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County Hopes To Keep State Softball

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By NICK WILLIAMS

nwilliams@tampatrib.com

Published: March 19, 2009

Hillsborough County is the center of the softball universe.

Literally.

Plant City is home of the International Softball Federation, the worldwide governing body of softball including the Olympics, and it is the future site of the Softball Hall Of Fame.

Plant City Stadium also has been home of the state high school softball tournament the past three seasons. From 2002 through 2005, the state tournament was held at Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa.

The county's two-year contract with the Florida High School Athletic Association, however, is set to expire after this season. Spokeswoman Cristina Alvarez said after the season, the FHSAA will accept bids from all counties that want to host the tournament.

Hillsborough County Schools athletic director Lanness Robinson could not definitively say the county will bid after the season to host the event for another two years.

"That all depends on funding," he said. "We may still get it back. We enjoy sponsoring it."

The county already has signed a two-year contract to host the state boys and girls soccer tournaments through 2010.

"Plant City Stadium is a great facility for fans and the players," Robinson said. "It's a good set-up."

AN ATHLETE, AND QUITE A STUDENT

Last season, Wharton ended the 2008 season 3-17. The Wildcats are 8-4 so far in 2009, and one of its key weapons is the consummate student-athlete.

Wharton senior infielder Christina Vail has the talent to play softball at the next level. This season, she has a .342 batting average with 13 hits, 12 runs and seven RBIs. She also has a .955 fielding percentage, with 42 putouts and only two errors, for the Wildcats.

Despite her talent on the field, Vail's ticket to college is her intellect. The third baseman will be attending Boston College on an academic scholarship this fall. Last semester, Vail had a 6.0 weighted GPA and scored 31 on the ACT and 1,300 on the SAT.

She plans to major in biology.

FEATURED PLAYER

TARA THOMAS,

PLANT CITY

Senior Shortstop

Thomas, who is known as "Red" by her teammates for her long red hair, leads the Raiders in four statistical categories - batting average (.527), hits (29), runs (24) and stolen bases (26). Her 26 stolen bases also leads Hillsborough County.

FEATURED PLAYER

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 259-7851

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