Another win, another dismal crowd for the Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Garza pitched a career-high eight innings, leading first-place Tampa Bay over the Texas Rangers 5-3 today. ...more

May 28, 2008

SEBRING — Tampa-Sickles' Kenny Wilson raced in from deep center field, hot on the trail of a shallow fly ball off the bat of Winter Haven's Markus Brisker. Just before the extra-base hit met the ground, Wilson made a late dive and a crowd-pleasing snag. As the East team made its way from the dugout to the outfield, Wesley Freeman of Winter Haven-All Saints had some words of consolation for Brisker and the rest of his teammates. "That's why we're all-stars, boys," smiled the All-Saints senior. ...more

May 24, 2008

AVON PARK — Austin Stadie's two-run double proved to be more than a well-timed hit, but the fuel that ignited a rally that ended in a 4-3 victory for the Laye's Tires, Inc. Royals over Long's Air Conditioning Reds in Monday's Dixie Youth Majors (ages 11-12) game at Durrah Martin Sports Complex. ...more

May 20, 2008

As Rays manager Joe Maddon dissected his team's 9-8 loss Saturday, he didn't even bother to mention the walk-off home run by Ryan Ludwick that put the Cardinals over the top. ...more

May 18, 2008

The ninth inning of Thursday night's game brought back some unpleasant bullpen memories for the Rays. Lucky for them, a pitcher who was responsible for a few of those forgettable moments in the past was around to help bail them out four innings later. ...more

May 9, 2008

Behind a complete-game one-hitter by pitcher Ashley Urbanik, Saint Leo won its first game in the NCAA II South Region Softball Tournament 3-2 in eight innings against Valdosta State. ...more

May 8, 2008

The Plant City softball team rebounded from an embarrassing loss earlier this week to defeat Riverview 2-1 in a Class 6A-District 8 matchup Friday. ...more

February 23, 2008

AVON PARK –– A slumbering Sebring offense, paced by designated hitter Kyle Long's two-run homer, banged out 10 hits, and pitcher Steven Fortner celebrated his 18th birthday by tossing a six-hit, five-inning shutout, and the Blue Streak baseball team beat Lake Placid 16-0 in the Bill Jarrett Early Bird Classic at Head Field. "This was a good win and that goose egg on the board for Lake Placid is a nice present," Fortner said. "I'm still working on my fundamentals after playing football and I felt a lot better as the game went on. "I stayed calm, threw strikes and once we got the big lead, I just let my defense go to work for me." The win evened Sebring's record at 1-1. ...more

February 16, 2008

AVON PARK — The rain coming down in sheets didn't dampen Jasper Brown's spirits — or his fastball. Brown hurled six strong innings despite Mother Nature doing her worst to get under his skin: He allowed just five hits and one run in South Florida Community College's 10-2 victory over Webber International University on Thursday. "I felt good out there," Brown said. "The rain didn't effect me much, although it did help with my breaking ball." ...more

February 14, 2008

AVON PARK — The Avon Park baseball team spent much of its preseason practice time on defense, but you wouldn't know it by the Red Devils' slug-heavy 7-6 victory over rival Sebring on the opening night of the AP First Pitch Classic at Head Field. The Devils hammered out 10 hits, including two home runs, and held off a Blue Streak rally in the top of the seventh to preserve a bit of early-season bragging rights. "I didn't expect him to pitch to me after I hit a home run off them last year," said AP's Kyle Jackson, who was 3 for 3 with a homer and two runs scored. "It's a good way to start our season off. We hit the ball pretty well in practice this week, so we figured we'd come out and pound." Three other Red Devils — Heath Barnes, Chad Marley and Terrill Conner — had two hits a piece, with Barnes sending his own shot out of the yard in the second inning. ...more

February 9, 2008