Between the Lines

Umpiring clinics offered

SPRING HILL - The Hernando Sumter Umpires Association (HSUA) will be offering its fifth annual umpire clinics for men, women and teenagers (over 16), who want to be trained or certified to become baseball or softball officials.
The clinics are set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, and on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Anderson Snow Park Complex.
The clinic cost is $20 per person and registration will begin both days at 12:30 p.m.
To register in advance, or for more information, contact Jerry Theilan at (352) 428-0071 or reach online at hernandosumterumpires@yahoo.com.

Trap Tournament set Feb. 13

WEEKI WACHEE - The Hernando Sportsman's Club is hosting a benefit Trap Shoot Tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area located 9 1/2 miles north of State Road 50 on US 19.
The event will benefit the Hernando County Sportsman's 4-H Club.
The shoot is sponsored by All-Star Trophies, Winn Dixie, GunBroker.com and Save-A-Lot.
Pre-registration cost is $40. Participants must bring own gun and ammo.
To register, or for additional information, contact Ken or Lisa Morgan at 797-0409 or the Sportsman's Club at 597-9931.

Hernando Youth Initiative Golf Events

BROOKSVILLE - The Child Well Being Committee of the Hernando Youth Initiative is hosting a Longest Drive Contest, Chipping Contest and Putting Contest beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 23 at the The Quarry Golf Course, 800 John Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville.
Food and beverages will be available.
Prizes will be given to the top three placers.
Entry fee is $5 and up.
To register, contact the Shiloh Problem Solvers at 352-540-3807 or 352-398-9059.

Hoops Skills Challenge

BROOKSVILLE - Local youngsters, ages 9-14, are invited to participate in the inaugural Hoops Skills Challenge beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Jerome Brown Community Center.
This national basketball skills competition provides children a free opportunity to showcase their basketball abilities in a timed half-court obstacle course.
Participants may register the day of the event, but must bring a copy of their birth certificate.
For additional information, contact Evelyn Lehman or Tina Nichols at the City of Brooksville Recreation Department at 540-3835.

'Little Buddies' Soccer, Golf Programs

BROOKSVILLE - The City of Brooksville Recreation Department is offering "Little Buddies" soccer for children, ages 3-8.
The "Little Buddies" soccer program is designed o help parents work one-on-one with their child while teaching them the basics of soccer.
The program will be held on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville, 34601, beginning Feb. 22.
To register, or for additional information, contact Tina Nichols at the Brooksville Recreation Department at 540-3835.
A "Little Buddies" First Tee program will also be offered for children ages 5-7 and 8-12.
The golf program, which will be held at The Quarry Golf Course, 800 Gary Grubbs Blvd., is designed to teach the basics of golf.
The program will be on Thursdays for children, ages 7-12 beginning Thursday, Feb. 25.
The five-week program costs $50 per child and includes a T-shirt.
To register, or for additional information, contact The Quarry Golf Course at 544-5485.

Youth baseball, softball coaches clinics

BROOKSVILLE - All youth baseball and softball coaches are invited to attend the City of Brooksville Recreation Department's coaches' clinics from 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 23-24 and from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 27.
The clinics will take place at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville, 34601.
The cost is $20.
To register or for more information, contact Evelyn Lehman or Tina Nichols at the City of Brooksville Recreation Department at 540-3835.

Spring Hill Youth Wrestling returns

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Youth Wrestling season runs until March 18. Practices will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights at Springstead H.S. Grades K-3 will practice 6-7 p.m. Grades 4-8 will practice 7-8 p.m.
For more information, contact SHS Head Coach Swensen at 352-797-7010.

Game officials needed

BROOKSVILLE - The West Central Officials Association is looking for new and experienced football officials to work Pasco and Hernando County middle school, junior varsity and varsity contests for the 2010 season.
Tampa Bay Area Sports Officials are also seeking new and experienced flag and tackle football officials to work youth games in Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties for the 2010 flag and tackle seasons.
For more information with either association, contact Gary Stanley at 813-989-9387 or online at goldenwings57@yahoo.com.

'Poor Girls Billfish Tourney' set Feb. 17 off Islamorada

ISLAMORADA - The 'Poor Girls Billfish Tournament,' a large regional charity competition, is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 16-17, at Holiday Isle, mile marker 84 oceanside in Islamorada.
With a long history of being a low-entry fee tournament, each year the event garners more than 200 female anglers.
The tournament offers 10 trophies, including those for first-, second- and third-place teams, grand champion and runner-up grand champion anglers, and the largest dolphin, kingfish and tuna.
The kickoff party and captains meeting are set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Fishing is to begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, with lines-out set for 3 p.m. All entrants are to be back at the dock by 5 p.m.
An awards banquet is scheduled at 6 p.m.
Proceeds support the Matecumbe Historical Trust, Humane Society and Casting for Cats.
Entry fee is $95 per angler, including the kickoff party and awards banquet. Additional social tickets are available for $15 each.
For registration and more information, contact Sharon Ellenwood at 305-664-2012 or 305-393-6174, or e-mail at sharellen@netzero.net.
To find out about area accommodations, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at 305-664-4503 or 800-322-5397, or visit the Florida Keys & Key West Web site at www.fla-keys.com.

Brooksville Bulldogs seeking players

BROOKSVILLE - The Brooksville Bulldogs, who sponsor 11-year-old and 12-year-old Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)/USSSA baseball teams, are seeking a few quality baseball players to round out their spring roster.
For information on the teams and tryout dates contact Bruce Price at 813-714-1054 or by e-mail at bruce67price@hotmail.com.

Bombers seek additional players

BROOKSVILLE - The Brooksville Bombers under-11 travel ball team is seeking a few more players for its spring program. The Bombers are an under-11 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team based out of Hernando County.
Players interested should contact Coach Shawn Laferty at 813-267-8530 or contact him online at claferty5@yahoo.com.

Registration open for 24th National Veterans Golden Age Games

DES MOINES, IOWA - Registration is underway for the 24th National Veterans Golden Age Games, coming to Des Moines, Iowa for the first time this May. This is an excellent opportunity for local veterans to compete in sports and recreation events with veterans from across the nation.
Competition will be held May 27-31, 2010 at the Iowa Events Center. Registration ends Feb. 15, 2010.
To register, call 1-877-806-8424 or e-mail NVGAG.2010@va.gov or visit the games' Web site at www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov to learn more about the games. All veterans registered for care at any Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility are eligible to compete.
The Golden Age Games is the nation's largest annual senior sports event for military veterans age 55 and older in the world and began as a way of providing therapeutic recreation to older veterans. Today the games are serious sports competitions for those wishing to aspire to a higher level by competing in the 2011 National Senior Games or other competitions.

124th Silver Spurs Rodeo set Feb. 19-21

KISSIMMEE - Hundreds of the top rodeo professionals are gearing up for the 124th Silver Spurs Rodeo of Champions, Feb. 19-21 at the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park.
All of the traditional rodeo events will get underway on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. It's the original extreme sport that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. Events such as bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and barrel racing, along with crowd-pleasing cowboy clowns, will all take place.
Seats are still available for all three rodeo events. Ticket prices are $15 per person, children 10 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. For advance tickets, call 407-67-RODEO or visit online at www.silverspursrodeo.com.
During Friday night's performance, the Silver Spurs will give support to cancer research through a program designated by the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) called "Tough Enough to Wear Pink." Rodeo fans and participants are encouraged to wear pink to show their support. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit cancer research.
For additional information on the Silver Spurs Rodeo of Champions, call 407-67-RODEO.

Florida's Largest Outdoors Expo returns

TAMPA - Entering its 19th year, The Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo and Boat Show hosted by Frank Sargeant is known for its hands-on, how-to entertainment, its presentations from leading outdoors experts, and its amazing shopping featuring hundreds of exhibitors and boat dealers.

New this year

Statistics show that most people who drown in boating accidents are not wearing life jackets. The fact is that those old bulky orange life jackets just aren't comfortable and often get stowed in a locker or storage area while folks enjoy fishing or other boating activities. Technology now allows people to wear a small belt pack inflatable life jacket that can be worn all the time without discomfort and without interfering with your movement while fishing or boating.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brings its "Wear It Florida" campaign to The Tampa Tribune Outdoors Expo and Boat Show this year. From the "Wear it Florida" Safe Boating Stage, the FWC will be encouraging attendees to buy these high-tech inflatable life jackets and to wear them all the time.

Tampa's only spring boat show

The 19th annual show (scheduled from Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 7 at the Florida State Fairgrounds) boasts 140,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space plus outdoor display areas and several lakes.
Sargeant, The Tampa Tribune outdoors correspondent, is a past president of the Florida Outdoors Association and author of more than a dozen books. Sargeant is one of Florida's most popular and respected outdoors gurus.

Vendors

Vendors from across North America will offer great deals on boats, fishing tackle, hunting gear, four-wheel-drive vehicles, resorts and lodges, canoes and kayaks, and other outdoor-related items. In addition to the special discounts, Expo visitors will get their first look at many new products.
Non-profit fishing, hunting and conservation groups are also on hand to provide additional resources on a variety of topics. Whether your favorite pastime is fishing for bass, kings, grouper, snook or redfish, or hunting turkey, deer or ducks, you'll find the right club or organization with experienced members and volunteers eager to share their expertise with you.

Admission and hours

Admission to the Expo is free for all ages on Friday (March 5) and free every day for kids 12 and under. Admission for ages 13 and older is $8 on Saturday and Sunday. Parking at the Fairgrounds is $5.
Show hours are 1-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The State Fairgrounds are located east of Tampa near the junction of I-4 and I-75.

Contact Info

For more information, visit www.TBO.com (keyword: Outdoors Expo).

Adult Baseball League seeking players, teams
 
BROOKSVILLE - The Pasco-Hernando Area Senior Baseball League (PHASBL) is seeking players and teams for its spring season. The league is planning an 18-game schedule beginning Feb. 14. The league is comprised of players, ages 18 and older.
Discounts of up to $100 are available for early registration.
To register or to get more information, contact Conrad at 352-683-1692, or visit conradbaseball@bellsouth.net.

Hernando Havoc seeks players

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando Havoc, an under-11 travel ball baseball team, is looking for experienced players. All team members must be no more than 11 years old on or before May 1, 2010.
For more information or a tryout date, contact Dominic Orlando at 352-684-1536, Steve DelGatto at 352-442-1750 or Ed Kimzsal at 813-508-8244.
 
Dixie Majors provides baseball scholarships

BROOKSVILLE - Dixie Majors Baseball provides scholarships for participants of Dixie Boys (ages 13-14) and Dixie Majors (ages 15-19) baseball.
For more information, contact Tim Sims at 352-279-4030.

Havoc at the Hyatt on Feb. 20

TAMPA - Tampa's own Olando "The Warrior" Rivera announced today that the 6th annual Amateur Kickboxing Tournament, Havoc at the Hyatt, will be held on Saturday, Feb 20 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for this one-of-a-kind event that will officially begin at 7 p.m.   
Local fighters will include such names as; Victor Kulakovski, Vincent Pond, Dave Fernandez, Anson Diaz and more. 
"We are excited to continue the tradition of amateur kickboxing in Tampa Bay," says Rivera. "There are so very few opportunities for amateur fighters to actually have the opportunity to participate in an event so similar to those they will be taking part in at the professional level."
Rivera has dominated the world super-light heavyweight class and is the five-time, super-light heavy weight kickboxing champion in the ISKA, (International Sports Karate Association), KICK (Karate International Council of Kickboxing ), WWKA (Worldwide Karate Association), PKF, and WMMA. He has truly unified the division for the first time in its history.
Havoc at the Hyatt tickets are now on sale and start at only $25 for general admission. Reserved seats are $50 and ringside are $100. Tickets may be purchased prior to the event at www.olandorivera.com or The Fighter Warehouse, Westfield Shopping Center in Brandon. VIP tables are also available and may be reserved by contacting 1 (813) 494-1456.   All dates and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, and service and handling charges. For more information on Olando "The Warrior" Rivera, Havoc at the Hyatt or Warrior Training Camp please log on to www.OlandoRivera.com or contact Warrior Training Camp at (813)494-1456 or by email at www.TeamWarrior1@hotmail.com.