News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 25

3C High schools THE NEWS-PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2003 Pro football QB Mastrole trying to build 'chemistry COUGARS: Team loses in semifinals Firecats (2-4) vs. Columbus (2-3) WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday WHERE: TECO Arena TICKETS: At the TECO Arena box office, or call 948-7825 RADIO: WWCN-AM (770) TODD STUBINGThe News-Press TOUGH LOSS: Barron Collier's Julie Gutman, right, tries to hold back tears with her teammates following Barron Collier's state semifinals loss to St Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday. mound, trying to wear it down. "Stepping in sand that I was slipping on, I knew I had to do something," said Cefalu, who threw a no-hitter in the second round of the playoffs.

"The only time I got nervous was in the last inning. But our fielders were great. I knew that we could do it" Like Cefalu, Schaus said she had trouble with the mound. "It was probably the worst mound I've ever thrown on Schaus said. "I was really frustrated in the first inning.

If just By ED REED Ken Mastrole's Florida Firecats return did not go as well as he had hoped. Mastrole, who quarterbacked Florida though its inaugural 2001 season, completed 17-of-37 passes for 159 yards, four touchdowns with two FIRECATS intercep NOTES tions in the Firecats' 45-42 loss to the Charleston Swamp Foxes on Saturday. "It felt good last week, we were so close," said Mastrole, who signed with Florida last week after leaving the Arena Football League's Detroit Fury. "My big thing is chemistry with the guys. I think we're getting that now." Florida coach Ben Bennett believes Mast-role's numbers don't reflect how well his quarterback played.

MASTROLE "Kenny jumped right in and did some very good things, sadly we didn't help him much," Bennett said. "We didn't protect him much, and we didn't catch the balls we should have. "He was rusty but it was not his fault that Magic (Benton) dropped an easy touchdown, that Brandon Burnside dropped a ball in the end zone or that (Anthony Dixon) couldn't run one down because he's not healthy." Mastrole, who was the third string quarterback in Detroit all season and did not see game action, will not be the only former Firecat making a return to TECO Arena on Saturday night Florida will face the Columbus Wardogs, who are coached this year by last season's Firecats coach John Four-cade. Mastrole believes the Firecats will give the hometown fans more to cheer about. "As a unit we've had a good week of practice," Mastrole said.

"I think it's going to be good." The Firecats are about a Capt. "Hawkeye" Pierce and Major "Hot Lips" Houlihan away from starting their own MAS.H. series spinoff. Florida has four players on the 4 From Page 1C Class 5A semifinals at 430 p.m. today.

"It's a hurdle I've got to find a way to get over," said Lewis, who is 0-3 at the Florida Finals in his last three appearances. Barron Collier junior pitcher Kris Schaus struck out seven batters. But she gave up the game's lone run in the bottom of the third inning. Aquinas leadoff hitter Nikki Nicosia singled and then advanced to third base on a passed ball She scored on an RBI single by Charisse Mariconda. "I was kind of taking a chance," Nicosia said of advancing to third instead of stopping at second.

"As a runner, I try to catch people off guard." "It shouldn't have caught us off guard," Lewis said. "That's because we had a discussion about it before the game." Prior to the game, Lewis and Aquinas coach Bryan Baucom had hoped to move to a different field. But the game began at 730 p.m. the Florida High School Activities Association printed the wrong starting time of 430 p.ra in both the Florida Finals program and on its Web site All-State soccer Justin Aulls and Lindsay Giblin The News-Press boys and girts soccer players of the year, respectively are part of 1 0 locals who were recently named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association's All-State teams. Aulls, a Mariner senior, was selected to the Class 3A team.

Giblin, a Barron Collier senior, was named to the Class 2A squad. Here are the other selections: Gabby D'Adamo (Barron Collier, Class 2A); Jessica Hagy (Mariner, Class 3A); Leigh Shipley (Bishop Verot, Class A); Mat Baum (Cypress Lake, Class 3A); Dustin Kahler, Barron Collier, Class 2A); Kent Pickard (Barron Collier, Class 2A); Ryan Swain (Bishop Verot, Class A) and Ross Lane (Bishop Verot Class A). The News-Press staff frustrating not to have all of the elements in place." Schaus, who will return next season, said she felt bad for the nine seniors. "The seniors are a great group of girls," she said. "They're awesome.

My hat's off to them. We've had a great season, and we learned a lot." Barron Collier 000 000 0 0 1 0 OOlOOOx-141 St Thomas Aquinas BC: Kris Schaus, Erin Waetien (4), Schaus (4) and Janette Dulaney. ST: Kristen Cefalu and Jen Acunto. Cefalu. Schaus.

2B: Cefalu. Records: Barron Collier 25-7, St. Thomas Aquinas 27-5. their awards winners FORT MYERS: Jenna Thomas and Joseph Kaskie LEHIGH: Noelle Bergman and Thomas Roszell MARINER: Jessica Hagy and Scott Williams NORTH FORT MYERS: Amelia Baker and Andrew Tomlin RIVERDALE: Amy McWhorter and Steven Porter Tm walking the hall every day with sixth-graders," Lynch said. know they're at me every day." Hilliker added: "I just try to be positive influence wherever I'm I don't try to be a role model, it just happens." on a damp field with an unfavorable pitcher's mound.

"The sand was so soft, I thought I was going to break an ankle," said Aquinas pitcher Kristen Cefalu, who struck out eight batters and threw five perfect innings. In the first, Cefalu began with two wild pitches and a walk before giving up the lone Cougar hit, by right fielder Katy Steffaa Cefalu and her teammates then called a timeout and began kicking the dirt in front of the SCHOLARS: From Page 1C mentor and peer tutor, is on the group of students against drunk driving, is in the environmental club and is senior class vice president Tve enjoyed every minute of it" Hilliker said. "The three state titles rank pretty high We had a strong team and we all worked as a team." Lynch, who'll attend Appalachian State on a football scholarship, was a star baseball and football player for Evangelical Christian, which went 21-4 in football the past two years past years. He has received numerous football awards, including all-state and The News-Press All-Area honors two years in a row. He was his team's MVP the past two seasons.

In baseball, he Was a four-time letterman and played basketball for a couple of seasons. Athletes receive More award BISHOP VEROT: CaraZiegler and Andrew Knox CANTERBURY: Nathaniel Holmes CAPLE CORAL: Stephanie Hen-riques and Kyle Lambert CYPRESS LAKE: Jeanne Helen-brook and Mathew Baum ESTER0: Melissa Heyboer and John Salo ECS: Ashley Hiers Off the field, Lynch is listed in the Who's Who among American High School students and was chosen to attend an leadership conference in Italy. He has a 37 GPA. Both Lynch and Hilliker see themselves as role models but don't go out of their way to play the role. "I a at Mar injured reserve and a number who could be on it The most notable injury remains to starting quarterback Bryan Sparacino (broken leg), who will be on crutches three more weeks and then need at least two more for rehabilitation before he can return Also definitely out this week will be defensive specialist Quin-cy Sorrell (hamstring); offensive specialist Brandon Burnside, who was placed on the short-term (two week) IR this week with a separated shoulder; and lineman Jarvis Jolly remains out.

Lineman Jimmy Fitts is also expected out this week with a shoulder injury. Lineman Fred Harley (back spasms) will come off the IR and play. Dixon continues to play linebacker and wide receiver with two bad ankles. Linebacker Sidney Madison has a shoulder separation and possible nerve damage and might still play. "In all my years in organized football, and that's an awful lot 36 years, I've never seen a team decimated by injuries like this," said Bennett who is looking forward to next week's bye week to get some players healthy.

Some healthy bodies might be on the way. Ryan Hearn, a wide receiverdefensive back who spent the season on the AFL Orlando Predators' practice squad, had a tryout with the team Wednesday night and Bennett expects him to play this weekend. The team also has a DS, Chris Davis, coming in this week. Bennett said place-kicker Brandon Komblue is still his guy, but is bringing in another kicker for a look Friday. Kornblue is 7-of-10 in field goals 39 yards and under but only 21-of-29 on extra point attempts.

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