SPORTS

CLERMONT — Bartow's back. The Yellow Jackets had their longest drought of not making the state tournament of six years and weren't going to be denied. Despite having players get knocked around physically, their coach having to sit out again and facing a pitcher who has committed to LSU, Bartow wasn't leaving without...

LAKELAND ― Folks rolled in methodically awaiting to see the last football game of the spring 2023 season on a brisk and mild day that looked as if it would eventually rain Friday at Travis Gunder Memorial Field. And when the start of the game quenched fans' football thirst, it looked as if the hometown team was primed to dominate the game until the Auburndale defense took control and secured the Bloodhound victory.

FAYETTE, Mo. ― There wasn’t much emotion from Danny Batcher despite Southeastern baseball clinching a fifth straight NAIA National Tournament Opening Round championship in its history last week. Butcher did participate in players bombarding each other on the mound before squelching each other following the 11-3 win over...

Lakeland’s girls softball team has faced a challenging and demanding 2023 season; however, they have persevered through those challenges and improved themselves not only as individuals, but also as a team. Though it has not been the best season they have seen so far, with the girls varsity record remaining 9-9 and girls JV 5-7 as of May 9, each player has performed to the best of their ability and most definitely played their hearts out on the field.

The school year is coming to an end. That also means that fall sports will start their summer practices and workouts. Cross Country is a less populated sport that needs to be recognized. Shannon Hall and Shannon Mattila coach the Lakeland High School cross-country team. Previous runners are excited about...

The Lakeland High School Golf program is growing and making significant changes. Rick Anderson, coaching for 12 years, has stepped down as head coach. Anderson has been coaching for a long time and thought it was time for someone else to step in. Teacher Colleen Hall and Brian Williams will...

The Orlando area was well-represented with a team title and seven individual state champions at the Florida High School Athletic Association boys weightlifting tournament in April. Among the standouts during the 2023 season was Windermere junior Andres Giron, who is the Orlando Sentinel Varsity weightlifter of the year. He is also the Florida Dairy Farmers state lifter of the year. Giron leads ...

The Bartow High School softball team will have a game with Pace High School on May 27, 2023, 11:00:00 CST.

FORT MYERS — Clouds hovered upon Hammond Stadium as thunder and lightning were about to sweep the area with inclement weather, giving the officials of the Class 2A 2023 FHSAA Baseball State Championships a reason to delay the ballgame until further notice. But that didn’t matter. Lakeland Christian...

The Raiders made their way to Jacksonville for the FHSAA Class 4A Track & Field State Championships this past weekend. After Plant City Track & Field saw junior Trae’veon Smith and both their boys and girls 4×100 relay teams qualify at their regional meet, the Raiders made their way to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville this past weekend for the FHSAA Class 4A Track & Field State Championships.

JACKSONVILLE — George Jenkins sophomore Chelsi Williams added two more gold medals to her state medal haul along with two silver medals, set two more personal records — lowering her county records in the process — but had one disappointment in an otherwise stellar day on Saturday at the 2023 FHSAA Class 4A State Track and Field Championships at Hammond Stadium.

The storyline for the 60th annual Youth Villa Golf Classic—at least before the first tee shot has been struck—is the talented youth on display in a strong field of 125 golfers. “This year is really interesting because we have so many young guys,” said Bartow Golf Course Head...

The Spartans' wait goes on. A nightmare first inning derailed St. Johns Country Day in Saturday's Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A baseball championship, losing 5-2 to Lakeland Christian at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. The Spartans (26-5) mounted a rally in the seventh, loading the bases and bringing...

Despite their nerves leading up to the event, the Lakeland Tennis team did excellent at the state tournament in Boise this past weekend, May 19. Brady Hanna and Cole Andres, the boys’ doubles team, never gave up throughout their matches which paid off in the end as they placed fourth overall. The girls’ doubles team, Ellie Carlson and Addie Raebel, though not taking home a medal, still did very well throughout their four matches, placing sixth. Ben Ryan also played in-state but lost his first two matches, preventing him from placing well at state.

They wanted to go farther. Oh, they definitely wanted to go farther. But the fact that the Viera High softball team reached the Class 6A regional final says a lot about what the Hawks accomplished this season. Unfortunately for the Hawks, that season ended Friday night with a 4-1 loss...

After three years as the junior varsity head coach for Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Harley is set to take over the Cougars’ program. Durant High School has officially announced the hiring of Mitch Harley, the next head coach for the Cougars’ basketball program. A Hillsborough...

AUBURNDALE ― Auburndale softball was trying to reach the Class 5A state tourney for the fourth time in school history. But the Bloodhounds went down 3-1 to River Ridge in the Class 5A, Region 2 Finals Friday at Auburndale High School. The Bloodhounds had chances early, too. Senior starting...

CELEBRATION ― Eddie Lake noticed the plethora of blockers in front him. It was the second drive of a spring game between George Jenkins High School and Celebration on the road. The Eagles featured Lake on the first two snaps of the drive: one run for 2 yards and another run for 32, which set up a pass in the flat from starting quarterback Cameron Turner to Anthony Cash that ended up being a 26-yard touchdown with 8:44 to go in the first. This put the game at 7-0 after the made extra point.

There are 2 high school 🏐 games in Winter Haven. The The King's Academy volleyball team will have a game with Southwest Miami HS on May 20, 2023, 09:00:00 CST. The Cardinal Gibbons High School volleyball team will have a game with Winter Park HS on May 20, 2023, 12:00:00 CST.

The Miami Dade College baseball team’s journey for a national title ended at the State Tournament in Lakeland. After winning their first game—4-3—versus State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota on May 12, the Sharks lost the next two games versus the College of Central Florida and Northwest Florida State College.