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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2009

Brandon's Ramsay Commits To USF

Brandon baseball standout James Ramsay has verbally committed to the University of South Florida.

Ramsay, a junior outfielder, was receiving interest from numerous collegiate programs, Brandon coach Matt Stallbaumer said, but decided the hometown Bulls were the best fit because of the proximity and the relationship he'd established with Bulls coach Lelo Prado.

"It was known that James was one that had an opportunity to go numerous places," Stallbaumer said. "I think it came down to the opportunity to be close to home, and there is a comfort level he has with Coach Prado and that system."

Ramsay was one of the area's top performers as a sophomore, in the field and at the plate. In addition to playing stellar defense in center field (he committed only one error), Ramsay hit .467 with nine doubles, one triple, three home runs, 30 RBIs and 35 runs scored while helping Brandon reach the Class 5A state tournament.

Ravens, Gryphons Reach Soccer Final

It has been a long time coming for Alonso's girls soccer team, but the Ravens are going to the region playoffs for the first time after upsetting Class 6A-District 7 No. 1 seed Mitchell 2-1 in the tournament semifinals Wednesday night.

"I think they got tired of losing to the same team," Alonso coach Scott Cunningham said.

Mitchell eliminated Alonso in last season's district tournament, and handed the Ravens a 3-1 loss early in the season. With a senior class that includes Florida commit Brittany Burrows, FSU commit Tifani Mullen and North Florida commit Michelle Larrinaga, the fourth-seeded Ravens jumped to an early lead and held off the physical Mustangs.

Cunningham said the fact his players hadn't advanced out of the district the previous three seasons was a major motivation.

"That definitely had a huge part in it," he said. "Especially with the ones that started all four years, and that's all six of the seniors."

Alonso will meet rival and No..3 seed Sickles in the final after Jessica Morejon scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against No..2 seed St. Petersburg. After weathering a fierce Green Devils attack for the first half, Morejon sent the Gryphons to the district final, and back into the region tournament after a two-season absence.

Morejon said it would be big for the Gryphons to win their third district title.

"We've worked really hard for it," she said. "It would be a really big, exciting thing to do."

Adam Adkins, Nicholas J.E. Murray

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