Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

Cheyenne Miller won’t have to look very far to find her best friend, Anikka Jensen, next year. 

The two Sarasota Christian seniors and volleyball teammates plan to spend the next four years together on the court at Pasco-Hernando State College after signing letters-of-intent Feb. 24 to play for the Conquistadors. 

“I love the fact that I get to continue playing the sport I love,” Miller said. “Playing with my best friend is a huge plus, too.” 

Both girls are still undecided in terms of a major, but are looking forward to the opportunity to begin the next chapter of their lives, while still being close to home, and expanding their volleyball skills at the next level. 

“I have heard from many that coach (Kim) Whitney is a good coach and really knows what she’s doing, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to join her team,” Jensen said. 

Together, Miller and Jensen helped lead Sarasota Christian to its third Class 2A-District 9 championship and a berth in the regional semifinals. The two teammates are now in the midst of their softball season while also playing club volleyball for Jellys 18s Elite. 

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Five years ago, with his younger brother, Pip, looking on, Cameron Smalley took the Sarasota Little League world by storm. 

The Out-of-Door Academy junior infielder, who was just 12 years old at the time, welcomed the start of the Spring season with 14 solo shots to win the Sarasota County Home Run Derby in what turned out to be a slugfest. 

Cameron Smalley went on to make the Sarasota Little League All-Star team and earn the Temmons Scholarship. 

Slowly but surely, Pip Smalley began to follow suit. Following in Cameron Smalley’s footsteps, Pip Smalley made Sarasota Little League’s 9-and 10-year-old All-Star team and has continued to make the All-Star team every year since. 

This past Saturday, on Feb. 27, Sarasota Little League welcomed the start of another season with its Opening Day celebration. Nearly 500 kids gathered together at the fields, at Twin Lakes Park, for a flag presentation, a quadruple-header of games and other entertainment. 

As in years past, spectators lined the fence to catch the ever popular Home Run Derby. Competing in the derby for the first time, Pip Smalley, now 12, hit five home runs to win the trophy — five years after his brother had given the Smalleys their first Home Run Derby crown. 

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Looking to take its youth rowing program to the next level, the Sarasota Scullers have added a pair of international coaches to their staff. Julio Sanchez, of Argentina, will work with the Scullers’ varsity men’s rowing program while Laura Corbett-Brown, of Canada, will be responsible for the organization’s growing middle school program. 

Sanchez has been working with elite level junior athletes internationally in Spain, the United States and Colombia since 2008. Most recently, he coached the Colombian Youth Women’s Pari at the World Youth Rowing Championship last summer in Rio de Janiero. He also will continue to coach the Colombia National Team. 

Corbett-Brown enjoyed a distinguished junior career in Canada before going on to row for the University of Texas at Austin. She has won several rowing titles, including the 2001 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in the U23 Women’s 8+, the 2002 Henley Women’s Regatta in the Club Women’s 8+ and most recently the 2015 USRowing Masters Nationals in the Women’s A1x and Mixed A2x. 

Both Sanchez and Cortbett-Brown are looking forward to bringing their talents to the Scullers and building a new generation of medalists. 

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