Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
CROSS COUNTRY
+ Plant City places
well at Lecanto, Durant
The Plant City High School cross country teams opened up the 2014 season Sept. 6, at the Lecanto Invitational, and both did pretty well.
The girls, led by freshman Cassie Highsmith, placed eighth overall out of 28 teams. Highsmith, in her first race as a Lady Raider, led the team with a time of 22:43 and a 25th-place finish.
The boys, led by sophomore Luke Whitmore, placed 11th out of 28. Whitmore’s time of 17:31 nearly broke his previous personal record — 17:20 — and earned him both 15th place individually and a medal.
Plant City competed in the East Hillsborough Invitational at Durant Wednesday night, and did even better: the girls placed third overall, and the boys placed fourth.
Madison Manley was the girls’ top finisher, with a time of 21:43, and Whitmore set a new personal record with a time of 16:29 – a second-place finish.
The Raiders’ next outing will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the W.D. Johnson Invitational at Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. N.W., Ruskin.
BASEBALL
+ Dawson, USA
Women take silver
Plant City catcher Kendall Dawson and the rest of the team returned to the United States Thursday, Sept. 11, after competing in the Women’s Baseball World Cup.
The cup came to an end on Sept. 7, as No. 1 Japan knocked off No. 2 USA for the gold medal. Eight countries competed in 21 games from Sept. 1 to 7, and the tournament hosts topped the Americans in a 3-0 victory to win in Miyazaki.
+ Cornhole tourney
to benefit school
Lakeland-based Florida Baseball Heaven will host a corn hole tournament tomorrow evening to benefit the school and its Angels Baseball teams.
The tournament will be held at at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 S.R. 60 E., Plant City. Cost is $15 per person.
To register or for more information, call (863) 644-0500.
FLAG FOOTBALL
+ Rec program
extends deadline
The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department has announced that, because of a delay in flyer distribution, the deadline to register for the Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Youth Flag Football Program has been extended.
Today is the last day to sign up at the administrative office, 1904 S. Park Road.
The cost is $35 per player, which includes a jersey and accident insurance.
For more information, contact Danny Smith at (813) 659-4255, or by email at dsmith@plantcitygov.com.