SPORTS
Local YMCA opens Publix Sportsplex
Speer YMCA formally opened its Publix Sportsplex track and field facility Saturday at 501 62nd Ave. NE in St. Petersburg. Representatives from Publix, YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Schools and YMCA of the USA attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility will provide an activity hub and offer myriad programs for organization members and the adjoining Mangrove Bay Middle School’s students.
Column: In praise of Rays stadium's blue-chip construction team
To put it mildly, not everyone loves the Historic Gas Plant District deal that includes a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. The detractors doubt the rosy financial forecasts, chafe at the massive taxpayer subsidies and question the logic of building a new facility on the same site in St. Petersburg where the team has struggled so long to attract fans. They think the city is getting out-negotiated. They’d like a higher price for the land. They want less government interference.
John Romano: The strange but true tale of dueling polls in the Rays stadium saga
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Soon, the Rays' great stadium debate will be in the hands of elected officials. The details of the plan to reimagine the Tropicana Field parcel has taken more than a year to negotiate with the Rays, developers, Pinellas County and St. Petersburg all playing a role in what eventually will be a multibillion-dollar project that could define downtown's future.
South Shore rivals Lennard and Sumner face off in flag football playoffs
Flag Football is another spring sport at the local high schools, and both Sumner and Lennard advanced in their respective brackets and played each other in regional semifinal action on April 23 at 7 p.m. at Lennard High for the right to advance to the regional finals. Sumner advanced with a road 40-6 defeat of Fort Meyers on Thursday, April 18, in a game that featured five TDs from freshman QB Lauren Williams. Lennard advanced with a home 27-6 win over Hillsborough HS where senior QB Abby Elwell tossed four TDs and completed 25 passes for 278 yards. Lennard is playing in the playoffs as a #2 seed, and Sumner is in as a #6 seed. The Longhorns are ranked #9 in all of Florida and were 15-3 in the regular season. The Stingrays were 14-4 in the regular season. The teams will be matching up in what will be a big game between two South Shore rivals with moving on in the playoffs at stake.
LECOM Suncoast Classic offers opportunity to 2025 New Year's Invitational winner
The LECOM Suncoast Classic proudly announced an exciting partnership with the prestigious St Petersburg Country Club’s New Year's Invitational. In a move aimed at fostering talent and rewarding excellence, the LECOM Suncoast Classic, a tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour, has awarded a highly sought-after exemption to the winner of the 2025 New Year's Invitational.
South Shore diamond regular season ends this week
The five South Shore high school baseball teams grapple with the last week of the regular baseball season this week. All five will be seeded initially in their respective district post-season playoffs. The baseball district tourneys run from April 30 to May 2. Then it is on to the regional baseball tourneys. District champs have the top four seeds for the regional playoffs. At-large bids go to teams that finish five through eight in the district playoff. Regional tourneys start May 7, with winners looking to advance to the 2024 Florida State Baseball tourney in Ft. Myers, beginning May 15.
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