Girls

Player of the year: Grace Curren, So., Hernando

Why we picked her: Curren was dominant on the North Suncoast this year at No. 1 singles, not dropping a single local match and advancing to the Class 2A state tournament. Her only regular-season loss was to Madison Gamble at Lecanto early in the season, and she didn’t lose again until being eliminated in the state tournament by Menendez’s Jordan Zander. 

Future plans: Curren still has two years remaining at Hernando, and the Leopards will be better off as a result. First-year Hernando coach Connie Foster said Curren brings her ball machine to practice and spends a lot of her practice time working one-on-one with the other players who need help.

Did you know? Curren was also able to avenge her 2013 district final loss to Pasco’s Mady Johnson, handing the Pirate senior three of her five losses. Johnson was the only player to give Curren a match, but the sophomore prevailed 7-5, 6-2 during the season, 6-4, 7-5 at districts and 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at regionals. “That was really important for Grace,” Foster said. “They are our rival and to overcome her was big.”

Coach of the year

Don Charlick, Pasco. Charlick has turned the Pirates program into a regular winner, and this year guided the Pirates to their first state tournament.

First team

Mady Johnson, Sr., Pasco: Pirates’ No. 1 player was 17-5 and led her team to a spot in the Class 2A state tournament.

Cheyenne Lilienthal, Fr., Academy at the Lakes: The state-ranked freshman beat Tampa Prep’s Paige Leavy 3-6, 6-2, 10-5 in the Class A, District 7 final to qualify for state.

Sierra Yanez, Sr., Anclote: Yanez went from being a No. 4 player in 2012 to going to the 2A state tourney in 2014.

Brianna Miah, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch: Bulls’ top singles player teamed up with Tiffany Garner to make the Class 3A state tournament in doubles.

Kavya Avancha, Jr., Land O’Lakes: The Class 3A-9 district champion at No. 1 singles was also a state qualifier for the Gators.

Second team

Tiffany Garner, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch

Precious Okungbowa, Fr., Wiregrass Ranch

Nicole Gonzalez, Jr., Anclote

Shelbie Timlake, Jr., Pasco

Robyn Cotney, Sr., Springstead

Honorable mention

Fivay: Amber Mariano

Gulf: Camille Phillips

Hernando: Jada Bergstrom

Hudson: Dominique Cirnigliaro, Marisa Maksymkow

Land O’Lakes: Deneen Wang

Mitchell: Olivia Batshon

Nature Coast: Katie Viola

Pasco: Amanda Dee, Sara Slayton

Ridgewood: Desiree Marcum

River Ridge: Keegan McQuillan

Sunlake: Raquel Julian, Jackie Simpson

Wesley Chapel: Allison Kosloski

Zephyrhills: Sophia Geddes

Boys

Player of the year: Agie Moreno, So., Wiregrass Ranch

Why we picked him: There is no question Moreno is the best high school tennis player on the North Suncoast. He was everything you could want in a No. 1 singles player. Moreno never lost, and when things got tough at the Class 3A state tournament, he bore down and led the Bulls to the school’s first state championship. A day after that, he became the first public school player in Pasco County history to win an individual championship when he beat Fort Myers’ John Carlin 6-1, 4-6, 10-3.

Future plans: Moreno still has two years of high school remaining, and if he continues to play, more titles await. He is also drawing serious attention from colleges like Duke, Florida, Georgia, Pepperdine and Virginia.

Did you know? Moreno is a player of some international repute, so he has managed to balance his school work with playing all over the world — the week before he won regionals, he missed districts because he was at a tournament in Peru — and still competing for the Bulls. Since January, Moreno has competed in national and international events against players from Barbados, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica.

Coach of the year

Dave Wilson, Wiregrass Ranch. After some hopeful past seasons, Wilson got his state title this year and may have a dynasty on his hands. There are no seniors among his top five singles players.

First team 

Pedro Fernandez, So., Wiregrass Ranch: The Bulls’ ace at No. 2 singles won all of his matches, including a 6-2, 6-3 victory at state.

Foresight Okungbowa, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch: A singles and doubles finalist at state, Okungbowa stepped successfully into a bigger role this season.

Alejandro Feliciano, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch: Feliciano won a state championship at No. 4 singles with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

Sebastian Castillo, So., Wiregrass Ranch: It’s rare that a No. 5 singles player makes first team, but it’s also rare to see a No. 5 win every match but one 6-0, 6-0.

Patrick Deslaurier, Jr., Springstead: The No. 1 singles player helped lead the Eagles to their first district and region titles in more than 30 years.

Second team

Daniel Lukish, So., Mitchell

Jesse DeWitt, Jr., Nature Coast

Josh Morris, Jr., Pasco

Alex Hoover, Fr., Springstead

Hank Deslaurier, Sr. Springstead

Honorable mention

Anclote: Dante Clark

Fivay: Derek Balazy

Gulf: Alex Walker, Aakash Panjabi

Hudson: Chris Mull

Land O’Lakes: Chris Mo, David Dollbaum, Albert Xing

Mitchell: Zach Hovsepian

Nature Coast: Alec Lund, Conner Schwefringhaus

Pasco: Alex Mitchell; Christian Yann

Ridgewood: Sean Hoyt

River Ridge: Dylan Lutz

Sunlake: Derek Walters

Wesley Chapel: Ethan Taylor

Zephyrhills: Thad Anderton 

Girls

Player of the year: Erica Oosterhout, Jr., Plant

Why we picked her: Oosterhout had no problem sliding into the role as Plant’s top player, replacing three-time player of the year Blair Martin. “Now that I’m a junior, I was kind of the person that others looked up to,” Oosterhout said. “It was my responsibility to get the other teammates pumped up and ready to go.” A year after reaching the state semifinals in No. 2 singles, Oosterhout dominated. She dropped only nine games at state to cruise to the Class 4A team No. 1 singles title. Oosterhout topped Newsome’s Kylie Moulin for the overall singles championship and teamed with Gabby Rodriguez to win the overall doubles title at state. That success led Oosterhout’s Panthers to finish tied for second in 4A.

Did you know? Oosterhout ramped up her outside tournaments this year, gravitating toward more events with professionals and fewer USTA junior tournaments. She spent last week in Hilton Head, S.C., playing in a $10,000 tournament at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center. Those events have only one match per day, which is nice for her game but tougher for her academics. “I’ve been missing a lot of school. That’s kind of rough,” Oosterhout said. “But these tournaments are awesome.” 

Future plans: Oosterhout is undecided about playing for the Panthers in her final year at Plant. After that, she plans to go to college for at least a year before considering a pro career. “We’re going to see what happens next year, especially since I’m going to focus more on tennis,” Oosterhout said. 

First team

Kylie Moulin, Fr., Newsome: Class 4A, District 6 champ upset East Lake’s Angel Deng to win the individual singles state championship and reached the state semifinals in doubles.

Gabby Rodriguez, Jr., Plant: State semifinalist at No. 2 singles teamed with Oosterhout to cruise to the 4A overall doubles state title.

Caroline Lozo, Jr., Academy of the Holy Names: Reached the 2A semifinals in singles and doubles in her fifth trip to state; led her Jaguars to a fifth-place finish.

Paige Leavy, So., Tampa Prep: Terrapins’ top player took Tampa Prep back to state for the first time since 2006; finished second in Class A at team No. 1 singles.

Grace Korta, Sr., Steinbrenner: Mercer recruit lost to Oosterhout in the district championship but helped the Warriors reach the region tournament as a team.

Second team

Sneha Sathish, So., King

Tess Studdiford, Fr., Newsome

Monica Phipps, So., Plant

Kathy Tian, Jr., King

Kylie Paul, Sr., Wharton

Honorable mention:

Academy of the Holy Names: Caitlin Neal, Olivia Rivas

Armwood: Jadelyn Suddeth

Blake: McCaley Mezrah

Chamberlain: Shannon Nicolas

Durant: Morgan Trask

Newsome: Julia Staddon

Plant: Lauren Corcoran, Korina Hernandez

Riverview: Jamie Tablante, Toni Tablante

Robinson: Bianca Dyer, Alex Rice

Steinbrenner: Maria Mischenko, Kiernan O’Keefe

Strawberry Crest: Morenike Fashoro, Suryanshi Singh

Tampa Prep: Izabelle Baskette

Wharton: Gabby Paul, Andrea Valencia

Coach of the year 

Chris Cary, Tampa Prep. After several years of close calls, Cary’s Terrapins won their first region championship since 2006. Cary guided a Tampa Prep team with only one senior back to the Class A state tournament, where it tied for fourth. 

Boys

Player of the year: Sam Chaffin, Sr., Wharton

Why we picked him: There’s a reason Chaffin earned the top singles seed at the Class 4A state tournament and was honored by the district as the county’s top player. He dominated in his final high school season and won the Class 4A, District 9 championship in singles and doubles. He finished his career with two straight state semifinals appearances in singles. His best memories, he said, were those spent with his team, including four-year doubles partner Alek Crnogorac. “There’s no specific match — it was more of the team,” Chaffin said.

Did you know? Even when Chaffin isn’t practicing tennis, he spends most of his time outdoors. He bikes often at Flatwoods Park and enjoys swimming. “I love being in the water,” Chaffin said. “I like going to the beach.” 

Future plans: Chaffin has signed with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers as a three-star college recruit. He chose the Eagles because of its coaches, new campus and close proximity to home. His major and career plans are undecided, although he’s considering studying business. 

First team

Palmer Evans, Jr., Jesuit: Top player for the region champions and earned the 2A, District 9 title with a three-set victory over Tampa Catholic’s Richard Golinello.

Jonathan Heidenberg, Sr., Freedom: SMU recruit won the Class 3A, District 9 crown and took the Patriots to the region tournament.

Stephen Goldman, Sr., Gaither: Narrowly missed upsetting Heidenberg for a trip to states out of one of the area’s toughest districts.

Vignesh Bhethanabotla, So., King: Led the Lions to 3A state tournament after winning district titles at No. 1 singles and doubles; made state semifinals at team No. 1 singles.

Second team

Richard Golinello, Sr., Tampa Catholic

Gregory Smith, Sr., King

Garrett Watson, Sr., Newsome

Alek Crnogorac, Sr., Wharton

Michael Marinskiy, So., Robinson

Honorable mention 

Berkeley Prep: Gray Aloian

Bloomingdale: Andrew Pudas

Chamberlain: Hunter O’Brien, Joseph Fisher

East Bay: Matthew Bell, Mark Bell

Hillsborough: Jake Kennard

Jesuit: Max Azzarelli, Alex Crosby, Gantt Meredith

King: Nicholas Miljus

Plant: Robert Welch, Thomas Harmon

Plant City: Nick Gorman

Robinson: Grant Oken

Sickles: Ryan Walsh

Tampa Prep: Nicolas de Quesada, Danny Palmer

Coach of the year

Joe Curtis, Jesuit. Curtis’ Tigers were young, with no seniors, but boasted enough depth to topple Boca Ciega for the region championship. Jesuit finished tied for fourth in the Class 2A state tournament.

Boys

Player of the year: Dan Stefan, Jr., Boca Ciega

Why we picked him: Stefan was unbeatable this season. He cruised through regular-season, district and region tournament play. At the Class 2A state tournament, Stefan did not lose a set in earning his second straight overall state championship. He also teamed with Nikita Goldenberg to win the individual bracket state doubles championship. The only blemish to his season was the overall doubles match, which he and Goldenberg lost 6-1, 6-0 to Gulliver Prep. “I couldn’t have asked for a better season,” Stefan said. “Last year, I didn’t really know what to expect. This year I was more relaxed and had fun.” As for next season, Stefan said he will definitely be back at Boca Ciega, but he’s not sure he’ll play tennis.

Future plans: Stefan has a full summer planned with USTA state and national events. The first is the state closed sectional tournament June 10-15 in Daytona Beach. He also plans to play in the Clay Court Supernationals in July at Delray Beach and the Hard Court Nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich., beginning Aug. 2. As for tennis after high school… “I’d like to play college tennis,” he said. “The competition is very good on that level. If you go pro before college it’s kind of risky.”

Did you know? Stefan is No. 1 in the USTA Florida boys 18 rankings with 6,747 ranking points. The next closest player has 5,514. …When Stefan was 12 he used to train with Northeast graduate Danielle Collins, who recently won the women’s NCAA singles championship for Virginia. 

Coach of the year

Kelley Hixson, Boca Ciega. Granted, Hixson had Stefan on her team, but it takes more than one player to win a district championship. Hixson led the Pirates to a 2A-10 district title and a region semifinal win over Tampa Catholic.

First team 

Evan Holvoet, Sr., Canterbury: Won the Class A state individual singles championship; will play tennis at Kennesaw State University. 

Parker Hayslett, Jr., Clearwater Central Catholic: A district champ and state tournament qualifier, Hayslett lost to Holvoet in the second round of the Class A tournament. 

Peter Litsky, So., Shorecrest: A top-notch player had a tough draw against Holvoet in the district final. 

Jordan Monosky, Sr., Countryside: No. 1 singles player won his match in a district playoff against Palm Harbor University to help the Cougars reach region play. 

Aaron Carey, So., Countryside: Cougars’ No. 2 was the only player to win his region match against Plant. 

Second team 

Nikita Goldenberg, Jr., Boca Ciega

Mohamed Nuh, Sr., Palm Harbor University

Martynas Lukosiunas, Jr., Countryside

Alex Wahl, Sr., Osceola

Greg Perenich, Sr., Palm Harbor University

Honorable mention

Boca Ciega: Richard Mannion; Clearwater: Scott McElravy, Jake Roberts; Clearwater Central Catholic: Tyler Berning, Joao Teixeira; Countryside: Nick Oppenheimer, Chandler Walker; Dixie Hollins: Anthony Manganiello, Robert Watson; Dunedin: Michael Schermerhorn, Taylor Wilson; East Lake: Ryan Hall, Ganesh Rajaram, Aaron Swartz; Lakewood: Elijah Adams, Julian Haerle; Largo: Brent Babista, Jay Desai, Dennis Le, Kush Patel; Osceola: Jordan Alexander, Luke Alexander, Alejandro Lense, Tyler Lovett; Palm Harbor University: Ishan Mandani, J.P. Voitlein, Will Voitlein; Pinellas Park: Chris Dunlop, Christian Valdes; St. Petersburg: Carl Gallauer, Devan Upadhyay; Seminole: Jason Katz, Skyler Fanning, Matthew Madsen, Jasen Norris, Cole Walters; Shorecrest: Logan Elder, Rohit Reddy, Jack Ledford, Luis Sarabia; Tarpon Springs: Jake Brennan 

Girls

Player of the year: Angel Deng, Sr., East Lake

Why we picked her: Deng advanced to the individual singles state championship in Class 4A, but lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6-3) to Newsome’s Kylie Moulin. It was the first time in three tries she advanced to that round. As a freshman at Countryside and a junior at East Lake last year, Deng also played in the state tournament. “I’m proud of the way I played,” she said. “That was as far as I’ve ever gotten so it’s been a good season.” Deng teamed with Kim Herrock and won the individual doubles championship. They lost the overall championship to Plant’s Erica Oosterhout and Gabby Rodriguez 6-1, 6-4. This season was the first time Deng and Herrock were doubles partners.

Future plans: Deng will attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where she will also play tennis. Prior to leaving for Cornell, Deng will spend July visiting relatives in China. Her parents are from China, though she was born in the United States. It will be the first time in eight years Deng has been able to take a vacation since she will not be playing junior tennis. 

Did you know? This is the third time Deng has been named the Times’ player of the year. 

Coach of the year

C.J. Obartuck, East Lake. The Eagles had another successful season thanks to a solid top five. The combination of Deng and Herrock were an almost guaranteed three points per match, but players 3-5 also contributed plenty. East Lake advanced to region play but ran into a very tough Plant team in the semifinals.

First team 

Alexis Franco, So., Largo: Played high school tennis for the first time this season, finished second in the Class 3A individual state singles tournament. 

Kim Herrock, Sr., East Lake: Could play No. 1 singles at most schools; she and Deng made the state doubles final. 

Laurel Wanger, Fr., Largo: A quality No. 2 player behind Franco, she also teamed with Franco in doubles; the duo advanced to the Class 3A final.

Rehaana Butt, Fr., East Lake: No. 3 singles player helped round out a region qualifying team; she won the Eagles’ only singles match in region play vs. eventual state champion Plant.

Isabella Dohse, So., Clearwater Central Catholic: Helped CCC advance to the region final; she won her No. 1 singles match in the region semifinals against Lakeland Christian.  

Second team 

Anna Olsen, Sr., Pinellas Park

Shannon Wagner, So., Countryside

Meredith Riccardi, Jr., Osceola

Yiying Chen, Jr., Clearwater Central Catholic

Lenah Monosky, Fr., Countryside

Honorable mention

Admiral Farragut: Anastasha Worlds; Boca Ciega: Elizabeth Brown-Worthington, Kristen Emery, Phuong Ly; Clearwater: Macey Fancher, Katie Gardner; Clearwater Central Catholic: Delaney Abood, Katherine Yang; Countryside: Maria Diaz, Katie Ernst, Ashley Reese; Dixie Hollins: Zoe Basheska, Imani Musengwa; East Lake: Ali-Mae Gleason, Meredith Aebersold, Beth Maher; Lakewood: Keylee Gibbons, Tahira Green, KC Shelton; Northeast: Dunja Kisin; Osceola: Jade Smith, Jayla Smith, Allison Tuccelli; Palm Harbor University: Joeli Roth, Elissa Lisle, Shannon Cruz, Carina Gobes; Pinellas Park: Thanatchaporn Srichaphan, Sofia Sanchez; St. Petersburg: Gabi Garcia, Rachel Harvard, Sophia Schuller; Seminole: Jenna Belscher; Tarpon Springs: Gina Szucs, Clivonya Woodside

East Lake defensive back Justin Strnad and tight end Trevor Okuniewski each received offers from state schools within the past three days.

Strnad, a defensive back, was offered by UCF on Monday. He now has 16 offers, includiing two others from state schools (Florida Atlantic and Florida International). Last year, Strnad had 81 tackles and a fumble recovery during the Eagles' run to the Class 7A state semifinals.

Okuniewski picked up his first offer from Florida Tech after catching two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown in last week's spring win over Osceola.

Mitchell basketball standout Lawrence Watt picked up his first offer from Saint Leo over the weekend.

Watt, a senior, said he was offered by Saint Leo coach Lance Randall after a team camp at the school.

"I wasn't expecting it at all," Watt said of the offer. "My high school coach told me that (Saint Leo) was going to be watching our games, but other than that I had no previous contact with the coaching staff or the team. It just happened that day.

"I'm thankful for the offer and appreciate the coach's decision to give me the opportunity."

Last season, Watt averaged 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Mustangs. He is top returner on that finished 22-6 and advanced to the Class 6A region quarterfinals as a district runnerup. 

HOLIDAY — Cobi Johnson was still wearing diapers when he got his first exposure to the baseball life, shuttling from Tennessee to Toronto or wherever his dad’s professional career took him that month.

Since then, he has hit a home run at Cooperstown, played catch with big leaguers, pitched at Wrigley Field and crisscrossed back roads on his way to travel-ball tournaments.

None of that could prepare the Mitchell High School ace for the uncertainty of this week’s MLB first-year player draft.

Will pro teams remember him as the hard-throwing teenager with the 6-foot-4 frame and let him sneak into the first round? Or will a disappointing senior season and an elbow injury force him to slide, maybe even into the draft’s second day? 

“I hope someone gives me a chance,” Johnson said.

Few prospects have a pedigree more deserving of that chance than Johnson.

His father, Dane, pitched sparingly in high school and college but showed enough promise that Toronto took him with the No. 48 overall pick in 1984. The 6-foot-5 right-hander spent parts of three seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays, White Sox and A’s before becoming Toronto’s pitching coordinator.

Johnson is too young to remember watching his dad play, but his mother shares plenty of stories — about dragging two children from one town to the next, always staying in furnished corporate apartments so they wouldn’t have to worry about transporting couches on three days’ notice.

“You just take off,” said his mother, Gina.

After trying basketball and soccer, Johnson began plastering his wall with baseball photos, and his dad was ready to help. Dane helped develop his son’s pitching motion and training regimen, though Johnson scoffs when his dad threatens to bring out his old VHS game tapes to show him what a real pitcher looks like.

Dane also introduced Johnson to professional life, taking his son to hang around big-leaguers at the Jays’ spring-training facilities in Dunedin. Johnson chatted in the clubhouse with Cy Young winner Roy Halladay. He caught Jays closer Casey Janssen. He saw up close how hard professionals work and how they conduct themselves on and off the field.

“Hopefully a lot of it rubbed off on him,” his dad said.

Johnson started out as a catcher and infielder before beginning to focus as a pitcher in high school. A scout from Perfect Game pegged him as a first-round pick at age 16. His fastball touched 94 mph, with solid curveballs and changeups and a quick, fluid delivery.

Johnson led the Mustangs to the Class 6A region final as a junior with a 1.68 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 71 innings. He pitched in All-America games at Wrigley Field and Petco Park over the summer — the jerseys still hang in his bedroom — and signed with Florida State in the fall.

But elbow inflammation derailed his senior season. Though Johnson pitched Mitchell to the playoffs with a win over Springstead, the injury limited him to only 31 1/3 innings.

“I was devastated, to be honest with you,” Johnson said. “To be so close to the draft and to go down like that, it was tough on me.”

And his family.

After working with Jays scouts for years, Dane has had to watch his own son get picked apart and scrutinized with a potential seven-figure signing bonus at stake.

“He’s still an attractive product to a lot of people, I think,” said his dad, who is also serving as his advisor.

A dozen scouts watched Johnson throw his final prep game— a 4-2 home loss to King — and the Rays invited him to a workout last week. Representatives from at least 20 teams have sat in the living room of the Johnsons’ gated-community home, where a picture of Johnson in a basketball uniform sits below the television and action photos of his father’s big-league career stare from the office.

Baseball America lists Johnson as the draft’s No. 90 prospect, while MLB.com ranks him 77th.

Wherever his baseball future takes him, Johnson has had years to prepare for what’s next, whether it’s the first round, the second day or FSU.

“It’s going to be a grind,” Johnson said. “It’s not always sunshine and roses, you know?”

Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com or on Twitter @MBakerTBTimes.

MLB first-year player draft
Live coverage: MLB Network (Thursday), MLB.com
Rounds 1-Comp B: 7 p.m. Thursday
Rounds 3-10: 1 p.m. Friday
Rounds 11-40: 1 p.m. Saturday

Northeast outfielder Chris Clark has committed to Tallahassee Community College. Clark worked out at the school recently and was offered a scholarship this week.

This season, Clark hit .356 with 18 RBIs, three home runs and 25 stolen bases. He was a member of the Pinellas senior all-star  team and a PCAC South first-team selection.

Clearwater volleyball coach Kara Betourne has stepped down after accepting a teaching position at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz.

Betourne has been Clearwater's coach for two years. Last season the Tornadoes were 23-6 and advanced to the Class 7A region quarterfinals.

"I've lived in Tampa for three years and the commute has been draining on me both physically and economically,'' Betourne said in a text. "My new school is 10 minutes away. I'm excited but I'll miss Clearwater.''

No replacement has been named for Betourne and applications for the vacancy are being accepted.

Durant third baseman and pitcher Luke Heyer has committed to play at the College of Central Florida, where he'll join Cougars teammate Garrett Wright. 

Heyer, a 6-foot right-hander, finished the season with a .268 batting average and a team-leading 18 RBI. He also allowed no earned runs in 10 innings on the mound while picking up four saves.

Heyer was brought into the Durant's Class 7A, District 7 championship game against Brandon with one out in the bottom of the seventh, runners on second and third, and the Cougars leading 1-0. Heyer secured the final two outs to deliver the title to Durant.

Tarpon Springs tight end/defensive lineman Mitchell Wilcox picked up an offer from USF, his first from a state school.

Wilcox, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior, is now up to six offers. The others are Ball State, Charleston Southern, James Madison, Miami of Ohio and Samford He said he expects to get another one from UCF when he a attends a one-day camp at the school June 14.

This past season, Wilcox was a force on both sides of the ball with six catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns on offense and 23 tackles and six sacks as a defensive end. Last week, Wilcox had two catches for 38 yards in a spring jamboree win over Northeast.

Wilcox, a two-sport star, said he will concentrate on football rather than basketball this summer so he can attend camps and possibly pick up more offers. He will still play basketball for the Spongers once football season ends.

Zach Drury didn’t think about the fact that he hadn’t given up a hit until the fifth inning of Wiregrass Ranch’s Class 7A, District 8 championship game against Sickles on April 25. Once it crossed his mind, all he tried to do was make it go away.

“Our athletic trainer was there. She kept giving me this look because she knew, too,” said Drury, a 6-foot-2 right-hander. “I was just like, ‘I’m not going to say anything. I’m just not going to think about it.’ ”

It paid off for the Bulls’ ace as he earned his third no-hitter of his high school career in a 1-0 win that gave Wiregrass Ranch its first baseball district title in school history. 

Now that he’s led his Bulls to a program milestone, it could be time for one of his own. 

The University of North Florida signee, whose fastball has been clocked in the 90s, could be selected in the upcoming MLB first-year player draft. Drury said he’s already had conversations with his parents and Wiregrass Ranch coach Marshall McDougall — a former Florida State and Texas Rangers third baseman — about the decision he’ll have to make if he’s picked.

“Coach, he’s been through it, so he was just telling us about it, what’s going to happen, how we should handle it,” Drury said. “I’ve had a lot of help through it.”

Drury, whose younger brother Austin also pitches for the Bulls, finished his senior campaign with a 1.94 ERA in 43.1 innings pitched. At the plate he had a .353 batting average, three home runs and 22 RBIs. 

Drury has played baseball since he was 5 years old. So if he sees his name on the draft board, it’ll be the realization of a dream that’s been a long time coming.

“It’s going to feel like everything I’ve worked for has paid off,” he said.

More attention for Pinellas trio

Pinellas County sent three players to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association all-star game in Sebring on May 24-25. The two-day event attracts major-league scouts from just about every team. 

Clearwater Central Catholic third baseman Brenden Overton, East Lake pitcher Brad Deppermann and Osceola pitcher Keith Weisenberg each had a chance to play. Weisenberg has drawn scouts all season and was no surprise. Deppermann and Overton each jumped onto scouts’ radar screens with good high school seasons and the FACA invite.

Deppermann was 6-2 with two saves, 100 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched and a 0.93 ERA. He already has an offer to play at North Florida.

“It could happen,” Deppermann said of getting drafted. “I thought it could be possible when the season started.’’

“It was an awesome experience,’’ he said. “The talent level was so good. The biggest difference was the pitching. Everyone there threw 90-plus. I felt I did pretty good.’’

Overton said he spoke to a few scouts after the Sebring games and also went to Miami afterwards to work out for the Marlins. He has a scholarship to play at Saint Leo.

“I’m not expecting anything,’’ Overton said of the draft. “For me, it’s a win-win’’. 

St. Petersburg’s Rivera one to watch

St. Petersburg infielder/outfielder Richie Rivera didn’t have an eye-popping season (.349, 12 RBIs, five doubles), but don’t be surprised if he goes in the top 20 rounds. St. Petersburg coach Travis Phelps said the Cubs have worked out Rivera several times and liked what they saw.

“Richie is super fast and super strong,” Phelps said. “He didn’t have the greatest high school season, but he killed it in his workouts with the Cubs. They had him bat left-handed, which he has never done before, and he was ripping the ball. He’s such a good athlete. He could end up being a very versatile player, kind of like a (Ben) Zobrist on the Rays.

“If you asked me this a month ago I wouldn’t have said it, but right now I think he can go in the 10 to 12th rounds.”

Rivera is committed to the State College of Florida in Bradenton. 

Faedo best bet for Hillsborough Co.

Alonso right-hander Alex Faedo has long been Hillsborough County’s most touted 2014 prospect. And despite a senior season that was less of a head-turner than his previous one, the Florida signee remains the only Hillsborough County player on Baseball America’s top 500 list. 

Faedo, who comes in at No. 403 and is ranked the 55th best player in the state, finished his final season at Alonso with a 0.53 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched and a 6-2 record. The Ravens missed the playoffs after a loss to class 8A runnerup Bloomingdale in the district semifinal. 

Faedo’s development as a standout pitcher came late, and the junior had a breakout year in 2013, a season which included a Saladino Tournament record-breaking 17-strikeout game, a no-hitter and an 8-2 record.

Small colleges

Eckerd pitcher Jimmy Gutowski is a local small-college player who could see his name on the draft board this weekend. Gutowski, a junior transfer from Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y., was 11-2 with a 2.76 ERA. His 11 wins led the Sunshine State Conference and he was named to the al-SSC first team. Gutowski was the runnerup in pitcher of the year voting.

“He had a phenomenal year,’’ said Bill Mathews, who stepped down as Eckerd’s coach at the season’s end. “We kind of used him backwards. He was our Game 3 starter on Saturdays.”

Gutowski was an honorable mention on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association  All-America Team. Gutowski is scheduled to pitch in the Cape Cod League this summer.

Mathews said other draft possibilities include senior outfielder Lincoln Dunham (.317, nine doubles, 18 RBIs) and junior catcher Mike Abraham (.347, 31 RBIs). Dunham previously went to East Lake High and St. Petersburg College.

Speaking of St. Petersburg College, former Seminole first baseman Corey Baptist had a big year for the Titans. Baptist hit .397 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs, all team highs. He said he has talked to some scouts but doesn’t know what to expect during the draft.

“I definitely have better vibes this year than last year,’’ Baptist said. “I think I have a good shot (at being drafted) but you never know. I think I did my part this season but there is no guarantee. I’ll be at home waiting for the phone to ring.’’

Baptist said he will return to St. Petersburg College for a second season if he’s not drafted.

Where are they now?

Tyler Danish (Durant), RHP, Chicago White Sox: Danish, drafted in the second round last year after leading Durant to a Class 7A state runnerup finish, has spent time with the rookie-level Bristol White Sox and single-A Kannapolis Intimidators before joining the advanced-A Winston-Salem Dash in May. The right-hander had a 0.71 ERA and 3-0 record this season with Kannapolis before moving up. 

Christian Arroyo (Hernando), SS, San Francisco Giants: Arroyo became the first player from Hernando County drafted in the first round when he was picked 25th overall on June 6, 2013. Since then, the 6-foot-1 shortstop spent a year at the rookie level before moving up to the single-A Augusta GreenJackets in 2014. Arroyo has 24 hits — including a home run — and 14 RBIs in 31 games with the GreenJackets. He has been on the disabled list since May 13.

Oscar Mercado (Gaither), SS, St. Louis Cardinals: Mercado, a second-round pick, finished his 2013 rookie-level season with a .209 batting average, 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs. Mercado has yet to be assigned to a team in 2014, spending time in extended spring training.

Tucker Neuhaus (Wharton), SS, Milwaukee Brewers: Neuhaus, picked in the second round a year ago, had a .231 batting average and 45 hits, including 12 doubles, last season at the rookie level. Like Mercado, Neuhaus went through extended spring training and is not yet on a roster in 2014. 

Local prospects
High school, major state colleges (locals only) and area small-college players who could be drafted:

Eckerd College
Jimmy Gutowski (Monroe CC/Rochester, N.Y.), RHP, Jr.
Lincoln Dunham ( East Lake/SPC), OF, Sr.
Mike Abraham (Worcester, Mass.), C, Jr.

Florida
Zack Powers (Armwood), INF, Jr. 

Florida State
Peter Miller (Cambridge Christian), RHP/INF, Sr.
Casey Smit (Alonso/College of Central Florida), INF, Sr. 

Hillsborough County
Alex Faedo, RHP, Alonso
Ryan McCullers, C, Jesuit
Evan Cannan, OF, Jesuit
Hunter Van Horn, LHP, Jesuit

Pasco County
Zach Drury, RHP, Wiregrass Ranch
Cobi Johnson, RHP, Mitchell 

Pinellas County
Keith Weisenberg, RHP, Osceola
Brad Deppermann, RHP/INF, East Lake
Richie Rivera, OF/INF, St. Petersburg
Brenden Overton, 3B, CCC

St. Petersburg College 
Corey Baptist (Seminole High), 1B, Fr.

USF
Levi Borders (Winter Haven), C, So.*
Casey Mulholland (Bradenton/State College of Florida), RHP, Jr.
Lawrence Pardo (Miami/Santa Fe College), LHP, Sr.
Kyle Teaf (Ocala Trinity Catholic), SS, Jr.
*Has been out of high school three years

Note: Coaches from Hillsborough Community College and the University of Tampa did not return calls.

Freedom golfer Terese Romeo has committed to Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

Romeo, a rising senior, was second in the Class 3A state tournament in the fall at Mission Hill Golf Resort in Howie-in-the-Hills. Romeo lost in an eight-hole playoff to Kadi Pallastrone of Sarasota Riverview.

Romeo is a two-time Times' Player of the Year. She finished tied for 11th as a freshman at the state tournament.

Dillan Gibbons, one of the top offensive line prospects in Tampa Bay, has transferred to Palm Harbor University, and has also received his first SEC offer, from South Carolina, his father Shannon said Wednesday. 

Gibbons, only 14 years old but already 6 feet 5, 278 pounds, started at right tackle for St. Petersburg Catholic last season and in the spring game. But he and twin sister Delanie, a starter on the Barons' girls basketball team, have accepted assignments to PHU.

Delanie, who is 6-1, averaged 5.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game for the Barons last season.

Already holding offers from Ohio State, Louisville and Cincinatti, Dillan, the younger brother of Stanford signee Reilly, has emerged as one of Pinellas County's most sought-after prospects this spring.

South Carolina assistant coach G.A. Magnus offered him a scholarship Wednesday.

Keith Weisenberg has 20 guns pointed at him, and he isn’t even fazed.

Osceola High is playing Northeast in an early season baseball game, and Weisenberg is mowing down Vikings as major-league scouts point radar guns and jot down notes. When his work is done after the fifth inning, the scouts pack their bags and head home. 

That’s the way it was for Weisenberg all season. He was the main attraction, a flame-throwing, 6-foot-5, 195-pound right-hander who lured scouts to his every start even though they know he had committed to Stanford.

“It doesn’t bother me,” said Weisenberg, who went 9-2 with a 1.09 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 64 innings as a senior. 

That’s because he is used to the spotlight. 

Weisenberg has been getting  noticed since he was 9 years old. He left traditional Little League that year to play on summer travel ball teams. He and his father, Marc, have logged thousands of miles crossing the state and country to play in showcase events. 

During the time before his junior and senior seasons, Weisenberg spent his summers on the travel ball team Marucci Elite. He played in tournaments in North Carolina, Atlanta and Syracuse, N.Y., as well as throughout Florida. Most of the time, scouts crowded behind the backstop to watch him pitch. 

Last summer, Weisenberg was invited to try out for Team USA, a select team of high school players that plays other national teams. He made the cut from 120 players to 40, narrowly missing the final cut to 20 in Los Angeles.

“He came back a different pitcher,” Osceola coach Stefan Futch said. “He was good to begin with, but he got even better.”

For Weisenberg, the Team USA experience was a revelation.

“That was when I thought I had a chance to play pro ball,” he said. 

Those in professional baseball clearly agree. 

Baseball America ranks Weisenberg the 70th-best prospect — 10th in the state — for the draft, which starts Thursday. That could make him a pick in one of the top five rounds. 

“I think teams are looking at Keith and seeing a kid who can throw 100 mph,” said St. Petersburg High coach Travis Phelps, who pitched in the majors for the Rays and Brewers and briefly worked with Weisenberg in the past. 

The Green Devils also faced Weisenberg during the season, losing 5-3. 

“As it is this season, he touched 92-94 without really using his legs. He’s got huge upside,” Phelps said. “The thing is: Will he be willing to change? When you go pro, you become an employee. You will change or you won’t pitch.”

Northeast High coach Rob Stanifer, also a former major-league pitcher whose team faced Weisenberg during the season, believes his best days are still ahead.

“The first thing you notice is his size,” Stanifer said. “You look at that big frame and arm strength, and it’s no wonder scouts are looking at him. He’s got that big fastball and a good changeup. And he’s only going to get better. He fixes a few holes, and his velocity will only get better.”

Aside from his pitching, Weisenberg hit .329 with two home runs, a triple and 15 RBIs as a senior. But scouts are looking at him solely as a pitcher. 

What might have them leery is his commitment to Stanford. If scouts believe he is leaning toward college, he will fall in the draft. But if he is picked high enough, the Weisenbergs will have a decision to make. 

If they are leaning one way, they aren’t saying.

“There are no bad outcomes,” Marc Weisenberg said. “We have set things up for two good things to happen.”

This week was set up many years ago. Ever since Weisenberg gave up club soccer (his dad’s sport) to focus solely on baseball, they have been aiming toward this outcome. 

If Keith could stay healthy, if Marc could keep driving from tournament to tournament, then, perhaps, one day it would all be worth it.

“Keith and I have talked about it many times while we’re in the car going to another showcase,” Marc Weisenberg said. “What a wonderful experience this is. It only happens once, so enjoy it.”

Rodney Page can be reached at page@tampabay.com or on Twitter at @RodneyHomeTeam.

MLB draft

Coverage: MLB Network (Thursday), MLB.com 

7 p.m. Thursday: Round 1, Compensation Round, Competitive Balance Round A, Round 2 and Competitive Balance Round B (Rays pick at Nos. 20, 60 and 72)

1 p.m. Friday: Rounds 3-10 

1 p.m. Saturday: Rounds 11-40

Spring football always introduces us to new faces, gives us a glimpse of turnaround teams and proves that the elite players are still very much top-tier talents. Our thoughts after teams stowed away the pads for spring:

Breakout players

Trent Chmelik, Countryside: The junior, who is taking over as the full-time starting quarterback, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another against Citrus. 

Donavan Hale, Largo: The Packers have installed a spread offense with longer routes to take advantage of Hale’s cannon of an arm. Against Palm Harbor University, Hale threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns. After that performance, Hale picked up offers from Indiana and Virginia Tech, which both want him as a quarterback.

Sherwin Emmanuel, Pasco: The 6-foot-6 defensive end has the size and athleticism to be a star and drew rave reviews in a spring game win over Land O’Lakes. Don’t be surprised if the converted basketball player dominates as a senior in his only full football season.

Gage Holt, Jesuit: The fullback was just a backup last season for the Tigers, but the 5-foot-10 “hybrid guy,” as coach Matt Thompson refers to him, caught pass after pass in Jesuit’s spring game win vs. Dixie Hollins, accruing 113 receiving yards, including a 35-yard touchdown. 

Patrick Lukert, Steinbrenner: The junior-to-be linebacker had a breakout performance in the spring game, getting in on three sacks in two quarters of action against Alonso.

Brad Mayes, Berkeley Prep: Yeah, we know, he’s a known commodity. But he looked bigger, stronger and the ball seemed to shoot out of his hand in the spring game win. If the Bucs turn him loose, with guys like Jacob Mathis and Cade Weldon to catch his passes, look out.

Jeff Smith Jr., Clearwater Central Catholic: The dual-threat quarterback, who is in his first full season as a starter, put up big numbers against always tough Immokalee with 193 yards passing and 114 rushing.  

Derrick Walker, Alonso: Quarterback Chris Oladokun is a known commodity and a major-college prospect for the class of 2016. As impressive as Oladokun was in a comeback win over Steinbrenner in the jamboree, it’s worth remembering Walker was the player on the other end of Oladokun’s passes, catching two touchdowns and totaling 101 receiving yards in the final quarter.

Mitchell Wilcox, Tarpon Springs: The tight end/defensive lineman became a coveted prospect with several offers, including one from USF. In the spring jamboree, Wilcox caught two passes for 38 yards and was in on several plays in the backfield as a pass rusher against Northeast. 

Jordan Williams, Dunedin: On a team devoid of depth, the Falcons will rely on their most versatile player to make plays on both sides of the ball. Against Seminole, Williams had a touchdown reception, scored on a punt return and recorded an interception, all in the final five minutes of regulation. 

Kal-El Williams, Pinellas Park: The rising senior is named after Superman, for crying out loud. At 6-foot, 230 pounds, he is a pounding fullback who will also play linebacker. Williams was a main ball carrier last season and his load will increase this year. 

Surprise teams to watch for the fall

Blake: Don’t laugh, we think the Yellow Jackets have something cooking. Coach Darryl Gordon had as many as 40 kids out in the spring, and guys like uber-recruit Shavar Manuel, linebacker Julian Jackson, potential (dare we say probable?) 1,000-yard rusher Corey Bennett and promising playmakers like Juwan Burgess and Isaiah Rogers will contribute to at least one upset and a .500 season. Now, about that district…

Bloomingdale: Coach John Booth was extremely positive about his team’s growth in the offseason, and the Bulls could give Plant a run for its money in Class 8A, District 6. Bloomingdale returns its leading receivers in Logan Crouse and Doug Sandberg, picked up Riverview’s leading rusher Fred McCoy (more than 700 yards last season), and with quarterback Isaiah McIntyre coming back, too, a Bulls offense that put up 40 points against the Panthers last season could be better yet.

Dunedin: Matt LePain has a knack for turning teams into contenders. After guiding Palm Harbor University to its first two playoff appearances in three seasons as coach, LePain left to take over the Falcons. He didn’t have much depth with only 25 players dressed for the spring game against Seminole. With many players going both ways and several cramping in the second half, Dunedin found the wherewithal to score two touchdowns in the final five minutes to force a 16-16 tie. That should give them enough momentum to at least be in the hunt for a playoff berth this fall.

Gibbs: The Gladiators have more talent than people think. Rising senior Craig Watts Jr. and rising sophomore Marquez Walls have gotten major-college offers. Tayveon Landsm might be the most overlooked back in the area. He ripped off huge chunks of yards against Northeast and Tarpon Springs in the jamboree before leaving with an ankle injury. Coach Rick Kravitz was raving about offensive/defensive lineman Latroy Killens after the jamboree. If Gibbs finds a quarterback (it’s looking at four players) and the offensive line holds up, this could be a big improvement over last year’s 4-6 team. 

River Ridge: After consecutive 3-7 seasons, fourth-year coach Ryan Benjamin has a team capable of contending for the school’s first playoff appearance in 16 seasons, which is one of the longest droughts in the bay area. In a 43-0 win over Fivay, the Royal Knights showed off a balanced attack with Chris Schwarz rushing for 112 yards, and Pat Mathieson throwing for 216 yards and four touchdowns. 

Guys we think will blow up this fall 

Oscee Calhoun, Pinellas Park: Calhoun is one of three talented backs for the Patriots, and perhaps the most overlooked. The rising senior sliced through Orlando Evans in the spring game, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. With Kal-El Williams and Donte Maxson sharing carries, Calhoun could be the second-half hammer who racks up yards against worn out defenses. 

Jonathan Crawford, Largo: Known more as a hard-hitting linebacker, Crawford could have more of an impact as receiver. In the spring game against Palm Harbor University, Crawford had seven catches for 120 yards and two TDs in three quarters. 

Donnie Crum, Admiral Farragut: A rising sophomore, Crum will get his first chance to get significant carries in the fall. He proved what he can do in the spring against Gainesville Hawthorne, rushing for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the Blue Jackets’ 51-8 win. Crum appears to be a legitimate 1,000-yard back.

Kevin Newman, Jesuit: Newman was strong last year for the 8-4 Tigers, and it carried over to the spring. In Jesuit’s blowout spring victory against Dixie Hollins, Newman rushed for 121 yards in three quarters, including 65-, 40-, 4- and 2-yard touchdowns. The 6-foot-1 rising senior has put on 10 pounds in the weight room, and with an experienced offensive line blocking for him, Newman could be one to watch. 

Willie Parker, Carrollwood Day: Calling it now: he and teammate Elias Earley will run for at least 3,000 combined yards. 

Guys just as good as we figured

George Campbell, East Lake: The five-star recruit is being counted on as the main receiving threat in the Eagles’ new no-huddle offense. He delivered in a spring game against Osceola, catching five passes for 106 yards and scoring twice in the first half. 

Ryan Davis, Lakewood: Now in his second year as the Spartans’ quarterback, Davis will likely put up huge numbers in the fall. In the spring game against Ocala Vanguard, Davis was 11-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown. He has talented receivers, including Boca Ciega transfer Sekendric Biddines, Davis has several Division I offers, including Florida, Florida St. and Miami. 

Nathan Johnson, Sunlake: The rising senior rushed for more than 1,500 yards last season, and in the Seahawks’ spring game against Wiregrass Ranch, he showed there might be more where that came from. In the 33-22 win, Johnson rushed for 99 yards on 15 carries, including a 36-yard touchdown. 

Dwayne Lawson, Hillsborough: The dual-threat quarterback committed to Miami during the spring, and weeks later he led the Terriers to a 23-7 spring game win against Chamberlain. Lawson finished 6-for-10 passing including two touchdowns and was Hillsborough’s leading rusher with 87 yards on five carries. 

Guys we can’t wait to see more of

Rex Culpepper, Plant: The quarterback has 12 college offers — including ones from Florida, Miami and Clemson — and the rising junior has just 29 pass attempts in varsity football. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound future starter sure has the size and pedigree to excel for the Panthers, and he proved his promise in the a spring jamboree win against Leto, completing 13 of 19 passes for 163 yards with two TDs through the air and one on the ground. 

Daquon Green, Tampa Bay Tech: If Deon Cain wants to throw for 2,000-plus yards this season, and we’re pretty sure he does, he’s smart enough to know he needs to get it to Green. Only a sophomore, Green is a future big timer. And that future could come quickly this fall.

Jordan Leston, St. Petersburg Catholic: The rising senior finally has his own team to run. The East Lake transfer was impressive in the spring game, both passing and running. And he is a powerfully-built runner. He’ll also play defense, but his impact will be at quarterback. 

Jackie Tucker, Zephyrhills: Tucker had just one reception for 9 yards and four tackles on defense last season as a sophomore, but the 6-foot athlete had a breakout game this spring against Orlando Oak Ridge, catching several long passes, including a touchdown, and coming up with a big interception on defense.

Jacquel Waller, St. Petersburg: The rising junior will be the Green Devils’ top ball carrier, and the Green Devils love to run the ball. Waller had 175 yards and a touchdown against Sarasota. He was in the shadows last season, but now it looks like he’ll have the spotlight. It will be interesting to see how he does.

Questions we still have

How good will Plant be? The Panthers graduated a starting quarterback and two Division I offensive linemen, and the defense lost the top four leading tacklers, including Texas linebacker Andrew Beck. On the bright side, sophomore quarterback Rex Culpepper showed potential in the spring, and with Clemson signee Jake Fruhmorgen blocking for him, last year’s 8A state semifinalist might not skip a beat.

So, Jefferson is really not going to sink toward the bottom of the district? The Dragons looked pretty scary for a team losing Tampa Bay’s Player of the Year, quarterback Deiondre Porter, and, well, seemingly everyone else on offense. Quarterback Randy Bradford went 6-for-12 against Robinson with 264 yards and four touchdowns, two to Maurice Moore, making us think the Dragons will stack up just fine again with district competitors Armwood and Hillsborough.

Is this the year someone catches East Lake? We ask because Pinellas Park seems to be making up ground quickly. Would anyone be surprised if the Patriots had three 1,000-yard rushers? Throw in linebackers Nate Demint and Kal-El Williams and physical shutdown corner Rashaan Watson, and the Eagles should be feeling the warm breath of Pinellas Park on their necks.

Anyone convinced Armwood is NOT the best team in Tampa Bay? Nope.

Boca Ciega junior Dan Stefan was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Tennis. The award is voted on by a panel of high school tennis coaches throughout the state.

Srefan had a dominant season. He was undeated throughout the regular season and playoffs. He won the individual and overall Class 2A singles championship for the second straight year. Stefan amassed 35 points in voting, six ahead of Class 4A player of the year Kaden Funk of Orlando Oyimpia.

Augie Moreno of Wiregrass Ranch was named the Class 3A player of the year after winning the overall singles championship. Erica Oosterhout of Plant finished second in Miss Tennis voting behind Nikki Kallenberg of Naples. Oosterhout was the Class 4A overall champion.

Wiregrass Ranch boys coach Dave Wilson was named the Class 3A Co-Coach of the Year along with Nico Vitale of Barron Collier.

Peter Miller was the first local taken in the 2014 MLB first-year player draft, going in the ninth round on Day 2. Area players were shut out on Day 1 for the first time since 2010. 

RHP Peter Miller, Florida State (9th, 261, Mariners): Miller, who played at Cambridge Christian, recently finished his senior season with the Seminoles. He was 3-4 with a 5.14 ERA. He appeared in 17 games and started seven. In 42 innings pitched he recorded 53 strikeouts and 31 walks. 

Miller, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander, finished his senior season with the Lancers with a 0.89 ERA and 6-0 record, striking out 65 in 39.1 innings pitched. In 2010 he was on the Tampa Bay Times’ all-Hillsborough County first team and was the fifth winner of the Wade Boggs Achievement Award, given annually to a standout senior baseball player in Hillsborough County.

Seattle selected six pitchers — three right-handers — before using its 10th pick on Miller. 

LHP Thomas Dorminy, Faulkner University (10th, 297, Padres): The former Alonso pitcher and 2009 Times’ all-Suncoast Pitcher of the Year finished his junior year at Faulkner University with a 3.22 ERA and 11-3 record, striking out 121 in 109 innings pitched. 

Dorminy, who helped the Ravens win a 6A state championship while at Alonso, was a USF commit at one time, but went the junior college route instead, with stints at Hillsborough Community College and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Ala., before Faulkner. 

As a senior for the Ravens, Dorminy went 7-4 with a 2.33 ERA, striking out 72 in 57 innings. He also had a .326 batting average, three home runs and 30 RBIs.

Riverview baseball coach Bill Leiby was arrested and charged with driving under the influence late Friday night. 

Leiby, who just finished his ninth season with the Sharks and coached at East Bay for five years before that, was arrested at 11:41 p.m. at Brandon Town Center and was booked at a Hillsborough County jail after refusing sobriety testing, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office online records.

Leiby, also a physical education teacher at Riverview, was released Saturday morning after paying a $500 bond. 

This past season Leiby, 39, led the Sharks to a 12-12 record, with the season ending in a Class 8A, District 7 semifinal loss to Plant. Riverview's last playoff appearance was in 2012. 

A call to Riverview's athletic director was not immediately returned. 

Wiregrass Ranch linebacker Jaye Miner commited to FAU on Saturday, coach Mike Lawrence reports. 

Miner, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound rising senior, led the Bulls last season with 131 tackles, 20 for loss. He also had 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Miner had eight offers, picking up his last one from Coastal Carolina on May 31.

The three-star recruit will anchor a Wiregrass Ranch defense next season that graduated several starters. The Bulls finished 4-6 last season — the first under the direction of Lawrence — after back-to-back 0-10 campaigns. 

Mitchell ace Cobi Johnson’s long wait ended when the Padres selected him Saturday in the 35^th round (pick No. 1047) of baseball’s amateur draft.

After beginning his career as a catcher, the 6-foot-4 right-hander moved to pitcher and shortstop as a junior, and he dominated the North Suncoast. He posted a 1.68 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 71 innings to help the Mustangs reach the region finals.

Johnson battled elbow inflammation this spring and was limited early in the year. He recovered well enough to pitch Mitchell to the playoffs and strike out 51 batters in only 31 1/3 innings.

His fastball sits in the low 90s and has touched 94 mph, and he also throws a curveball and changeup.

MLB.com ranked him as the draft’s No. 77 prospect, and Baseball America pegged him as the draft’s No. 28 right-handed pitcher.

His father, Dane, pitched in the majors and now serves as a pitching coordinator for the Blue Jays’ farm system.

Johnson has already signed with Florida State.