KEVIN JOHNSON

The winner will advance to a regional final against Jensen Beach or Plantation’s American Heritage on Friday night with a trip to the Final Four up for grabs. The Class 5A state semifinals and finals will be held May 22-23 ...

IMMOKALEE — The Rich Dombroski era at Immokalee High School didn’t start with Xs and Os, but rather numbers.

ESTERO — As the third spring practice under new coach Mark Jackson wound down in the late afternoon last week, the widest players on the Estero High School football team brought the sweaty session to an entertaining conclusion.

ESTERO — For three years, Aja Curth always showed up late for the start of her season on the Estero High School girls soccer team.

But the gnarly facial hair of the veteran Florida Everblades forward did serve as something of a prognostic tool, one that turned out to mean at least six more weeks of hockey in Estero.

Even though their season was on the brink of cessation, Tatia Ghviniashvili and Casey Mendel didn’t panic.

ESTERO — As far as the new head football coach at Estero High School is concerned, there is no need to make a U-turn or reverse course.

Opportunities to generate additional breathing room in the standings await the Florida Everblades when they visit Fort Wayne tonight and Saturday, and Kalamazoo on Sunday.

Watching Hal Sutton and Peter Jacobsen stroll down TwinEagles' fairways together at the ACE Group Classic on Friday was not only convenient for their doctor, but it was also very rewarding.

ESTERO — Asked to recall their early impressions of Estero High cross country/track coach Jeff Sommer, seniors Kacy Smith and Katy G. Solis didn't struggle to find the words.

ESTERO — As far as Estero High football coach Rich Dombroski is concerned, his quarterbacks wouldn't have thrown for nearly 5,000 yards the past two seasons, nor would Eric McFadden have gobbled up consecutive 1,000 yard rushing campaigns if not ...

Yet to reach its ninth birthday, the South Fort Myers High football program already has established a rich tradition of producing players who put pen-to-paper on National Signing Day.

ESTERO — Willy Reyes is not a natural left-footed striker of the ball, but he certainly looked like one as he delivered the all-important first goal on Wednesday night.

FORT MYERS — The University of South Florida landed more than just a new head football coach from Western Kentucky University.

The empty red golf cart almost seemed to be at peace while resting on a quiet section of grass next to a wooden bridge, away from the din of galleries.

Although he was known as a rough-and-tumble slugger during his Major League Baseball playing days, John Kruk does have a softer side.

ESTERO — Moments after winning the Class 3A-Region 3 boys cross country race, Carlos Miranda, looking fresh enough to run another 3.1 miles, accepted a bevy of congratulatory handshakes and hugs from fellow runners and others Friday.

If the Florida Everblades can duplicate the way they played for the first 12 minutes against Elmira on Wednesday night, then perhaps the Keep the Cup sign in section 118 will come true this spring.

ENGLEWOOD — The bizarre-looking Lemon Bay students who wore colorful masks, wigs and costumes and sat in the stands behind the Estero bench proved to be the least of the worries for the Wildcats volleyball team on Wednesday night.

“I don’t like them that close, but I’ll take it,” said South coach Grant Redhead, whose team upped its record to 9-0. “It was a great football team we played. It was a great game. They made plays; we made ...

ESTERO — Whether it was a freshman who notched a conference victory or a sophomore that was part of four wins or her divers that sprang into action for the first time, Estero swim coach Jen Seluk had plenty of ...

Notes on area football teams:

DEBARY — The rockets launched by Plant City into the nighttime sky in DeBary didn't faze the South Fort Myers baseball team.

FORT MYERS — When the final out was recorded in the state Junior League softball championship game, the eyes of Bo Longshore immediately shifted toward the sky. No doubt, there was a proud coach and father smiling right back at ...

FORT MYERS — If there's anyone who knows the South Fort Myers Little League All-Stars pitching staff the best, it's Giovany Lorenzo.

FORT MYERS — The South Fort Myers Junior League All-Stars piled on the runs early, and then piled on closer Cole Connor after the final out.

High school seniors from Collier County played a significant role in the Gold team’s 12-3 win against the Orange at the Bartley’s Baseball Senior All-Star Classic on Wednesday night at City of Palms Park, the former spring training home of ...

At some point in the vicinity of time when a massive ticker-tape parade was greeting Charles Lindbergh, a statement declining a re-election bid came from President Calvin Coolidge and golf’s majors were being won Bobby Jones, Tommy Armour and Walter ...

Moments after delivering a run-scoring hit that clinched the District 9 title for South Fort Myers, Jake Munnings did a series of cartwheels as his teammates proudly paraded around the outfield with the championship banner.

Estero resident wins two silver medals at summer national senior games.

South Fort Myers senior quarterback/free safety Dallas Crawford has verbally committed to the University of Miami.

Clemson remains the college choice for Sammy Watkins.

South Fort Myers and East Lee County enter week two from opposite ends of the spectrum.

It took all of 16 seconds for Lely’s Quinton Antoine to rip the life out of Estero and its homecoming theme: Estero Steals The Show

Festivities, pageantry and hoopla are all part of the Homecoming tradition.

Updates from signings for high school football and soccer players:

The anthem of the underdog -- aka the theme from "Rocky" -- was the first of several tunes that echoed over the water each time swimmers were introduced at South County Regional Park. Tuesday, though, underdogs needed not to apply. ...

Mickey will just have to wait. The Legacy U12 boys and U13 girls soccer teams from Bonita Springs will have ample time to schmooze with the famous mouse at Disney World, but only after they compete in the Challenge 3v3 ...

South Fort Myers Little League's 15th season in 2007 might be its last at Rutenberg Park. Howard Gold — who has been involved in the league for the past decade, including the last five as president — said SFMLL will ...

The kid they call T-Mac was T-Rific. Travis McAfee hit three home runs, drove in seven runs and pitched a shutout to help the South Fort Myers 10-11-year-old All-Stars capture the Section 6 title last weekend at Chuck Reiter Stadium. ...

Kyle Miller backpedaled until center fielder met chain-link fence. Then Miller jumped and extended his glove toward the Venice sky, hoping to reel in an out that would have sent the game into extra innings. Instead, the ball that was ...

Before the South Fort Myers Junior All-Stars left town, they left something else: stranded runners. "We left 12 or 13 guys on base. We just couldn't come through with timely hits," said South manager Bill Fiorillo, whose team fell to ...

Todd Baxter and Troy Withstandley knew they'd be working at the Little League state championship this weekend. They just didn't know if their roles would be as coaches or if their rolls would be filled with hamburgers and hot dogs. ...

Who throws the nastiest curve on the San Carlos 11-12-year-old Little League All-Stars? Zach Culvahouse knows, but like any smart, politically correct catcher, he's not telling. "I'm not going to say," Culvahouse said during practice on Tuesday night as San ...

For 9-year-olds Derek Laden and Michael Iantosca, the Fort Myers Miracle youth baseball camp proved to be a good place to find a new favorite player. Derek and Michael were among about 70 youngsters who spent three days this week ...

Half of the South Fort Myers 10-11-year-old All-Stars already know what it takes to win a sectional tournament. They did it last year. The entire team knows what it takes to win a district. They did it last week. And ...

Runners-up no more. A year after settling for second place, the San Carlos 11-12-year-old Little League All-Stars claimed the District 18 championship behind shutout pitching from Ryan Withstandley and Kyle Miller. Zac Culvahouse and Dustin Sorenson provided the offensive clout ...

Adam Krivisky's reaction best summed up South Fort Myers Little League's exit from the 11-12-year-old District 9 Little League tournament. After a hard line drive out to lead off the sixth, Krivisky put up his hands and shook his head ...

At the Junior League level, throws by catchers to second base on first and third situations are rarely attempted. Stealing second is usually conceded by the defensive team, which often is willing to give up a free pass knowing that ...

The kid with an injured wrist drove in the kid who misread a steal sign. It was a fitting conclusion to a wacky 9-8 seven inning victory by the South Fort Myers 10-11-year-old All-Stars on Monday night at Rutenberg Park. ...