Trenary finally hitting stride at Central Florida

Clayton Trenary's adjustment period is over.

After a sluggish start to his college career, the 2002 Crystal River graduate has become one of Central Florida Community College's top hitters.

Trenary, who plays outfield, first base and catcher, is batting .320 with team-highs in home runs (7), RBIs (29) and total bases (83) after 45 games. He was hitting about .230 four weeks ago.

"He went through his learning curve," Patriots coach Marty Smith said. "About a month ago, I told my assistants, 'You know, he's a .330 hitter, so he has to hit about .480 the next month to six weeks.' ... Without a doubt, he has done a great job."

Why the turnaround?

"He's getting the right pitches to hit," Smith said. "Early, he was taking a lot of hitable pitches and was unsure of himself at the plate. But great athletes like him are going to make adjustments, and he has. It was only a matter of time."

Trenary has shined despite having bone spurs in his throwing arm. Smith said Trenary will have offseason surgery to repair the injury. In the meantime, he likely is to see more action at first base, where less strain will be put on his arm.

TRACK & FIELD: Ex-Warrior catching on with Seminoles

Shawn Allen, who last spring won the Class A high jump championship -- the first state title in any sport for Seven Rivers Christian -- has competed in every meet this spring for Florida State and took first at the Florida A&M Relays in March.

His best jump is 6 feet, 8 inches.

Allen left Tallahassee with teammates Wednesday for Raleigh, N.C., site of this weekend's Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. He is an alternate, but FSU's other high jumper has a minor injury, so Allen could end up jumping.

"As it has come toward the end of the season, my approach and technique has been good," Allen said. "But I'll either lose focus when I'm jumping, not maintain an intense attitude or I won't come in with an intense attitude. ... It has been a very good learning experience."

WEIGHTLIFTING: Boyd adds his name to list of qualifiers

Lecanto senior Tyler Boyd is in -- finally.

After a six-day wait, word came Tuesday that Boyd had qualified for the April 26 Class 2A state meet at Port Orange Spruce Creek.

Boyd, competing in the 238-pound class, totaled 660 pounds (bench press plus clean and jerk) at sectionals. Because three other qualifying meets within the section were held at other sites, it took time for all the results to be tabulated. Boyd was the only Lecanto lifter to advance.

Citrus will send seven (Cory Atkinson, T.C. Arnold, Justin Cretty, Rob Holdaway, Chad Malone, Dan Marinelli and Mike Maxwell) and Crystal River three (Jared Edwards, Scott Guastella and Mike Kotsifakis) to the Class A championship April 26 at Live Oak Suwannee.

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