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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

NEWS AND NOTES

Plant's Givens Is Headed To Oklahoma State

Plant High baseball standout Mychal Givens has made his college decision. Givens is headed to Oklahoma State, joining a pretty impressive list of Panthers to sign with the Cowboys in recent years.

Givens signed with the Cowboys at the end of the early signing period, Plant baseball coach Dennis Braun said. Givens is the fourth baseball player during Braun's tenure at Plant to sign with the Cowboys, joining outfielders Corey Brown and Dylan Brown and catcher Jared Womack.

Givens, a shortstop/right-handed pitcher, is regarded as one of the nation's top high school prospects. This summer, he played in two major national all-star games - the Under Armour All-America Game and the Aflac All-American Classic - and received the 2008 Jackie Robinson Award, given annually to the nation's top rising senior baseball player. In the two summers prior to that, Givens played with Team USA's youth and junior national teams.

As a junior with the Panthers, Givens hit .421 with 17 RBIs. He also went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA, striking out 48 in 43 innings pitched.

Also, Wharton senior baseball player Ryan Gawrych has verbally committed to USF, Wildcats coach Scott Hoffman said Monday.

Gawrych, an outfielder, made his commitment this weekend and will sign with the Bulls when the regular signing period begins in April.

A four-year starter at Wharton, Gawrych hit .348 with 20 runs scored and eight stolen bases as a junior.

"He's a tremendously hard-working player. His work ethic is second to none," Hoffman said. "He's also got great speed - he's a 6.5 second 60 yard dash guy. And, he's a great student-athlete. I wish I had 20 of him."

FOOTBALL: Middleton senior defensive lineman Andreal Coleman has verbally committed to Georgia Southern, Tigers coach Harry Hubbard said.

Coleman, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound tackle, finished the season with 33 tackles. He missed the first four games of the season with a leg injury.

"Coleman is a great player, no ifs, ands or buts about it," Hubbard said. "He knows how to use his strength quite well."

He chose the Eagles over offers from Troy and Cincinnati.

SOFTBALL: Plant junior outfielder Erika Arcuri has verbally committed to Florida International, Panthers coach Melissa Sigmon said.

"She has the ability to be as successful as she wants to be at FIU," Sigmon said. "It's a good opportunity for her. She can stay close to home and her parents can visit her."

Arcuri batted .486 with 34 hits, 22 runs and 14 RBIs as a sophomore.

Adam Adkins, Nick Williams

NEWS AND NOTES

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