The Wandering Disciple

Englewood, Florida: After losing the first game of pool play, the Florida High Heat Black were back out on the fields at Englewood Sports Complex for the second of two pool games. The High Heat lost a hard fought game to a tough Freeze Baseball team, losing 7-6. The Freeze jumped out to an early lead by scoring a pair of runs in the opening frame. Following a run by High Heat in the third, the Freeze added four more in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 6-1. At that point, the High Heat battled back to tie the game following a one run fourth and a four run fifth. However the Freeze walked off following a home run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 win. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat Black/Freeze photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: After starting the tournament in last place as the number ten seed, the Florida High Heat Black found a groove and won the first two games giving them a spot in the final four. They opponent in the semi-finals would be a tough PBA Outlaws team who had yet to lose all weekend. The first inning was close as both teams exchanged a run to open the game. However from that point forward, the Outlaws dominated the game, handing the High Heat a 10-2 loss and eliminating them from the tournament. It was a strong run for the High Heat, making it to the semi-finals in their first tournament together as a team. They will look to build on this progress they made this weekend as they head to battle next week in the 2017 SWFL Champions Cup in Port Charlotte. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/Outlaws photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: Following a round one win, the Florida High Heat Black faced the number two seed in the tournament, the Cortez Stone Crabs in the second round of the 2017 Suncoast Travel Ball Battle 4 the Belt tournament. Using the momentum gained in the first game, the High Heat was firing on all cylinders as they shut-out the Stone Crabs 9-0. A two run homer in the first set the pace and High Heat pitching kept their opponents off the board as they coasted to the win and a spot in the tournament semi-finals. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/Stone Crabs photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: After finishing pool play 0-2, the Florida High Heat Black came into Sunday’s Battle 4 the Belt tournament as the tenth seed. In the opening round match-up, the High Heat would face the number seven team, the Lakewood Ranch RiverDawgs. The High Heat scored early and never surrendered the lead as the won 12-8 in the opening round. The loss eliminated the RiverDawgs while sending the High Heat into round two of the tournament. Click on the photo above to view my High Heat/RiverDawgs photo gallery .

Lakewood Ranch, Florida: The second game of pool play for the Florida High Heat Black matched them up with the Bloomingdale Bandits Red.  The High Heat found themselves down big in the first inning and never recovered as they fell 11-1.  The loss gave the High Heat an 0-2 record for pool play and they will begin tournament play on Sunday morning.  Click on the photo above to view my Florida High Heat Black/Bloomingdale Bandits Red photo gallery.

Lakewood Ranch, Florida:  The Florida High Heat Black 12U team opened up the 2017 Battle 4 the Belt tournament with a game against LWR Sharks in the first of two games Saturday.  Both teams battled tough, exchanging the lead a few times before the Sharks squeezed out a slim 5-4 win. Click on the link below for a gallery of photos from the Florida High Heat/LWR Sharks game .

A bobcat lies in wait for its next meal in a diorama at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville.  The distinct ecosystems of Florida are created in dioramas at this free museum on the campus of the University of Florida.  (Photo: November 9, 2013)

A spider builds a web along a hiking trail at Paynes Prairie State Park.  These web weavers can be found along the hiking trails at the park, sometimes scaring those who are frightened by their presence or caught off-guard as they walk through the web.  (Photo: November 9, 2013)

Don't train till you get it right, train till you don't get it wrong.  That's exactly what the Sarasota County Fire Department is doing here during a high angle rescue drill conducted during the construction of the University Town Center Mall in 2013.  In this drill, Truck 1 was positioning towards the building under construction to rescue a victim from the upper level. Drills like these help firefighter's maintain their skills on a wide variety of emergencies. (Photo:  November 6, 2013)

The vast expanse of Payne's Prairie stretches as far as the eye can see as seen here from the observation tower.  This prairie located just outside of Gainesville is home to wild herds of bison and horses as well as other native Floridian wildlife.  (Photo: November 9, 2013)

A nice stroll through the mangrove woods at Historic Spanish Point leads to this charming little pioneer church.  Mary's Chapel is a recreation of the pioneer era church that served the families that lived on this coastal property in the mid 1800's through early 1900's.  Today, the pioneer heritage is preserved at Historic Spanish Point and you can walk the very footsteps of the pioneers and take a glimpse into early Sarasota life.  (Photo: November 3, 2013)

An orb glows brightly along the Cock's Footbridge at Historic Spanish Point.  Each October, the grounds open at night for a ghost hunting tour in which museum curators take guests on a walk of the sprawling grounds and tell the haunted history of  Historic Spanish Point.  Orbs, mysterious music, shadows and hyperactive EVP's have all been experienced on the guided tour.  (Photo: October 25, 2013)

A honey bee is hard at work pollinating a wildflower at the Babcock Ranch in eastern Charlotte County.  Visitor's can take a tour of this working ranch and see how life was life for the original Florida crackers who farmed the land to provide for their family and their community. (October 25, 2013)

It has been a hectic few days here in Southwest Florida thanks to Hurricane Irma.  I have been away from the site as a result of the storm prep and increased workload at the my primary job with the fire department.  While the area was sparred catastrophic damage thanks to the last minute weakening of the Irma, there is still substantial damage statewide.  For us, we had minor damage (roof leak/damage in garage, siding peeled off the exterior, fence detroyed, tree split in half and flooding in living room/bedroom, no power for 2 days), there are plenty more in much worse condition.  Please consider helping Floridians recover if you can, there are plenty of volunteer organization and fundraisers established to help the efforts.  A big thanks goes out the all the fire/EMS, law enforcement, county/city/state federal assets and utlity workers helping with the recovery efforts.  These folks are sacrificing time with their families to ensure we get back on our f...

Before cell phones, fire alarm boxes like this were how to activate emergency services in the event of the fire.  These boxes were located on busy street corners to give citizens the ability to get help during an emergency.  With advancements in technology, these call boxes are no longer in service and many have found permanent home in museums like this one in the Tampa Firefighter Museum.  (Photo: October 19, 2013)

Once a popular nightspot, the Tampa Theater is a downtown icon that has been entertaining movie viewers since the 1920's.  Opened in 1926, the Tampa Theater is a stunning venue that feels more like Italy than Florida.  The lavish venue was the first commercial building in Tampa to feature air conditioning, a must have in the Floridian summers.  The theater remains in operation today, airing select screenings as well as tours of the historic theater.  (Photo: October 19, 2013)

Rays minor leaguer Jeremy Hadley congratulates teammate Thomas Milone after scoring during a Gulf Coast League game in 2013.  Both players were drafted by the Rays in the 2013 draft.  Milone is currently with the Charlotte Stone Crabs and Hadley was released by the organization after two seasons.  (Photo: August 16, 2013)

Stone Crabs manager Brady Williams argues his point with a Florida State League umpire during a minor league baseball game in 2013.  Williams was the skipper for the Rays Advanced-A affiliate that season and is now currently coaching the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Nicknamed "The Boss", George Steinbrenner was one of the most recognizable baseball owners of our lifetime.  For 37 years, Steinbrenner was the outspoken leader of the New York Yankee, one of the most prestigious clubs in Major League Baseball. His leadership of the organization as well as him impact on the game led the Yankees to rename their spring training home in his honor as well as erect a statue at the entry to pay tribute to the Yankees legend.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)