SPORTS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Shakilya Lewis said her life changed 15 months ago, but she still finds joy in every moment. A day in mid-February also changed her son, Brandon Green Jr.’s life. Her son, B.J.’s story serves as a cautionary tale. “I have so much to...

LARGO, Fla. - In the Supremacy Jiu-Jitsu gym in Largo, Bobby Fratone found his calling. "Jiu-Jitsu has the highest of highs and the lowest of lows," says Fratone. It was 11 years ago when Bobby first stepped into a Jiu-Jitsu gym, but it wasn't long before he started bringing his sparring partner along for the ride by convincing his younger sister, Fallon, to try the sport.

A professional women’s soccer team is coming to the Tampa Bay! The USL Super League will give the Tampa Bay area our first women’s professional sports team. Although the name, team colors and logo haven’t been decided yet, they plan on playing in the fall of 2024. The team will start at a temporary location until a permanent stadium is built.

Indy, LouCity square off for first time this season, Rowdies look to cap perfect month against Switchbacks. The first edition of the Louisville Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest this season highlights a seven-game slate of action across the USL Championship, with the Tampa Bay Rowdies looking to complete a perfect month of May and San Antonio FC returning home to face New Mexico United in another pair of intriguing contests throughout the night.

Hillsborough County schools conducted their annual spring HS jamboree games. A number of selected schools around the district hosted the night, which matches up four local teams where two of the teams each play a half of football. For the South Shore, Lennard HS hosted the four-team event, and the first half had the Lennard Longhorns matched up against the Michael Gottman led East Bay Indians. The nightcap featured the Alonzo Ashwood led Sumner Stingrays vs. the Riverview Sharks with Tony Rodriguez, in his second season, at the helm. Lennard is currently conducting its spring practices with two coaches sharing the head coaching role until a new leader is named. Former Longhorn Head Coach Matt Kitchie has accepted a new role as the athletic director at South East HS in Bradenton. Lennard and East Bay fans also had a chance to see new QBs take the snaps as both teams saw senior QBs graduate and move on. The Indians won the first segment 12-0 over the Longhorns.

My dream job is to be a play-by-play announcer. I have been a podcaster for just about five years now. When I started doing podcasts I was on other shows before I branched off on my own. I now have my own show called The Walker Report. The show started with me being by myself now I have three great co-hosts. With our podcasting, I have been a writer/blogger for about six years. In those six years, I have gotten press credentials for many events but the ones I am proudest of are for USF football. See I never played football in my life but it’s my favorite sport to watch and stay up on. Last year I was invited by another fellow USF writer to help him call a high school football game. I took that chance and was extremely nervous.

Time on the clock is running out for Mia Hernandez’s high school softball career with all eyes set on her future. Mia Hernandez recently committed to Eckerd college, a college with the sun and beach surrounding the students. With a change from Charter to Eckerd, Hernandez is ready to take her talent to the next step as a D2 softball player.

ST. PETERSBURG — Radiance has supplanted radiation on a mild Friday evening at Fossil Park. White cell tabulation is a world away; the only count that currently matters is three balls, one strike. Like her dad, Chloe Grimes hates walks. Way too aggressive to bother with ball four, the...

Sickles’ baseball team is headed back to the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 6A state championships, with only one thought: winning. Will the third time be the charm for the Gryphons?. In two previous trips to the state semifinals, Sickles has come up short. Bob Pagano took the...

West Virginia sophomore J.J. Wetherholt named a 2023 Dick Howser Award semifinalist

May 1 has got to be Tampa Bay Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins’ favorite day of the year. Why? Because he knows whatever else has happened, his team is due to start a winning streak. You might scoff, but the numbers are undeniable. Since Collins took over the Rowdies...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have been putting on a show all season long this year by being the best team in the MLB. But now, the team also wants to take some time to show they can also be great off the field. This summer,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The annual "Ride of Silence" in Downtown St. Petersburg honors bicyclists who have been seriously injured or killed, and pushes for safer roads. "We’re kind of a vulnerable population out there, and we’ve had an incredible increase in the number of cyclists since COVID, since the introduction of electric bikes, we have older and younger generations, getting on bikes," said Peter Wray, the ride’s organizer and member of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club.

TAMPA — The Lady Hawks are soaring into an exciting summer after an undefeated season. The Hillsborough County Community College tennis team took home the national championship trophy after traveling to Tyler, Texas for the 2023 NJCAA National Championship-Division 1. “It was definitely one of the best feelings, best...

ST. PETERSBURG -- After a report from The Athletic on Sunday morning stated that the Rays are drawing interest from at least one local group and others that would look to relocate the team, Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said he expects to stay in his position and keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area for the foreseeable future.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (WSAU) — An 8th-inning sac fly provided the lone run of the game Friday as Milwaukee fell to the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 Darin Ruf led the Brewers with two hits and a walk from the DH spot. Six other players collected a single hit each including William Contreras who had a double.

The students in the class of 2023 are now officially members of the alumni. The class of 2023 is supported by the rest of the Osceola Warriors this morning, who are watching the live viewing of the graduation. The graduation took place in the Tropicana Field this morning, May 16th, 2023.

The Lennard Longhorns lost a heartbreaking nail biter 2-1 to Sickles May 15. The last inning playoff defeat ended Lennard’s baseball season and killed the Horns’ hopes for a chance to advance to the Florida 6A semi-finals. Sickles advanced and easily disposed of Gaither High. The 28-2 Gryphons clashed with 19-9 Winter Springs in the semi-finals in Ft. Myers May 22. The winner advanced to the championship finals of 6A in Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers on May 24 against the winner of Viera versus Doral Academy.

Cycling is a favorite outdoor activity for many around the Tampa Bay area. Recent data shows an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians.

Fairbanks picked up the save during Friday's 1-0 win over the Brewers, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he allowed one hit. He struck out one and did not issue a walk. Fairbanks blew a save and took the loss in his last appearance, but he bounced back with a solid outing versus Milwaukee. He gave up a leadoff single to Jesse Winker and eventually allowed the game-tying run to reach third with two outs, but Fairbanks retired Tyrone Taylor to end the game. Fairbanks is now 4-for-5 in save chances this year and continues to operate as a co-closer with Jason Adam, who's 5-for-8 in save opportunities.