Baseball: The Streak is Alive!
Our Varsity Boys are officially on a roll. After a dominant win over Imagine School, the Rays extended their winning streak to three games with a gritty performance against Port Charlotte, shutting them out in a 1-0 defensive battle. Wilson Shaw put on a show striking out 16 batters in only 6 innings of work. He allowed 0 runs, on 3 hits, and walked 1. Jacob May came in relief, added a 17th strikeout, and finished off the 7th to pick up his first save of the season. Boston Allard came up huge providing the lone run. After a walk to Hugh Potter, Boston returned a fastball to the left center wall to score Potter. That win puts the Mantas 2-0 vs. the county rivals.
- The Hero: Huge shoutout to the pitching staff and defense for keeping the Pirates off the board.
- Look Ahead: The boys host IMG Academy Teal this Wednesday night for Sponsor Appreciation night (March 11). Let’s pack the stands and keep this momentum going!
Softball: Clutch Wins at the Diamond
The Lady Mantas are proving they can win the close ones. After an absolute blowout 18-4 win against Port Charlotte earlier, they faced a massive test against Lakewood Ranch and walked away with a thrilling 6-5 victory. Trailing 5-2 heading to the bottom of the 7th, the Mantas walked off with a win. The Mantas grabbed the win when Karoline Kastor singled, scoring a run, Isabella Toscano induced a fielders choice, scoring another, finally Robejsek singled, scoring two. Coach Shaffer told us after the game “The girls were able to make adjustments after their 1st ABs. They started seeing the ball better and swinging at their pitches. Coming into the 7th down 4 is a tough place to be but we put the ball in play when we needed it most.”
- Next Up: They hit the road to take on Riverview tomorrow (March 10) before returning home later this month.
Track & Field: Tarpon Classic Highlights
Our Track and Field squad headed to the Tarpon Classic this past Friday, and the results did not disappoint. We saw several personal bests in both the sprints and field events.
- The boys squad came in 3rd overall and the girls took home 2nd place!
- Myah Dickerson set a NEW SCHOOL RECORD in the 100m
State Finals Update: History in the Making at Silver Spurs!
The energy in Kissimmee is electric as our Manta Rays represent Englewood on the biggest stage in the state. We’ve seen blood, sweat, and absolute dominance on the mats over the last 48 hours. Here is the latest from the FHSAA State Championships:
Aillee Briggs: THE STATE CHAMPION!
There is no other way to put it, Aillee Briggs is in a league of her own. After a season of relentless focus, Aillee has officially captured the State Title at 140 lbs (and previously 135 lbs).
In a championship match that was a total masterclass, she secured a 9-1 Major Decision over her opponent from Viera. Aillee finishes her season with a staggering 40-1 record. She didn’t just win; she left no doubt who the best in Florida is. When you see her back in the halls at Lemon Bay, make sure she hears the applause!
3X STATE CHAMPION!
The Boys’ Battle: Podium Finishes and Grit
The boys have been grinding through a massive 1A bracket, and the competition has been fierce. Our Regional Runner-Up squad proved they belong with the best programs in the state.
- Logan Dean: Logan fought through a gauntlet in the early rounds. While the brackets at State are unforgiving, his technical skill was on full display. He’s shown all year why he’s a leader of this team, battling some of the top-ranked seniors in the state.
- Elliot Sear: Elliot has been one of the most exciting wrestlers to watch this weekend. He’s been putting up points and showing that “Manta Grit,” navigating the consolation brackets with several clutch wins to stay in medal contention.
- Matthew Lopez: Matthew’s postseason run has been a breakout story. Coming in as a sophomore state qualifier, he went toe-to-toe with the elite, proving that the future of Lemon Bay wrestling is in very capable hands.
- Atticus Randall: Atticus wrestled with incredible heart. Every match was a dogfight, and he represented the orange and blue with the kind of intensity that makes the Rays such a respected program across Florida.
The Rays Reporter 
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