Prep roundup: See which local teams captured district baseball and softball titles Thursday

THURSDAY

BASEBALL

Class 7A-District 8 championship

Venice 3, Lakewood Ranch 1

VENICE – The Venice High baseball team had been planning for months as to how it would get its vengeance on Lakewood Ranch in the Class 7A-District 8 championship.

The Mustangs bested the Indians in the district title game last year, ending their season in shutout fashion, and they weren’t shy reminding them about it.

This time around, the title game went according to plan for Venice as its pitching combination of Carter Cox and Nate Winterhalter silenced Lakewood Ranch for most of the night on the way to a 3-1 win at Venice High School.

With the win, Venice will remain at home on Tuesday against an opponent to be determined in the Class 7A-Region 3 quarterfinals. Lakewood Ranch, meanwhile, will wait to see if it makes the regional tournament with an at-large bid.

“We knew we would be facing them really from day one,” Venice coach Craig Faulkner said of the Mustangs. “We felt that Lakewood Ranch would be the guys coming out of the district tournament coming to our place, and we were talking about it all year, that more than likely we would face that same pitcher on the same night for the district championship, but this year it would be at our field.

“There was definitely more motivation. There was a video circulating of them winning the district tournament last year. They started recirculating it again, and I think that fired us up a little bit as well. We wanted to be the ones holding the district trophy this year.”

Venice (24-3) won its first district title in three years by trotting out a pair of undefeated pitchers with sub-1.00 ERAs, and Lakewood Ranch (12-14-1) needed all night to figure them out.

Indians left-hander Carter Cox (8-0, 0.50 ERA) started the game and lasted five scoreless innings, permitting just four baserunners on a single, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Though Cox was cruising with a 3-0 lead backing him up, Faulkner didn’t think twice as he turned to right-handed sidearmer Nate Winterhalter to close out the final two innings.

“They were coming up on their third time through the order and we felt like (Cox) was getting a little bit tired,” Faulkner said. “I think he would have done fine if we left him in, but when you have one of the best closers in the game that we’ve had in a long time, probably since Cooper Hammond, you have to go with our best and put that guy out there.”

Winterhalter (3-0, 4/4 in save opportunities with a 0.83 ERA) has been lights-out for the Indians this season, but he didn’t escape against the Mustangs without running into a little bit of trouble.

Lochlan Radloff reached with a one-out single to shallow left for Lakewood Ranch in the sixth inning and Ryan Kaitz followed by making his way to first base on a hit-by-pitch.

But Winterhalter didn’t seem fazed as struck out the next two Mustangs hitters looking to wiggle out of the jam.

Lakewood Ranch applied pressure on Winterhalter again in the seventh as Carter Sprague led the inning off with a walk and later scored on a two-strike, two-out single by pinch-hitter Evan Kuell. Winterhalter then walked Jack Muller to make things interesting before ending the game on a fly out to left field.

“My ball moves a lot and does what it has to do to get the kids out,” Winterhalter said. “I trust my guys behind me and I pitch to contact. That’s it. I let my boys do the work.

“Out here, I know my stuff and I know I can do it well. I stay humble. I’m out there doing my thing. I’m never rattled.”

Venice struck for its lead in the third inning as Brady Schumaker tripled home Cox before later scoring on a fielding error on a ball hit to second base by David Dubrule.

The Indians added their third and final run an inning later as Jonathan Mauro brought pinch-runer Michael O’Connell home with an RBI groundout.

Mustangs starting pitcher Alex Vaillaincourt (6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 K, 1 BB) settled in from there, stranding a runner at third base in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but it was already too late with Cox and Winterhalter keeping Lakewood Ranch at bay.

Venice was led offensively by Jackson Lucas (3-for-3 with three singles) and Schumaker (2-for-3 with a double and an RBI triple).

“It definitely is challenging,” Lakewood Ranch coach Colton Chupp said of his team facing two opposite looks in Cox and Winterhalter. “Soft away, trying to stay on it and go the other way. They did a good job mixing it up coming inside on us, keeping us off-balance. Then, bringing (Winterhalter) in there is something. We’ve seen him before, but he’s a good reliever for them. He’s done his job multiple times late in games for them. Down here (in Venice) is the only time you’ll see something like that, seriously.”

- Vinny Portel l

Class 2A-District 11

Imagine School at North Port 6, Out-of-Door Academy 5

NORTH PORT - RJ Cooper’s sacrifice fly drove in Dominic Poole with the go-ahead run In the bottom of the sixth inning and Imagine School held on to defeat Out-Of-Door Academy, 6-5, to capture the Class 2A-District 11 championship Thursday night.

The district title is the first for the Sharks in the 13-year history of the school and snapped the Thunder’s string of four consecutive district championships.

“ODA is a heck of a program,” Imagine coach Steve Sabers said. “We played them twice this year and split. We had a feeling we could get them but we knew it was going to be a fight till the end.”

Each team scratched across a run in the first inning as both starting pitchers had control problems early. The first three ODA batters reached against Imagine starter Cooper, and the Thunder took a 1-0 lead as Chase Taraska grounded into a double play.

The Sharks also loaded the bases in the bottom of the first. After Jacob Lombard hit into a force play at the plate, Thunder pitcher Jacob Kaplan uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Cooper to score from third and tie the score at 1-1.

That’s how it stayed until the bottom of the fourth inning when Joseph Stanford led off with a single and Cooper Boggess drew a walk. Landon Wade and Poole followed with RBI singles to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead.

Cooper had settled down and retired 11 straight batters, but Heath DeRusso led off with a single in the fifth. Cooper appeared to get out of the inning by coaxing a ground ball to first with two down, but first baseman Shalom Carrasquillo couldn’t come up with the ball giving the Thunder another chance, Cooper then hit Nolan Naese with a pitch and walked Max Murphy to force ih a run. Brandon Beasley followed with a bases clearing double to give ODA a 5-3 lead.

“RJ was facing the order for the third time,” Saborse said. “We debated, but he was only at 51 pitches so we said let’s go another inning before we make the switch. But they got to him. They’re a good hitting team, so they sat back and put the ball in

― Bruce Robins

Class 6A-District 11 championship

Palmetto 4, Bloomingdale 2

AT: Palmetto

TOP PLAYERS (P) Jackson Moates 1-3, 2 RBI; Blake WIllis 2-3, run, RBI; Cameran Banta 2-2, run; (WP) Baden Wallace (4.1 inns., 2 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Palmetto 15-12, Blooimngdale 16-10

NEXT: Palmetto will play in the quarterfinals of the regional tournament which for Class 6A is Tuesday, time and opponent TBD

SOFTBALL

Class 7A-District 8 championship

Lakewood Ranch 4, Venice 3

VENICE - The Indians (13-11) found themselves in a grudge match with the 5-20 Mustangs before getting upset at home in Thursday’s 7A-8 district championship.

After failing to capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity an inning prior, Venice took advantage of the same chance in the bottom of the fifth.

With two outs, Molly Sullivan connected on a 1-2 pitch from Lakewood Ranch starter Lexi Meneely and shot a grounder through the right side of the infield to plate two and hand Venice a 3-2 lead after five innings.

The Indians had a chance to secure the district title in the top of the seventh, but a two-RBI single by Meneely ended up being the difference in the contest.

Venice would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh, completing Lakewood Ranch's upset bid.

Class 6A-District 7 championship

Palmetto 4, Bloomingdale 1

AT: Bloomingdale

TOP PLAYERS: (P) Kaitlyn Craft 1-3, 2B, run; Kayley Allison 1-4, run; Emily Borresen 1-3, 2B, run; Desiree Aitken 2-3, run, RBI; Leilani Cruz 1-3, RBI; (WP) Makenna Lee (7 inns., 4 hits, 1 run-unearned, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Palmetto 14-10, Bloomingdale 25-1

NEXT : Palmetto will play in a regional quarterfinal game on Thursday, time and opponent TBD

Class 5A-District 10 championship

Parrish 9, East Bay 0

AT : Parrish

TOP PLAYERS: (P) Alex Call 2-4, 2B, run; Alyssa Jones 3-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Ella Romano 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Hannah Lewis 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Kyndal France 2-2, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Mackenzie Pandelo 2-3, run; (WP) Rylee Little (7 inns., 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 12 strikeouts)

RECORDS : East Bay 19-8, Parrish 15-8

NEXT : The Bulls will play a regional quarterfinal game on Tuesday, time and opponent TBD

Class 2A-District 11 championship

Admiral Farragut 11, Bradenton Christian 1

AT: Admiral Farragut

TOP PLAYERS: (BC) Ava Stanley 2-3, run; Brenna Funderburke 2-3, RBI; (LP) Addison Johnston (6 inns., 5 hits, 11 runs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Admiral Farragut 16-3, Bradenton Christian 9-9

Beach Volleyball

Cardinal Mooney 3, Calvary Christian 2

SARASOTA – The next stop for the Cardinal Mooney beach volleyball team will be the sand courts at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

That’s where the Cougars (19-2) will be one of 16 teams vying for the FHSAA Class A State Championship next Friday and Saturday.

Cardinal Mooney punched its ticket on Thursday at home by slipping past Clearwater Calvary Christian, 3-2, in a Region Play-in game.

The Cougars won a pair of split-set decisions that were vital to the team's victory and the opportunity to return to the state competition. Cardinal Mooney marched to the state semifinals last season before losing to New Smyrna Beach, the eventual state champion.

Playing at No. 3 for the Cougars, juniors Riley Greene and Katie Powers dominated the first set, 21-14, before seniors Emarie Straw and Kiki Provatis of Calvary Christian (9-4) battled back to win, 21-18. The Cardinal Mooney duo hung on to seal it, 15-7, in the third set.

The Cougars won an even tighter nail-biter at No. 4 with junior Kate Montesand and sophomore Kelsey Fisher getting the job done. The pair topped Calvary’s Brynn Farmer and Addie Davis, 21-10, 8-21 and a point-for-point third set at 15-13.

It was smooth sailing for Cardinal Mooney at No. 2 as senior Helena Hebda and junior Izzy Russell rolled over Ashley Johnson and Autumn Derksen, 21-15, 21-10.

“The girls communicated well out there,” Cardinal Mooney head coach Gretchen Hand said. “It was hot and windy. They put forth the effort.

“It wasn’t easy. Calvary Christian’s coach (Kim Whitney) does a great job. I have a lot of respect for their program.”

Playing at No. 1, Calvary Christian seniors McKenzie Lange and Ava Bonin defeated junior Zoe Kirby and freshman Sydney Sparma, 21-15, 21-11. At No. 5, Amber Lawrence and Riley Jones of Calvary Christian outlasted Cardinal Mooney’s Layla Larrick and Charleston Hermann, 21-17, 17-21, 15-11.

If the Cougars continue to win in Tallahassee, they would play two games on Friday, including a State Play-in game and a State Quarterfinal match-up. Victories on Friday would mean a berth in the State Semifinals. Both teams that make the championship game must play four games over a two-day span.

Not an easy task, grinding away in the sand, under the hot Florida sun.

“Playing beach volleyball is not for the faint of heart,” said Hand, who is a former professional beach volleyball player, as well as a longtime coach. “Just two people out there. There’s no place to hide. You need a lot of grit and determination.”

― Jim Brockman

WEDNESDAY

BOYS LACROSSE

Class 1A-Region 3 semifinal

Cardinal Mooney 13, Calvary Christian 4

SARASOTA – A young Calvary Christian boys lacrosse team traveled down to Sarasota on Wednesday night to play a seasoned Cardinal Mooney squad that was tired of losing in the regional semifinals.

For most of the game’s 48 minutes, the bigger and older Cougars took out those years of frustration on the Warriors on the way to a commanding 13-4 win in the Class 1A-Region 3 semifinals at Cardinal Mooney High School.

With the win, the top-seeded Cougars will host Community School of Naples – the team that’s ended its season the past two years –  on Saturday in search of the first regional championship in program history.

“The skill level is kinda the easy answer, I would say, but there’s a lot of drive there,” said Cougars coach Derek Wagner when asked what’s different about this year’s team. “They’re sick of getting to this spot and losing, especially with the juniors and the seniors.

“They’ve done this a couple of times and hadn’t gotten past this round, so there’s a lot of motivation just to get over that hump. I think there’s some hunger for them come Saturday.”Cardinal Mooney has lost to Community School of Naples in the regional semifinals in back-to-back seasons, but put themselves in a better position this year as the region’s No. 1 seed behind a defense that’s allowed over 10 goals in a game just four times this season.

Hosting an outmanned Calvary Christian team that started four freshmen, Cardinal Mooney was able to assert its defensive dominance early and often.

The Warriors opened with a 1-0 lead in the first few minutes on a goal from freshman Easton Desart, but the Cougars allowed just one more goal until the fourth quarter.

A defensive unit of senior Drew Roberts, senior Michael Kipley, junior Jake Morales and senior goalie Jacob Brown made life difficult on the Warriors offense – routinely cutting off scoring lanes with hard checks and swipes.

Cardinal Mooney clearly wasn’t fazed by the early one-goal deficit.

The Cougars led, 6-1, by the time the first quarter was over as sophomore Cole Hunt, senior Carter Westendorf, junior Jamison McCusker, junior Carson Joyce and Morales each scored.

By the time Calvary Christian scored its second goal of the night, the Cougars held a 10-2 lead with just 1:15 remaining in the first half.

“Being older and having a lot of players who have been in this spot and lost helps a lot, and so does being able to play a different team (than Community School of Naples),” Roberts said. “Being the No. 1 seed and having this game at home also adds a sense of pride.”

“They’re a big, athletic team,” Calvary Christian coach Dan Mayer said of Cardinal Mooney. “They have a lot of upperclassmen and they have great speed and athleticism, and that’s tough for us. We had to play really kind of flawless lacrosse. We couldn’t make mistakes on the exchanges, and they killed us on the ground balls. That’s tough.”

The deficit would have been tough for the Warriors to overcome on its own, but that was especially so after Brown (12 saves) and Calvary Christian goalie Tripp Wimberly (10 saves) traded saves back-and-forth in a scoreless third quarter – keeping the score at 10-2 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Calvary Christian did manage to cut the lead to 10-4 in the fourth after seniors Connor Kistner and Brady Savage scored back-to-back goals, but Cardinal Mooney quickly answered with goals from junior Logan Alexander, senior Giovanni Zanoni and Hunt to push the lead back out of reach.

Cardinal Mooney beat out the Warriors, 13-3, on ground balls. It was led offensively by three-goal nights by Westendorf and Hunt. Zanoni and McCusker led the passing with a pair of assists each.

Winning the next round might not be as easy, but two years' worth of motivation from hard losses is something the Cougars can count on.

“I was actually talking with a player on the field, and he said, ‘Would you rather play CSN or Jesuit?’ And I said CSN,” Roberts said. “It’s a vengeance game and it’s at our home now. That means a lot more to me, and I’m sure for our other seniors who have lost to them the past two years at their home.”

- Vincent Portell

Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal

Newsome 15, Lakewood Ranch 9

LAKEWOOD RANCH - It was a different Lakewood Ranch boys lacrosse team head coach Joe Nelson saw in the first half Wednesday night in their Class 2A-Region 3 semifinal match against visiting Newsome.

And what Nelson saw, he didn’t like.

“We were overthinking,” the first-year head coach said. “The boys were overcomplicating things. Just forgot about the fundamentals for the first 10 minutes of the game.”

The halftime speech Nelson gave his team kicked it into gear for the final 24 minutes, but by then, Newsome had assumed a decided advantage and went on to the 15-9 victory in a match played at The Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

The regional semifinal was the furthest any Mustang boys lacrosse team had advanced in the program's history. “This was new territory, so the nerves, the anxiety, there’s uncertainty how to act and how to perform.”

As a result, Ranch fell behind 10-3 at halftime. The Wolves, with a record of 15-4 coming in, carried the action for most of the first 24 minutes. But perhaps finally realizing it was a win-or-go-home scenario, the Mustangs picked up their game in the second half.

The problem for the Mustangs was that their goals were countered by tallies from Newsome. Ranch scored the first goal of the second half, with Lucas Anthony potting one of his six goals on the night, but Newsome responded by tallying the next two, increasing its lead to 12-4. As it was, the Cougars scored the last three goals of the match, but by then, the outcome had been decided.

Nelson, a first-year head coach who relocated from Minnesota, where he had been running a college program, said the Mustang program is on solid footing going forward.

“We got a good core coming back,” he said. “We got hungry guys who want to come back and continue to learn and grow and develop. Got a team that’s going to stay for awhile. This was not just a one-and-done.”

- Doug Fernandes

TUESDAY

GIRLS LACROSSE

Class 1A-Region 3 semifinals

Saint Stephen's 16, Gulf Coast 4

BRADENTON - The Saint Stephen’s girls lacrosse team doesn’t go into every match with a goal of triggering a running clock on an opponent.

It’s just become a consequence of their superiority. On Tuesday, facing the visiting Gulf Coast Sharks in a Class 1A-Region 3 semifinal, Saint Stephen’s once again sent their fans home early in a 16-4 victory. When the Falcons (17-1) host the Community School of Naples in Friday’s regional final, it will be their third-straight appearance.

The team’s usual suspects took their place atop the Falcon scorebook. Haley Rosa had six goals and an assist; Sienna Cassella had five goals and an assist; in a quiet night for her, Ashling Marshall potted three goals, but assisted on seven others while finishing with 11 draw controls.

As a team, the Falcons controlled 22 of 24 draws. Controlling a draw immediately puts the team on the offensive. Indeed, it seemed as if the match’s 48 minutes were played exclusively on the Sharks’ side of the field. And Saint Stephen’s had just five turnovers, a sign of a clean, well-played game.

“Their speed off the draw,” Gulf Coast coach Lynn Garrison said when asked what separates the Falcons from their foes. “It’s a large part of the game. If you can’t move the ball off the draw, you can’t score.”

Saint Stephen’s had no such trouble. Goals by Cassella, Rosa and Marshall helped give the Falcons a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, after a Rosa goal put the Falcons up 5-1 two minutes in, the Sharks drew within three on a tally by Kendall DeLuke. But no more than 15 seconds later, Marshall restored the Falcons’ four-goal bulge with a shot that got past Gulf Coast goalie Mack McMaster. Goals by Rosa and Cassella put the Falcons up 8-2 at the break. Up 12-4 after three quarters, Saint Stephen’s needed two goals in the fourth to trigger the running clock, and tallies by Rosa and eighth-grader Ava Varga, the latter coming with seven minutes, 52 seconds left, did just that.

“They came out and pushed us in the first quarter and we were able to adjust to what they were doing,” said Falcons coach Pat Cassella. “They came and started face-guarding Sienna, which usually happens, and we had to try to get her away early. Once that happened, then it started opening up the offense.”

And soon enough, the Falcons were headed to another regional final.

- Doug Fernandes

Class 2A-Region 3 semifinals

Plant 21, Riverview 11

AT : Plant

TOP PLAYERS : (RV) Susan Lowther 6 goals, 6 draw controls, ground ball); Carolina Steinwachs 3 goals, 8 draw controls, ground ball; CC Hackl goal, ground ball, 2 draw controls; Ashley Eisenacher goal, ground ball

RECORDS: Riverview 11-7, Plant 21-0

NEXT: Plant hosts Manatee on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the regional title

Class 2A-Region 3 semifinals

Manatee 8, Newsome 6

AT: Manatee

TOP PLAYERS: (M) Grace Knowles 3 goals, assist, 5 ground balls, caused turnover, 6 draw controls; Luana Engel 3 goals, ground ball; Cara Carter goal; Mallory Adams goal; Zoe Stewart 2 assists; Sally Lehto nine saves in net

RECORDS : Manatee 18-0, Newsome 15-4

NEXT : Manatee at Plant on Thursday at 7 p.m. for regional title

BASEBALL

Class 7A-District 8 semifinals

Venice 2, North Port 1

AT: Venice

TOP PLAYERS: (V) Brady Schumaker 1-2, run, BB; Graham Houston 0-2, run, BB; (WP) Jackson Lucas (3 inns., 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts); (NP) Zach Mitchell 1-3, run; Ryan Playter 1-3, RBI; (LP) Joshua Doerrfeld (5.2 inns., 2 hits, 2 runs-0 earned, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Venice 23-3, North Port 12-15

NEXT: Venice hosts Lakewood Ranch on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 7A-District 8 semifinals

Lakewood Ranch 3, Riverview 1

AT: Riverview

TOP PLAYERS : (LR) Andrew Schroeder 2-3, 2B, run, RBI; Jack Muller 1-3, run; (WP) Lochlan Radloff (7 inns., 3 hits, 1 run-unearned, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts); (RV) Dylan Mcdonald 1-2, run; Andrew Rhymestine 1-2, RBI; (LP) Morgan Peggs (⅓ inn., 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk)

RECORDS: Lakewood Ranch 12-13-1, Riverview 13-14

NEXT: Lakewood Ranch at Venice on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 6A-District 11 semifinals

Palmetto 9, Lennard 3

AT : Palmetto

TOP PLAYERS: (P) Trey Lawrence 2-4, run, RBI, SB; Jackson Moates 1-2, run, BB, SB; K. Love 1-1, 2 runs, SB; Hunter Sisk 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Cameran Banta 1-4, run; Aiden Collins 2-2, HR, run, 2 RBI, BB; Blake Willis 1-3, 2B, run, 2 RBI; (WP) Aiden Collins (4 inns., 5 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Palmetto 14-12, Lennard 13-12

NEXT: Palmetto at Bloomingdale on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 6A-District 11 semifinals

Bloomingdale 4, Manatee 0

AT : Manatee

RECORDS : Bloomingdale 16-9, Manatee 15-11

NEXT : Bloomingdale hosts Palmetto on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the district title

Class 5A-District 9 semifinals

Parrish 11, Freedom 0

AT: Parrish

TOP PLAYERS : (P) Will Rawls 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; M. Plese 1-1, 2B, RBI; Alex Tallo 2-3, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB; Calin Heath 1-2, RBI; Tyler Cripe 2-3, 2 RBI; Jabrien Quiles 1-3, run; Eloy Serrata 1-2, 2 runs, BB; Matthew Thompson 2-2, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Logan Maguire 1-1, 2B, run, RBI; (WP) Wesley Anderson (3 inns., 1 hit, 0 runs, 6 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Parrish 21-6, Freedom 5-21

NEXT: Parrish at Jesuit on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the district title

Class 3A-District 6 semifinals

Calvary Christian 11, Cardinal Mooney 0

AT: Calvary Christian

TOP PLAYERS: (CM) (LP) Mateu Dalmau (⅓ inn., 2 hits, 6 runs-4 earned, 3 walks)

RECORDS : Cardinal Mooney 12-12-1, Calvary Christian 22-4

Class 2A-District 11 semifinals

Imagine School at North Port 5, Sarasota Christian 0

AT: Imagine School

TOP PLAYERS: (IS) (WP) Alexis Pereira (7 inns., 0 runs, 11 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Imagine School 13-9, Sarasota Christian 11-12-1

NEXT : Imagine School hosts Out-of-Door Academy on Thursday for the district title

Class 2A-District 11 semifinals

Out-of-Door Academy 5, Bradenton Christian 0

AT: Out-of-Door

TOP PLAYERS: (BC) Judah Galessiere 2-3; (LP) Landon Henderson (5 inns., 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Out-of-Door 12-10, Bradenton Christian 15-11

NEXT: Out-of-Door at Imagine School at North Port on Thursday for the district title

SOFTBALL

Class 7A-District 8 semifinals

Lakewood Ranch 7, Riverview 3

AT: Riverview

TOP PLAYERS: (LR) Corin Soria 1-4, run; Olivia Shephard 2-3, 2B, 2 runs, BB; Grace Shaw-Rockey 1-3, HR, 3 runs, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB; Jenna May 1-4, 2 RBI; (WP) Lexi Meneely (7 inns., 6 hits, 3 runs-0 earned, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts); (RV) Ella Trandem 1-3, run; Izzy Bain 2-3, HR, run, 3 RBI, BB; Emma Baltzersen 2-3; (LP) Allison Cole (7 inns., 5 hits, 7 runs-6 earned, 8 walks, 12 strikeouts

RECORDS : Lakewood Ranch 5-20, Riverview 16-7

NEXT: Lakewood Ranch at Venice on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 7A-District 8 semifinals

Venice 5, Sarasota 1

AT: Venice

TOP PLAYERS : (V) Raionna Smith 2-3, 3 RBI; Kaylin Smith 1-2, run; Riley Sullivan 0-2, run, RBI; Hailey Conway 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; Molly Sullivan 2-4; (WP) Zoey Lynn (7 inns., 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts); (S) Carley Ramsden 1-3, run; Mady Pint 1-3, RBI; (LP) Gemma Mulhollen (5 inns., 5 hits, 2 runs-1 earned, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Venice 13-10, Sarasota 10-10

NEXT: Venice hosts Lakewood Ranch on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 6A-District 7 semifinals

Palmetto 12, Manatee 2

AT : Palmetto

TOP PLAYERS: (P) Kaitlyn Craft 1-4, run; Kayley Allison 0-2, 2 runs; Makenna Lee 1-4, 2 RBI; Emily Borresen 1-2, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Keleah Peters 2-3, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Desiree Aitken 3-3, 3 runs, 4 RBI; Leilani Cruz 1-4, 2B, run; Joli McElroy 1-2, 2B, RBI; (WP) Desiree Aitken (4 inns., 1 hit, 1 run, 6 strikeouts); (M) Jenna Caldwell 1-3, run, RBI; Baelee Garland 1-2, run, RBI; (LP) Breana Fidler (5 inns., 10 hits, 12 runs-9 earned, 9 walks, 1 strikeout)

RECORDS: Palmetto 13-10, Manatee 12-8

NEXT: Palmetto at Bloomingdale on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 5A-District 10 semifinals

Parrish 20, Freedom 0 (3 inns.)

AT: Parrish

TOP PLAYERS: (P) Alex Call 2-2, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Alyss Jones 2-2, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Carsyn Kull 1-1, 2 runs; Ella Romano 2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Hannah Lewis 1-1, 2 runs, RBI; Jade Kruse 1-2, 2 runs; Kyndal France 2-3, 2B, run, 3 RBI; Mackenzie Pandelo 2-2, 2B, 2 runs, 5 RBI; M. Chapman 1-1, 2B, run, RBI; Rylee Little 1-2, run; S. Thomas 1-1, run, RBI; (WP) Isabella Yazzetti (2 inns., 0 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Parrish 14-8, Freedom 7-10

NEXT: Parrish hosts East Bay on Thursday at 7 p.m. for district title

Class 3A-District 11 semifinals

Clearwater Central Catholic 9, Cardinal Mooney 4

AT : Cardinal Mooney

RECORDS : CCC 9-9, Cardinal Mooney 15-5

Class 2A-District 11 semifinals

Bradenton Christian 8, Saint Stephen’s 1

AT : Bradenton Christian

TOP PLAYERS : (BC) Addison Johnston 3-3, 2 2B, run, 4 RBI; Kaylie Funderburke 1-2, 3B, 2 runs; Kendall Johnston 1-2, 2B, RBI; Sofia Puccia 0-1, run, RBI; (WP) Addison Johnston (7 inns., 3 hits, 1 run, 7 walks, 9 strikeouts); (SS) Shelby White 1-3, 2B; (LP) Rylan Goar (5.1 inns., 4 hits, 5 runs-4 earned, 4 walks, 4 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Bradenton Christian 9-8, Saint Stephen’s 11-6

NEXT: Bradenton Christian at Admiral Farragut on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for district title

FLAG FOOTBALL

Class A Regional Final

Braden River 13, St. Petersburg 7

BRADENTON —Cydnee Brooks and a stout and stingy defense proved to be just enough on Tuesday night to hand Braden River High its first flag football region championship in the school’s history.

The senior quarterback passed for 281 yards and ran for 97 more as the host Pirates (17-1) held off St. Petersburg High, 13-7, in a hard-fought, close game throughout.

In addition to the region crown, the Pirates avenged their lone loss of the season. The Green Devils (13-3) topped Braden River, 19-14, during the regular season in St. Petersburg.

The victory puts Braden River in a Class A state quarterfinal game at Boyton Beach, where the Pirates will face Somerset Academy (17-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. Somerset earned the right to host a state quarterfinal by defeating Jensen Beach, 19-7, in its region final on Tuesday night.

“We studied a lot of film of them,” Braden River head coach Amanda Porco said of the week leading up to the St. Petersburg game. “We saw what their game plans had been. I think our defense was the difference for us this time around.

“They are a scoring machine over there. My hat is off to our defense. They really pulled this one out for us.”

The Green Devils outscored their foes by a margin 433-127 in 2024. The Pirates have currently outscored their opponents, 532-95.

The only touchdown for St. Petersburg came on an 8-yard scramble by senior quarterback Tiana Robinson midway through the second quarter. The St. Petersburg scoring drive got started after an interception by sophomore Mar’quaysha Curry.

Brooks tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to junior Alisson Riveron late in the first period to give Braden River a 6-0 lead.

After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Pirates took the lead for good on their first drive of the second half.

Brooks finished it off with a 27-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Natalie Davis to produce the final score.

Junior Maddison Epperson collected a sack for Braden River and fellow junior Sam Baker intercepted a pass that ended a St. Petersburg scoring threat.

“I think the way we practiced helped,” Epperson said. “Our coaches really knew what to do.

“It’s such an accomplishment to win districts and now regionals. It just feels so good this far with the opportunity to go farther.”

— Jim Brockman

MONDAY

BASEBALL

Class 7A-District 8 quarterfinals

North Port 3, Sarasota 2

SARASOTA - With two out in the bottom of the fourth, the bases filled with Sarasota runners, and the Sailors trailing North Port 3-2, Bobcat head coach Kemo O’Sullivan went to the mound to talk to freshman pitcher Cian Stephens.

“He came out there and just told me to relax and not to stress about anything,” the 15-year-old right-hander said. “I was a little nervous, but I have confidence in myself.”

It’s cruelly appropriate that Stephens got Sarasota’s Ricky Morales to fly out to right to end the inning. All season long, the Sailors failed to come through with the clutch hit. It was much of the same on Monday night in a Class 7A-District 8 baseball quarterfinal at Ronald K. Drews Field.

Sarasota pitchers limited North Port to seven hits and three runs, but even that proved insurmountable. The game ended with three Sailors striking out with a runner on first base in a 3-2 Sarasota loss which capped, recordwise, the worst season in the program’s illustrious history. Meanwhile, the win allowed North Port to become fodder for top-seed Venice in Tuesday’s semifinal round.

Sarasota finished with a mark of 9-17, losing eight of its last 10 games. You have to go back to 2001, when the Sailors finished 15-16, for the Sailors’ last losing season. They went 23-23 in 1979, and 10-13 in 1971. But since 1957, those were the program’s two worst seasons.

Until this one. It will be remembered as the campaign the Sailors took bats to the plate for no apparent reason. Of Sarasota’s 17 losses, eight were by shutout. The team hit .212, hit one home run, and averaged 2.8 runs a game.

It made every Sarasota pitcher have to be a perfectionist. “Trailing,” Sarasota head coach Greg Mulhollen said, “and our pitchers have to make good pitches for seven innings, with no room for error.”

Monday night, Sarasota collected just four hits. Senior Michael Bendever, who fanned to end the game, collected two hits. His RBI double plated Johnny Lackaff, who had singled, to cut into North Port’s early lead. A single by Bobcat Joshua Doerrfeld knocked in one run, but a solo homer by the senior put North Port up 3-2.

After escaping the fourth inning unscathed, Stephens retired the Sailors in order in the fifth and sixth. But when he reached his pitch count of 95, O’Sullivan turned to the left-handed Doerrfeld to close it out.

“He’s finished games before,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s the No. 2, but you don’t save him for (Tuesday) because we had to win this game first to get to (Tuesday), and we’ll worry about that later on.”

Meanwhile, after the game, the Sailor side of the field resembled what it was: the end of a bitterly disappointing season.

“We’re Sarasota High School,” Mulhollen said. “We don’t like to say rebuild. We like to reload every year, but at the end of the day, we just had offensive struggles all season long. Struggling at the plate all year. Waiting for it to happen, that big hit.”

- Doug Fernandes

Class 7A-District 8 quarterfinals

Riverview 14, Lehigh 1

AT: Riverview

TOP PLAYERS : (RV) Keen Newcomb 1-3, run, RBI; Gavin Aguirre 0-0, 3 runs; Caiden Cabral 1-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI; Robin Vergara 2-2, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Cooper Backman 1-3, 2 runs, RBI; Andrew Rhymestine 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI; (WP) Will St. Onge (3 inns., 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Riverview 13-13, Lehigh 11-14

NEXT : Riverview at Lakewood Ranch on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 7A-District 8 semifinal.

Class 5A-District 9 quarterfinals

Parrish 13, Brandon 3

AT : Parrish

TOP PLAYERS : (P) Will Rawls 3-3, 3B, 2B, 2 runs; Alex Tallo 0-1, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 SB; Calin Heath 1-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI, SB; Tyler Cripe 1-2, 2 runs, BB, SB; Jabrien Quiles 1-2, run, 3 RBI; Matthew Thompson 1-3, run, RBI; Logan Maguire 1-2, run; (WP) Vincent Barry (2 inns., 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Parrish 19-6, Brandon 2-21

NEXT : Parish hosts Freedom on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 5A-District 9 semifinal

Class 5A-District 9 quarterfinals

Freedom 7, Braden River 6

AT: Braden River

TOP PLAYERS: (BR) Uriel Barrios 2-3, run, RBI; Matt Schefer 3-3, 2 RBI; Kyle Vaughn 1-3, 2 runs; Nick Curbelo 2-4, run; (LP) Nicholas Beatrice (2.1 inns., 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 strikeout)

RECORDS : Braden River 13-13, Freedom 5-20

NEXT: Freedom at Parrish on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 5A-District 9 semifinal

Class 5A-District 9 quarterfinals

Spoto 3, Southeast 2

AT: Spoto

TOP PLAYERS : (SE) Carsyn Patterson 1-3, run; Franklyn Rosa 1-3, run; Evan Carr 2-4, RBI; Roy Rodriquez 2-3, RBI; (LP) Adrian Beltran (5.1 inns., 2 hits, 3 runs-0 earned, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Southeast 8-13, Spoto 7-18

NEXT: Spoto at Jesuit on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Doubles - Johnson/Carpenter (A) d. Zautcke/Shirley (LB) 5-4 (7-5), 4-0; Lowder/Padrino (LB) d. Carr/Ward (A) 5-3, 1-4, 13-11

Class 4A-District 11 quarterfinals

Boca Ciega 10, Booker 0

AT: Boca Ciega

RECORDS : Boca Ciega 7-19, Booker 2-15

NEXT: Boca Ciega plays at Tarpon Springs on Tuesday, TBD

Class 2A-District 11 quarterfinals

Sarasota Christian 5, Saint Stephen's 0

AT: Sarasota Christian

TOP PLAYERS: (SC) Justin Brock 2-4, 2 runs, SB; Alex Hefti 3-4, 2 runs, RBI, 3 SB; Evan Poznanski 3-4, 2B, 4 RBI; (WP) Justin Brock (7 inns., 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts); (SS) (LP) Jake Seubert (5.1 inns., 5 hits, 3 runs, 7 walks, 3 strikeouts)

RECORDS : Sarasota Christian 11-10-1, Saint Stephen's 4-13

NEXT: Sarasota Christian plays at Imagine School at North Port on Tuesday at TBD in a Class 2A-District 11 semifinal

Class 2A-District 11 quarterfinals

Bradenton Christian 14, Gulf Coast HEAT 1

AT : Bradenton Christian

TOP PLAYERFS: (BC) Connor Henderson 1-2, 2 runs; Brett Balais 3-3, 2 runs, RBI; Reid Price 1-3, run, RBI; Judah Galessiere 1-3, run; Jeremy Worley 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Landon Henderson 1-3, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; Dominic Defrank 2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI; (WP) Jeremy Worley (5 inns., 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 7 st4rikeouts)

RECORDS : Bradenton Christian 15-10, Gulf Coast HEAT 1-13

NEXT : Bradenton Christian at Out-of-Door Academy, Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Class 2A-District 11 semifinal

Class 3A-District 6 quarterfinals

Cardinal Mooney 3, Lakewood 2

AT : Cardinal Mooney

RECORDS: Cardinal Mooney 12-11-1, Lakewood 4-17

NEXT : Cardinal Mooney plays at Calvary Christian on Tuesday at TBD in a Class 3A-District 6 semifinal

SOFTBALL

Class 7A-District 8 quarterfinals

Lakewood Ranch 10, North Port 0

AT : Lakewood Ranch

TOP PLAYERS : (LR) Peyton Burdick 1-4, 2B, RBI, SB; Grace Shaw-Rockey 1-2, 2 runs, 2 BB, 2 SB; Leah James 1-4, 2 runs, RBI; Lexi Meneely 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB; Jenna May 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; Kendal McCoy 3-3, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Erin Hogan 1-1, 2 RBI, BB; (WP) Lexi Meneely (6 inns., 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts); (NP) Cailinne Kelly 1-2, BB; (LP) Konstantine Belgrade (3.1 inns., 7 hits, 8 runs-5 earned, 3 walks)

RECORDS: Lakewood Ranch 4-20, North Port 6-19

NEXT: Lakewood Ranch at Riverview on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Class 5A-District 10

Freedom 26, Southeast 16

AT: Freedom

TOP PLAYERS: (SE) Nia Civil 2-4, 2B, 3 runs, RBI; La'Juria Thomas 2-2, run; Aleny Familia-Linares 1-4, 2B, run, 2 RBI; Alicia Martinez 1-2, run, RBI; Madison Palso 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Alivia Newland 3-4, 2B, 3 runs, 5 RBI; Bella Blohm 4-4, run, 2 RBI; Reina Mendoza 1-3, 2 runs; Jocelyn Diaz 3-4, 3B, 2 runs; (LP) Jocelyn Diaz (5.1 inns., 21 hits, 22 runs, 7 walks, 5 strikeouts)

RECORDS: Freedom 7-9, Southeast 1-19

NEXT: Freedom at Parrish on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 5A-District 10 semifinal

Class 4A-District 11 quarterfinals

DeSoto County 7, Booker 0 (FF)

AT: DeSoto County

RECORDS: DeSoto County 11-8, Booker 6-8

NEXT : DeSoto plays at Lemon Bay on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 4A-District 11 semifinal

Class 4A-District 11 quarterfinals

Port Charlotte 15, Bayshore 0

AT: Bayshore

RECORDS : Bayshore 6-10, Port Charlotte 6-17

NEXT : Port Charlotte at Hardee on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Class 2A-District 11 quarterfinals

Shorecrest Prep 12, Sarasota Christian 0

AT: Shorecrest Prep

RECORDS : Sarasota Christian 7-11, Shorecrest Prep 5-10

NEXT : Shorecrest Prep at Admiral Farragut on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Class 2A-District 11 quarterfinals

Saint Stephen's 22, St. Petersburg Catholic 21

AT: Saint Stephen's

TOP PLAYERS (SS) Rylan Goar 0-1, 3 runs, RBI; Abbie Eanet 3-4, 3 runs, RBI; Barclay Warfield 2-4, run, 2 RBI; Haley Munson 0-2, run, 2 RBI; Emerson Olejniczak 0-2, 3 runs; Jessica Serrano 0-0, 2 runs; Shelby White 2-3, 3 runs, RBI; Hanna Winters 1-4, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Roz Boggs 1-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI; Alcie Despard 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; (WP) Rylan Goar (7 inns., 28 hits, 21 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts).

RECORDS: Saint Stephen's 11-5, St. Petersburg Catholic 3-16

NEXT : Saint Stephen's at Bradenton Christian on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a Class 2A-District 11 semifinal

GIRLS TENNIS

Class 2A quarterfinals

Academy of the Holy Names 4, Lemon Bay 2

AT: Orlando

TOP PLAYERS : Singles - Sophia Johnson (A) d. Parker Zautcke (LB) 6-0, 6-0; Ashleigh Carpenter (A) d. Avery Shirley (LB) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4); Caroline Carr (A) d. Rosey Lowder (LB) 6-2, 2-6, 10-6; Sihara Padrino (LB) d. Carolina Ward (A) 6-2, 7-5; Emma Hodgdon (A) d. Mekenzie DeLong (LB) 6-3, 6-3

RECORDS : Lemon Bay 15-2, Academy of the Holy Names 10-2

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Prep roundup: See which local teams captured district baseball and softball titles Thursday