Sports

Jazz Santiago and the district champion St. Cloud Bulldogs will begin their climb in the Class 7A regional softball playoffs Thursday against Tohopekaliga. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Jazz Santiago and the district champion St. Cloud Bulldogs will begin their climb in the Class 7A regional softball playoffs Thursday against Tohopekaliga. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

A mad dash to spring sports playoffs

J. Daniel Pearson
Monday, May 4, 2026
Pick a spring sport and you will state championship playoff action in full swing this week.  That action includes half of the public schools in Osceola County that still have teams or individuals alive in competition.
FHSAA state track meet berths will be on the line at next weekend's regional meets at Lakeland George Jenkins High School. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

FHSAA state track meet berths will be on the line at next weekend's regional meets at Lakeland George Jenkins High School. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Postseason continues for lifters, track and volleyball

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Late April can bring one of the busiest times of the year for high school sports programs with post-season aspirations and this year is no different as several teams and individuals in Osceola County have their site set on both regional and state competition.Here is a look at the postseason action.
It all tells the story — scoreboard, and the St. Cloud celebration, as the Bulldogs rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Harmony, 2-1, in the District 7A-6 championship game. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

It all tells the story — scoreboard, and the St. Cloud celebration, as the Bulldogs rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Harmony, 2-1, in the District 7A-6 championship game. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Bulldogs walk it off for dramatic district title

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Shyenne Hawkins slashed a two-run double to left center with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give St. Cloud the District 7A-6 softball championship with a 2-1 win over arch-rival Harmony Wednesday night.“An incredibly well-played game by both teams,” St. Cloud coach Ray Whobrey said.
Marinos moving on — while Gateway point Alyssa Marino graduates and moves on to play at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, her dad and coach Justin Marino announced Monday he too is stepping away from the Panthers program. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Marinos moving on — while Gateway point Alyssa Marino graduates and moves on to play at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, her dad and coach Justin Marino announced Monday he too is stepping away from the Panthers program. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Hanging up his whistle — Justin Marino stepping down from Gateway girls hoops

J. Daniel Pearson
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
After 169 wins, two Final Four appearances, and a trophy case full of Orange Belt Conference, district and regional championships in the Gateway High gym,  girls’ basketball coach Justin Marino is stepping away from the Panthers program.
A two-run triple by Harmony's Angel Medina, shown here in the District 7A-9 championship game, was the big blow in third inning of a 6-5 regional playoff victory Friday over St. Cloud. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

A two-run triple by Harmony's Angel Medina, shown here in the District 7A-9 championship game, was the big blow in third inning of a 6-5 regional playoff victory Friday over St. Cloud. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

Another April baseball win for Harmony

J. Daniel Pearson
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Of late, April features two inevitables: taxes are due, and Harmony plays into the regional baseball semifinals.For the third year in a row, the Longhorns won their opening Class 7A playoff game thanks to a five-run third inning that held up Friday in beating arch-rival St. Cloud, 6-5.
Despite early struggles, the Harmony Longhorns claimed another district flag football championship Thursday at Celebration High. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

Despite early struggles, the Harmony Longhorns claimed another district flag football championship Thursday at Celebration High. (Photo/J. Daniel Pearson)

Harmony, Gateway find district flag football titles at the end of the road

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, April 24, 2026
Osceola County has a pair of road-warrior district champion flag football teams.At Celebration, freshman Ivy Munns threw four touchdown passes as Harmony overcame a slow start and won the District 4A-10 title, 26-13 over the host Storm.
Harmony’s Nathan Lyttle was in command of the Class 3A 120-bracket all the way until the championship match. (Photo/Katie Williams)

Harmony’s Nathan Lyttle was in command of the Class 3A 120-bracket all the way until the championship match. (Photo/Katie Williams)

ALL-COUNTY WRESTLING — Harmony’s Nathan Lyttle tops again

J. Daniel Pearson
Friday, April 24, 2026
Although he came up just short of his ultimate goal of a second straight FHSAA state championship, Harmony’s Nathan Lyttle was the most dominating wrestler in the county, and for the second consecutive year the Osceola News-Gazette Wrestler of the Year.
After delivering a two-run double in the fourth, Harmony’s Ashton Fayne tacks on another Longhorn run beating a throw to the plate in the home team’s 8-2 District 7A-9 win Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

After delivering a two-run double in the fourth, Harmony’s Ashton Fayne tacks on another Longhorn run beating a throw to the plate in the home team’s 8-2 District 7A-9 win Friday. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

‘Hello my friend, we meet again’— rivals clash for 4th time

J. Daniel Pearson
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Harmony broke open a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with six unearned runs to beat St. Cloud, 8-2, in the District 7A-9 championship baseball game Friday at the Mike Fields Complex.
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