Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com, or Tweet us at @PCTOSports.
FOOTBALL
+ Spring games scheduled
Local football fans may want to go ahead and make plans for next Thursday night, as there will be rivalry showdowns at Strawberry Crest and Bloomingdale.
Plant City High will travel to Dover May 21 to take on the Chargers in this year’s spring game. This is a chance for fans to get a sneak peek of both teams’ up-and-coming talent and to see how established players, such as Markese Hargrove and Jordan Zilbar, are progressing. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
The defending district champion, Durant, will play the first half of Bloomingdale High’s spring showcase against Newsome, with the beginning at 6:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
+ Durant makes states
The “Cardiac Kids” have done it again.
After trailing, 2-1, for much of Tuesday’s Class 7A championship game, the Durant Cougars mounted a comeback in the sixth inning to top Osceola, 5-3 and advance to the state championships in Fort Myers.
The Kowboys scored two quick runs to start the game, and Durant got on the board one inning later thanks to a Cesar Caro RBI single. But until the sixth inning it was nothing but bad luck for the Cougar offense.
Solid pitching from Bryce Gainer kept Osceola from making any more noise. A leadoff home run from Harrison Theocharakis got the home crowd as electric as the lightning bolts that dominated the skyline, and the Cougars cycled through the batting order while adding three runs. Justin Nardello, Scolaro and Cade Kelley each scored after a Jake Sullivan sacrifice fly and a Zach Barfield RBI single. The inning ended after Jonathan Hermann and Theocharakis struck out consecutively.
Scolaro wasn’t charged with Osceola’s run in the final frame, as it came on a fielding error out in left, and he was able to get the final outs with ease.
It marks the second time in three years that Durant has made it to states, and the first time in seven that head coach Butch Valdes was successfully hit with an orange Gatorade bath.
OUTDOOR SPORTS
+ Observer wants tips, tricks, tales
If you wish to be featured in upcoming issues of the Plant City Times & Observer for your outdoor sports prowess, there’s still time to get your stories or activity advice to the staff.
Sports reporter Justin Kline is looking for anyone with a passion for watersports, fishing, hunting or whatever keeps you active in the great outdoors during the summertime. Anyone interested can email jkline@plantcityobserver.com.