Sideline

Compiled by JOHN C. COTEY, STEVE LEE, JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000

Quotable

"Well, we should have won the last two games, too."

-- Wayne Parzik, Ridgewood football coach, after his team beat Wesley Chapel 27-3 on Thursday. The Rams improved to 3-3, but Parzik lamented that his team also could have beaten Zephyrhills and Palm Harbor U.

Volleyball

Cobras reclaim No. 1

Three losses during the weekend did not deter the Florida Sportswriters Association from restoring Hudson to the No. 1 position in Class 4A volleyball rankings.

In the poll released Tuesday, the Cobras captured six of 11 first-place votes and 102 overall to move up from second, overtaking Clearwater (21-5), which dropped to No. 2. Hernando (17-1) is No. 3, giving the Tampa Bay area a sweep of the 4A poll's top three slots.

Hudson (19-4) went to the Winter Springs Tournament during the weekend and finished 2-3. It beat No. 10 Gainesville Eastside and Class 6A Dr. Phillips on the first day, but went 0-3 on Saturday with losses to Winter Springs, Gainesville and Fort Myers.

All of the Cobras' losses have been to higher-classified teams. Winter Springs (19-7) received votes in the 6A poll, Gainesville (23-4) is No. 1 in 5A and Fort Myers is No. 3 in 5A. Hudson's other loss was to River Ridge in the semifinals of the Suncoast Classic.

Cross country

Rams falter at Citrus

Ridgewood didn't exactly put its best foot forward at Saturday's Citrus Invitational.

Rams coach Glenn Cable arrived at Whispering Pines Park with much of his team missing, including Jim Vitale.

"There was a time change Saturday. It went from 8 to 9 a.m. I changed the bus from 6 to 6:30," Cable said. "We didn't have practice on Friday and I told them on Thursday. Some of them forgot.

"There were at least four cars of kids who were there at 6, waited 15 or 20 minutes and went home."

Cable wasn't certain if Vitale was one of the early-risers. Vitale was out late Friday night as part of the Homecoming court.

"He may have overslept. I don't go after them if they're not there," Cable said. "It doesn't matter. You don't need to qualify for the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet."

Ridgewood did not have enough runners to register team scores for either the boys or girls. Cable can't remember the last time that happened.

"We just want to put this behind us. We have the post-season ahead," Cable said.

Golf

Bucs plan tournament

Gulf High will hold its annual alumni golf scramble Oct. 22 at Fox Hollow Golf Club. The tournament will tee off at 1 p.m. and the registration fee is $75 per player. For more information, please call (727) 836-3627.

Best bet

WHAT: Swimming

WHEN/WHERE: Tonight at 6 at the New Port Richey Recreation Center pool off Van Buren Street.

THE SKINNY: Three-time Sunshine Athletic Conference champion River Ridge is not as dominating as in recent years and third-year Ridgewood is vastly improved. Ridgewood's boys team is 7-0 and is the only squad to have defeated Land O'Lakes. The good news for Ridgewood is its depth, but the bad news is the Rams, like everyone else, have no one who can beat state champion Kevin Rumble, the Knights swimmer who wins whatever event coach Athena Graham enters him in. The girls meet should be closer. River Ridge (6-1), which tied Pasco County powerhouse Hudson earlier this season, is led by Tara Jacobs, Tiffany Muncey, Gabby Flexor and Dru Paonessa. Ridgewood's (5-2) Emanda Doscher is one of the county's best divers.

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