Sidelines

+ Cougars pitcher signs with Crusaders
Parker MacPhail couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present.

Surrounded by his family, coaches and teammates, the Cardinal Mooney right-handed pitcher signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at Belmont Abbey College, in Belmont, N.C., Nov. 19.

The day also happened to be his 18th birthday.

“It’s a pretty good birthday present,” MacPhail says. “It’s awesome. A part of me always wanted to be able to keep it going.”

MacPhail, who plans to major in pre-medicine, chose the liberal arts Catholic college for its location and the connection he felt with the coaching staff and his future teammates.

MacPhail will begin his third varsity season on the mound for the Cougars in February after having spent the offseason playing travel ball for Southwest Florida Baseball.

+ Cardinal Mooney to induct athletes
Cardinal Mooney High will hold its Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Dec. 6, at Sara Bay Country Club in Sarasota.

The Cougars will induct seven individuals and two teams into the Hall of Fame. Detroit Tigers coach Gene Lamont will serve as this year’s keynote speaker.

This year’s inductees include:

• 1994 and 1995 softball state championship teams

• Bill O’Leary ’82 (weightlifting and football)

• James Buchanan ’01 (football)

• Bobby Rosenberg ’00 (football)

• Marc Schmidt ’98 (weightlifting)

• William Figlesthaler ’82 (track and field)

• Karen Kreger Palmu ’80 (volleyball)

• Athletic Director Bill Donivan

The Rev. Msgr. Gerard M. Finegan Lifetime Service Award will be presented to Ginger Judge.

+ Lantz scores win for Sarasota Christian
McKenzie Lantz scored 24 points and had seven steals to lead the Sarasota Christian girls basketball team to a 59-41 victory over Bradenton Christian Nov. 20.

Heidi Miller added 19 points and hauled in eight rebounds.

+ Ward’s double-double propels ODA to win
Kolbie Ward scored 27 points and hauled in 15 rebounds to lead The Out-of-Door Academy boys basketball team to a 78-69 victory over St. Pete Canterbury Nov. 18.

Amad Brayboy finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Chase Maasdorp added 11 points and three rebounds. Nick Grano contributed six points and six steals.

+ Thunder and Falcons draw even
The Out-of-Door Academy boys soccer team tied district rival St. Stephen’s 3-3 Nov. 19.

Filip Svoboda, Carson Jungers and Mark Sulimirski each scored a goal for the Thunder. Svoboda also had an assist.

The Thunder and Falcons will meet again Dec. 5.

+ Orioles to host Birdland Golf Classic
The Baltimore Orioles will hold their 5th annual Orioles Reach Birdland Golf Classic Feb. 23, at The Founders Club, in Sarasota.

The event will begin with registration and lunch at 11 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. and a silent auction. Participants will have the opportunity to play a round with current and former Orioles players and coaches.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Miracle League of Manasota, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for everyone to play baseball, regardless of their ability. Since its inception, the Birdland Golf Classic has raised more than $125,000 for the Miracle League of Manasota.

For more information and to register, visit miracleleaguemanasota.org, call 225-2966 or email [email protected].

+ Sarasota Sculler will head to Alabama
Sarasota Military Academy senior Cheyenne Adams signed a national letter of intent to row for the University of Alabama Nov. 18. Adams will study environmental science at Alabama.

“When I went on my official at Alabama I knew this was the one for me,” Adams said. “Not only did I instantly fall in love with the campus, I loved the team spirit of the students. The girls on the team made me feel like I was already part of the team. And I also really clicked with the coaching staff as I do with my home team.”

Adams has been rowing with the Sarasota Scullers since she was a freshman.