Preps

Hillsborough: News and Notes

By JOE SMITH AND KEITH NIEBUHR
Published November 14, 2007

Armwood two-way lineman Matt Patchan, one of the nation's top recruits, was formally invited Tuesday to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in a ceremony at the school. Flanked by his parents, brothers and former coaches, including former Freedom coach Adam Stegeman, Patchan called it "a great honor." Patchan, who has narrowed his college choices to Miami, Florida and LSU, could be joined by Hawks coach Sean Callahan, invited for the second straight year to be part of the bowl's coaching academy with NFL and NCAA coaches. The game is at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 in San Antonio, Texas, and will be televised live on NBC.

Such invites have nearly become routine at Armwood; former Hawk Torrey Davis played in last year's Army All-American Bowl and three juniors - linebacker Petey Smith, defensive end Ryan Giddins and defensive back Angelo Hadley - were selected for the U.S. Army Bowl combine this year, an event Patchan attended as a junior. Callahan said he's unsure whether the trio will go.

The only hitch Tuesday? Callahan's first name was spelled "Shawn" on his invite.

Callahan laughed it off, saying, "As long as it's right on my plane ticket."

Signing day

Riverview softball player Dianne Gonzalez orally committed to Saint Leo and will sign with several other Sharks standouts today, the first day of the early signing period. The four-year varsity player hit 286 with a team-high fielding percentage of .989. There will be about a dozen local softball standouts signing today, including Bloomingdale duo of Katelyn Molkenthin (South Carolina Upstate) and Kristen Kelly (Saint Leo), and Plant softball star Hannah Ojeda (N.C. State).

Phoning it in

Please encourage your coaches to submit your team information and to phone in game results (727-893-8123) so your players and program receive the recognition they deserve.

[Last modified November 14, 2007, 00:08:26]