On the fast track: Showdown looms for local sprinters

It's been three weeks since the St. Thomas Aquinas boys 400-meter relay team of Brian Robinson, Ethan Grant, Christian Thompson and Philip Pierre-Louis clocked 41.38 (listed as the No. 2 time in the United States by Dyestat.com) to win the Hallandale Invitational title.

The wait has seemed much longer for Hallandale (ranked No. 2 in Florida by flrunners.com), which will try to avenge its lone loss at the BCAA County Track and Field Championships at the Coral Springs High School track Saturday.

''We always figured St. Thomas would be our main competition,'' said Hallandale's Frankie Hammond Jr., a Florida signee who also will compete in the triple jump and the high jump. ``The last time we ran them, it came down to the last two meters. That was the difference.

``We will get in some extra work on our handoffs and be ready for them on Saturday.''

Hallandale's quartet of Hammond, Vernon Bush, Ricardo Dixon and Korvic Neat set up Saturday's highly anticipated showdown by clocking a school-record 41.62 at the BCAA South qualifier at Flanagan on Wednesday.

''We all know each other. It will be a great race,'' said Raiders senior and Auburn-signee Philip Pierre-Louis, who will run the anchor leg along with the 100 and 200. ``For the 4-by-100, it is always about who has the smooth handoffs. If we run to our capability, we should win.''

With Dillard's Harry Adams sidelined with a hamstring injury, Pierre-Louis is favored to sweep the sprints, but it won't come easy. Pierre-Louis, who finished second in the 100 and first in the 200 at the 2007 county championships, faces a loaded 100-meter field that includes six other runners who broke 11 seconds to qualify: Northeast's Sean Lange (10.59, No. 6 in the country) and Nevon Anderson, Boyd Anderson's Demar Dorsey (10.61, No. 7 in the country), Hammond, Deerfield Beach's Denard Robinson and Plantation's Josh Robinson.

The biggest surprise is Lange, who credits an improved work ethic and maturity to his breakout junior year. Lange said he and Anderson are determined to put Northeast on the track map this season.

''We are trying to make a name for our school,'' Lange said. ``We tried to get people out for the track team by making advertisements.

``Nevon and I have been working hard to get our times down. We feel like Northeast can make some noise this year.''

BASEBALL

AMERICAN HERITAGE 12, PINE CREST 2

American Heritage 111 306--12 19 0 Pine Crest 010 010--2 2 2

WP: Juan Carlos Sulbaran (6-0). LP: Francis (1-2). Top performers: Joe Belviso went 4 for 5 with four RBI, including a home run, to lead the Patriots. Eric Hosmer went 4 for 5 with four runs, two RBI and two home runs, and Eric Acevedo went 2 for 4 with three runs, a home run and two RBI. Records: AH 15-1, PC 10-6.

FLANAGAN 2, TIMBER CREEK 0

Flanagan 000 020 0 --2 8 2 Timber Creek 000 000 0 --0 3 1

WP: R.J. Fondon (4-3). LP: Dydo (4-2). Top performers: R.J. Fondon threw a three-hit shutout, struck out 10 and walked none for the Falcons. Ali Sanchez went 2 for 3 with two RBI, and Zach Jackson went 2 for 4 with a run. Records: Flan 11-5, TC 11-6.

LATE THURSDAY

PIPER 12, DORAL 2

Dor 000 02 --2 3 2 Pip 000 66 --12 10 1

WP: Stancil (1-1). LP: Marcial Ramirez. Top performers: Eric Morales went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Mateo Pianfetti went 2 for 2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Stancil pitched a complete game and struck out four. Records: Piper 8-7.

SOFTBALL

LATE THURSDAY

FLANAGAN 6, MCARTHUR 0

MCA 000 000 0 --0 6 0 FLAN 000 005 1 --6 7 0

WP: Amanda Schmidt (10-2). LP: Emerson. Top performers: For the Falcons (20-2), Maria Gilreath was 2 for 4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs. Alexis Lane was 1 for 2 with a home run and two RBI. Amanda Schmidt pitched a complete game, recording six strikeouts.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

•  Miami Killian d. Archbishop McCarthy 25-17, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19: Mike Redondo had 20 kills and seven digs, and Alex Pope added 10 blocks, six kills and eight digs to lead the Mavericks in the loss. Eric Koscs had five points, seven digs and 37 assists.

• Park Vista d. Archbishop McCarthy 25-18, 26-28, 25-20, 21-25, 15-10: Mike Redondo had 25 kills and eight digs, and Corey Meisa had 12 kills and four digs to lead the Mavericks (7-5). Armani Appolon had 19 kills.

FLAG FOOTBALL

• Plantation 13, Boyd Anderson 6: Nina Smith threw touchdown passes to Rickita Burnett of 11 and 25 yards to lead the host Colonels (2-2). Vinesshia Villers had a five-yard touchdown run for the Cobras.

SIGNING

Dillard place-kicker Kenneth Jackson has signed with Grambling State University.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Cardinal Gibbons, St. Thomas Aquinas at Bishop Moore Tournament

Cooper City, Coral Springs, Douglas, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Hills, Monarch, Nova, Plantation, Pompano, South Plantation, Western at Nova Tournament

Deerfield Beach at Vero Beach

Flanagan at Orlando Boone

South Broward at Gulf Coast

TRACK

BCAA County Championship (at Coral Springs), Noon.

BOYS' WATER POLO

Gulliver Prep Tournament

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Lake Worth (at Central Park), 11:30 a.m.

GIRLS' WATER POLO

Gulliver Prep Tournament

St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Lake Worth (at Central Park), 11:30 a.m.