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East County | Sports

Ian Desmond hit 181 home runs in his Major League career.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 19, 2025
Former Major Leaguer relishes high school coaching gig

Ian Desmond brings an All-Star resume to his new job as Lakewood Ranch High School’s baseball coach. The father of five also brings some core values to the gig, like work ethic and a family-first ethos.

  • East County
  • Sports
Bruce Cassidy says The Concession is a “second-shot course,” where reaching the green in less than three strokes is key.
    By
  • Eric Snider
  • August 18, 2025
The Concession hunts for its first Major

Sarasota and Manatee county tourism leaders are joining forces with a top-tier golf course in the region for a dream-big goal: land one of the sport's four major title events.

  • East County
  • Sports
New ODA quarterback Eduoard Chaput hopes to win a state championship and earn a college scholarship in his senior season this fall.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 13, 2025
New ODA quarterback makes bold move

Edouard Chaput moved from Quebec to Bradenton with the hope of improving his chances to earn a football scholarship.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch volleyball seniors Julia Vendramini, Kora Yanes and Ava Collins are aiming for a district title in their final season together.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 12, 2025
Senior-led Mustangs volleyball team expects to vie for regional title

It's now or never for Lakewood Ranch High's top senior players in the 2025 season.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch setter Julia Vendramini is embracing the expectations of being a senior leader this fall.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 11, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Julia Vendramini

The Lakewood Ranch volleyball player has become a key player for the Mustangs.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch football coach Scott Paravicini is aiming to lead the Mustangs to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 14 years.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 6, 2025
Rivalries among top East County fall sports events

A pair of key volleyball matches is on the schedule in August.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch High golfer Emily Storm wants to make one last run at the state championships this fall as a senior.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 6, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Emily Storm

The Lakewood Ranch High golfer has committed to play for Austin Peay.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch returns just one player on offense who scored a touchdown last year after losing several playmakers via transfer this offseason.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • August 5, 2025
Transfers have reshaped East County football teams

Lakewood Ranch High was hit hard with the loss of seven talented transfers.

  • East County
  • Sports
Samuel Jackson played in the United Football League with the Houston Roughnecks this spring.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 30, 2025
Jets sign former Lakewood Ranch High offensive lineman Samuel Jackson

There's more to the former Mustangs star than a familiar name.

  • East County
  • Sports
The Braden River football team is excited to make people forget about last year's two-win campaign.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 29, 2025
10 high school football players to watch in east Manatee County

ODA senior running back Allen Clark tops the "players to watch" list.

  • East County
  • Sports
Steve Stricker is likely to be one of the favorites at the 2026 Senior PGA Championship in April at the Concession.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 25, 2025
A perfect match for the PGA of America?

Lakewood Ranch-area businesses needed to help service the 2026 Senior PGA Championship at the Concession.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch rising senior Jake O'Neal won the most valuable player award of a Perfect Game tournament earlier this summer.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 24, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Jake O'Neal

The Lakewood Ranch rising senior has had a standout summer on the diamond.

  • East County
  • Sports
Behind-the-scenes coach connects ODA football players with college opportunities
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 23, 2025
Behind-the-scenes coach connects ODA football players with college opportunities

Josh Medeiros is dedicated to helping the Thunder players find a place to play at the next level.

  • East County
  • Sports
Paradise players Owen Barnett, Andres Freire and Jeffrey White helped lead the team to a division championship this season, but might not return in 2026.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 22, 2025
Sarasota Paradise ends amateur era with playoff loss

The soon-to-be professional soccer club will have a new look in 2026.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota softball dog-piled in the pitcher's circle after securing the final out against Riverview Sumner on May 15.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • July 18, 2025
Female athletes at the prep level have more opportunities than ever

Sarasota and Manatee county schools continue to work on evening the playing field.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
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Latest in East County

1
Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair
3
Greenbrook's David, Hannah and Jaime Marco all had a part in creating Jaime Marco's new book “Unfunkt: Quiet the Noise. Ignite the Light.”
  • December 12, 2025
Readers can shed the funk with Lakewood Ranch author's 'Unfunkt'
4
SMR's new coffee table book, "Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land" is available locally and on Amazon.
  • December 10, 2025
'Lakewood Ranch — A Legacy of Living with the Land' is a fun history lesson
5
Carrie Walden, the Project Edge classroom instructor, is teaching 10 students including Mia Pardella and Justin Torres in the Project Edge program at MTC East.
  • December 10, 2025
MTC program teaches students with disabilities skills to enter workforce

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