BASKETBALL
+ Tigers travel team takes title
Plant City travel ball recently added another team to its ranks, the Tigers, and they got started by making an on-court statement.
They won the Spring Fest Shootout last weekend, in Orlando, after entering the tournament as a the lowest seed.
The Tigers lost their first two pool-play games to Tampa’s Team Speights and Kissimmee’s Titans Elite, and began tournament play Sunday. They beat the top-seeded Titans Elite in the rematch, 67-62, and followed up with a 49-46 win over Team Speights.
WRESTLING
+ Wynne wins silver at states
Plant City High School’s Kip Wynne came home last week, from Naples, with some new hardware.
The wrestler finished second in the Junior 170 division at the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association State Championships, thanks to a series of pinfalls. He began by pinning Thundercats Wrestling’s Jose Sandoval in 1:56, and then finished off Naples Titans’ Frankie Jaramillo in 2:58.
Maykei Dolorit, of Eagle Empire Wrestling, gave Wynne the most resistance yet, but the Plant City wrestler was able to pin Dolorit in 3:46 to advance to the finals. Wynne squared off against Cypress Lake High School’s Chase Zahaika, and was pinned in 2:31.
BASEBALL
+ Raiders, Chargers cruise at tourney
The annual Saladino Tournament at Newsome High School got underway this week, and all three area schools participated. Plant City and Strawberry Crest just happened to face each other Wednesday.
Results from that game weren’t available at press time, but up to then, both teams were impressive.
Plant City got things started with a 4-1 win over Freedom, tying it up in the third and using a three-run fourth to pull ahead. Ryan Boyd and Miguel Martinez combined for seven strikeouts, one hit and one run over four innings, and Boyd picked up the win.
Tuesday, on the other hand, saw a 7-0 blowout of Riverview. Boyd picked up the win once again, this time going for six strikeouts over four no-hit innings, and catcher Trey Matthews had a huge day at the plate — going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
The Chargers started tournament play with a 6-0 blowout of Chamberlain. Brandon Harris went 1-for-1 with a two-RBI single, and Logan Fernandez led the team by going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Jake Ralyea and Ben Welch also finished with an RBI, and Alex Kachler threw five innings of three-hit, four-strikeout ball to get the win.
The next day, Crest held on late to preserve a 3-1 win over Wharton.
Durant also participated in the tournament but didn’t fare as well. The Cougars dropped both of their games, losing 2-0 to Newsome and 2-1 to Jefferson, in almost the exact same way.
