Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Denali Schappacher had done it all for Lakewood Ranch during its district title game against Sarasota.

Well, almost.

Before her final at-bat in the Mustangs' 16-1 victory, the Lakewood Ranch junior outfielder had tripled, singled twice, stolen home plate, knocked in two runs and scored three times.

So with Lakewood Ranch holding a 15-1 lead as the junior outfielder came to the plate for the fourth time, I wasn't paying much attention. The game had been decided.

I had turned off my camera and was immersed in conversation with another reporter and some Sarasota fans. What more could she do?

Then I heard the pop of the bat, which made me glance up.  

Did she just hit that out? 

For the first time in Schappacher's career, she not only homered, but cleared the outfield fence. While she usually sprints from the moment she makes contact, this time she was rounding the bases with her fists pounding the air. She eventually was mobbed at home plate by her teammates with the game ending due to the 15-run mercy rule. 

“I wanted (a homer clearing the fence) for a while and I finally hit it, “ Schappacher said. “I couldn’t believe it. I’ve had a few inside-the-park homers, but I’ve always wanted to say that I hit one over. I finally can.”

It was a fitting end for Schappacher and her teammates, who dominated after having failed to advance to the title game last season as the No. 1 seed. 

“Denali has been itching for that home run,” coach Maggie Feix said. “We just said have a couple more bowls of Wheaties. She did it. I’m pretty pumped for her because she was on fire.” 

Schappacher leads the team with a .557 batting average with 49 hits. She has six doubles, four triples and now two homers. She has 40 runs scored and 14 RBI.

***

M’Balia Bangoura and Sydney Sforzo may seem like an unlikely pair when it comes to tennis. 

Bangoura, a senior, is an individual state champion, who is committed to the University of Nebraska, and has played in the Sarasota Open. Sforzo is still in middle school. 

But on the court, the two Out-of-Door Academy standouts, who have been playing doubles together for the past two years, have found the perfect balance. 

They’ve learned to recognize and respect one another’s game styles and how to handle the game’s biggest moments with Bangoura teaching Sforzo how to stay calm and not get too tight. 

Bangoura’s sound advice came into play last week when the two found themselves down 5-4 in the tie breaker of the doubles championship match at the Class 1A state tournament April 15, in Altamonte Springs. 

The two bounced back to win the match 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5), defeating Miami Riviera Prep’s Sara Culbertson and Nicole Katzarkov to clinch the doubles title for ODA. It was the first state doubles title for both players. 

Bangoura, who closed out her career at ODA, also finished as the state runner-up in the individual singles tournament. 

“I’m so happy that I could share her last match representing ODA by her side,” Sforzo said. This has been such an unbelievable opportunity for me, as I am so young, and I cannot wait to hopefully continue my success playing for Out-of-Door.”