Bangoura, Sforza earn doubles title

The Class 1A state singles title eluded Out-of-Door Academy's M'Balia Bangoura, but the senior didn't come home from the state tournament empty-handed Friday.

Bangoura teamed with Sydney Sforzo to win the girls doubles title at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.

The duo defeated Samantha DeMaio and Lindsey Greenwood of Winter Park, 6-1, 6-3, in the semifinals. Then they defeated Sara Culbertson and Nicole Katzarkov of Riviera Prep, 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 in the tiebreaker, in the final. The Thunder duo won the final six points of the tiebreaker to earn the title.

Both matches were originally scheduled for Thursday, but rain in the area prompted delays Wednesday and Thursday, pushing doubles back to Friday.

The state title is the third of Bangoura's career. She is committed to play for Nebraska in the fall. The title is the first for Sforzo, an eighth-grader.

Culbertson, who is committed to Miami, defeated Bangoura in the singles final on Thursday. Katzarkov is committed to play for Quinnipiac.

Baseball

Saint Stephen's 6, Cambridge Christian 5 -- Nick Runde's bases-loaded single with no outs in the eighth scored Mike Madigan to lift the host Falcons (15-10) on senior night. Runde (7-3) earned the win with three innings of relief of Sam O'Dell, who worked the first five innings. O'Dell also went 3 for 3 at the plate, leading a 10-hit attack.

Saint Stephen's returns to action Wednesday against Shorecrest at Largo Indian Rocks Christian School in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A, District 5 playoffs.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 12:23 AM with the headline "Bangoura, Sforza earn doubles title ."