AVON PARK — Christian Crews may have been fatigued from a two-day rest, but he still hurled five solid innings and smacked a game-changing three-run home run in the third to lift the Okeechobee All-Stars to an 11-4 victory over the Avon Park All-Stars during the Dixie Youth Majors District 8 tournament at Durrah Martin Recreational Complex on Sunday morning. "I was a little tired but I just came out and tried to throw strikes," Crews said. "My fastball was working, and on the home run, I was just able to take advantage of a pitch up in the strike zone." Okeechobee assistant coach Neal Crawford has seen Crews put up performances such as this all season long and had all the trust in the world for his hurler. "Christian is deadly with his fastball," Crawford said. "He had one bad pitch when he hung one up there and [Fauthree] made him pay with the homer. I'm just really proud of these kids. I wouldn't have cared if we had won by one run. We're just happy with a win." ...more

June 22, 2008

A crisply played opening-round ballgame of the Dixie Belles (ages 13-15) All-Stars District 4 Tournament turned south for one team Friday night. ...more

June 22, 2008

Eight errors by West Pasco combined with strong pitching allows Spring Hill to open with 5-2 win. ...more

June 20, 2008

The conclusion of Tuesday night's Rays-Cubs game was about as hair-raising as it gets, and Troy Percival deservedly racked up his 340th career save for closing the door. ...more

June 19, 2008

DIXIE YOUTH LEAGUE AA ROOKIES YOUNG TEAM WILL TRY TO STAY COMPETITIVE ...more

June 7, 2008

The seven runs (six earned) allowed by Matt Garza on Saturday were the most surrendered by a Rays starter in two weeks, and Garza's 41/3 innings represented the shortest outing among the rotation since Scott Kazmir went four in his debut two weeks ago today. ...more

May 18, 2008

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

Ridgewood High's season opening home game against Pasco Thursday afternoon began with a bang, but ended with a fizzle. ...more

February 14, 2008

PALATKA — The Panthers exploded for 11 runs in the first inning on Friday and never looked back as the South Florida Community College baseball team crushed St. John's River CC 12-0 to start a three-game road trip out with a bang. "We talked before the game about being ready for the first pitch," said SFCC coach Rick Hitt. "And they definitely were, which was nice to see." ...more

February 10, 2008

By virtue of their place at the bottom of the 2007 major-league standings, the Rays once again will have the first pick in today's Rule 5 draft. ...more

December 6, 2007