BRADENTON — Charlotte erupted for six runs in the fifth inning, then held on to defeat Lakewood Ranch, 9-7, on Thursday.
Dava Hoffer had three hits, including a two-run homer during that fifth-inning outburst. Later in that same inning, Lexi Fitzgerald crushed a three-run home run to stake Charlotte to an 8-0 lead.
Lakewood Ranch began its comeback in the bottom of the fifth, breaking up Hoffer’s shutout with a two-run double, then chasing her during a four-run sixth inning. Reliever Mia Flores also struggled to keep the Mustangs at bay, but with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, she coaxed a popup to end the game.
Charlotte improved to 11-6 heading into a weekend tournament. After a road trip to Evangelical Christian on Monday, the Tarpons will return home to face rival Port Charlotte on Tuesday.
Hardee 10, Port Charlotte 4: At Port Charlotte, Hardee broke up a 3-3 tie with a four-run fourth inning to pull away from the Pirates.
Jaylin Pinedo was a bright spot for Port Charlotte (4-14), collecting a double among her two hits and driving in three runs.
Next up for the Pirates is a road trip to Bonita Springs on Friday.
BASEBALLImagine 3, Cardinal Mooney 1: At Sarasota, the Sharks picked up a big win thanks to a two-run outburst in the top of the sixth inning.
With the game tied at 1-1, RJ Cooper led off the sixth with an infield single. After a J. Standford groundout, Jacob Lombard put runners on the corners with a single to right. Cooper Boggess then drove in Cooper with a single to left. When a hit batsmen loaded the bases, L. Wade’s sacrifice fly to center scored Lombard’s pinch-runner.
That was all Cooper needed to keep Cardinal Mooney at bay. He would go the distance, permitting six hits and two walks while striking out five. The run he allowed was unearned.
The Sharks improved to 10-8 with the win and will continue their four-game, season-ending road trip on Monday at IMG Academy Gold.
Carrollwood Day 6, Lemon Bay 4: At Englewood, Carrollwood struck for two runs in the top of the sixth to break a 4-4 deadlock and steal away with a victory.
Jacob Connor went 2-for-3 for the Mantas (7-12). Joel Vazquez tripled while Noah Hale and Will Landers each doubled.
Lemon Bay closes out its regular season on Tuesday at Mariner.
BEACH VOLLEYBALLCharlotte 3, Venice 2: At Punta Gorda, the Tarpons closed out the regular season on a high note, avenging a March 27 loss with a tremendous performance from its top two duos at Carmalita Park.
The No. 2 team of Hanna Hall and Juliet Hurley made quick work of Venice’s Marley Payne and Venessa Zurkiewicz, winning 21-4 and 21-6. Meanwhile the No. 4 team of Ava Hall and Sammy Vega outlasted their opponents, 18-21, 21-16, 15-5.
That left Charlotte’s No. 1 team of Julia Damico and Abbie Willis to face down Jalynn Gardner and Brighton Ferguson. Damico and Willis routed their Venice counterparts 21-9 in the first set, then earned the sweep with a hard-fought, 21-17 victory.
Charlotte will now head into postseason play as the top seed in District 1A-21 and either the No. 1 or No. 2 team in Region 1A-6.
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