E.J. Burns and the J.P. Taravella Track and Field Team. {JPT AThletics}
By: Matt Rothman
The postseason has been extremely exciting for J.P. Taravella, with the baseball and track and field shining bright.
The baseball team made their third straight trip to Regionals Semifinals after defeating Western High School 5-1 on May 10. Despite falling to the Wildcats in the District Semifinals, these two teams faced off again, with J.C. Martinez hitting a first-inning three-run home run.
JPT fell in the Regional Semifinals 13-3 on May 13 against Marjory Stoneman Douglas. EJ Burns, though, did hit a home run, while the Trojans finished the season 16-10.
Head Coach Joe Giummule says every season, their goal is to earn a bye in the District Tournament, win a District Championship, and then make a run at the State Final Four.
“It’s the third year in a row we have made at least the regional semifinal, so this is the new standard and an expectation at Taravella,” Giummule said. “Not making it to a Regional Final was kind of disappointing. As for the season, there were many new faces from last year’s team.”
Giummule, though will only have two starters graduating this year. Burns also finished one of the greatest seasons in J.P. Taravella’s history. The Florida Gulf Coast commit still has one more year on varsity, hitting .403 with two home runs and 14 RBIs. He also went 4-0 on the mound with an ERA of .89.
J.P. Taravella Baseball. {BCAA}
The JPT track and field team will have nearly 18 student-athletes heading to States after their incredible performance in Regionals. The boys team previously won the District Tournament and then finished fourth out of 24 teams in Regionals on May 4.
Despite no Regional Champions, Nikai Mcnee finished second in the long and triple jumps.
Charles Green, Jasiah Clapp, Keon Clarke, and Roberts finished in third in the 4 x 100 relay. Green also placed fourth in the 200 and 400 meters, while Carson Dunham and Maxwell Delien also placed fourth. Jasiah Clapp, Sebastian Merraro, and the 4 x 800 relay team placed fifth, consisting of Clapp, Dunham, Christopher Reid Jr., and Jaylen Amoa.
The girls team improved from Districts to Regionals by coming in fourth place. They beat two teams that placed higher than them in Districts, led by Jade Brown, coming in second in the 100 meters. She also came in second in the 4 x 100 relay with Yamila Elliott, Brown, Qyrah Spann-Pierre, and Ajah Arscottt while placing third in the 200 meters.
Spann-Pierre came in fourth in the long jump, along with coming in fourth in the 4 x 400 relay with Elliot, Brown, and Arscottt, Allysia Mersier, Elliott, and Brianna Carter also finished sixth in the 4 x 800 relay, with Danielle Tiger, Spann-Pierre, and Elliot also finishing eight individually.
They will head to States on May 18 at the University of North Florida.
J.P. Taravella Track and Field {Courtesy}
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