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Spring Fling to feature top teams in area, state

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2001

BRANDON -- When Jonathan Sinclair helped organize the Spring Fling Tournament five years ago, he wanted to provide strong competition for teams in the area and around the state during spring break.

As a softball umpire for more than a decade, he also wanted to give something back. The umpires sponsor the tournament, prepare the fields, report the results and run all of the errands.

When he died two years ago, his comrades at the Hillsborough County Umpires Association committed to continue the tournament in his memory and named it the Jonathan Sinclair Memorial Spring Fling Softball Tournament.

Brandon won the first year. East Bay, Durant and Riverview won the next three tournaments.

"We had a full 16-team lineup in January, but Gibbs and Central dropped out, leaving a big hole in the upper bracket," Riverview coach Angie Slater said. "We are still hoping another pair of teams will be looking for some good games and call me to get in; even if they just want a couple of good games Friday. It is still a tough tournament with 14 good teams."

The lower bracket is a tough lineup. In Friday's games, Bloomingdale plays Orlando Boone, Brandon plays Ocala Forest, Clearwater faces Plant and Cape Coral Mariner plays East Bay.

Defending state champion Riverview faces Leesburg. King plays Zephyrhills, and Lakewood plays Durant. After the first round, winners face winners in the championship bracket and losers face losers in the consolation bracket.

"We have played in the Spring Fling each year and love it," East Bay coach Glenn Rodriquez said. "It is close and convenient for us. The competition is very good, and it give us four more games to improve.

"I want my team to face tough competition and polish up areas it needs improvement in. We are going to come out of this tournament a better team no matter the final outcome."

Spring fling tournament

WHERE: J.C. Handly field, Brandon.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday.

SCHEDULE: Friday -- Games are scheduled on three fields every two hours beginning at noon; last games are scheduled to start at 8 p.m; Saturday -- Games begin at 8 a.m.; the championship game is set for 6 p.m.

TEAMS: Riverview, Leesburg, King, Zephyrhills, Lakewood, Durant, Bloomingdale, Orlando Boone, Brandon, Ocala Forest, Clearwater, Plant, Cape Coral Mariner, East Bay.

TO PARTICIPATE: Call Riverview coach Angie Slater at 681-8338 (Two spots are open). -- Compiled by Terry Jones.

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