Bulls pitchers rule as strikeouts pile up in the season's first two games.
By ROD GIPSON
Published March 5, 2004
If the first two games of the baseball season are any indication, Bloomingdale's opponents better be on alert.
In those games, the Bulls had allowed one hit in 12 innings, given up no walks and struck out 20 in two blowout wins.
Junior right-hander Paul McClay opened the season in impressive fashion, holding Chamberlain hitless in a five-inning, 12-0 Bloomingdale victory. McClay struck out five in the game, which was ended after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
Teammate Ryan Strauss was nearly as perfect in his outing, throwing seven scoreless innings, giving up no walks and striking out 15 as the Bulls defeated Riverview, 4-0. The Sharks lone hit came in the fifth inning on the only change-up Strauss threw all night.
Other contests from the season's opening week: Newsome lost to Alonso, 7-2; Armwood defeated Plant City, 8-3,; Riverview bounced back to beat Tampa Bay Tech, 10-3; Durant was shut out, 10-0, by Sickles; and East Bay topped Freedom, 4-1.
Tonight's games feature Bloomingdale at Sarasota, Armwood hosting Freedom, Hillsborough at Brandon, East Bay at Middleton, Newsome looking for its first win at home versus Blake and Tampa Bay Tech at Jefferson. All games begin at 7 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Brandon bowed out of the regional playoffs Tuesday after a 69-47 loss at Lake Region, ending the Eagles run in the Class 5A region semifinals. Brandon, which ended the season 25-4, had entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A. But it was Lake Region that dominated, going on a 14-0 first-half run that all but sealed the game. Aubrey Brown led Brandon with a game-high 17 points.
Three other local squads bowed out in the region quarterfinals. Riverview, Tampa Bay Tech and Bloomingdale saw their seasons end in the first round of regional play.
Riverview's eight game winning streak ended in the Class 6A region quarterfinals with a 58-56 loss to Orlando Timber Creek. Patrick Wonsey scored 24 points and Steve Walker added 20 for the Sharks, who end the season 18-8. Bloomingdale's season also ended in the 6A quarterfinals, as the Bulls (14-14) lost 50-41 to Orlando Cypress Creek.
Tech, meanwhile, was routed in the Class 4A region quarterfinals 72-44 by Lake Wales. Tech was doomed by a 27-0 run by Lake Wales in the first half. Tech's standout players Demetrius Edwards, Dauda Fadeyi and Yurell Scaggs combined for just 20 points in the loss. The Titans ended the season 18-8.
MORE BASKETBALL: Tampa Bay Tech ran away with the western conference national division players of the year awards. Demetrius Edwards and Chi Chi Okpaleke were named the top boys and girls players, respectively. Riverview's Mike Baker was named national division boys coach of the year, while Jonathan Banks (Brandon), Jeff Kovacs (Riverview), Dauda Fadeyi (Tech) and Patrick Wonsey (Riverview) were named National Division boys first team. Bloomingdale's Theo Smalling, Brandon's Taylor Gangis and East Bay's Stanley Kelley were named to the second team.
On the girls side, Durant's Shay Mackey, Riverview's Ratisha LaRumph and Bloomingdale's Erica Woodard were named national division first team and members of the second team included Courtney Chesten (Durant), Lindsey Violette (Riverview), Roni Carithers (Brandon) and Rebekah Barnes (Tech).
FOOTBALL: Wide receiver Thomas Hair has transferred from Armwood to Jefferson and will play his senior season with the Dragons. Hair, who started for the Class 4A state champion Hawks last season, wanted to play in a more pass-oriented offense. Armwood piled up more than 5,000 yards last season, but less than 500 of that came through the air. Still, Hair managed to post a 14 yard per catch average last season.
