SPORTS

SOFTBALL: Lakewood Ranch sweeps Class 7A awards

Outfielder Cassidy McLellan named Player of the Year, T.J. Goelz tabbed as Coach of the Year

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Cassidy McLellan has emerged as a leadoff hitter for the Lakewood Ranch High softball team and carries a 21-game hitting streak into the Final 4.

Lakewood Ranch High outfielder Cassidy McLellan and coach T.J. Goelz were honored by the Florida Dairy Farmers balloting of a statewide panel of high school softball coaches and prep media representatives.

McLellan, a sophomore, was named Class 7A Player of the Year. She received 124 points, 20 more than runner-up Aminah Vega of Orange City University.

McLellan batted .542 with 15 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, 59 runs scored and 42 runs batted in.

Lakewood Ranch High softball coach TJ Goelz hits to his players during a fielding drill during practice on March 31, 2021.

Goelz guided the Mustangs to their first state title in program history. Lakewood Ranch finished 30-2 and crushed Miami Palmetto, 17-2, in four innings and defneding champion Lake Worth Park Vista, 14-4, in six innings in the Final 4.

Every player in the Mustangs’ starting lineup got a hit in both games.

Goelz crushed his competition, receiving 221 points to 93 for Park Vista coach Joe DellaRocca, his classmate growing up.

Both McLellan and Goelz are up for Miss Softball and Coach of the Year in Florida, respectively.

Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing.