North Suncoast: News and notes

By Izzy Gould and Joey Knight, Times Staff Writers
Published March 8, 2008

Number of the day

1 Total games surrendered by Nature Coast's girls tennis team in seven matches (five singles, two doubles) during its Feb. 28 sweep of Hernando Christian. The Sharks' five singles players (in order): Rachel Conter, Olivia Williams, Katie Stellpflug, Kaitlyn Bugden and Jessica Otero. Conter and Williams played at No. 1 singles, Stellpflug and Bugden at No. 2.

Weatherford to West Georgia

John Weatherford never questioned if he would play football again. The Land O'Lakes senior suffered a season-ending knee injury on the third day of preseason practice, and he forecast the end of his high school career. He told the Times in August, "I'm going to play in college for sure."

Fast forward seven months: Weatherford - a 6-foot-2, 210-pound running back/receiver - orally committed to West Georgia on Thursday. He received an offer from New Hampshire, which proved to be too far from home, and invitations to walk on at Florida and UCF, where older brother Joe is a quarterback. And he is the younger brother of Florida State quarterback Drew, who was recruited by West Georgia coach Daryl Dickey.

Mitchell's Stager eager to return

Mitchell catcher Courtney Stager hopes to return next week for games against Land O'Lakes and River Ridge.

Stager was so eager to return that she had her mother move up an appointment with a doctor to Tuesday, when a cast protecting her broken right pinkie was removed. She still wears a brace, but she has been able to throw a softball "pretty hard" and hopes to give it a thorough try this weekend after visiting Tallahassee to see older sister Ashley play for Florida State.

Stager has been told to test the hand over the weekend and if it feels good then she can practice with the Mustangs next week as long as it's thoroughly taped.

[Last modified March 7, 2008, 22:43:32]