Sports

Osceola High alum Ra’Shawna Sippio, shown during her playing days at the University of South Alabama (2007-09), returns to coach the Kowgirls basketball program. PHOTO/U. OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Osceola turns girls hoops program to alum Ra'Shawna Sippio

J. Daniel Pearson

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

In recent years, Osceola High School storied girls’ basketball has fallen on hard times. The once proud program hit a low point last year with a 3-13 record, and has posted just one winning season in its last four campaigns, a modest 12-9 record three years ago.

Kowboys baseball players pose with the District Championship Trophy for their fans. PHOTO/CARRIE PALMI

Kowboys win 5-0 for district crown; host Park Vista in Tuesday's regional

J. Daniel Pearson

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Doing his best Shohei Ohtani impersonation, senior Danny Ramirez struck out 11 and drove in two runs in leading the Osceola Kowboys to a 5-0 win over Lake Nona in the Class 7A, District 9 championship game Friday.

The Tohopekaliga Tigers will play in the inaugural FHSAA beach volleyball state tournament starting Friday in Tallahassee. PHOTO/TOHOPEKALIGA HIGH SCHOOL

Upstart Tigers beach vollleyball team makes state championship appearance

J. Daniel Pearson

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

The team was created because of the pandemic; they did not know until the last minute whether they had approval to play, and then the coach spent half the inaugural season trying to get enough games scheduled so they could compete in the district championship.

Harmony QB Martha Edwards takes a snap from center against Park Vista. PHOTO/DAN PEARSON

Harmony flag football season ends with 12-0 loss to Park Vista

J. Daniel Pearson

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Lindsay Ward caught a 62-yard touchdown pass and Cobras tagged on a late touchdown after an interception as Lake Worth Park Vista defeated Harmony, 12-0, in a Class 2A Regional Quarterfinal on Tuesday night.

Celebration's Lucas Nieves (14) hits as St. Cloud's Angelo Gutierrez (6) and William Sutphen (10) attempt to block in Tuesday's regional boys volleyball playoff game. PHOTO/KEN JACKSON

Celebration defeats St. Cloud in three tough sets, moves on in boys volleyball playoffs

Ken Jackson

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

St. Cloud took favored Celebration to the limit in each of their three sets Tuesday, but the host Storm used fast starts to defeat the Bulldogs, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22 in an FHSAA boys volleyball first-round playoff matchup.

Midfielder Rueben Marquez spearheaded an undefeated regular season for Celebration, leading the senior to earn Osceola News-Gazette’s Player of the Year honors. PHOTO/CELEBRATION HIGH SCHOOL

All-County Boys Soccer — Marquez led Storm’s stellar season

J. Daniel Pearson

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Led by midfielder Rueben Marquez, the Celebration Storm went undefeated in the regular season, won both district and Orange Belt Conference titles and advanced to regional play.

Osceola center fielder Isaiah Jean Baptiste (batting) reached base three times and scored twice in Osceola's 6-4 win over St. Cloud (Photo J. Daniel Pearson)

Baseball, softball distict tournaments this week

J. Daniel Pearson

Monday, May 2, 2022

Isaiah Jean-Baptiste reached base three times, collected two hits and scored twice and Danny Ramirez struck out five of the six batters he faced as the Osceola Kowboys (19-5) concluded its 2022 regular season with a 6-4 win over rival St. Cloud (5-17).

Celebration is the district Champion after a 25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 25-22 road win over Tohopekaliga. The Storm will host a regional quarterfinal playoff game on Tuesday.

Regional playoffs Tuesday for district champs Harmony flag football, Celebration boys volleyball

J. Daniel Pearson

Friday, April 29, 2022

Regional playoffs begin Tuesday in boys volleyball and flag football, some of the last remaining games of the 2021-22 sports calendar, and Osceola County is represented, with teams hosting games. Celebration and St.

Harmony’s Morgan Sullivan tallied 17 goals this season and six assists in leading the Longhorns to another OBC championship. Sullivan shares Player of the Year honors with Gateway’s Nicole Ramirez-Parra. PHOTO/HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL

All-County Girls Soccer: Sullivan, Ramirez-Parra a step ahead

J. Daniel Pearson

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

When it came to girls’ soccer in the 2021-22 season, two players stood above the rest — Harmony’s Morgan Sullivan and Gateway’s Nicole Ramirez-Parra for Player are the Osceola News-Gazette Girls Soccer Co-Players of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

The Special Olympics USA Games are coming to our area June 5-12, with events at Osceola Heritage Park and ESPN Wide World of Sports. It’s part of a 50th anniversary celebration for Special Olympics.