The Florida Gators, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, advanced to the field of eight for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2005. They defeated the Miami Hurricanes 4-3 in 10 Innings on Saturday night in front of a large crowd of 5,783 at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville.

The Hurricanes committed seven errors in the game, including one in the top of the 10th by right fielder Chris Pelaez, who misplayed a fly ball hit by freshman shortstop Nolan Fontana, out of West Orange High School. Fontana would end up scoring the game-winning run on a RBI double by Austin Maddox.

Lake Brantley High School alum Greg Larson entered the game in the bottom of the 10th with one on base and one out. The sophomore proceeded to catch freshman Michael Broad looking on strikes and then force sophomore Rony Rodriguez to ground out to Fontana at shortstop, who fired a bullet across the diamond to Preston Tucker at first base for the final out. Larson collected his third save and was greeted by teammates as the celebration began.

The Hurricanes made nine errors in their two games of Super Regional play, which as a result denied local kids such as freshman Steve Ewing out of University High School and Ethan Bornstein from Winter Park High School a chance to make it to Omaha. The Gators opened Super Regionals with a 7-2 win on Friday night.

Fontana and Larson join sophomore Ben McMahan and senior Clint Franklin as players from the Central Florida area with spots on the Florida roster. McMahon played his high school ball at Bishop Moore while Franklin played at Timber Creek.

Joining the Gators at the World Series are the Florida State Seminoles, who are making the trip for the 20th time in program history and 14th time under head coach Mike Martin. The Seminoles defeated Vanderbilt 7-6 in the decisive Game 3 of the team’s Super Regional matchup at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.

FSU, like the Gators, have four players from the Orlando area on its roster including senior outfielder Ohmed Danesh out of Dr. Phillips High School. Junior infielder Stuart Tapley and freshman Corben Madden both played baseball at Boone High School. Junior pitcher John Gast hails from Lake Brantley, where he was a teammate with Florida’s Larson from 2005-07.

For Gast, Tapley, and Danesh, this marks their second trip to Omaha in three years as FSU advanced in 2008, going 0-2 after losing to Stanford and Miami. The Seminoles open play this time around against TCU while Florida takes on No. 6 UCLA. The two state rivals could meet up early on as both are in the same bracket.

– More Local Players In College World Series –

Senior second baseman Mike Freeman out of Edgewater High School and sophomore shortstop Brad Miller from Olympia High School helped Clemson advance to the World Series. The Tigers take on No. 1 Arizona State to start the week’s final round of elimination play. Junior utility player Robert Beary out of Apopka started in 22 games for South Carolina, playing in 41 games on the year. The Gamecocks get underway against Oklahoma.

In the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, local baseball players began to be selected by big league clubs. Below is a look at who they were, where they were picked, and what team made the call.

– 2010 MLB Draft Top-10 Local Picks –

– LHP Justin Nicolino (University) selected No. 80 overall by Toronto in 2nd round. WESH Video

– RHP A.J. Cole (Oviedo) selected No. 116 overall by Washington in 4th round.

– CF Mason Williams (West Orange) selected No. 145 overall by NY Yankees in 4th round.

– LHP Alex Burgos (Osceola/State College of Florida) selected No. 163 overall by Detroit in 5th round.

– LHP John Gast (Lake Brantley/Florida State) selected No. 199 overall by St. Louis in 6th round.

– RF Jose Dore (The First Academy) selected No. 244 overall by San Diego in 8th round.

– SS Mike Freeman (Edgewater/Clemson) selected No. 331 overall by Arizona in 11th round.

– RHP Cody Allen (Boone/UCF/St. Petersburg JC) selected No. 480 overall by Cleveland in 16th round.

– RHP Owen Dew (UCF) selected No. 630 overall by Cleveland in 21st round.

– C Shane Brown (Winter Park/UCF) selected No. 715 overall by NY Yankees in 23rd round.

– More Local MLB Draft Picks –

LF Chris Duffy (Cypress Creek/UCF) at No. 801 overall to Philadelphia (26th round); CF Jay Gonzalez (Freedom) No. 833 overall to Boston (27th round); RHP Tim Griffin (Rollins College) No. 852 overall to Seattle (28th round); LHP Ronald Schreurs (Freedom) No. 1,296 overall to Toronto (43rd round); LHP Jimmy Hodgskin (Bishop Moore) No. 1,311 overall to Philadelphia (43rd round); OF Tyler Marincov (Timber Creek) No. 1,453 overall to Detroit (48th round).

– Draft Notes –

– The UCF Knights have had nine different players selected in the MLB Draft over the last three years, including Brown, who has now been drafted twice by the Yankees. Last season he was picked in the 47th round. In all, UCF has had its baseball players drafted by MLB organizations 73 times since 1979. Dew was taken in the 33rd round in 2009 by the Los Angeles Angels. Duffy, who was selected in the 9th round out of high school, completed his four-year career as a finalist for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as one of the top amateur players in the nation.

– The Florida Collegiate Summer League had the highest number of current or former baseball players drafted over the three-day MLB selection process as 25 FCSL players were taken, including five in the first eight rounds. A complete list of draftees is available at Florida League.

LaKendra Thames

Thames shattered the school record in the weight throw on Friday – previously set by Tiffany Roebuck when she went for 57-9 in 2006 – with a heave of 61-5 to take over the top spot.

She then set a new standard in the shot put (48-10.75) on Saturday to move past the old mark set by Kelsey Poljansek (47-10.5) in 2009.

The Winter Garden native also owns the outdoor school record in shot put (49-6.50) and the UCF freshman records in each of the shot put, discus and weight throw events.

Thames was a four-year letterwinner in track and field and weightlifting at West Orange High School, where she owns the school records in shot put and discus and won the state discus title as a junior.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Just 16 seconds remained when Rawlings withstood a ferocious rush from the West Seniors at the line of scrimmage and connected on the 32-yard game-winning field goal.

“It was very tense,” said Rawlings of lining up for the attempt. “I was just focused on getting my leg through it and getting the ball through the upright. That’s all I had on my mind.”

The tense part came when Rawlings was given a little extra time to think things over as he was held up by a timeout from the West sideline. Once the ball was snapped a fierce collision took place up front before the kick hit its mark with plenty room to spare, prompting the celebration to get underway.

“It was indescribable,” Rawlings said with a grin while reliving the moment. “I knew right there that it was the game winner.”

The field goal capped off a 13-play drive that began midway through the fourth quarter and drained the remaining five-plus minutes to virtually nothing. Oak Ridge quarterback Baylin Trujillo converted on fourth-and-two during the drive on a keeper up the middle while several others played key roles.

The East got big gains on the ground from Colonial’s Jermaine Broomfield and University’s Curtis Riley, along with a 23-yard pickup on a throw from Pine Castle’s Michael Slack to Orlando Lutheran tight end Faysal Shafaat down the stretch.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Slack finished 6-of-9 passing for 126 yards as he delivering precise passes that landed right on target while Broomfield tallied 52 yards on eight carries. Shafaat caught four balls for 66 yards, one of which he kept a hold of even after taking a jarring hit over the middle from an opposing player.

“He told me ‘Great throw. If you would of threw it any higher I would have gotten laid out even worse’,” said Slack of the good-natured encounter they shared in the huddle following the play.

It was Slack’s touchdown toss of 39 yards to Boone’s speedy Denard Lucas, while in stride with 3:27 remaining in the third quarter, that tied the game at 14-14 and breathed new life into an East squad that had little trouble moving the ball. If only they could have turned those yards into points by reaching the end zone earlier.

Lucas was eager to get the call though after already having told a teammate he was bound to score a touchdown. He did so two plays after hauling in a 42-yarder from Trujillo.

“The (defensive backs) were playing man (coverage) and they were trying to bump me, but it wasn’t happening,” said Lucas, who finished with three receptions for 94 yards in the win.

Boone's Lucas Rawlings (Photo by Justin Kane)

Those two scores in the second half by the East were set up by a stingy defensive effort, most notably from defensive lineman Jordan Little from Cypress Creek who was in on two sacks on third downs which resulted in punts the other way.

They came on drives where the West routinely found themselves working for room to run from deep in their own territory as they tried to hang on to a 14-7 lead after returning to the field from the halftime break.

Among the East defenders making it tough on the West were Joseph Jones and Andres Jurado of Cypress Creek, Ryan Moore and Sean Brown from Colonial, Conrad Walko and Josh Kerlin of Pine Castle, along with Timber Creek’s Jacob Wainwright and Winter Park’s Corey Gonslaves.

Those efforts proved to be beneficial after having watched Ocoee’s Chris DeVaughn jump on a Trujillo pass in the flats for an interception which he raced 72 yards along the sideline to paydirt less than three minutes into the night.

But the equalizer was set up when a fumble that Boone’s Tabarie Sullivan landed on in a pile of players was recovered following a muffed punt near midfield. Eleven plays later, which included a fourth-down conversation, the game was tied at 7-7 just a minute into the second period as Riley faked to a running back, swung around wide to the right, and sprinted his way into the end zone past defenders.

“When I took off towards the sideline I seen some people in front of me and I knew I had to put a move on them,” said Riley. He would finish with 53 yards on 10 carries and 29 yards passing nf 2-of-4 attempts.

The West Seniors promptly replied with their best drive of the game two series later. They took the lead with a minute left in the first half when Robbie Matay hooked up with Dr. Phillips teammate Greg Slones in the corner of the end zone from four yards out. Only the momentum wouldn’t carry over into the final two quarters.

In the loss, Dr. Phillips running back Matt Williams had five strong runs for 39 yards and Apopka’s Joe Dennis made big tackles on defense for the West. Other defensive standouts included Matt Hunt and Matt Lambert of Bishop Moore, Delroy Steele (Jones), Jarret Leppert (Apopka), Michael Lewis (Ocoee), Cornelious Sigler (West Orange) and Donnie Bartolomucci (Olympia).

The Panthers cruised behind an all-around effort by Shane Larkin and a persistent defense that helped hold Alabama-recruit Charles Henderson, Jr. to a quiet 26 points and six rebounds.

Shane Larkin (Photo by Windermere Photography at cdsilveira.smugmug.com)

Larkin hardly looked fazed by a lingering injury to his shooting hand as he shot, attacked and passed his way to 31-points (12-of-20), nine steals, five assists and two blocked shots in the win.

He opened the game with a three-pointer from atop the arc then returned down court on the next possession to drain another from long distance while straddling the baseline.

“When he makes his first couple of shots we really feel like we’re getting in a rhythm,” said Dr. Phillips Coach Anthony Long.

And it never subsided. Larkin defied defenders all game by slashing his way through the lane for buckets one moment then joining teammates for the gritty work expected of them the next.

The Panthers used the inexperience of Coral Reef, who graduated nine contributors to college programs from last year’s title team, to take advantage early and often.

“We wanted to really pressure their guards,” said Long. “We knew Hankerson was going to give us fits but we thought if we could really pressure their guards that we could turn them over some.”

Coral Reef turned the ball over 35 times (seven from Hankerson), which Dr. Phillips turned into 51 points on the other end.

Hankerson’s 23-point outburst in the first half helped get the Barracudas to within eight, 40-32, at the break. But Coral Reef could only muster 13 points in the second half.

The hounding on defense by Dr. Phillips was done by the likes of Pat Ryan (12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, seven assists and five steals) and Chris Thomas (12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, seven rebounds and four blocks), among several others. Keenan Green finished with six rebounds and three steals.

“Not to take nothing away from them because they played well, but we just did it to ourselves,” said Coral Reef Coach Gaston Rodriguez. “We played like the young team that we are.”

And that clearly frustrated Hankerson, who early in the opening quarter routinely attempted to take the game over by himself after Dr. Philips jumped out to a 13-2 advantage. But ultimately, the lanes closed around him in the second half, as he was held to just three points in the final two quarters.

Last season Coral Reef defeated Olympia in the state title game thanks to a 27-point, nine rebound outing from Hankerson. Although Dr. Phillips defeated Olympia in the district tournament, the Panthers fell to the Titans in the regional finals and could only watch the final game from afar.

(note – a condensed version of this story ran on Page 2 of the Nov. 29, 2009 Orlando Sentinel sports section)

– More Dr. Phillips Basketball –

– Team page at DPHoops

– Team page at Panther Zone

– More Hoops Mountain standouts –

In other games, Evans handled Ocala Trinity Catholic, 66-37, as Drekalo Clayton scored 15 points, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots. Also coming up big was Maurice Turner with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Mike Paramore and Travius Johnson each had three assists to help the Trojans post 50 points from inside the paint.

West Orange got 10 points and four assists from DeAndre Carter in a 60-50 victory against Miami Dr. Krop while Jaylon Bell added 12 points on 4-of-9 shots from beyond arc for the Warriors. Darius Johnson led the team with six rebounds and Dominic Pierre-Lois had five points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists as West Orange got 28 points in all from off the bench.

Orlando Christian Prep led by a 30-6 score at halftime against Plantation American Heritage before cruising to a 58-32 win. Jordan Montgomery scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds while Adonis Burbage contributed 10 points in the win. Orlando Parker had nine rebounds, six points and three assists and two blocks as OCP turned 28 turnovers into 45 points.

Those recent championship efforts came on the heels of Metro Conference titles won by each team several weeks ago. Not bad for two schools that opened up together back in 2002.

Following next week’s regional tournament action (on Monday and Tuesday) both the Class 1A and 2A State Championship will take place in Marion County, Nov. 7-8. Last year Lake Brantley came in fourth and Olympia fifth on the boy’s side while Lake Howell and Lake Mary finished one-two in the girls state finals.

–– Timber Creek Girls ––

Four girls at TCHS made the All-Metro East team after finishing as undefeated conference champs at 14-0. Joining Lake Nona’s Ashley Holder and Rebecca Hyltin on the squad is Timber Creek senior Sara Bolivar (season-best nine-hole round of 36), freshman Paige Lyle (36), senior Lauren Lyle (37) and junior Emily Montero (37). The Wolves won with a 163-190 score over Lake Nona while Winter Park posted a 196.

At Tuesday’s 18-hole Class 2A, District 7 Tournament, hosted by Lyman at The Country Club at Deer Run, Timber Creek swept the top spots in the individual standings to come away the district win. Montero tied Winter Park’s Brandi Rodriguez for the title with a round of 77 while Lauren Lyle (79), Bolivar (83) and Paige Lyle (86) followed suite.

Moving on with TCHS to regional action next week at Hunter’s Creek Golf Club are Winter Park and Lake Brantley.

–– Olympia Girls ––

At the Metro Conference West Tournament, the girls at Olympia overcame the first and second-place individual efforts of Mia Campbell (30) and Sydney Woolfolk (32) from Edgewater to take home the title thanks to solid nine-hole outings from Jessica Uem (32), Alyx Carrasquel (33), Mia Semaan (34), Mariah Ming (44) and Christin Rouse (45). Olympia won by a 143-180 margin while the Eagles settled for runners-up.

The Titans then defeated both Edgewater and Dr. Phillips in the District 8 Tournament at MetroWest Golf Club as Uem shot a district-best 79 to help lead the team to an overall score of 354.

–– Timber Creek Boys ––

The boys golf team at TCHS won the Metro East Tournament with a score of 292 following a four-under par first-place showing from senior Keanu Kia (68) and a runner-up effort turned in by junior teammate Felipe Quiroga (71).

The Wolves carried that momentum over into the Class 2A, District 7 Tournament as they won the title, at Timacuan Golf and Country Club, for the first time as Quiroga took top honors among the field this time around with a two-under par round of 70. Kia shot a 75 for fifth overall and senior Jeff Dougherty shot a 76 for the Wolves (302), who narrowly got the better of Winter Park (316) and Ocoee (324) to advance to regionals at Windermere Country Club on Tuesday.

–– Olympia Boys ––

Considered among the best golf programs in the area, if not the state, the boy’s team at Olympia wrapped up the Metro Conference West title last month after overcoming the individual efforts of champion Austin Collins of West Orange.

The Titans lost just once this season and will play host to regionals after winning the District 8 Tournament with a score of 320 this week at Orange Tree Country Club. West Orange finished second at 325 and Edgewater followed in third with a district championship effort turned in sophomore Harrison Winger (76) and an overall outing of 330. Olympia junior Davis Hall took third with a 78, while juniors Joey Petronio (80) and Mikey Hauer (80) were joined in the Top-10 by senior Steven Yang (82) at the event.

Led by second-year head coach Chip Petree, West Orange takes its 3-0 mark into a home matchup with District 5 opponent Ocoee on Friday night. The last time they were able to get past the Knights was in 2005, which was also the last time the school had won four games in a season.

Coaches say it’s the rigorous off-season the team went through over the summer that has them feeling conditioned well enough for the duration of the schedule. And after handling Oak Ridge and Cypress Creek to start the year, a 49-14 road win over Colonial (0-3) on Friday night has lifted the spirits of those in Winter Garden.

In that particular game big plays were made out of the backfield by senior Keaton Postell, who scored twice on 17 carries for 97 yards in the win. Senior quarterback Brandon Brown went 10 of 20 for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown strikes went to junior Diego Quintanar (3 catches for 80 yards) while another found the hands of sophomore running back Kesanic Hardy (2 catches for 27 yards). Sophomore Erik McCree caught four passes for 44 yards.

Quintanar also scored a touchdown after scooping up a fumble while senior Michael McCastler returned a blocked punt for a score. Doing most of the dirty work defensively was senior Damon Adkinson, who led the charge with 8.5 tackles at the linebacker position.

– More about West Orange Warriors:

Official site for Warriors Football

Video coverage of West Orange vs. Colonial at WFTV 9