- February 25, 2025
The Matanzas softball team opened the season with its first win against Spruce Creek in 11 contests stretching back to 2008. The Pirates defeated the Hawks 3-2 in eight innings on Feb. 18 at Creek's field. It was the first time Matanzas scored more than one run in a game against the Hawks.
McKenzie Manhart had the game-winning RBI. University of Florida signee And Leah Stevens pitched a complete game for the Pirates, striking out 19 batters and allowing just four hits and no walks.
Matanzas followed up the milestone victory with an 18-1, four-inning win over New Smyrna Beach on Feb. 20. Stevens went 3 for 3 at the plate. The Pirates are scheduled to play at Nease on Feb. 25. They will play their home opener on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. against Bartram Trail.
Matanzas won the traditional title in a boys weightlifting tri-meet against Seabreeze and Pedro Menendez on Feb. 19 at the Pirates’ gym. Matanzas scored 38 points, edging out Seabreeze (33 points) and Menendez (30 points). The Olympic competition was also tight with Menendez winning with 39 points, Matanzas scoring 32 and Seabreeze 30.
Seabreeze and Matanzas each had three double winners: Dean Hayes (139 pounds), Ezra Williams (183 pounds) and Joseph Holliman (unlimited) for the Sandcrabs and Jayden Sao (129 pounds), Jordan Theus-Vale (219) and Amir Tariq (238) for the Pirates. Williams had the best Olympic total in the meet with 430 pounds. Holliman had the best traditional total with 530 pounds.
Seabreeze’s other winners were Tripp Zimmett (154, Olympic) and Jacob Peters (199, traditional). For Matanzas, Jack Ferguson won the 199-pound Olympic title, while Ian Knuff (154) and Jagger Drew-Julak (169) won traditionals titles.
In a dual meet at Spruce Creek on Feb. 19, Flagler Palm Coast lost its first Olympic team competition of the season. FPC’s Cody Strawser won both titles at 129 pounds, while Anthony Giacobbe (119) won in Olympic and Dylan Bennett (169) won in traditional.
FPC record-setting quarterback Hayden Hayes has committed to play football at the University of Chicago, an NCAA Division III team. Hayes played his first three high school seasons at Seabreeze.
Daytona State College will open its inaugural women’s flag football season on Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. against Pasco-Hernando State College at DSC. Former Mainland High players Ava Colubiale, Adrianna Mallumaci, Cadence Haley and Kait Barba are all members of the Falcons’ first-year team. Brian Colubiale is the head coach.
Email Brent Woronoff at [email protected]
