Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
FOOTBALL
+ Tavares Chase cracks ESPN 300
“Cracks” might be an understatement.
Last week, Plant City High School wide receiver/defensive back Tavares Chase found himself on ESPN’s Junior 300 for the first time — but, rather than just barely making it, he ended up at No. 205 with a four-star rating.
Chase currently has over 20 offers from Division I schools and has yet to make a verbal commitment.
LITTLE LEAGUE
+ PCLL teams show heart in tournament
Three Plant City Little League squads took the field for the Section 4 tournaments July 11 to 13.
10-11 Softball: Competing in the smallest field of the bunch — the 10-11 Softball team only had to face Palmetto Little League — the Plant City team played hard to stay alive, after dropping the first game, 6-4. In the elimination game, the girls kept it close until the third inning — when Palmetto’s offense caught fire and put four runs on the scoreboard. That put the final score at 6-2, but the Plant City girls didn’t let that dampen their spirits.
Senior Softball: Although Plant City started on a good note, beating Zephyrhills 7-5 July 11, in the tournament opener, they were edged out the next morning by eventual champion Lake Wales, 11-7, and then walloped by runner-up Dade City, 13-1, in the afternoon. The girls did end the tourney with a big win, though — a five-inning, 16-5 blowout over East Point.
9-10 Baseball: The Plant City A team continued its strong postseason run over the weekend by cruising to the Section 4 Championship game. The boys recorded 10-0 shutouts against both South Brandon and Land O’Lakes, and didn’t get much more of a fight from runner-up Manatee West — an 11-3 rout over six innings.
With the Section 4 championship win, the 9-10 A team is getting ready to compete in this weekend’s state tourney in Fort Myers. Although the list of teams has not been finalized as of press time — thanks to rain delays that have prevented games from being played — the schedule has been. Plant City will play in Pool A, against the champions of Sections 2, 5 and 6.
They open tournament play at 6 p.m. Friday, July 18, with a game against the Section 5 winner and will play twice July 19, to determine the pool winner. The championship game will be played between the winner of Pool A and Pool B at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 20.
The tournament will be held at the Sam Fleishman Complex at DeLeon Park, 1750 Mathews Drive, Fort Myers.
For more information, visit floridallb.com/tournament_state.php.
SOCCER
+ Registration open for FCPC skills camp
FC Plant City has opened up registration for next month’s Technique-Skills camp, to take place Aug. 11 to 14.
According to Technical Director Greg Petersen, the camp will utilize a new development program. The program details have not been formally announced yet.
The camp is for players ages 4 to 18 and costs $125 per camper. Registration forms can be found at the FCPC website, and checks can be mailed to FCPC Soccer Camp, 1904 S. Park Road, and made payable to the City of Plant City.
For more information, visit www.fcplantcity.com.