Prep round-up | Braden River defensive standouts pick up NAIA offers

Three Pirates pick up collegeiate offers

Braden River's football season just ended, but three players got a peek into their future when they picked up a college offer from Warner University.

The NAIA program, located in Lake Wales, offered senior linebacker Chase Balliette, senior linebacker Ronnie McClellan and senior defensive back A.J. Moore on Monday.

The three were starters this past season for a Braden River defense that intercepted 28 passes, pitched four shutouts and allowed 9.21 points per game during a stirring Class 7A state semifinal run.

Balliette also has an offer from the University of the Cumberlands, another NAIA football program located in Kentucky.

Girls soccer

LAKEWOOD RANCH 4, FORT MYERS 1 -- Faith Schyck scored twice and the host Mustangs cruised to a 4-1 win against the Green Wave on Monday. Gi Kirstec added a goal and an assist, and Hajar Benjoud rounded out the scoring for Ranch (8-1, 1-1 Class 5A-8) with a goal.

Maria Gonzalez and Julia Ortiz also dished out assists to set up the scoring against Fort Myers (9-4, 4-1 Class 4A-District 12).

Lakewood Ranch returns to the field Wednesday for the start of a pivotal district stretch against Sarasota Riverview. Lakewood Ranch's meeting with Riverview is the first of four straight distrit matches.

SAINT STEPHEN'S 7, SARASOTA CHRISTIAN 0 -- Seven different Falcons scored goals, potting three in the first half and four in the second in a rout over the host Blazers.

Ashley Rodhouse, Katie Pierce, Lily Meaker, Julianna Dunbar, Kendall Miller, Kelsey Leskinin and Rena Parent all scored for Saint Stephen's (7-5, 4-1 Class 1A-District 7) to rout Sarasota Christian (1-9, 1-4).

Rodhouse and Dunbar also tallied two assists apiece. Pierce, Miller and Leskinen added one assist apiece.

The Falcons are back in action quick, as they play host to Imagine School of Northport on Tuesday night.

BRADENTON CHRISTIAN 2, ST. PETERSBURG KESWICK CHRISTIAN 1 -- On the Panthers' Senior Night, a goal by McKenna Jackson in her final game in Bradenton was the difference. The striker scored a goal in BCS' 2-1 win against Keswick Christian on Monday.

Midfielder Molly Stetsma scored the other goal for Bradenton Christian (8-2, 2-3 Class 1A-District 7) on an assist by defender Madeline Valadie, another of the eight seniors honored before the game.

Goalkeeper Rayna Smith also logged six saves to help stifle the Crusaders (0-11, 0-4 Class 1A-District 6). The Panthers return to the field Tuesday for a district game at Sarasota Christian.

Wrestling

MANATEE SWEEPS AT TOURNEY -- Manatee opened its season Friday at Bayside High School in Palm Bay, going 3-0 during its Friday dual meets against Fort Lauderdale Stranahan, Palm Bay Heritage and Bayside.

On Saturday, the Hurricanes competed in an individually bracketed tournament. Ten Canes reached at least the semifinals in their weight classes and seven reached the finals. Marshall Craig (113), Caleb Rudisill (138), Charles Small (145), Daniel Cunningham (152) and Connor Morang (170) all won their weight classes.

BRADEN RIVER FINISHES NINTH -- wrestled at the Peter Barker Tournament on Saturday in Dunedin. The Pirates finished ninth out of 20 teams in the one day tourney, led by the tournament's Most Outstanding Lightweight Chance Sharbono.

Riley Dunn placed 3rd and Lucas Romano took 4th.

The Pirates will be on the mats again this weekend, when it competes at The Graves, one of the toughest tournaments in the Southeast.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Prep round-up | Braden River defensive standouts pick up NAIA offers ."