OKEECHOBEE — Clewiston's bats were as hot as the weather in Saturday's game against Avon Park in the opening-round of the Dixie 14-year-old boys District 8 tournament at the Okeechobee Sports Complex. Clewiston, which banged out eight hits, was led by third baseman Tyler Yebba, who went 3 for 4 with three RBI and Trey Pruitt, who scored two runs in an 11-3 victory. The win moved Clewiston into a winners' bracket game against Okeechobee on Sunday night, which beat Sebring 2-1 on Saturday night. The loss dropped Avon Park into an elimination game against Sebring on Sunday afternoon. See highlandstoday.com/sports and Tuesday's Highlands Today for complete coverage. Clewiston got rolling early against Avon Park by putting up five runs in the top of the first inning. ...more

June 30, 2008

Tommy Bertoniere clubbed a three-run home run and finished with four RBI on Sunday to pace Sebring in a 15-3 victory over rival Avon Park, eliminating AP from the Dixie 14-year-old District 8 tournament at Okeechobee Sports Complex. ...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

DIXIE YOUTH LEAGUE BASEBALL AAA MAJORS South Lake's Danny Gonzalez blasts two homers, drives in five RBI to crush SH American, 15-3 ...more

June 28, 2008

DIXIE YOUTH LEAGUE BASEBALL AAA MAJORS HYL (1-2) OUSTED AFTER 3 GAMES ...more

June 27, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Garrett DeRoss looked over at his teammate in frustration as he watched ball four duck into the catcher's mitt. DeRoss was given first base after his second intentional walk of the inning, but his Sebring teammates made Lake Placid pay for their generosity. Sebring erupted for seven runs in the game-changing fourth inning, as the boys in blue defeated host Lake Placid 13-4 in the opening game of the two-team Dixie Youth Majors (ages 10-12) "O" Zone District 8 tournament at Lake June Recreational Complex. ...more

June 18, 2008

SEBRING –– After trailing late and getting a scare in Saturday's 12-4 win over Lake Placid in the Dixie AAA District 8 tournament, Sebring made sure that didn't happen against Avon Park on Sunday. The boys in blue and white pounded out 10 hits en route to a 17-3 win over Avon Park at Max Long Recreational Complex. The win kept Sebring unbeaten in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, while the loss eliminated Avon Park. "Our pitching has been awesome the entire tournament and our bats are coming alive," said Sebring head coach Bobby Cannon. "We're hitting the ball hard and having fun and we're in a great position." The Sebring victory set up a game on Monday night against once-beaten Okeechobee American, which eliminated Lake Placid 11-0 on Sunday afternoon. ...more

June 16, 2008

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The sizzling temperatures in upstate New York didn't do much to heat up the Sebring 12-and-under team's bats in their opening games, but the Streaks have since caught fire in three straight victories at the Cooperstown Dreams Park National Invitational Tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park. ...more

June 10, 2008

SEBRING — After practicing for more than a month, the Sebring American All-Stars were more than ready to unleash their potent offense on Friday night. The eight- to 10-year old Sebring Americans banged out 12 hits en route to a 13-8 win over Okeechobee National in the opening round of Dixie Youth Pitching Machine District 8 All-Star Tournament at Max Long Recreational Complex. ...more

June 7, 2008

AVON PARK –– Julie Lamb's grin could be heard through the phone after she was told that she'd been named the 2008 Highlands Today Softball Player of the Year. "This is a total shock to me," Lamb said. "This is coming out of left field." Actually it's catcher –– a position Lamb has been a leader at for the Red Devils for the last three seasons, and one she fell into by accident. "When I was eight and playing Dixie softball, none of the other girls wanted to play catcher," Lamb said. "I volunteered and have been behind the plate ever since." Her expertise at one of the hardest positions in softball comes from a solid work ethic and an underlying desire to get better with each game. Avon Park head coach Mike Cobb gives all the credit to the Red Devil senior, who took on the role of offensive and clubhouse leader after Heather Barnes was sidelined with an injury. ...more

June 2, 2008