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Flag football league holds first title games

By STEVE LEE
Published June 9, 2006

HUDSON - The county's inaugural i9 Sports season concluded Saturday with three division flag football championships.

Two of the i9 Bowls came down to the wire with last-minute victories at Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson.

"They were very good games," said Anthony Presti, founder of Pasco's i9 program that focuses on equal participation over competitiveness. "Fun, exciting; no blowouts."

In divisions named after Tampa Bay Buccaneer football players, the Raiders defeated the Giants 24-19 in the Derrick Brooks bracket (ages 12-14) and the Cowboys beat the Colts 24-18 for the Mike Alstott (9-11) title. In the Cadillac Williams (6-8) championship game, the Blue Devils held the Cobras scoreless in a 6-0 win.

The playoffs, which capped eight-game seasons per division, included semifinal games before Saturday's championships.

Peter Fiumara passed to Zachary Scholl for the Raiders' winning touchdown and Scholl's second of the game. Anthony Giambrone and his brother, Cody, also scored. Chris Logan and Jeremy Blevins had the Giants' touchdowns.

Craig Gallichio had two touchdowns for the Cowboys, including the winning catch from quarterback Cortland Harrison. Cameron Milson also scored twice for the Cowboys. Daniel Mason had two of the Colts' touchdowns and teammate Forrest LeMay also scored.

The lone score in the Cadillac Williams final came on a run by Josh McClaskey midway through the second half.

Presti plans to schedule another season in September. That will mark the first time i9 Sports will compete for players with the county's other leagues - Pasco Police Athletic League, Pop Warner and Salvation Army - that traditionally play in the fall.

Danielle Levy cracked the top-five all-around last month in the U.S. Nationals at Nashville. A level 9 competitor who trains at Suncoast Gymnastics in Port Richey, Levy was fifth all-around with a 36.975 score. Levy, 14, also placed second on the vault at 9.40.

Swimmer Joe Geschke, 13, placed in the top six of six events in the Junior Olympics last month at the Orlando International YMCA. Geschke, who swims for the Hudson branch of Tampa Bay Aquatics, placed third in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10 minutes, 53.24 seconds. He also made the top six in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free and 100 backstroke.

[Last modified June 9, 2006, 01:02:10]