Photos by Dave Colon. Click on photo for full gallery.

Hillsborough Terriers whipped homecoming guests the Blake Yellowjackets 42-0, but the main event came after the game as the Blake band stormed Hillsborough’s home field and issued a challenge. The two bands bumped, blared and blasted away at each other as the stands rocked.

Hillsborough Terriers beat Blake 42-0; Hillsborough band performs at halftime.

Photo by Dave Colon. Click on photo for gallery.

The sun shone and fortune smiled today on the Levy County Association for Retarded Citizens (LARC). Though last year’s Ride was dampened by all-day rain, the Fifth Annual Ride had brilliantly sunny skies and a robust turnout. Organizer Lt. Sean Mullins of Levy County Sheriff’s Office estimated more than 250 bikes this year, compared to last year’s 150, with a commensurate increase in riders.
“What a blessing it is to stand up here and see how many people come out to support Levy ARC,” he said.

A final tally is a few days away, as final t-shirt sales and late donations are counted, but organizers said this year’s sponsorships and donations came to $13,600, close to last year’s tally.
LARC Executive Director Betty Walker was thrilled with the turnout and the compassion showed by the riders to the LARC clients.
“I want to tell everybody – ‘Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!’”
All proceeds from the Ride to Provide go directly to LARC, and donations are tax-deductible. To learn more about LARC or to make a donation, call 352-486-4293 or send check to LARC, P.O. Box 86, Otter Creek, FL 32686. For more information about the Ride to Provide, visit www.RideToProvide.net.
Check back later today for full photo gallery and video.

Photo by Dave Colon

By Jenna McKenna

Q: It’s summer, it’s hot, and the economy’s still bad. What’s a fun-loving biker to do?

A: Go on the best benefit ride in North Florida, the 2010 Ride to Provide to benefit Levy Association for Retarded Citizens (LARC)

The Ride to Provide, now in its fifth year, just keeps getting bigger and better. Organizer Sean Mullins says there are already about 55 bikes pre-registered for the Ride, a number he hopes will be multiplied many times.

“I’ve learned that bikers tend not to preregister,” he said. “They just make their minds up and come out. But most of those people who’ve already signed up are repeat riders. After their first ride, they tell us, ‘That was wonderful! We’ll be back next year.’ We’re hoping to register at least 150 bikes, and double that or better on walk-up.”

Coming into last year’s Ride, Mullins had high hopes of a mile-long, 500-bike parade down U.S. 19, but a persistent rainstorm put a wet blanket on attendance, with numbers topping out at about 150 bikes.

“We’re definitely praying for better weather this year,” Mullins said.

The weather didn’t damage riders’ impulse to dig into their pockets, however, and last year’s smaller gathering raised an outstanding sum, just under $14,000, for LARC. Mullins is hoping that this year’s riders will be similarly generous, and much more numerous.

“I would love to see this become the biggest ride in Levy County,” he said.

Because this is the Fifth Annual Ride to Provide, here are five things you need to know about it:

1 – The Ride is free, as in “costs nothing to participate.” Organizers would love it if you’d make a donation from the kindness of your heart. “I’ve found that when you give from the heart, you generally give more,” said Mullins. “And LARC needs it, now more than ever.”

2 – All proceeds (yes, all) benefit the Levy Association for Retarded Citizens (LARC), an organization that serves mentally handicapped adults in Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist County. “I can’t think of any people more deserving to fight for,” said Mullins.

3 – LARC really needs help. Due to budget cuts in state funding, fewer mentally handicapped adults are able to access services at the LARC campus. Fewer funded people in attendance means less money available to pay service providers and program costs.

4 – The Ride is fun! Free coffee and donuts at the start, 63 miles of beautiful scenery, and a great meal afterward, back at the LARC campus in Otter Creek, with door prizes and a meet-and-greet with LARC clients.

5 – The Ride is law enforcement-led and fully supported, with minimal traffic stops and with breakdown assistance. It’s also family-friendly and alcohol-free.

The Ride was conceived in 2006 when a group of Levy County law-enforcement officers noticed how much LARC clients loved it when the officers showed up on motorcycles to teach their public safety classes. Mullins, a lieutenant in the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, organized a Motorcycle Day at LARC with LCSO colleagues Sgt. Perry Ott and Deputy Pete Barnes, and Williston Police Department Capt. Clay Connolly among others. The day was such a runaway hit that the officers, many of whom have become members of the Florida Blue Knights (law enforcement motorcycle club) began to think a benefit run might be a good idea. Since the first year, the Ride has grown to be LARC’s number one fund-raiser.

Over the last several years, as public funding for LARC’s clients has declined, administrators at the Otter Creek campus have struggled with harsh measures such as pay cuts, staff layoffs, four-day weeks, and other painful solutions. LARC Executive Director Betty Walker has performed magic in her 30-plus years of running the organization, but this year, she said, things looked desperate.

“Our accountant told us to give up and close the doors,” she said. “I said, ‘I’ll never do that.’ But in the 31 years I’ve been here, this is the worst I’ve ever seen it.”

But now is not the time for hand-wringing, for help is never accomplished in panic. Now is the time for checking the chain, the battery and oil level, shining the tires and polishing the mirrors. Now is the time to put the 2010 Ride to Provide on the calendar, like this:

The 2010 Ride to Provide starts (rain or shine) Saturday, Sept. 11 at Bronson Middle High School at 8691 NE 90th Street in Bronson. Walk-up registration, along with free coffee and donuts, is from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m; kickstands up at 10. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and route map, visit http://ridetoprovide.net/ or call Sean or Beth Mullins at 352-528-2222 or 352-316-3260.

Photo by Dave Colon. Click image for full gallery.

Tampa Wellswood Mustang All-Stars lost to North Tampa A on Saturday, June 26, then beat North Tampa B and Orlando on Sunday, June 27. Click on the photo above for more pictures from those games.

Photo by Dave Colon. Click for complete gallery.

Photo by Dave Colon. Click for complete gallery.

By Jenna McKenna
An attack of nerves brought Williston softball’s super season to an end in a 7-0 FHSAA state semifinal loss to Miami’s Gulliver Prep. Before the Lady Devils could even get under way Monday, a cascade of first-inning errors allowed the Gulliver Raiders to put up a strong 3-0 lead. Leadoff batter Ashley Leon walked and was followed on by Dominique Grossman (error) and Brittney Garabedian (another walk); all scored, putting the Lady Devils in a hole before their first at-bat.

Although Williston is a strong cold-starting team, summoning the urgency to power past an opponent’s advantage, they were courting disaster in getting behind against Gulliver. Raiders’ senior pitcher Sara Buchholz had been knocked out of the state tournament as a freshman in 2007 and had returned this year with renewed focus. Monday evening, Buchholz was throwing aspirin and daring the Devils to hit. She gave up only two hits against Williston – to Tori Stamper in the second inning and to Taylor Acree in the sixth.
In both instances, the Devils looked to put on a rally – Erica Floyd fouled off eight pitches before lining out to short – but both times the rally was crushed. When Williston batters did get on base they didn’t run the bases well; unfortunately, against the suffocating Gulliver infield, baserunning opportunities were hard to come by.
The Red Devil defense held up in the middle innings, with 10 Gulliver batters reaching base between the second and sixth innings, and only one more run allowed. In the seventh inning, however, Christina Gabriel looped a single into shallow center field. Stephanie Texeira lined a double almost to the center-right fence, and Lindsey Precht reached on an error by Williston shortstop Crissy Rawls – all three scored. Although the home-field Devils had one more chance to bat, the game was effectively out of reach.
The worst thing about Williston’s trap-door exit from the state tournament is the way first-inning jitters undermined a talented, balanced, capable team. The best thing about it is that this still-young group – graduating only infielders Kayla Thorrington and Taylor Acree – should be back next year, angry at their letdown and hungry to make amends.
The big question is, who will lead them? This year’s head coach, Billy Rodgers, is leaving after only one year to join the athletic staff at Bradford High School and says his replacement won’t be announced until August. Rodgers succeeded longtime skipper Robert Patterson, Williston’s enormously successful head coach who assembled this very team.
Gulliver head coach Mark Schusterman, who counts two state championships and one state runner-up finish in his 24 years as head coach, says the secret of his team’s success lies in the absolute dedication of every member of the team.
“These girls gave up their entire spring break to play ball,” he said, referring to a bout of tournaments that took the team from California to Kissimmee in the span of a week. “They didn’t take even one day off.”
Gulliver will face Jacksonville Bolles High School in the FHSAA state final Tuesday at 7 p.m. at National Training Center in Clermont. Bolles defeated Bishop Verot 3-2 in the earlier state semifinal game Monday.
Stats:
Williston
Starting pitcher Tori Stamper allowed 9 hits, 6 walks and 7 runs while striking out 6 in 7 innings for the loss
Gulliver
Starting pitcher Sara Buchholz allowed 2 hits and struck out 5 in 6 innings for the win
Closer Christina Gabriel allowed one walk and struck out 1 in 1 inning

More photos and video on this page tomorrow.

Photo by Dave Colon. Click photo for complete gallery.

By Jenna McKenna
Neither spring thunderstorms nor a one-run advantage, carried over from the game they started, could deter Williston from a 5-2 win over Satellite in the FHSAA Class 3A regional softball final. The Scorpions and Lady Devils started playing on Tuesday and were rained out before the first inning could be completed, although not before Satellite could score. Due to the demands of travel for the Scorpions, the game was postponed again on Wednesday when clouds menaced the Williston area. By Thursday, the rain was gone.

The Lady Devils hit the ball reliably and played good defense, although their defense this year has been so good, head coach Billy Rodgers was quick to complain about any mishaps.

“We had an error tonight that gave up our first unearned run in probably 20 innings,” he said.

“I wish that hadn’t happened.”

Williston came first to bat, as the game opened in the bottom of the first. Kayla Thorrington, batting second, singled to shallow center and was driven in by Dayna Hunn. Thorrington’s run got the Lady Devils out of the one-run hole.

In the third inning, Williston’s Kayla Carnegie reached base on an infield error. Hunn, whose bat was evidently still smoking from the grand slam she hit to power Williston over Crystal River in the first round of the state series, drove Carnegie home as well. A sacrifice by pitcher Tori Stamper brought home Hunn to make the lead 4-1 Williston after three innings.

Kya Tucker walked in the fourth inning for Satellite and came home on an error when Williston second baseman Kayla Thorrington, covering first base, got tangled up with hitter Kara Mineo on her way to the bag. The ball rolled to the fence and Mineo was safe as well, but was left on base at the end of the inning. The Scorps would not score again.

Williston slammed the door on Satellite’s grasping fingers in the fifth inning as leadoff batter Crissy Rawls spun a loopy ball off the top of Christi Logan’s mitt. Rawls stole second and third and came home on a sacrifice grounder by – who else – Hunn, making the lead a safe 5-2.

“They’ve played as a team, and that’s brought them a lot of success this season,” said Rodgers.

“The thing I’m happiest about is the way they’ve come to love each other and the way they’ve come to play together.”

Williston advances to the FHSAA Final Four at National Training Center in Clermont. They’ll face Miami’s Gulliver Prep on Monday, May 10 at 5 p.m. Here’s the bracket.

Williston pitcher Tori Stamper had 7 strikeouts and allowed 2 hits and 4 walks in six innings (complete game; top of first inning occurred May 4)

Satellite pitcher Karleigh Fales had 2 strikeouts and allowed 4 hits in six innings.

Levy County Raiders, for the first time this season, got clicking on all levels. This was a true test for our unity, in a matchup with our cross-county rivals.

The Raiders came out on top in this one 33-0. Levy County’s offense came out roaring early with a long connection from Tony Johnson to Donellez Ellison for a score from 63 yards out. Ronnie Fisher kicked the extra point in to put the Raiders out on top 7-0.

Williston couldn’t move the ball on their first drive, giving the ball back to the Raiders. After a Raiders fumble the Cardinals again had trouble with the Raiders’ defense with a fierce pass rush coming from all angles. After shutting the Cardinals down, on another Cardinal drive it was Tracy Moore punching it in from 25 yards out. The PAT was wide right, giving the Raiders a 13-0 advantage.

The Cardinals would then drive on the Raiders, moving the ball on a well-planned 11-play drive, only to get shut down on the Raiders’ one yard line. The Raiders would move the ball down to their own 34, only to get shut down by the Cardinals’ defense. But a play later it was the Raiders’ offensive unit back on the field.

With only 9 seconds left in the half, quarterback Tony Johnson would just take a knee to bring the game to halftime.

With head coach Ron Fisher drilling into his players that there was still another half to the ball game and to stay focused the Raiders came out and played a complete game. The Raiders’ defense would really come alive in the third quarter when Tony Johnson would get a score of his own on the defensive side of the ball, stripping the ball from Cardinals tight end and former Raider Jeff Delong, returning it 74 yards for the score.

After a botched snap on the PAT that was no good, the Raiders maintained the lead at 19-0.

But Williston would not just roll over. After moving the ball about 23 yards on two plays, it was the Raiders defense that would go in for six again. Brandon Goebelt would pick off a deflected pass and sprint 62 yards for the score, and Ronnie Fisher would kick in the PAT. This brought the score to a sound Raider lead of 26-0.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the defense again would make some noise when it was Brandon Goebelt diving on the loose ball for another Cardinal turnover. This one would put the Raiders in great field position on their final offensive drive to seal the win.

After four great runs by Odarah Jones to put the Raiders on the Cardinals’ 6 yard line and put the Raiders in sight of another 6 points on the ground, the Raiders got penalized for not being set on the line and backed up 10. On the next play, it was Mike Carter on the toss, finding pay dirt from 16 yards out on great blocks from Mark Marrazo and Odarah Jones. Ronnie Fisher would end the scoring with his final PAT on the night, taking the final score to 33-0.

The defense was the most dominant I have ever seen on a Raiders team. The Cardinals’ offesive weapon, and probably the league’s best offensive player, quarterback Marland Williams, was harrassed all night. Defensive highlights included Delmar Dial getting three sacks in the game with Jeremy Woodley adding one of his own. Leroy Williams, having his way with the Cardinals’ right tackle recorded two sacks, and big Brian Butcher got to the QB three times himself.

The Raiders will be at home next week against the Lacoochee Indians, a team that in the last meeting defeated the Raiders 15-14. This game promises to be a great one. Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. at the Bronson Youth League field (Bo Diddley Park); there will be a $5 admission. After this weekend’s game, it brings both respected programs to great records. The Raiders boast the league’s number one offense and the number one defense, while being ranked in the semiprobcs.com polls Top 50 as well as the minorleaguefootballnews.com Winter-Spring Top 50. The Raiders’ record is 5-1 on the season, while the Cardinals, who have the league’s second best offense and the leagues second best defense, and who are also ranked in the semiprobcs.com Top 50, are sitting with a 4-2 record. This is a great season for all of Levy County.

Jeff Klinkenberg at CFCC. Photo by Dave Colon.

By Jenna McKenna

Jeff Klinkenberg brought his snake and alligator show into the Ewers Century Center at Central Florida Community College Thursday, speaking before a “show me” audience of students that quickly warmed to his tales of chasing cold-blooded creatures.

Klinkenberg, the Real Florida columnist for the St. Petersburg Times, has a new book out: Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators: More Stories about Real Florida, and he was in Ocala that night to tell some of the stories therein. As a slide show depicting giant reptiles, mythical dragons and some of the more interesting bipedal wildlife of South Florida enlivened the four big video screens, the kids in the seats began to lean forward with elbows on knees to hear more of the amazing stories Klinkenberg encounters every day.

He told them about LeMoyne’s amazing (and maybe fake) engravings of the people and animals of 16th century Florida. He told of William Bartram, the brilliant naturalist whose alligator drawings are head-scratchingly wrong, compared to everything else in his book: “Everything else he drew, he typically held it in his lap.” He even told of abolitionist writer Harriett Beecher Stowe, turning the emotional power of her pen to the brutal night hunting of alligators on the banks of the St. John River.

But when Klinkenberg finally made his way into this century, the tales were almost more astonishing than the ones with dragons. As a teenager, he was the founder of the “Boys Without Dates” club, which sounds sad (well, to a girl) until you realize it means the boys were free to spend the entire weekend getting sweaty and stinky, fishing, catching snakes and riding around laughing until the YooHoo sprayed out their noses. Forty-some years later, Klinkenberg is still riding around rock roads in a truck, catching snakes, fishing, and day after day, meeting charter members of all the other parallel Boys (and Girls) Without Dates clubs that arose in Florida past and present. Some of them eventually even got dates, snakes notwithstanding.

There’s Julie Harter, one of Florida’s 40 nuisance gator trappers, a teacher and grandmother. There’s Lucky Coles, one of the long-reigning barons of the Loop Road in the Everglades, whose castle in the swamp includes a tiny private beach and the fruits of his vocational calling – to be the glamour photographer of the astonishing demographic of very attractive, middle aged, European women who for some reason wanted to be photographed wearing next to nothing out in the swamp. There’s Totch Brown, the greatest gator poacher of them all, who died on an island in his beloved Everglades.

And then theres…no, better not spoil it for you. Klinkenberg speaks a lot at libraries and schools throughout Florida, and you’d enjoy it more from the gator’s mouth.