Sidelines

+ Junior players place in all-star showcase
Forty-three of the top beach volleyball teams from across the country hit the beach for the 2014 ROX East Coast Beach All-Star Championships July 16 through July 18, in Tavares.

Both girls and boys teams, ranging from 12U to 18U, participated in the event, which also served as a college scouting combine.

Florida teams qualified for the all-star event based on their NVL/ROX Beach Series rankings.
Individual results include:

Girls 14U Paige Canevari and Mariah Walker (second)

Girls 16U Layne Thompson and Mackenzie Walker (third)

Girls 18U Ashley Allmer and Nicole Grant (first)

Athletes who placed in the tournament won a bid to the NVL/ROX Jr. Beach Global Challenge, which was held Aug. 1 through Aug. 3, in Port St. Lucie.

+ Local golfers tee off in FSGA championship
Four Sarasota Junior Golf Association teams hit the green for the Florida State Golf Association Junior Team Championship Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, in Lakewood Ranch.

Individual results include:

Girls 13 to 15 Nicole Polivchak, Caitlin Cotterill and Alyssa Mercado (303, fourth place)

Boys 13 to 15 Erik Souchak, Joshua Perna and Tyler Rover (306, eighth place); Matthew deHeus,

Chandler Hammett and Cameron Weber (315, tied for ninth place)

Girls 16 to 18 Victoria Cangero, Grace Gildner and Gabrielle Tomeo (294, tied for fifth place)

Boys 16 to 18 Ron Johnson, Andrew Hammett and Jake LaMore (293, tied for second place)
Jeremy Perna, Ben Miller and Landry Miller (297, third place)

+ Miracle League seeks players
The Miracle League of Manasota is looking for players for its 2014 fall baseball season.

The league is open to children and adults with special needs in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Registration is now underway and runs through Aug. 31. Cost is $25 per player for the season. Players may register in person from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 16 and Aug. 23, at Longwood Park Community Center, 6050 Longwood Run Blvd., Sarasota. Registration forms also are available online at MiracleLeagueManasota.org.

The season officially begins Sept. 13 and runs through Nov. 15. Games will be played on the Miracle League’s synthetically surfaced field at Longwood Park.

Participants play two-inning games and all players bat, run the bases and play the field. Volunteer coaches and buddies assist players on the field.

“The Miracle League of Manasota makes it possible for everyone challenged by disability to enjoy the thrills and team spirit of baseball,” says Bob Mitchell, president of the charitable organization.

+ Ohio State alumni to hold tailgate party
The Sarasota-Manatee Ohio State Alumni Club will hold a Countdown to Kick-off party for all Buckeye fans, Navy veterans, current Navy personnel and their families from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 30, at Captain Curt’s, 1200 Old Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key.

The tailgate party is free and will feature games, football activities, live music from the Sarasota High Sailors and more. A special tribute to the military will be held at 11:45 a.m. Drink specials and food will be available for purchase.

The Ohio State Buckeyes open the regular season at noon versus the Navy Midshipmen. Following the event, attendees are invited to watch the game on 21 televisions inside Captain Curt’s and the open-air Sniki Tiki.

The Ohio State Alumni Club organizes and hosts game watch parties for its members and guests for every OSU football game at three locations across Bradenton and Siesta Key. Chance drawings and other game watch activities help raise scholarship funds.

For information, call 961-0505 or visit sarasotabuckeye.org.