FORT MYERS –– As the national anthem played before the start of Saturday's Class 4A regional final between Sebring and Riverdale, the flag was flapping in a stiff breeze blowing out to center field. The combination of the windy conditions and two weary pitching staffs from Friday's first two games of the best-of-three series made for a slugfest, and Riverdale, down to its last six outs, rallied from a six-run deficit to score nine runs in the sixth inning and hang on for an 11-10 victory to earn a spot in the state semifinals. "Riverdale gave us some outs early and we gave them some outs toward the end of the game," said Sebring coach Hoppy Rewis. "Both of us were out of pitching and I'm sure that's happening all over the state. "I make no bones about it, I'm not an advocate of this new system of playing the best out of three series. It puts the kids in jeopardy of getting hurt because they're tired or a pitcher throwing too many pitches in a short period of time." ...more

May 11, 2008

Kit Raymond didn't look like a woman who'd recently lost her home and nearly all her material possessions. ...more

May 9, 2008

After losing her home to a fire, Kit Raymond says she is at peace and humbled by an 'outpouring of love.' ...more

May 8, 2008

It's really not so strange that the Rays have been one of the best stories in baseball this season, despite the temptation to be slack-jawed in amazement as we look at the top of the standings and see the local team still hanging around. ...more

May 3, 2008

Midway through last season, it seemed a given that the Rays would spend the winter looking for a more established everyday alternative to Dioner Navarro behind the plate. ...more

February 9, 2008

Your paycheck and your new TV made in China have one thing in common. Both are taxed for a specific, essential purpose, yet a big part of the money is being drained away for other things. ...more

February 5, 2008

Everything went according to the seeding in Friday night's Class 6A-District 7 semifinals, with No. 1 Sickles winning 50-34 over Countryside and No. 2 St. Petersburg beating Mitchell 51-33. ...more

February 2, 2008

BRADENTON — Sophomore forward Joe Young scored a team-high 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Sebring boys basketball team past Braden River 54-51 in Class 4A-District 10 action. Senior point guard Javier Medina added nine points to go along with seven assists as the Blue Streaks improved to 7-3 in district play. "I'm happy with the win," said Sebring coach Princeton Harris. "The gym was packed and it was great to win in that kind of hostile environment. "We stayed composed and executed down the stretch. Each district win is huge this time of the season." ...more

January 20, 2008

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White is pulling motorcycle patrols off the roads as the county's lease for the vehicles is set to expire and there is no plan to replace them. ...more

January 15, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY Pasco County Sheriff Bob White is pulling motorcycle patrols off the roads as the county's lease for the vehicles is set to expire and there is no set plan to replace them. ...more

January 15, 2008