Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. HIGH SCHOOLS + Teams ready for fall season With school back in session, high school sports are about to get rolling. Here’s what you need to know for each Plant City school’s season and home openers: PLANT CITY Cross Country: Lecanto Invite, […]
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2014 Gridiron Report: Preseason
The Plant City Times & Observer brings you the first 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 […]
Continue ReadingPHOTO GALLERY: Strawberry Crest Football Scrimmage
Before Saturday’s weather got nasty, Strawberry Crest held a scrimmage in front of a slew of its faithful fans. Spectators got to see some of the team’s new offensive and defensive schemes in action, as well as several Tristan Hyde-to-Clay Cullins touchdown connections – something that looks to be an ongoing trend in 2014.
Continue ReadingFamily comes first for Plant City father-son duo
It’s a Monday evening at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, and Josh McAlpine is manning right field, while the Hillsborough County Special Olympics Softball team practices. Running up on any hit that comes his way, McAlpine is working on his throws to the infield as his stepfather, Dan Kolopajlo, yells in encouragement from the […]
Continue ReadingFlorida Baseball Heaven a hotspot for local players
For some people, “Baseball Heaven” might be a local park or sandlot that holds a lot of memories. On the silver screen, it might be smack in the middle of Ray Kinsella’s corn field. But Baseball Heaven is a real place — located in a building that’s nearly nondescript from the outside, nestled in an […]
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Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. TWIRLING + Patriots place at Notre Dame Last month, the Plant City-based Patrick’s Patriots Twirling Corps took its talents to South Bend, Ind., for the America’s Youth on Parade competition. Nine of the 10 girls recorded top 10 finishes in their events. […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Girls in football: Why not?
I went out to the Antioch Redskins’ field on Saturday to catch some of the Turkey Creek Trojans’ home opener action — particularly, the Midgets’ game against the Wesley Chapel Cowboys. The score was 6-0, in favor of the Cowboys, at halftime, and the Trojan coaches were attempting to fire up the boys with a […]
Continue ReadingAntioch Redskins call off fall season
As autumn draws closer, families around Plant City are excited to prepare for football season. But, for the Antioch Redskins, practices will be different this year. For the first time in the team’s 50-year history, not enough players signed up to play. However, the board of directors won’t let this shortage become a setback. Antioch […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Corey Thornton
The Turkey Creek Trojans JV team picked up right where it left off, handling the Wesley Chapel Cowboys Aug. 9, in a 21-6 win that was called early because of lightning. According to coach Dub Atkins, Corey Thornton was an impact player on both sides of the ball, moving the rock downfield and keeping the […]
Continue Reading‘Party Man’ Tom Anderson
In the middle of a civic center auditorium is a wrestling ring, and two men are perched atop one of the corner turnbuckles. Tom Anderson is attempting to slam “Barbed Wire” Brad Taylor into the middle of the ring, right into a bed of thumbtacks. Taylor is holding onto the rope for dear life, after […]
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