Area parks hosting events
This weekend, Florida USSSA Baseball’s War on I-4 tournament will use fields at Mike Sansone Park, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, Plant City Stadium, Ellis-Methvin Park and the MLK Rec Complex with start times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Also coming to town is Northwest Tampa Lacrosse’s 2019 Florida Fall Classic Tournament, which will use the fields at Ellis-Methvin Park. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Next weekend, Global Sports Alliance Florida Baseball will host Fall State Championships tournament action at Mike Sansone Park, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, Plant City Stadium, Ellis-Methvin Park, Snowden Park and the MLK Rec Complex from Nov. 8-10. Games start at 6 and 7:15 pm. Nov. 8 and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10.
The Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5K also comes to town next weekend. The race, sponsored by the United Food Bank of Plant City in conjunction with the Empty Bowls Project, starts and ends downtown at the Palmer Street train depot. There is a $35 race fee plus a $3 sign-up fee. Runners have until 11:59 p.m. Nov. 7 to register. Visit ufbpc.org/fork-ran-away-w-the-spoon-5k to sign up.
Crest volleyball in regionals
Strawberry Crest’s volleyball team kept its late-season hot streak going through this week with more success in the FHSAA regional playoffs.
The Chargers, who haven’t lost a game since Sept. 24, followed up their district title win over George Jenkins with a tightly contested 3-2 win over Viera at home in the 6A-Region 3 quarterfinals. Just when things looked most grim for Crest — the Hawks won the first two sets of the evening — the hosting team rebounded to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat. Crest won back-to-back sets with 25-23 scores and took the third set, 15-13, to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal matchup against top-seeded Winter Springs High School.
Tuesday’s game at Winter Springs, however, ended with the Chargers taking a 3-0 loss to the Bears.
Punt, Pass, Kick winners
The Plant City Recreation & Parks Department/Optimist Youth Flag Football Tri-Star Punt, Pass & Kick Football Skills Contest was held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26 and 48 boys and girls age 6-15 came out to test their pigskin prowess.
Girls Winners:
6-7 year olds — Abela Cisneros (First place, 87 feet, two inches)
8-9 year olds — Stella Lintz (First place, 82 feet, two inches), Lily Flores (Second place, 81 feet, three inches)
10-11 year olds — Gianna Stanley (First place, 80 feet, six inches)
12-13 year olds — Gracie Edgemon (First place, 241 feet, four inches), Nahlia McGrath (Second place, 140 feet, nine inches)
14-15 year olds — Gemma Stanley (First place, 151 feet, nine inches)
Boys Winners:
6-7 year olds — Chamberlin Smith (First place, 77 feet, eight inches), Landon Tomer (Second place, 76 feet, four inches), Jaelin Simmons (Third place, 44 feet, 11 inches)
8-9 year olds — Cardoza Watkins (First place, 134 feet), Cameron Hill (Second place, 124 feet, four inches), Jace Buehlman (Third place, 108 feet, nine inches)
10-11 year olds — Arkeem Teague (First place, 184 feet, six inches), Myron Stewart (Second place, 184 feet, five inches), Earl Keaton Jr. (Third place, 170 feet, three inches)
12-13 year olds — Angel Rodriguez (First place, 250 feet), Cade Johnson (Second place, 208 feet, six inches), Chase Lee (Third place, 194 feet, five inches)
14-15 year olds — Moses White (First place, 350 feet, four inches), Evan Phillips (Second place, 257 feet), Patrick Johnson (Third place, 235 feet, one inch)
Elks Soccer Shoot winners
Of the 120 boys and girls who competed in this year’s local Elks Soccer Shoot competition, held Oct. 22 and 24 in Plant City, the following recorded top-three finishes. The first-place winners advanced to the district round, which will be held Nov. 23 in Arcadia.
U-8 Girls
1st: Amany Palacios
2nd: Jenna Kiper
3rd: Isabella Martinez
U-8 Boys
1st: Ethan Rois
2nd:Josue Roblero
3rd: Santiago Vazquez
U-10 Girls
1st: Kimberly Sanchez
2nd: Maite Gonzalez
3rd: Jordan Kiper
U-10 Boys
1st: Brandon Palacios
2nd: Daniel Ewers
3rd: Luis Mar
U-12 Girls
1st: Gavriella Leon
2nd: Camila Berrios
3rd: Sienna Kremper
U-12 Boys
1st: Gianni Geronimo
2nd: Andres Lopez
3rd: Oliver Pena
U-14 Girls
1st: Arely Salgado
2nd: Delilah Otero
3rd: Diana Pena
U-14 Boys
1st: Brayden Edgemon
2nd: Moises Beltran
3rd: Josiah Comas
U-16 Girls
1st: Leslie Pena
2nd: Patricia Sotello
3rd: Kiana Kropp
U-16 Boys
1st: Simon Gonzalez
2nd: Derek Palacios
3rd: Kevin Aguilar