Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Track, diamond play round out season

Chamberlain and Sickles remain in postseason softball action as state track meets wind down.

By TERRY JONES
Published May 6, 2005

High school tennis is now in the 2005 history books, but several prep athletes from north Hillsborough County are still competing in state track meets, which will finish by Saturday.

And there have been some surprises in softball competitions, leaving only Chamberlain and Sickles high schools among the north Hillsborough squads still alive in postseason play.

As for high school baseball, the district meets should wrap up tonight and Saturday.

Here are results for north Hillsborough teams:

Gaither eliminated Wharton 11-1 in the Class 5A, District 7 quarterfinals last week, but fell to Chamberlain 2-0 in the semifinals.

In a big upset, Sickles edged Alonso 4-3 in 11 innings in the other semifinal match Thursday to earn a berth in the playoffs. The Gryphons beat Leto 21-0 in the quarterfinals.

However, in the championship game, Chamberlain struggled and came from behind to score three runs in the seventh inning to edge Sickles 4-3 to win the district title.

With bases loaded, Chamberlain's Lauren Rodriguez was walked home on an illegal pitch by Sickles' Khrystyne Ely, leaving runners on second and third with the score 3-2 in favor of the Gryphons.

Heather VanLandingham then hit a hard single to deep left field, scoring the two runners and winning the game for the Chiefs. Jo Jo Medina went 3 for 3 at the plate for Chamberlain.

Gaither's girls won their team regional championship last Friday, scoring 57 points in the Class 4A, Region 2 finals. Kissimmee Osceola was second with 52. Chamberlain was deep in the pack with 18 points.

Junior distance runner Amanda Quick carried much of the load for the Gaither Cowboys. She won the mile and placed second in the 2-mile and ran a leg in the winning 4x800 relay.

The top four qualifiers in each event earn a state berth. Also qualifying for the Cowboys were Kathryn Kramer, fourth in the 2-mile, and Gabriel Newton, fourth in the 300 hurdles.

Chamberlain's Jade Messam qualified in the 100-meter dash with a fourth, and Toshiba Cobb will also go to state via a third in the 200 meters. Cobb also ran a leg for the Chiefs in their fourth-place 4x100 relay.

In boys 4A, Region 2 competition, Gaither placed highest of Hillsborough County teams with 35 points and eighth place. Ovie Esalomi qualified in three events for the Cowboys. He placed fourth in the 100 and 200 and ran a leg in the winning 4x100 relay.

[Last modified May 5, 2005, 01:31:12]