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Sportspersons of the year
© St. Petersburg Times DANIELLE ALBURY: To dominate locally is one thing. But in 2002, the Seven Rivers Christian senior made a name for herself at the state level. During a spectacular fall volleyball season, Albury led the Warriors to a 28-2 finish with these eye-popping statistics: 458 kills, 364 digs/passes, 350 assists, 161 blocks and 61 aces. She was the Class A Player of the Year. Albury also earned Times All-Citrus/Hernando and All-Suncoast honors. She has received interest from several colleges, but has not chosen a school. LARRY BISHOP: The Citrus football coach proved that wins and losses aren't everything. Bishop allowed seniors Joey and Matt Burke, 18-year-old twin brothers with Down's syndrome, to join the team. The Burkes spent the two previous seasons as water boys, but they wanted desperately to play for the Hurricanes. Bishop made it happen. The twins participated in practices under Bishop's watchful eye and dressed for games. In Week 9, Bishop called for the Burkes to enter the game on the final play. They sprinted onto the field, took part in a successful field-goal attempt and received congratulations from their teammates. The moment was memorable. TOMMY BOLT: Dubbed "Terrible Tommy" by the media, the likable 86-year-old Black Diamond Ranch resident was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November, capping a remarkable career. Bolt, who settled in Citrus County in 1958, was on two U.S. Ryder Cup teams and won 15 tour events. He missed six cuts in 17 years, a true measure of his consistency. Bolt's greatest triumph came in the 1958 U.S. Open. At Southern Hills Country Club in Oklahoma, he led from wire-to-wire, defeating Gary Player by four strokes. Bolt remains one of golf's most colorful figures and is a favorite personality among Black Diamond members. About 200 friends attended his induction ceremony. BRENT HALL: When Hall was hired as Crystal River's baseball coach in 2000, he promised big things. In 2002, Hall delivered. The Pirates went 30-4 and reached their first state semifinal since 1946. More enthusiasm surrounded Hall's program than any other in the area, as 500 or more fans routinely showed up to watch Crystal River play. After falling in the first round of the 2001 state playoffs, Hall beefed up the schedule to better prepare the Pirates for a postseason run. It worked. Crystal River beat two state-ranked teams in the playoffs, and it advanced to the final four with a thrilling 3-2 road win over state-power Eustis. MONTE IRVIN: The 83-year-old Irvin is among the county's most popular residents. For years, he has donated items to the Key Training Center, which provides daily living, social skills, job training, residential services and life-sustaining care for the developmentally disabled. Many of baseball's biggest names traveled to Homosassa in November to pay tribute to the longtime Sugarmill Woods resident, one of 58 living Baseball Hall of Famers. The list of guests included Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, who flew in from California to be master of ceremonies. Also there: Dom "The Little Professor" DiMaggio, Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer, former Devil Rays manager Hal McRae and the daughter of famed Negro Leaguer Buck Leonard. Money raised from an auction went to the center.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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