Do you have a sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
Crest to host city-wide XC meet
Strawberry Crest’s cross country program is trying to make its next competition one everybody will remember.
The Chargers are set to host the first-ever “Battle of Plant City” varsity quad meet, featuring Durant, Plant City and Spoto, on campus Sept. 14. In addition to the girls and boys races, which start at 6:15 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, there will be a food truck rally provided by the Tampa Bay Food Truck Association beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The event will be held at Crest’s football stadium, 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover.
Area volleyball resumes play
After taking a break around Labor Day, area prep volleyball teams got back on the court Thursday. Scores were not available for press time.
Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest have the following dates coming up. Note that some, or all, of the dates may be affected by Hurricane Irma.
DURANT
Sept. 11: vs. Riverview, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13: vs. Strawberry Crest, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: @ Bloomingdale, 7:30 p.m.
PLANT CITY
Sept. 13: vs. Lennard, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: @ Strawberry Crest, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 26: @ Spoto, 7:30 p.m.
STRAWBERRY CREST
Sept. 11: vs. Newsome, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: vs. Plant City, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19: @ Bloomingdale, 7:30 p.m.
Register for Optimist golf tourney
The Plant City Optimist Club/Plant City Recreation and Parks Department Golf Classic is going on 23 years strong and will be back later in September.
Registration for the Sept. 23 tournament, which will be held at Diamond Hill Golf Club, 13115 Sydney Dover Road, Dover, is underway. Golfers can sign up for the four-person scramble for $75 per player, and there will also be a putting contest, two long-drive holes, two closest-to-pin holes and a raffle with door prizes. Cash awards will be presented to the top three tournament finishers of the day. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and the shotgun start is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The $75 fee covers 18 holes, golf cart rental, range balls, food and more. The tournament hosts are also seeking business sponsorships, which are tiered and come with various perks depending on the level purchased. Funds raised from the tournament will benefit the Optimist Club’s activities in the Plant City community, including events such as the Respect for Law program, athletic competitions, scholarships, the Citizen of the Year program and more.
Registration forms must be completed and submitted with payments by Sept. 18. They can be printed from ow.ly/1h3y30eLhow. For more information, call Walt Arnold at 813-752-1602 or Jeb Hicks at 813-727-1204.
Carlson Gracie shines at Newbreed Tampa
Carlson Gracie Plant City, formerly Cross Guard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, competed in the Newbreed Ultimate Challenge Tampa tournament Aug. 26 at Strawberry Crest High School and had several top-3 finishers.
Bart Borders — 1st place (gi, no gi)
Kyle Rose — 1st place (gi, no gi)
Leslie Hurst — 1st place (gi), 2nd place (no gi)
Nathan Carmelo — 1st place (gi)
Michael Iglesias — 2nd place (no gi)
Shad Simmons — 2nd place (no gi)
Kameron Eversol also competed in the tournament but did not medal.