LBHS track team looks tough for tri-county meet
Lemon Bay High School had 20 athletes qualify for the inaugural tri-county (Charlotte-Sarasota-Manatee) meet Friday at Lakewood Ranch High School.
Mantas head track coach Sean Huber feels good about the people he is taking to the meet and has been pleased with Scott Pinkham, his most consistent performer this season.
Pinkham, who has placed in every invitational Lemon Bay has entered, has been around 52 seconds in the 200-meter run. He is also a member of the Mantas' 4 x 400-meter relay team that has created a lot of excitement.
Sam Tilly has won the long jump in every meet he has entered this season, but has yet to match his school record of 23 feet, 11 inches, which he set last year. His best this season is 22-11.
The boys 4 x 800-meter relay team recently broke its school record for the second time this season when it crossed the finish line in 8:46, which eclipsed the old mark by six seconds. Kudos to Sam Mallach, Marshall Thomson, Matt Frink and Linton Bowen.
On the girls side, high-jumper Ashley Miller and pole-vaulter Melanie Dammel shined at the recent Charlotte County meet. Miller, who has yet to clear her personal best of 5-2, recorded a 4-10. Dammel went over the bar at 7-6.
With the districts fast approaching, Lemon Bay High girls' head tennis coach Darrell Roach will have to make his toughest decision of the season. Winners of 10 of their first 11 matches, the Lady Mantas are serious contenders to qualify for states, but they know it could come down to the No. 2 doubles match at regions.
Roach feels putting Jill Paxton at No. 2 doubles will improve the team's chances. However, Paxton and her good friend Taylor Ittersagen have been lobbying Roach to play No. 1 doubles together.
A recent match against Venice, the Lady Mantas won 4-3 by taking Nos. 3, 4 and 5 singles along with No. 2 doubles. It appears to be the way the region final will shape up.
"Jill is our best doubles player and we've got to make our No. 2 doubles team strong," Roach said. "She has everything you want in a doubles player. She is our best volleyer, has great movement and a good overhead shot.
"I haven't made a final decision yet, but I need to next week. I've been with these girls for four years and you want (to accommodate them), but it's a question what is best for the team."
Paxton and Ittersagen could take the pressure off their coach and volunteer to play with another teammate in doubles. They've got the rest of their lives to play doubles together, but only one opportunity to go to states. With four seniors and a junior on the starting lineup, this is the year.
Roach has settled on his No. 1-5 singles players for the post season. Looking at the individual records, it's obvious where the team's chances of winning rests. Paxton is 10-1 at No. 3 singles, Kate Mull (9-1) will be at No. 4 singles and Candace Meals (10-1) at No. 5. Ittersagen is 6-4 at No. 1 and Kristina Caputo (6-5) will be at No. 2 singles. He has been flipping around a lot of players in doubles.
The team's biggest worry now is injuries. Caputo and Mull are dealing with blisters on their feet, which Roach is hoping will heal with rest. Mull's blisters are a more serious problem because they became infected.