Each week, our HomeTeam staffers nominate male and female Hot Shot athletes from each of the counties we cover. Then we turn the voting over to readers. These nominations span Saturday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 28. The winners get a T-shirt and bragging rights over every other school in the area. Read up on all of our nominees then vote until noon Monday.
Female nominees
Emily Kerns, Mitchell track: The junior distance runner set a meet record in Friday’s Mitchell Invitational, winning the 1,600 in 5:17.12.
Hanna McCarthy, Gulf softball: The junior’s two-run double gave the Buccaneers their first lead after falling behind 3-0 Thursday against Holy Names. Gulf rallied in the fifth inning and won 12-3.
Brittany McGee, Admiral Farragut track: The junior was dominant at the St. Petersburg City Championships, winning the 100 hurdles (14.99), 300 hurdles (46.88), high jump (5-2) and long jump (17-9.5).
Natalia Rivera, Jefferson softball: The junior’s first home run of the season was a big one. She blasted a three-run homer to help the Dragons take a 6-4 win over Chamberlain and move Jefferson into first place in Class 6A, District 9.
Lace Smith, Bloomingdale softball: The junior pitcher allowed just three hits and struck out 13 in seven innings to lead the Bulls to a 3-0 win against Newsome on Friday. Bloomingdale is now 7-0 to start the season.
Rachel Taylor, Palm Harbor U. softball: The senior ace threw a three-hit shutout against Pinellas Park to improve to 5-0 on the season. She also hit a homer and is batting .750 on the season.
Male nominees
David Castillo, Sunlake baseball: The senior lefty pitched a no-hitter against Tarpon Springs, helping the Seahawks to a 2-1 win. Castillo has struck out 23 batters and earned a 2.39 ERA in 14.2 innings.
Michael Fridella, Tampa Prep boys basketball: His 21 points and seven rebounds against Shorecrest helped lift the Terrapins to the Class 3A state title game. He added nine points in a loss to Sagemont in the state final.
Dayon Griffin, St. Petersburg basketball: The senior, who has signed with Louisiana Tech, had a team-high 32 points, including six 3-pointers, to go along with seven assists and four rebounds in a loss to Winter Park in the Class 8A region final.
Paulie Russo, Tampa Catholic baseball: The senior shortstop hit a two-run, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday to beat Jesuit 4-3. The Crusaders trailed 3-1 heading into the last inning and had two outs when Russo sent a 2-2 pitch through a leftfield gap.
Tyler Short, Largo baseball: The junior hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to allow the Packers to upset East Lake 6-3 on Thursday. It was Short’s first home run of the season and gave Largo (1-5) its first win.
Justin Young, Hernando baseball: The junior hit a double in the top of the seventh to help the Leopards come back from a 4-2 deficit to a 6-4 win against Springstead. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and a run.