Sports

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) recently announced that Steve Winterling will step down as men’s baseball head coach, however will remain as the College’s athletic director. Lyndon Coleman, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, is promoted to the head coach position.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Winterling’s coaching career has spanned nearly 40 years. He started his career at Florida College in Temple Terrace, Fla. where he served three years as the assistant coach to Dave Scott, for whom he played.

The Hernando Youth League Girls Softball Ponytails (under 13) are headed to the World Series representing Florida. The 2018 Dixie Softball World Series is being held in Alexandria, Louisiana from July 27 through August 1, 2018.

In the State Finals they defeated the home team Lake Placid. They played Lake Placid twice at State winning both times. In fact they are undefeated so far at both the district and state tournaments.

Hernando County baseball teams are headed to their age group World Series where they will represent the state of Florida as state champs.

Spring Hill Rookies (7-8 year olds)

Congratulations to the Spring Hill American Rookies team for winning the Florida State Championship as well as the Sportsmanship award. They are headed to the World Series at the end of the month.

Spring Hill American Baseball (13 and under)

Weeki Wachee football takes part in Florida High School Association 7v7 summer tournament 

The Hornets have been working a lot on their passing game over the off-season with all the passing tournaments they’ve been involved in. They saw much success at the most recent Florida High School 7v7 tournament held a week ago. Weeki Wachee traveled out to Haines City and found plenty of success against schools across the state of Florida. 

(STAFF)

The Hernando Youth League Dixie softball team (ponytail division) won the district tournament on June 17, 2018 and is headed to the state tournament to take place in Lake Placid beginning July 13, 2018.  

Since  winning the district final against West Pasco, the team has been raising funds to participate in the state tournament. The team is coached by Tony Laviano and Geoff Cummings. 

WEEKI WACHEE — The coaching carousel that has gone on throughout Hernando County since Bill Vonada stepped down from being Hernando High School’s head coach has been active and fluid. 

Since Vonada penned a letter citing that coaching high school football in this day in age is much different to the past yesteryears, Hernando has since tabbed former assistant Rob ‘Kaz’ Kazmier as the school’s next in line as the new lead man. Now a local rival has added to its coaching staff and the name who joined comes as a big surprise to most in Hernando County. 

“To make men’s softball great again” is what Ron Valure (54) President for the Spring Hill Senior Softball Invitational League (SHSSIL) wants to do. Valure is going on his 5th season with SHSSIL and continues to grow the league presence throughout the season. 

“When I first heard about this, I was reluctant at first, but when I came out here (Spring Hill Veterans Memorial Park) and saw these guys that were in their 70’s playing (softball), and that was my motivation,” Valure said.

On Friday June 8, 2018 Hernando Sun attended the Boys2Men Awards Banquet, held at the Women's Club on Main Street in Downtown Brooksville. Ms. Kimberly Kincade and Ms. Sherri Collins, born and raised in Hernando County and have strong ties in the community. They came together five years ago and started Boys2Men Foundation Incorporation nonprofit. Boys2Men is a youth football and cheer camp. 

BROOKSVILLE - For the first time in many years, the Hernando Youth League’s All-Stars could be sending a host of teams onto states pending the results of a few contests this weekend.

Currently, Hernando Youth League has three divisions that are currently slated to be headed onto states, as the T-Ball 5 & 6-year olds, Rookies 7 & 8-year olds, and the Boys 13 & 14-year olds. HYL could also possibly have the Minors 9 & 10-year olds qualify for states as well, depending on the results of Saturday.

For many baseball players, the goal is simple: play well enough to become part of the incredible fraternity known as the big leagues. Sometimes that dream flames out, but for those lucky few, they never forget that call from the organization who selected them.

And for former Central Bear ace Trevor McKenna, that call came on June 8th, 2018.

Following the customary first-year 40-round MLB entry draft, which came and went without being selected, McKenna finally received the greatest call in his life from Arizona Diamondbacks scout Hudson Belinsky.