Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Broderick and Alonso defeat Countryside 4-3

CLEARWATER - Megan Broderick dominated from the start, and she helped steer Alonso to the District 3A regional title on Friday.

The Ravens head to Altamonte Springs for the state championships starting Tuesday after defeating Countryside 4-3.

Broderick, a freshman, dominated freshman Ashley Hunderford, 6-0, 6-0, to win her first regional, and Broderick's teammates Fernanda Ospina and her sister, Gabriella, also won.

"They are our three musketeers," Alonso coach Helen Soash said. "When those three step out on the court, they make us a special team."

"This is the first time I've played with a high school team, so I just wanted to get into my game," Broderick said.

Broderick is 30th in the state in the USTA 16-under rankings, and Soash said she can go farther.

The Ravens got another boost from the Ospina sisters, each of whom won their matches easily, but Countryside challenged when Nos. 4 and 5 players Sarah Neiner and Brianna Zabrist, respectively, won their singles matches, setting the stage for a double showdown.

The Ravens took care of it quickly when the Ospina sisters knocked off Hunderford and Vales, 6-1, 6-2.

Seminole could have escaped from the heat and gone home.

Although Sarasota Riverview already had won four of five singles matches to clinch the region title and a trip to state, the Warhawks weren't about to give up. They played both doubles matches, even though there was no chance they could win.

"We didn't want to forfeit," coach Mike Perlin said.

The Warhawks compromised with Riverview, playing doubles in pro sets, instead of the usual best two or three format. They lost both matches, losing the tournament 6-1 at Riverview.

Junior Amanda Yogus, Seminole's No. 1 singles player, beat Katie Gera 6-1, 6-3.

- LAURA LEE

Admiral Farragut ended its best season in school history, losing to Bradenton Academy in the region tournament 6-1 at Palm-Aire Country Club.

The Blue Jackets' win was in No. 2 singles. Rachel Silverberg was up 4-2 in the third set against Danyelle Shapiro when Shapiro was removed by her coach.

Silverberg, who had a muscle tear in her right shoulder, served underhanded for the second half of the match.

- LAURA LEE