VSI Tampa Bay FC’s Mauricio Salles delivered five goals in the first 30 minutes Friday, helping VSI topple Antigua 8-0 in USL PRO action at Plant City Stadium. “It was a great match. The last two weeks I had a concussion and I was working hard to get back on the field,” Salles said. “Finally, […]
Continue ReadingDurant’s Tyler Danish selected by White Sox
Durant High School right handed pitcher Tyler Danish was selected in the second round (55th overall) by the Chicago White Sox Thursday in the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. Danish helped his Durant Cougars team to the 8A state semifinals by being one of the most dominate high school pitchers in the […]
Continue ReadingVSI to host five teams in three days
VSI Tampa Bay FC PRO, PDL and W-League are hosting five games between Friday, June 7 and Sunday, June 9 in Plant City Stadium. VSI Tampa Bay FC W-League kick up the soccer-packed weekend with the Charlotte Lady Eagles on June 7 at 4 p.m. This is the women’s first encounter with Charlotte this season […]
Continue ReadingBalancing Act
With area high schools holding graduations this week, the Plant City Observer is taking a look at two athletes who excelled in both the classroom and on the playing field. Hitting the Books. Strawberry Crest softball player and swimmer Savannah Bradley is headed to Harvard to study biology, with the goal of becoming a pediatrician. She also plans to […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry pioneer remembered for work, philanthropy
Plant City is as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Lester Wishnatzki is a big reason why. After growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Wishnatzki began working for the family business in the late 1930s, along with his brother, Joe. When their father and Wishnatzki & Nathel co-founder Harris Wishnatzki died in 1955, Mr. […]
Continue ReadingNumbers Game
It wasn’t something he set out to do, but Durant’s Alex Wood is breaking stereotypes. “I never really looked at it like that until someone pointed it out to me,” the Cougar offensive lineman said. “They said something about going against the jock stereotype and I thought, ‘Yeah, I guess it does.’ It actually makes […]
Continue ReadingHitting the Books
Some high school seniors wait anxiously to find out if they got accepted into their dream school. Savannah Bradley had nearly every prestigious school in the country vying for her. The Strawberry Crest softball standout chose Harvard over eight schools, including five Ivy League universities. “My final decision came down to Harvard and Princeton, with […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Megan Still
Megan Still had a memorable senior year at St. Leo University. The former Plant City High softball standout was named second team Sunshine State Conference, after helping lead her team to the program’s first conference championship and a 40-14 record. Still, a pitcher, finished with a 1.90 ERA and led her team with 93 strikeouts. […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Athletes impressive both on and off field
One of the most interesting things about covering high school sports is getting to see great athletes play at the prep level. After a while, you develop a keen eye and can spot the “special ones,” the ones who likely will play at the college level and perhaps even further. Plant City has had plenty […]
Continue ReadingVSI player to represent Haiti in Gold Cup
Bitielo Jean-Jacques is taking some time off with VSI Tampa Bay FC to represent his country in the Gold Cup. The CONCACAF Confederation Gold Cup runs from July 7-28 and Jean-Jacques will represent the country of Haiti in the 12th edition of the tournament. The preliminary rosters for each country are now available. The Haitian National […]
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