BASKETBALL + Tigers win in second tourney Once again, the Plant City Tigers’ 10th-graders are champs. They played in a tournament last weekend in Auburndale, and nearly swept the competition. They started April 12, with a loss, 84-64, to the Auburndale Hoops 11th-graders, but that was the only mishap. They then snuck past the Plant City […]
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WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Baseball pranks
Part of the reason I love baseball is that no other sport gives you as much freedom for goofing around with teammates. Pranks and baseball go together like peanut butter and jelly, which is why you’ll often catch some if you pay attention. On Sunday morning, I went to Deadspin.com and immediately saw the headline, […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Jordan Jolly
Durant High School’s boys lacrosse team didn’t exactly go out the way it wanted to, following up a 13-7 win over Robinson April 9, with a 13-10 loss to Alonso two days later. But, there were a few bright spots in that stretch, one of them being Jordan Jolly’s performance. The junior midfielder contributed seven […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: RICOH Children’s Golf Classic
Friday’s weather was ideal for golfing, and golfers who participated in the RICOH Children’s Golf Classic at Walden Lake took full advantage of it. The charity tournament, sponsored by South Florida Baptist Hospital, followed a four-person scramble format and featured some tasty barbecue for guests to snack on.
Continue ReadingMeet Durant’s Miss Cougar, Payton Astin
Few people know the meaning of the phrase, “Hard work pays off,” quite like athletes do — especially the ones recovering from an injury. Don’t try to tell Payton Astin anything different. Astin, 16, entered Durant High School’s “Miss Cougar” competition and, on March 28, won both her division (lightweight) and the overall title. This […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Paxton Sims
Durant baseball has been on a bit of a tear since losing 10-2 April 1, at Strawberry Crest, 10-2. The Cougars followed up an 11-4 beatdown on Tampa Bay Tech with a 10-0 shutout of Plant City April 4, caught on television by Bright House Sports Network. Although many Cougars had a great day, it […]
Continue ReadingMy persistent bad luck with Tampa Bay teams
I don’t know what I was expecting. Every year, I do all of the smart-sports-guy analysis stuff that most in my profession do when filling out my NCAA tournament bracket: hours of research, video study and arguing with other sports guys over things like, “How the heck is anyone supposed to stop Creighton’s offense?” As […]
Continue ReadingSidelines 04.10.14
GOLF + Start Smart Golf taking reservations Now that the weather’s improving, it’s almost time for great golfing conditions. And, when that consistently nice weather rolls around, parents will have the chance to teach their kids how to play. Start Smart Golf, an introductory program for kids ages 5 to 7, is coming May 1 to […]
Continue ReadingVTO Combine showcases area’s top pigskin prospects
Sun ‘n Fun wasn’t the only air show April 5. Anyone who attended the VTO Football Combine at Plant City High School got to see for themselves, as some of the hundreds of participants could be seen diving through the air to make a catch. Dozens of fans lined the bleachers to watch the drills, […]
Continue ReadingPTI Maniacs to represent Team USA in the Bahamas
The weather over these past few days has been excellent. Sunny, low 80s, light wind — where could there possibly be better baseball weather than this? One answer, as members of the PTI Maniacs baseball team could find out this summer, is in the Bahamas. And they have the opportunity to find out, because they […]
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