+ Kendall Dawson named to USA team Kendall Dawson got some great news last week. The Plant City native learned that she had made the cut for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team on Thursday, and she’ll be the team’s catcher for its 2014 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup run in September. Dawson, one of 20 […]
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WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND: Jefferson at P.C. Friday night notes
After weeks like this last one, I sometimes find myself wishing I could be in three or four places at once. Durant got a big win over Oak Ridge, and Strawberry Crest’s offense clicked well against Middleton, but I had to resort to checking Twitter for those two. No big deal, though. The Jefferson/Plant City […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Chase Blackmon
Strawberry Crest looked solid all-around in last week’s 27-2 preseason win over Middleton, but Chase Blackmon, an Armwood transfer, scored while playing both offense (a 45-yard reception while at running back) and defense (a fumble recovery in the end zone while at linebacker). What was working for you out there against Middleton? I think it […]
Continue ReadingStrawberry Crest senior leads his team through action
Many football players love to talk, whether it’s about themselves, their teammates or their opponents. Strawberry Crest senior Cody McDaniel is not one of them, but he doesn’t need to be. The soft-spoken giant just goes out there and does his thing every Friday night, and his coaches have been doing much of his talking […]
Continue Reading2014 Gridiron Report: Week 1
The Plant City Times & Observer brings you another installment of our 2014 weekly podcast, the Plant City Times & Observer Gridiron Report, breaking down high school football match-ups in the Plant City area for the entire 2014 season. Staff Writer Justin Kline is the host of the podcast, which features a weekly “Game of […]
Continue ReadingPRESEASON: Jefferson at Plant City
Sometimes, the way to beat a playoff team is to punch it in the mouth early. That’s what the Plant City Raiders did to Jefferson High School in Friday night’s 14-12 win, and the Dragons were furious. Plant City set the tone on the first play of the game, when Tommy Bennett plowed through the […]
Continue ReadingDavid Ruiz represents Plant City at soccer camp in Argentina
It’s safe to say that most young soccer fans dream of one day meeting Lionel Messi, a worldwide soccer legend. One of those boys, Plant City’s own David Ruiz, recently got to do the next-best thing. Ruiz, 11, got the opportunity to attend a two-week soccer skills camp, sponsored by the Leo Messi Foundation, in […]
Continue ReadingCross Guard alive and kicking
The only Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in Plant City can be found in the unlikeliest of places: the front of the Huff Muffler and Automotive Repair building. But, Sam Kimmel isn’t working on the cars. He founded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu school, Cross Guard Fitness, in a rented space in the front of the building, clearly […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ben Gude
What’s the most important position in football, outside of the quarterback? That falls on the offensive line — the guys responsible for keeping the quarterback on his feet. And no one on a line has a deeper role to play than the center. Ben Gude, described by his coaches as the “heart and soul” of […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND: Take the challenge ‘ and do it right
If you have a pulse, then you probably know about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now. It functions not only as a brief amyotrophic lateral sclerosis simulator, but also as America’s hottest social media craze. What celebrity or other famous person hasn’t done it yet? In case you haven’t heard of the challenge, it […]
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