Hurricanes Likely to Hit Orlando Again This Fall

The defending class 7A champions are gearing up for another state title run.

The 2012 Manatee Hurricanes will benefit from a strong group of veterans who return this season. Spring football opens with a lot of question marks but the Canes can rest assured that they will not have to scramble to fill many critical positions. "We've got to fill some holes, that's evident here," said Hurricane head coach Joe Kinnan. Kinnan graduated 21 players off of last year's roster. He will be searching for new running backs, linebackers and offensive linemen this spring and summer, and he admits it is not going to be easy. However, Kinnan has a core of returning veteran starters who will play an essential part of thier second state championship bid in as many years. The quarterback and running back tandem of Cord Sandberg and …

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Bradenton Military Moms Reveal Makeover Looks

Linda Craig and Kathy Reiter were selected for a day of pampering by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bradenton military moms Linda Craig and Kathy Reiter enjoyed a day of pampering that including hair styling, manicures, makeup, new clothes and a $500 shopping spree at JC Penney, thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mother's Day Makeovers. The two local women joined eight other from around central Florida. The day-long transformations started early in the morning and continued throughout the day until the big reveal with their friends and family at One Buc Place, the Buccaneers' headquarters.

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Gladiators Lose League Title to Orlando Rage

A nail-biter of a game ends the Gladiators' season at 12-1.

The Bradenton Gladiators went up against the Orlando Rage to fight for the Florida Football Alliance League Championship title in Bowl V on Saturday. In a well-matched game, the Rage won the title with a 35-30 victory. The Rage scored first with a field goal in the first quarter, but the Gladiators answered with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Phillip Chaltis to tie the game 3-3. Both teams continued to light up the score board with a Rage touchdown, followed by a 90-yard punt return touchdown by Bradenton's Craig Carnes, taking the score to 10-10. It was the Gladiators' turn to score again when Jeff Charlton caught a pass from quarterback Nicholas Kirby. But the Rage evened up the score again with a touchdown of their own, ending the half …

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Double District Champions Deliver at Regionals

Manatee Sprinters qualify for states.

Going into last Wednesday's 4A Region 2 Meet, the Manatee Hurricanes could boast that they had the fastest male and female sprinter, at least in the district. Now they can say they have the fastest male sprinter in the region and darn near the fastest female sprinter in the region. Junior Brandon Carnes and sophomore Deja Rodgers both won district titles in 100m and 200m sprints. They came into regionals looking to extend their dominance. They did just that. On the boys side, Carnes took first place in the 100m (10.57) and first in the 200m (21.74). He even helped the boys 4x100m team come from behind and overtake Vero Beach. "I thought we could still finish first, just gotta do what I do," said Carnes. Carnes closed at least a two-second …

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Bradenton Fishing Report

Fired Up for Spring Cleaning

A huge variety of fish are biting this spring.

Offshore of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key our parties are catching a wide variety of species. On our full day trips we are catching limits of fire truck red grouper. With the limit of 4 per person that's a serious meat trip. But there's more than just red grouper, we are catching monster mangrove snappers, yellowtail snappers, blackfin tuna, cobia. kingfish. spanish mackerel, amberjacks, big sharks, barracudas, porgy's and triggerfish. Best bet for the big grouper and amberjacks is go deep starting around 125 feet out to 170 feet for the monsters. Start out with cut bait to get the party started and finish up with large live baits for dessert. Closer in the last few weeks I have been fishing a lot of families on spring break family …

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Gladiators Ranked Nationally After AFC Championship

The team heads to Miramar for the Florida Football Alliance bowl

The Bradenton Gladiators won the AFC Conference Championship Saturday night and are now ranked at 2 nationally in the Semi-Pro Football League nationwide. The team beat the Magic City Bulls 10-7 to clinch the title. The game was a defensive battle. Strong defense on both sides left the first quarter scoreless. The second quarter looked like it was going to be a repeat of the first until with only 3.1 seconds left, Gladiators kicker Philip Chaltis scored a field goal to end the the first half 3-0.  The second half started with Gladiators Chris Hall scoring a touchdown.  The Bulls answered back with a touchdown by Johnny "The Show" Johnson in the fourth quarter. With less than a minute left the Bulls made it to the 10 yard-line and were …

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Bradenton Gladiators Rout Miami as the Team Heads to the AFC Championship

The Gladiators will play the Magic City Blues in the AFC Championship to be played at the Manatee PAL Complex.

The Gladiators defense moved the team into the next playoff game in the Florida Football Alliance AFC Conference as Bradenton (11-0) routed the Miami Spartans 23-0. The Gladiators next playoff game will be against the Magic City Bulls. The Bulls defeated the Sarasota Millionaires 38-6 on Saturday. That next play-off game is scheduled for Saturday at the Manatee PAL Complex at 7 p.m. Details on Saturday's game are available here.

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Please Welcome the 'Commissioner of Patch Baseball'

All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira will offer regular features, provide baseball tips and answer your baseball questions throughout the 2012 season.

Patch has appointed New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira as the Commissioner of Patch Baseball. The two-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner will interact with Patch users on the company's network of more than 850 sites this baseball season by regularly responding to your questions, sharing baseball tips, and posting exclusive videos. Teixeira will also offer young athletes advice on how to stay in shape and why healthful eating is so important for optimal performance. “I live in a Patch town now and I keep tabs on my original hometown via the Patch site there, so I’ve seen the ways that Patch supports its communities,” Teixeira said. “I’m excited to be a part of that by connecting with Patch users who have the same …

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1,000 Run For Sea Turtles On Siesta Beach

Mote Marine's annual Run for the Turtles raises money for its Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program.

More than 1,000 runners and walkers hit the beach to help endangered and threatened sea turtles during Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium's 26th Run for the Turtles today on Siesta Key  Public Beach. The run, which includes a 5K sanctioned by the Manasota Track club and a 1-mile fun-run/walk, has provided major support for Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program — an internationally recognized program that will soon begin its 31st year coordinating sea turtle conservation along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches. The race results are:  5K winners:   1-Mile Fun Run/Walk winners (exact times not recorded): Mote scientists and more than 300 volunteers in Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol monitor sea turtle nesting each …

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