Sideline

By JOHN C. COTEY, STEVE LEE, LINDA ROTHSTEIN, JAMAL THALJI and PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2001

Girls basketball

Ram commits to West Florida

Alayna Sherwood, who became Ridgewood's all-time leading scorer and rebounder this season, has orally committed to West Florida, she said Wednesday.

Sherwood was one of the county's best players the past three seasons and as the starting center led the Rams to a 23-5 record this past season and 26-6 in 1999-2000. Both seasons, the Rams went undefeated in Sunshine Athletic Conference and district play.

Sherwood averaged 17 points and nine rebounds this season.

A 6-footer, Sherwood's inside presence and ability to shoot from the wings allowed her to set the school scoring record in January and the rebounding record a few weeks later. An All-SAC selection recently for the third time, Sherwood also was named to the Times All-North Suncoast team as a sophomore and the Times All-Pasco County team as a junior. This season's team hasn't been announced. "They were the most interested, and I really liked the campus," Sherwood said. "It's far enough away but still in the state, and I liked all the (other players). I will probably get to play there."

Baseball

Gators to face stiff test

Land O'Lakes' claim to being the county's only unbeaten team will get its toughest test tonight as the Gators host Dunedin at 7 p.m. in a Class 4A, District 9 game.

Dunedin is the No. 4 team in the country, according to Baseball America. It might not be at full strength, however. Three of its star pitchers -- Kyle Schmidt (Georgia Tech signee), Matt Cheek and Bryan Banks were injured in a car crash Thursday.

Schmidt likely is out for the year with a broken left (non-throwing) arm. Cheek sustained bruises to his shoulder and hip but is expected back next week. And Banks received more than 100 stitches above his left eye and left earlobe. He is expected back in two weeks. The Falcons' other starter, John Irving, beat Clearwater 8-2 on Tuesday. The Gators did pretty well against nationally ranked teams last year, beating Zephyrhills handily twice, though they lost to Sarasota in the Class 5A regional semifinals.

"We played in big games last year, so that experience should help," said second baseman Greg Rosenthal, who leads the Gators with two home runs. "We're pretty confident. I think we're going to step up."

Which is all coach Cal Baisley is asking for in the biggest game of the young season in Pasco County.

"We're looking forward to it," he said. "I just tell the guys not to play scared and to play their best. That's all that matters. It's still early yet."

The Gators are 3-0 and coming off a 6-0 win over Tarpon Springs on Tuesday. Jose Santa got the win with an eight-strikeout performance.

Starkey, Brian Baisley hurting

The Gators' starter tonight would have been David Starkey, but Baisley said Wednesday the right-handed senior would miss the next four weeks with a partial ligament tear in his pitching elbow.

Brian O'Dell has been called up from the junior varsity team, though Rich Neste will start in Starkey's place. Land O'Lakes also might be without catcher Brian Baisley.

His right hand, which was injured during the last week of basketball season, was bandaged at Wednesday's practice. He tried to swing a bat but was unable to and instead shagged fly balls.

College basketball

Conquistadors headed to state

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco-Hernando Community College had four players score in double figures Tuesday as it beat Polk Community College 80-70 in Winter Haven to gain a berth in the state tournament for a fifth consecutive season.

Not since 1998 has PHCC had to advance via the tournament. The state tournament takes the regular-season champion, which PHCC had been the past two seasons before Hillsborough CC won it this season. That forced PHCC to qualify by winning the Suncoast Conference tournament.

College soccer

Newberry pipeline grows

Former Cobra Bobby Ladimir has been recruiting Pasco County players to Newberry College (S.C.) since he became coach of the Division II school in 1999.

Now there is a twist to the pipeline. Ladimir has recruited his first coach -- Tony Koutsos, a Ridgewood assistant for the past four seasons.

Koutsos met Ladimir at a Ridgewood-Hudson game in December and mentioned he was considering pursuing an education degree at Lander University (S.C.). Ladimir suggested he come to Newberry, where Koutsos could coach as well.

"It was cool. It just kind of happened right then and there," said Koutsos, a forward on Ridgewood's 1991-92 district championship team.

Plans were made, and Koutsos joined Newberry for spring practice Monday.

"When I got here, there were some familiar faces," Koutsos said, referring to Justin Nealon (River Ridge), David Anderson (Land O'Lakes), Matt Lemming (Gulf) and Rick Ladimir (Hudson), Bobby's younger brother.

In the fall, there could be a few more players Koutsos is familiar with. Coach Ladimir has expressed interest in John Briscoe (Zephyrhills) and midfielders Billy Boyko (Hudson) and Kyle Crawford (Land O'Lakes).

Koutsos also plans on talking with Ridgewood's Meyers brothers, Daniel and Jason, and Shawn Bean.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright