2013: Year in Sports - Top Moments

Building off last year’s successes, East County athletes made remarkable headlines in 2013, putting together one of the most eventful and successful years in recent history.

Over the past 12 months, we’ve celebrated district, regional and state championships. We’ve watched our talented athletes and teams make school history, overcome injuries and adversity and rely on underclassmen to step up.

As another year comes to a close, we at the East County Observer, once again, celebrate your accomplishments with our Year in Sports 2013. Here, you will find this year’s top five moments and top five teams in East County sports.

Our top five teams may not have all won championships this year, but they all embody the spirit of the game in their own unique way, and, for that, we offer our support and congratulations on a job well done.
In addition to the top teams and moments, we’ve once again selected Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Each week, we highlight athletes for their individual accomplishments both on and off the field. This year’s three Athletes of the Year captured our attention numerous times and put together historic seasons that only further cemented their legacies here in the East County.

With so many talented athletes, it was an honor to be a part of the East County sports community in 2013, and we absolutely cannot wait to see what you have in store for us in 2014.

We wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season and we look forward to seeing all of you in 2014.

Golden Girl
Kristin Zarrella had become one of the most decorated athlete’s in Lakewood Ranch High history, but there was still something missing — an individual track championship to call her own.
Coming off her final cross-country season, Zarrella hit the track for what would ultimately become her most memorable season to date.

Zarrella set personal records in the 400-and 800-meter runs and earned a berth in the 800 at the Class 3A state finals May 3, at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
But Zarrella didn’t get off to an impressive start.

She was second-to-last after the first 200 meters, but the then-senior strategically paced herself around the track before taking off down the stretch.

Zarrella crossed the finish line in 2 minutes, 16:45 seconds to win the 800 and finish the season with 11 first-place finishes.

Beating the Odds
The record speaks for itself.

The Out-of-Door Academy baseball team had played rival Cardinal Mooney seven times over the past three seasons — six of which the Thunder found itself on the outside looking in, including a pair of 5-1 decisions earlier in the season.

But in a district championship game anything is possible, especially when you have nothing to lose.
With its third-consecutive regional berth already locked up, ODA took the field against a tough Cougars squad led by a pair of Division I prospects on the mound.

ODA pounded out 10 hits on its way to an 11-3 victory over Cardinal Mooney in the Class 3A-District 10 championship April 26, at McKechnie Field. With the win, the Thunder captured its third district championship and first since 2011.

First-time Champs
With four freshmen in its starting lineup, the Lakewood Ranch High girls basketball team didn’t realize that district championships aren’t commonplace.

They didn’t know what it’s like to be the district runner-up or that you aren’t always going to beat other varsity teams with more talent and experience.

All they knew how to do was go out, have fun and play the game they loved.

Lakewood’s willingness to do whatever it takes to win proved to be the perfect ingredient as the Lady Mustangs captured their first-ever district championship with a 37-32 victory over Palmetto in the Class 6A-District 12 championship Feb. 1.

Road Warriors
There’s something to be said for playing on your home turf.

You know the feel of the field. You’re surrounded by familiar faces who want nothing more than to see you succeed. And you don’t have to spend hours on a bus driving back and forth from the game.

But sometimes being away from the distractions of your home field can be just what a team needs to get the job done.

Such was the case for the Cardinal Mooney High football team, which went 3-1 on the road this season.
On Oct. 11, the Cougars traveled to St. Pete Catholic, where they held the Class 3A-District 5 runner-up to just 12 points en route to a tough 14-12 victory.

Cardinal Mooney hit the road three weeks later with the Class 3A-District 6 title on the line. The Cougars faced a tough Bishop Verot team that was viewed by many as a heavy favorite. But Cardinal Mooney wasn’t fazed by all of the hype surrounding the contest. Instead, the Cougars did what they had done all season — punish opponents on the ground. The Cougars rushed for 332 yards and five touchdowns en route to a 35-10 victory and their first district title since 2006.

Final Four
It had been three years since the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team had reached the Final Four. The seniors were freshmen at the time and still learning what it takes to play at the varsity level.

After being a part of three-consecutive district championships and a pair of regional semifinal berths, the Lady Mustangs felt they had what it takes to reach that final plateau.

Lakewood won its fourth-consecutive district title with a 3-0 victory over Venice Jan. 18.

The Lady Mustangs entered the regional tournament with momentum and, most importantly, home field advantage.

Lakewood cruised to a 4-1 victory over Cape Coral Ida Baker in the regional quarterfinals and held on to beat Venice 1-0 in the regional semifinals to advance to the regional finals for the first time since 2010.

The Lady Mustangs hit the road for the first time in the postseason, traveling to Plant City for a regional final match Jan. 29. Lakewood edged past Plant City 1-0 to advance to the Final Four.

Lakewood saw its season come to an end with a 2-0 loss to Melbourne in the state semifinals, but with the majority of its roster back for the 2013-14 season, the Lady Mustangs should be poised to make another deep tournament run in 2014.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]