ESPN RISE

Baseball - Lakeland

Coming into the season, Dreadnaughts skipper Mike Campbell thought his lineup would be solid, the pitching suspect. Through the first five weeks, it was precisely the opposite for Lakeland, which entered the season ranked No. 18 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50. Ace Josh Lucas, a 6-foot-7 righty with great control headed to Manatee Community College next year, didn't allow a run in his first five appearances. Fellow senior Drew Hutchison, a SS/RHP who has signed with Stetson, struck out 38 batters in his first 19 innings of work. That made Campbell change his mind awfully quick. "I think our pitching will be consistent all year," he said, but "we're going to have to hit better." The team was winning anyway, getting by with defense and run-manufacturing (22 steals in its first eight games). If the bats wake up, look out. Junior Yordy Cabrera (SS/3B/RHP) is rated the nation's No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2010 by Perfect Game thanks to his speed, lively bat and great arm. At press time, he was hitting .417, second only to senior leadoff hitter Matt Jones (.420). Eric Arce, a home-schooled junior C/1B who played for Brandon last year, provides pop from the left side of the plate, while left fielder Erik Barber headlines a strong sophomore class. Lakeland made the Class 6A semifinals last season largely by winning the arms race. It's that old adage: "Pitching and defense wins championships," Campbell says. "Pitching and defense always keeps you in games." Still, a little mashing wouldn't hurt.

Softball - Venice

So close. Last year, the Indians went 31-0 before falling to Bartram Trail, 4-2, in the Class 5A state championship. This year, the team entered the season ranked No. 9 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national rankings  and anxious to get back to the title game. Senior ace Stephanie Sullivan went 23-1 with a 0.41 ERA and 279 strikeouts last year, while battery mate Chelsea Zgrabik, a first team All-State pick as a sophomore in 2008, is back behind the plate.

Boys' Basketball - Cocoa

Just as the football team did in the fall, the Cocoa boys' basketball team surprised a lot of people en route to winning the Class 4A state championship this season. The Tigers edged heavily favored two-time defending champ Monsignor Pace  just as the football team did in the state semis in the fall  in the regional final, 66-65, before knocking off Bartow and Springstead to wrap up the title. Seniors Julius Reed (18) and Ellis Young (20) combined for 38 points in the final.

Girls' Soccer - Palm Harbor University

Led by All-State and ESPN RISE All-Area picks Catherine Brinkman and Ellycia Colon, the Hurricanes took down defending state champion George Jenkins, 3-1, in the Class 5A state title game to win their fourth championship since 1999 and first since 2006. Paige Lombard, Queli Ornelas, Anja Decker and keeper Christina Brewer all came up big in the title game, as did Brinkman, who scored PHU's third goal, and Colon, who managed to mark and neutralize Jenkins star midfielder Kayla Bala.

BREAK OUT TEAMS

BOYS' LACROSSE  BISHOP MOORE Florida State-bound seniors Jimbo Mack and Dylan Shaver anchor the back for the Hornets. FLAG FOOTBALL  PLANT Sophomores Stephanie Murray and Rebecca Marve come from champion Panther bloodlines. BASEBALL  SARASOTA Senior All-American Scooter Gennett is one of the nation's top prospects. SOFTBALL  TIMBER CREEK All-State juniors Dana Hathorn and Brittany McFawn pace last year's regional finalists.