[AP photo: Steve Perez] Dwight Gooden

April 19, 2000

Devil Rays
Coming home
Dwight Gooden, a Tampa Bay native and resident, says getting to pitch for the Devil Rays answered a lot of prayers.

Castilla uses his head to rebound
BALTIMORE -- His heart was in the right place when he returned to the lineup last week, but Vinny Castilla said his head was not. At least not when he was swinging a bat.

Realignment could be an ongoing process
Early word is the impending realignment -- which would send Rays to NL -- might be short-lived.

Hubert Mizell
Nickerson is same old hearty linebacker
Old 56, he's so familiar. It's still a shocker. So huge. So hue. Hardy Nickerson wearing his familiar number but on a jersey of Jaguars teal, not Bucs pewter.

Colleges
Williams gets big payoff
TAMPA -- When the football coaching staff switched LaFann Williams from running back to cornerback last season, the move was designed to help both parties.

Busby gets a rookie's welcome
Thad Busby probably woke up Sunday morning still a little punch-drunk from his debut for the Storm against New England, in which he completed 18 of 36 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown and was sacked four times.

Things work out in end for Johnson
As the NFL draft dragged on, Florida quarterback Doug Johnson waited all day Saturday for his phone to ring. By Sunday, he hoped it wouldn't.

Rosy draft picture for Gators' Miller
One analyst says he is top-rated small forward. Miller hasn't said if he is leaving for the NBA.

Variety turns Malerich into ace of pitching staff
As a freshman last season, Leslie Malerich learned a hard lesson: Throwing hard might have been enough in high school, but it wouldn't do in college.

NBA
Little-knowns bring Magic big respect
Orlando, not expected to do much this season, exceeded predictions.

Baseball: The Minors
Durham takes the brunt of changes
The minor-league season is 2 weeks old, and plenty of roster moves already have been made. The biggest changes have been at Triple-A Durham, but every team has had at least one change.

Mutiny
Quill helps fill need up front
Before the season, the Mutiny's most glaring need was at forward. Raul Diaz Arce was the only proven one on the roster, and coach Tim Hankinson knew he would be gone for three games to play for the El Salvadoran national team.

Preps

• Clearwater goes back to basics to edge Hernando 2-1
  DUNEDIN -- Clearwater's mastery of the basics included executing a perfect hit-and-run and a squeeze bunt.
• Top player's off day doesn't stop Bears
  ZEPHYRHILLS -- County rivals Hernando and Central made the Class 2A, District 7 tournament a two-team race, but Bears coach Joe Nicolai labeled his team's victory bittersweet.
• Long day pays off for Cobra twosome
  WESLEY CHAPEL -- It was a long day for Hudson's Billy Boyko and Mike Ventura: three matches, seven or eight sets and one hard-fought district championship for the Cobras at the Meadow Pointe Recreation Center on Tuesday.
• Spartan boys, girls seek regional title today
  TAMPA -- In what could be one of the shortest lived district title celebrations, the Saddlebrook Academy boys and girls clinched the Class A, District 9 tennis titles Tuesday at Berkeley Prep.
• Jefferson continues to roll at Georgiadis
  The Dragons take their second victory in a row over a Pinellas opponent.
• Cowboys rip Falcons 15-5
  TAMPA -- Welcome to Western Conference II, where Gaither became the fourth team to join the semifinal field.
• Panthers survive early scare
  TAMPA -- There was one out in the top of the first inning and the bases were loaded when Sickles' No. 5 hitter, Grant Chapman, grounded into a game-ending double play.
• Plant City pair wins by forfeit
  The Plant City boys No. 1 doubles team of Rob Galloway and David Jayson didn't let a trip south cramp their style.
• Spartan boys, girls triumph
  Saddlebrook cruises into today's regional tournament against Canterbury.
• Tornadoes nip Leopards 2-1
  DUNEDIN -- Clearwater's mastery of the basics included executing a perfect hit-and-run and a squeeze bunt.
• Canterbury boys, girls roll to wins
  ST. PETERSBURG -- Canterbury's boys swept all five singles and both doubles matches, and the girls won all but one singles match to win the Class A, District 10 championship at Eckerd College on Tuesday. Both teams will host Saddlebrook in today's regional match.
• Countryside routs Gibbs, wins PCAC
  ST. PETERSBURG -- If Countryside and Gibbs had been playing football, the Cougars would have won by only two scores. Unfortunately for Gibbs, they weren't. The Cougars capitalized on six Gibbs errors and a strong wind for their 17-3 PCAC title victory.
• 3A Regional tennis
  McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater.
• Strong field performances propel Mustangs, Blue Jackets
  Keswick's Christa Benton and Berkeley's Rolf Steier are overpowering in the distance races.
• Eight-run inning sinks Devils 11-5
  SEMINOLE -- For a change of pace this year, Jefferson coach Pop Cuesta decided to bypass the Saladino Tournament for a hop across the bridge to the Steve Georgiadis Tournament.