Sidelines

KUDOS
+ Braden River Baseball
The Braden River High baseball team defeated Booker 11-5 Feb. 27.

Derrick Cozzette went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored to lead the way for the Pirates at the plate. Daren Ortiz went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Matt Parrill went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Brock Younce pitched four and one-third innings to earn the win for Braden River on the mound.

+ Silver Hawks 12U win championship
The Silver Hawks 12U travel baseball team won the GSA Border Wars III tournament Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 in Tampa.

The Silver Hawks defeated Toxic Baseball 9-7 in the championship game to win the tournament title.

Myles Kaitz hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning with two outs to give the Silver Hawks the lead. Kaitz then shut down the Toxic in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the victory on the mound.
The Silver Hawks followed up their victory by winning the 12U division of the Suncoast Gold Glove Championship March 1 and March 2. The Silver Hawks scored 56 runs in three games en route to a 20-7 victory in the championship game. 

+ McKechnie Field named finalist
McKechnie Field in Bradenton has been named one of 20 finalists in the Best Spring Training Facility category in the 2014 10 Best/USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.

Fans of the ballpark, which is home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, can cast their votes at 10best.com/awards/travel/best-spring-training-facility/.

Voting ends at noon March 24. Fans can vote once per day, per category.

McKechnie Field recently underwent a renovation, which included a 19,000-square-foot boardwalk spanning the outfield, expanded restroom facilities, new concessions, an enlarged fan plaza and upgraded seats and covered bleachers, which increased McKechnie Field’s capacity to more than 8,500.
The upgrades earned it both the Best Ballpark Renovation designation from Ballpark Digest and the Design Excellence Award from Florida Planning and Zoning Association.

Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, which is home to the Baltimore Orioles, also is in the running.

+ PAL to celebrate silver anniversary
The Police Athletic League of Manatee County will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the PAL Golf Classic April 22 at The Concession Golf Course.

Registration for the four-person scramble will begin at 8 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m.
Cost is $500 per person and includes an 18-hole round of golf, gift bag, continental breakfast, lunch and a reception with a buffet and drinks, as well as live and silent auctions.

Proceeds benefit the children’s athletic and academic programs at Manatee PAL, which include football, cheerleading, basketball and boxing.

The winning foursome will receive a trophy plus a $150 gift certificate per player from The Concession Pro Shop.

To register, sponsor a hole or donate an item to the silent auction, email Manatee PAL at [email protected] with Golf as the subject line, call 747-1118 or visit Manateepal.org.

GAME TO WATCH
Baseball
March 7
Lakewood Ranch vs. Sarasota (7 p.m.)

STANDOUT PLAYER
Talia Falco
Track and Field
Lakewood Ranch High

2 - The number of field events Falco won at the Charlotte Quad Meet Feb. 28 at Charlotte High.

3 - The number of individual events Falco has won in two meets this season.

36 feet, 5 inches - The distance Falco posted in the triple jump to finish more than 2 feet ahead of the competition.