Thursday's Prep News And Notes

13 Suspended After Freedom-TBT Brawl

Five Freedom players, five Tampa Bay Tech players and TBT JV coach Henrico Choi have been suspended for six weeks for their involvement in a brawl during the first quarter of a district football game Friday, according to documents released by the FHSAA on Wednesday. Tech has been fined $3,250 while Freedom was fined $1,700. Two more Freedom players were suspended for seven school days.

Under FHSAA Policy 32, Tampa Bay Tech received five counts of gross unsporting conduct disqualifications at $250 each and an additional $500 under Policy 44 Item 23. Choi's fine was an additional $1,500. Freedom received four counts of gross unsporting conduct disqualifications at $250 each and two counts of regular unsporting conduct disqualifications at $100 each and was fined an additional $500. Both schools were placed on administrative probation until the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

According the documents, several athletes from both teams were reported throwing punches, as well as Choi, who was reported kicking an unidentified Freedom player, pulling the face mask of a Freedom player and shoving Freedom head coach Marquel Blackwell.

On Saturday, The Tampa Tribune reported Freedom's Michael DeTerlizzi, Lamario Kelly, Coril Joseph, Adam Gruber, Nathan Naif and Rolando Fines were ejected from the game as well as Tampa Bay Tech's Delmar Shorter, Jevario Buie and Choi. The FHSAA reported another Freedom player was ejected for a separate personal foul.

The schools have decided to take extra disciplinary actions, handing out 10 school-day suspensions for the athletes involved.

FHSAA spokesperson Robert Hernberger said each school would have to send a letter to the FHSAA commissioner to appeal the suspensions and fines and-or submit a video tape of the incident to refute the penalties.

Tampa Bay Tech won the game 19-0 to improve to 4-0 while Freedom fell to 0-3. Tech plays at Spoto on Friday while Freedom plays at Alonso.

Messages left with Blackwell and Tech head coach C.C. Culpepper went unanswered.

CRUMBLEY RETURNING TO DIAMOND: Former longtime Jesuit baseball coach John Crumbley is returning to the diamond, announcing Wednesday he will serve as a volunteer assistant at Florida Gulf Coast University this season, where his son, J.J., is a senior pitcher.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Crumbley said.

Crumbley, currently Jesuit's athletic director and golf coach, said he has been granted a semester leave of absence by Principal Joe Sabin and Father Joseph Doyle, the school's president. Crumbley said in January he will move to Fort Myers for the season, the Eagles' first in Division I, and will serve as a substitute teacher in Lee County to supplement his income during the season.

TIGERS WIN SHOWDOWN: Jesuit junior Jack Twomey shot a 1-under 35 Wednesday at Rogers Park to help the Tigers' golf team edge Plant 154-156 in a showdown of two of the top teams in Hillsborough County.

To read more about the match, go to the Prep Sports page at TBO.com.

SEBA SHOWCASE: Saturday, boys basketball players from the area will have a chance to put their talents on display in front of dozens of Division II, III, NAIA and JuCo scouts at the Southeast Basketball Academy Showcase at Tampa Prep from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The athletes will participate in individual drills and play in 3-on-3 and full-court scrimmages.

For more information about the SEBA Showcase, visit www.southeastbasket!ballacademy.com.
Nick Williams, Adam Adkins