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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2009

Berkeley Prep's Roehn verbally commits to USF

Berkeley Prep boys soccer standout T.J. Roehn has verbally committed to the University of South Florida.

Roehn scored 26 goals and added 21 assists last season for the Buccaneers, who reached the Class 3A state championship game. He also was considering Villanova and Pittsburgh, but decided staying in Tampa was the right choice for him after making a recent visit to USF.

"USF has always been really good, and I wanted to play for a team that has good facilities and has had a good history," said Roehn, who joins Clearwater Chargers teammate and Palm Harbor University standout Ben Sweat as a Bulls commitment.

Roehn said the Bulls have shown interest in him from the first day coaches were allowed to contact recruits, and he has appreciated the advice given to him by USF coach George Kiefer.

"He's always been very honest with me," Roehn said. "USF was one of the first teams to call me on the first day they could call their recruits. They've always been very interested, and I've only heard good things about them."

Baseball

Alonso senior SS Tito Martinez has verbally committed to Polk Community College, Ravens coach Landy Faedo said.

Martinez has been an asset for the Ravens in the field and at the plate. He put together his best offensive season with Alonso in 2009, hitting .385 with seven doubles, two triples, a home run, seven RBIs and 33 runs scored out of the leadoff spot for the Class 6A state champion Ravens. He also stole 20 bases.

In other news, Faedo recently was named the American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond High School Regional Coach of the Year. Faedo was one of eight coaches honored at the Division I level, where he was the selection for Region 3.

Softball

Gaither High seniors and twin sisters Megan and Kristen McGraff will sign with the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Nov. 12 at the high school, Gaither athletic director Henry Strapp announced.

Kristen batted .439 with 29 hits, 22 RBIS and three home runs and also went 11-9 on the mound with a 2.33 ERA, 115 strikeouts and 40 walks. Megan, an infielder, batted .377 with 29 hits, 15 RBIs and five doubles.

Basketball

Hillsborough County athletic director Lanness Robinson said Wednesday boys and girls varsity basketball will play doubleheaders this season. Robinson said the decision is a result of moving all junior varsity basketball games to Saturdays because some schools could not field JV teams. He said three JV teams will play a best-of-three format on Saturdays.

Robinson said it was not a financial decision, but in March he told the Tribune he was preparing a plan to save the department money in anticipation of mandatory cutbacks that included possible doubleheaders or shorter schedules.

"It may help the gate," he said. "There's a question mark there."

Football

When Alonso hosts Gaither on Friday night with a chance to clinch a Class 5A playoff spot, the Ravens will be without one of their top offensive players, RB/WR Jesse Anaya.

Anaya, the team's second-leading receiver with 403 yards and seven touchdowns, was not on the field Wednesday as the Ravens prepared for the Cowboys.

"He's no longer a part of the football team," said Alonso coach Mike Heldt, who would not give specifics about Anaya's absence. "Other guys will step up. Dashon Leggette is going to be stepping in running back-wise, and we've got a bunch of other people who will step up. It's just another little thing of adversity we have to deal with, but we'll deal with it."

Nicholas J.E. Murray, Adam Adkins, Nick Williams, Katherine Smith

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