North Suncoast: News and notes

By IZZY GOULD and JOEY KNIGHT, Times Staff Writers
Published February 26, 2008

On the Web: Batting order

Undefeated Countryside takes over the top spot in our ranking of the bay area's best softball teams. Sound off at highschool.tampabay.com.

Coach's team, wife deliver on same day

Bishop McLaughlin baseball coach Nick Rodriguez was absent Friday night when the Hurricanes pulled off the biggest win in the program's brief history. And he couldn't have been happier.

Roughly eight hours after Rodriguez's wife, Melanie, gave birth to the couple's first child, the Hurricanes 3-0 shocked Class 3A power Berkeley Prep 5-4 on the Bucs' home field. Rodriguez received frequent updates by phone.

"The best day I can remember all around," Rodriguez said Saturday afternoon, adding his wife and son, Xavier Champion, were doing fine. "It was a huge, huge win for us."

Senior Chris Overbeck worked five innings to get the win, with Brian Holland earning the save.

Leopards pitcher hits his spots

On the field of his fiercest rival, Hernando right-hander Morgan Rogers allowed two hits, struck out five, walked none - and shocked many.

Rogers' complete-game gem Friday helped the previously winless Leopards (1-3) pull off the local upset of the year, a 3-2 triumph over previously unbeaten Pasco. The effort overshadowed a one-hitter by Pirates counterpart Aaron Brandt, whose club had three errors.

"In high school baseball, you never know what you're going to get on any given night; they're (teenagers)," Hernando coach Donnie Whitehead said. "You can't harp too bad on the losses or get overly excited about the wins. It's like I told them after the Pasco game: 'You've still got 21 games before districts.'"

If it's any consolation ...

Today, Pasco County can harbor a little less shame for its early exit from the boys basketball playoffs. All four of the county's playoff teams lost to squads that have reached this week's state tournament.

Land O'Lakes and Ridgewood fell to Brandon in the Class 5A region quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, while Hudson and Pasco lost to Eustis in successive rounds of the 4A playoffs.

[Last modified February 26, 2008, 00:11:32]