PREP ROUNDUP: Cardinal Mooney gets past Lakewood Ranch on the sand

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The Cardinal Mooney Cougars liked winning a state championship in beach volleyball so much, they decided to give it another shot again this week.

The Cougars (21-1) won a marathon of three matches Saturday in Tavares to become state champs of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference, which began naming beach volleyball state champions in 2017, the same season Cardinal Mooney began its program.

Monday, on the hot sand at UMR Sports, Cardinal Mooney hung on for a 3-2 victory over Lakewood Ranch High (9-3) in a Florida State High School Athletic Association Class 1A play-in match.

The hard-fought victory over the Mustangs qualifies the Cougars for a trip to Tallahassee, where they will be one of 16 teams from across the state vying for the first FHSAA state crown in beach volleyball. Cardinal Mooney would need to win two matches on Friday and two more on Saturday to earn their second state title in the span of a week.

In Tavares, the Cougars defeated Jensen Beach, Lakeland High and Merritt Island, all by the score of 4-1, to win the SSAC championship.

“We were physically tired,” Cardinal Mooney coach Chad Davis said. “Not to take anything away from Lakewood Ranch. They have a really good team. But physically, we looked tired.

“We had to play some really tough volleyball on Saturday. It was physically draining. The conditions were hot.”

Cougar takeaways

• The No. 3 team of sophomore Helena Hebda and junior Madeline Carson won 21-9, 21-7 over Mustang juniors Katie Eckstrom and Vanessa Richtford. Cardinal Mooney’s Gracie Page and Izzy Russell were 21-11, 21-18 victors at No. 4 over juniors Tanner Sobecki-McMullen and Sydney Sprague. At No. 5, freshmen Riley Greene and Kate Montesano defeated Ranch freshmen Hannah Sprungman and Sadie Morehead 21-12, 21-10.

• Davis expects his team to be fully recovered by Friday when they play their first game scheduled for noon against an opponent to be determined. “We know they are tough girls,” he said. “We push them hard and they have been awesome with everything they have given us.”

• The Cougars won their first 12 matches of the season before their lone loss of the year on the road at Clearwater Calvary Christian on April 7. Cardinal Mooney has since rattled off nine more consecutive victories.

Mustangs takeaways

• The No. 1 team of 5-foot-8 sisters Brooke and Ashley Pater rolled to a 21-5, 21-6 over Cardinal Mooney freshmen Piper Carson and Ella Shuel. Brooke is bound for the University of Tampa to continue her beach volleyball career, while Ashley is headed for Los Angeles and USC. “The Paters really wanted to represent their school and they have certainly done that,” veteran Lakewood Ranch volleyball coach Perri Hankins said. “They have both trained so hard. This is working out perfect for a couple of kids who have worked really hard and gotten really good at it."

• Lakewood Ranch also won at No. 2 in the longest and most competitive match of the day. Junior Andrea Dietz and senior Kenzie Schmucker slipped past Mustang juniors Jordyn Byrd and Sawyer DeYoung 21-17, 19-21, 13-11.

• The inaugural 9-3 season of beach volleyball at Lakewood Ranch foreshadows more success in the years to come. “We were able to put a team together at Lakewood Ranch,” Hankins said. “We had a good year, especially considering it was our first. We hope to keep the program going in the right direction.”

BASEBALL

Venice 14, Lehigh 0 (4½ inns.)

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 8

AT: Venice High.

TOP PLAYERS: V, Trent Adrian (2-2, 2B, 2 runs, RBI), Braden Schumacher (1-1, 2B, 2 RBI, run), Dasavion Cassaway (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs)

PITCHING: V, Cole Schumacher (2 IP, 3Ks), Nathan Winterhalter (1IP, K), Huston Wynne (1IP, 2Ks), Simon Yochum (1IP, K).

OF NOTE: Cole Schumaker, Nathan Winterhalter, Huston Wynne and Simon Yochum combined for a five-inning perfect game.

Parrish Community 9, Booker 0

CLASS 4A-DISTRICT 8

AT: Parrish Community High.

TOP PLAYERS: Noah Eatman (2 hits, 3 RBI, run), Carson Womer (2 hits, 2B, 2 runs).

PITCHING: Alek Trompke (2IP, 3Ks), Keegan Duquette (W, 5IP, BB, 12K).

OF NOTE: Alek Trompke and Keegan Duquette combined for a no-hitter.

NEXT: Parrish at Hardee County, 7 p.m. Tuesday in district semifinals.

Saint Stephen’s 3, Gulf Coast HEAT 2

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 11

AT: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, Bradenton.

TOP PLAYERS: SS, Gabriel Conn (2-3), Bryce Griggs (2-3, run), Matthew Talbot (1-3, 2 RBI, run).

PITCHING: SS, Christian Rowell (6IP, 3H, 2R, 2BB, 5K), Luke Donley (IP, BB, 3K).

Sumner 10, Southeast 0 (4½ inns.)

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 7

AT: Sumner High, Riverview.

TOP PLAYERS: SE, Austin Ziarno (1-2), Ashton Hoy (1-2).

PITCHING: SE, Jacob Mruk (1IP, hit, BB).

Lakewood Ranch 8, Tampa Riverview 2

CLASS 7A-DISTRICT 6

AT: Lakewood Ranch High.

TOP PLAYERS: LR, Ryan Combs (3-3, 2B, 2R), Mason Woolever (3-4, 2B, 2RBI, run), Lochlan Radloff (1-3, 3B, run, RBI), Austin Parcells (1-4, 2B, RBI).

PITCHING: LR, Lochlan Radloff (5.2IP, 2H, 2 runs, BB, 8K).

SOFTBALL

Spoto 3, Southeast 2 (8 inns.)

CLASS 5A-DISTRICT 12

AT: Spoto High, Riverview.

TOP PLAYER: SE, Mikayla Reyna (1B, run).

PITCHING: SE, Kaela Pangman (8IP, 4H, 2R).

RECORDS: Southeast (8-9); Spoto (8-11).

WRESTLING

Mantas' Schyck named Mr. Wrestling

Lemon Bay High's Lance Schyck was named Mr. Wrestling in Florida in a vote through the Florida Dairy Farmers.

Schyck won his second straight state championship, taking the 182-pound Class 1A state title while posting a 43-0 record during his senior season.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: PREP ROUNDUP: Cardinal Mooney gets past Lakewood Ranch on the sand