SANFORD ADULT SOFTBALL
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department is looking for teams for the Adult Softball Polar Bear Season that will begin the second week of January 2025.
Leagues offered are the Men’s League on Tuesdays and the Semi-Co-Ed/Fun League on Wednesdays.
Everyone is invited to watch the games for free at Pinehurst Park on West 24th Street.
For more information contact Dominic Pascuzzo, City of Sanford Recreation Supervisor, at the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120, extension 5004; Fax _ 407-688-5121; facebook.com/SanfordFLCityGovt; instagram.com/cityofsanfordfl; visit the city website _ www.sanfordfl.gov _ or email: [email protected].
SOAP BOX DERBY
One of the most popular events on the CFSBD calendar, especially with out of state competitors, is coming to Mike Kirby Park to close out 2024 when The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and Central Florida Soap Box Derby hosts the 2-Day Holiday Rally on Saturday, December 28, and Sunday, December 29.
Kirby Park will be open on Friday, December 27, from 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. for trailer drop-off.
RV’s are welcome, but you MUST make prior arrangements with the Rally Director.
Each Day, check in will be at 7 a.m., with racing beginning at 8:30 a.m., and will consist of a Double Elimination race for each class in the morning, followed by a lunch break and a Single Elimination race for each class in the afternoon.
Soap Box Derby racing is open to children ages 7 to 20 _ Stock, 7-to-13; Super Stock, 9-to-18; Masters, 10-to-20 _ with a limited number of loaner cars available for new participants.
Everyone, especially interested non-racers, is invited to attend any of the family friendly events, free of charge, at beautiful Mike Kirby Park located on the west side of Sanford on Oregon Avenue, north off of CR-46A (25th Street/H. E. Thomas Parkway) or east off of Rinehart Road, just south of the GreeneWay entry. The track is East of Bentley Elementary School.
For more information on Central Florida Soap Box Derby or to download a registration form, please check out the websites at www.soapboxderby.org or www.centralflorida.soapboxderby.org; [email protected], 407-353-6228, or call the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120. Information is also available at _ https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaSoapboxDerby/ _ especially photos and flyers.
POP-TARTS BOWL
The Miami Hurricanes and Iowa State Cyclones will square off in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
No. 13 Miami (10-2, 6-2 ACC) will be making a record seventh all-time appearance in the game, and its first since a 2020 Cheez-It Bowl matchup against Oklahoma State. The Hurricanes are 3-3 in their previous six appearances, four of which were played in Orlando.
No. 18 Iowa State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12), fresh off of an appearance in Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game, will be making its third Orlando bowl trip since 2019 — a run that includes a 2019 Camping World Bowl defeat to Notre Dame and a 2021 Cheez-It Bowl loss to Clemson.
The Hurricanes and Cyclones have never met on the gridiron.
The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will be the 35th edition of the game, which has been held at Camping World Stadium since 2001 after 11 years in South Florida. Last year, Kansas State defeated NC State 28-19 in the first edition of the bowl to feature Pop-Tarts as a title sponsor.
Pop-Tarts Bowl tickets are available now. Visit PopTartsBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium, Family Fun Play and other ticket offers.
CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL
The South Carolina Gamecocks and Illinois Fighting Illini will square off in this season's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Camping World Stadium and will air live on ABC.
No. 15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will be making its fourth all-time appearance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, and its first since a 34-24 win over Wisconsin to close the 2013-14 season. The Gamecocks also appeared in the Jan. 2, 2012 Citrus Bowl, a 30-13 win over Nebraska, and the 1975 game, a 20-7 defeat to Miami (Ohio).
No. 20 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) will be appearing in the game for the second time and first since quarterback and game MVP Jeff George led the team to a 31-21 win over Virginia on New Year’s Day 1990.
The Gamecocks and Illini have never met on the gridiron.
This season's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will be the 79th edition of the game, an annual matchup of top SEC and Big Ten teams since 1993. Last season, Tennessee defeated Iowa 35-0 in the second edition of the Citrus Bowl to feature Cheez-It as a title sponsor.
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl tickets are available now. Visit CheezItCitrusBowl.com to buy or to learn more about group, premium, Family Fun Play and other ticket offers.
STETSON MEN
Five Hatters scored in double figures as the Stetson men’s basketball team beat Fort Lauderdale (2-6), 103-77, at the Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center on Sunday.
The Hatters started the game off strong going on a 13-4 run which was capped off by a Mehki Ellison three. On the next possession, Blaize Sagna made his shot from beyond the arc to push the lead to 11. The two teams went shot for shot with Fort Lauderdale getting as close as seven. With just under five minutes left, Jordan Wood splashed one home from three to put the Hatters back up by double digits. Going into halftime, Stetson held a 14 point lead, with Wood and Ellison leading the team with 9 points each.
The Eagles came out of halftime and went on a 7-2 run, cutting the Stetson lead to single digits and Head Coach Donnie Jones called a timeout. Abramo Canka stopped the run out of the timeout, knocking his shot down from behind the arc. Stetson pushed their lead back up to 14, when Ellison lobbed a pass to Wood who slammed home the alley oop. With the Hatters leading 75-59 they expanded on their lead by going on an 8-0 run. Ellison scored five points in the run capping it off with a three, and Tristan Gross added in a make from downtown as well. After Fort Lauderdale hit a couple of shots, the Hatters went on a 12-2 run pushing the lead to 19. Another run for Stetson put them over the century mark and they coasted to a 103-77 victory.
The Hatters finished with five players in double figures. Ellison led the way with 25 points and added four assists. Finley Sheridan tacked on 15 points off of the bench and Wood helped out with 13 points, six rebounds and a team high six assists. Josh Massey and Gross were the other two players to hit the double digits mark. Stetson did a great job taking care of the basketball dishing out 27 assists while turning the ball over 10 times. Defensively, they were a force in the paint tallying 7 blocked shots as Canka led the team with two. In the second half, the Hatters shot 66.7% from beyond the arc, hitting eight shots from deep.
Up Next:
Stetson (2-10) will be back in action on Sunday, December 29, when the Hatters head up to Gainesville to take on unbeaten Florida at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. That game will tip off at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.
STETSON WOMEN
Following a stellar 30-point outing just a day earlier, Cameron Thomas continued her dominant week with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, leading Stetson to a 66-58 victory over the Bradley Braves on Friday afternoon at the Insight Credit Union Arena. Thomas's two-game total of 54 points capped off 2024 in style for the Hatters, who conclude their non-conference schedule with a 6-6 record.
Thomas's contributions went beyond scoring. The junior guard added two steals and a season-high three blocks, becoming the third Hatter this season to record three or more blocks in a game.
Off the bench, Shelby Calhoun provided a crucial spark with 10 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Jorah Eppley added six rebounds and a career-best four steals, despite being limited to just two points.
The Hatters dominated the glass, out-rebounding Bradley 37-21, including 11 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points. On defense, Stetson forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 13 points.
After an early 5-4 lead, the Hatters went on an 8-0 run midway through the first quarter, punctuated by a Diawna Carter-Hartley layup, to push their advantage to 13-4. Stetson carried an 18-12 lead into the second quarter, fueled by 14 points in the paint.
The Hatters maintained their edge in the second quarter, using a 5-0 spurt highlighted by a Quentarra Mitchell 3-pointer to extend their lead to 31-24. Though Bradley closed the gap, Stetson held a slim 31-28 advantage at halftime.
Stetson came out firing in the third, putting together a decisive 9-0 run, capped by a Tiasia McMillan basket, to build a 40-28 lead. The Hatters' defense shone, holding the Braves to just 25% shooting (2-for-8) in the period and entering the fourth quarter up 48-38.
In the final frame, the Hatters continued to press their advantage, with another 5-0 run capped by McMillan's layup, stretching the lead to 63-49 with just over two minutes remaining. While the Braves trimmed the margin late, Stetson remained firmly in control to secure the victory.
Up Next:
The Hatters will kick off the new year and begin conference play on Thursday, January 2, hosting the West Georgia Wolves at 7 p.m. at Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
LMSA
* Saturday, January 11 _ LMSA Members Club Race Series. Race #1 of the 2025 Members Club Race Series, sponsored by Sanford Brewing for the Hayden Trophy. Skippers meeting at noon. More info to come.
* Sunday, January 12 _ The rescheduled Ladies on the Lake Regatta. Enjoy a weekend of sailing at Lake Monroe Sailing Association located in Historical Downtown Sanford. The Regatta is a different format this year to encourage all women to come out and steer a boat! Anyone can crew, but ONLY ladies can drive! The course will be the same format as Wednesday Night Races with race committee starting and finishing the fleet. For planning purposes please RSVP by 1/5/2025. Registration and Check-in are open from 11:30 a.m.-to-12:30 p.m. Skippers Meeting is at 1 p.m. First Flag is at 2 p.m.
* Saturday, January 18 _ Members After Christmas Party. 4 p.m.-to-9 p.m. at Sanford Elks Lodge, 1006 East Second Street. Members party, white elephant gift exchange, swearing in of the 2025 LMSA board of directors. More information to come....Cash or credit at the bar. Members may bring one guest, i.e. date or spouse. All other guests are $15 per person to help cover food cost.
* Saturday, January 25 _ The Lake Monroe Mother's Arm Challenge. Come join the LMSA for this unique race through the river of grass at the east end of Lake Monroe. Sail in flat water, with the top half of your sails catching the wind over the wetlands. It’s an exciting navigational and sailing challenge! 11 a.m. skippers meeting. More information to follow. The LMSA looks forward to having you join them! Stay tuned as times may change.
* Sunday, January 26 _ Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race. The start window is 1:25 p.m.
* Thursday, January 30 _ The monthly LMSA Membership Meeting will be held from 7 p.m.-to-8 p.m. at the LMSA Club House (531 North Palmetto Avenue).
For more information, visit _ www.flalmsa.org _ or call (321) 578-8364.
