SIDELINES

+ Riley-Hawkins wins Memorial Tournament
Lakewood Ranch High senior Blake Riley-Hawkins won the 132-pound weight class to lead the Mustangs to a fourth-place finish at the Jerry Mita Memorial Tournament Dec. 7 and
Dec. 8, at Pinellas Park High.

Other top finishers for the Mustangs include:
• Freshman Cameron Koehler
(second place, 220)
• Junior Ty McLeod (third place, 160)
• Senior Bailey Sever (third place, 170)
• Freshman Dylan Cameron (fourth place, 126)
• Junior Robert Collier (fifth place, 120)
• Cole Kasten, Jared Dipsiner and Luis Tremblay-Vial also contributed to Lakewood’s point total.

+ Cardinal Mooney tames Braden River with victory
The Cardinal Mooney High boys basketball team remained unbeaten with a 67-50 victory over previously unbeaten Braden River Dec. 10.

Antonio Blakeney had 28 points, 10 rebounds and three steals to lead the way for the Cougars. Ryan McMahon had 10 points. Justin Najmy had eight assists and Parker Del Medico added seven points and six steals.

Zechariah Kendall led the Pirates with 16 points. Trevon Young added 14 points and 14 rebounds and Terrance Cummings had 12 points.

+ Lady Pirates ride six-game streak
The Braden River High girls soccer team won its sixth consecutive game with a 2-0 shutout of Port Charlotte in district action Dec. 10.

Kayla Gray and Elizabeth Shirey both scored for the Lady Pirates. Carly Provan and Gray both notched assists.

+ Lady Mustangs draw even with Lady Indians
The Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team tied Venice 2-2 in a district game Dec. 10.

Chelsea Martin and Tyler Gordon both scored goals for the Lady Mustangs and Angelica Rego notched an assist.

+ Mustangs boys soccer blanks Venice Indians
Jaison Castillo scored a pair of goals as the Lakewood Ranch High boys soccer team defeated Venice 5-0 in district action Dec. 10.

Ben Wilson, Justin Bugbee and Felipe each added a goal. Wilson, Bugbee and Jake Dube were each credited with an assist.

+ Hammer Tree wins division championship
The Miss Manatee Softball Hammer Tree Care team won the 12U division championship Dec. 8.

The girls played a double-header, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning to win the tournament 9-6.
Championship players include: Abigail Tran, Ivy Turner, Courtney Bradley, Maria Arce, Hallie Bell, Audrey Bennett, Emily Roman, Kallie Clarke, Jordan Swafford and Aiyana Wix.

Other MMS tournament champions include: Vogel Construction (8U), Lakewood Ranch Dental (10U) and Ball & Shoe Sports Center (13+).

+ Manatee football season comes to a shocking close
The top-ranked Manatee High football team saw its season come to an unexpected close with a stunning 35-18 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 7A state semifinals Dec. 7.

With the loss, the Hurricanes 25-game winning streak came to a close, crushing their hopes of defending their state title.

Manatee quarterback Cord Sandberg, who played his final game in a Hurricanes uniform, threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and freshman Johnnie Lang ran in for a score and caught a two-point conversion.

The Hurricanes’ defense, which held opponents to a touchdown or less in seven games this season,including three shutouts allowed 300 yards and five touchdowns.

+ Extra Innings baseball clinic coming up
Extra Innings Sarasota will host its third annual Holiday Baseball Clinic Dec. 26 to Dec. 28 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 4.

The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, at the facility, located at 717 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.

Current and former local professional baseball players Jason Miller, Troy Mattes, Joe Terdoslavich, Scooter Gennett and James Houser will run the clinic, which will focus on hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching, base running and the proper mental approach to the game.

The cost for the first week is $79 for members and $99 for nonmembers and the cost of the second week is $99 for members and $129 for nonmembers.

For more information and to register, call 371-7801 or visit extrainnings.com.

+ Extra Innings Sarasota to host Advanced Catching Clinic
Extra Innings Sarasota will host its first Advanced Catching Clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 2 to Jan. 4.

The clinic, which is open to children ages 11 and up, will be conducted by Joe Ayrault, former Atlanta Braves catcher and current manager of the Vero Beach Brewers, and Joe Depastino, catching coordinator for the Detroit Tigers.

Video instruction will be utilized to demonstrate proper catching form and mechanics. Instructional focus will include, proper footwork, use of hands, blocking, framing, pitch selection, holding runners and throwing mechanics, among other techniques.

The clinic, which costs $200, will be limited to the first 12 registered participants. For more information and to register call 371-7801.