WAUCHULA — Dillan Runner threw six strong innings and the Avon Park baseball team's bats came alive on Friday night as the Red Devils opened up district play with a 13-7 victory over Hardee. Runner hardly broke a sweat to pick up the team's first Class 4A-District 10 win of the season: He threw just 69 pitches in six innings of work and allowed just three runs, mixing locations and pitches to keep the Wildcats off-balance all night. "Dillan pitched one heck of a game," said Avon Park coach Mort Jackson. "It was one of the best-pitched games I've seen him throw — he was throwing every pitch for a strike and mixing up his curveball, fastball, change-up and splitter very effectively." The Red Devils (3-2, 1-0), meanwhile, hammered 13 hits, and were led by Kyle Jackson, who went 3 for 5 with a double and four RBI, Logan Hunter, who finished with two hits and two RBI, and Corey Topa, who added two hits. ...more

February 23, 2008

Florida strawberry growers are still reeling from last month's freeze. Since the Jan. 3 freeze, strawberry production has dropped more than 30 percent compared with last year, costing growers and farmworkers more than $15 million, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association said Friday. Initially, industry officials projected a 10 percent to 15 percent loss. ...more

February 2, 2008

Donte' Stallworth is talking. You know it's Donte' because it's Wednesday and only Donte' talks on Wednesdays. If you want to talk to Nicco, you've got to wait until Sunday. ...more

February 1, 2008

First of all, I have to say happy birthday to my Dad. He's 70 years old today. Yikes, that's a biggie. Over Christmas, Dad mentioned his impending start to an eight decade and I said, "I'll bet you wish you'd had me 10 years younger, huh?" He agreed. He was 29 when I was born, as opposed to me being 20 when my daughters came into the world. I'll be in Boca Raton as you read this, going to celebrate Dad's birthday at my sister's house. I was told that I should bring the Nintendo Wii with me. In fact, "if you just want to drop off the Wii and leave, that'll be fine." Thanks, sis. Well, it's nice to be wanted, even if I had to buy the love with an expensive video game console. ...more

January 21, 2008

The Highlands County senior softball 55+ league kicked off play on Tuesday at the Highlands County Sports Complex in Sebring. The four-team league draws more than 60 players each season, many of whom play in multiple leagues. ...more

January 17, 2008

Whether on the dirt or on the turf, running six furlongs or five, Lookinforthesecret is without question the reigning king of the sprinters at Tampa Bay Downs. ...more

January 13, 2008

Jon Gruden discusses Sunday's game against Carolina and other topics. ...more

December 27, 2007

Bucs Locker Room Quotes ...more

December 26, 2007

Karri Ramo got to bed at a decent hour Thursday night, woke up Friday morning in plenty of time to get a good breakfast and arrive in plenty of time for practice. ...more

December 22, 2007

TAMPA Thirteen seasons and more than 10,000 yards later, Joey Galloway still doesn't regard a paid trip to Hawaii as validation of an accomplished NFL career. ...more

December 12, 2007