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Cross Country
+ Area schools compete in 4A meet
All three schools had runners in Thursday’s 4A district meet at Newsome High School, and several runners are now set for regionals.
Plant City’s boys team finished third overall (70 points), behind Newsome and Bloomingdale, and have qualified for regionals as a team. They were led by Luke Whitmore, who finished third overall, and Noah Booz, who placed 12th. Mike Falkenstein, who finished 18th, will be Plant City’s third man.
From the girls team, which did not have enough runners to place as a team, Hannah Stowe (sixth place) and Madison Manley (15th place) also qualified for regionals.
Durant’s Haftom Fliegelman finished first overall in the boys race, and Josh Martin (14th place) also cracked the top 20. The boys team did not have enough runners to place, but the girls team finished fifth (128 points) with Jordan Toomer’s 21st-place finish leading the way.
Strawberry Crest’s boys finished fourth overall (115 points), with Justin Garcia (15th place) and Dylan Rogers (19th place) cracking the top 20. The girls also placed fourth (99 points), and were led by Grace Taylor (11th place) and Autumn Thompson (19th place).
Little League
+ Smith named PCLL president
Late last week, Plant City Little League installed Ben Smith as its new president.
Smith, in taking over for previous president Cory Kirkland, has said that his main goal is to increase participation numbers in all PCLL baseball and softball divisions.
“Over the past several years, we have noticed a decline in participation in all levels of play, from T-ball to Juniors divisions, with softball taking the largest hit in our area,” Smith said. “I would like nothing more than to get attendance back up in our league, as well as other sports offered in our area.”
Plant City Little League sign-ups will be Dec. 5 through Jan. 16, and players will be able to register at Mike Sansone Park on Saturdays. As a chartered Little League, PCLL offers financial assistance and cannot turn any child down because of an inability to pay.
Football
+ TCYFCC recaps
Plant City Dolphins
On Saturday, Oct. 17, Plant City’s Mighty Mite and Pee Wee teams improved their records to 9-0 against the Lakeland Gators, with 37-6 and 41-0 wins, respectively. Junior varsity (7-2) and varsity (8-1) teams won with respective 55-7 and 47-0 wins over the Gators.
The Gators ruined the Midgets’ bid for a perfect season by handing them a 19-12 loss, giving that team an 8-1 overall record.
Turkey Creek Trojans
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Mighty Mites (5-4) took the Cowboys to overtime, but came through with a 25-19 win.
The Midgets and JV teams improved to 7-2 records, with 26-6 and 40-0 wins, respectively. The varsity team (5-4) got a win with a 13-7 score. The Pee Wees (1-8) lost 32-0.
Antioch Redskins
The Redskins weren’t able to get any wins over the Pinecrest Pilots Saturday, Oct. 17.
After the Mighty Mites’ (1-8) 20-0 loss, the Pee Wee, Midget and JV teams fell to 0-9 on the season with respective 47-0, 47-0 and 41-0 losses. The varsity team (2-7) was the only one to score any points that day, in a 46-6 loss.
Dover Patriots
The Pats traveled to the Brandon Lions’ field Saturday, Oct. 17, and left with one win: the Midgets’ (6-3) 12-6 victory.
It was almost two wins, as the JV team (6-3) found itself in a shootout. Brandon’s team was a little better that day, picking up a 52-47 win in the end.
The Mighty Mites fell to 1-8 overall with a 32-0 loss, the Pee Wees fell to 2-7 with a 28-0 loss, and the varsity team fell to 5-4 with a 13-6 loss.