YEAR IN SPORTS: A Look Back

The year 2011 was one of the most eventful in recent history for East County sports. In the past 12 months, we’ve celebrated local teams capturing district, regional and state championships. We’ve seen our talented athletes and teams make school history. And we’ve watched them overcome unexpected coaching changes.

As the East County Observer closes another year, we celebrate your accomplishments with our Year in Sports 2011. Here, you will find this year’s Top Five Moments and Top Five Teams in East County sports.

With so many talented athletes, it was a joy to be a part of the East County sports community in 2011, and we absolutely cannot wait to cover what you have in store for us in 2012.

MOMENTS OF 2011

1. ‘Spider Legs’
What began as a way to stay in shape for soccer season has become a passion for Lakewood Ranch High junior Olivia Ortiz. Coming off a campaign in which she set a new school record and won individual Manatee County and district cross-country titles, “Spider Legs” or “Olive” — as she’s known by her teammates — had a breakout season in 2011.

After winning county and district titles for the second-consecutive season, Ortiz, who only lost two races all season, added regional and state titles to her resume. On Nov. 19, Ortiz captured the Class 3A individual state championship at Little Everglades Steeplechase Ranch in Dade City, crossing the finish line in 17:39 — nearly 10 seconds faster than the state runner-up.

2. Clutch Hit
The Braden River High softball team is accustomed to playing doubleheaders — just not in the postseason.

Until this past season.

On May 3, what was supposed to be a standard seven-inning Class 4A-Region 3 final contest turned into a grueling 11-inning battle. Braden River sophomore ace Courtney Mirabella pitched a complete game striking out a school record 21 batters, but it wasn’t until the top of the 11th inning that the Lady Pirates bats finally came alive. Jessica Cadorette hit a double, and Brianna Maxa notched a triple to drive in the lone run of the game, as the visiting Lady Pirates defeated Barron Collier 2-1 to advance to the state semifinals.

3. Last-Second Shot
With 13 seconds left in regulation of the Class 4A-District 10 championship Feb. 11, Braden River junior point guard Steven Ross hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime. In overtime, Braden River’s Tommy Bernhardt hit a jump shot, and Eric Foster banked in a layup with 39 seconds left on the clock, and the host Pirates defeated Lakewood Ranch 38-37 for the school’s first district title in school history.

4. Near Upset
The Lakewood Ranch High football team had been regarded as the postseason’s biggest underdog well before it even set foot on the field in the Class 6A-Region 2 quarterfinals Nov. 18.

The Mustangs were facing an Armwood team that ranked second in the nation and boasted a perfect 10-0 record. But in the postseason, records and rankings are erased, and anything is possible.

And the Mustangs — who nearly pulled off the season’s biggest upset — proved just that.

Trailing 28-3 early in the third quarter, the Mustangs scored 28 unanswered points on touchdown passes from Jeren Kowalewski to Lennie Twenty and Brandon King and touchdown runs by Kowawlewski and McKenzie Hathaway, giving Lakewood a 31-28 lead with 3:10 remaining in the game and leaving Armwood trailing for the first time all season.

Armwood went on to score on the first play of its ensuing possession, but the Mustangs proved that with enough heart and determination an underdog could just as easily become the season’s top dog — even if it’s only for a few seconds.

5. Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch opens
With 22 regulation-size soccer fields, the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch drew national attention at the end of 2011.

In April, the Premier Sports Campus, home to the Clearwater Chargers and the Manasota Lacrosse Club, officially opened with the Florida Youth Soccer Association tournament, which drew 64 teams from across the state.

Since then, the Premier Sports Campus has brought thousands of youth and professional athletes to the area, generating millions of dollars for Lakewood Ranch and the surrounding East County community. In the past eight months, the Premier Sports Campus has hosted a variety of youth soccer and lacrosse tournaments and clinics, including 3d Blue Chip national recruiting camp, the Manatee County Cross Country Championships and the Nike Cup Labor Day Showcase, among numerous others.

Most recently, the Premier Sports Campus played host to the Nike International Friendlies where the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team defeated Brazil 3-1 Dec. 4, to win its first International Friendlies title.

Honorable Mention
• In addition to winning a team state championship in boys golf and a handful of individual state championships in 2001, Lakewood Ranch also added another important championship to its list of accolades — academic state champion. The Mustangs finished first in the state in Class 4A for academics.

• The Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team battles the elements to win the program’s first state championship.

• Out-of-Door Academy sophomore Caroline Dailey captures her third-consecutive No. 1 singles state title.

• Tampa Jesuit’s Max Beerman hits a walk-off grand slam to deep center field to power the Tigers to a 9-7 victory over Lakewood Ranch in the Class 4A-Region semifinals.

TEAMS OF 2011

1. Lakewood Ranch Boys Golf
Led by four-year starters Connor Baldwin and Kyle Benson, sophomore standouts Danny Walker and Ramsey Touchberry, newcomer Hunter Sagar and sixth man Dylan Hogan, the Lakewood Ranch High boys golf team put together its best season in school history.

The Mustangs, who once again captured county, district and regional titles in a single season, captured the Class 2A state championship Nov. 1-2, at Mission Inn Resort & Club’s El Campeon Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, capping off a perfect 103-0 season. Lakewood shot a combined 621 to finish one stroke ahead of defending state champion Spruce Creek and became the first public high school in Manatee County to win a state championship in boys golf.

2. Braden River Softball
After falling to rival Lakewood Ranch in the Class 4A-District 10 championship, the Braden River High softball team hit the road for the postseason — and what a ride it was.

After defeating Strawberry Crest in the Class 4A-Region 3 quarterfinals, the Lady Pirates avenged their district championship loss with a 6-4 victory over their East County rivals in the regional semifinals. Behind the arm of sophomore ace Courtney Mirabella, Braden River went on to defeat Barron Collier 1-0 in an 11-inning battle in the regional finals and earn a spot in the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Braden River’s miracle season came to a close in the state semifinals May 9, as the Lady Pirates fell one run short of playing for a state title with a 2-1 loss to St. Cloud Harmony.

3. Lakewood Volleyball
With a blank championship banner staring them in the face every day in practice, the Lady Mustangs looked to etch their names into the Lakewood Ranch record books.

And they were able to do just that.

Led by seniors Shelby Walker and Quillan Toler and junior standout Mariah Robertson, Lakewood put together its best season in school history, capturing the program’s first district title with a 3-1 victory over Seminole Osceola and earning a spot in the postseason for the first time.

The Lady Mustangs hosted a pair of regional tournament games before eventually falling to Tarpon Springs 3-0 in the Class 6A-Region 3 finals.

4. Lakewood Ranch High Boys Soccer
After watching its female counterpart advance to the state semifinals the season before, the Lakewood Ranch boys soccer team put together its own historic season in 2011. The Mustangs put together their first 20-win season and earned a spot in the postseason as the Class 4A-District 10 runner-up.

The team hit the road and went on to defeat Tampa Jesuit 3-2 in the regional quarterfinals and George Steinbrenner 1-0 in the regional semifinals. Jake Severson, the smallest player on the Mustangs roster, headed the ball in for the game-winning score to send Lakewood into the regional finals for the first time in school history.

Led by senior Marco Padilla, the Mustangs returned home to face Cape Coral in the regional finals. But after Padilla tied the game 1-1 to close out the first half, the Mustangs were unable to find the back of the net. Lakewood watched its dream season come to end, as the visiting Seahawks scored game-winning goal in overtime.

5. East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget Football
The East Manatee Bulldogs Junior Midget football team put together the league’s best season since 2005 when the Bulldogs won the Pop Warner Super Bowl.

Behind the arm of quarterback Nate Strawderman, who threw for more than 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns, and the legs of fullback Kyle Thoma, who scored 18 touchdowns while also handling the kicking duties for the Bulldogs, the Bulldogs finished the regular season with a nearly perfect 8-1 record and won the FYD South division title with a 32-16 victory the Manatee Wildcats Oct. 15.

The Bulldogs went on to defeat the Palm Harbour Panthers 24-13 Oct. 29 before seeing their season come to a close in the FYD conference championship game. 

Honorable Mention
Braden River Boys Basketball
Lakewood Ranch High Boys Tennis
Lakewood Ranch High Swimming
Lakewood Ranch High Girls Soccer
Lakewood Ranch High Baseball
Lakewood Ranch High Softball
Lakewood Ranch High Football
Lakewood Ranch Girls Basketball
The Out-of-Door Academy Girls Basketball
The Out-of-Door Academy Baseball