Tuesday, June 14, 2011
There was a lot to like from Indian Rocks Christian coach Mark Buchanan's view from the Golden Eagles spring game, except the score.
Spring football games are largely used as an evaluation tool for inexperienced players who get to snap on a chin strap for a high school varsity level game often Most of the time it's their the first time or a new position. So Indian Rocks Christian coach Mark Buchanan was not torn apart when his Golden Eagles lost to St. Petersburg Catholic 38-34. Buchanan saw quite a few positives to take away from the game and to build upon for the fall season. In short, his defensive line could be one of the best in Pinellas County. Three of the Golden Eagles starting defensive linemen very well could be playing Division-I college football. Spencer Adkinson, Devonte West and Sean Culkin are all big, have the physical strength and are fast. "Devonte, he…
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Indian Rocks Christian Schools
12685 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL
/articles/despite-spring-game-loss-indian-rocks-christian-coach-sees-positives
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Saturday, May 28, 2011
While the eyes of college coaches and opponents are on stud defensive lineman Jeremi Powell, his teammate, linebacker Iman Smith is catching their attention.
Iman Smith's first love is basketball. He loves it. Craves it. Playing for the Pinellas Park Patriots, Smith was, what Patriots football coach Ken Crawford called "a 6'2 power forward." There aren't many colleges looking for such players. Knowing Smith loved hoops and that Smith wanted to go to college, Crawford coaxed Smith into playing football his senior year. Before the Patriots have even played their spring game, Smith is already getting college offers to play football. Part of this is the result of having a stud player like Jeremi Powell on the roster. Powell has already received offers from Florida and Alabama to play. Just this week, legendary Miami assistant coach Art Kehoe was monitoring the Patriots practices. But college …
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
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Saturday, May 21, 2011
After his season was cut short last year due to a right knee injury, one of the top quarterbacks in the state, Largo's Juwan Brown, has declared himself healthy and ready to lead the Packers.
This coming football season could be a pivotal one for Largo High School quarterback Juwan Brown. When this season ends, Brown could be one of the nation's top prospects, or he could just be one of hundreds of quarterbacks who struggles to reach his full potential. Quarterbacking one of the state's top programs, Brown burst onto the scene. Largo coach Rick Rodriguez turned to Brown late in the season when his team had already gone through three other quarterbacks, who couldn't get the job done either due to grades, transfers or injuries. Starting a freshman quarterback on a soon-to-be playoff team is dangerous, but Rodriguez's move proved smart. In no time Brown began slicing the air with bombs and leaving would-be tacklers in the dust. In…
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Largo High School
410 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL
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Friday, May 13, 2011
Pinellas Park, with a losing record, is one game away from the Class 5A state tournament. A win today at home over Bradenton's Manatee High School will send the Patriots to their first state baseball tournament appearance.
This isn't supposed to happen. Baseball teams that have losing records are not supposed to be one win from a state tournament berth. But that is exactly where Pinellas Park High School's baseball squad finds itself. Thanks to a newfound stellar defense and a freshman pitcher who is usurped his team's senior ace, the Patriots (13-14), ranked No. 807 in the nation by MaxPreps.com, is just three wins from a Florida state title. Wins over Tarpon Springs and East Lake, with heavy favorites Seminole and Dunedin being upset in earlier rounds, has cleared a path for Pinellas Park. Its lone obstacle between the Patriots and a trip to the state baseball tournament is Bradenton Manatee, which Pinellas Park will host tonight (Friday, May 13) at 7 p.m…
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
/articles/patriots-baseball-team-not-supposed-to-be-here
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Friday, May 6, 2011
Football games may not be played for another four months but area high schools began their annual month-long spring football practices this week.
Spring football practices have begun at high schools throughout Florida and Largo Patch has decided to touch base with the three local high schools to see what objectives the coaches have for their teams. Indian Rocks Christian Golden Eagles coach Mark Buchanan has a strange predicament on his hands. He has a solid senior-to-be class and a load of talented incoming freshman. Sophomores and juniors? Not many. So Buchanan will have the task of getting his incoming freshmen up to speed to play along side the solid senior class. "We are really young in a lot of positions so we have to get the kids some experience," Buchanan said of his goal for spring practice. The youngsters "are going to have to play quite a bit for us." For some coaches, …
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Largo High School
410 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL
/articles/spring-football-practice-has-begun
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
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Indian Rocks Christian Schools
12685 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL
/articles/spring-football-practice-has-begun
942014
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Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Patriots baseball squad secures a chance in the Class 5A region quarterfinals and advances to a district final with an impressive performance by its ace pitcher.
Donny Norris saved his best game for the perfect moment. The Pinellas Park High School baseball team's ace had lost to Boca Ciega once already this season. Now, with a chance in the Class 5A region quarterfinal at stake as well as a chance to advance to the district tournament finals, Morris was nothing short of overpowering. Norris recorded 14 strikeouts and held Boca Ciega to just two hits in a 9-0 win Wednesday at Pinellas Park. "He was on and we were not able to make contact," Boca Ciega baseball coach Ralph Rogers said. "It was probably one of his better games." Both Norris and his coach Bill Ruttencutter agreed agree with Rogers. “If you are going to have a 14-strikeout game, this is the game to do it,” Ruttencutter said. "My stuff …
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
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Saturday, April 23, 2011
Golden Eagles coach Adam Moravick plans to use Thursday's loss to Canterbury as a teaching tool for post season play beginning Tuesday.
Pinellas County is loaded with good high school baseball teams. It doesn't matter if it's a small school or a large school. The talent is so spread out that for a team losing to a smaller school, it's not an embarrassment. Indian Rocks Christian baseball coach Adam Moravick has scheduled local teams, both large and small, in order to get his team ready for post season play. One such game was Thursday at Canterbury Christian. So when Indian Rocks Golden Eagles came up short in a 10-6 loss. Moravick used it as a teaching example of what his team needs to do - and quickly- in order to make any sort of dent in a playoff run. Indian Rocks Christian plays Brooks-Debartalo Tuesday in the first game of the Class 2A-10 District at Tampa Prep. "We …
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Indian Rocks Christian Schools
12685 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL
/articles/indian-rocks-christian-coach-hopes-loss-fuels-team-for-district-play
942014
/locations/4126569
Friday, April 1, 2011
The left-hander had no control of his curveball but was crafty enough to mow down Clearwater hitters with various arm motions and fastballs.
ST. PETERSBURG On a day when Mike LaGrange didn't have any location with his curveball, he pitched like a major leaguer. The Largo High School southpaw was masterful in a 3-1 come-from-behind win to defeat Clearwater Tuesday at the Northeast High School baseball tournament in St. Petersburg. LaGrange fanned just five batters but it was how he pitched to those batters which made the difference for the Packers. "My curveball wasn't working to well today," LaGrange said. He was being a bit misleading. LaGrange's curveball was working just fine. It was his control of his curveball that wasn't working. So in almost desperation, LaGrange decided to live and die by his fastball. He lived. LaGrange used two different pitching motions despite …
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Largo High School
410 Missouri Ave N, Largo, FL
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Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The sophomore-laded squad is coming up on the short end of a lot of close games but hustle and hard work is putting the team in position to win the same games.
A two-run loss has seemingly been the norm for Pinellas Park High School baseball's squad this spring. It happened again Friday. Playing at St. Petersburg, the Patriots fell victim to a defensive lapse in the bottom of the third when the Green Devils scored three unearned runs which allowed St. Petersburg to win 5-3. "We've lost a lot of games like this," said Pinellas Park coach Bill Ruttencutter. "We've lost six of our last nine games by two runs or less." Ruttencutter is quick to point out there are no excuses, but he has a point in that his team is so young. All but three players are sophomores or freshmen. The vast majority of his starters are sophomores. "No excuses," Ruttencutter said. "But the kids are learning how to win." …
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
/articles/learning-to-win-pinellas-park-baseball-team-hopes-hustle-is-the-answer
938988
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
When the Patriots stud linebacker was invited to Florida's junior day, it took him just a few minutes to decide where he will play college football.
With his blazing speed, it doesn't take long for Pinellas Park's Jeremi Powell to get started. So it is not much of a surprised to learn that Powell's decision on where to play college football was quick as well. On the University of Florida's recent Junior Day, where high school juniors are wooed about the virtue of the Gators, Powell was sold almost immediately. "The coaches showed me a lot of love," Powell said about Will Muschamp's coaching staff. "They showed me around before the rest [of the group]. They wanted me in extra early." And Powell rewarded the Gators coaching staff with an early verbal commitment. Though a gifted athlete, Powell will likely play linebacker. "I just fit in right away like I was already there [as a student…
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Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave, Largo, FL
/articles/pinellas-parks-jeremi-powell-quick-on-the-football-field-quick-with-decisions
938988
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Yaslyn Washington
2:39 pm on Monday, May 23, 2011
Juwan Brown is a remarkable young man.I see this Young man going a long way and being the best he can can be in the sport of Football.keep up the good work young man because you are the best in my eyes.We love you Juwan you are #1 in our eyes more ›