It's spring tournament time throughout Hillsborough

Tennis, baseball and track and field begin their state tournaments this week.

By ROD GIPSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 22, 2001

NORTHDALE -- Liz Rodgers won't have all of her teammates, but she is otherwise retracing her steps of a year ago. After advancing to the state tennis finals as a No. 1 player in 2000, the Gaither senior is on her way again after winning the Class 4A-District 5 singles title Tuesday in New Port Richey.

Rodgers, who will attend the University of North Florida in Jacksonville on a tennis scholarship, defeated Palm Harbor University's Huldah Dayton 6-2, 6-3 to win the championship and advance to regional play. But despite the efforts of Rodgers, and teammate Brianna Williams, the Cowboys lost the team title to Palm Harbor University 18-15 while the Sickles girls placed third.

In other girls district play, Wharton just missed out on the Class 3A-11 title 15-13 when the Wildcats' Jennifer Comegys and Carrie Leitch fell 6-2, 6-4 to King's Linda Tien and Jen Fiorica. Leto and Chamberlain tied for fifth place with a point each.

On the boys' side, Gaither captured the Class 4A-5 title while winning just one singles match but having enough total points to edge Hillsborough 13-12. The Cowboys' Chris Huffer, Dylan Marks, Adam Bilzerian and Nathan Perez all advanced to the singles finals although only Perez (No. 4) was a winner. However, the four paired up to also advance to the finals in doubles competition. Sickles placed third but had success at No. 1 singles, where Dusty Dixon defeated Huffer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to claim the district title and Eddie Zaragoza and Justin Yiznitsky teamed up to take the No. 2 doubles event.

In 3A-11 play, Plant surprised Wharton 16-15 on the strength of its wins in doubles. Still, the Wildcats were winners in No. 1 singles, where Konstantin Lazarov beat Chamberlain's ace Carl Fisher 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

The Class 4A and 3A state finals are scheduled for Sunday through Wednesday at Sanlando Park and Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs.

BASEBALL: With the regular season winding down for most squads, teams are posturing for positions and seedings for the upcoming district tournaments, which begin April 23 throughout the county.

Gaither closed the regular season April 13 with a 13-1 win against Blake that left the Cowboys 16-6 on the season and among the teams receiving honorable mention in the state's Class 6A poll. Leto and Sickles, meanwhile, ended regular season play the same day with a 7-6 contest going to the Falcons. Leto, which scored in the final inning to pick up the win, ends the regular campaign at 8-15 while the Saladino Tournament champion Gryphons end the regular season 13-11.

Gaither and Sickles will compete with Bloomingdale and host Durant Tuesday through Friday. Leto will play at Jefferson in the 4A-10 event also Tuesday through Friday. The Falcons will compete with the host Dragons in addition to Armwood, Blake, Brandon, Jefferson and Tampa Bay Tech. And in the Class 5A-11 tournament at King, the host Lions will face off with Chamberlain, Wharton, Plant and Hillsborough Monday through Thursday.

TRACK & FIELD: Times and sites for the district track meets have been set and after a standout season, Wharton will be a host. The Wildcats will host the Class 4A-5 meet Thursday featuring Gaither, Hillsborough, Palm Harbor University, River Ridge and Sickles. The Class 3A-11 meet will be held a day later at Blake featuring Chamberlain, Leto, Blake, King, Plant and Tampa Bay Tech.

HONORS: Gaither's Kenny Huebner was honored April 6 as Hillsborough County Basketball Player of the Year. A 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who is headed to the University of South Florida on a football scholarship, Huebner earned the award after averaging 13 points and nine rebounds a game for a Gaither team that went 18-9, won the Class 6A-7 district title and advanced to the regional semifinals. Hillsborough County awards seniors each season based on sportsmanship, academics, leadership and athletic accomplishments.

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