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Letter to the editor

AAU underdogs fight way to finals

By EMERY SKOLFIELD
Published June 24, 2007

An unlikely run through the 10-and-under AAU state baseball tournament lasted all the way to the title game for the fledgling Gulf Coast Mustangs.

The team, seeded last among 20 teams in its draw at the Memorial Day tournament, split its first two games before winning four straight to advance to the finals against the Ocala Diamond Dawgs, where the Mustangs fell 12-2.

The Mustangs, based in Palm Harbor and comprised of players from across north Pinellas County, escaped pool play with a 2-1 record after a 7-4 victory over the Tampa East Gators. The team, which formed only nine months ago under coach Frank Uzdavines, then won three consecutive elimination games - ousting the Jacksonville River Dogs, Gibsonton Vipers and the Dover Bullets - to earn a shot at the state title.

Team members were: Shane Alexander, Brian Auerbach, Chase Beal, Matthew Caron, Jake Crain, Aaron Dickson, Justin Glover, Michael Hunter, Michael Jarreau, Ian Lisle, Joey Russo, Tyler Simmons, Collin Van Sant and Sawyer Wirth.

BASEBALL: The host Fossil Park 9-under All-Stars secured a spot in the state tournament by sweeping three games at the Dizzy Dean Baseball District 5 Championships on June 9-14.

Fossil Park beat Seminole twice and Pinellas Park once, scoring a total of 62 runs while allowing only 12. Fossil Park's Ryan Cook was named the tournament's top offensive player, while teammate Chris Labrie earned the defensive award. Second-place Seminole also earned a berth into the state tournament, set to begin July 6 in Gulf Breeze.

GOLF: Seminole's Ryanne Jackson shot an 18-hole score of 90 to finish second in the 6-9-year-old division of the Florida Women's State Golf Association Junior Championships on June 19-20 at Orange County National in Winter Garden.

Clearwater's Haydyn Gibson, competing in the same division as Jackson, finished third with 98.

In the 16-18 field, Meghan Chapman of Seminole fired 1-under 71, including 3-under 33 on the front nine, to finish in a tie for fourth. Largo's Andrea Messer shot 72 to place sixth among 16-18s in the 48th annual tournament.

BASKETBALL: The St. Petersburg-based Courtside Cavaliers 11-under boys team went 3-0 and beat the Pembroke Pines Seminoles 40-24 to capture gold at the Sunshine State Games on June 17 in Lakeland.

SWIMMING: Alex Katz, 11, of the Clearwater Aquatic Team registered nine first-place swims en route to the high-point award in the 11-12 boys division of the West Florida Lightning Invitational June 15-17 in Largo.

CAT's Kelsey Buckley won five events to finish with the high-point total among 13-14 girls. Taylor Katz, who swam with the senior girls in several events, won three events in her age group 11-12 for CAT. CAT's other multiple event winners were: Morgan Perotti (10-under girls), Sidney Pickrem (10-under girls) and David Morgan (13-14 boys).

For St. Petersburg Aquatics, Summer Finke won seven events in the 10-under division, while Megan Romano won five in senior girls and Emman Crescimbeni won four in senior boys. Melanie Margalis (senior girls) and Brenno Varana (senior boys) also won multiple events for SPA.

If you have youth sports news for this column, contact Emery Skolfield at (727) 481-2027 or via e-mail at sptimesyouth@yahoo.com.

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 23:34:32]