OKEECHOBEE — Celebrations began as soon as the ball left the bat and once again, it wasn't the boys in blue doing the celebrating. For the second consecutive year, Sebring couldn't exercise the Okeechobee curse, as Timmy Farrell's walk-off three-run homer to center gave the host team a 13-1 six-inning, mercy-rule victory in the championship final of the Dixie Boys (age 14) District 8 tournament at Okeechobee Sports Complex on Thursday evening. "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen was blasted through the loudspeaker, as Farrell homered for the second time in the game for the first two in his playing career, and was congratulated after the game by the Sebring players, many of which are his teammates on an AAU team. The game was delayed for five-plus hours due to a major storm cell that flooded the ball fields and took three air-boats to disperse the water from the infield so play could continue. ...more

July 4, 2008

PAXTON — The Sebring American All-Stars thought they'd beaten Bushnell and advanced to the next round at the State AA Pitching Machine tournament after a thrilling rally on Tuesday night in the bottom of the sixth inning. ...more

July 2, 2008

PAXTON — Facing elimination, the Sebring American All-Stars let their bats do the talking on Monday night at the AA Pitching Machine state tournament. ...more

July 1, 2008

OKEECHOBEE — It's never easy against Okeechobee. The first-round game between Sebring and Okeechobee in the Dixie 14-year-old boys District 8 tournament was dominated by outstanding pitching and stellar defensive plays by both teams. But in the end, it came down to Okeechobee's Noah Wilcox and his shirt. Wilcox –– or, more correctly –– his shirt was brushed by a pitch from Sebring reliever Zach Osha with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to force in Justin Morgan for a 2-1 Okeechobee victory. The close call brought an uproar from the Sebring fans and coaches, but the run counted to end the game. ...more

June 30, 2008

DIXIE YOUTH LEAGUE SENIOR BOYS BASEBALL As Asquith, Tambasco and Coliacomo go yard, Spring Hill leaves no doubt by thumping Sumter in five innings, 18-8. ...more

June 29, 2008

Clewiston's Trey Pruitt allowed one hit and one run in 3 2/3 innings and Tyler Yebba went 3 for 4 with three RBI on Saturday to lead Clewiston to an 11-3 victory in the opening round of the Dixie 14-year-old District 8 tournament at Okeechobee Sports Complex. ...more

June 28, 2008

We writers live "surrounded by a cloud of witnesses." When I was 10 years old my family moved from the city to a tiny country town where the school was overcrowded, so all fifth graders - me included - attended an old-fashioned, one-room school. The teacher, Rhea O'Grady, had taught eight grades in that room for 40-some years. She was 74 and shorter than some of her students, but she ruled the classroom like a drill sergeant. The first day I eagerly slid into a seat in the second row just left of the middle. Mrs. O'Grady peered at me over her wire-rimmed glasses and jerked her head toward the other side of the room. My fellow students giggled and whispered as I sheepishly crossed the aisle. Apparently, I was the only one who didn't know that in "Old Lady O'Grady's" class, boys sat on the left, girls on the right. When it was time for recess, Mrs. O'Grady followed us outside with a huge canvas bag which she turned upside down. Out poured baseballs, softballs, and several bats. ...more

June 28, 2008

A limited supply of rabies vaccination is putting preventive inoculations against the virus temporarily on hold. ...more

June 28, 2008

A limited supply of rabies vaccination is putting preventive inoculations against the virus temporarily on hold. ...more

June 27, 2008