Robert
Kranendonk
Jr
of the Minor B Reds waits for his pitch as the mechanical pitching
machine on the mound cranks one down to the right hander. on Opening
Day for the Land O'Lakes
Little League at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Center.
Land O Lakes Little League opened their spring season Saturday Feb
26 with a warm sunny day just suited for baseball! Eager little
leaguers anxiously awaited the start of the games on all fields. T-ballers,
most just four years old enjoyed the excitement of being a part of a
team, the cheer of the parents in the stands and of course, snacks
and refreshments afterwards! Many volunteers make up the league from
coaches to team moms, concession workers, announcers, those who work
on fundraising and board members who work throughout the season to
make it successful for all children to flourish.
The LOL Little
League Wildcats U8 Softball team, under the direction of Head Coach
Michael Westbrook and Assistant Coaches Steve Buchman, David Rosello and
John Maloney ended their season with an impressive 12-2-2 record. The
team, sponsored by Anytime Fitness of Lutz, started out with a
challenging mix of moderately experienced girls and true rookies. After
an early loss and a couple of ties, the team started to gel and “Coach
Mike”’s creative coaching techniques began to kick into gear. After
game three, they went undefeated except for a forfeit due to a lack of
players at one game.
Team members
pictured are Alexis Buchman, Brooke Rosello, Jackie Springstead, Klara
Melancon, Riley Smith and Shelby Westbrook. Ashley Nicksher and Nicole
Robinson are also seen visiting from another team.
Team
members not pictured are Alicia Lawrentz, Emily Lutz, Mackenzie Cameron,
Shannon Maloney and Taylor French.
May
8,
2009-02
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Zephyrhills Little League Majors Rockies Philly's
… Bobby Moody, of the Zephyrhills Little League
Major Rockies, got this Phillies player out during their game on March
21. The Rockies won the match 10-6 getting them a 6-1 record so far on
the season. ... Colby Evans, of the Zephyrhills Little League Major
Rockies, pitched a great game against the Phillies on March 21 earning a
10-6 victory. Photos of this and other events by Faith Jordan-Masella
can be found on www.ZephyrhillsFLA.com.
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Land O'Lakes Little League Opening Day
Land
O’ Lakes Little League held their Opening Ceremony on February 27.
Almost 1,000 players and their families, coaches, and administrators
participated in the annual event held at the new fields at the Rec
Center Complex. Robert Kranendonk sang the National Anthem. For
more information about the Land O’ Lakes Little League, call
813-949-3867 or go to www.landolakeslittleleague.org.
Minor Mets SS makes the play at Second as Rays player slides in under
the tag.
These great little sports encourage each other and rally their teammates
when they are at bat. While throwing with
accuracy and chasing down well hit balls with such energy remind us that
baseball is alive and well.
With dedicated Coaches and
supportive parents cheering them on, what a great place for kids today
to exercise and make friends as well as learn how to exhibit
sportsmanship, experience success and sometimes defeat with a good
attitude. For great fun, come out and support Lutz Little League…that’s
if you can find a parking spot in the completely packed parking lot!
Danger
Chix player slides into 3rd while a Town n Country Lady Bandits player
covers the base. Little Leaguerette girls softball is off to a great
start at Lutz Park. Despite the hot sun and warm temperatures, girls
from preschool to high school spend their Saturday afternoons on the
fields.
It’s amazing! Seven and Eight year
old boys play ball like the Pros almost any Saturday afternoon in Lutz.
Listening to them call out where the plays are and how many outs they
have as well as teasing the pitcher while on base hoping to provoke a
wild throw is so entertaining!
15 year old JR Fain, leaps for a line drive
playing for the Junior Angels, sponsored by Al’s Snapper Mowers of Lutz
in Saturdays game in which the Angels suffered a 9-7 defeat by the Devil
Rays at Oscar Cooler Park in Lutz. Mom, Jamie is the leagues President
and brother 13 yr old James also plays for the Angels.
Call Sheila T Photography (813)
363-7672 for all your photography needs.
The Land O’Lakes Little
League held their Opening Ceremonies on February 21 at their new fields
behind the library. It was quite an evening with almost 1,000 local
children enrolled in the baseball and softball programs in attendance
with their families. They enjoyed Hungry Harry’s Barbeque that was
served by the Land O’ Lakes High School Varsity and Junior Varsity
Softball Players, Raymond from The Tampa Bay Rays, fun, music courtesy
of Brian Baxter, of Applied Sound Reinforcement, and some history
lessons on how the Land O’ Lakes Little League got started. In 1971,
the Land O’ Lakes Youth League was formed.
Some of the original
board members were Honored Guests at the Opening Ceremonies including
the first President Ted Williams, the first Vice-President Curtis Law,
and board members Earle Durham, Clyde Smith, Norman Blankenship, Vince
Gallentine, Randy Osgood, and the first Ladies Auxiliary President local
artist Kathleen Durham. Some further trivia included Shirley
Blankenship, who was part of the start of softball in 1974 throwing out
the first pitch for softball on the new fields to her daughter and
former Land O’ Lakes Little League player Mardee Blankenship-Harvey.
Land O’ Lakes High School teacher Kenny Blankenship brought the ball
that he hit for the first homerun made at Land O’ Lakes Little League
and it was thrown out by former Vice-President Curtis Law to Danny Smith
(who was on the first Reds team and who caught the first pitch in 1971)
for baseball. Wow that was a great way to start at the new fields in
the middle of all our growth!
The Little League also
paid tribute to some of their own who recently passed away. Families of
Thomas Kranendonk, who played many years of Land O’ Lakes Little League,
Mike Reed, who was a Land O’ Lakes Little League Director, coach, and
father, and Keith Esoff, whose sons play, were brought out to the fields
in cars courtesy of Ferman Buick Pontiac GMC Chrysler Jeep Dodge at
Cypress Creek, and there was a moment of silence. Jim Kranendonk, father
of Thomas, and spoke about his son and said that he will always be on
the fields. Trees will be planted at the park in their honor. Honorary
Mayor of Land O’ Lakes and former Land O’ Lakes Little League Board of
Director Tina Garrison was an honored guest, The Pine View Drum Line and
Jazz Band entertained, and awards were given out for last year to: Scott
Hilgenberg-Manager of the Year, Dave Herbert, Board Member of the Year,
Bridgett Redman, Team Parent of the Year, Larry Jasper, Humanitarian of
the Year, and President Tom Ketterer and son Ryan Ketterer, Volunteers
of the Year.
The
Committee for the Opening Ceremonies headed up by Karla Turcotte did a
fantastic job starting up the newly enlarged complex. Others on the
committee include: Candy Mitchell, Laurie Tipton, and Lazanne Schmidt.
Eric Handman emceed. The evening was capped off with a Fireworks Show
put on by Scott McNaull, of Land O’ Lakes, and Melrose Pyrotechnics,
For more information on Land O’ Lakes Little League, call 813-949-3867
or go to eteamz.active.com/lollittleleague.
Amy Moore_0133-p… Girl
Scout Troop #497 held the flag during the Land O’ Lakes Little League
Opening Ceremonies on February 21. The event was also the debut of the
new fields. Girl Scouts pictured are (Amy Moore, of Oakstead Elementary,
Lexi Weich, of Pine View Elementary, Stephanie Bienasz, Kristina Bienasz,
and Erin Swider, of Pine View Middle School, Joanne Payne, of Oakstead
Elementary, Zoe Pointer, Home schooled, of Land O’ Lakes, Troop Members
not pictured because they were on the field with their teams are: Liesel
Johnson, of Pine View Elementary, Nicole Wilner, of Rushe Middle, and
Taylor Libby, of Lake Myrtle Elementary. For more information on Troop
#497, contact Troop Leader Candy Mitchell at 813-909-4097.
Scott McNaull, of
Land O’ Lakes, and Melrose Pyrotechnics, put on the Fireworks Show at
the Land O’ Lakes Little League Opening Ceremonies on February 21. LOL
LL Original Board_0085-p…Some of the members of the First Board of
Directors of Land O’ Lakes Little League from 1971 and 1972 were honored
guests at the Opening Ceremonies on February 21. RJ
Plaisted_0145…
RJ Plaisted, of the US Air Force, and son of Land O’ Lakes Little League
Board Member Dennis Plaisted, read the Little League Pledge at the Land
O’ Lakes Little League Opening Ceremonies on February 21. He recently
returned from a six-month tour of Iraq.
Congratulations Land O' Lakes Little
League Senior Baseball for winning the District!
The final game on July 6 against North
Seminole (LOL won in 10 innings) was dedicated to longtime teammate
Thomas Kranendonk who was killed that day in an accident.
Land O'
Lakes takes on Dade City in an awesome Senior All Star game that went
nine innings in the sweltering heat. Neither team gave up.
They fought hard and it was a great game despite the heat. Land O'
Lakes found some hot bats that got them the win 7-5. Championship game
for the district is July 3 in Dade City at 7pm.
20070630-01
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Land O' Lakes
Little League All Stars 10-11 yrs. Baseball LOL ZH
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Land O'Lakes Little League Team
closes in on final
By JOHN C. COTEY Saint Petersburg
Times
Land O'Lakes' A team rallied
from a three-run deficit to beat New Tampa's A team 11-6 in a match up
of unbeatens Tuesday night in the 9-10 District 25 championships at New
Tampa Little League.
2719…The West Pasco girls Fast Pitch Pony Division
team needs to raise some cash to make their Championship run in the
Dixie Softball tournament next week in Brooksville and they are
confident they can do both. Representing the team Saturday June 16th
was Molly Keane, 7th grader at Seven Springs Middle School,
Alisa Willenbacher of New Port Richey, Chelsey Freeman, an 8th
grader at Day Spring Academy, Michelle Guercio of New Port Richey, Sheri
Satterwhite of New Port Richey, Cassidy Guercio, a 7th grader
at River Ridge Middle School, Erin Satterwhite, a 7th grader
at Seven Springs Middle School, and Kelsey Willenbacher, a 6th
grader at Seven Springs Middle School.
0071…Chris Dorr, of
the Land O’ Lakes Little League Major Indians, throws the ball during
the game against the Yankees on March 17. Dorr is one of only six 10
year olds in the Majors this season. In this game, he went one for two
with a fourth inning single that contributed to a 10 - 0 shutout win.
0052…Land O’ Lakes Little League Major Indian Michael Ayle went
one for three with a fifth inning double in the game on March 17 against
the Yankees. Ayle was the winning pitcher in this game. The Major
Indians are currently in second place this season with a 7 - 1 record.
1220...Raymond, of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays threw
out the first pitch at the Land O’ Lakes Little League Opening
Ceremonies on February 24. He is pictured with some of his
fans including (from left): Melanie Lehmkuhl, Audra Smith,
Tara Marshall, Morgan Cresent, Brittney LiFrieri, Lauren Lynch, Lauryn
Turcotte, and Jessica Sherbet.
Bob Kranendonk (from left), of St. Petersburg,
sang the National Anthem at the Land O’ Lakes Little League Opening Day
Ceremonies on February 24. He is pictured with his daughter-in-law and
little league supporter Mary Kranendonk holding Robert Kranendonk.
1204-p...Hungry Harry Wright, (front row, third from right), and Chad
Hudson (back row, second from right), and their helpers of Hungry
Harry’s Famous Bar-B-Que served lots of dinners for Land O’ Lakes Little
League’s Opening Day. They got assistance from
the Xcel Gators cheering squad of
Land O' Lakes. Pictured are (front row, from left): Maddie Martin,
MacKenzie Ellis, Heather Langford, Macie Gilliland, Kayli Hill, Kristen
Mikell, and Brooke Gonzalez. Back row (from left): Kasey Ellis, Meghan
Morse, Kim Mantegna, and Mikey Lovering. Coach Amy Hill and other
squad members are missing from photo. They all have “Kristah” on their
sweatshirts in memory of squad member Krista Sellars who was recently
killed in a car accident. The Land O’ Lakes Little League boasts 93
teams and has over 40 children on various waiting lists. 1217...Joseph Pergolizzi, of Land O’ Lakes, had a great time at the Land O’ Lakes
Little League Opening Day festivities on February 24. 1226-p...Ram and
Suman Agbawd enjoyed the Opening Day festivities on February 24 as the
Land O’ Lakes Little League kicked off their season. 1209-p...The
Robinson family looks forward to a great season at the Land O’ Lakes
Little League. Pictured are (from left) mom, Tracee, Collin, a student
at Kids Stuff Preschool, Mason, a kindergartner at Lake Myrtle
Elementary, and dad, Bill Robinson.
Land O’Lakes Major League All Star hitter Michael Mateyka, with a two
strike count, ties the game up with a homerun blast over the left field
fence to send the game into extra innings. Dade City eventually won the
game.
Dade City Major League All Stars defeated the Land O’Lakes All Stars in
extra innings in Dade City July 11th to move on to the next round. Dade
City Junior League All Stars are Brennan Allen, Travis Minton, Matthew
Castle, Joey Atwell, Patrick Bailey, Ricky Brown, Donathan Buck, Adrian
Serrato, Chris Dious, Angel Garcia, Matthew Gude, Brandon McSwain and
Montay Perkins and are lead by Manager Chris Dious and Coaches Ricky
Brown and David Perkins. Brennan Allen, Dade City Junior League All Star
gets congrats from his 1st
base coach in Tuesday nights game against North Seminole. Dade City
Junior League All Star Travis Minton holds the North Seminole runner
close to the bag at first.
Matthew Castle winds up and hurls the ball to the plate for the Dade
City Junior League All Stars.
Sheila T Photography 
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