Sidelines: Pirates' softball pitchers pour it on

Leah Stevens struck out 17 batters in nine innings, but the Matanzas softball team lost an 11-inning pitching duel, 2-1 to University on March 28.

Emma Wood had both of the Pirates' hits in the game and raised her batting average to a scorching .667 (16 for 24). Grace Taylor got the win for University, striking out 15 in 7.1 innings.

Matanzas fell to 5-2. It was just the third time in five games that the Pirates have allowed more than one run. On March 25, the Pirates defeated Mendendez 8-1 at home with Wood batting 2 for 4 with a home run — her second of the season.

Heading into a tournament game March 31 against undefeated Orlando Christian Prep, Pirates pitchers Wood and Stevens both have earned run averages below 1.00. Stevens, a freshman, has 79 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.

Oliva signs with UAB

Flagler Palm Coast's Madelynn Oliva signed a bowling scholarship with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Oliva finished fourth individually and led the Bulldogs to a third-place finish at the high school state bowling championships in November.

She bowled her first 300 game in a preseason match in August.

National quarterfinalists

Matanzas wrestlers Jordan Mills and Tiana Fries both made the quarterfinals in their divisions at the National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Nationals on March 25-27 in Virginia Beach.

Both Mills, a state runner-up, and Fries, a state champ, came within one win of reaching All-American status. They both went 3-2 in the tournament. Mills lost by a 1-0 decision in his last match. Matanzas senior Tyson Mills also competed at nationals.