One of the best things about going to a baseball game is the food, which is unlike anything you can get at other sporting events. Even here in Plant City, sometimes. With baseball and softball season officially over, I can tell you right now that I’m going to miss some of the food. I ate […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jessica McClernan
Durant’s flag football team lost a tight, 6-0 district championship game to Bloomingdale April 30, but the team still enjoyed a historically good regular season. And, after that game, senior captain Jessica McClernan will graduate as the holder of many single-season school records: passing yards (1,853), touchdowns (28), rushing yards (531), and rushing touchdowns (12). […]
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS + Area athletes make state teams Plant City will send six teams to Orlando for next weekend’s Summer Games. Participants include: P.C. Punishers (volleyball): Justin Ford, Joshua Ford, Garrett Johnson, Gregory Hawkins, John Straub, Michael Agustin, Ana Boxtha, Luis Ibarra, Erain Boxtha, Carol Boxtha and Yajaira Trevino P.C. Raiders (volleyball): Kyle Hall, Jesse Culpepper, […]
Continue ReadingSTORE AROUND THE CORNER: Top Shelf Sports Bar and Grill
Hooters. Ker’s WingHouse. Twin Peaks. For many people, the term “sports bar” is going to evoke one or more of these images. The owners of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World’s newest restaurant, Top Shelf Sports Bar and Grill, want their bar to be included in that conversation. Top Shelf was born from an […]
Continue ReadingMystery dinner theater returns to Plant City
A small, brand-new cruise ship sets off on its maiden voyage for what should be a relaxing getaway for its passengers. But, the ship ends up in the wrong port, at the wrong island. It is completely deserted. Or, is it? This is the kind of scenario Dr. Hal Brewer loved directing for Plant City’s […]
Continue ReadingDurant’s Craig Shimkus runs 2014 Boston Marathon
When Craig Shimkus came home from Boston last week, he was exhausted. His legs, worn out by the rigorous Boston Marathon, needed some convincing to do what he wanted them to. And, on top of that, he developed a cold. But Shimkus isn’t complaining. Monday, April 21, marked the second time that the Durant High […]
Continue ReadingPlant City set to tee off with Smart Start program
Remember those days of throwing a football or baseball around in the yard, or shooting hoops in the driveway? That’s how many young athletes were introduced to those sports, because it’s fun and easy to do at home. Golf, on the other hand, is not so easy to teach at home. Fortunately for Plant City-area […]
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BASEBALL + Durant repeats as district champs Any speculation about Durant’s district title chances at the beginning of the season was quashed April 25. The Cougars proved they didn’t need former star Tyler Danish to win a district title, squeezing out a 1-0 win over Brandon. But, it wasn’t easy. A pitchers’ duel between Durant’s Bryce […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Favorite sports movies
One thing I sometimes like to do when I talk to high school baseball players is ask about their favorite baseball movie. The only other sport with a high volume of quality movies is football, so many people tend to latch onto a movie and defend it to the death. I want to see where […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Luke Heyer
It was the bottom of the seventh inning, and Durant needed to get one out to win the district title. Starter Bryce Gainer had only given up three hits, but one man was on third. Luke Heyer took the mound, recognized Brandon’s squeeze play and helped get the final out, giving the Cougars their second […]
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