It already was a gloomy day. Thick clouds hung low in the sky, and the storm-slick streets were ripe for accidents. Then, the call came over Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Dep. MacKenzie Clark’s radio: 18-month-old drowning victim. Clark was the first to arrive on-scene. Immediately, her training kicked in, and she began to administer CPR. […]
Continue ReadingNext Level Sports helps make college football dreams a reality
With competition of college football recruiting at an all-time high, there is no such thing as too much exposure. And with recruiting hotbeds existing in heavily populated metropolitan areas, athletes in more rural areas such as Plant City often are overlooked. Gerold Dickens and Hasani Jackson have been doing everything they can to prevent that […]
Continue ReadingVSI Tampa Bay brings pro soccer to Plant City
It has been 15 years since a professional sports team called Plant City home, but with the recent agreement between VisionPro Sports Institute Inc. and city commissioners, that soon will change. VisionPro’s United Soccer League pro squad, VSI Tampa Bay FC, will play its inaugural season at Plant City Stadium, the former spring training home […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Pro soccer a good fit for Plant City
As I’ve written before, after accepting this job, I thoroughly researched Plant City and its sports scene. Being the sports historian I like to claim to be, I found out about Plant City Stadium and how it was the former spring training home to the Cincinnati Reds. Even though the Reds left town when I […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Margo Butler
Durant High School senior Margo Butler tried pole-vaulting when she was a sophomore, looking for something fun and different to do. With a natural talent for the unique track-and-field event, Butler has found success, including recently taking first place at Western Conference, with a personal best vault of 8-3. With few trainers in the area, […]
Continue ReadingJunior Woman’s Club to hold first tourney
Plant City golfers will lace up their shoes this weekend to help put shoes on local children in need at the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club’s first Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament will take place April 6, at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club. Registration will take place at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun […]
Continue ReadingVSI Tampa Bay FC capture historic first win
Fullerton, Calif. – Tuesday was a historic night for VSI Tampa Bay FC. The Flames captured their first win in franchise history in USL PRO from a goal by Brazilian midfielder Antonio Neto, outlasting the LA Blues 1-0. VSI Tampa Bay FC controlled possession for much of the first half of their second USL PRO game, […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Keven Long
Plant City High senior Keven Long has established himself as a leader on the surging Raiders baseball team. Long entered this week with a 0.84 ERA and a 4-1 record on the mound. He has recorded 29 strikeouts and, outside of one home run, he hasn’t allowed an extra base hit this season. At the […]
Continue ReadingPCHS tennis team hope for third consecutive trip to regionals
The Plant City boys tennis team hopes to continue its postseason streak next week, when they compete in the Class 4A District 5 tournament. The Raiders have finished as runner-up at districts for the past two years, and that is where they hope to end up again this year. “Our goal this year is to […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: March truly IS madness
I’ve always said the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is the greatest setup in sports. Football and baseball always will be two of my favorite sports, but the annual March tournament brings more excitement than any bowl game, World Series or Super Bowl. There’s no tournament quite like it; 68 teams have a chance to win […]
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