Gateway seeks its 3rd straight OBC crown

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The 2012 high school baseball season was one of the most competitive ever in Osceola County.

Osceola and Harmony claimed district championships, and OHS got to within one game of the state tournament before losing to Brandon, 3-2, in the regional final.

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Poinciana High senior catcher Willies Estrada can relax now that he has signed a national letter of intent to Palm Beach State College.

Just not on the field.

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The Heritage Christian Lady Eagles reached the Florida Christian Conference championship basketball game last week before falling to Real Life Christian Academy of Clermont.

Jacque Mitchell
Fishin’ Fun

The first part of the week was a little on the chilly side!  Monday morning I had to let my truck run with the defroster on for close to 10 minutes to get the frost off my windshield.  Water temperatures on Lake Toho dropped to 61 degrees.  A few days earlier it had been 71 degrees.
The bass fishing fell off for a couple of days, but it is picking up again.  Senko-type baits, trick worms, lipless crank baits and spinner baits seem to be working well.  Some bigger bass are being caught on wild shiners.  Rick Butler had a guide trip out last week and one of his customers caught an 11.8-pounder.  Wednesday morning I caught a 9.75-pound bass and several other nice ones.
Cody Detweiler had a harrowing experience while fishing a BFL tournament on Lake Okeechobee last weekend.  He was fishing as a non-boater and the boat he was in started taking on water, eventually sinking.  Other than being wet and cold, nobody was hurt, but Cody and his partner lost their catch and missed the weigh-in.
Spec fishermen are having a tough time right now.  Some of the specs have moved into the grass and reeds to spawn and are not hitting all hat well.
Bluegills continue to be cooperative and can be caught in shallow water around the edges of lily pads and buggy whip reeds.  Most are being caught on crickets and red worms and wigglers.
When I hear about all the really cold weather and snow storms up north, I really appreciate where I’m living.
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By J. Daniel Pearson
For the News-Gazette

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to high school wrestling Osceola County has earned a reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Led by the perfect seasons from Osceola High School’s Fox Baldwin and Chris Pagan, the county accounted for four of the state’s 14 individual champions at the Class 3A state tournament Saturday at the Lakeland Center.