Player of the Year: Kyle Tucker, Jr., Plant 

Two years ago, outfielder Kyle Tucker had just two home runs in his freshman season at Plant, one of which was inside the park. So this season, when the Florida commit blasted nine balls over the fence during his junior campaign, the slugger admits he was a bit taken aback.

“I just felt comfortable up there,” said Tucker, whose nine home runs tied for tops in the state. “It jumped to nine and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I try to just keep that going.”

As Plant’s two-hole hitter, the 6-foot-3 centerfielder caused a lot of trouble for opposing defenses. He got on base more times than not, striking out just five times in 112 plate appearances and leading the team in batting average (.415), RBIs (35), and extra-base hits (21).

And luckily for the Panthers, there could be a whole lot more where that came from.

Tucker’s got one season left at Plant, and he plans to prepare for it and his future in baseball by continuing his work on the diamond in the offseason.

He was one of eight Tampa area players who participated in the Perfect Game National Showcase this past week, and he’ll be in another — the East Coast Professional Showcase in Syracuse, N.Y. — at the end of the summer.

Tucker is also one of 18 rising seniors selected nationwide for the Under Armour All-America Game, which will be played Aug. 16 at Wrigley Field.

And despite the accolades he’s already achieved, Tucker isn’t satisfied just yet. He’ll play with a summer team, All-American Prospects West, between showcases as he tries to better himself for what could be a big year to come.

“I’m just trying to get better with playing baseball,” he said, “trying to keep consistency throughout the season.”

Pitcher of the Year: Logan Crouse, Jr., Bloomingdale

Logan Crouse was nearly unbeatable when he took the mound for 8A state runnerup Bloomingdale. But there’s still a part of the Bulls’ most recent campaign that doesn’t sit right with him.

“Last season was great — the greatest in school history — but we weren’t satisfied. Losing in the state championship game, that doesn’t satisfy us,” said Crouse, a Florida State commit. “So we’re going to come back stronger.”

Few expected Bloomingdale, a team that struggled offensively, to get as far as it did in the playoffs. But once the Bulls got there, Crouse led the way. 

“We can always depend on Logan,” outfielder Conrado Skepple said of his teammate after that game. “He’s just our guy.”

Crouse, who also stars on the football and basketball teams at Bloomingdale, finished the season with a 0.63 ERA, striking out 116 in 88.2 innings pitched. He was also known to come up with some big plays at the plate, and he recorded 11 RBIs. 

Crouse didn’t listen to doubters who told the underdog Bulls it couldn’t be done. And with another season left at Bloomingdale, he intends to ignore them once more.

“You’ve just to play with heart and anything can happen,” Crouse said. “And it did.”

Coach of the Year

Richie Warren, Jesuit. Warren spent eight years at his alma mater after being hired as the head coach at age 23, but his final season may have been his most challenging. He began the season — his last at Jesuit after accepting a job at Berkeley Prep — with a team stocked full of Division I commits, but nine were suspended in March for breaking team rules, leaving Warren with a depleted roster. He filled the holes with JV players and led the newly blended team all the way to a 5-2 win against Clay for the Class 5A state championship, his first and only at the helm for the Tigers.

First team

P Keith Weisenberg, Sr., Osceola: Stanford commit throws a 92- to 94-mph fastball that had scouts watching at most every game; recorded 88 strikeouts in 64 innings. 

P Daniel Broeseker, Sr., Calvary Christian: Almost unhittable down the stretch for the Warriors; the Pinellas pitcher of the year candidate struck out 117 in 81.1 innings. 

P Jake Woodford, Jr., Plant: Right-hander finished with a 0.43 ERA and 10-1 record, striking out 73 in 65.1 innings pitched. 

C Bret Maxwell, Sr., Northeast: Florida State signeed played third base; hit .456 with 11 doubles and 17 RBIs.

IF Cobi Johnson, Sr., Mitchell: Florida State signee and MLB draft pick led the Mustangs with 11 doubles and batted .409.

IF Kevin Merrell, Sr., Steinbrenner: USF signee, also a district champion in the 100 meters, led Steinbrenner at the plate with a .464 batting average and was quick around the bases, stealing 21 times.

IF Keegan Maronpot, Sr., East Lake: Wake Forest commit was by far the best hitter on a team that struggled to hit; had a .430 average with nine doubles and 18 RBIs. 

IF Bubby Terp, Sr., King: Emory-bound third baseman had a team-high .452 batting average and five home runs while leading the Lions to a region final appearance

OF David Castillo, Sr., Sunlake: Clutch hitter for the Seahawks; won district final and all three playoff games leading to team’s first state appearance. 

OF Alex Hanson, Sr., Steinbrenner: Eastern Michigan signee hit .457 and led the Warriors with 12 extra-base hits, including nine doubles. 

OF Nelson Maldonado, Jr., Jefferson: Hit .432 for the district champ Dragons and recorded eight doubles and four home runs. 

DH Brenden Overton, Sr., Clearwater Central Catholic: Tore the cover off the ball this season, hitting a  county high seven home runs with a .493 average and 35 RBIs; will play at Saint Leo. 

UTIL Jason Heinrich, Jr., River Ridge: All-North Suncoast Player of the Year hit .534 with seven homers, 13 doubles, 33 RBIs and was 9-1 on the hill.

Second team

P Michael Sandborn, So., Jesuit

P David Paul, Sr, Clearwater Central Catholic

P Alex Faedo, Sr., Alonso

P Kyle Kilbourne, Sr., Hernando

C Austin Treverton, Sr., Hernando

IF Mike Campoamor, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch 

IF Tyler House, Sr., Cambridge Christian

IF K.J. Bierly, Jr., Wesley Chapel

IF Connor Labrie, Sr., St. Petersburg

OF A.J. Rainaldi, Sr., Pasco

OF Kennie Taylor, Jr., Jesuit

OF Chris Clark, Sr., Northeast

DH Luis Medina, So., Tampa Prep

UTIL Stephen Chamblee, Sr., Plant

Honorable mention 

Berkeley Prep: Dante Bosnic; Bloomingdale: Austin James, Conrado Skepple; Boca Ciega: Tanner Watkins; Brandon: Ryan Anderson; Calvary Christian: Tommy Georgevich; Central: Trevor McKenna, Thomas Sorrentino; Clearwater Central Catholic: Andrew Murphy, Zuriel Collins; Countryside: Christian Townsend, Charlie Skantze; Dixie Hollins: Joseph Simmons; Dunedin: Trevor Jensen, Aaron Turman; Durant: Garrett Wright; Fivay: Sean Fluke, T.J. Niles; East Lake: Steven Plaskett; Gaither: Randy Oliva; Hernando: David Flowers, Justin Young; Jefferson: Jose Cuellar, Jordan Norman; Jesuit: Ryan McCullers, Ronnie Ramirez; King: Tyeler Checkley, Jose Lopez; Lakewood: Bo Bichette; Land O’Lakes: Tommy Guglielmello, Alex Reynolds, Connor Stephens; Mitchell: Kyle Frick; Nature Coast: Chris Lake; Northeast: Colton Tison, Josh Hale; Osceola: Jaret Helinger, Abi Jimenez; Palm Harbor University: Brian Auerbach; Pasco: Turner Imhoff, Malik Johns; Pinellas Park: Brandon Grigsby; Plant: Cooper Dickens, Matt Vaka; Sickles: Troy Bacon; St. Petersburg: Richie Rivera, John Miller; Seminole: Cody Miller; Sunlake: Omar Cala, Zac Howard; Steinbrenner: Cole Gordon; Tampa Catholic: Paulie Russo; Tarpon Springs: Max Romanski; Wesley Chapel: Corey Mumaw; Wiregrass Ranch: Austin Drury, Zach Drury

BRANDON — Alonso coach Landy Faedo had past players win the prestigious Tony Saladino Award, but he took a bit more pride in this year’s winner.

This time it was his son.

Pitcher Alex Faedo hoisted the 44th annual Tony Saladino Award trophy in front of family, friends and coaches Saturday night at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill.

“It’s special, because of all the players to come out of Alonso,” Landy said. “He’s made great strides the last couple of years in his game. He’s an A-1 person. He’s everybody’s friend at school; he’s everyone’s friend on the team.”

Alex is the fourth Alonso player in the past eight years to win the award, joining fellow pitchers Tommy Toledo (2007), Alex Panteliodis (2008) and Jose Fernandez (2011).

He also is the second in his family to capture the award for seniors only. Second cousin Lenny Faedo of Jefferson won a Saladino in 1978 and went on to play shortstop for the Minnesota Twins in 1980-84.

“I guess my kids are going to have to win it,” Alex quipped.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander has signed with Florida and is headed to Gainesville despite being drafted in the 40th round by the Detroit Tigers. Toledo and Panteliodis pitched for the Gators, but Fernandez signed with the Miami Marlins and was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2013.

Alex Faedo went 6-2 with one save this season, posting a 0.58 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 48 innings. He also batted .290 with 15 RBIs, but said he will pitch at Florida.

Alex graduated with a 3.84 GPA and is undecided on a major, but mentioned sports marketing.

Terence Williams, projected to be Spoto's quarterback in the fall, has picked up his first offers, from North Carolina and North Carolina State.

Williams, who formerly played for two seasons as Terrence Verriett at Jefferson before transferring last spring to Spoto, was offered by the Wolfpack on Saturday and Tuesday morning by the Tar Heels.

Though the 2016 prospect was eligible to practice in the spring but ineligible to play in the spring jamboree, Spoto coach Dale Caparaso has already called Williams the best quarterback he's ever had at Spoto, and said his receiving skills -- he is being recruited as an athlete that can play wide reciever or defensive back -- rival those of past Spartan standouts Nick Addison, Geronimo Allison and Alex Byers, the coach said.

"He has as good hands as anyone who's ever come through here,'' Caparaso said of the 6-foot-1, 187-pound junior. "He is phenomenal. He has just unbelievable hands. The unique thing about Terrence, and we would never do this because we don't have to, is we could move him to outside linebacker and he would be very good. He's an extremely aggressive, physical kid."

Caparaso said Williams has been timed at 4.47 in the 40, and while he will play quarterback in the fall, he will also see time at runing back and wide receiver. "Whatever we need to do to get the ball in his hands,'' Caparaso said.

TAMPA — Before Jesuit High School’s district final soccer game against Bradenton Southeast, first-year coach Eric Sims felt he needed to give his Tigers a little extra motivation. So he used school pride to do exactly that.

Jesuit had won five district titles before that Jan. 24 game, one in each sport the Tigers had competed. Sims wasn’t about to let his team break the streak.

“More of the pressure on us was not being the team that didn’t win it. We knew that all the teams had won up to that point,” Sims said. “It’s something that we talked about and something that we definitely challenged them with.”

The Tigers pulled through that night, beating the Seminoles 3-0 on the way to a district championship. And there would be many more where that came from. 

In the 2013-14 school year, Jesuit won 11 district titles, four region titles and a state championship in baseball, earning enough points to win this year’s Tampa Bay Times’ All-Sports Award.

The recognition takes into account the postseason performances of both girls and boys teams in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando Counties, making the all-boys school’s victory even more of a feat. 

The championships, though, didn’t come without challenges. 

Sims, a Jesuit alumnus, was tapped in September to take over as head soccer coach, following in the footsteps of his former coach Bob Bauman, a man who led Jesuit to 24 district titles in 26 seasons. The Tigers began the season with a loss and a tie in their first three games, but went on to win six of the next seven on the way to a district title and region semifinal berth.

A few months later Richie Warren, a 2000 Jesuit graduate, began his eighth season as baseball coach with a team full of Division I commits. Nine Tigers were suspended for the season in March after breaking team rules, but Warren still went on to lead them to the fourth state baseball title in program history.

The common thread, athletic director Terry Rupp said, is leadership. 

“We’ve got many alums that have come back and given their time, which creates some stability within the whole athletic program,” Rupp said. “If they understand what the boys are going through each and every day, it gives us a great advantage.”

The last time Jesuit had this much success athletically, Rupp said, was when the Tigers won 10 of 11 district titles three years ago, the year before lacrosse was introduced as the 12th sport at Jesuit. But that campaign didn’t yield as many region titles, he said, or a state championship.

The bar continues to be raised. And, track and field coach Andy Wood points out, that’s exactly what Tigers are taught to do.

“We’re always talking about ‘the magis’ at Jesuit. It’s Latin for more, striving for more,” Wood said. “I think that speaks volumes to the well-roundedness of our kids.”

Jesuit’s 2013-14 highlights

• Jesuit won district titles in 11 of the 12 sports in which it competes, falling only in the lacrosse district championship game.

• The Tigers won four region titles in swimming, track and field, baseball and tennis.

• The swim team won its 16th district title before going on to win a region title and finishing fifth at the Class 2A state meet.

• The tennis team won its 20th district title under coach Joe Curtis. Alex Crosby and Grantt Meredith made it to the state semifinal round in singles, while Max Azzarelli and Palmer Evans did the same in doubles.

• The wrestling team finished second at the 2A state tournament, its best finish in 20 years. Senior Austin Underwood won the state title in the heavyweight class, becoming the Tigers’ first individual champion in a decade.

• The football team finished 8-4, beating rival Tampa Catholic — a 2013 3A state semifinalist — for the 14th consecutive year.

• Track and field sent three pole vaulters — Nick Catchur, Jack Hughes and Sammi Abboud — to the state meet. Catchur finished fourth, Hughes fifth and Abboud 10th.

• Senior Jack Taylor finished fourth in the shot put and seventh in the discus at the state track and field meet.

• Baseball won its fourth state championship in program history, ending a 14-year title drought. 

• Sophomore left-hander Michael Sandborn started on the mound in three playoff games leading up to the state final, giving up not a single run in the three appearances.

All-sports rankings 
Points are awarded based on a team’s finish in state competition in its classification. (Only widespread area sports that are sanctioned, not recognized, by the Florida High School Athletic Association receive points.) A state championship is worth 100 points, second place 95 and so forth through 16th place, which is worth 25. When exact positioning cannot be determined, such as with state semifinal losses, points are averaged. Also, 10 points are awarded for district championships and five for district runners-up.

Jesuit: 805
Tampa Prep: 787.5
Plant: 695
Shorecrest: 637.5
Academy of the Holy Names: 595
Palm Harbor University: 572.5
Berkeley Prep: 540
East Lake: 502.5
Clearwater Central Catholic: 472.5
Newsome: 470
Mitchell: 467.
Land O’Lakes: 380
Nature Coast: 347.5
Steinbrenner: 347.5
Lakewood: 345
Indian Rocks Christian: 332.5
Tampa Catholic: 327.5
Osceola: 322.5
Pasco: 282.5
Bloomingdale: 267.5
Springstead: 267.5
Robinson: 262.5
Calvary Christian: 257.5
Wiregrass Ranch: 245
Admiral Farragut: 240
Academy at the Lakes: 232.5
Seffner Christian: 230
St. Petersburg Catholic: 225
King: 212.5
Seminole: 212.5
Sunlake: 210
Armwood: 202.5
Freedom: 202.5
Carrollwood Day: 200
St. Petersburg: 190
Sickles: 185
Hernando: 182.5
Fivay: 177.5
Tarpon Springs: 167.5
Durant: 155
Largo: 155
Bayshore Christian: 145
Northeast: 142.5
Brandon: 125
Cambridge Christian: 125
Canterbury: 125
Jefferson: 120
Bishop McLaughlin: 105
Countryside: 105
Strawberry Crest: 105
Gibbs: 100
Chamberlain: 97.5
Lennard: 97.5
Saddlebrook: 95
Tampa Bay HEAT: 82.5
Plant City: 77.5
Hillsborough: 75
Wharton: 72.5
Gulf: 70
Dunedin: 65
Dixie Hollins: 62.5
River Ridge: 62.5
Anclote: 57.5
East Bay: 57.5
Keswick Christian: 57.5
Spoto: 55
Alonso: 52.5
Brooks DeBartolo: 47.5
Pinellas Park: 47.5
Clearwater: 20
Riverview: 20
Boca Ciega: 15
Gaither: 15
Middleton: 15
Northside Christian: 15
Hudson: 10
Lakeside Christian: 10
Ridgewood: 10
Zephyrhills: 10
Hernando Christian: 5
Tampa Bay Tech: 5
Weeki Wachee: 5
Wesley Chapel: 5

Past winners
2013: Plant; 2012: Plant; 2011: Plant; 2010: Plant; 2009: Plant; 2008: Plant; 2007: Jesuit; 2006: Jesuit; 2005: Jesuit; 2004: Seminole; 2003: Seminole; 2002: Plant; 2001: Seminole; 2000: Berkeley Prep; 1999: Jesuit; 1998: Jesuit; 1997: Clearwater Central Catholic; 1996: Lecanto; 1995: Bloomingdale; 1994: Bloomingdale; 1993: Bloomingdale; 1992: Ridgewood/Berkeley Prep; 1991: Plant; 1990: Brandon; 1989: Lakewood

East Lake pitcher/utility player Riley Choate has committed to Pasco/Hernando Community College. Choate fought for innings behind a talented pitching staff. He was 2-1 in 11 innings pitched with a 3.18 ERA. As a field player, Choate appeared in 12 games and hit .150 with a double. Against Sarasota in the Class 7A regional quarterfinal, Choate stole a base and scored the winning run in the 10th inning of a 2-1 win over Sarasota.

"It was the most important hustle play of our whole season,'' East Lake coach Dan Genna said.

PHCC qualified for the NJCAA II World Series this past season and went 2-2 at the tournament. It was the best finish in school history.

East Lake pitcher/utility player Riley Choate has committed to Pasco-Hernando State College.

Choate fought for innings behind a talented pitching staff. He was 2-1 in 11 innings pitched with a 3.18 ERA. As a field player, Choate appeared in 12 games and hit .150 with a double. Against Sarasota in the Class 7A region quarterfinal, Choate stole a base and scored the winning run in the 10th inning of a 2-1 win over Sarasota.

"It was the most important hustle play of our whole season,'' East Lake coach Dan Genna said.

PHSC qualified for the NJCAA II World Series this past season and went 2-2 at the tournament. It was the best finish in school history.

Scholar-athlete of the Year: Izzy Ordorica, Chamberlain

Izzy Ordorica has a catalog of hits from her four years as a starter on Chamberlain High School’s softball team.

There were hard line drives that fell into gaps for doubles and mighty blasts that sailed over fences for homers. They all came through meticulous preparation as a student of the game.

But even the impressive stats she racked up on the field — from her .442 batting average to her perfect fielding percentage  — do not compare to the ones she compiled in the classroom.

Ordorica, the Tampa Bay Times’ female scholar-athlete of the year, hit the books with just as much determination as she did a softball. She finished her high school career with a 4.0 grade-point average (6.8 weighted). In fact, she has had all A’s her entire life.

“I think the lowest grade I might have had is an A-minus all the way through elementary school,” she said.

Ordorica did this while taking 13 advanced-placement classes, as well as numerous dual-enrollment and honors courses.

“There is a lot of preparation that goes into being both a good student and softball player,” she said. “You have to put in the work and a lot of studying with each one. Both are rewarding.”

Most weeknights, Ordorica went to a three-hour softball practice, then did homework until well past midnight.

The work paid off this year with Ordorica being named a captain on the softball team and helping the Chiefs reach the state semifinals for the first time in her career. She also finished fourth in her class academically and graduated from the school’s Advanced Placement Honors Program.

As far as college, Ordorica wanted to go to a school that was not only competitive in softball, but had an outstanding and well-deserved reputation for academics. She decided on UCLA, where she’ll major in pre-medicine and play for the 11-time national champion Bruins.

“UCLA had the best fit with everything,” Ordorica said. “I want to become a cardiologist,  and I get to play for the all-time winningest college softball program.”

Her strive for perfection — on the field and in the classroom —  remains the same.

“I’ve had all A’s so far. I’m not going to stop now,” she said.

More on Ordorica
Weighted/unweighted GPA: 4.0/6.8
Standardized test score: 27 ACT; 2000 SAT
Sports: Cross country, softball
College: UCLA (to play softball)
Proudest academic accomplishment:“I would say earning all of the honor awards in my core advancement placement subjects as a senior.” She was selected as a top overall student in mathematics and won AP awards for calculus, literature, social studies and environmental science.
Proudest athletic accomplishment: “To be recruited by UCLA for softball was so huge for me. That was my dream school since I was 10 years old.”
Did you know? Ordorica had open-heart surgery before she was 2 years old. …She founded Champ Camp, a mentoring softball program to help empower young West Tampa girls. …She volunteers with two-time Olympic softball champion Michele Smith to raise funds for children in need of cardiac-related medical treatment.

First team
Note: All nominations were submitted by athletic directors or coaches.

Angel Deng, East Lake, 3.57 unweighted/4.35 weighted GPA: As the Eagles’ top tennis player, Deng led the program to two conference championships and a district team title; she was also a state doubles champion and singles runnerup. The four-star college recruit scored 28 on her ACT, took numerous honors and AP courses, and will attend Cornell on athletic and academic scholarships.

Jenna Dykstra, Clearwater Central Catholic, 3.84/4.48: The outside hitter was a key player in the Marauders’ run to the state volleyball tournament. She took numerous AP courses, made the honor roll every semester of high school and received the U.S. President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Dykstra, who scored 29 on the ACT, will study optometry at the University of Florida. 

Lauren Evans, Academy at the Lakes, 3.73: The school’s athlete of the year batted .708 as a senior and was selected to the British national softball team a second straight year; she also played volleyball. All of Evans’ core courses were in honors, and she scored 24 on her ACT. She will play softball at USF.

Madison Glennie, Countryside, 4.0/4.57: The Times’ Pinellas County Golfer of the Year tied for second at state as a senior. She received top academic awards in foreign language, English and math, and scored 33 on the ACT and 2000 on the SAT. She will attend Drake on a golf scholarship.

Hallie Grimes, Land O’Lakes, 3.83/4.34: Grimes, named to the conference all-academic team all four years, scored 25 on the ACT and 1740 on the SAT. The state medalist in the 400 meters all four seasons and cheerleader All-American will attend North Florida on a track scholarship.

Kellyanne Hurst, Plant City, 4.0/6.88: She was named the Alvin A. Casey outstanding high school senior golfer of the year for Hillsborough County and was the school district’s scholar-athlete award winner. The all-conference golfer the past two seasons was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, where she will play golf.

Baylee Lewandowski, River Ridge, 3.95/4.64: The class salutatorian, who took numerous AP and honors courses, scored 32 on the ACT and 2190 on the SAT. She was an all-conference pick in soccer, swimming and track, and will attend Cornell or Washington University in St. Louis.

Emily McMullen, Canterbury, 4.0/4.65: She took 13 AP courses, had a perfect score on the ACT (36) and scored 2240 on the SAT. The National Merit Scholar and Presidential Scholar semifinalist was a member of the swim team and played basketball and softball. She will attend Wake Forest University.

Madison Morlan, Gulf, 3.87/4.69: The summa cum laude graduate an International Baccalaureate student scored 32 on her ACT. She was all-conference in softball, and played soccer and volleyball. She will attend Auburn on a National Merit Scholarship.

Kylie Paul, Wharton, 4.0/6.44: Wharton’s female scholar-athlete of the year scored 29 on the ACT and 1990 on the SAT. She was a first-team all-conference selection in tennis the past two seasons, and won DeBartolo and PTSA scholarships. She will attend the University of Florida.

Rachel Preble, Countryside, 3.95/4.65: The two-time soccer MVP scored 27 on the ACT and 1790 on the SAT. She received PTSA and Dunedin Kiwanis Foundation scholarships. She also was editor of the yearbook, and a member of the national and Spanish honor societies. She will play soccer at the University of Maine.

Sarah Raymond, Palm Harbor University, 3.98/4.64: The three-time all-conference selection in cross country also led her soccer team to the state semifinals as a senior. Raymond, who scored 2040 on her SAT, will play soccer at the University of Tampa.

Christina Tournant, Osceola, 4.0/4.8: The class valedictorian scored 2130 on the SAT and Level 5 on AP Calculus AB and Physics B exams. The state qualifier in swimming the past three years set school records in four events; she also set the school record in 300 hurdles in track. She will swim for MIT.

Honorable mention
Boca Ciega: Angie Reinhart, Alexis Stevens; Brandon: Alyssa Abramson, Savannah Diaz; Clearwater Central Catholic: Suzanne O’Connor; East Lake: Catherine Wegner; Gulf: Eliza Gazda; Hernando Christian: Nicole Klukowski; Land O’Lakes: Kassidy Wallace; Newsome: Lucy Garner; Northside Christian: Gabrielle Greenleaf, Deandra Tsaffaras; Osceola: Madison Russell; Plant: Angela Baird, Kyauna King; Plant City: Ericka Lott; Seminole: Chelsea Miller, Emily Repka; Wharton: Mary Ferguson

Boys Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Alex Carbonelli, East Lake

Alex Carbonelli readily admits he’s competitive — whether it’s in the classroom, on the soccer field or even in his own family. 

While at East Lake High School, he only received two B’s — in freshman English 2 and Spanish 5. And he is quick to point out that those were both 89s, one point short of an A.

“I’ve tried to never settle for a B,’’ Carbonelli said. “But some teachers just don’t budge.’’

As a four-year member of the East Lake soccer team, he played for teams that won district and region championships. He was the central defender on this past winter’s team and was crucial in the Eagles’ run to the Class 5A state semifinal. He also played club soccer for West Florida Premier, coached by East Lake’s Alex Stenson.

And when it came to picking a college, he took that as a challenge as well. With an older sister and brother at Florida and Florida State, respectively, Carbonelli figured he had to aim higher and got accepted to Duke.

“Couldn’t let them go to a better school than me,’’ he said. 

That kind of competitiveness and discipline is what made Carbonelli the Tampa Bay Times’ boys Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

An average school day for Carbonelli started at six a.m. He would take classes, which included advanced placement, until noon before heading to an internship at the Florida Hospital of North Pinellas. From 4 to 6 p.m. he went to the gym, then to soccer practice during the season. That left a few hours to study before calling it a night around 11.

Now that school is out, he works at Countryside Country Club during the week and Home Port Marina in Dunedin on the weekends. 

Carbonelli will leave for Duke in August. He said he will likely try out for the soccer team, but he’s realistic about his chances.

“I’m hoping to make the practice squad,” he said. “That’s a Division I school with some really good athletes. But if I can make the practice squad and stay in shape I’ll be fine with that.”

He plans to focus on business, and will try to double major in finance and accounting. And he is also looking forward to being a full-time student.

At Duke, that means being a Cameron Crazy basketball fan. Carbonelli said he’s all in.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be painting my face blue and white,” he said. “Can’t wait.”

About  Alex Carbonelli
Unweighted GPA: 3.96
Standardized test score: 35 ACT
Sport: Soccer
College: Duke (academic scholarship)
Proudest academic accomplishment: Getting accepted to Duke. “My family made a big deal when my sister got accepted to Florida and when my brother got accepted to Florida State. So I thought going to Duke and getting out of state was the best thing I could do. I got accepted in December and then it was all about finding the money to get there. I got a really good scholarship and that took care of that. I can’t wait to get there.”
Proudest athletic accomplishment: Playing in the region and state semifinals. “The (region semifinal) against Steinbrenner was amazing. We had already lost to them in the district tournament and then we went up 3-1 before they came back and tied it. Then for us to win in overtime was amazing. And in the state (semifinal against Boca Raton) we were down by two goals and only had 10 players and we still came back and tied it. There were so many people watching that game (which East Lake lost in penalty kicks). I’ll never forget it. There’s no better feeling than playing for your school. Playing for that name on the jersey and having people watch you. That’s why I chose high school soccer over club soccer my final year.”
Did you know? Carbonelli interned at Florida Hospital of North Pinellas because he thought he would study pre-med at Duke. He changed his mind after a few weeks at the hospital. “I saw some stuff that I thought would be cool, but it actually turned me away from it,” he said. …Carbonelli was the student government class president as a senior, National English Honor Society historian, and he volunteered on a horse farm that specialized in therapeutic development for mentally challenged children. 

First team

With unweighted and weighted grade-point averages:

Brad Deppermann, East Lake (3.68/4.37): Pinellas County’s baseball player of the year, who helped guide the Eagles to the Class 7A state final, took AP and honors courses and was in the school’s engineering program all four years. He will attend North Florida on a baseball scholarship.

Kyle Don, Calvary Christian (3.98/4.5): The AP scholar with distinction suffered knee injuries in his sophomore and junior seasons, but returned to play football his senior year. Don also participated in school musicals, scored 32 on the ACT and logged 550 hours of community service. He will be part of the honors college at the University of South Carolina.

Jared Hayduke, Seminole (4.0/4.77): An accomplished cross country runner, Hayduke was Seminole’s salutatorian and took numerous honors and AP courses. He scored 33 on the ACT and 1950 on the SAT, and is enrolled at UCF. 

James Flint, Brandon (3.66/5.11): Flint overcame a torn meniscus to notch his fourth state title and finish his senior season undefeated for Brandon’s nationally ranked wrestling team. The National History Honor Society member will attend Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky on an athletic scholarship.

David Graniero, Gulf (4.0/4.79): Gulf’s co-valedictorian played soccer and golf for the Buccaneers. He scored 34 on the ACT and will attend Florida on National Merit and UF Presidential academic scholarships. 

John Morris, Plant (3.8/6.1): The accomplished soccer and lacrosse player took a plethora of AP and honors courses. Morris, who scored 2040 on his SAT, will attend the University of Florida and major in engineering. 

Andrew Murphy, Clearwater Central Catholic (4.0/4.50): The salutatorian took eight AP and 20 honors courses while playing varsity baseball and basketball four years. A member of several national honor societies, Murphy will attend Florida and study pre-med.

Mitch Palm, Indian Rocks Christian (3.97/4.58): Palm was one of the Golden Eagles’ top pitchers and a third baseman, and has already earned his AA degree from St. Petersburg College. Palm, who scored 2060 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT, will attend the University of Florida.

Achintya Patel, Land O’Lakes (3.8/4.4): The International Baccalaureate student was a two-sport athlete (golf and tennis) and made the high honor roll throughout high school. The National and Spanish Honor Society member, who scored 33 on the ACT, will attend USF’s honors college.

Taylor Uselis, Palm Harbor University (4.0/4.78): Uselis was part of the Hurricanes’ 400 free relay swim team that won a state championship, and he placed second in the 200 and 500 free. A National Honor Society member who scored 2030 on the SAT, he will attend the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Anthony Walker, Clearwater Central Catholic (4.0/4.54): The class valedictorian and AP scholar was a two-year starter on the offensive line for the Marauders, and also played basketball and baseball. He will attend the University of Florida.

Garrett Watson, Newsome (3.9/6.8): The four-year varsity tennis player also ran cross country for two years. The national AP scholar and school’s outstanding senior in science will attend MIT and major in electrical engineering and computer science. 

Keith Weisenberg, Osceola (3.9/4.6): The Times’ Pinellas County Pitcher of the Year took numerous AP and honors courses, and scored 1970 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT. Though he was a late-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, he will attend Stanford on a baseball scholarship. 

Steven Winesett, Canterbury (3.95/4.46): The three-sport athlete (baseball, golf and basketball) and AP scholar with honor scored 30 on the ACT. He earned a Bright Futures scholarship to the University of Florida, where he will major in biology.

Honorable mention
Academy at the Lakes: Alex Burnham; Brandon: Allen Lewis; Countryside: Donald Wasoff; East Lake: Ryan Hall; Gulf: Domenic Crisafulli; Hernando Christian: Brielle Manuel; Hudson: Cody Kimble; Land O’Lakes: Carlos Osorno; Northside Christian: Max Massengill, Troy Hicks; Osecola: Brandon Rivera; Palm Harbor University: Phil Mackie; Plant: Christian Chambers; River Ridge: Corey Smith; Seminole: Garrett Connell; Wesley Chapel: Ethan Taylor

Robinson's Jahrvis Davenport, who erupted on the recruiting scene following his junior season and picked up more than two-dozen offers in the five months since, verbally committed to the University of Maryland on Friday afternoon.

Davenport, who was also strongly considering USF, chose the Terrapins on a visit to the Maryland campus.

"I love it here,'' Davenport said. "I like where it's located, and I can see myself living here after sports. When I came up here, I had no idea it would be this easy. It's hard to explain...the feeling. I felt the same way for USF, the only thing with them it is in Tampa, and I grew up there and want to experience something different."

The 2015 standout had a quiet breakout season last fall, with 39 catches for 667 yards and eight touchdowns. He didn't have any offers when the season ended, but as soon as his highlight tape — featured on the Times' Recruiting Show as the Hot Film Of The Week last November — was circulated, they started coming in.

"It hit me out of nowhere,'' Davenport said. "It's been wild and a little bit overwhelming.''

Davenport (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) was planning on committing before his senior season, but as he was planning his current trip, he was informed by the University of Pittsburgh not to stop by because his offer no longer existed.

"They told me they got another receiver to commit,'' Davenport said. "I didn't want that to happen with Maryland."

Davenport, who visited Marshall — who gave him his first offer — Thursday, canceled Saturday's trip to Wake Forest. He said he and his mother will hang around and explore the area for a few more days before driving back to Tampa.

"I'm just so relieved this recruiting process is over,'' he said.

TAMPA — They said Pete DiNovo wasn't big enough to play college ball. They said his arm wasn't strong enough, his aim not pure enough, and there were higher-ranked prospects out at the IMG 7v7 National Championship that were everything the East Lake quarterback wasn't.

Then he went out and outplayed them all with fabulous aplomb, helping Team Tampa capture its first 7-on-7 national title, and followed that up with a record-setting season in the fall as his Eagles advanced to the region final.

So when Brad Mayes looks at the possibilities this weekend, this is what he sees.

"I can't wait," he said.

Mayes is coming off an excellent spring game, leading Berkeley Prep to a victory and throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns, both better totals than he threw in any game last fall.

He is 6 feet 2 and has bulked up to 205 pounds. A tireless worker and fearless competitor, Mayes has put in extra work this offseason and blossomed.

He works out with local quarterback guru John Kaleo, and is coached at Berkeley Prep by one of the most respected coaches in Tampa Bay in Dominick Ciao, as well as Berkeley Prep's quarterback coach and former Guy Toph winner, Gary Godsey.

He is well-trained. 

"I honestly think I am 10 times better than I was last year," he said.

While no one will mistake 7-on-7 for the real stuff played in the fall, almost everyone who has played for Team Tampa calls it one of the best experiences of their lives. For DiNovo, it was a game changer, giving him a little extra swagger in the fall.

Mayes is hoping for the same experience. He's already jumped some of the same obstacles the former Eagle did.

In 2012, DiNovo went into the 7-on-7 season expected to back up Wharton's Chase Litton, a bigger recruit with more college attention.

But DiNovo emerged the starter, and the star of Team Tampa, while Litton took over in 2013 and won the team's second national title.

The day after leading his team to the championship in 2012, DiNovo picked up offers from USF and UCF, and is currently in a battle to be the Knights' starter this fall.

Mayes and Hillsborough High's 6-foot-5 Miami commitment Dwayne Lawson have gone back and forth this offseason, though it is the Buc senior that will run Team Tampa.

"In my opinion, Brad has a lot of the same intangibles I did," DiNovo said. "He's a good decision maker and accurate with the ball and he's a good leader. I think this is a good stage for him to go make a name for himself."

The similarities don't end there. DiNovo's top target in 2012 was East Lake teammate Artavis Scott and the two took their 7-on-7 experience into a successful fall campaign.

Mayes will be playing with his Berkeley Prep teammate, Jacob Mathis, a 6-5, 215-pound target that was most recently offered by Florida.

"He's one of my best friends, and having him out there with me is huge," Mayes said. "It's the best thing that could have happened to me. He keeps me calm and knows what to say."

Mayes doesn't know if a big weekend will lead to college offers. The pace of his recruitment has been a source of debate, though he does have offers from UMass, Akron, FIU and, most recently, Lehigh.

His bigger concern is trying to guide Team Tampa to a third straight national championship and leading the Bucs back to the playoffs in the fall.

The rest will take care of itself, he said.

"There's a little bit of pressure but I have a lot of talented kids around me, from George (Campbell) to Auden (Tate) to Ryan (Davis) to Jacob, to throw to," he said. "I'm just looking at it as another great opportunity that I'm blessed to have."

IMG 7v7 National Championship
Where: IMG Academy, Bradenton
Of note: Five local teams are in the club division — defending champ Team Tampa, Team Tampa Too, Unsigned Preps, Unsigned Preps Youth and Next Level Night Hawks. Two others, Change Factor and Team Florida, are in the Future STARS division. Pool play starts Saturday, with double-elimination action Sunday.
Club: Pool play, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday; tournament bracket, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; semis and final, 3:15-5:15 p.m. Sunday
Future STARS: Pool play, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday; tournament bracket 10 a.m. to noon; semis and final: 12:45-2:15 p.m. Sunday

St. Petersburg running back DeAngelo Reeves has commited to Butte College in Oroville, Calif. Reeves graduated in June and was the Green Devils top running back as a senior. He rushed for 1,150 yards on 148 carries and scored 13 touchdowns, all team highs. He  also caught seven passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Butte College is a two-year school and won the 2013 California state championship.

BRADENTON — There were less than two minutes to go in Unsigned Preps' tournament final game against Miami's Florida Fire at Sunday's IMG 7v7 National Championship when quarterback Chris Oladokun threw a pass to Ray RayMcCloud III, who was standing in the end zone.

For most of the first six games, the duo — as well as many of the other Tampa Bay area players who participated on the squad — had been almost perfectly precise. But after a long day of games, the heat and fatigue began to wear on them, Oladokun said.

McCloud dropped the pass before falling to his knees, grabbing his cramping legs. Unsigned Preps got on the board once more before the game ended, but undefeated Florida Fire kept coming back with more, eventually beating the Tampa-based team 33-20.

"That was just fate, I guess," said Oladokun, the starting quarterback at Alonso. "He had the ball and everything. Half of our team was cramping."

Unsigned Preps was one of five Tampa area teams that competed in this year's IMG 7v7 National Championship.

Team Tampa Too, quarterbacked by Hillsborough's Dwayne Lawson, was out of the double-elimination tournament early Sunday morning after losing its first two games. Unsigned Preps Youth won its first game on a last-second touchdown pass from Wiregrass Ranch's Shane Bucenell to Tampa Bay Tech's Daquon Green, but lost its second two.

Plant City wide receiver TJ Chase had a big day for the Next Level Night Hawks. The squad lost its first game of the morning, but Chase scored a touchdown with less than two minutes to go in its first elimination game to seal a victory. The 2016 recruit had a pair of touchdowns and an interception in the Night Hawks' second win of the day, but the team was ultimately eliminated by Team Tampa in the round before the semifinal.

Florida Fire's victory snapped Team Tampa's two-year stronghold on the title. Team Tampa, quarterbacked by Berkeley Prep's Brad Mayes, lost its second game of the day, but had some success in the winner's bracket before falling 20-14 in the semifinal round.

"It's real disappointing," said Wharton wide receiver Auden Tate. "We should have won."

Tampa Bay players made up five teams (club division) at Sunday’s IMG 7v7 National Championship, which the Florida Fire won after topping Unsigned Preps 33-20 in the final. These 10 players had a standout day, offering us a big preview for the fall:

Bruce Anderson, Unsigned Preps (Newsome): Who? Yeah, Bruce. Or more like Bruuuuuuuuce after he made a game-sealing interception in Unsigned Preps’ quarterfinal win over top-seeded River City. It wasn’t Anderson’s only great play of the day, but it was the most important. Anderson, playing safety, kept the deep middle well-covered all weekend.

Deon Cain, Unsigned Preps (Tampa Bay Tech): The saddest thing about the end of the 7-on-7 all-star season is it will be the last time we get to see Cain catching passes — until he gets to Clemson in 2015. The Tampa Bay Tech quarterback was his usual spectacular self, making an array of sensational catches and showcasing his athleticism. 

TJ Chase, Next Level Nighthawks (Plant City): Next Level lost its first game of the day, but Chase shined in elimination games to keep his team alive. The 2016 wide receiver had a late touchdown to seal the victory in the first elimination game of the afternoon. Later in the day, he scored on the very first play of another before grabbing an interception on the other side and heading back to the end zone for his second TD.

Nate Craig, Unsigned Preps (Tampa Catholic): Craig did what Craig does best — beat defenders over the top, in the middle, on the goal line, using his big body and hands to make a few catches he had no business making. He was also a solid defender when called upon. He might be one of the most intriguing players of the upcoming season, because who doesn’t wonder exactly how Tampa Catholic will use him? 

Ryan Davis, Team Tampa (Lakewood): We saw Davis leap over taller defenders for a touchdown, outrun the entire defense on a crossing pattern for a touchdown and beat his defender to the corner for a touchdown. He does so much so well at these 7-on-7 events, and his outstanding hands probably made him the best slot receiver we laid eyes on. 

Daquon Green, Unsigned Preps Youth (Tampa Bay Tech): You’ll hear more about him this fall, but the Tech senior caught a last-second touchdown pass from Wiregrass Ranch quarterback Shane Bucenell to win one game, and had touchdowns in a few others. A tall target (6-foot-2), he was able to get open and make the plays at IMG. 

Ray Ray McCloud III, Unsigned Preps (Sickles): We all know McCloud the 2,000-yard rusher, but the rising senior shined defensively, too. In a come-from-behind win against fourth-seeded Polk County Dream Team, McCloud came up with a momentum-changing interception before catching a long pass to set up a touchdown. Then, McCloud — who also has college offers at defensive back — guarded Polk County go-to Derwin James on the final play, which resulted in a game-winning defensive stop for Unsigned Preps. 

Chris Oladokun, Unsigned Preps (Alonso): We thought all the quarterbacks were pretty good, but none may have been better than Oladokun, who led Unsigned Preps into the final before the team just ran out of gas. Minus a few mistakes late in the day, the Alonso junior was on target and spread the ball around to all of his targets, making things tough on defense.

Auden Tate, Team Tampa (Wharton): Tate, who also played with Team Tampa at last year’s IMG 7v7 National Championship, lost track of how many touchdowns he had as the defending champions marched their way to the semifinal round of the loser’s bracket.

Vonte Williams, Unsigned Preps (Wharton): The rising senior hasn’t played a season of high school football yet, but if these 7-on-7 tournaments are any indication — and for defensive backs we think they are — he will be the find of the 2014 season. Williams had a handful of big interceptions, and has an uncanny knack for covering a lot of ground, often coming from across the field to make a play. If we’re handing out a defensive MVP, we’re giving it to the Wildcat.

Honorable mention

Shane Bucenell, Unsigned Preps Youth (Wiregrass Ranch): We couldn’t help but wonder what Bucenell could have done with one of the A teams. He looked really good in the games we saw him play, and he clearly has one of the best arm of any of the local quarterbacks there.

Jacob Mathis, Team Tampa (Berkeley Prep): Mathis showed he isn’t just a big-body receiver. He was able to get open and make some big catches for the defending champs.

Brad Mayes, Team Tampa (Berkeley Prep): He had some bright moments mixed in with some inconsistency, but overall he did what we expected, spreading the ball around and making the big throws. 

Marc McCoy, Next Level (Spoto): What TJ Chase didn’t catch, McCoy did. With Terence Williams throwing to him in the fall, it could be a fun season for the Spartans.

Bentlee Sanders, Unsigned Preps (Tampa Catholic): Sanders was money on the short routes and had quite a few scores. When the stars started cramping up down the stretch, it was Sanders (and Isaac Holder) that stepped up for the runners-up.

Terence Williams, Unsigned Preps (Spoto): He showed why North Carolina and North Carolina State have offered, with a few pretty impressive catches and all-around solid play.

Photo: Plant City's TJ Chase 

Tarpon Springs rising senior Mitchell Wilcox, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end and defensive lineman, made his college choice official Saturday night after playing with Team Tampa in the IMG 7v7 National Champinship. 

Wilcox, who had a breakout spring, chose the Bulls over offers from James Madison, Ball State and Miami (Ohio).

Read more here on Wilcox's commitment from USF beat writer Joey Knight. 

Plant defensive lineman Kyle Henderson recently committed to Georgia Tech, coach Robert Weiner reports. 

Henderson, who had 67 tackles last year, 19 for loss, will be Plant's leading returning tackler this season after the Panthers graduated Texas signee Andrew Beck and Wisconsin signee Austin Hudson. 

Henderson, a 6-foot-2 rising senior, had offers from USF, UCF and FAU, among others.

Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver Mark Hutchinson has committed to Florida International, the rising senior tweeted Tuesday. 

Last season the 6-foot-2 junior had seven receptions for 113 yards and was one of five Bulls who had at least 100 yards receiving. As a sophomore, Hutchinson had four receptions for 100 yards. 

Hutchinson's commitment comes less than three weeks after teammate Jaye Miner, a three-star linebacker, committed to Florida Atlantic. 

John Gerdes has always been associated with St. Petersburg Catholic. He graduated from the school in 1980 and served as the Barons' athletic director from 2007-12.

Now he is changing schools — and joining the rival.

On Tuesday, Gerdes was hired as Clearwater Central Catholic's athletic director. He replaces Keith Galley, who is moving into another administrative role.

"I don't think it's all that strange as some people might believe it to be," Gerdes said. "CCC still is part of the Diocese and is a great Catholic school with a tremendous tradition within its athletic program."

Gerdes spent 20 years as USF's sports information director before returning to his alma mater as athletic director. For the past two years, he was director of stewardship and development at St. Jude's.

"I wasn't involved in athletics the past two years, and I was missing that," Gerdes said. "This was a great opportunity. Not that I was necessarily seeking it, but I got the blessing from everyone at St. Petersburg Catholic to go after this role. I'm excited about it."

East Lake kicker Daniel LaCamera has committed to Texas A&M, Eagles coach Bob Hudson said Tuesday.

LaCamera will likely handle kickoffs and punts for the Aggies. Last year, LaCamera was 74-of-79 on PATs and 7-of-14 on field-goal attempts. Of his 101 kickoffs, 80 were touchbacks. He was just as strong as a punter, with a 37.8 average, including six inside the 20.

Two weeks ago, he was named the top kicker at Florida's camp. 

St. Petersburg's Kevon Woods has transferred to Lakewood, Spartans basketball coach Anthony Lawrence Sr. confirmed.

Woods, a 6-foot-5 guard, gives Lakewood an additional scorer to pair with Anthony Lawrence Jr., a Miami commit and the Spartans' top returning player.

"I'd heard Kevon wanted to come here since the season ended," Lawrence Sr. said. "He's going to help us a lot."

Woods is the second Green Devil to transfer in the past two weeks. Terrell Burney left to go to Boca Ciega.

One player who plans to stay with the Green Devils is Darius Banks. The sophomore became one of the team's top scorers during its run to the Class 8A region final last season. Banks had a lower stress fracture in his back that kept him out the past three months. He resumed playing with Nike Team Florida last week.

Gibbs guard Daniel Davis has transferred to Tarpon Springs, Gladiators boys basketball coach Larry Murphy said.

Davis, a senior, battled through injuries last season to average 11.3 points and 4.7 assists per game. Davis' younger brother, Donald, a 6-foot-3 junior who played JV last season, will also be playing for the Spongers.

"The (Davis) family moved up in that area," Murphy said. "It's definitely going to hurt us, and it will help (Tarpon Springs) quite a bit."

The addition of the Davis brothers bolsters an already solid Spongers team that includes returning starters Trai Halton, Scottie James and Mitchell Wilcox. Last year, Tarpon Springs won a playoff game for the first time since 1947 and should make an even deeper run through the postseason.