Friday, March 25, 2011
Clearwater Patch takes a look at an exceptional athlete.
Left-handed pitcher Vinny Ballantoni, is carrying a 1.55 ERA and batting .310 but if you ask him, he’s disappointed. “I always feel like I can do better,” said Ballantoni. “The only way I am happy with my pitching performance is if nobody gets a hit.” Ballantoni’s one-hitters against Largo Feb. 15 and Clearwater Central Catholic March 9 were somehow disappointments, even though they were both victories and totaled 18 strikeouts. However, it’s not a bad thing to be so self motivated. The introduction to baseball happened for Ballantoni at four years old. He started out in Countryside Little League much like many of his current teammates and opponents. It was here that he fell in love with the game. Eight years into little league, he …
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The first five innings were scoreless. A big sixth inning for Dunedin was all that was needed to win an otherwise tightly contested game.
Mike Clarkson and Vinny Ballantoni are two of the best pitchers in Pinellas County. A game that pitted them against each other was destined to be low-scoring - and it was. Clarkson threw a complete game shutout and scored a run as the Dunedin Falcons edged the Cougars 4-0 Tuesday night. The Dunedin Falcons are notorious for jumping out to early leads. Countryside did very well to hold them to empty frames the first five innings. It was not easy. The Falcons loaded the bases in the top of the third and top of the fourth. Ballantoni got Jordan Savinon and Ben Emery to pop out to end the third. Then he struck out Casey Turgeon to escape the fourth. Dunedin Coach Tom Hilbert was not concerned about the runners left on base. “We want to put …
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Both the boys and girls basketball teams have sights set on long playoff runs
The Clearwater boys and girls basketball teams are both in the thick of the playoff season right now. And with each team playing well and boasting talented leaders on the court, they both have strong chances of advancing to the regional round and beyond. Despite losing 66-55 to Boca Ciega in the championship game of the PCAC tournament last week, the boys have been on a roll at the end of the season. Following a tough 73-67 home loss to Gibbs on January 21st, the Tornadoes (19-6) ripped off four straight impressive victories, including g a 58-29 destruction of Indian Rocks Christian in the PCAC semis. Led by seniors Jon Hogan (21PPG, 9RPG) and Joey Nungester (16PPG, 4APG), the boys are poised to make some noise in the districts. As the …
