Spring prep district alignment revealed
Super districts have become the way of the future for Cape Coral area high schools.
The FHSAA this week released the tentative reclassified districts for baseball and softball and they’re on par with the districts that have been finalized in other sports such as basketball, soccer and volleyball.
The new District 4A-11 consists of Cape Coral, Ida Baker, Mariner, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Riverdale, Cypress Lake, South Fort Myers, Estero and Lemon Bay.
The schools had a student population of 1,306-1,778 as of fall 2008.
The large district still will produce two regional playoff teams – the district champion and runner-up.
“It’s just going to be a bigger tournament,” Ida Baker athletic director Eric Yankovich said.
After a two-year probationary period, Island Coast is placed in District 3A-12 along with Bishop Verot, Dunbar, Gateway Charter and LaBelle.
The student population of these schools was 522-1,305 as of fall 2008.
Island Coast began holding classes in its new school building last fall, but started its athletic program a year earlier when the school occupied portable classrooms.
Oasis Charter, which started its athletics in 2008-09, must wait one more year before becoming eligible for district play.
When that time comes, they’ll compete in District A-10 in baseball with four other schools – Southwest Florida Christian, Bradenton Manatee HEAT, Sarasota Christian and Seacrest County Day.
Oasis is in A-10, with nearly the same group of schools, for basketball, soccer, and volleyball.
Oasis athletic director Dave Montrose said those schools were “gracious” to schedule games against Oasis this coming season, though they won’t officially be a member of the district until 2010-11.
Montrose added that Oasis is starting softball in the spring, but it’s uncertain how much participation there will be. Oasis will compete as an independent in softball for the next year.
Oasis moves into its new building in August. The rising student population figures to be around 150 for 2009-10.