SIDELINES

+ Lady Thunder win district season opener
The Out-of-Door Academy volleyball team opened its district season with a 25-8, 25-14, 29-27 victory over Bradenton Christian Sept. 13.

Natalie Rodriguez finished with 15 kills and Natalie Buffett added 12 kills to lead the way for the Lady Thunder. Haley Preininger recorded 21 assists and 11 digs and Audra Pack had seven perfect passes and five aces.

ODA returns to action 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Cardinal Mooney.

+ Riverview tops rival Sarasota
The Riverview High volleyball team defeated Sarasota 25-10, 26-24, 25-15 Sept. 17.

Sophomore setter Ashley Allmer recorded 27 assists and freshman outside hitter Kenzie Walker finished with 13 kills to lead the way for the Lady Rams. Senior Mallory Waggoner added eight kills and senior Carly Scarbrough had seven kills and five blocks.

Sarasota’s Lauren Hochstetler finished with nine kills and two aces.

Riverview returns to action Thursday, Sept. 20, at Palm Harbor University and Sarasota travels to Braden River Monday, Sept. 24.

+ Cardinal Mooney sweeps Bradenton
The Cardinal Mooney volleyball team swept Bradenton Christian Sept. 17 to remain unbeaten in district play.
Sarah Soscia finished with nine kills and Gabby Schweigart and Emily Caldwell added six kills apiece.

+ Lady Rams take win at runner’s invitational
The Riverview High girls cross-country team scored 36 points to win the Bradenton Runner’s Club Invitational Sept. 15, at G.T. Bray Park.

Sarasota scored 83 points to finish second.

Cardinal Mooney’s Grace Casagrande crossed the finish line first in 21:25.18 followed by Riverview’s Patricia Lewis in 21:29.90.

Riverview’s Emily Barbic finished fourth in 21:43.96 followed by The Out-of-Door Academy’s Carling Landeche (seventh, 22:42.93), Sarasota Christian’s Danielle Bunsick (eighth, 22:49.40), Riverview’s Chinami Wade (ninth, 22:56.81), Sarasota’s Shelby Hinds (10th, 23:00.11), Riverview’s Michaelie Grajalez (11th, 23:05.11), Sarasota’s Amber Kerry (14th, 23:11.90), ODA’s Caitlyn Camire (15th, 23:13.99), Sarasota’s Kim Fabijanczuk (16th, 23:19.52), Riverview’s Adrienne Gerzeny (18th, 23:26.49) and Riverview’s Robyn Natherson (20th, 23:28.90).

On the boys’ side, the Sarasota cross-country team scored 31 points to finish ahead of Riverview (84).

Courtland Bernard finished second in 16:32.46 to lead the way for the Sailors followed by Zackery Summerall (fifth, 16:59.90), Ian Hull (sixth, 17:33.62), Adam Bradtmueller (seventh, 17:36.84) and Calum Pilkey (11th, 17:58.24).

Warren Grajalez finished eighth in 17:49.18 to lead the way for Riverview and Peter Runge finished ninth in 17:53.81 to lead the way for ODA.

+ Sarasota tops North Port
The Sarasota High football team held North Port scoreless in the second half to preserve a 28-14 victory over the Bobcats Sept. 14.

Quarterback Hunter DeWitt threw a touchdown pass to Shawn Bane Jr. and also ran in for the game’s final score. Rod Tullis added a 4-yard touchdown run and finished with a game-high 104 yards rushing.

Sarasota returns to action Friday, Sept. 21 versus Southeast.

+ Cougars QB passes by Green Dragons
Cardinal Mooney quarterback Reese Vita threw four touchdowns, leading the Cougars to a 41-7 victory over Lake Placid Sept. 14 and its first 3-0 start since 2006.

Blake Young hit a 37-yard field goal for the first points of the game.

Elijah Toussaint, Demardre Patterson, Blair Perry and Ryan Branch all caught touchdown passes and Sean Morris returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown.

The Cougars return to action Friday, Sept. 21 at Lemon Bay.