Right-hander Erica Maldonado escapes first-inning jam with two strikeouts and Lady Leopards explode for nine first-inning runs to crush Central via the mercy rule in 4 1/2 innings, 13-1. SEASON-OPENER FOR BOTH TEAMS ...more

February 10, 2009

After winning just two conference games this season, few figured the Sebring girls basketball team would cause much of a stir in the Class 4A-District 10 tournament. ...more

February 9, 2009

Brittany Trawick fired the Eagles' only shot in overtime into an unreachable spot for Newsome (23-4-1) goalkeeper Kendall Graham for the decider as defending state champion Lakeland Jenkins (25-0-1) advanced to the state Class 5A final four with a 1-0 victory. ...more

February 7, 2009

Mike McKenna had plans to get together for a Super Bowl party with his teammates in Norfolk, Va. Instead, he wound up flying over Sunday's matchup between Pittsburgh and Arizona as his flight arrived over the skies of Tampa. ...more

February 6, 2009

BOYS SOCCER As districts arrive, it's win or go home for five Hernando County programs. ...more

January 25, 2009

Joe Barry never lost sight of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not even while he was focused on the Detroit Lions. ...more

January 22, 2009

Can you run up 42 flights of stairs without collapsing of exhaustion? If so, the Tampa Bay chapter of the American Lung Association wants to hear from you. The association is preparing to hold its annual "Climb Tampa" challenge in March, where dozens of brave souls race to the top of the 42-story Bank of America building in downtown. ...more

January 14, 2009

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Five Bears named to all-star squad including Runner of the Year Mikayla Bogulski and Coach of the Year Erin Courtney. ...more

January 11, 2009

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY MVP PROFILE Central High's two-sport running whiz Mikayla Bogulski not only excels on the track oval but was named Hernando Today's Cross Country Runner of the Year. ...more

January 11, 2009

Gulf COACH: Bruno Buonsanto (first year) KEY RETURNING LIFTERS: Ashley Mizrahi (Sr., 119), qualified for state; Jordyn Roberts (Sr., 139); Jennifer Auxier (Sr., 139). ...more

January 4, 2009