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District Outlook

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 4, 2008

Class 6A-7

Gaither won the district title last season and returns the 2007 Tampa Tribune Hillsborough County Softball Player of the Year in pitcher Morgan Grove. Countryside advanced to regionals as the runner-up, but made it to the 6A state final four where the team lost to Miami Palmetto. Sickles will be led by Troy-bound pitcher Khrystyne Ely, who was a Tribune first-team selection as a junior. Alonso battled for a fourth-place finish in the regular-season standings while Mitchell and St. Petersburg slipped to the bottom of the district.

Tribune pick: Gaither

Runner-up: Sickles

Class 6A-8

Arguably the most evenly matched district in the county, Durant returns key players from a squad that went undefeated in district play and won the title only to fall to Countryside in the region quarterfinals. Plant City, who returns senior catcher Kendall Dawson and junior pitcher Megan Still, advanced to the postseason as the runner-up, but lost to Gaither in the region quarterfinals. Riverview returns senior pitcher Ashley McClain, who is bound for Florida International, while East Bay returns numerous young players on a team that finished fourth in the regular-season standings. Sarasota, Sarasota Riverview and Lakeland won a combined three district games last season.

Tribune pick: Durant

Runner-up: Plant City

Class 5A-8

Newsome advanced to the 5A state final four but fell short of the championship game after being eliminated by West Boca Raton. The Wolves return Ashley Stubbs, one of the top pitchers in the county, and standout outfielder Jaime O'Hara. Bloomingdale advanced as the runner-up, but was eliminated by Land O'Lakes in the region quarterfinals. The Bulls return standout pitcher Kristen Kelly and South Carolina Upstate-bound center fielder Katelyn Molkenthin. Freedom will be led by Michigan State-bound shortstop Ali Grant, who was named to the Tribune's All-County second team as a junior. Infielder/outfielder Brittany Diehm will lead Tampa Bay Tech while Christina Cochran will lead Wharton on the mound. Armwood finished third in the regular-season standings.

Tribune pick: Newsome

Runner-up: Bloomingdale

Class 5A-10

Chamberlain returns three seniors in Mary Kate Smith, Gina Kafalas and Danielle Moreda along with a handful of talented underclassmen for a team that advanced to the 5A state semifinals last season. Plant, which will be led by N.C. State-bound infielder Hannah Ojeda, advanced as the runner-up but fell in the region quarterfinal to Palm Harbor. Robinson and Jefferson finished with identical 9-5 records in district play while Leto placed fifth in the final standings. Blake and Hillsborough are also members of this district.

Tribune pick: Chamberlain

Runner-up: Plant

Class 4A-9

Lake Wales won the 4A state championship last year. Bartow advanced as the runner-up, but was eliminated in the region semifinals. Spoto did not field a varsity team or a junior varsity team last season, but first-year head coach Kelon Whelan is confident the program's first team will be competitive. The Spartans will be led by sophomore pitcher Alicia Harden, junior infielder Jessica Wagner and freshman infielder Allison Wright.

Tribune pick: Lake Wales

Runner-up: Bartow

Class 3A-11

St. Petersburg Catholic won the district title while Academy of the Holy Names finished as the runner-up. Both squads were eliminated in the region semifinals. Tampa Catholic finished third in the district standings while Berkeley Prep finished fourth. Lennard, which opened in 2006, was winless in district action.

Tribune pick: St. Pete Catholic

Runner-up: Holy Names

Class 2A-9

The newly formed district includes Tampa Prep, Indian Rocks Christian, Calvary Christian and Bishop McLaughlin. The Terrapins finished 9-9 and 5-5 last season as a member of District 11, then a seven-team district. Calvary Christian, which last year competed in Class 1A, finished 16-6 and advanced to the region quarterfinals.

Tribune pick: Calvary Christian

Runner-up: Tampa Prep.

Class 1A-9

Only two teams in this district, but Seffner Christian graduated five seniors from a team that ended the 2007 season 18-3 with a region semifinal appearance. Lakeland Sonrise Christian advanced to the region quarterfinals as the runner-up.

Tribune pick: Seffner Christian

Runner-up: Sonrise Christian

Class 1A-10

Cambridge won the district title and after defeating Sonrise Christian in the region quarterfinals, lost to St. Petersburg Canterbury in the semifinals. Bayshore Christian lost 14-4 to Cambridge in the district final and lost in the first round of the regional tournament to Seffner Christian. Tampa Bay Christian Academy is also a member of this district.

Tribune pick: Cambridge

Runner-up: Bayshore Christian

Class 1A-11

St. Petersburg Canterbury, the district champ, lost in the region final to Southwest Florida Christian. Calvary Christian, now a member of 2A-9, advanced as the runner-up. The lone county team is Citrus Park Christian.

Tribune pick: Canterbury

Runner-up: Lakeside Christian

TRIBUNE PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Chamberlain

The Chiefs, who advanced to the Class 5A final four last season, return three college-bound seniors in Mary Kate Smith (Stanford), Gina Kafalas (USF) and Danielle Moreda (Saint Leo).

2. Newsome

The Wolves made a surprise run to the 5A final four last season, led by Appalachian State-bound pitcher Ashley Stubbs and outfielder Jamie O'Hara. Both return this season.

3. Gaither

The Cowboys return the 2007 Tribune Softball Player of the Year in Morgan Grove, who pitched the team to a 6A region final. Infielder Kate Forbes (Charleston Southern) leads the defense.

4. Durant

The defending 6A-8 champ returns a trio of talent in senior pitcher Sara DeMuth (Augusta State), senior catcher Kristen Jones (Augusta State) and junior shortstop Kelsey Horton (Florida).

5. Plant

The Panthers, who advanced to the 5A region semifinals in 2007, are led by N.C. State-bound second baseman Hannah Ojeda, center fielder Grace Slone Collins and third baseman/catcher Sarah Bowling.

6. Plant City

The Raiders, who finished 15-9 last season, will be led by Alabama-bound catcher Kendall Dawson and junior pitcher Megan Still.

7. Sickles

The Gryphons, who will be led by Troy-bound pitcher Khrystyne Ely, finished 17-7 last season. South Florida Community College commitment Courtney Flach will control the infield.

8. Riverview

The Sharks finished 18-9 last season and will be led by Florida International-bound pitcher/outfielder Ashley McClain and Saint Leo-bound seniors Brittany Yates and Dianne Gonzalez.

9. Bloomingdale

The Bulls, who finished 17-11 last season, will be led by Saint Leo-bound pitcher Kristen Kelly and South Carolina Upstate-bound center fielder Katelyn Molkenthin.

10. East Bay

The Indians graduated just one senior from last year's 11-14 team and return top hitters Brittany Davis and Kimberly Pierce and sophomore pitcher Kayla Cox.

Nick Williams

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