Sportzone teams roll to two division titles

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Two roller hockey teams won division titles in last weekend's Youth Sports News All-Star Recreation tournament.

Sportzone's 14-and-under and 17-and-under squads were among five division winners.

Speed and depth propelled Sportzone's 14-and-under team to a 5-0 record that included a 3-0 win over All Sports Arena in the final. Jimmy D'Aiuto scored on a breakaway and Jason Kallas added two goals for Sportzone.

Goaltender Willie Gay, who shared time in net with Dustin Brown, went 3-0 and notched the shutout in the final with help from defensemen Rutger Himmelreich and Domanick Basalmo.

"We had a deeper bench," Sportzone coach Gary Richardson said. "From one through nine (players on the roster), everybody knew their job."

Sportzone defeated the Roller Den Wolfpack 7-3, Jacksonville Jokers 5-1, J.P. Igloo (Ellenton) 9-3 and Palm Harbor Jackals 3-1 to reach the title game.

All Sports' Fred Pascalli, who had eight goals and two assists in the tourney, was named top gun.

Sportzone's 17-and-under team won three of four games and avenged a 3-2 preliminary loss to the Palm Harbor Jackals by winning the rematch 7-2 in the final. Ricky Nelson had a hat trick and Stephen Poteet, Chris Millett, Steve Lebensfeld and Jimbo Fisher added goals in support of netminder Bryan Gay.

"There was a big revenge factor," Sportzone coach Wes Poteet said. "(Palm Harbor) was the team they wanted to beat."

Sportzone also beat the Jacksonville Jokers 3-1 and Clermont Blaze 9-1. Nelson, who had four goals and two assists in the series, was named top gun, Stephen Poteet top dishman and Bryan Gay top goalie.

GETTING BETTER: Hudson, which has not won a middle school volleyball championship since 1996-97, improved to 3-0 Tuesday by winning its closest match of the season 15-9, 7-15, 21-13 over Weightman.

"The girls worked real hard this summer and went to some camps," Hudson coach Mark Holifer said. "Their skill level has come up a lot."

Sara Hampshire and Renee Bromund have been the Cobras' top servers. Hudson has scored 34 points off Hampshire's serves and 19 off Bromund's. Hampshire also leads the team with eight aces, followed by Bromund's five.

"(Hampshire) had some tremendous net play in our win over Weightman," Holifer said.

Captain Kelly Bislick is Hudson's kills leader with six. Heather Paone, Christina Guilliams, Katie Owens and Shaina Sanchez also have made key contributions in the Cobras' strong start.

Hudson has yet to play Pine View or River Ridge, which has won the past two conference titles and four of the past five.

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