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Plant City Set To Play Ball

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

PLANT CITY - PLANT CITY - The District 4 Little League All-Star tournaments get into full swing Monday, with four separate tournaments involving Plant City teams starting that evening.

Haines City is hosting the most familiar age group, the 11- and 12-year-olds. This is the tournament where the winner will eventually have a chance to play in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Teams must win the district tourney, then the sectional in order to get to the Florida State tournament. The champs from 13 states will convene in Gulfport, near St. Petersburg, for the Southern Regional, and that champion advances to Williamsport.

Plant City is scheduled to open against Lakeland City Orange at 6 p.m. Monday. The winner plays the Lake Wales-North Lakeland winner 6 p.m. Tuesday and the loser plays at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

All of the District 4 tournaments are double-elimination. As host of the tourney for 11- and 12-year-olds, Haines City gets a first-round bye, meaning it could reach the final with only two victories while every other team needs at least three.

The finals are tentatively set for 10 a.m. July 12, with an additional game if necessary the following afternoon.

Haines City is also site of the baseball district tournament for 10- and 11-year-olds, which has five teams. Plant City takes on Lakeland City Tangerine at 8 p.m. Monday. The winner will play again 6 p.m. Wednesday. Finals are set for Friday.

Both the Junior and Senior Baseball tourneys are happening in Lake Wales. The only teams in the Seniors tournament, for 14- and 15-year-olds, are Plant City and the hosts, meaning in essence a best-of-three to determine the district champion. Game 1 is 6 p.m. Monday with the second contest set for 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A third and deciding game if needed would be played 6:30 p.m. Friday.

The Junior field, for 13-year-olds, is a bit more crowded with seven squads. Plant City faces Auburndale at 8 p.m. Monday and with a win will face either Haines City or North Lakeland at 6 p.m. Tuesday. If rain doesn't interrupt the schedule the finals would be 10 a.m. July 12.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampatrib.com.

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