- April 26, 2024
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+ Kayla Lamphier becomes a Spartan, after walking on
When Kayla Lamphier was in seventh grade, her geography teacher told her she would be too short to play college softball.
“One day, I was walking out of the classroom,” Lamphier recalled Tuesday morning. “And (the teacher) just said, ‘Hey Kayla, you know you have to be 5-foot-3 to play college softball.’”
Lamphier insisted the teacher not worry about her.
“That’s just always been one of those comments that stayed with me,” she said. “I used it as motivation”
That teacher was wrong. And Lamphier is now 5-foot-4.
Lamphier competed Sept. 2 in walk-on tryouts for the University of Tampa Spartans softball team. About an hour after tying her cleats, she tied up a roster spot.
“I’ll play wherever coach puts me,” she said.
The Spartans already had 22 players before adding Lamphier.
“I’m hoping that if I go out there and give it everything I have, then I will have a chance at earning a starting spot,” she said. “That would be absolutely amazing. But if (coach Leslie Kanter) just needs me to run bases, I can do that, too. I’m just glad to be a part of the program.”
The Spartans compete in the NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference. They went 39-9 last season, with a 19-5 conference record, en route to a second-place finish to Rollins College.
Last season’s 39 wins was a school record. Lamphier hopes to help the Spartans to an even better record this season.
“When you’re a little kid, people always ask you what you want to be when you grow up,” Lamphier said. “My answer was always ‘I don’t know, I just want to play college softball.’”
Lamphier credited her family, coaches and teammates at FPC for helping her get to where she is now.
“They are the ones that have motivated me and made softball such a joy in my life,” she said.
+ Former Pirate earns national award for kicking
Former Matanzas standout kicker Christian Benvenuto earned a national award last week.
Benvenuto, now a freshman at Georgia State University, was named National Placekicker Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards.
On his first collegiate field goal attempt, Benvenuto nailed a 44-yarder on GSU’s first possession against Clark Atlanta. Benvenuto added a 45-yard field goal and was 4-for-4 on extra points, helping GSU defeat Clark Atlanta, 41-7.
Georgia State (1-0) hosts Old Dominion at noon Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Georgia Dome.
+ Pirates volleyball topples FPC, Palatka to start 2-0
Matanzas volleyball player Allison Pfeiffer, and the Pirates defeated Flagler Palm Coast High School, Aug. 31. The Pirates won the match in three games; 25-18, 25-13 and 25-8. Matanzas improved to 2-0 after the win.
Danielle Malmsten had three aces and six assists, and the Lady Pirates defeated Palatka, in three straight games, Aug. 30. Allison Pfeiffer added six aces and six kills.
+ Bulldogs bowling fallsto Spruce Creek
The Flagler Palm Coast bowling teams were swept Sept. 1 by Spruce Creek.
D’John James posted a high score of 211 in the third game for the boys team. On the girls side, Chelsea Blaha bowled a team-high 180.
+ Wrestling coach begins elementary program
Flagler Palm Coast wrestling coach Bobby Bossardet is starting the Flagler County Elementary Wrestling Championship Series, which will include a tournament for third- through sixth-graders. Cost per child is $20.
Registration will be 5-6 p.m. Sept. 7 to Sept. 8, at Flagler Palm Coast High School’s 800 gym. Email [email protected].
