By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor
There was no shortage of great moments this past year in Plant City sports.
Durant High School especially had a memorable year, with its softball team winning the program’s first state championship followed by a historic 11-1 campaign by the Cougars football team.
The Plant City Observer was born this July, but we take a look back even further to recap the year that was in local sports, highlighting the notable sports moments in the past 12 months.
See inside for our top five moments in Plant City sports.
1. PERFECT COUGARS
The playoffs and a second straight district title already had been clinched by the Durant High football team, as the Cougars entered the game against King Nov. 9. It was that game that stood in the way of history. Durant rose up to the challenge, beating King 31-0 and capping off its first 10-0 regular season in school history.
“It’s something that we’ve never done, and I got chills today talking about it,” said head coach Mike Gottman about that win. “It’s just an awesome experience. It doesn’t happen very often, so it’s just an outstanding feeling right now.”
The Cougars finished off their historic season with a region quarterfinal win against Tampa Bay Tech and a loss in the region semifinal to rival Newsome.
2. SMALL TOWN, BIG EVENTS
Plant City is establishing itself as a major host of large sporting events.
Recently, Otis M. Andrews Park hosted the United Youth Football League’s national championship, during which top youth teams from across the country converged on Plant City. Several local teams also participated in the tournament, with the Plant City 10-unlimited Raiders winning a national title.
In March, the National Club Baseball and Softball Association brought college baseball and softball teams from throughout the country to Plant City to hold their spring training here. That tradition will continue in 2013.
The International Softball Federation, which calls Plant City home, regularly holds national and international competitions here, and the USSSA and the Global Sports Alliance also have attracted notable youth baseball tournaments to town, utilizing Plant City’s great parks.
3. CREST RE-CHARGED
The Strawberry Crest football team came into the year with a new coaching staff and a team that won just one game a season ago. After a convincing win in their preseason classic against Freedom, the Chargers put a stamp on a new era in the regular season opener, upsetting rival Plant City High 21-7 Aug. 1.
The win was the first against the Raiders and helped to gain the Strawberry Crest program, in just its fourth year of existence, some deserving attention.
Strawberry went on to have one of the most successful seasons to date, going 4-6 with hard-fought losses to district powers Hillsborough, Armwood and Sickles.
4. A LEAGUE OF HER OWN
The best baseball pitching prospect in the Plant City area may be a girl. Chelsea Baker, a sophomore at Durant High School, has gained national attention over the years for her dominance on the baseball mound, mowing down boys.
Baker’s signature pitch, the knuckleball, was taught to her by former major leaguer Joe Niekro.
Baker was featured on ESPN when she was 13. That segment was re-aired in June with an update. Baker has had her jersey enshrined at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and she made a trip to Japan this year, where girls/women’s baseball continues to grow.
This fall, Baker tried out and made the baseball team at Durant.
It’s safe to say that there will be plenty more highlights to come in the future for this talented pitcher.
5. FOREVER A TROJAN
A historic coach was honored Aug. 4. Not for a high school, college or professional team, and many people may have never heard of him. But, the players he coached and the people with whom he worked sure do.
Clarence “Junior” Clifton, the first coach of the Turkey Creek Trojans, was honored that day at Turkey Creek Stadium off Connell Road, in Plant City. Clifton coached the inaugural 1968 Trojans team and stayed involved with the program for 12 years. The Trojans still are thriving today.
Clifton received a framed Trojans jersey, along with having the press box at the stadium named in his honor.
His grandson, Ben, plays for the Plant City Dolphins, the team the Trojans faced the day Clifton was honored.Anonymizer