While rain may not be the best thing for golfers, it suits Pompano Beach Golf Course Golf Pro Bob Loring just fine. “We are mowing greens on 1 through 12 and we are putting bunkers in places that warrant it,” said Loring, who has been the pro at the facility for the past 11 years and is looking forward to the Greg Norman Signature Design on the Pines course. “We are rolling the fairways and it’s a growing time for most of the holes.”

“The rain has helped it tremendously with the growing,” Loring added. “With the last six holes, they sprigged it with the grass 1½ times the amount they did on the first 12 holes to help it catch up and fill in areas faster. We are excited about the rain because it has definitely helped the growing.”

All holes have been grassed on Greg Norman’s redesign of the Pines Course and the final punch list items are occurring on the Pines Course, slated to open on time on Nov. 16. The city is also finishing up with the irrigation on the neighboring Palms course. Loring said they also put in concrete cart paths for the entire 18 holes and added that the remaining greens would be mowed by mid-October. Golfers are talking about the redesign on a daily basis.

The Pines Course, which is located at 1101 N. Federal Hwy., is one of two golf courses at Pompano Beach Municipal that originally opened in 1960.

“People who are playing on the Palms Course are seeing the formation of the holes and what they are looking like now,” said Loring, who noted the grass first went down on the course in late July. “They are looking like golf holes now with the grass growing in. People are really excited.”

“This is one of the most exciting things that I have ever been involved with in golf,” said Loring, who is working with the city’s public information office, parks and recreation office to have a grand opening ceremony.”

“We would like to have Greg Norman out here for the opening ceremony and we are not sure if he is in the country at that time,” Loring said. “We are going to be looking to have major tournaments out here.”

The course design was commissioned by the City of Pompano Beach in an effort to modernize the facility and give the city a championship golf course that will serve as a pillar for the community, providing a first class amenity for the residents and tourists of Pompano Beach.

Loring said the course is already one of the most talked about courses around.

“It hasn’t even been played on yet and people are talking about it,” Loring said. “Everywhere you go, people are saying, ‘Oh, you’re in Pompano where that Greg Norman Course is going to be.’ People are going to definitely want to come out and play it.”

Norman has made several site visits to the course to review the construction progress on his Signature Design – which will be his first design at a municipal golf course. “I was introduced to the sport of golf through public access golf courses in Australia, so this project and public golf are very special to me,” Norman said. “I see this as the first of many municipal golf course design and renovation projects that I would like to be involved with.”

For more information, contact the Pompano Beach Golf Course at 954-781-0426.

While ObserverTV host Rachel Galvin was interviewing people at Rock the Vote in Mizner Park; other members of the team were busy navigating Spin Alley at Lynn University. At Rock the Vote, the band Neon Trees, best known for their song “Everybody Talks,” a current No 1 hit performed. Our own Jim Lusk had a backstage chat with them before they played.

Look for more on our team coverage here on the web and in Thursday’s paper and also stay tuned for our video of highlights of both events coming soon on ObserverTV.

Special thanks to Andrea Freygang and her BrowardNetOnline for partnering with us. We would also like to thank the City of Boca Raton, MWI, Atlas Party Rental, Paragon Theaters, Sunbelt rentals, Chrissy Biagiotti, Jeff Graves, Jim and Marilyn Wilson, our team support at Rock the Vote –Jake and Sari, Rent-a-Center, Comcast. Thank you to Rock the Vote and Xbox Live for putting this event together.

The set, on a trailer parked in Mizner Park, is ready to go. A large crowd has assembled awaiting the concert.

Popular alternative band Neon Trees performed.
Photo by Rachel Galvin.

On-air host Rachel Galvin prepares to interview people at Rock the Vote.

Videographer Jeff Graves behind the camera.

By Gary Curreri, Special Correspondent

Deerfield Beach’s Jim Eddy enjoys playing baseball on the weekends.

Eddy, 47, plays for the Cardinals in the Liberty Hardball Men’s Baseball League based out of Coral Springs. He leads the league with a .571 batting average and said he looks forward to playing in the Sunday games all week.

“You want to have some competition, so that’s why I don’t play softball,” said Eddy, who is an athletic trainer and coaches football at Highlands Christian Academy.

“I wouldn’t play in a league if there wasn’t any competition,” added Eddy, who had played with the Federal League since 1995, and has been with the Cardinals for the past three years. Eddy was a 1989 draft pick of the Montreal Expos.

“I don’t get nervous anymore and you don’t have that adrenaline. I think I am too old for adrenaline.” The Cardinals have won two out of the past three years of the league. There are many former professional players in addition to Eddy in the league. The Liberty Hardball league features players 28 and older on seven teams.

There are a couple of players in their 60s still swinging for the fences. The league plays on Sunday mornings at Mullins Park, Cypress Park in Coral Springs and Sabal Pines Field in Coconut Creek.

The present, three-yearold circuit is an offshoot of the Coral Springs Men’s Senior Baseball League that folded after the 2009 season. There are seven teams in the league that play a 20- game season that begins in March and typically runs through October following the playoffs. Because the league had four weeks of rainouts this season, the season may extend into November.

The Top 2 teams get a bye and the remaining teams make the playoffs and play in a 2 out of 3 format. The top seeded team gets to choose the venue to play in.

Powell paces Bucks

Running back Brandon Powell rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns as host Deerfield Beach (2-3) stunned Blanche Ely, 19-0, in a non-district contest on Saturday night. Aeron McNeal also had a stellar game for the Bucks as he scored on a 14-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. McNeal finished with 114 rushing yards against the Tigers (4-2).

BSO homicide detectives are investigating the death of an adult male whose body washed ashore in Deerfield Beach. A BSO deputy on ATV patrol discovered the body about 3:16 a.m. behind the Embassy Suites in the 900 block of Southeast 21 Avenue.

Crime scene and Deputies cordoned off the area as curious morning walkers looked on.

By Rachel Galvin

The 16th Annual Dunn’s Run took place on Oct. 7 on a sunny morning in Deerfield beach. Thousands of runners and walkers lined up for the 5k walk/run and 5 mile run, which benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Last year, they raised over $100,000.  In addition to the race, there were activities for the kids, including a bounce house and Paint a Firetruck. Local businesses participated by sponsorship or by having a booth.

(Left): Walkers and racers line up for the start, photo by Rachel Galvin

Jon Volpi won the 5 mile race again this year, improving his time from last year’s race. Valerie Azra was the female winner of the 5 mile. Danielle Kleptan was the female winner for the 5k and Agustin Rey for the men.

In addition, they held a tribute before the race began for fallen BSO Deputy Christopher Schaub, who was on the force for 22 years, with a moment of silence and a release of 12 doves. Runners ran beneath a huge United States flag hoisted up by a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue truck. Saxophonist Markus Howell, a senior at Deerfield High School, played the national anthem.

As the runners and walkers took off, Congressman Allen West was among them, as usual, holding the United States flag high. The Deerfield High School Cross Country team had many boys and girls running, including two boys who ran with their fathers and a mother and daughter together. Some parents brought even their littlest children out with them, some in strollers. One 9-year-old boy barely broke a sweat running in the race and racing in among some of the first of the pack. Sports mascots like TD the Dolphin, Billy the Marlin and Stanley C. Panther gave the runners high fives as they crossed the starting line. They also was a drum line along the route playing in support.

ObserverTV was there! Look for video coming soon…

See more coverage in this week’s Observer (10/11/12)

Drumline, photo by Sari Pelkey (below), doves, photo by Rachel Galvin:

By Gary Curreri

Sophomore quarterback Trystan Lago passed for 183 yards and three touchdowns as visiting Highlands Christian Academy defeated Coral Springs Christian Academy, 26-20, at Mullins Park in the ‘Annual Battle of the Sword’ gridiron clash last Friday night.

Lago was 13 for 24 passing and found senior wideout Kyle Audet five times for 98 yards and three scores as the Knights (2-3, 1-1 in District 7-2A) won their fifth consecutive game in the series. Senior Arelious Burns added 16 carries for 158 yards and one TD in the winning effort.

Coral Springs Christian (0- 1, 2-2) won the first six meetings between the two schools beginning in 2002 with a 43- 27 victory. Highlands won last year’s game, 48-7.

“It’s been a great rivalry and tradition,” said Highlands Christian Academy Athletic Director Jim Good. “The winning team gets to keep the sword for the school year. The theme verse on the plaque reads: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).”

Ely downs unbeaten Monarch

Blanche Ely’s James Butler ran for 125 yards and one TD, while quarterback Nelson Irvin accounted for scores both in the air and on the ground as the Tigers (4-1, 2-0) ended Monarch’s hopes for an undefeated season in winning the District 14-7A contest, 20-14 last Friday night. Ely (4-1, 2-0) overcame three fumbles as they rolled to 257 yards on the ground. Irvin had an 11-yard scoring toss and added a 5-yard scoring run in the winning effort.

Monarch fell to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in District play with the loss.

Bucks pound visiting Douglas

Deerfield Beach’s Brandon Powell made his presence felt on the first play from scrimmage as the Bucks grounded visiting Douglas, 49-7, on Friday night.

Powell, a junior running back, scored on a 68-yard touchdown run on the Bucks first play from scrimmage to set the tone. Powell finished the first half with 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns en route to a 214-yard effort for the night. He also had scoring runs of 60 and 49 yards.

Teammate Aeron McNeal added 171 yards on the ground and two touchdowns of 10 and 42 yards for the Bucks, who improved to 1-3 overall and 1- 1 in the District 11-8A race. Douglas fell to 1-4 overall with its fourth consecutive loss and 0-2 in the District.

Golfing & Giving

The local chapter of Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) GOLF RALLY FOR A CURE is planning its fifth annual golf event fundraiser to help protect the women in our lives against cancer.

This fun and exciting golf outing on Sunday, Oct. 21 at Deer Creek Golf Club in Deerfield Beach, welcomes all levels of players – women and men – and offers great prizes, too.

Entry fee is $95 and includes golf, range balls, tips and dinner. There will be a 1:15 p.m. stroke play shotgun start. All proceeds will benefit The Women’s Imaging Center of the Memorial Foundation to support breast and ovarian cancer research, screenings and treatment.

For more information and to register for Golf Rally for a Cure Event, please go to www.ewgafortlauderdale.com register no later than Oct. 10.

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach football coach Alan Jackson said before last Thursday’s District 11-8A opener against Taravella that his team was still learning and trying to find out who they were.

With a talented group of juniors and underclassmen, Jackson’s team battled back twice from double-digit deficits only to fall 42-35 in overtime. While they found out a little bit more about themselves, this year’s team is still searching for its first victory of the year after three losses.

“We are still young and have a lot of juniors on this team,” said Jackson, who is in his second year at the school. The Bucks are coming off back-toback losing seasons and failed to make the postseason last year. “Our 2014 team should be pretty good.”

Trailing 14-0 after Taravella scored on its first two possessions of the game, Deerfield Beach roared back with 18 unanswered points to take an 18-14 halftime lead as Aeron McNeal scored on a 35-yard run and Kris Rosales added a 40-yard field goal to pull within 14-10 with 10:20 remaining in the second quarter.

McNeal finished the game with 11 carries for 172 yards.

DeerfieldBeach(0-3,0-0) took its first lead of the game on a 9- yard scoring pass from Levin to Justin Morgan before Humphries scored twice to stake the Trojans to a 28-18 lead.

The Bucks opened the fourth quarter scoring 17 points to jump back in front following a safety and Brandon Powell caught back-to-back, 22 yard TD passes from Levin to grab a 35-28 lead with 4:36 left in the game.

Taravella tied the game at 35-35 with 2:02 remaining on an 8-yard TD pass from Jerome to Robert Miller and won it in overtime on another Jerome TD pass.

“They are coming along,” Jackson said. “I am pleased with what we are doing. We are motivated. They wanted to make the playoffs this year. The 2014 kids wanted to make a statement this year. They don’t want to wait. That’s our motto. Let’s not wait until we are seniors; let’s do it now. That’s the kind of model we are in this year.”

Jackson said, despite the team’s record, there is more continuity this year because they have been in the system for a year. He believes they can still make the playoffs.

“We want to do the now,” Jackson said. “We have to be better now and can’t wait until later. We need to mature a little bit more. We have to cut down on all of the small, little mistakes and get tougher up front and offensively. We have two great backs, but we have to be consistent.”

Jackson said the team is counting on juniors Brandon Powell, LaJavious Thompson and senior Mike Gilbert, as well as junior Tyler Sayles, senior Royus Amos and Orlando transfer senior Aaron Williams.

Tigers roar, roll past Cougars

Blanche Ely’s Nelson Ervin passed for 227 yards and five touchdowns as Blanche Ely cruised past Coconut Creek, 55-6, in the District 14-7A opener on Friday night. The Tigers (3-1, 1-0) took an early 28-0 lead behind the efforts of Ervin, who completed three touchdown passes in the opening period. Running back James Butler added two first half scores as the Tigers took a 49-6 lead into halftime.

By Gary Curreri

The Deerfield Beach Sharks 11-Under girls softball team can call itself the World Champions after going through the United States Specialty Sports Association’s (USSSA) World Series undefeated Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports recently.

Taylor Cochrane scored the lone run in the second inning and Brandi Antonio and Cochrane then shut the door with outstanding pitching by scattering seven hits as the Sharks blanked the Texas Hustle, 1-0, in the championship game.

The Sharks, who were limited to six hits in the championship game, managed to score their run after Cochrane reached on an error, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an Alexa Ares hit to centerfield. It was the second victory in as many tries against the Hustle, which was the highest scoring team in the tournament. The Sharks won an elimination game against the team from the Lone Star state, 9-1, two games earlier.

“Our girls really showed what they were made of at the World Series,” said Sharks manager Karla Antonio. “They really pulled together as a team. Our hitting was great in some of the games; yet, in others, we needed our defense and pitching to step up in order to win.”

The Sharks rattled off six consecutive wins before facing off in the semifinal game against their interstate rival and defending World Series Champions, the Orlando Aftershock.

The Sharks had played Orlando six times previously since 2010 and had lost all six games by narrow margins. In the pivotal game of the tournament, Brandi Antonio held the Aftershock to no earned runs for five innings. Jordyn Griffith came in as a relief pitcher and sealed the deal against the Aftershock. Brooke Antonio and Chelsea Brown also turned in key defensive plays in the 2-1 win.

Nova Southeastern University women’s softball coach, Lesa Bonee, has been working with the USSSA team since 2009, and her coaching role has significantly expanded since. She works consistently to improve the girls’ hitting and makes time to give weekly private lessons to many of the athletes. Since working with Bonee, the team as a whole has shown great improvement in their overall performance and attitude.

Antonio said Bonee “makes things fun.” Bonee has had the NSU softball team serve as role models to the young players. The college players have helped provide softball instruction to the Sharks, as well as participated in fun, team-building activities such as tie-dying T-Shirts, pumpkin carving and even having a pie throwing contest at coach Bonee’s expense.

“Coach Dawn Boothe (former Head Coach at Deerfield Beach High School) worked with the team’s defense this season and really turned things around for us,” said manager Antonio. “Ryan Rogge (former Western Kentucky University pitching star) worked with our pitchers.”

“Their hard work throughout the year in all aspects of the game is what gave them the edge in the championship,” manager Antonio added. “I am extremely proud of this group of girls. They had a goal of winning the World Series this year and they made it happen!”

The World Series MVPs for the Sharks were Taylor Cochrane and Brandi Antonio (pitching), while Sami Restrepo was the Tournament MVP.

By Gary Curreri

While the Deerfield Beach Dolphins swim coaches spend each day of the South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships dressing up in costumes for fun, it is serious business when it comes to the meet.

The Deerfield Beach Dolphins Swim Team won its 11th consecutive championship and 14th overall as it racked up 1,454 combined points to take the Large Division title South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships recently at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Deerfield Beach swim coach Rafael DaSilva, who brought a league-high 124 swimmers to the championships, understandably was pleased with the performance.

“We did a great job with the returning swimmers on our team,” said DaSilva, who is in his seventh year with the program. “We didn’t set any records this year, but we also lost some key swimmers on our relays. We had some close swims among our own swimmers and went 1-2 or 1-2-3. Our main motto is to have fun whatever we do.”

There are 150 swimmers in program and DaSilva said they were hit by the economy and were down a number of swimmers compared to a few years back.

“We had a number of kids that we brought up from the noncompetitive and pre-competitive groups who are now on the fully competitiveteams,” DaSilvasaid. “They are really coming out of their shell and, with the work they are doing, are really improvingtheirtimes… theirstrokes.

We have a lot of new surprises.” DaSilva and his coaches dressed as zombies the first day, Ninja Turtles the second and “Where’s Waldo” characters on the final day.

“Some of the kids were questioning it,” DaSilva said with a laugh. “They thought we were Santa Claus. I want them to have fun, and, if we put a smile on their face, that is all we want to do.” Deerfield Beach Dolphins’ Tayme Thomas won the Boys 50-yard butterfly event and was on two winning relays. He said it was important because it was likely his last meet in the league. His family is moving to Titusville in October or November, he said.

“It is something you have to put the work into,” said Thomas, 13, an 8th grader at Boca Middle School. He’s been swimming since he was 7. “In other sports you can be good and get away with it, but in swimming, you have to put in all of the work. It just makes it better when you win. This meet is a big deal because it is the last one of the year and everybody is here.”

There are three seasons in the South Florida Recreational Swim League – Summer (May to Aug.); Winter (Sept. to Dec.) and Spring (Jan. to April). There is a three-week break between each season; the league is in its 25th year.

SFRSL chairman Chris Hoch said there were 19 teams that featured 1,000 swimmersthis summer. He believes the numbers will grow with it being an Olympic year.

By Gary Curreri

Lighthouse Point’s Delaney Edwards enjoyed a stellar high school tennis season last year at Cardinal Gibbons and continued that torrid pace at the IMG Academy in Bradenton this past summer.

Edwards, 15, who will be a sophomore with the Broward Virtual School this year, trains locally at the Rineberg Tennis Training (RTT) Academy based in Deerfield Beach. She began playing tennis at age 4 and has had the same coach, Dave Rineberg, since she was 6.

“I have a full-time coach (Dave Rineberg) at home so IMG is just a good change once in a while,” Edwards said. “I like the competition they offer with all the international kids, and I also enjoy using their gym and the fitness program.”

Edwards was recently named the Gatorade “G Standout Award”/IMG Academy Athlete of the Week for tennis. This is a prestigious award handed out during IMG’s summer camp season to an athlete who displays heart, hustle and soul, exhibiting a true desire to reach their true athletic potential.

All IMG Bollettieri Tennis camps feature a core tennis academy program that is progressive and builds on each day and week by incorporating the “Bollettieri Method” aimed at individual improvement.

“I was happy when I got the award because it showed that my hard work there was noticed,” said Edwards, who returned last year after taking a year off because she was burned out. “It also represented a start for a comeback.”

Edwards said her best memory from her high school season was when she decided to join the Chiefs during mid season.

“It was a turning point for me because I wanted to get back to playing matches,” said Edwards, who teamed with Kristin Wiley to finish second in the state high school tourney in doubles last year. “It was also great to come back to school after states with a silver medal.”

Edwards’ immediate goals are to regain a top national ranking in the Girls 18s and earn some good results in upcoming tournaments. She doesn’t plan to return to high school tennis this season.

“I am hoping to play a few ITF tournaments, as well as two pro circuit events in September,” said Edwards, who also works with Dave Remple at RTT. “I haven’t really thought about my future goals since I just recommitted to tennis so, for now, I take it day by day … my coach always says ‘never look back, enjoy the moment, and always move forward.’”