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April Royal Knights Ousted

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2008

Despite leaving what Newsome softball coach Jessi Kowal-Ray described as a "small village" on the bases, the Wolves collected solid defensive and pitching performances to earn a 3-0 victory against River Ridge in the Class 5A-Region 3 semifinals April 25.

Newsome and River Ridge labored through the first two innings, but the Wolves (19-7) produced all the offense they would need in the third.

With the bases loaded, Jennifer Owens singled, driving in Danielle Garcia and Laura Lovell for the 2-0 advantage. The next batter, Meaghan Schultz, hit a bloop single over the shortstop to bring in Jamie O'Hara.

In all, Newsome had nine hits, compared to five for River Ridge (18-7). Newsome pitcher Ashley Stubbs improved to 14-6.

Newsome nearly blew the game open in the sixth, when it had the bases loaded, but it could not add to the lead.

The Royal Knights, who beat their previous three opponents by a combined 29-4, had runners at second and third twice and had runners at first and second once. In those situations, River Ridge popped up twice and a batter struck out to end the innings.

It was the second consecutive season Newsome had eliminated River Ridge in the playoffs. In 2007, the Wolves knocked the Royal Knights out in the region quarterfinals.

WRESTLING COACH NAMED

Mitchell High School hired football assistant Justin Fenton as its new wrestling coach on April 7.

Fenton, who also was the wrestling assistant, replaces John Stanjeski, who retired at the end of the season after leading the Mustangs for three seasons. Stanjeski, who was with the program since the school opened in 2000, will continue to assist the program.

"He's just excited to get his hands in there and be the head coach," Mitchell athletic director Ian Mooney said of Fenton. "The kids love him."

GULF COACH HOSPITALIZED

Gulf boys track coach and assistant football coach Brian Wright was hospitalized in intensive care at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point on April 7 with a ruptured esophagus.

Wright was eating at his home on April 5 when a piece of food got stuck in his throat. In the process of trying to dislodge it, an esophageal tear occurred. He underwent emergency surgery, said girls track coach Dean Lofton, but remained heavily sedated.

Wright was released later in the week.

5 GIRLS SIGN HOOP GRANTS

According to Wesley Chapel girls basketball coach Warren Jones, for first time in the state five seniors from the same basketball team signed basketball scholarships at once. Ashley Carey, Desiree Vizcaino, Jeani Ducos and Cree McIver signed letters-of-intent to play at Hillsborough Community College and Caitlin Deboer signed a letter-of-intent to play at Montreat College in North Carolina on April 30.

"This is one of the reasons you coach. Getting into it, this is one of the things I was looking forward to. Last year we had one and this year we have five. I don't know what to do with myself. That's what they are in school for. All five girls are very serious about their academics. I expect them to go on to bigger and better things. This is a good start for them, having a free education."

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