Sports
All the information on sports.
Sports Cast 5/3
Sports Cast for May 3rd:
Bryan Levins earned a sportsmanship award for the Brahman wrestling team this year. He was also a scholar athlete and intends to study business and accounting in college and become a CPA. He said he will always remember his four years on the wrestling team with fond memories. Levins said he truly appreciated the sportsmanship award because it showed he had character and the traits of a leader.
Bryan Levins on sportsmanship award
OHS football spring practice begins in earnest for high school players today. They’ll have nearly 3 weeks to prepare for the fall season with an inter-squad game set for both the 8th grade and high school kids on May 31st at Brahman stadium.
There is no spring jamboree game this year.
Kings academy scored 7 runs in the sixth inning and defeated Moore Haven 12-2 in the regional semifinals in Class 3A Thursday.
Sports Cast 5/2
Sports Cast for May 2nd:
Senior Brendon Jonassaint earned a leadership award for his play on the boys’ basketball team this year. Okeechobee finished the year at 8-17 but Jonassaint was one of the more productive players on the team as he was third in scoring and second in rebounds. Jonassaint said he appreciated the team award. Jonassaint said he may have been miscast as a forward counted on to rebound and defend this year but he did it because the team didn’t have other options.
Brendon Jonassaint on basketball award
Rain washed out yesterday’s Moore Haven softball regional game at Kings Academy; they hope to play the game this afternoon at 4 pm weather permitting. The winner will take on St. Petersburg Shorecrest on Friday night.
Sarasota defeated Braden River 2-1 in extra innings to advance in the softball playoffs. The Sailors eliminated Okeechobee last week.
Sports Cast 5/1
Sports Cast for May 1st:
Allen Leitner was named Co-MVP for the Brahman wrestling team this year at their recent awards banquet.
Leitner made it to the state tournament for the first time in the 171 weight classes. He said winning the award sends a message about hard work. Leitner worked at a fish house over the summer to stay in shape and improve his strenghth. He said the best experience of the year was wrestling at the state tournament in Lakeland despite some health issues. His advice to the returning wrestlers is to life weights over the summer, get a job to stay in shape and wrestle in the off season at tournaments. He plans to study to become a firefighter EMT at IRSC.
Sports Cast 4/30
Sports Cast for April 30th:
Erin Morrow recently resigned as head girls’ basketball coach, opening up another job in the High School Athletic Department. Morrow held the job for three years after a stint as the Yearling Middle School coach. She admits she would have liked to have won more games but that she leaves the program with a positive future. She said it was a tough decision to walk away.
Morrow says she doubts she is done coaching and could look into other opportunities.
Erin Morrow on Lady Brahman exit
Moore Haven Terrier Softball play in the Class 3A regional semifinal this afternoon at Kings Academy, first pitch at 4 pm.
Sports Cast 4/29
Sports Cast for April 29th:
Okeechobee high school has two coaching vacancies to pursue.
Jeff Blackstone resigned as head baseball coach at the end of the season. Softball Coach Heather Gillis also will leave that position and return to her native California. A search will soon be underway to find replacements.
Lonnie Pryor went undrafted in the NFL draft but despite that disappointment quickly signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he should get a real shot to make the roster this year.
Breanna Nunez was named offensive player of the year for the Lady Brahman soccer team this year. Nunez said she felt the team made some strides this year with more victories and goals and appear to be headed in the right direction. Nunez said she continues to battle ankle injuries. She said she enjoys the sports. Nunez expects the team to be even more competitive next year.
Sports Cast 4/26
Sports Cast for April 26th:
Carissa Licata verbally committed to play college softball at Florida Gulf Coast University. She still has her senior year to play at OHS. She intends to study to become either a chiropractor or physical therapist. Licata said she loved the location of the college, its atmosphere and everything about it. She gained the attention of the college coach Dave Dearos last summer at tournaments and knows what the team saw in her. Licata says this decision takes a lot of pressure off and she can now just relax and play ball. Several colleges were interested but were all out of state. Florida Gulf Coast is a Division I program.
Sports Cast 4/25
Sports Cast for April 25th:
Sarasota got a great pitching performance from Clarrisa Lynch and defeated Okeechobee 5-1 in the regional quarterfinal softball game last night at OHS. Lynch struck out five while the Sailors got three runs in the third. Alyssa Price had three hits.
Brahman Coach Heather Gillis said she felt Sarasota was more ready to play. Sarasota Coach Amy Nye says the team was in this position last year but did not perform well enough. Sarasota moves on to take on Braden River in the regional semifinals.
Tabatha Henry qualified for the state track meet Wednesday as she finished fourth in the 3200 meters at the regional race in Fort Lauderdale.
Sports Cast 4/24
Sports Cast for April 24th:
The Okeechobee track team travels to Arch Bishop McCarthy in Fort Lauderdale for the regional track meet today. Tabatha Henry, Ami Edwards and the girls 4X400 relay team of Kiersten Bostwick, Mercedes Washington, Sha’Dajia Williams, and Shania Bays. Coach AJ Mayernik is excited to have so many girls qualify. Edwards uses her large frame to toss the shot put and has quickly embraced the sport during her senior year. She said the regional is a nice award for her work. Senior Mike Thomas was the only boy to qualify. He is excited about trying to reach state after four trips to the regional.
The girls’ softball team ready for their regional tonight against Sarasota with first pitch at 7 pm, a huge crowd is expected to support the girls.
Coach Gillis and players on district title win
Moore haven also won districts again, in 3A-11. They will host Benjamin of Palm Beach Gardens in girls’ softball at 7 pm.
Sebastian River stuns Martin County 4-2 and South Fork ousted Port St. Lucie 5-2 in the district tournament Tuesday played at Okeechobee high school. Sebastian will tangle with South Fork Thursday night at 7 pm.
Sports Cast 4/23
Sports Cast for April 23rd:
Okeechobee boys’ baseball fell to Sebastian River at the district tournament 3-1 last night eliminating them from post season play.
OHS will still host the district tournament tonight and Thursday. Two games will be played at OHS today at 4 pm and 7 pm and the championship game will be played on Thursday at 7 pm.
Lonnie Pryor is about ready for the NFL draft. Thursday or Friday its expected Pryor’s name will be called and he’ll begin his NFL career after four successful years at FSU which was capped by his Orange Bowl MVP award in January. Pryor says he’s ready for Thursday. Pryor ran a good time at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and also performed well at an FSU pro day. He has already graduated from college and has devoted the past few months to conditioning. He says he met his expectations at the combine. Pryor says many NFL teams appeared interested in drafting him. Some scouting services have him ranked as the number 2 fullback in the draft and among the top 200 prospects.
Sports Cast 4/22
Sports Cast for April 22nd:
Okeechobee Lady Brahman softball won another district title Friday night, holding off South Fork 9-6. Okeechobee took an early 9-1 lead thanks to homeruns by Sarah Davis and Danyelle Sheffield. Stormy Stokes had a three run triple. Coach Heather Gillis admits nothing came easy for her team this year. Davis reached base three times in the game. She said a district title on her senior year was great. The Brahmans also made some outstanding defensive plays. Senior Lexi Manson took an extra base hit away with a catch at the fence in the sixth inning. She said it was almost like a dream.
The regional quarterfinal is set for Wednesday, April 24th at 7 pm with Okeechobee hosting Sarasota.
