Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

The rite of spring, at least in softball terms, includes the sweet sound of smacking leather and popping aluminum.

Those noises were in the air as I stood in the dugout at the Braden River High School softball practice last week. But there was something else, something I’ve come to find out over the years when I cover the Pirates.

What began as a simple fielding drill turned into a conversation about the following night’s team meal, lactose intolerance and one player’s undeniable love for ice cold chocolate milk.

Sarah Crawford I’m looking at you. 

Without a doubt comical, the conversation showed just how close these 12 girls have become. They can carry on a conversation on just about any topic and never miss a beat, even in the middle of practice.

Throughout the whole exchange, rarely did a ground ball miss its intended destination. The players never stopped working, even when fits of laughter overtook them. 

If Braden River can keep that trend up ... being efficient along with having tremendous team chemistry ... it’s sure to be an exciting spring. 

The Pirates have four seniors, three who have signed to play at the next level, and eight juniors on their roster, Braden River has the experience to put together its best season in recent memory. 

They are off to a fast start, winning their first two games, including a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Riverview and a 16-6 dismantling of Venice. 

Crawford, Myah Moy, Bethaney Keen and Zaire Yancy have all homered and pitchers Lexie Phelps and Ali Yawn both put together impressive starts on the mound. 

“We have the best defense in the state, at least in Class 7A, that I’ve seen in a long time,” first-year head coach Melissa Dowling said. 

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The Lakewood Ranch boys basketball team is a district champion once again. 

The Mustangs, who earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 7A-District 11 tournament with a perfect regular season district mark, beat No. 2 seed Palmetto 77-64 Feb. 5 to capture their first district championship in 11 years. 

Junior forward Justin Muscara recorded a double-double, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guards Brock Sisson and Sam Hester also finished in double figures, finishing with 12 and 11 points, respectively. 

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What better way to challenge yourself than to compete against the best dance teams in the nation in not one but two divisions. 

Kourtney Kalahar, the Lakewood Ranch Silver Stars dance coach, had that thought in mind when she entered the Silver Stars in both a high kick and a hip hop routine at the 2016 UDA National Dance Team Championship Jan. 29 through Jan. 31, at Walt Disney World. 

Competing in nationals for the first time in several years, the Silver Stars advanced to the semifinals of the high kick division. 

“They did a really amazing job,” Kalahar said. “It kind of shocked me. I wanted them to be challenged and push themselves further than most of the other schools do. I wanted them to see that they can do it.” 

Once a recreational team, focused on community performances, Kalahar made it a point when she took over the team last season to put a higher emphasis on competition. Kalahar took the girls to one regional competition last year before having them showcase their talents on a national stage. 

During football season, the Silver Stars teamed with the cheerleading squad, something that hadn’t been done in the past. 

“The dancers and cheerleaders are there to do the same thing,” Kalahar said. “They are both spirit squads there to hype up the team. I think it’s more impressive to see dancing and stunting working together. It’s an amazing thing.” 

Kalahar has a mix of skill levels among the 13 girls on this year’s squad, with some of the girls never having had dance training, but expectations will undoubtedly be higher come auditions in April.