All-Area Athletes & Teams
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1503113
www.yoursun.com Page 17 BOYS TENNIS SETH NEITLICH VENICE Seth Nietlich was a big part of one of the best boys tennis teams in Venice program history in 2022. The Indians went unde- feated through the regular season, blazing through opponents before being upset in heartbreaking fashion by Gulf Coast in the regional finals. Neitlich was one of a number of seniors in last year's lineup. Similarly to Venice's Nika DeLong, Neitlich played at multiple spots during the season. He would go 10-0 at No. 3 singles, while becoming a potent threat with team- mate Charlie Siddons at No. 1 doubles. Neitlich's nearly flaw- less season helped earn him the Sun Preps boys tennis Player of the Year award. While his team bowed out in the regional finals, Neitlich had the chance to compete longer in the individual tournament with Siddons. The pair made a run to the doubles state tour- nament for the second straight season, winning matches in the quarterfi- nals and semifinals before falling in the individual finals. Neitlich will continue his tennis career at the collegiate ranks starting next fall when he begins his time at Wake Forest University. BEACH VOLLEYBALL JALYNN GARDNER/ JULIA DAMICO CHARLOTTE The Charlotte High School beach volleyball team is a relatively new program in a relatively new sport. But the Tarpons have made great gains in a short period of time. Leading the way this season was the No. 1 duo of Jalynn Gardner and Julia Damico who helped the Tarpons to a 15-5 re- cord and trips to regionals and states for the first time, which resulted in them being named the Beach Volleyball Duo of the Year by the Charlotte Sun. After being on separate teams last season, with Gardner having never played beach volleyball, the two juniors were placed together early this season, eventually giving the program a true No. 1 duo they had been lacking. After getting a strangle- hold on the top position from other pairs in their own program, Gardner and Damico took on some of the best No. 1 teams in the region, winning some and losing some as they got used to each other's tendencies, but always providing a spark to their teammates regardless of the outcome. They came up big in the postseason, defeating Port Charlotte in the opening of regionals and winning in the regional finals against Estero to punch their ticket to states. There, the Tarpons were defeated by Hagerty to finish 14th in the state. Charlotte coach Alyssa Latham said the duo set an example for the entire program. "The award was well de- served. They are not only great physically, but very good mental leaders and stepped up to take on the leadership role," Latham said. "The girls look up to them and I don't have to worry about their grades. They're good in school." BASEBALL LANDON CARTER PORT CHARLOTTE Who knows what would have become of the Port Charlotte High School baseball team were it not for Landon Carter taking the mound once a week. Carter was named to his third All-Area team in as many seasons and was tabbed the Sun's Baseball Player of the Year for the way he mowed down the opposition and kept his team in most games. Though the season didn't end the way the junior ace wanted after a rough loss against North Fort Myers, there were so many great moments. Who can forget his nine-inning com- plete-game 2-1 victory over Lemon Bay, or his no-hitter against Imagine on Feb. 28 where he struck out 12, or his victory against Charlotte where he also hit a two-run home run? Not to mention his simple, baseball-speak analysis of his and his team's performance afterwards It all resulted in a 3-2 record with a 2.13 ERA, a record that could have been better with more run support. In 56 innings pitched he allowed just 43 hits and struck out 68. Carter was also the Pirates' top offensive weapon, batting .366 with 11 doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs, leading the team in all categories and providing a true bright spot in an other- wise mediocre season, which included five one- run losses. With one more season left, he is expected to be even better, with he and Kyle Herrera providing a great 1-2 punch at the front of the rotation. SOFTBALL AMBER CHUMLEY CHARLOTTE What a wild ride it has been for Chumley through three seasons at Charlotte High. As a freshman, she was the Tarpons' best hitter, batting .398 with 24 runs, 35 hits, 16 RBIs as well as 10 doubles, three triples and nine stolen bases. She even pitched a little for the Charlotte, going 3-2 with a 4.08 ERA. That earned her first- team All-Area honors. Her sophomore year was somewhat hampered by injury, limiting her time on the mound and affecting her at the plate, but she still managed to earn second-team All- Area honors. Back for more in 2023, more is exactly what she did. Able to focus on playing second base and batting with the addition of Dava Hoffer to the pitching rotation, Chumley wrecked the competition. She batted .494 and struck out just twice all season. She had a 15-game hitting streak as part of a stretch where she hit safely in 21 of 22 games. She had 18 extra-base hits: 12 doubles, a triple and five homers and drove in a team-high 32 runs. With her in the middle of an already potent offense, Charlotte rolled to its first district title of the 21st Century. In so doing, she was the choice as this year's Sun Preps Softball Player of the Year. SPRING FROM PAGE 16A SUN FILE PHOTO BY CHRIS BLAKE Charlotte's Julia Damico and JaLynn Gardner dive for the ball during the Tarpons' regional match against Estero High School at Carmalita Park. SEE SPRING, 18A