Former USC freshman guard O.J. Mayo was disappointed when he learned the NBA issued a rule that mandated players be 19 and a year out of high school before entering the draft. ...more

June 26, 2008

Chances are you see Demonte McAllister before you hear him. He's hard to miss. The Alonso defensive lineman's bulking 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame stands out in a crowd, especially on the football field. ...more

June 24, 2008

SOFTBALL The county's reining two-time Player of the Year and recent Springstead High graduate, Becky Powell, finds comfort in signing with Polk County's Warner Southern College. ...more

June 13, 2008

Highlands County commissioners can expect some unpleasant budget sessions this summer as they will be forced to make difficult decisions for the 2008-09 fiscal year. They of course have been aware of this for a while, but that doesn't make it any easier. One position that is being proposed to be cut from the parks and recreation department budget is the manager of the Highlands County Sports Complex. ...more

June 8, 2008

Evan Longoria has experienced plenty of frustration at the plate the last couple of weeks, but he hasn't carried it into the field with him. ...more

May 20, 2008

Plant's Meg Anderson watched her friend, Chelsea Nauta, dominate the Hillsborough County swim scene for the past few years. This year, Anderson stepped in to fill the void left by the Tampa Prep star's graduation. ...more

May 20, 2008

SEBRING –– Eric Hosmer. Adrian Nieto. Casey Kelley. Let those names sink deep into your subconscious, because in a blink of an eye they just might be playing for your favorite Major League baseball team. For now, those are just a few players scheduled to participate in the 30th annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Baseball Classic at Firemen's Memorial Field May 22-24. Five of the top 50 overall prospects in this year's talent pool for the upcoming MLB First Year Player Draft will be showing off their skills for the conglomerate of major league and college scouts and the fans that come from all over the state to see this amazing collection of a future who's who of baseball in the coming years. "This event has become a haven for scouts and college coaches to get a last chance to scout these kids," FACA All-Star co-coordinator Travis Rapp said. "All the kids named to this team have proven themselves over the course of their careers, but I've seen so many players improve their draft position with a good showing here. ...more

May 19, 2008

Austin Long's head was spinning. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound junior from Memphis, Tenn., hadn't decided where he would attend college. ...more

May 5, 2008

There may be no crying in baseball, as the manager portrayed by Tom Hanks declared in the movie "A League of Their Own," but there is certainly still room for the girls. Tarpon Springs High softball standout Jen Hunter has proved throughout most of her young life that whether the ball is soft or hard, she is up to the task. ...more

February 25, 2008

In one corner of his living room, Rick Hohenthaner holds for several student-athletes at Gulf High the tools that could make the difference in whether or not they earn athletic scholarships to college. ...more

February 10, 2008