A roundup of Manatee and Sarasota County high school events for March 2-7, 2026.
THURSDAY
Softball
Venice 7, Cardinal Mooney 0: Jayde Neptune threw four perfect innings with six strikeouts. Maelle Creamer and Myah Purdy each had two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Northside Christian 11, Bradenton Christian 2
Baseball
Bradenton Christian 11, Saint Stephen’s 0: Luke Vickroy went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and a run scored, and Joey Puccia and Jeremy Worley also had 2 RBIs as all three hit a double.
WEDNESDAY
Softball
Lemon Bay 6, Lakewood Ranch 5
TUESDAY
Baseball
Venice 14, Sarasota 1: What began as a highly anticipated matchup between two 8-0 baseball teams quickly turned into a one-sided affair as Venice routed Sarasota.
The Indians took advantage of some wildness by the Sailors’ pitching staff and some sloppy fielding while two Venice hurlers held Sarasota to just one hit.
“I’m really proud of how our guys handled themselves tonight,” Venice coach Craig Faulkner said. “There’s a lot that goes into this win tonight. It’s more than just playing here tonight. We’ve worked hard in the weight room, and we’re solid in the classroom and doing things in our community. So it’s a combination of things coming together for us. Sarasota’s got a good team. They were maybe just a little bit off, but our guys put it together well tonight. It was a good win for us.”
The Indians wasted no time in the top of the first inning against Sarasota starter Mason Mueller, who loaded the bases on singles by August Backman and Graham Houston and a hit batter. After Mueller struck out Beau Daniel, Carter Cox walked to force in the first run, and Randall Riley delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0.
The Sailors loaded the bases in their half of the inning on two walks and a hit batter, but Kasen Poplin struck out Conner Boyd to end the threat.
Two more Venice runs scored in the top of the second inning as Aiden Cary led off with an infield single, Backman was hit by a pitch and Houston laid down a bunt single to again load the bases. Jonathan Mauro drove in Cary with a sacrifice fly and another run scored on a throwing error as Houston stole second.
The Indians got two more in the third after again loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter. Cary singled home one run and another scored as the ball was misplayed in the outfield to make it 7-0.
The Sailors got their only run in the third as Venice had some defensive lapses of its own. Patrick Drymon was hit by a pitch and came around on two consecutive fielding errors by the Indians infield.
That’s how it stayed until the top of the sixth inning when Venice sent 13 batters to the plate and scored seven times. The big hits were a two-run double by Jake Embury and a two-run single by Mauro.
Venice pounded out 13 hits along with six walks and three hit batsmen. Meanwhile, Kasen Poplin and his brother Kohen combined to allow just one hit and one unearned run.
“Our pitching is solid, there’s no doubt about it,” Faulkner said. “We can’t get all our guys in to be honest with you. We’ve got a lot of good pitchers that haven’t gotten to pitch yet. So I’m really proud of all the work that they’ve put in to get to that point, and they’re hitting their spots, they’ve got good stuff, and it’s a good baseball team.”
With their 10th consecutive win over the Sailors, the Indians improved to 9-0 for the season the same day they moved up to the No. 3 in the MaxPreps national baseball poll.
Venice will host Calvary Christian, another unbeaten team, on Friday night while Sarasota hopes to rebound with a home game against Riverview on Friday.
— Bruce Robins
St. Pete Canterbury 11, Sarasota Christian 1: Rowan Baum scored the Blazers’ run, and James White hit a double.
Softball
Braden River 10, Cardinal Mooney 0 (6 Inn.): Leighton Paul went 3 for 4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs, Cooper Jones went 2 for 3 with a double, 4 RBIs and 2 runs, while Evelyn Paul added a double and 2 RBIs, and Maddie Kasch went 3 for 3 with a run. Kaydence Evans through a complete-game, 4-hit shut out with a walk and 8 strikeouts.
Saint Stephen’s 6, Admiral Farragut 5: Barclay Warfield had a double and triple, driving in one and scoring twice, including a steal of home. Alcie Despard also had two hits and drove in the winning run, and Emma Jackson had a run and an RBI.
Sarasota 9, North Port 2: Gia Depastino had a double with 2 RBIs and 2 runs, and Nohah Mutkala had two hits with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI for Sarasota. Gemma Mulhollen pictehd five innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and a run with 8 strikeouts for Sarasota. North Port’s Allison Timmons went 3 for 4.
Beach Volleyball
Sarasota Christian 4, The Classical Academy 1: 1. Reagan Miller/Ryan Donlin (S) d. Aubrey Schaub/Catherine Bworken (T) 21-9, 21-17, 2. Linlee Mayer/Hallee Volkert (S) d. Tenley Sommers/Lily Kurecki (T) 21-17, 14-21, 15-12, 3. Willow Bobik/Hannah Bryan (S) d. Kelsey Schaub/Bella Wilhelm (T) 22-20, 21-18, 4. Annabelle Hembree/Brooklyn Ruggiero (T) d. Hayden Mullet/Olivia Shakura (S) 24-22, 21-12, 5. Ruvae Boskers/Sophie Miller (S) d. Adriana Buchanan/Kelsey Lodge (T) 21-9, 21-12
Boys Tennis
Pine View 6, Saint Stephen’s 1: 1. Philip Zhang (P) d. Otis Whaley 6-2, 6-0; 2. William Wooden (P) d. Finn Hoskins 7-5, 6-2; 3. George Bovkun-Grytsencko (P) d. Dylan McLaughlin 6-0, 6-4; 4. Jonah Wooden (P) d. Regan Yeaney 6-0, 6-1; 5. Joseph Calleja (P) d. Reyaansh Madala 6-0, 6-1. Doubles – 1. Whaley/Hoskins (S) d. Spanos/W. Wooden 6-4, 2-6, 10-6; 2. Calleja/Gries (P) d McLaughlin/Yeaney 6-2, 6-0
Girls Tennis
Pine View 7, Saint Stephen’s 0
MONDAY
Girls Lacrosse
Newsome 20, Riverview 5: Maria Berzins had 2 goals, 4 draw controls, and a ground ball and Ashley Eisenacher scored 3 goals, had 3 draw controls, and a ground ball.
Bradenton Christian 16, Manatee 12: Sophoa Reynolds had 5 goals and 2 assists for Manatee.
Boys Lacrosse
Saint Stephen’s 11, Parrish 0
Softball
Lakewood Ranch 11, IMG Blue 0
Baseball
Seminole 14, Booker 0
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: High school results: Venice baseball rolls in battle of unbeatens
Reporting by Ed Reed, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
