It’s an aspect of sports that, at the end of the day, doesn’t really matter. But without it, sports would not be the same. I’m talking, of course, about nicknames. Some teams are known more for their nicknames than the cities they represent. No one says, “I’m a fan of Boston baseball,” they say, “I’m […]
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PHOTO GALLERY: Durant vs. Plant City golf
Durant and Plant City kicked off the 2013 high school golf season Monday at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club. The Durant boys team defeated Plant City 172 to 182. The Cougars were led by Chase Levesque, who shot a 39. Plant City was led by William George (41). The Plant City girls team defeated […]
Continue ReadingFormer Durant basketball standout signs with Trinity
Former Durant basketball standout Kyle White, a three-year starter and 1,000-point scorer for the Cougars, has signed with Trinity College in New Port Richey, Cougars coach Trent Tice announced. A 2013 graduate, White becomes the fourth Durant player in three years to sign with a college, joining Andre Nation (James Madison), Tyler Sitter (Ave Maria) […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Durant vs. Oak Ridge
It was a tale of two halves for the Durant football team Friday in the preseason classic against Oak Ridge (Orlando). The Cougars went into the half down 21-14, but outscored the Pioneers 28-6 in the final two quarters to win 42-27. John Hendricks, a transfer from Newsome, scored on two runs for all of […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Preseason essential in high school
Every year, there is an ongoing debate about preseason games at the pro level. Some believe the four-game NFL preseason should be cut in half or reduced to a single game. Some believe the games are unnecessary and only are beneficial to guys trying to make the team as back-up or scout team players. In […]
Continue ReadingIN PHOTOS: Next Level Evaluation Camp
Next Level Recruiting held its first senior evaluation camp Friday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in Plant City. Athletes from area schools took part in the camp, which ran the football players through various drills in preparation for regional and national combines, where college coaches often discover athletes. The athletes were also […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Turning pro young is a rewarding, risky option
It is a commonly debated topic. Should young athletes turn professional when their age still ends with “teen?” NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James had multi-million dollar contracts and sponsorship deals as soon as they graduated high school. Now, the NBA requires athletes to play one year of college ball before being […]
Continue ReadingLocal tennis player headed to nationals
Maggie Pate may not belong to a fancy tennis academy or spend every second of her free time on the court, but she has loads of potential playing the sport she loves. The 12-year-old Keysville resident practices four to five days per week at the public tennis courts at Ellis Methvin Park, in Plant City. […]
Continue ReadingKNUCKLEBALL PRINCESS: Chelsea Baker
At just 16 years old, Chelsea Baker’s baseball career has allowed her to travel the country to play the game she loves. This August, the Plant City resident will have the opportunity to play overseas in a part of the world in which women’s baseball is a common and popular commodity. Baker’s 16U all-girl All-Star […]
Continue ReadingBEST OF THE BEST: A look back at the last 12 months
For the past 12 months, the Plant City Observer has devoted its sports section to our community’s athletes, teams and coaches. We’ve stood on the sidelines and watched amazing plays develop. We’ve met athletes who have overcome astounding odds. We’ve seen Plant City’s best use their skills to achieve amazing accomplishments. For this special anniversary […]
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