For fans of professional baseball, hockey, basketball and football (in that order), few days are quite as exciting as the annual trade deadlines. If you were on Twitter at all July 31, for the Major League Baseball deadline, then you probably noticed a lot of talk about former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price. “A […]
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SIDELINES
Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. FOOTBALL + Little League ready to kick off It’s finally time for some football! The Tri-County Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference season is set to begin Aug. 9, and a full season schedule is viewable online. The Turkey Creek Trojans will play […]
Continue ReadingRaiders set practice to military time
After losing many of their key leaders to graduation, the Plant City Raiders’ new crop of seniors are about to fill big shoes. To help the boys become better leaders on and off the field, the Raiders called in the U.S. Marines. Led by Capt. Kevin Lowe and Staff Sgt. Jose Moreno, a team of […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: John Straub
In his second year or playing sports, Special Olympics athlete John Straub has picked up softball for the first time. With the season fast approaching, his coaches have been pleased with his progress in the Hillsborough County team’s practices. So, this is your first year ever playing softball? It’s my first year. I’ve never done […]
Continue ReadingDon Porter calls all the shots
Don Porter is semi-retired now. He’s no longer the official president of the International Softball Federation but, as honorary president, he still keeps an office in the building. But, one of the first things someone will see when they walk in is the little bookshelf with the glass-encased football and, resting on that, Porter’s old, […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? Football refs can take a beating, too
What football fan doesn’t love to see a (clean) monster hit or tackle? I’m a fan of any player who knows how to lower the boom and make an offensive skill player tremble in his cleats. Guys like this bring the pain every single weekend, and we see their big hits on the Internet within […]
Continue ReadingT.J. Chase transfers to IMG Academy
T.J. Chase had himself a great sophomore year with the Plant City Raiders. Averaging 20.1 yards per catch, he helped lead his team to a playoff berth and racked up more than 20 football scholarship offers from NCAA Division I schools. He hasn’t given any of them a verbal commitment yet, but he’s already made […]
Continue ReadingSIDELINES
Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. FALL SPORTS + Area schools announce tryouts As of press time, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools have released tryout information for Fall sports. The following PCHS tryouts are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4: Volleyball (9 to 11:30 a.m., gymnasium); golf […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kellie Pernula
A senior on the Plant City High School volleyball team, Kellie Pernula spent much of this past week helping at the Lady Raiders’ summer volleyball camp, working with the young campers to improve their skills. Tell me a little bit about your volleyball career. I’ve been playing since the sixth grade, and I’ve played for […]
Continue ReadingNew Plant City shop links skate sport, style
Who would have thought a barbershop and a skate-supply shop could coexist in the same storefront? That would be Jairus Rutherford, who is hoping that Second 2 None Barbershop and Skate Supply can help revive Plant City’s skateboarding culture. The Plant City native already has one store in Lakeland, which has been successful enough to […]
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