Never before has a Tampa bay area AAU, U-13 team finished in the medal bracket in the prestigious Cooperstown, NY “Baseball World” Summer Tournament… up until now!
Valrico’s Ostinger Baseball Academy brought home the silver recently after competing in its inaugural season losing 3-2 in to the California Demons in the championship game.
Jim Osting, manager and owner of the Academy along with assistant coaches Dave Reed, Shawn Reed and Jack Bartlett helped 13 local U-13 boys achieve what began last summer as athletes and parents pledged to start a travel team that would compete throughout Florida against top ranked clubs.
“The goal was simple,” Osting said. It was to compete for the USA National Crown at the Baseball World National Summer Tournament.
Team parents and players organized two successful fundraisers which have included a “Dinner to Go” night at the Brunchery Restaurant as well as golf tournament that helped raise the funds required to travel and participate in the coveted tournament during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction week.
“It was a dream come true for all of the boys, the parents and the coaches while provided the inspiration to build a world class area Baseball Academy,” said Bill Farley owner of the Brunchery restaurant.
Osting had a vision to create a baseball academy in the Valrico area dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs primarily focused on Baseball. The inaugural season goals were to finish with a record above .500 and to compete well in the Cooperstown Baseball World Tournament. The Ostingers finished the second half of their season going 20-6 including a 6-1-1 record in Cooperstown.
But Cooperstown did not end the summer success for the young athletes at the academy.
At the end of August the Ostingers won the 14-U USSSA tournament in Leesburg Fl., beating the Central Florida Predators 12-3. The Back to School Classic had six teams from the state.
“It was a total team effort and everyone played their part in winning the tourney,” said Osting adding, “The dedication of our young players have started to pay off.”
Former major league pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers Jim Osting, has built a successful program training area children starting as early as U-9 up to top prospect Varsity HS Baseball players that have gone on to receive scholarships to top colleges in the country. He is also has broken ground on the Academy Training Facility that is located just east of Lithia-Pinecrest Road and Highway 39 and estimates that the facility will be completed by October 1st.
The Academy now has 2 AAU teams competing as U-13 and U-14 that will play out of the new FishHawk Sports Complex. For more information about the Osting Baseball Academy please call 404-1775.

Sara Valenti is not a coach, athlete or even a fan of any one particular sporting event, but she is very much a part of Durant High School’s athletic program. May it be football, soccer, basketball or any other fall, winter or spring program, she can be seen at the sideline interacting with the players before, during and after the games.
Valenti, whose credentials include a master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Florida (USF) in athletic training, is a USF full-time certified athletic trainer (CAT) deployed in one of 10 high schools across Hillsborough County. Licensed by the state of Florida to practice athletic training, all of the trainers are involved with laying a foundation for a statewide initiative in connection with raising the standard of care for students competing in team sports.
Under the direction of USF’s Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma Institute (SMART), Valenti and a number of other certified trainers are helping transform sports safety through integrated education, research and community outreach.
“It is very rewarding, and I am glad to be part of this program as it provides athletes with first responders who can be available and are qualified to asses injuries as soon as they occur on the court or out on the football or soccer field,” said Valenti.
Valenti explained that parents often take their children to a doctor after an injury unnecessarily. At the same time, some injuries are ignored because parents are not sure if it merits a doctor visit.
“This is an area we can help as well. Certified athletic trainers can refer players to doctors or save the parents the trouble of unnecessary doctor visits,” said Valenti.
SMART was established in 2006 as a Florida state-sponsored, interdisciplinary program focusing on preventing needless injuries on the field. According to SMART Executive Director Jeff Konin, more than 3.5 million U.S. children under the age of 15 are treated for sports-related injuries each year. “More than half of those injuries happen at practice,” Konin said.
One of the most common injuries which disproportionately affects female athletes is a ruptured or torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). SMART began to track the incidence of ACLs and other sports-related injuries in high schools.
Another important aspect of the program is to identify areas that threaten the safety of athletes and do what it takes to make a difference. Professor and chair of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at USF, Robert Pedowitz, said that through the computerized injury surveillance program, SMART has the ability to measure the impact of preventive programs, such as its Prevent Injury, Enhancement Performance (PIEP), on the student athletes.
But that is not all for SMART. Its interdisciplinary faculty includes orthopedists, primary care physicians, public health professionals, physical therapists and trainers. In addition to providing trainers to schools, SMART has partnered with school districts, youth programs, youth sports leagues and athletic training associations to teach and train a sports safety course to coaches, physical education teachers and health teachers across west Central Florida. SMART has already been nationally recognized for its research on the early detection of heat illness in athletes.
“I hope that this program will continue and legislation will approve that the supporting of SMART is in the best interest of all athletes as well as the parents,” said Valenti.
For more information, coaches, parents of students or others interested in SMART can contact Konin at 369-9625.

The Riverview Sharks girls volleyball program posted an overall record of 8-11 and a league record of 3-9 last year, drawing attention to the challenges girls were facing last season.
But this is a new school year, a new season and, at the helm, a new head coach. Well, not exactly brand new. Sharks volleyball head coach Faye Graham has replaced former Riverview coach Kelli Russo who has decided to take a break from coaching and turned the scepter over to her assistant coach to lead the young team this year.
“It’s been a fairly easy transition for me since I have been with the team as the assistant coach,” Graham said, but after acknowledging the Sharks’ previous season’s performance said, “Of course, last year could have been better.”
Graham graduated from Savanna College of Arts and Design in Georgia, and has a degree in photography but she is grateful for the opportunity to coach the Sharks and have the hand in guiding the girls toward being successful both on and off the court.
“We have a young team and a long way to go, but we are also blessed with a lot of talent,” she said as she explained that one of the strengths of her team is the girls’ ability to play in any of the positions on the court.
“A lot of them are club players so they do have the chance to play the sport all year-round,” Graham said.
She did mention, however, that her team is very young with just 12 players, posting only two seniors, Erin Endres and Chelsey Pachoud and only three juniors, while the rest are sophomores and one freshman, but was upbeat about the girls’ willingness and commitment while she said that the hitters have stepped up their game this year.
As far as the season is concerned, Graham simply said that she and her team are going into each game the same as the other. “We focus on one game at the time,” she said.
For more information about the Sharks volleyball team, game schedule or roster, please visit www.maxpreps.com or www.fhsaa.com.

A small ceremony including a ribbon cutting featuring county and league officials was recently held in order to dedicate Hillsborough County’s latest sports complex located in the heart of Riverview.
The 23-acre $3 million Summerfield Soccer Complex will be used and officially occupied by and will be the home to the South Hillsborough Soccer League (SHSL) serving 750 members in its recreational and competitive soccer programs.
The dedication was also the official opening of the new Summerfield Soccer Park. This park was in the planning stages for about 10 years, but funding was only approved by the board of county commissioners about three years ago. While bids for the complex were solicited two years ago, construction began in late September 2006.
Located at 11942 Big Bend Rd., approximately 5.5 miles east of I-75, includes seven soccer fields, concession building, a maintenance building, lights, sidewalks, irrigation system, parking, and landscaping as well as an entrance road.
According to SHSL President Bob Bruce, the dedication program proved to be a success which included a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, a DJ, free soccer ball giveaway, bake sale, snow cones and cotton candy while it also hosted three soccer games.
Guest speakers included Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham who thanked all the volunteers and sponsors that have contributed to the facility’s present condition and said “I am looking forward to the success of the season as well as the facility.”
Florida Youth Soccer Association’s Region C Vice President Dave Ditillio presented a Hackworth-Davis Scholarship Award to one of SHSL’s most talented players, 18-year-old Rachael Sandora. Her mother accepted the $250 award on her behalf because Rachael is currently attending Gulf Coast University.
“I am very proud of Rachel. Her dedication and hard work has truly paid off,” Kim said.
Rachael played soccer at South Hillsborough Soccer League (SHSL) since the age of 5, playing in both of the recreational and competitive programs. Rachael was also a coach and referee at SHSL.
Besides the fun and food more than 170 children registered to play soccer for the upcoming season. SHSL officials were proud of raising money to support the upcoming athletic events and to bu more new equipment for the fields.
“The money will be spent on new player benches, goals and equipment,” SHSL League President Bruce said, adding, “Everyone had a great time and although Tropical Storm Fay made her presence felt, the weather didn’t dampen our spirits or hold down attendance too much.”
For more information about SHSL’s youth and adult athletic programs as well as season, field and volunteer programs please e-mail League President Bob Bruce at president@shslsoccer.com.

As the most experienced and proven personal training studio in the Brandon/FishHawk area, RobZFitness continues to create effective ways that allow it to focus on client’s, now offering boot camps throughout the fall that are open to the public.
Rob Zulkoski, owner of RobZFitness said, “I really want to let everyone know that these classes are open to the public.  Many people believe you have to be a RobZFitness member to join.  You don’t.  My boot camp classes are open for everyone.”
The four-week classes are just $189 and are designed to deliver results no matter what your level of fitness, be it beginner or experienced. Through fast paced, interval style training, each participant is motivated in the outdoor environment to excel beyond his/her current level of fitness.
Each 45-minute session includes a powerhouse of drills, relays, balance work, ball work, core training, agility training, resistance training, weight work and dynamic team work/team building exercises designed to surprise, motivate and inspire clients.
Zulkoski said that at RobZFitness, “We believe that we bring a higher education and years of experience to our boot camps.  We are looking to always create effective ways to challenge people and this boot camp is just another way to change people’s lives for living a healthier life.”
By joining RobZFitness for an invigorating four-week program, you will increase your daily energy, drop pounds, lose inches, build long, lean muscles, decrease the middle bulge, trim your hips, shape your bottom, gain noticeable strength, endurance and overall stamina, all while adding flexibility and grace to your everyday movement. “You will see a firmer, shapelier, much livelier you in just four weeks,” Zulkoski said.
Zulkoski said that his Boot Camps are different from a regular workout or personal training session for the following reasons: “First of all, the workouts are outdoors in the open air.  Studies show that your body burns more calories while exercising outdoors in a warmer environment than indoors in a controlled environment,” he said. RobZFitness boot camp training sessions are with a group of people trying to attain the same goals.  “Studies also show that working out with a buddy or a friend is more productive, exciting and fun. You have the accountability factor that others hold you accountable to.”
“While we would love to be a ‘one size fits all’ program, success in our boot camp relies on a participant’s ability to utilize basic physical mobility,” Zulkoski said. “This implies continued capability to move from standing exercises to sitting exercises with relative ease and to either walk or run without difficulty.”
 Those with serious chronic illness or ongoing physical ailments of the low back or knee joints may not be a good fit.
Dates for boot camps, which are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, are as follows: Fall Session two from September 23 - October 16, Session three from October 28 - November 20 and Session four from December 2 - December 23 with a special December 20 class at 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
The 45-minute long boot camp sessions are held early at 5 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in front of the RobZFitness studio, located at 3438 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico in the Lithia Crossings Shopping Center and at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the FishHawk Sports Complex soccer field’s.
Cost for the RobZFitness Boot Camp is $189. Class size will be limited. No refunds will be allowed. For more information, call RobZFitness at 571-3700 or www.RobZFitness.com to register.

Professional football season is just around the corner and with pre-season games starting in August, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up to do what they do best; play football. But there are thousands of loyal Buccaneer fans who are also getting ready to do what they do best; being fans and supporting their favorite team.

To make the cheering just a bit easer while adding to the football fever Chester Smigiel of Brandon is one fan who not only has everything he needs for the new season but is also ready to supply the thousands of fellow Buccaneers fans with all the Bucs stuff they need for the new season.

Owner of Team Sports Merchandise Bucs Stuff and More Showroom located in the heart of Brandon, Smigiel’s shop has just about everything a fan may need before, during and after the game.

“It is the football fanatic’s store,” said Smigiel adding, “With the new season approaching things get pretty hectic.”

The shelves are loaded with a wide selection of merchandise, for the young and the young at heart. From clothing for men, women, and children, car accessories, bedding, pet items, autographed pieces as well as footballs just to name a few, the store, located at 435 East Brandon Blvd, is truly a Bucs fan’s paradise.

But that is not all. While about half of the 2,500 square feet “Bucstopia” which was formerly located in Valrico and had to move to its current spot due to the need for more space is filed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers memorabilia Smigiel’ store is also the place for the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes, South Florida Bulls, and Tampa Bay Lightning fans as well.

Smigiel explained that the fun of being a fan of a favorite Florida team does not stop with just clothing or memorabilia as he said that the store offers much more.

“We host autograph signings, sales, and other events for our customers as often as possible,” Smigiel said, after mentioning one of the latest visitors to the store was former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Alstott.

The Bucs Stuff Showroom is open Monday –Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday during football season 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For fore information please visit www.bucsstuffbrandon.com or call 657-2470.

Reading name Derek Smethurst or his occupation as director of training for the Valrico Youth Soccer Club may not mean much to most people in the Brandon area or in Florida or simply this part of the world. But what if you found out that Smethurst to soccer is like Michael Jordan to Basketball? Well that might make many want to read on.

Smethurst who now provides professional coaching and training for the Valrico Soccer Club working directly with the select teams on a weekly basis and who directs clinics and training for all the teams and coaches as well as provides the basis for instruction which helps the young players excel at all levels of competition is not only a blessing but a privilege to have in the community.

Making his debut into professional soccer in South Africa at the age of 18 with his first kick inside of 12 seconds, Smethurst had scored his first pro goal and went on to score 3 goals on his debut. He became one of South Africa’s greatest goal scoring forwards. While in South Africa he won 4 Championships, but there was more to come.

In 1968 he joined Chelsea F.C. (now English Premier League) leading him to be a part of one of the best teams in history. In 1970 Chelsea won the FA Cup and then went on to win the European Cup Winners Cup against Real Madrid, where Smethurst scored the goal in the semi final putting Chelsea through to the finals and on to victory. He won his fifth championship with Chelsea from 1968 – 1971.

In 1975 he became the Rowdies’ all time leading goal scorer with 57 goals in 65 games with an NASL goal tally of 75 goals in just over 100 games (in baseball terms he batted .750). The subject of many books - (one of which is) Soccer Super Stars (Goldstein and Wohl) he is a main feature with Pele, George Best, Franz Beckenbauer and Eusebio.

“These guys were the best players of my time and I am proud to have had a chance to play with them as well as against them,” Smethurst proudly said.

Smethurst’ knowledge of soccer has prompted the world famous Pele to speak of him as an expert in knowing how to find space and how to use the correct techniques.

“These are the same two principles that are getting scholarships and championships for our students today,” Smethurst said adding, “The push and move technique is something that we have been able to perfect here which in turn led the our players to be as successful as they now are. No one can keep up with us only try to copy.”

Smethurst’s talent can also be found on the pages of a number of books he has published the first of which found its way onto the bookshelf in 1994. He is the author of the SOCCER FOR WINNING SERIES (Reedswain Publishing - reedswain.com). The first three of these cover techniques, offense and practice while the fourth soon to hit the stores deals with defense.

A fifth book is also planned to be published later which will give insight into the politics of the sport and will deal with the ups and downs players face during their athletic careers.

Interestingly, Smethurst explained that the most important thing his young players are being taught is not the techniques or how to score the most goals, but he said, “I teach these kids to learn and reflect on each game and to win with dignity and lose with grace.”

For more information about Derek Smethurst or the Valrico Youth Soccer Club please visit www.valricosoccer.com.

The third in the series of Hit The Trails cross country 5K races is approaching and there is still time to register for the successful fundraiser. The first two races of the series, including chipped, timed race, awards and after-race celebration makes for a nice, evening run through cross country terrain.

The Friday night series is hosted by FishHawk Park Square running store Hit the Trails owner Steve Dunn, an avid runner and RRCA certified running coach, who is thrilled with the response and participation in the series. “We had 200 racers for our second race and received lots of compliments on the race.”

The first race was a fundraiser for Girl Scouts of America, the second race was in memorial to the tragic recent loss of a FishHawk Running Club member, Christine Rusher who lost her life to a brain tumor. The funds will benefit the family. More than 200 runners ran in memory of Rusher and a pre-race balloon release was a touching sight for the attendees. “Christine was a club member and friend it was an easy choice for a benefit,” added Dunn.

Rusher was a well accomplished Triathlete, a Boy Scouts of America Leader, active in the hearing impaired community and an active member of Nativity Catholic Church. She was a wonderful wife to Thomas and great mother to her two sons, Christian and Dylan.

The last race of the summer will be held on Friday, August 15, 7 p.m. at the FishHawk Fellowship Church located at 15326 FishHawk Blvd. with parking in the church parking lot. This race will benefit the FishHawk Road Runner High School Scholarship fund.

Cost to race is $12 in advance at Hit the Trails, the Website www.hitthetrails.com or www.active.com or $15 day of the race with registration starting at 6 p.m. at FishHawk Fellowship Church.

Olympics-bound Chris Colwill didn’t forget his hometown or his former diving training facility on a recent trip home just before heading to training camp for the Beijing Olympics. In fact, he spent an afternoon delighting young divers at his former training center, Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center. Hundreds of divers, friends, family, fellow students from Tampa Prep and diving buddies gathered for a 30-minute diving demonstration just days after Colwill was named to the U.S. Olympic diving team, one of the 11 U.S. divers heading to Beijing in August to represent the nation. Colwill will compete in the 3-meter springboard and the 3-meter synchronized with Boca Raton’s Jevon Tarantino.

Colwill grew up in Brandon and dived with the Jetstream Divers and diving Coach Joe Greenwell, who is based at the Aquatic Center. He graduated from Tampa Prep and spent five years at the University of Georgia. The accomplished diver has records including being an 11-time All American, winning three NCAA National Championships and being a two-time NCAA Diver of the Year.

Also, as an added inspiration, Colwill was born with 40 percent of his hearing and typically wears hearing aids but not during diving.

When asked by divers in training about his feelings towards the Olympics, Colwill said, “I am looking forward to the Olympics and doing my best in Beijing. My favorite dives right now are three-meter,” he said.

“I started diving when I was 5 and played soccer, did gymnastics and then found a love for diving,” said Colwill when asked how he got started in diving.

Parents Chuck and Debbie Colwill, continue to live in Brandon and couldn’t be more proud of their son. “This is what we have been working for,” said Debbie who agrees that her son is a great inspiration for other local swimmers and divers.

Lori Bukaweski, marketing director for BSAC, said, “We are so pleased that Chris could join us before heading to the Olympic training camp. We couldn’t have asked for a better send off.”

In addition, Colwill autographed photo cards and T-shirts and even cheeks of his fans.

“We are looking forward to hosting some fun, family events here at the center that will allow us to watch and cheer- on Chris in the Olympics; we are all so proud of him,” added Bukaweski.

BSAC is no stranger to having athletes represented in the Olympics. In fact, double gold medalist swimmer Brooke Bennett is from the area and trained at the Center under current swim coach, Peter Banks. In additon, Maritza Corriea, Olympic silver medalist, also trained there.

“In fact,” added Bukaweski, “we have had an athlete represented at every summer Olympics since 1968.”

Colwill is not the only club member heading to Beijing; Swimmer Golda Marcus trains with Peter Banks and represents El Salvador.

For more information on this summer’s Olympics, visit www.olympic.org. For information on Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center, visit www.mybsac.org. Visit Colwill and cheer him on via his site at www.chriscolwill.com.

“It’s always tough to make a move like this but it has always been a goal for me,” said Jason Stokes, commenting on his decision to leave the Riverview football program and continue his coaching career as the Bloomingdale Bulls new football head coach. The Riverview football program has had its fair share of ups and downs since the school has opened. Every year it has had the potential of going all the way to state but it is something the Sharks are yet to remedy. Stokes, who started his first year with the Sharks as junior varsity head coach and later became influential as the Sharks’ defensive coordinator, a position he has been serving for the last five years. “I had good times at Riverview and will miss the kids and I know they will miss me as well,” Stokes said adding, “You see kids grow on and off the field and it is never easy to move on.”He has been molding the players along side Riverview head coach Dan O’Regan who has reportedly resigned his coaching position but will continue teaching at Riverview High School.Stokes explained that being a head coach was always in the plans for him and Bloomingdale presented the opportunity he has been waiting for. “I did not want to pass up this chance,” Stokes said. “I hope to bring the same work ethics and mold the kids at Bloomingdale as I have been doing for the Sharks for the last five years.”Besides Stokes and O’Regan, Riverview also has to contend with loosing James Grant, who worked alongside and will join Stokes at Bloomingdale as the team’s new offensive coordinator. Stokes will also   be the Bulls defensive coordinator.All of this only opens the door for an exciting new chapter for both programs. The Sharks and the Bulls are both facing a shake up in the coaching line, but they are set to give it all they’ve got with new ideas, work ethics, expectations and the aspiration to win.
Photo Caption: Jason Stokes, the Bloomingdale Bulls new football head coach.