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East County | Sports

Former MLB player Ian Desmond was hired to coach the Lakewood Ranch High baseball team on May 21.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 27, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High adds major-league experience with baseball coach

Ian Desmond, a Sarasota native, is embracing a new chapter with the Mustangs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River rising senior Nick Cinelli made an impact on both sides of the ball in the Pirates' spring game with a touchdown and two interceptions.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 26, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Nick Cinelli

Cinelli had eight receptions, a touchdown and two interceptions for Braden River.

  • East County
  • Sports
Ian Desmond, a Sarasota High graduate, was selected in the third round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 21, 2025
Lakewood Ranch hires former MLB player Ian Desmond as its baseball coach

Desmond will take over a Mustangs team that went 6-18 in 2025.

  • East County
  • Sports
The view of the first hole from behind the fairway bunkers at The Concession.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • May 21, 2025
The Concession lands Senior PGA Championship for 3 years, starting in 2026

The Lakewood Ranch course has played host to previous high-profile events.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River is in a better spot this spring following a year of coach and player turnover.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 21, 2025
Braden River football hopes to become a winning program in 2025

The Pirates are owning a bounce-back mentality coming off a 2-7 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Pirates senior Nick Curbelo celebrates scoring the first run of a 9-3 win over Manatee on a triple by senior Camden Pope in a regional semifinal game on May 1 at Braden River High School.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 20, 2025
Braden River's baseball run one of top stories of year in East County

Record-breaking runs, championships and breakthroughs make this spring special.

  • East County
  • Sports
Out-of-Door Academy freshman Michael Garzia (No. 0) ran for over 100 yards, scored a touchdown and made an interception in the a 19-14 win over The Master's Academy on May 15.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 19, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Michael Garzia

Out-of-Door Academy freshman had a breakout performance in spring game win.

  • East County
  • Sports
Back: Victor Van Den Broek, Sarasota Paradise CEO Marcus Walfridson, Enzo Panozzo; Front: Mathis Leveque and Angel Velasquez of the Sarasota Paradise.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • May 15, 2025
Sarasota Paradise brings a whole new level of soccer to Lakewood Ranch

A dogged Swedish soccer player-turned-coach-turned-team owner is determined to push through on an ambitious goal: to sustain professional soccer in the region.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch graduate Parker Severs won a six-man playoff at Waterlefe Golf & River Club on May 8 to advance to the final round of qualifying for the 125th U.S. Open.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 14, 2025
Lakewood Ranch graduate advances to US Open final qualifier

Parker Severs won a six-man playoff at Waterlefe Golf & River Club.

  • East County
  • Sports
Out-of-Door Academy junior Kevin Gyurka placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run and eighth in the 3,200-meter run at the 1A state championships on May 10.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 13, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Kevin Gyurka

The ODA junior placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run at the 1A state championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch football has several returning players who are champing at the bit for their first playoff win.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 13, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High football hopes to turn the corner

A senior-laden Mustangs team is hungry for its first playoff win in 23 years.

  • East County
  • Sports
Pirates senior Nick Curbelo celebrates scoring the first run of a 9-3 win over Manatee on a triple by senior Camden Pope in a regional semifinal game on May 1 at Braden River High School.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 7, 2025
Braden River baseball's playoff run is no accident

A senior-laden Pirates team is playing as if every game is its last.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch sophomore Liam St. John set the school record for the longest javelin throw (53.36 meters) at the 4A Region-3 meet on May 3.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 6, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Liam St. John

Lakewood Ranch sophomore sets the school record for longest javelin throw at regional meet.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Out-of-Door Academy football team has made a habit out of setting high expectations just four years removed from not having enough players to finish a season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • May 6, 2025
Out-of-Door Academy football readies for 'best season'

The Thunder are armed with seasoned seniors and promising underclassmen.

  • East County
  • Sports
Camden Tippett, 12, lays out to tackle a tackling wheel during a drill at a Nextlevelz clinic in Lakewood Ranch on April 26.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 30, 2025
Nextlevelz tackles football concerns with local clinic

The developmental program teaches 100 youth football players how to tackle.

  • East County
  • Sports
« 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 »
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Latest in East County

1
Rangeland High School, previously referred to as AAA High School, is being built near Premiere Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch and is set to open to freshmen and sophomores in August 2027.
  • May 1, 2026
New school in Lakewood Ranch is officially named Rangeland High School
2
Supervisor of Elections Scott Farrington stands next to one of the new voting machines.
  • April 30, 2026
Elections forge ahead with revamped Supervisor of Elections office
3
Hurricane Milton at 8:05 p.m. Oct. 9, 2024.
  • April 29, 2026
Climate Adaptation Center predicts fewer storms this hurricane season
4
Skyler Betts is the CEO of All 4 the Members, a nonprofit that serves residents, 65 and older, living in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
  • April 29, 2026
Nonprofit supports seniors and caregivers in Sarasota, Manatee counties
5
Elisa Massaro, a senior and battalion commander of the Lakewood Ranch High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, is glad to have had the support of her teachers Richard Roller and William Cassidy.
  • April 29, 2026
Lakewood Ranch High JROTC program loses longtime leaders

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