The Crosstown Showdown - Naples High at Barron Collier

The always anticipated match between Barron Collier High School and Naples High was made only higher this year because Naples came into the contest with a 4 and 2 record,while Barron had been undefeated.

In Friday's game, Naples defense was able to held the Cougars to only 3 points, which came on a spectacular 46 yard field goal in the first period.

If you look the pictures on naplespix.com you will see Barron's starting Quarterback Mark Schoenfeld suffered an ankle injury and was replaced in the second quarter by backup Julio Gomez.

Team Pictures

This is just a note for anyone looking for "Team Pictures" along with the individual portraits taken for the FBCN Beacons of the Outreach Tackle Football League, or for First Baptist Academy and its Fall Sports Teams.

I have posted those pictures online for those who want to order re-prints, or prints in different sizes. A reminder that you can also "crop" photos to your liking. A full length body shot can be cropped to a head shot. So play around.

If you are looking for specialties... such as Trading Cards, Plaques, Magazine Covers, and the like, email me Michael@naplespix.com and we will explain how we order those items.

So to see these pix, navigate to www.naplespix.com/team-pictures

October Sports Compilation

It sure has been a busy month so far, and I have been barely keeping up with photographing events, much less editing, processing, and posting the pix! Unfortunately what has suffered the most has been announcing and writing my updates here. If you are one of those who checks here for the latest, I apologize for not being current.

So, without further ado... some of the most recent additions:

FBA Middle School Soccer versus Village School from October 1st.

Barron Collier JV Football hosts Gulf Coast High also from October 1st.

Cross Country meet at Lemon Bay in Englewood. This was from Saturday October 3rd, and while there were a score of schools represented, I have shots from the JV Women's squad from FBA (because my daughter is on that team), but also some from Naples High, and some of the Varsity Men's finish.

Freshman Football - Pametto Ridge visits Barron Collier. Again from October 1, 2009. A busy day!

FBA's Middle School Volleyball Team. I was taking individual action shots back on September 15th. There is no focus on the opposing team here.

Football - First Baptist Academy at Bradenton Christian School. From October 2nd.


Football - FBA hosts the JV team from Evangelical Christian of Fort Myers on October 8th.

Outreach Football: Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior division games featuring teams from First Baptist Church - The Beacons, from Marco Island - The Eagles, and Community School of Naples - The Seahawks.


FBA Volleyball with pix from both the Varsity Team and Junior Varsity Pix.



Bishop Verot Freshman Football at Barron Collier.



Bishop Verot JV Football at Barron Collier.



More Football: FBA hosts Cape Coral Christian from October 16th.



Please check out these galleries and tell other friends, relatives, teammates, and even your opponents to look for pictures on Naplespix.com.

Football: Outreach Tackle Football League

The Outreach Tackle Football League in Naples, Florida has expanded this year. Last year the First Baptist Church of Naples team "The Beacons" had one opponent in three divisions. They faced Pee Wee, Junior, and Senior teams from the Marco Island Eagles. This year there are also teams in two divisions from Community School of Naples, where Junior and Senior division teams have been fielded. Community School has also adapted their soccer field for Football games, including this past week's installation of Goal Posts.

Coach (and youth Pastor) Kevin VanDuser of FBCN said that the league is very likely to expand again next year. He said he had to turn away 50 players this season, and is already planning on ordering equipment for at least that many more players next year. He also has had serious interest expressed from other existing youth teams in the area to join the Outreach league.

The teams play their games on Saturday mornings, and this week I took photos of some Junior Division games at the Community School field. I hope to get to some Pee Wee and Senior Division games on future visits.

Take a look at the gallery of pix from this week, and check back for more in the future at www.naplespix.com/football

Football: FBA hosts Princeton Christian

Well, Friday night was exciting for First Baptist Academy, as they were holding their first ever night game at their new field. The new lights had only been installed on Wednesday, and there was a new scoreboard as well.

The sky was ominous, with flashes of lightning in the East, dark swirling clouds overhead, and thunder in the background. But the game started at 7:30 as planned, with FBA hosting a young and fledgling Princeton Christian School team from Princeton, Florida.

Now Princeton (I digress), is a small town in Miami-Dade County, formerly a depot along the old Florida East Coast Railroad. As you may have by now wondered, it was actually named after Princeton University, and according to an entry in Wikipeedia, many of the original buildings were painted with University's Black and Gold colors.

I was told that Friday was PCS's first Varsity football game, and while FBA is in its first season, the PCS team was clearly over-matched. FBA came out and scored quickly and often. By the time the rain started, FBA already held a commanding lead.

As for pictures, I was watching the sky more than the field in the first quarter and was reluctant to bring out the equipment with what I expected as an imminent deluge (having been through this before - only to have micro-processors fail when soaked). By the time the game resumed, and I got the cameras on the field, the clock was running continuously under the FHSAA "mercy rule", consequently I did not have as much time to shoot as usual. The final score was FBA 56 and PCS 8.

Please enjoy what photos I did get at http://naplespix.com/football/2009-High-School-Gam and tell your friends.

Football: First Baptist - First Home Game Ever!

Well, a brand new Football program at First Baptist Academy of Naples holds it's first home game at it's brand new field on Orange Blossom Drive in Naples. The Lions hosted the Knights from Highlands Christian School of Pompano Beach. Neither team had the other on the schedule a few days ago, but FBA lost it's scheduled competitor, Sarasota Out Of Door because of Rosh Hashana, and Highlands scheduled competitor could not field a team.

FBA came into the match after two large defeats on the road, and having never scored an offensive touchdown. In this game, the Lions offense was much improved, scoring 3 touchdowns, and twice making successful 2-point conversions. The Knights scored 4 touchdowns and a field goal to win 31 to 22.

FBA's improvement in just it's third game gave great enjoyment to a large crowd in an entertaining match, and creates a hopeful atmosphere as the school readies for it's "homecoming" game next Friday.

Here are some shots from a middle school soccer match at First Baptist Academy on Tuesday September 15, 2009. I stopped by briefly, and took a few shots as I calibrated some settings on a new telephoto lens.

You can see all the shots at www.naplespix.com/soccer

FBA Middle School Volleyball

I stopped by FBA yesterday afternoon and watched some of the middle school girls volleyball match. Frankly I was limited in time, so I did not take any pictures of the opposing team, and I was testing settings with a new telephoto lens. The result, a handful of close-ups of some of the FBA girls. Enjoy. www.naplespix.com/volleyball

High School Football is Back!

Well, First Baptist Academy opened their Inaugural Football Season, with their first official game, Friday night in Moore Haven, Florida. The Moore Haven Terriers played host to the FBA Lions. The Terriers had little difficulty with the young FBA team, which includes a substantial number of players who would be on a Freshman squad if attending a larger High School.

Nevertheless, First Baptist was cheered on by a large and vocal crowd of fans who travelled from Naples to witness the first-ever game for the Christian High School. The loudest cheer of the night came when Senior Running Back Michael Rodriguez picked up a kickoff, and ran it back 100 yards for The Lions first, one, and only touchdown of the game.

While the game was lost 56 to 6, most of the FBA fans left pleased, knowing this team will improve under the experienced leadership of Head Coach Billy Sparacio. Moore Haven fans were also treated to some exciting play, including running back Fred Hall's 5 touchdowns.

Look for the pictures on www.naplespix.com/football

Football Scrimage: First Baptist Academy hosts Southwest Florida Christian Academy

Well, it has been a while since I last posted. I'm glad to be back. This Winter and Spring had been extremely disappointing for photography sales. With the bad economy, few were spending money on discretionary items. I could see the cutback in my sales. I was taking pictures of Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Basketball... and almost nothing was selling. Some of these sports never sold a single print. I finally became so discouraged, I put my camera away, and considered closing down the website altogether.

The announcement that my friends at First Baptist Academy were going to hold their first ever High School Football game - really a scrimmage in preparation for their debut season next fall - got me to break out the camera once again and trod the sidelines. I do enjoy shooting the action.

So, after a couple months in my economic exile, I return now with my first offering of new photos...

It was a great Saturday afternoon. It felt hot with tropical humidity that we have not seen in months. The sun was strong through scattered clouds, and only occasionally a breeze would try to develop, first from one direction and then another, but seldom for long enough.

There was a good sized crowd on both sides of the field, with at least as many from Fort Myers as Naples. The scrimmage rules were 10 plays per team, and then change possession. Water breaks, but no half time. Both teams played well for the first two thirds of the scrimmage, but as players were platooned, Southwest Florida Christian's passing game became more than FBA could counter with its running game.

I am sure players and coaches learn a lot they will use over the summer to improve for when the season begins.

Team Pictures

Teammates. The word implies membership, but there is often something more. There is a shared experience. Often hardships as well as success. At it's highest, it indicates a bonding, a tie not easily broken. Each teammate a unique but integral part of a greater whole. The team becomes part of each member's own identity.

Bonds like those developed on athletic teams during the most challenging years of life, as youth metamorphasises into adult, can last a lifetime.

I think of my older brother's best friends, the ones he has been able to count on when the chips are down, have been the high school teammates. The guys who tasted victory and endured defeat together, are still there for each other, 40 years later.

Teammates. It's a relationship. Sometimes, for a lifetime.

I just finished producing a custom "team picture" project for the First Baptist Academy Girls High School Basketball Team. I invite you to take a look at how we combined a team picture with action shots into one piece, that will hold memories together for a lifetime. Choose the "Team Pix" button on the menu bar at naplespix.com to see how they came out.

If you would like to honor your team with something special, email me and we can talk about your ideas, and see if we can make them happen.

And please remember to email me for any of your photographic needs. If I may say, we are quite versatile and creative. We not only shoot sports, but can help with personal, family, event, and commercial photography as well.

Thanks,

Mike

Lacrosse: Golden Gate Titans at Gulf Coast Sharks

I was invited to take pictures of Tuesday's Lacrosse match between Gulf Coast High and Golden Gate (yes, you can ask me to shoot your favorite school or club teams, and I will try to accommodate!) I was happy to come, in part because I had not only never shot pictures of Lacrosse before, I had never even seen a game. My knowledge was limited to the Lacrosse stick or racket kids play with.

It's actually a very exciting, fast moving, hard-hitting sport, that to my eye melds soccer with hockey. I was amazed to learn Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America, with a variation played by Native Americans, perhaps as far back as 1100.

In this match, Gulf Coast dominated throughout, but not surprisingly, because their program is older and more seasoned that Golden Gates'. I was also told that the Barron Collier team may be the best in the county, since they have been in operation the longest. I think a Cougar - Shark match would be a game to see for anyone who hasn't yet watched Lacrosse. You might become a fan.

Please take a look at the new Lacrosse Gallery on Naplespix.com!

Sunshine Athletic Conference Girls Middle School Division Championship: FBA vs. St. Anne's

Valentine's Day held not so much a massacre, but a hard fought battle, that in the end could have gone either way, but the roses went to the ladies of First Baptist Academy, as the 7th grade middle school Basketball team won it's Sunshine Athletic Conference division championship against St. Anne's.

Early on it seemed to be St. Anne's game to lose, as they took charge through the first quarter and most of the first half. FBA came back late in the second though, to close the gap to two points at the half. The the third was a scrappy battle , reminiscent of a Celtics-Lakers battle. In the fourth FBA gained a lead, but it began slip away just minutes from the close. A couple of clutch field goals and free throws finally sealed the win for the Lions, second championship in two years.

Our picture gallery includes action shots, and shots of the winning team members holding the trophy, and cutting down the net.

2009 District-12 Division 4-A Ladies Soccer Championship Semi-Finals

Wednesday was cold and beautiful. Wednesday night was just plain cold. But in Immokalee the action was hot on the soccer field. It was the semi-final matches of the District Championship for the ladies, and all four teams came ready to play. In the first match Golden Gate's Lady Titans were up against the Lady Bears of Palmetto Ridge. Palmetto was strong and consistent throughout, securing a berth in the Finals with a 4 to 0 win.

By the time the second match began, temperatures had fallen to the mid 40's and kept falling throughout. The game could not have been closer, with Naples and Lely finishing regulation and overtime with a 2 - 2. The match was decided by a series of best of 5 "penalty kicks", pitting each teams Goal Keeper alone against a single shooter. Naples secured the victory.

See all the action in a special gallery for the playoff by clicking here.

High School Basketball: Barron Collier hosts Palmetto Ridge

This past Tuesday, the Palmetto Ridge Bears came down to Barron Collier to take on the Cougars in Boys High School Basketball. We have action shots from all three games; Freshman, JV, and Varsity.

When you look for the pictures of your favorite players, check through each category for the games of interest. Click here to go to Basketball on Naplespix.com

High School Boys Varsity Basketball - Gulf Coast hosts Barron Collier

This was from a week ago, when the Barron Collier basketball teams travelled across town to Gulf Coast. It was two fantastic games with opposite results. In the first game, the JV squads battled hard with Barron finally edging the Sharks 55 to 51.

In the second game, Barron, arguably the favorite to win, just could not overcome the relentless defense of Gulf Coast. The Sharks just would not give an inch, and because of last minute strategies and intentional fouls, the outcome was much closer than the final 71 to 64 score looked.

Be sure to tell everyone to see the great game pix on Naplespix.com

JV High School Basketball - First Baptist Academy hosts Palmetto Ridge

The Lions of FBA have had a good season, but coming off a two week Christmas vacation without practice, proved to be the lump of coal in their stocking when they lost badly to Community School on Monday. The Palmetto Ridge Bears were going to bear the brunt of the Lions frustration.

As with the girls team on Thursday, the boys were not holding back anything. Their shooting was accurate, feet were fast, and defense strong. They were willing to penetrate and drive to the basket. The result was a near 30 point win.

See pix from this game by clicking here.

Thanks,
Mike

High School Soccer - Palmetto Ridge host Golden Gate

Thursday night featured a nearly full moon and chillier temperatures than we have experienced in recent days. But inside the lines the action was hot at Palmetto Ridge High School in Naples, Florida. The Bears were host to both JV and Varsity squads from Golden Gate High, and the intensity was high, but without the kinds of spectator antics we saw earlier in the week at Barron Collier.

I arrived in the second half of the JV match, but what became obvious was how well matched the teams were, especially on defense, as they finished with a 0 - 0 tie.

In the Varsity game, the battle was just as hard - with the Bears holding the highly successful Titans to one goal in the first half, and only giving way in the final 10 minutes of action. Golden Gate notched their 12th win 4 -0.

See action shots from each game on Naplespix.com

click here to go to the Soccer Page!

Thanks,
Mike

First Baptist Academy JV Girls host Golden Gate

From Thursday afternoon, January 8, 2009. The Golden Gate High School Girls Junior Varsity Basketball team travelled to First Baptist Academy to face the Lions, who were still licking their wounds from the previous Monday night loss to the Sea-Hawks of Community School.

The Lions came out roaring, and never let up, as if they could atone for Mondays outcome. The play on both sides was strong and serious, and Golden Gate made a strong push in the second half, but could not overcome the first half lead the Lions had built.

See pictures from the game on Naplespix.com by clicking here, and tell all team members, friends and family to check them out.

Thanks,

Mike

High School Boy's Varsity Soccer - Barron Collier High hosts Gulf Coast High

I attended the Soccer match between cross-town rivals Barron Collier and Gulf Coast High Schools held at Cougar Stadium Tuesday night. Both teams played all-out. Emotions were high even on the sidelines and in the stands.

Barron seemed to have the edge through most of the game, but Gulf Coast capitalized on a penalty kick, and scored again, but could not overcome Barron's 4 goals. Barron prevailed 4 to 2.

Click here to check out all the action shots on Naplespix.com

Thanks,
Mike

High School JV Basketball - Community School hosts First Baptist Academy

Well, we're into a new year, and new sports season, and shooting action pix! The holidays and personal activities had us on the sidelines for a few weeks, but now we're back on the real sidelines and baselines!

Thanks to Coach Gene Rochette at The Community School of Naples, we were able to take in the two JV games there Monday night. The very capable CSN teams both handled the young FBA teams easily. One might presume that because of the involvement of several middle school athletes in the composition of the FBA teams that they are not "up" to the High School JV level, but that would be a misjudgement. Both teams have fared well so far in the season, with the FBA JV men at 7 -2 including this loss. The women have a very respectable 5 -3 record.

Please check out the pictures from both games online at Naplespix.com

Here is a link to the Women's game.

Here is a link to the Men's game.

Please feel free to pass these links along to others who may enjoy the pictures, and your support helps keep pictures coming.

Thanks,

Mike