A roundup of Southwest Florida high school sports for the week of March 24.WEDNESDAYBaseballBishop Verot 3, American Heritage 1: Of all the Division I commits on the field Wednesday night at Duane Swanson Field, one was head and shoulders above the rest.Whenever Joey Lawson's on his game, good luck. If the curveball's on point, good night.Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.The North Carolina commit went the distance once again, punching out 12 while allowing just one earned run against American Heritage, beating the Patriots 3-1 to help Verot move to 16-1 on the season."He was able to land that for a strike and get himself ahead in a lot of the at-bats there and be able to lean on the fastball when he needed," Verot coach Casey Scott said. "He was able to spot that up and locate. That's his go-to there is that breaking ball, and to be able to change speeds and change the eyes with that and come back with the fastball."Lawson (5-0, 1.17 ERA) settled in after a rocky first inning, as Jordan Rich led the game off with a single and eventually scored following a sacrifice fly from Sebastian Garavito. After that, Lawson settled in, taking charge and at one point striking out eight straight Patriot hitters.The 12 strikeouts are a season high for American Heritage, and the most they've had in 27 games dating back to last season. Lawson had 12 days in between starts, his last coming against St. Johns Country Day. He did get one inning of work on Saturday against Sebring."I thought 12 days was huge," Lawson said. "Having a full recovery, especially after my last outing going 103 pitches. I thought today, our defense played outstanding. Turtle (Carter Chalder) caught great. I think that helped us a lot, got a lot of outs in key situations when they had runners on."In the third inning after seeing left-hander Mark Aleman once, the Verot lineup broke through. Grayson Carpenter led off the inning with a walk, before Braylon Sheffield laced a ground ball that was too much for Zach Wilson. That error led to Lawson plating Carpenter, before Nick Raber doubled the score to 2-1. A passed ball made things 3-1 as uncharacteristic errors ultimately cost what's been a relatively clean Patriots team defensively."We talked through each guy, and how he's going to attack that specific hitter, and allow them to make adjustments and give them feedback," Scott said. "A lot of times it's just calming the breath down. They trust the process, but they trust the messenger that goes along with it, so that makes it a lot easier."Verot will hit the road for a two-game road trip in Fort Pierce, taking on John Carroll Catholic and Jensen Beach. American Heritage will look to rebound next week against Cardinal Gibbons, West Broward, and Gulf Coast."Confidence is high," Lawson said. "The team's playing really well. Our only loss kind of sucked, but we're back in the win column and we're playing really good baseball. Confidence right now is really high for the whole team."— Alex MartinMariner 3, Port Charlotte 2: Landon Diaz hit an RBI single and Trenton Taylor a sac-fly RBI in the second inning and Ryan Kotarski hit a game-winning RBI double in the fourth for Mariner. Xavier Muentes earned the win for Mariner, allowing two hits and two runs over 6.1 innings, striking out eight and walking four.Barron Collier 9, Loyola Academy (Ill.) 5: Brody Graham went 3 for 4 with a triple, 2 RBI and a run. John Minerva had a hit, 2 RBI, run scored with three walks, and Dylan Wiggins had a double, 2 RBI, and scored a run. Hudson Burger picked up the win, pitching 3 innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out two.Venice 4, St. John Neumann 0: Gus Fusco had two of the Celtics' five hits. Owen Phypers pitched all six innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.Girls LacrossePalmetto Ridge 8, Riverdale 1: Senior Kendra Pierre notched a hat trick while senior Arianna Perez (5 ground balls) and junior Angie Juarez-Alvarez (5 ground balls) each netted two. Emily Bejarano scored a lone goal for the Bears while Ana Lobaton scooped 10 ground balls.Boys TennisBishop Verot 5, Oasis 2: Nate Orozco and Michael Abreu won their singles matches for Oasis.TUESDAYBaseballNaples 7, ECS 6: Ryder Lutz went 4 for 4 with a double, 3 runs, and an RBI, while Nick Tobia (2 RBI) and Joey Karth (2 doubles, 1 RBI) each went 2 for 4 for ECS.SFCA 9, Sarasota Christian 3: Ian Long and Kru Voltz each had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Logan Waldrup had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Dylan Plimpton reached base all 4 at bats with 2 hits and 2 walks, scoring a run and an RBI. Leo Montufar pitched a complete game, allowing 3 hits and striking out 5. SoftballGulf Coast 16, Lely 4 (5 Inn.): Junior Emma Caetano had a triple and drove in 2. Freshman Kadi Hodgson was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and scored 3 times. Eve Preddy drove in 4 and pitched 2 innings in relief of senior Taylor Stalling. Sophomore Melissa Hyatt was 1 for 1 with an RBI and run scored.Bishop Verot 3, St. John Neumann 1: Cece Spencer went 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch as well as a great defensive outing at third base with 4 putouts. Jesse Camejo had a hit and an RBI, and Sophia Escobar pitched six innings, allowing one earned run with two walks.Seacrest 11, Everglades City 1: Eighth-grader Caroline Porter led the Stingrays, striking out 9 over 5 innings, allowing just one hit and one run, and was 2 for 3 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. Maddie Haberman (7th) was 2-2 with two doubles and one RBI. Maeve Magee Fullum went 3 for 3 with three doubles and 4 RBI and Shawn Chiraguayo went 2 for 2 with an RBI.Riverdale 9, Ida Baker 5: Jamie Penia went 3 for 4 with a double, Ella Bundy had one hit with 2 RBI, Aleaha Acosta went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Addie Manetta had three hits with 2 doubles and was the winning pitcher with 6 Ks on the mound. Girls LacrosseGateway 20, Immokalee 0: Amadis Bocalandro and Maley Joseph scored 7 goals each and seven different Eagles scored to lead Gateway to the victory tonight at Immokalee. Estero 16, Cypress Lake 0: The Wildcats extended their winning streak to three, led by Amelia Krupp, Samantha Moore, and Marissa Masink with 4 goals each. Avabella Falcone posted her first shutout of the season in goal.Girls TennisFort Myers 6, Bonita Springs 1: Singles, 1. Gemma Plumb (F) d. Reece Adams 8-4; 2. Isabelle Rose (F) d. Michelle Montfugar 8-0; 3. Anastasia Martin (F) d. Cassidy Cranor 8-3; 4. Emily Chesnut (B) d. Nora Manderschied 8-6; 5. Richelle Britto (F) d. Hannah Powell 8-2. Doubles, 1. Plumb/Rose (F) d. Adams/Chestnut 8-4; 2. Martin/Britto d. Cranor/Powell 8-5.North Fort Myers 6, Ida Baker 1: Singles, 1. Alexis Neumann (N) d. Maria Radford 6-0, 6-0; 2. Alivia Neumann (N) d. Franchesca Vazquez 6-0, 6-1; 3. Daniela Salgado (N) d. Julika Feix 6-0, 6-0; 4. Sofia Uzcategui (I) d. Zoey Sumo 6-0, 6-2; 5. Berenice Sanchez (N) d. Corrie Morris. Doubles, 1. Neumann/Neumann (N) d. Redford/Feix 8-0; 2. Selgado/Sumo d. Vazquez/Rodriguez 8-3.Boys TennisMariner 6, Island Coast 1: Singles, 1. Andy Cajigan (I) d. Ryan Hunter (M) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Damien Gleason (M) d. Caleb Tran 6-0, 6-0; 3. Carlos Gonzalez (M) d. Caleb Cruz 6-0, 6-1; 4. Emanuel Barros (M) d. Derick Bento6-0, 6-0; 5. Jason Berenguer (M) d. Bladimir Palomo-Castro 6-0, 6-0. Doubles, 1. Hunter/Gleason d. Cajigan/Tran 8-6; 2. Kata.Earley (M) d. Bento/Cruz 8-1.Flag FootballMariner 26, Cape Coral 0: Kelsi Longabardi scored a 75-yard rushing touchdown and interception. Mia Standard threw 3 passing touchdowns and one interception. Olivia Hinote had 2 receiving touchdowns. Saniyah Narcisse and Sophia Flinn each had one interception. Lehigh 7, Island Coast 0: Jennifer Becerra scored the game's only TD.MONDAYBaseballBarron Collier 11, North Port 3: Alan Overmyer went 3 for 4 with a home run, double, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI. Carson Felts hit a home run with 2 RBI and Mason Humphrey (2B, RBI) and Brody Graham (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) each had two hits. Girls LacrosseCape Coral 13, Palmetto Ridge 1: Sara Bejarano had 10 saves for Palmetto Ridge and Emily Bejarano scored the lone goal.

SWFL roundup for high school results for the week of March 24

Bishop Verot 3, American Heritage 1: Of all the Division I commits on the field Wednesday night at Duane Swanson Field, one was head and shoulders above the rest. WEDNESDAY Baseball Lehigh 7, Island Coast 0: Jennifer Becerra scored the game’s only TD.The North Carolina commit went the distance once again, punching out 12 while […]

Bishop Verot 3, American Heritage 1: Of all the Division I commits on the field Wednesday night at Duane Swanson Field, one was head and shoulders above the rest.

WEDNESDAY

Baseball

Lehigh 7, Island Coast 0: Jennifer Becerra scored the game’s only TD.The North Carolina commit went the distance once again, punching out 12 while allowing just one earned run against American Heritage, beating the Patriots 3-1 to help Verot move to 16-1 on the season.

A roundup of Southwest Florida high school sports for the week of March 24.

Bishop Verot pitcher, Joey Lawson reacts after winning a game against American Heritage at Bishop Verot on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Lawson had a stellar outing while recording 12 strikeouts.

Cape Coral 13, Palmetto Ridge 1: Sara Bejarano had 10 saves for Palmetto Ridge and Emily Bejarano scored the lone goal.Lawson (5-0, 1.17 ERA) settled in after a rocky first inning, as Jordan Rich led the game off with a single and eventually scored following a sacrifice fly from Sebastian Garavito. After that, Lawson settled in, taking charge and at one point striking out eight straight Patriot hitters.The 12 strikeouts are a season high for American Heritage, and the most they’ve had in 27 games dating back to last season. Lawson had 12 days in between starts, his last coming against St. Johns Country Day. He did get one inning of work on Saturday against Sebring.“I thought 12 days was huge,” Lawson said. “Having a full recovery, especially after my last outing going 103 pitches. I thought today, our defense played outstanding. Turtle (Carter Chalder) caught great. I think that helped us a lot, got a lot of outs in key situations when they had runners on.”In the third inning after seeing left-hander Mark Aleman once, the Verot lineup broke through. Grayson Carpenter led off the inning with a walk, before Braylon Sheffield laced a ground ball that was too much for Zach Wilson. That error led to Lawson plating Carpenter, before Nick Raber doubled the score to 2-1. A passed ball made things 3-1 as uncharacteristic errors ultimately cost what’s been a relatively clean Patriots team defensively.”We talked through each guy, and how he’s going to attack that specific hitter, and allow them to make adjustments and give them feedback,” Scott said. “A lot of times it’s just calming the breath down. They trust the process, but they trust the messenger that goes along with it, so that makes it a lot easier.”Verot will hit the road for a two-game road trip in Fort Pierce, taking on John Carroll Catholic and Jensen Beach. American Heritage will look to rebound next week against Cardinal Gibbons, West Broward, and Gulf Coast.”Confidence is high,” Lawson said. “The team’s playing really well. Our only loss kind of sucked, but we’re back in the win column and we’re playing really good baseball. Confidence right now is really high for the whole team.”— Alex MartinMariner 3, Port Charlotte 2: Landon Diaz hit an RBI single and Trenton Taylor a sac-fly RBI in the second inning and Ryan Kotarski hit a game-winning RBI double in the fourth for Mariner. Xavier Muentes earned the win for Mariner, allowing two hits and two runs over 6.1 innings, striking out eight and walking four.Barron Collier 9, Loyola Academy (Ill.) 5: Brody Graham went 3 for 4 with a triple, 2 RBI and a run. John Minerva had a hit, 2 RBI, run scored with three walks, and Dylan Wiggins had a double, 2 RBI, and scored a run. Hudson Burger picked up the win, pitching 3 innings, allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out two.Venice 4, St. John Neumann 0: Gus Fusco had two of the Celtics’ five hits. Owen Phypers pitched all six innings, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.Girls LacrossePalmetto Ridge 8, Riverdale 1: Senior Kendra Pierre notched a hat trick while senior Arianna Perez (5 ground balls) and junior Angie Juarez-Alvarez (5 ground balls) each netted two. Emily Bejarano scored a lone goal for the Bears while Ana Lobaton scooped 10 ground balls.Boys TennisBishop Verot 5, Oasis 2: Nate Orozco and Michael Abreu won their singles matches for Oasis.TUESDAYBaseballNaples 7, ECS 6: Ryder Lutz went 4 for 4 with a double, 3 runs, and an RBI, while Nick Tobia (2 RBI) and Joey Karth (2 doubles, 1 RBI) each went 2 for 4 for ECS.SFCA 9, Sarasota Christian 3: Ian Long and Kru Voltz each had 2 hits and 2 RBI. Logan Waldrup had 2 hits and scored 2 runs. Dylan Plimpton reached base all 4 at bats with 2 hits and 2 walks, scoring a run and an RBI. Leo Montufar pitched a complete game, allowing 3 hits and striking out 5. SoftballGulf Coast 16, Lely 4 (5 Inn.): Junior Emma Caetano had a triple and drove in 2. Freshman Kadi Hodgson was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and scored 3 times. Eve Preddy drove in 4 and pitched 2 innings in relief of senior Taylor Stalling. Sophomore Melissa Hyatt was 1 for 1 with an RBI and run scored.Bishop Verot 3, St. John Neumann 1: Cece Spencer went 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch as well as a great defensive outing at third base with 4 putouts. Jesse Camejo had a hit and an RBI, and Sophia Escobar pitched six innings, allowing one earned run with two walks.Seacrest 11, Everglades City 1: Eighth-grader Caroline Porter led the Stingrays, striking out 9 over 5 innings, allowing just one hit and one run, and was 2 for 3 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. Maddie Haberman (7th) was 2-2 with two doubles and one RBI. Maeve Magee Fullum went 3 for 3 with three doubles and 4 RBI and Shawn Chiraguayo went 2 for 2 with an RBI.Riverdale 9, Ida Baker 5: Jamie Penia went 3 for 4 with a double, Ella Bundy had one hit with 2 RBI, Aleaha Acosta went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Addie Manetta had three hits with 2 doubles and was the winning pitcher with 6 Ks on the mound. Girls LacrosseGateway 20, Immokalee 0: Amadis Bocalandro and Maley Joseph scored 7 goals each and seven different Eagles scored to lead Gateway to the victory tonight at Immokalee. Estero 16, Cypress Lake 0: The Wildcats extended their winning streak to three, led by Amelia Krupp, Samantha Moore, and Marissa Masink with 4 goals each. Avabella Falcone posted her first shutout of the season in goal.Girls TennisFort Myers 6, Bonita Springs 1: Singles, 1. Gemma Plumb (F) d. Reece Adams 8-4; 2. Isabelle Rose (F) d. Michelle Montfugar 8-0; 3. Anastasia Martin (F) d. Cassidy Cranor 8-3; 4. Emily Chesnut (B) d. Nora Manderschied 8-6; 5. Richelle Britto (F) d. Hannah Powell 8-2. Doubles, 1. Plumb/Rose (F) d. Adams/Chestnut 8-4; 2. Martin/Britto d. Cranor/Powell 8-5.North Fort Myers 6, Ida Baker 1: Singles, 1. Alexis Neumann (N) d. Maria Radford 6-0, 6-0; 2. Alivia Neumann (N) d. Franchesca Vazquez 6-0, 6-1; 3. Daniela Salgado (N) d. Julika Feix 6-0, 6-0; 4. Sofia Uzcategui (I) d. Zoey Sumo 6-0, 6-2; 5. Berenice Sanchez (N) d. Corrie Morris. Doubles, 1. Neumann/Neumann (N) d. Redford/Feix 8-0; 2. Selgado/Sumo d. Vazquez/Rodriguez 8-3.Boys TennisMariner 6, Island Coast 1: Singles, 1. Andy Cajigan (I) d. Ryan Hunter (M) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Damien Gleason (M) d. Caleb Tran 6-0, 6-0; 3. Carlos Gonzalez (M) d. Caleb Cruz 6-0, 6-1; 4. Emanuel Barros (M) d. Derick Bento6-0, 6-0; 5. Jason Berenguer (M) d. Bladimir Palomo-Castro 6-0, 6-0. Doubles, 1. Hunter/Gleason d. Cajigan/Tran 8-6; 2. Kata.Earley (M) d. Bento/Cruz 8-1.

Flag Football

Whenever Joey Lawson’s on his game, good luck. If the curveball’s on point, good night.Mariner 26, Cape Coral 0: Kelsi Longabardi scored a 75-yard rushing touchdown and interception. Mia Standard threw 3 passing touchdowns and one interception. Olivia Hinote had 2 receiving touchdowns. Saniyah Narcisse and Sophia Flinn each had one interception.

MONDAY

Baseball

“He was able to land that for a strike and get himself ahead in a lot of the at-bats there and be able to lean on the fastball when he needed,” Verot coach Casey Scott said. “He was able to spot that up and locate. That’s his go-to there is that breaking ball, and to be able to change speeds and change the eyes with that and come back with the fastball.”

Girls Lacrosse

Barron Collier 11, North Port 3: Alan Overmyer went 3 for 4 with a home run, double, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI. Carson Felts hit a home run with 2 RBI and Mason Humphrey (2B, RBI) and Brody Graham (2B, 2 R, 2 RBI) each had two hits.