- March 12, 2025
Ashley Sampselle pitched the first three innings against Canterbury and struck out four batters. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Freshman Trinity Wright pitched three innings against Canterbury and struck out five batters. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Ashley Sampselle started the game in the circle against Canterbury and allowed one run in three innings. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Morghan Mackey passes to Sophie Campbell in a beach volleyball game against Clay on March 6 at Wadsworth Park. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Alyssa Cruz serves. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Cameron Graham waits for the return. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Sophie Campbell (3) pass to teammate Morghan Mackey. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Morghan Mackey (left) and Sophie Campbell confer with coach Lindsey Stewart. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas’ softball team matched last year’s season start with its seventh straight victory on March 7, a 12-2 win in six innings against St. Petersburg Canterbury. The Pirates stretched the streak to eight on March 11 with they defeated Taylor 8-3 on the road.
“I think our culture has been set in place with the older players passing on our traditions to the younger players,” said Matanzas coach Sabrina Manhart, who is in her seventh year with the team. “Half the battle is getting the kids to believe in themselves and to see that the hard work they put into practice pays off.”
It also helps to have University of Florida signee Leah Stevens, who is 6-0 with a 0.66 earned run average and 73 strikeouts in 32 innings. She has allowed just nine hits.
“Leah has been a big part (of the start), and the hitters have really come around,” Manhart said.
The Pirates have had two historic wins, beating Spruce Creek and University for the first time in school history. They’ve won big, 18-1 against New Smyrna Beach and 17-0 against St. Augustine. And they’ve won close games, 3-2 in eight innings against both Spruce Creek and Bartram Trail.
“We know we can go into extra innings and have success,” Manhart said.
Stevens rested against Canterbury with senior Ashley Sampselle and freshman Trinity Wright each pitching three innings. Wright and fellow freshmen Mary Grace Seward and Camryn Williams have all carved out roles on the team. Seward has stepped in to play catcher.
“They're a delight to coach. They’re hard workers and they’ve stepped in right away,” Manhart said. “We don’t have enough kids to have a JV team, so we’re finding playing time for the younger kids.”
Flagler Palm Coast’s beach volleyball team played its second home match of the season on March 6. Clay edged the Bulldogs 3-2 at Wadsworth Park. FPC (1-2) has three more games at Wadsworth in the next few weeks, against Atlantic on March 26, Matanzas on March 27 and Seabreeze on April 2. Matanzas and FPC will meet again at Wadsworth Park in the season finale on April 9.
FPC’s boys tennis team placed second behind Spruce Creek in the Five Star Conference tennis tournament. The Bulldogs advanced to the finals in all five singles divisions and both doubles divisions with Aaron Lieberman winning at No. 4 singles and Alex Berenblit and Josh Thorpe winning at No. 2 doubles. Seabreeze placed third in both the boys and girls tourneys. FPC’s girls placed fifth.
FPC placed second in the Olympic competition at the Five Star Conference boys weightlifting championships. FPC was third and Mainland was fourth in the traditional competition. FPC’s Cody Strawser won the 139-pound Olympic title and finished second in traditional. Anthony Giacobbe placed second in both competitions at 119 pounds, Matthew McFall (unlimited) was second in traditional and Jackson Fedun (154) and Cal Zwirn (219) were both second in Olympic.
Mainland had three runners-up in traditional: Isaac Simien (154), Mason Durrance (199) and Gavin O’Reilly (219). And Seabreeze’s Dean Hayes placed second in Olympic competition at 139.
