Kevin_Holden's Blog

Hard to believe it, but the regular season is in the books. And Fox Hilites was there, every step of the way... an amazing 11 weeks!

Even though the last week of the season has no playoff implications, it's still huge for many area teams. Rivalry Week is circled on the calendar all season long for the teams facing off in battles with neighboring schools. And this Rivalry Week did not disappoint.

The Barrel is back in Edgewater's trophy case after a 21-14 win over Boone. It's a great end to what's been a down season for the Eagles - they won't be making the playoffs, but the Edgewater seniors went out with a bang, giving Boone its second loss of the season.

Mainland flexed its collective muscle in the Battle of the Beach, jumping out to a 17-0 lead and blasting Seabreeze 34-7. Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium was jam-packed for this neighborhood rivalry, and the Mainland Bucs get more than bragging rights; they're the only team in the viewing area that finished its regular season undefeated.

We had not one, but TWO, Games of the Week thanks to a tie in the voting. And both games turned out to be terrific battles. Bishop Moore edged out Lake Highland Prep 10-7 in a game covered admirably by Eric Clinkscales (check out his blog for more on that game). And the Pine Ridge Panthers made history with their 31-21 win over Deltona in the Battle of the Boulevard. Pine Ridge is the first 3-time Game of the Week winner in Fox Hilites history! Pine Ridge is rolling into the playoffs and looking for a run to the 5A title game.

Other area tidbits... Seminole won its 6th straight game, blasting Lyman 45-0. The 'Noles host DeLand in the first round (DeLand made the playoffs after going 0-10 last season)... Eastside scored with 4 seconds left for a thrilling 30-27 win over Gainesville... Cocoa continued its great regular season run with a 31-10 win over rival Rockledge, but Rockledge senior Kory Kowalski stole the show with a 58 yard field goal. Are you listening, D-1 colleges?... Winter Springs is experiencing a case of deja vu, finishing 7-3 for the second straight season yet missing the playoffs... Dr. Phillips bested West Orange 49-21 to notch their 8th straight win. The district champion Panthers host Durant in the first round of playoffs next week... Eustis finished off its season with a 29-14 rivlary win over Mount Dora... district champ First Academy ended its regular season with 9 wins thanks to an impressive 28-14 victory over Pine Castle Christian.

Bring on the playoffs! See you next week on Fox Hilites at 11:15!

Monday night's tiebreaking mini-games are in the books. Note: boiling a season down to a 12 minute mini-game is like trying to sum up an episode of House in 7 words - it doesn't do it justice!

Anyway, all the local playoff matchups are now set. Remember, playoffs don't start unti November 21st - there's still another week of regular season play this Friday (with some fantastic rivalry games!)

Here's the list of all 31 playoff games (teams from the Fox 35/Fox 51 viewing area in ALL CAPS):

6A:

LAKE BRANTLEY at SPRUCE CREEK

DELAND at SEMINOLE

APOPKA at TIMBER CREEK

WINTER PARK at EAST RIDGE

Durant at DR. PHILLIPS

BOONE at Riverview (Sarasota)

5A:

PINE RIDGE at Orange Park

BUCHHOLZ at MAINLAND

South Fork (Stuart) at PALM BAY

BAYSIDE at Atlantic (Delray Beach)

OSCEOLA at Newsome

4A:

Nease at EASTSIDE

LAKE WEIR at Ridgeview (Orange Park)

Tarpon Springs at MERRITT ISLAND

SEABREEZE at Land O' Lakes

3A:

Crystal River at NORTH MARION

Gulf at ST. CLOUD

BISHOP MOORE at Pasco

Lake Wales at COCOA

SPACE COAST at Ridge Community

2A:

Ribault at SOUTH SUMTER

JONES at Bolles (Jacksonville)

2B:

Episcopal at TRINITY CATHOLIC

NEWBERRY at Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)

Cardinal Mooney at WILDWOOD

TRINITY PREP at Frostproof

1A:

University Christian at FIRST ACADEMY (Orlando)

HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL at North Florida Christian

1B:

MERRITT ISLAND CHRISTIAN at WARNER CHRISTIAN

TRINITY CHRISTIAN (Deltona) at ORANGEWOOD CHRISTIAN

PINE CASTLE CHRISTIAN at Keswick Christian

OK fans... who's going to the state championships this year? Blog away!

District champions crowned... playoff spots decided (and some still to be decided)... that was the story of a WILD week 10 in high school football... and we had it all on Fox Hilites!!

District play wrapped up tonight, and some of the season's most heroic performances happened on the football fields of Central Florida Friday night. And any discussion of heroes has to start at Dr. Phillips High School, where the Panthers gave Boone their first loss of the season, 42-27. With the win, the Panthers take home the District 6A-5 title. Eric Clinkscales (golfer extraordinaire) has more on that game on his blog, but I'll just say this... Dale Salapa has done an unbelievable job in his first year at DP. He deserves that District Coach of the Year title he got earlier this week.

A couple of other notes, and then I'll break down the playoff scenarios - how about the turnaround Jones has made in their first year under Kenard Lang? Jones beat Mount Dora 12-3 to clinch a playoff berth, an amazing turnaround from a 1-9 season last year. Congrats to Coach Lang!

Speaking of new coaches making headlines, Tim Shifflet's second year at Winter Park has yielded some big results. The Wildcats' 14-11 win over Edgewater has put Winter Park into the postseason. Could this be the beginning of a return to late 80s/early 90s championship form at WPHS?

Several other schools, like Wildwood, Warner Christian, and St. Cloud, clinched district titles tonight. Let's break down the playoff picture as it stands right now:

6A-1: DeLand, Mandarin, and Spruce Creek finished in a three-way tie for the top spot. They'll play tie-breaking mini-games Monday night, with Spruce Creek hosting. No pressure, right?

6A-2: Seminole is district champion; Lake Brantley is runner-up.

6A-3: Timber Creek wins the district after going 5-0 in district play for the first time in school history. Winter Park gets the second spot with their win over Edgewater.

6A-4: East Ridge has the district title; Apopka is runner-up and will travel to Timber Creek for an enticing first round matchup.

6A-5: Dr. Phillips has the top spot (and a home game to start the playoffs) after beating Boone. The Boone Braves are runners-up.

5A-3: Gainesville Buchholz clinched a playoff spot Friday night with a win over Fleming Isalnd.

5A-4: Mainland (still undefeated) has the district title. Pine Ridge gets the second spot thanks to their 28-21 win over Hagerty Friday night.

5A-13: Palm Bay is the #1 seed; Bayside gets the #2 spot because of their clutch win over Melbourne Friday night.

4A-6: Eastside (Gainesville) is district champs; Lake Weir gets the second spot.

4A-7: Merritt Island wins the district title; Seabreeze comes in second and makes the playoffs.

3A-5: North Marion clinched the title with Friday's win at Dunnellon.

3A-7: St. Cloud (another amazing turnaround story) wins the district title thanks to Friday's win; Bishop Moore makes the playoffs with Friday's win over Eustis.

3A-9: Cocoa takes the top spot; Space Coast is runner-up.

2A-4: South Sumter is district champs (no surprise there). Jones sneaks up and takes the other playoff spot (more of a surprise, and one of the great stories of the year in Central Florida).

2B-4: Trinity Catholic has the #1 seed; Newberry has the other playoff spot.

2B-5: Wildwood clinches the district title. The Villages, Trinity Prep, and Crescent City finish in a three-way tie for the second spot; they'll decide that spot with tie-breaking mini games Monday night (at Trinity Prep, we believe).

1A-4: Three-way tie for the top spot; Florida Air Academy, First Academy (Orlando) and Holy Trinity Episcopal play tie-breaking mini-games Monday night at First Academy.

1B-3: Warner Christian beats Trinity Christian to take the district title; Trinity Christian still makes the playoffs as the #2 seed.

1B-4: Orangewood Christian has clinched the district title; Merritt Island Christian is the #2 seed.

1B-5: Pine Castle Christian has clinched the runner-up spot (they'll go on the road for the playoffs' first round).

5A-8: Osceola lost Friday, but still make the playoffs as district runner-up.

Whew! That's a lot of research. Playoffs start November 21st... next week is Rivalry Week! Thanks for watching Fox Hilites!

A spooky Halloween edition of Fox Hilites! Week 9 was, by far, the most intense week of high school football yet. Several district champions were crowned tonight, and many other teams clinched playoff berths. The playoff picture is already shaping up - didn't we just start the season?

We got to start with the winner-take-district-title matchups, and there were several of them. East Ridge posted one of the most impressive wins of the season, beating Apopka 21-13 and taking home the district 6A-4 title. Apopka is still possibly the area's most talented team, but now they've got two losses and will be travelling in the first round of the playoffs. The celebration is on in Clermont!

Speaking of ultra-talented, Seminole went perfect in October, culminating with a 35-14 district-title-clinching win over Lake Brantley. The 'Noles high-octane offense has found its rhythm with two weeks left in the regular season. Winter Springs may have an upset on their minds next week, but it'll be tough for anyone to stop the 'Noles right now.

Palm Bay, Trinity Catholic, and South Sumter all clinched district titles this week with key wins. That's a huge advantage because they can rest their players for two weeks before the postseason starts. Look for teams like Mainland, Seminole, and East Ridge to be rested and ready when November 21st comes.

Other area tidbits... North Marion clinched at least a share of the district championship with a 21-19 win over Williston. Watch for the Colts to make some noise come playoff time... Mount Dora kept its playoff hopes alive with a win at Lake Highland Prep. It's Mount Dora vs. Jones next week, winner's in the playoffs, loser's out... We've been talking about it for weeks, but here come the DeLand Bulldogs. Kevin Pettis's bunch beat Mandarin Friday night, giving Mandarin its first district loss and DeLand an inside shot at a playoff spot... Spruce Creek may have something to say about that though. The Hawks blasted Deltona 39-0 in our Game of the Week (which received almost 900 votes in the poll)... Boone High shut down Freedom 35-7 to clinch a playoff spot. The Braves play Dr. Phillips next week for the district championship... Boone's one of the two area undefeateds. Mainland's the other, and still unblemised after a 28-7 win over Hagerty... Cocoa captured their district title, 36-22 over Space Coast. Cocoa gets a tough Astronaut squad next week... We loved the World Series here at Fox 35, but it's a concensus opinion that we're ready to focus on football.

Last week of district play next week, then tiebreaker mini-games if needed on Monday the 10th! Thanks for watching!

Kevin Holden, Fox 35 Sports

Well, it's done. This Series of bizarre twists and turns, of improbable heroes, newly impassioned fans and hardened supporters, of snow and freezing temps, has come to a conclusion that was everything the rest of the series wasn't - a conclusion that was about baseball.

It was about battling back in Wednesday's mini-game. About Rocco Baldelli's homer minutes after the Phillies had taken a 3-2 lead. About Brad Lidge, picture perfect closer, pitching a picture perfect ninth and sending the City of Brotherly Love into its own unique euphoria.

Of course, that euphoria includes setting things on fire, but that's beside the point. For every riotous Philly fan, there were two with tears in their eyes Wednesday night, a 130-year-old tradition of failure eased for one night with the team's second championship.

Folks, I don't hold it against the Phillies for celebrating the title. Even those obnoxious fans that booed us when we left the parking lot in Game 3. The celebration literally extends 20 miles out from the stadium, a massive city of sorted souls united for one night behind the joy of that city's first title in 25 years.

But enough about Philly. Everyone else will talk plenty about them.

Rays fans, I know it stings tonight. Joe Maddon's team took its fans on an unbelievable ride, proving the doubters wrong every step of the way. Every day, every week, every month, baseball 'experts' waited for midnight to strike on baseball's Cinderella - and it never happened.

Yes, your Rays go home empty-handed from baseball's biggest dance. Yes, they went winless in Philly. Yes, Pena and Longoria waited almost a week for their first World Series hits. Yes, it hurts right now, Rays fans.

But as time goes on, you should realize and appreciate just what this Rays team gave you.

The Texas Rangers have been around since 1961, and are still looking for their first World Series berth. The Seattle Mariners just finished their 32nd season, and still have yet to taste October's sweet nectar. The Washington Nationals? 40 years, dating back to Montreal, and not a single World Series game.

Your Rays, so young as a team, are also very young as a baseball franchise. But in just their 11th season, Tampa Bay got to feel the magic that 28 other teams would die for right now.

Embrace this team, Tampa Bay and Central Florida. Embrace them the way these Philly fans have thrown their arms around their baseball heroes, 10,000 losses and all. Keep sporting the Rayhawks and ringing the cowbells. Sell out games next season. Bleed Tampa Bay Rays blue, even when they're 76-86.

If you do that, you'll build a lasting baseball tradition, a franchise that's respected nationwide. And then when the title comes, you'll be riding on the hoods of cars and hugging complete strangers in the streets, the same way these passionate Philly fans are doing right outside our hotel window.

Soak up every moment and remember it, Rays fans. This team doesn't have to be a one-year wonder.

Folks, our baseball barnburner has turned into a baseball bizarro world.

Game 5 of the World Series has been postponed... again. This is not Monday night's postponement. This is an entirely new meeting, a completely new agreement that, as the city of Philadelphia braces for more seasonal (read: rough) conditions, the boys of summer will not be taking the field tonight.

 By the way, it's snowing.

That's right. Outside our hotel room in Northeast Philadelphia, white flakes are falling from the sky. I'm on the top floor, so there's no one above me with a bad case of dandruff. And I didn't accidentally sleep until Christmas morning. Yup, that's good ol' fashioned American snow. I can package some up and send it back to Florida in case anyone wants to know what it looks like.

So let's assume the Rays can beat the Phillies in this mini-game once it resumes. Then we go back to Saint Pete for Games 6 and 7, which will also be pushed back because of the delays here. If the Rays can force a Game 7, it would fall... get this... on Halloween night! Anything longer than a three and a half hour game that night, and we would have baseball in November for only the second time in history.

The first time, it was because baseball had a 2-week hiatus after September 11th, 2001.

Folks, I gotta be honest... there's a part of me that's getting a little worried about the game I've loved my whole life.

Revenue makes the world go round, but in this case, revenue has made baseball come to a violent halt, right before the crescendo of its final act. Extra off days during the League Championship Series and Division Series were nice because you didn't have to choose between the Dodgers and the Angels on TV this fall, but the extra time has turned baseball's postseason into basketball's postseason. And by the way, I think the 2006 NBA postseason just wrapped up this afternoon.

I'm not sure what the solution is, but the snow falling outside my window tells me we shouldn't be playing baseball anymore. And whether it's shortening the season, getting rid of extra long layoffs between playoff series, or starting it all a little sooner in March, baseball should find an answer.

Because the thought of watching a World Series game after the ribbon comes off the last Christmas present, just doesn't sound American to me.

More than 100 years, more than 600 games. The World Series is as steeped in tradition as any sporting event in America. But we saw something Monday night that has never happened - ever - in the history of the Series.

A World Series game is on hold. Literally.

Game 5 was suspended in the middle of the 6th inning, with the score tied 2-2. Rain, winds, and near freezing temperatures rendered the playing surface unplayable, causing Commissioner Bud Selig to suspend the game.

Now, an entire baseball universe - from the fans to the players, coaches, and even media - are in a holding pattern thanks to mother nature. The Rays were forced to find a new hotel for the night, as they had planned to fly to St. Pete directly from Monday night's game. Fans are scrambling to free up their Tuesday night, and Philly fans put their party on hold.

And no, I don't think Brian and I are going to catch our Tuesday evening flight home to Orlando. I think we'll be busy watching another piece of history - the first World Series game that doesn't start with the first inning.

This might be just what the Rays needed to get momentum back in their favor. Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena were starting to hit again before the rains came (and imagine baseball's mess if Pena hadn't singled in a run to tie the game in the top of the 6th). Cole Hamels isn't a factor now, and this game is still tied.

But before Rays fans start celebrating, remember this - now Tampa Bay has to play the equivalent of a mini-game. The Phillies get to bat first (they resume play in the bottom of the 6th), and they'll get to bat last if necessary. Plus, the best bullpen in the game today wears Phillies uniforms. So this uphill battle is still just that - it's just a little more like sudden death than a 9 inning stroll.

Gotta sleep sometime! See everyone tomorow at the park!

It's 10PM on a Monday night, and we're sitting in a rental car in the parking lot outside Citizens Bank Park, the heat running and keeping us warm-blooded Floridians as warm as possible on a chilly, damp October night.

It's cold, and the rain is falling, and my poetic side can't help but draw a connection from the weather to the Rays fortunes in this series. Tampa Bay's sizzling season, their title hopes, the worst-to-first dreams, have cooled north of the Mason-Dixon line, and the biting wind and rain are a stark reminder that the Boys of Summer are about to be gone.

I'm not calling this thing totally over yet. It's the 5th inning right now (an official game), the Phillies lead 2-1, and puddles are starting to form on the field. We could be in for a long night. But there hasn't been much to cheer about if you're a Rays fan. Scott Kazmir just issued his 5th walk, Cole Hamels has been masterful for Philly, and luck isn't even going the Rays way right now.

It's anything but done, but there's a chilling reality settling in that this wild ride could end tonight at the ballpark in front of us.

Pena and Longoria have finally gotten their first hits of the series, and that's absolutely essential to getting this Series back to St. Petersburg. And remember, if this thing somehow does get south, the Rays have much more favorable matchups in Games 6 and 7. Not to mention no rain and 72 degree temps at the Trop.

But before anyone can think about the future, the Rays have to survive tonight. And it's not just surviving four innings of baseball. It's surviving Cole Hamels, the freezing rain and wind, and those screaming Philly fans.

I know your scorecards read Game 5, but in reality, the Rays are facing their Game 7, their do-or-die, right now.

Photographer Brian Bachman and I were on Interstate 95 winding our way toward downtown Philadelphia when it finally happened. The dreaded moment, the moment I knew would turn the Series around, the moment Rays fans had hoped and prayed would not come.

I'm not talking about tonight's Game 4 loss... this moment happened Saturday night in Game 3, and it came with one swing off the Bunyan-esque bat of Ryan Howard, the Phillies' cleanup hitter and top slugger.

Howard launched a ball deep into the cool, damp Pennsylvania night, and at the same time, sent a major statement - the struggling slugger was done struggling.

And that's awful, awful news for Rays fans.

This entire Series, I've kept wondering what the games would look like if Howard found his misplaced stroke. And the second he did, the momentum of this Series changed. The Phillies won that night 5-4, and then pulverized the pitchers from Tampa Bay in a 10-2 rout on Sunday, leaving the Rays season on the verge of being snuffed out.

Howard new hitting bug is contagious. So much so that Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton, who spent more than half the year in a league where PITCHERS DON'T BAT, uncorked a solo home run Sunday night. Howard added two long balls.

Folks, the Rays' backs are against the wall. And there's only one way to turn the tide of this Series, which by the way needs to be done right now - the Rays best hitters need two of whatever Howard's having for lunch.

Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay's most dependable hitters, are 0-29 with 15 strikeouts in this series. And if that trend continues in Game 5 Monday, there will be a near riot in this blue-collar town that's more anxious by the minute for a Series title.

And by the way, Brian and I got booed as we left the parking lot today. Yes, we actually got heckled by Philly fans who had been indulging in too many beverages and too much winning.

Wait, scrap that last part - there's not such a thing as too much winning. The almighty win is what keeps the Yankees looking for their 27th title, and the Rays looking just as hard for their 1st.

And if things on the field don't change in a hurry, the chance for that elusive win will be gone in Rays camp.

I'm blogging as World Series Game 3 is in its final innings, and the Rays and Phillies are engaged in one of those classic battles that should make this Series memorable for decades to come.

We've been in Philadelphia for about 10 hours, and the one aspect of the World Series atmosphere that strikes me most is the passion and desire of the Philly fans here. This franchise has only one World Championship in more than a century of baseball seasons, so needless to say, this city is hungry for a title.

And it shows at the gates, where fans showed up five hours before first pitch just to soak up the atmosphere, tailgate, and show their team spirit.

Don't get me wrong... we ran into a handful of Rays fans too, and they were just as passionate. But the sea of red and white sent the clear statement that this is Philly's turf, and they intend on defending it.

We did talk to one Rays fan who actually lives here in Philadelphia - wonder how much grief he's getting from the rest of the baseball nuts in this city right now?

There are other ties between these two teams - Phillies director of player personnel Chuck Lamar was the architect of the Rays franchise for years, drafting several players on the current Rays roster. And Joe Maddon has ties to northeastern Pennsylvania, where his relatives own and operate Third Base Luncheonette in Hazelton. That restaurant is all Rays, all the time... a blue and white beacon in a sea of Phillies red.

I think these cities deserve this Series. It's nice to see it somewhere other than New York or Boston.

And the journey begins!

It's a baseball fan's dream to do what we're doing this week... travelling with the World Series from St. Pete to the city of brotherly love... Philadelphia, PA!

Brian Bachman and I arrived Saturday afternoon around 2:30, and the incoming flight from Atlanta was loaded with Phillies fans! There wasn't a single Tampa Bay Rays fan on the flight! I have a hard time believing the Rays fans won't make the trip at all... they just apparently decided to skip this flight.

The history of this town always amazes me, from the Liberty Bell to Independence Hall to the famed statue of William Penn. By the way, the city has been premature in the past about putting a jersey on Billy Penn (in other words, they put on the jersey before a Philly sports team wins a championship; then the team collapses in the playoffs, and you know the rest).

This year, I'm being told they haven't put the jersey on Billy Penn just yet.

Game three is tonight, weather permitting (by the way, Florida faithful, it's 55 and raining sideways right now) only on Fox 35. Blog away fans... and I'll have some photos from our Philly road trip later tonight!

We took a break from the World Series just long enough to bring you another Friday night of Fox Hilites! We love putting this show on every Friday night... seems like the time goes too fast.

Not a lot of time tonight (I've got a flight to catch in the morning - heading to Philly for the World Series games there), but I'll hit some major highlights from Week 8...

Apopka got a major scare from Olympia Friday night, but the Darters hung on and won in thrilling fashion, on an Alex Catron field goal with less than 10 seconds left! The APK is 7-1 and still hasn't lost a game to an in-state team yet this season. The Apopka-East Ridge showdown next week determines a district title winner!

Class 6A district 2's playoff picture is a little clearer after this week's games. Seminole bested Lake Mary 48-7 in our Game of the Week, while Winter Springs lost a heartbreaker to Oviedo Thursday night. Next week's Seminole-Lake Brantley game is for that district's championship, while the best thing Winter Springs and Oviedo can hope for is two straight Seminole losses and a three way tie for second. I don't think it's gonna happen - Seminole's offense is as powerful as any in the area, and they may put the district title away next Friday night.

We still have two area undefeateds - Boone High beat Cypress Creek 50-6 to move to 7-0, and Mainland had the week off, maintaining their 7-0 mark. Can we have Boone and Mainland play each other?

Other tidbits - Dr. Phillips likely got themselves into the playoffs with their 31-21 win over Freedom... Pine Castle Christian finished a perfect district season with a 51-8 thrashing of CFCA... South Sumter rebounded from their worst loss in years, upping Umatilla 35-0 to run their record to 7-1... Watch out for Space Coast! The Vipers held powerful Astronaut in check in a 16-3 defensive struggle, putting Space Coast at 6-1 and playing Cocoa for the district title next week... Pine Ridge is 6-1 thanks to a 27-17 squeaker over Lyman... the 6A-1 playoff picture is cloudier than ever after Friday. Mandarin leads with a 3-0 district mark, but four other teams are within striking distance of that second spot... And no, Eric Clinkscales did NOT hit that ball over the goal post at the end of the show. Our automation system cut off the show right before Eric popped the baseball straight up in the air and then flung the bat over the goalpost in disgust. Better luck next time, EC!

OK, gotta get some rest, at least a few hours before we leave for Philly. Thanks everyone for watching - see you next Friday at 11:15!

Kevin Holden, WOFL Sports

It's 7:44AM in St. Petersburg, Florida. Sunrise has hit Tampa Bay, but the Rays have been shining all year long. And that's the reason we're all here.

The World Series starts tonight! Baseball fever is gripping the Bay Area like never before. More than two dozen fans turned up at Tropicana Field in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, most of them just looking to get in the background of TV stations' coverage, but all of them rabid Rays fans.

This franchise is young by baseball standards (11 years), and there are many older teams that have had precious few chances to be part of a World Series. The Cubs have now gone 100 years without winning baseball's biggest prize; the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't even appeared in a World Series since 1979.

Even the Rays opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, have exactly one World Series championship, and they've been around since the 1800s!

Bottom line is this... having a World Series in your backyard is special. Incredibly special. I hope Rays fans and baseball fans in Central Florida grasp this and appreciate it.

From the looks of the 'Ray-Hawks' on fans heads at 6:00 this morning, I think the fans really are thankful the Rays have reached the Fall Classic.

I'll be blogging more tonight for Game 1 of the Series, but for now, it's time to finish up the morning show and get some rest!

Start the World Series smack talking now!

There's just something about it that didn't sound quite right this summer. Rays in first place. Rays ahead of the Red Sox and Yankees. Rays clinch a playoff spot.

But the notes to this song sound perfectly in tune after Game 7 Sunday night. The Rays are headed to the World Series!

Really, folks. This isn't a dream; don't pinch yourself. The Tampa Bay Rays are the champions of the American League. Yes, that's the league with the Yankees, Angels, and even the Red Sox, whom the Rays just sent packing with an ALCS Game 7 win that legitimizes everything this franchise has done this season.

These Rays are 100% real.

Stories like these are the reason I love sports. Preseason experts were calling the Rays 10,000-1 longshots to make it to the Fall Classic. From Dunedin to Deltona, baseball followers just knew Tampa Bay was headed for another 72-90 season.

But oddsmakers and 'experts' can't measure one crucial element of sports - heart. And the Rays are absolutely loaded with heart. That, and great pitching, and rookie third basemen launching balls into the next area code. Those things help, too.

It takes more than talent to get to this point, or else the Red Sox, Angels, or another team that looked better on paper would be A.L. champs. It takes a team effort, some timely hits, and a little luck... but that combination is a recipe for magic. And Tampa Bay's Rays have captured that magic in a bottle.

As a journalist, it's my job to cover the sports, NOT to root for any particular team. But this incredible turnaround, this amazing story, is making it hard not to root for these Rays to win it all.

Four more wins, and the biggest baseball Cinderella in decades would be crowned as World Series champs. But those are the toughest four wins in the baseball universe. And the best part... the Series is on Fox 35 (that also means I get to watch it at work)!

OK fans, let the smack talk begin... who's winning this thing? Does Philly have what it takes to win the title, or will the Rays magic train keep on rolling? Blog away, and remember... World Series game 1 is Wednesday night on Fox 35!

The fastest 15 minutes in high school sports is in the books once again... Fox Hilites had the football scene buzzing once again! We're getting into the home stretch of the regular season, and the storylines are developing in this soap opera of football.

We started the night with 4 undefeated teams in the area... and now we're down to 2. Trinity Catholic's Celtics saw their first defeat at the hands of now 7-0 Mainland, 37-14. Greg Ross is one of the top quarterbacks in the area - that's no secret - but he's managing games better than ever, and the Bucs have a pretty good chance of finishing the regular season 10-0!

Boone High stayed undefeated in another convincing 40-7 win, this one over University. Last year, the Braves spent week after week grinding their way to wins with a dominant defense and just enough offense to win. This year, they're blowing people away. Is it blasphemy for me to say this year's Braves could be BETTER than last year's bunch? Are they headed back to the 6A title game?

Apopka's got something to say about that... the Blue Darters edged out Winter Park 27-14 to go to 6-1 on the season. They haven't lost to an in-state team yet this season! Three straight district games lie ahead for the APK, including two key district showdowns against Olympia and East Ridge the next two weeks. Jeremy Gallon and the Darters are poised for the playoffs!

South Sumter fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Friday night, dropping a 41-14 decision to Nature Coast Tech. The explosive offense just wasn't there for Inman Sherman's Raiders on this night... but don't count them out. 9-1 is easily possible for the Raiders in the regular season, and remember, they were one win from the 2A state title game last year. Expect a similar run this fall.

Another big storyline from Week 7 is traditional powers getting back on the winning track, and the leader of that parade is Lake Brantley. A lot of "experts" wrote the Patiots off prematurely after their 0-2 start, but George Clayton's bunch hasn't lost a game since. The Pats now have a 5 game winning streak thanks to Friday's 41-13 win over Oviedo. Edgewater notched win number two Friday, 41-7 over Hagerty in Gierke Bowl II (Bill Gierke coaches Edgewater, his son Nate coaches Hagerty). It's weird to see Edgewater at 2-4, but this win will give the team a boost of confidence. And Dr. Phillips has rattled off four wins in a row after nipping Olympia 27-19 Friday night.

Other area tidbits: East Ridge gets almost no publicity, but the Knights are 6-1 thanks to a prolific offense. They host Apopka Halloween night - watch out for that explosive matchup... Orlando Lutheran is 6-1 and claims the honor of being the only area school with TWO Fox Hilites Game of the Week plaques in their trophy case this season... Kenard Lang and the Jones Tigers continue to turn heads. The latest big step, a 36-35 overtime win against Bishop Moore Friday night at the Citrus Bowl. Jones has 4 wins, compared to 1 all of last year... Winter Springs held off Lyman 23-3 to improve to 5-1. One unofficial total has Al-Tarek McBurse near 2,000 rushing yards on the season... Deltona is now 5-1, but entering a ram-tough stretch of district games - their next three opponents (Flagler Palm Coast, Spruce Creek, and Mandarin) have 12 combined wins this year... Speaking of 5-1, where did St. Cloud come from? The Bulldogs have almost doubled last year's win total, and are now riding the momentum of a 5-game winning streak.

Thanks everybody for watching, and be sure to catch Fox Hilites next Friday night at 11:15!

Kevin Holden, Fox 35 Sports