifetime against the Purple and Gold. "We got here, everyone else was watching from the stands. Give credit to other team (Parrott), they were the better team tonight. They earned this win.
The Panthers defensive lineman Edward Riter had an outstanding effort for the visiting Panthers with nine tackles.
"They're (Parrott) really good," admitted Riter with tears in his eyes. "We gave them their hardest game all year. I've played for Powell for three years and we could never beat those guys. I have to give them credit, they're a great team."
Adams closed the books with his eighth touchdown of the season from five yards out, 26-0.
Parrott offensive lineman Kyle LoParco beamed afterward.
"Coach told us to cut block the blitzers at the line of scrimmage," said the 13-year-old LoParco. "Me, Andrew (Timmons) and Jake we had our work cur out tonight. Powell was coming everywhere."
And the win?
"This is the biggest win in school history," said Parrott's 13-year-old Kyle LoParco. "Nobody can say they were never scored upon, except us."
Parrott Head Coach Dwayne Mobley basked in the win.
"First of all, Powell always plays us hard. It was no different tonight. They played us tough in the first half.
"But give credit to our defensive coaches," said Mobley. "They had our guys ready all week. Defense wins championships. And I can't say too much, the entire team played hard for 32 minutes."
Mobley was asked if this was the greatest-ever team in Parrott history?
"Right now, offensively and defensively, it's my greatest team," smiled Mobley.
In the background, you could still hear the acknowledgment from his players, "Yeah Baby!"

NO. 8 – OH MY, THANKS TO A BYE, SPRING HILL BELLES ADD STATE TITLE

7/7 Right-hander Alexis Adams dominates on the hill yielding two singles, three walks while recording 11 strikeouts as Hernando County club earns trip to Aug. 2 Dixie World Series in Alexandra, Louisiana via a shutout over Chipley, 3-0.
There are those who will insist Spring Hill won this championship on Sunday, and it was by the luck of the draw.
Perhaps. Certainly it played a role. One thing that can't be argued is that when Spring Hill got the bye on Sunday afternoon in a three-team draw, leaving Chipley and Mulberry to play an elimination game before meeting Spring Hill in the final, the pitching scales tipped in its favor.
Particularly with Alexis Adams on the mound.
The Spring Hill hurler was able to work all seven innings in the Belles Division (ages 13-15) of the Dixie Youth League All-Stars State Softball Tournament final late Monday night, and that was bad news for Chipley.
The right-handed Adams limited Chipley to two singles, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out 11 in leading her team to a 3-0 triumph at the Belleview Sports Complex.
Spring Hill (4-1) now moves on to the Dixie League World Series, which begins Aug. 2 in Alexandria, La.
"The bye," said Chipley coach Curtis Carter. "If they hadn't gotten the bye . . . With them drawing the bye, they could save their pitching. And that one kid carried them."

NO. 7 – STATE CHAMPION HERNANDO DEBS HEADS TO CAJUN COUNTRY

7/8 Brooksville squad cruises to second straight title by crushing West Pasco, 12-0.
There is a difference between the Hernando Debs team of a year ago and this season's squad.
Last season, Hernando had to navigate its way through the loser's bracket at the state tournament and then beat East Pasco twice to qualify for the Dixie League World Series.
This season's team was not nearly as dramatic. In fact, when it was realized Hernando had nine of last year's 12 players returning, nine players who made it to the final game of that Dixie World Series, it was almost a foregone conclusion that a return trip was certain.
That was Head Coach Paul Sinwelski's greatest fear, of course -- overconfidence, that one unpredictable emotion that preys upon athletes who stray too far from the present task and start looking down the road at what might be theirs, then start performing like it is.
As it turned out, there was no need to be concerned.
Hernando handled the Dixie League All-Stars Softball State Tournament with a combination of focus and aplomb, not worried too much about anything. Why would these stars have to be? In three tournament games, Hernando outscored its opponents 54-0, no game going longer than five innings -- including Sunday afternoon's 12-0 clinching rout of West Pasco in the championship final.
Asked if he had started making plans for his team's trip to Louisiana for the World Series (which begins Aug. 1), Sinwelski was adamant. "Absolutely not," he said. "And I told the girls last night not to even thing about it."

NO. 6 – IT'S GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS

7/20 In a winner take-all-affair…Spring Hill American pitcher Vito Tambasco whacked two homers – his 6th and 7th of the postseason – while scattering eight singles across six gutsy innings on the mound to edge South Lake, 5-4.
In the process, Hernando County earned its first-ever state crown in this age group in 53 years.
It's one of sports oldest cliches – someone has to lose.
In Friday night's 23rd and final game of the Dixie Youth League AAA Majors (ages 11-12) State Championship Baseball Tournament at Ridge Manor Community Park, Spring Hill American (10-3 overall, 6-1 states) advanced to the Dixie World Series beginning Aug. 4 in LaGrange, Ga. behind an edge-of-your-seat 5-4 triumph over South Lake (10-3 overall, 5-2 states).
Yet, there were no real losers.
Area fans were treated to a tantalizing 'I'll never forget that game' affair.
South Lake skipper Mike Padgett complemented both teams' efforts.
"We all knew coming in it was gonna be a dog fight all the way," explained Padgett. "There's no team I want to beat more than Spring Hill. But (Spring Hill American Head Coach) Shawn (Laferty) and I go way back. If I'm gonna lose I don't mind losing to him. It's a great rivalry, one of deep respect for both teams."
What was the difference?
"I'm not gonna say one guy beat us," replied Padgett. "But (Vito) Tambasco pitched well and hit two homers. He was that little bit extra we needed. If I had one kid like him, we'd still be playing."
Biggest positives?
"We didn't give up," summed up Coach Padgett. "Before today, we knew we'd be in two tough baseball games and we were. If you scripted this out for a movie, it couldn't have been a better tournament."
For his part, Coach Laferty was in disbelief.
"What a game!" pointed out Coach Laferty. "There's very little difference between both teams. This (winning states) hasn't sunk in yet.
"First, I've got to congratulate South Lake," he said. "They're a great ball club, no doubt. There's a lot of respect for their kids, their program, their fans. I think it goes both ways."

NO. 5 – INCHES AWAY

8/9 Spring Hill drops World Series title game to Sumter (S.C.), 12-8, as Julian Perez's potential game-tying grand slam falls short at centerfield fence.
As soon as Louis Colaiacomo took ball four, a dream scenario unfolded for the Spring Hill Dixie Senior Boys (age 14) All-Stars.
Down four runs in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, the bases loaded with two outs, Spring Hill had its most imposing hitter, Julian Perez, stepping into the batter's box.
Oh yeah, and all this was taking place in the World Series championship game Thursday night at City Pond Park in Covington, Ga.
Perez pounded a pitch to the deepest part of the ballpark, dead centerfield. But the dramatic game-tying grand slam didn't materialize; the ball landed in the glove of center fielder Maleeke Gibson just in front of the fence.
Thus ended Spring Hill's quest for the first World Series crown in league history, as the South Carolina squad claimed a 12-8 victory.
This marked the fifth straight time the South Carolina state champion has won this double-elimination tournament. This same Sumter group also won the Junior Boys (age 13) World Series last year.

NO. 4 – MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: HE'S COMING HOME

6/3 Hernando High selects ex-Leopard John C. Palmer as the school's new head football, boys weightlifting and athletic director.
Few folks ever reel in a trifecta at the race track. Try that trick at his week's Belmont Stakes.
That was not the case, however, Monday at Hernando High.
The Leopards' five-man search committee recommended that Port St. Joe High football and athletic director, John C. Palmer, as the school's new football coach.
On Sunday, HHS' incoming Principal Ken Pritz contacted Palmer and he agreed to not only take over the duties from Rodney Byrd as head football coach, but the 1983 Leopard alumnus will also take over as the school's athletic director and boys' weightlifting mentor.
Palmer, 41, becomes the Purple and Gold's 27th head football coach since 1947.
His father, Dub, was a Hall of Fame football coach, who coached at HHS.
In a way, it's a homecoming as John's mother still resides in Brooksville.
John has been married 18 years to Amy Lynn Hicks and the Palmers have a 12-year-old daughter, Morgan Lynn.
"I found out the good news on Sunday from Ken (Pritz)," recalled Palmer, who went 57-27 across the past seven seasons with the Port St. Joe Dolphins – highlighted by a Class 1A State Championship in 2005. "Ken said he wanted to extend congratulations that I was the committee's choice as the head coach."
A year ago in the same situation, committee members also tabbed Palmer as their choice. But the final decision rested with then-Principal Betty Harper and she went against the committee's work and selected Byrd. Byrd, another Leopard alumnus and Eastern Kentucky University product, finished 2-8.
Were there any bitter feelings this time after being spurned in 2007?
"I think everything happens for s reason," shrugged Palmer, a multi-sport athlete at Hernando High before earning a bachelor's degree at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. "I moved on. I think (returning home) the situation intrigued me. My mom still lives in Hernando County. We're reuniting with our family. I can't lie; being an alumnus played a huge part in the (final) decision."

NO. 3 – REFUSING TO LOSE

2/14 – Springstead's Schuyler Swanton ascends the podium (again). Eagles place sixth overall well behind perennial State Champion Brandon, 232.5-60.5.
The quest for the county's 25th individual State Wrestling Finals gold medal boiled down to pair of veteran, three-time state qualifiers: seniors Springstead High's Schuyler Swanton and Hernando High's Jesse Graham, Saturday night in a jammed-pack Jenkins Arena at The Lakeland Center.
Swanton, in his third straight Class 2A State Final, did not disappoint at 112 pounds, finishing a collective 4-0 won-lost record across the grueling three-day, double-elimination torture test.
In a tactical chess match across six minutes, Swanton snapped a scoreless tie with a third-period one-point escape and then held on to blank Brandon High sophomore Terry Dawson, 1-0.
The Spring Hill grappler had earlier this winter downed Dawson twice, 8-3 and 7-4.
Swanton's 27th consecutive win this winter enabled him to close out his fourth season with the Eagles at 36-2 overall.
With the title win, Swanton earned the county's 25th individual gold medal since 1982. Schuyler became Springstead's 11th state champion (Hernando High leads with 12) and school's first repeat winner since his brother, Dustin, pulled off the feat in the 1998-99 state tourneys.
The 17-year-old Swanton refrained from doing cartwheels, he quietly celebrated afterward like he'd been to the top of the podium before.
How hard was it to repeat?
"It was hard. It was a long course and it had some obstacles I had to work through," slowly explained Swanton, who captured 93.3 percent (125-of-134) of his career matches at SHS. "Tonight, I just didn't want to take any bad shots. He (Dawson) had no answer for my conditioning. I felt the third period was mine."
What was the mindset going in?
"I had worked hard to get here and I went in with confidence," replied Swanton, who helped lead the Eagles to a sixth-place team finish behind perennial state champion Brandon. "I've got to dedicate this win to my practice partners, my teammates and coaches. They all kept pulling for me."
In a tourney where the Eagles posted a collective 15-11 overall slate featuring three medalists - Swanton (1st), senior Skylar Huff (3rd) and senior C.J. Cook (4th) - assistant coach Sal Basile called Schuyler the school's best-ever wrestler.
"Tonight was a huge win for Schuyler," explained Basile. "We've had two other guys win it twice including Corey (Hill) and Dustin (Swanton), but I'd put Schuyler at the top of the list. Hill was a great athlete, but Schuyler is a great wrestler. He's the complete package, a great wrestler, good student and great person. He's been a pleasure to coach."
EDITOR'S NOTE: After the season, Swanton signed a national letter-of-intent to compete collegiately at Virginia Tech.

NO. 2 – LIONS FIND HOME ON 'THE RANGE'

11/18 Several HCA players stand out as the curtains come down in terrific title performance.
If The Villages Charter High School is indeed where the Buffaloes roam – make room for Hernando Christian Academy.
The 5th-year Lions grid program will never forget its first-ever visit to "The Range" Stadium.
Forget the 58-degree weather and gusty winds that picked up by the end of Saturday night's late game – the 10-0 HCA squad felt right at home.
The Brooksville Class 1B independent football team came within one second of posting its first-ever shutout this season.
On the game's final snap, Mount Dora Bible's multi-purpose scatback, Cornelius Whitehead, dove in from a yard out spoiling the Lions' whitewash attempt.
Regardless of the final snap, HCA captured the inaugural Sunshine State Athletic Conference football championship by chaining the Bulldogs for the second time this season, 22-6.
Despite the 11th-hour score, HCA settled on allowing an opponent seven points or less for the sixth time this fall in completing an amazing 10-0 run. The 10-0 Lion finish duplicated the efforts of Hernando High Head Coach Tom Varn's marvelous 1949 squad.
It also marked the fourth time in Hernando County history that a local team collected at least 10 wins by joining the 1980 and 1981 Hernando High teams led by Head Coach Dub Palmer.
Whitehead was main threat for the HCA, he managed to reach the 100-yard mark on his final carry (his 29th). The rest of the team, however, squeezed out 44 yards on 18 plays.
"For all the people who thought we could never do this, well we made history tonight," said HCA running back Jeremy Knight. "We're the champions and we finished 10-0."

NO. 1 – NCT FOOTBALL SAGA

11/9-11/30 (10 stories) NCT: Guilt by Association
Is good sportsmanship possible?  
Hopefully, the residents of this community - all 165,000 - are sick and tired of having our coaches, children, fans, administrators and athletic programs associated with poor sportsmanship.
Come on, who wants the media to pile on to a situation in our backyard? Is this what you get when a win-at-all-costs situation is created?
That's exactly what outsiders are saying.
This much we know, after the football stadium lights went out with 3:45 left, a melee resulted between the host Eagles and the visiting Nature Coast Technical Sharks.
Second-hand media accounts say brawl? Yet this isn't the Wild West. What fight?
What happened next in the darkness is up to individual interpretation.
This much is known, the Eagles' players reacted to their quarterback being tackled the instant the lights went. Members of the South Lake football team came across the field on to the NCT sideline.
Some kind of skirmish took place.
Was it a fight? Or were NCT folks simply defending themselves from an oncoming onslaught?
The details here are blurry, at best.
Here's what we do know.
After each school presented their arguments, the state's governing body of athletics, the Gainesville-based Florida High School Athletic Association, imposed serious sanctions.
Not only was NCT's Head Coach Jamie Joyner and center Brad Lucier suspended, but so were four South Lake players.
Additionally, the FHSAA meted out hefty fines totaling $10,400 to the Sharks but also $8,500 to the Eagles. The Sharks' latest fine set a county record, surpassing its $6,000 fine in 2006.
Most importantly, due to both team's conduct on the field on the second to last game of the season, the FHSAA pulled the plug on their respective campaigns.
Even NCT's last-ditch legal efforts failed to have the Sharks play in the coveted regional playoffs.
As a result, NCT's dream 9-0 start concluded with its football program relegated to the sidelines, its credibility further tarnished and its future playing status literally placed on double secret probation.
Isn't NCT's punishment too severe? Some say, it's not enough.
And why are members of the media (who weren't at either game) associating what happened between Central and NCT in 2007 and the recent incident? In both cases, NCT was not the instigating school.
In the blame game, shouldn't the team that instigates a ruckus be given the stiffest penalties?
Isn't NCT really guilty by association.
Come on, let's call it what it is: it's another on the field incident involving a Nature Coast Technical athletic program.
Like with all problems, it's a matter of priorities and policies set in motion from the top. Perhaps the county's powers that be should seriously consider looking at or reshaping that structure (listening Dr. Alexander?).
Should Joyner be culpable for Central High taking off their helmets and demonstrating on the Sharks' midfield? Or even South Lake's football team descending upon their bench in the dark?
Yes, this is Joyner's team so he must be held accountable for his squad's actions.
But should he receive a pink slip due to his team's guilt by association? Absolutely not.
You see, sportsmanship isn't simply limited to shaking hands in a phalanx following a context.
Sportsmanship isn't picking a guy up off the field after a tackle.
Sportsmanship isn't yelling derogatory things from the stands.
Sportsmanship isn't calling off a full-court press with a 30-point lead.
Sportsmanship isn't about throwing bombs against the back-ups on homecoming.
Sportsmanship isn't telling the referee, 'Nice call.'
Sportsmanship isn't about winning or losing or evening tying and then walking away.
You see, Good sportsmanship is all those things.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Interestingly, despite the presence of Lake County Sheriff's officers at the game, neither Coach Joyner nor any other Sharks were ever arrested for their involvement in the "brawl". Plus, not one South Lake player ever identified Joyner as a culprit in the dark. Also, the Hernando County School Board also reinstated Joyner, who has since returned to his coaching duties and will serve out the remainder of his football suspension during weightlifting and track seasons. And finally, a Shark season the began with so much promise (9-0) will live as FDR once said "in infamy."

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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