Sports Brief
Pirates Seek 10th Straight Regional Playoff Berth
When the District 4A-7 baseball tournament opens next week at Death Valley the Pasco Pirates will be looking for its fifth straight district title and 10th consecutive trip to the state regional tournament. Six of those nine regional playoff berths have come as district champions. Those district titles came in 2001, ‘03 and ‘06 through ‘09. The Big Red was runners-up in ‘02, ‘04 and ‘05.
Coach RICK GILES Pirates will not enter this year’s tournament as the favorite, but are given a good chance of finishing second and earning their 10th straight state regional tourney berth. Coach Giles does not agree with this prediction. He believes his Pirates can earn their 10th straight regional berth and the team’s fifth straight district championship. The team to beat for a district title is the Wesley Chapel Wildcats
The Pirates led by pitchers BRENNAN ALLEN, CHRIS DIOUS and KEVIN GUDE are hoping not to face the Wildcats before the championship game. The final seeding will determine which playoff game Allen will pitch. If the Pirates reach the semifinals it could be Allen to try to nail down a regional playoff berth. Another district title would be nice, clinching a playoff berth is more important.
Offensive wise the Pirates will count on the bats of TREY DUDLEY-GILES, COLE STANCIL TYLER BROCK, and Allen. Should the Pirates face the Wildcats either in the semifinals or finals they will have to prove they can beat the ‘Cats for the first time this season. The Big Red will have to successfully swing the bats against some strong Wesley Chapel pitching led by Cole MIRAGLIA and BRANDON MUMAW.
With both The Pirates and Wildcats having a good season coach Giles is expecting a good crowd for the seven team tournament. Thanks to the Florida High School Activities Association, realignment has placed the Zephyrhills Bulldogs in District 4A-8. That tournament also begins next week.
Karate, from Dade City, held their 31st Annual Spivey Karate Spring Dragonfire Tournament recently at the Ridge Manor Community Center. Approximately 100 participates took part in 50 divisions of safe and friendly competition. The Ridge Manor/Webster Spivey Karate team won the Team Championship over Spivey Karate teams from San Antonio/Lake Jovita (in 2nd place), Dade City (3rd) & Zephryhills/Wesley Chapel (4th). Three of the four Overall Grand Champion winners were from the San Antonio/Lake Jovita team. These were Shawn Bohne (5 yrs. old and under), Nathaniel Willey (6-12 yrs. old) and Bucky Jones (teen/adult). 12 year old K. J. Sellers, from the Dade City contingent, won the Black Belt Grand Champion trophy. The winners of the individual divisions are as follows:
Dragonfire Spring Tournament Grand Champions; (left to right) Bucky Jones, Nathaniel Willey, K. J. Sellers, Shawn Bohne. Story and photo provided by William Spivey. For more info on Spivey Karate call (352) 518-9409
WEAPONS: Anthony Lister (SA/LJ), Peyton Anderson (DC), Alex Myers (ZH/WC), Pierce Thomas (DC), Abby Marler (DC), Ana Chavez (DC), Bucky Jones.
FORMS: Shawn Bohne, Alexander Robinson (DC), Anthony Lister, Peyton Anderson, Alex Myers, Cole Darbyshire (DC), Nathaniel Willey, Ana Chavez, Bucky Jones.
SPARRING: Shawn Bohne, Grant Pitchford (DC), Michael Woodard (DC), Pierce Thomas, Logan Roberts (DC), Nathaniel Willey, Sheena Mattern (RM/WB), Sarah Zorn (ZH/WC), Bucky Jones, Robert Thomas (DC).
TRADITIONAL KATA: Austin Fiorelli (DC), Anthony Lister, Bucky Jones.
MASTERS CLASS: Jorg Mattern (RM/WB)
ADVANCED MIXED BELT DIVISIONS
PADDED WEAPONS: John Sammons (DC): KATANA; John Sammons: SAI JITSU; Justin Gragg (RM/WB).
BLACK BELT DIVISIONS
MASTERS CLASS/1st DEGREE BLACK BELTS: Brandon Buchanan (RM/WB)
MASTERS CLASS/2nd DEGREE BLACK BELTS& UP: John Sammons.
WEAPONS: K. J. Sellers, Justin Gragg, Daniel Sammons (DC).
KATA: K. J. Sellers, Justin Gragg, Amanda Sammons (DC).
SPARRING: Rebecca Sammons (DC), Daniel Sammons, John Sammons, Tristan Norby (DC).