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Joyce Enjoys Happy Homecoming

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

BRANDON - Everything still seemed relatively familiar for new Rays outfielder Matt Joyce as he returned to the North Brandon Little League fields he grew up on.

"Playing on both of these fields, and I haven't been here since probably around the year 2000, so nine, 10 years later, it's kind of like a rush of emotions, a rush of memories," Joyce said last Friday night after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the park's opening ceremonies.

"I remember hitting my first home run on this field right here, and the countless hours in the batting cage with old 'Hammer' over there, as I call him. It was just cool, such a cool event and feeling to be back here again."

Along with Rays mascot Raymond, Joyce posed for pictures with all of the North Brandon teams, which began play in the park's spring season on Saturday, before throwing a strike caught by his father, Matt Joyce Sr., the aforementioned "Hammer."

"It brings back a lot of old memories," Joyce Sr. said. "I pitched to him, played on all these different fields, cages. The park's changed a lot, looks really good."

North Brandon president Mark Bruner said he was glad both father and son were able to experience the opening ceremonies along with all of the players and parents.

"I knew the feeling would be just incredible for not only Matt to come back and experience it, but for his dad to experience it," Bruner said. "And for all the kids to see that all the times their dads are bringing them out here, working them out, saying 'one more, one more pitch,' and it all pays off."

Joyce, who played for Armwood High before winning a Division II national title with Florida Southern in 2005, also had his No. 20 retired. Joyce said he hoped his career would provide inspiration to those who would try to follow in his footsteps.

"I guess it was one of those things when I was in Little League, I always wanted to have someone I could look up to, or somebody I knew played where I played, and made it to the major-league level," Joyce said. "That it is possible to make that run. So for me to come back here, I thought it would mean a lot to the kids."

Newsome Secures First Hockey Crown

After falling short in overtime to Freedom last season, Newsome Blue took one message to heart.

Don't beat yourself.

In-fighting on the bench during the final played a part in the Wolves' downfall then, but on Saturday afternoon a complete team performance gave them their first Hillsborough High School Hockey championship, secured with a 3-1 win against the Patriots.

"It means a lot, we've been waiting for this since the team started five years ago," Scott Vargas said. "Every year we've gone deeper, and we've made it to the championship the last two years, and unfortunately we lost those two years, but we were ready to play this time, ready to get it done."

Newsome coach Dan Rondeau said his entire team was thrilled about completing the season with a title through goals by Mike Semago, Jesse Maginnis and Chris Bonser.

"The kids are real excited, it was a complete team win," Rondeau said. "We needed all the kids to play, goalkeeper Kenny Roundy played well against Bloomingdale on Friday and goaltender James Tzilvelis did a great job today against Freedom, so I think overall it was a complete team effort."

Tzilvelis said once the Wolves took the lead, a big weight lifted off his shoulders.

"When we scored the first goal, I felt more loose, and like I could trust my team a little bit more," Tzilvelis said. "The second goal was even better, a little more weight, and after we scored the third goal I knew we had the game, I just had to keep my head in the game, didn't have to worry about everything else."

Vargas said the team concept was one that Rondeau had reminded them of before they stepped on the ice.

"We knew in order to win, we had to play as a team, so we were ready right from the get-go," Vargas said. "We were on them the whole time, putting a lot of pressure on, everyone was giving 100 percent, each line scored a goal, so all-around it was a great game."

Now the Wolves will try to add to their league title when they play at the state finals in Boca Raton next month. Vargas said after playing there last season as league runner-up, the Wolves know what to expect.

"I think we're ready now," Vargas said. "We're ready to play, we know what we have to do to win. We've got to give 100 percent again."

Smith, Collins Fall Short At USTA Open

TAMPA - Although both entered as No. 1 seeds, Connor Smith of Tampa and Danielle Collins of St. Petersburg fell short of a championship at the USTA National Open at Arbor Greene and Hunter's Green last week.

Smith, ranked No. 1 in the state, was defeated in the round of 16 by Christopher Jackman of Key Biscayne, as No. 6 seed Frederick Saba of Fort Lauderdale took the boys under-18 division title with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win against William Federhofer of North Miami.

Unseeded Michael Alford of Tampa went the furthest of local challengers in the boys division, reaching the quarterfinals before he was defeated by Jackman, 6-3, 6-2.

Collins, who won this event a year ago and is currently ranked No. 3 in Florida, went the furthest of the Bay area's girls in the event, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Mallory Burdette of Jackson, Ga., 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. No. 2 seed Caryssa Peretz of Cherry Hill, N.J., won the title with a 6-4, 6-0 win against Brittany Dubins of North Miami Beach.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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