Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Sena Szczepaniuk and Madelyne Anderson expected to be in contention for a national title. 

The beach volleyball partners, both 14, were the top-ranked team heading into the 2016 Junior Beach Tour Championships July 22-24, in Milwaukee, and assumed they would be the team to beat. 

They were right. 

Without a significant amount of competition by their standards, Szczepaniuk and Anderson won the Girls 14 Open Gold Division. 

“It is such an honor to be a national champion,” said Szczepaniuk, who will be a sophomore at Pine View. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that all of my hard work and effort really did pay off. I was extremely proud of myself and my partner because I knew we earned that national title.” 

While Szczepaniuk and Anderson, a home school student, are ranked No. 1 in the country for 14U and No. 3 in the country for 16U, Szczepaniuk doesn’t see them as a top-ranked team. It’s not that they aren’t good enough to earn the title. It’s just the two are so used to playing up in 18U tournaments that facing players with a lot more experience. 

“There’s always going to be teams a lot better than us,” Szczepaniuk said. 

Although after serving up their first national championship, Szczepaniuk and Anderson appear well on their way to maintaining their national ranking. 

*** 

The Sarasota Babe Ruth 13U All-Stars are still alive in the Babe Ruth League World Series, in Ottumwa, Iowa. 

Sarasota split its four pool play games Aug. 11-15, finishing with a 2-2 record heading into single elimination play Aug. 16. 

Behind the arms of pitchers Jacob Danowski and Gabe Copeland, Sarasota held on to beat Waterford 5-3. 

With the win, Sarasota set up a rematch with Pearl City Aug. 17 for a berth in the World Series final. Pearl City edged past Sarasota 3-2 in the first meeting between the two teams Aug. 15. 

Nearly 1,200 miles away in Westfield, Mass., the Sarasota 14U All-Stars are vying for their own World Series crown. 

Similar to their 13U counterparts, the Sarasota 14U All-Stars split their pool play games before defeating Atlantic Shore, N.J. 4-1 Aug. 15 to advance to the semifinal round Aug. 17.