HomeTeam Hot Shots
Each week, our HomeTeam staffers will nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover. These nominations span Saturday, April 13 through Friday, April 19. Winners get a free T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on what made our nominees stand out then look for our writers’ picks for overall winners in Tuesday’s Tampa Bay Times.
Female nominees
Camille Baumrucker, Bishop McLaughlin track: The senior is headed to state in two events after placing second in the triple jump (34 feet) and fourth in the long jump (16-1) at the Class A, Region 3 meet.
Moriah Connolly, Palm Harbor University softball: In two Class 8A, District 8 games, the senior was a combined 4-for-6 with six stolen bases and six runs scored to help the Hurricanes win their second straight district title.
Makenzie Goluba, River Ridge softball: The sophomore ace struck out seven in a district semifinal shutout win over Land O’Lakes and hit a walkoff, two-out, two-run single to give her team a 4-3 comeback win over rival Mitchell for the district title.
Ryann McEnany, Holy Names track: The senior has run with a partially torn quad all season, but qualified for state with top-four finishes in the 100 and 300 hurdles at the Class 2A, Region 3 meet in Titusville.
Gabby Rodriguez, Plant tennis: The sophomore was the only member of the Panthers’ state championship team to win a singles title, at No. 3, of the Class 4A team competition. She also teamed with Blair Martin to repeat as champions in the team doubles and overall doubles competition.
Kama Woodall, Canterbury softball: The eighth-grader, the team’s ace, allowed just one hit and struck out a combined 17 batters in two Class 2A, District 9 tournament games to help the Crusaders win their eighth straight title.
Male nominees
Janarion Grant, Pasco track: The Rutgers-bound receiver won another region title in the long jump (23 feet, 8.5 inches) — he’s the two-time defending state champion in that event. The senior also qualified for state as part of the Pirates’ 4x100 relay team.
Brandon Lawson, Hernando baseball: The USF signee needed only seven pitches to strike out the final two batters and get a save over rival Springstead. Then against Land O’Lakes, Lawson shut out Pasco County’s top team and added eight strikeouts.
Keegan Maronpot, East Lake baseball: Maronpot was 3-for-3 with two singles, a double, a walk and two RBIs in the Eagles’ 12-2 win over Pinellas Park in the PCAC championship game. He also scored three runs.
Jordan Nasser, Jesuit tennis: The senior won two matches before losing in the finals of the Class 2A No. 1 team singles bracket Thursday. Nasser and David Pagliarulo also advanced to the semifinals of the No. 1 team doubles competition.
Jack Rogers, Robinson track: The sophomore thrilled spectators in winning the 800 meters at the Class 2A, Region 3 meet, and was also part of the Knights’ winning 4x800 relay team.
Dan Stefan, Boca Ciega tennis: The junior won the Class 3A overall individual state championship in Altamonte Springs on Wednesday, beating Gainesville’s Zachary Goldberg 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. He is Pinellas County’s first overall individual champion since 1998.