Tampa Catholic Baseball Loses Heart-breaker to CCC

A late-game rally snatched the game away from the Crusaders.

The Tampa Catholic High School Crusaders jumped on Clearwater Central Catholic High School starting pitcher senior Charlie Lamar early and often. TC senior Nick Perez led off with a double to right field, senior Nick Alfonso moved him to second on a bunt, senior Nicco Millan flied out, then senior Gio Marrero drove in Perez. The Crusaders sent two across in the first inning, one across in the second, two across in the third and gradually wore down a hot Marauder team. CCC was only able to send across two runs in the second inning off sophomores Johnny Karaphillis and Benny Mendizabal hits; then only one across in the fourth inning off a wild pitch. TC was out-hitting, out-maneuvering and basically exerting their will over first, senior …

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Chamberlain High and Tampa Catholic Ball Players Make Most of Season's End

A Chamberlain High School softball player plays her final game while a Tampa Catholic High School baseball player is making the most of his first season.

Female Athlete of the Week: Kaitlynn Diaz Kaitlynn Diaz played her final game as the Chamberlain High School Lady Chiefs second baseman on Tuesday as her team lost to Venice by a score of 4-3 in the first round of regional play.  For the season, Diaz averaged .327 at the plate with 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. The combination of her experience and her skill made her a key contributor to the Lady Chiefs undefeated (12-0) record against district opponents. For the season, the team was 20-8 and went undefeated at home. “It's a really bad way to end the season. The chemistry just wasn’t there,” Diaz said of her team's effort against Venice. “This was our worst day and we lost by one, imagine us on our best day.” Male Athlete of the Week: Joseph …

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Sports Therapist Helping Tampa Catholic Athletes

Vince Lodato has worked with Tampa Catholic High School’s softball team for three years, helping players deal with stresses on and off the diamond.

As any parent knows, the teenage mind is a complex thing. Still forming, still learning about who they are as people and how they may fit into the world as adults. That goes for high school athletes as well, who have the added pressure of playing for a team but trying to excel individually. Tampa Catholic High School softball coach Vernon Tatum has been around long enough to know sometimes his players need someone to unload to other than a parent or coach. Someone who understands the ever changing psyche of teens but who also understands the pressure facing athletes. About three years ago Tatum met Vince Lodato when Tatum was coaching Lodato’s daughter, Christina, on Tatum’s traveling rec team, the Mustangs. Lodato holds a Master’s degree …

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Athletes of the Week

A Hillsborough baseball player is doing everything he can with limited effect while a Tampa Catholic lacrosse player paved the way for her team's success.

Female Athlete of the Week: Bernadette Leone The Tampa Catholic High Schooll girls lacrosse team made it to the final of the state playoffs thanks to the efforts of captain and leading scorer Leone. The Lady Crusaders would lose in the final but it was an incredible run for a team that had only a handful of seniors.  Leone led the team in scoring with 45 goals and 17 asssists heading into the state tournament. She is the pulse of the Lady Crusaders attack and an experienced leader. "She is really something," Tampa Catholic lacrosse coach Tim McGroff said. "She was amazing for us this year. We just tried to give her chances and whenever we did she took them." Male Athlete of the Week: Devin Lee It's been a rough year for Hillsborough High …

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Tampa Catholic and Middleton High Players Take Teams to New Heights

Tampa Catholic's girls lacrosse is having success thanks to a freshman scorer while Middleton baseball is rolling because of senior experience on the mound.

Female athlete of the week: Veronica Cartaya The freshman attacker helped her Tampa Catholic High School lacrosse team win the district championship over Wesley Chapel this week by scoring five goals and assisting on two other goals. The Crusaders rallied from two goals down at halftime with 13 unanswered goals in the second half. Castaya contributed significantly to the recovery. The Crusaders are 12-0 this season. "I just wanted to do it for our defenders," Cartaya said. "They really picked up their game in the second half so I was inspired to do the same." Male athlete of the week: Eric Comstock After four years, Middleton High Schoo's Eric Comstock is part of a winning team and leading the way. With a 4-2 record on the mound this year…

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Crusader Girls Win District Lacrosse Championship

The Tampa Catholic girls lacrosse team won the district title on Tuesday night with a victory over Wesley Chapel.

Tampa Catholic High School and Wesley Chapel faced off on the lacrosse field Tuesday night to see who would take the district title and host in the regional round on Friday. The Crusaders would trail by two goals at halftime but rallied in the second half, scoring 13 unanswered goals and shutting Wesley Chapel out. The key was for the Crusaders to clear the air. "I think we were all just sleeping a bit in the first half," junior midfielder Gia DeNicola said. "I don't think we had our focus. Our captains really did a good job of getting everyone pumped up at half time and saying how they felt. When we came out we had a mentality of 'lets do this'. The defense stepped up their game and the rest of the team followed." Within minutes of the …

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Tampa Catholic Lacrosse Aims for Magical Season

Eleven seniors will graduate from the Crusader lacrosse program this year.

The 2011 spring season represents one last opportunity for Tampa Catholic lacrosse. If the Crusaders are going to pursue glory, this year will have to be the year. With 11 seniors set to depart from the squad, this season has a special meaning for both the players and the coaching staff. “We’re a family,” senior defensive midfielder Aaron Buckley said. “Right now, we’re taking it game by game and trying to collect victories. We want to appreciate everyday we have as a family. We know that this is it. We want to make it a special season.” For coach Jim Gillies, the exodus of so many seniors will lead to a rebuilding season next year. With the non-senior talent he has on this squad however, Gillies is confident that his team can still …

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Back-to-Back Championships for Tampa Catholic Girls Basketball

The Lady Crusaders won their second consecutive Class 3A state championship with a 48-37 victory over North Broward in Lakeland 2Thursday night.

Nancy Kroll challenged her team to beat other good teams after a pair of losses in early December. Since then, the Tampa Catholic High School girls basketball team has gone on to win 24 straight games and lift its second state championship in two years. Star point guard Meghan Keough led the Lady Crusaders with a 30 point performance in the 48-37 victory over North Broward High School. Throughout the evening, Keough was able to get to the basket for easy points due to Broward's fear of Micah Kroll, who had been hot from beyond the three point line in her previous game. "They were keying in on Micah and it left a lot of space for Meghan to get to the basket," coach Kroll said. "We got baskets when we needed them. Kai Jones had a big game …

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Mike Wells

9:32 am on Saturday, February 26, 2011

Congrats to your entire family!   more ›

Player of the Week

Point Guards Excel at Chamberlain and Tampa Catholic

Patch picks Blaire Davis and Lashawn Harrison as top performing athletes of the week.

Female athlete of the week: Blaire Davis Davis wasn't the starting point guard for the Chiefs girls basketball team when the year began, but by the time it ended she was playing starter minutes. In her first year since transferring to Chamberlain, the junior guard has impressed coach Stevonia Allen with her ball handling ability and leadership skills. "She's a leader on and off the court," Allen said. "She played great throughout the year and kept everyone grounded which is what a point guard needs to do." Male athlete of the week: Lashawn Harrison The senior point guard has steered the Crusaders to a 17-7 record this season as the team's main offensive catalyst. He leads the team in points per game (18), assists (3.5) and steals (3.3). "…

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