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East County | Sports

Jose Fernandez Valdes watches his tee shot on No. 14 at Lakewood National Thursday. He shot 2-under 69 and is tied for the tournament lead through two rounds.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 18, 2025
Leaderboard tightens on cut day at LECOM Suncoast Classic

Jose Fernandez Valdes and Michael Johnson are tied for the lead at 12-under-par.

  • East County
  • Sports
Spencer Levin watches as his ball rolls toward the pin on the par-3 No. 15 at Lakewood National. Levin shot 75.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 17, 2025
Low scores dominate in first round of the LECOM Suncoast Classic

Jorge Fernandez Valdez leads the Korn Ferry Tour event with a 61.

  • East County
  • Sports
Derek Robinson beat out Jonathan Leatt by .02 seconds in the 1,600-meter run in the Manatee County Championships on April 10 at Manatee High School.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 16, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High runners' rivalry fuels success

Derek Robinson and Jonathan Leatt push each other to faster times.

  • East County
  • Sports
Shelley Stone (center) accepts her ODA Athletics Hall of Fame award alongside Head of School Debra Otey and current Athletic Director Andres Parra on April 10.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 16, 2025
The Out-of-Door Academy honors its first Hall of Fame class

Former Athletic Director Shelley Stone helped lead ODA to early success in sports.

  • East County
  • Sports
Braden River senior Anthony Dela Cruz placed sixth in the olympic-style lift and eighth in the traditional-style lift in the 119-pound weight class at the 2A boys weightlifting state championships at RP Funding Center in Lakeland on April 11.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 16, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Anthony Dela Cruz

The Braden River senior placed in traditional and olympic lifts at the 2A state championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
A crowd gathers on the No. 18 hole at Lakewood National Golf Club to watch 15-year-old junior golfer Miles Russell play in the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic on April 21. Russell finished tied for 20th at 14 under par.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 9, 2025
A golf fan's guide to watching the LECOM Suncoast Classic

Lakewood National offers some challenging shots to Korn Ferry players.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch senior Savannah Adams placed first in the 800-meter run, first as part of the 4x800 relay team and third as part of the 4x400 relay team on April 3 at the Wally Keller Invite.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 8, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Savannah Adams

Lakewood Ranch senior placed first in two track events at the Wally Keller Invite.

  • East County
  • Sports
Andrew Jensen is the fourth head coach of Lakewood Ranch softball in the past four seasons.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 8, 2025
Lakewood Ranch softball team chases a return to its glory days

The Mustangs struggled after losing Coach T.J. Goelz but are showing signs of contending again.

  • East County
  • Sports
Tim Widing gives the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy a kiss. Widing won the tournament in a two-hole playoff against Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 2, 2025
LECOM Suncoast Classic wins have led to mixed PGA Tour results

Byeong Hun An, the 2022 winner, has earned $19,967,667 competing on the PGA Tour.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch freshman Bella Toscano has helped the Mustangs win four straight games to climb back to a .500 record.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 1, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Bella Toscano

Lakewood Ranch freshman has led Mustangs to a four-game win streak.

  • East County
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch sophomore Gigi Canali has scored a team-leading 48 goals in a breakout season.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • April 1, 2025
Lakewood Ranch girls lacrosse players have a secret weapon

The Mustangs are hunting for their first regional playoff appearance.

  • East County
  • Sports
Nine-year-old Joey Wolf, a member at Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club, has qualified for the national finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • March 26, 2025
9-year-old Lakewood Ranch golfer to compete at Augusta

Joey Wolf has qualified for the national finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition.

  • East County
  • Sports
Denzel Diaz has a 1.88 earned-run average across 18 2/3 innings for Braden River.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • March 25, 2025
East County Athlete of the Week: Denzel Diaz

Denzel Diaz allowed one unearned run over six innings against The Out-of-Door Academy.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota Paradise player Nico Colacci runs toward the home crowd to celebrate after scoring a goal to tie Naples at 1-1 in the 87th minute on March 18 at Premier Sports Campus.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • March 24, 2025
Sarasota Paradise draw 2,200 fans in debut at Premier Sports Complex

The fans packed the Lakewood Ranch stadium to support the local semi-professional soccer club.

  • East County
  • Sports
O'Mariah Gordon celebrates a career-high 34-point performance to help Florida State beat the University of Miami on Feb. 16.
    By
  • Vinnie Portell
  • March 19, 2025
O'Mariah Gordon ready for final March Madness test with FSU

The former Braden River High star has been a key to the Seminoles being the second-highest scoring team in the nation.

  • East County
  • Sports
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1
Santa greets visitors from the window of 9605 Governor's Club Place in The River Club.
  • December 20, 2025
Christmas decorating isn't just for kids
2
The Family Church caroling crew from left to right is Melody Johnson, Laurie Houston, Nancy Pilato, Pastor Phil Derstine and Terrial Robinson.
  • December 20, 2025
East Manatee church members will go through bars to spread Christmas joy
3
Charlie Shachat, a co-founder of the Foolishly Festive Christmas Parade, decided to be part of the show for the "Jaws" 50th anniversary.
  • December 19, 2025
Esplanade continues tradition of being 'foolishly festive' for parade
4
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
  • December 18, 2025
Citrus County woman held in shooting death of Manatee man
5
Capri Finan, 7, Madelyn Finan, 9 and Maverick Finan, 3, pose with Santa after telling him what they want for Christmas, which includes a doll house and a trampoline.
  • December 18, 2025
Braden River High transforms into Winter Wonderland

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