Florida Sports Wire

  JACKSONVILLE ( www.sportsdayjax.com )  –   Dane Myers ’ single allowed the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to walk off with a 3-2 victory in 10 innings over the Durham Bulls in front of 6,047 fans from 121 Financial Ballpark. With Durham (40-37, 0-2) ahead 2-1, Jerar Encarnacion walked against reliever Calvin Faucher (0-1) to put runners on first and second. Paul McIntosh followed with an RBI single, plating zombie runner Brian Miller to tie the game. After a strikeout, the Bulls intentionally walked Xavier Edwards to load the bases. Following another strikeout, Myers laced an RBI single to right to bring in Encarnacion and win it for Jacksonville (34-42, 2-0).   Thanks to an excellent start from Devin Smeltzer, who struck out seven and scattered two hits in 6.0 scoreless innings, the game was scoreless into seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Jordan Groshans walked with one out and advanced to second on an Encarnacion base hit. McIntosh then notched an RBI base hit for the game’s first

  PONTE VEDRA BEACH  – THE PLAYERS Championship is seeking applicants for its annual Red Coats’ community grant program, which awards funding to eligible nonprofits in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.  The Red Coats are a group of civic and corporate leaders who oversee and manage the tournament's volunteer efforts and are committed to improving the quality of life in the five-county area. Their grants are awarded to organizations that promote youth services, education, character development, health, wellness and sports and military support; grant awards range from $2,500 to $15,000.   “We’re thrilled to support the work of grantees across Northeast Florida as they inspire positive change here in our communities. It is our honor to provide funding to these deserving organizations,” said Kevin Robbins, Captain of the Red Coats.   Red Coats’ Grants Overview   Application timeline: Wednesday, June 28 to Friday, August 4, at 11:59 p.m. EST  For complete guidelines and

ORLANDO ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) -  The Orlando Magic have exercised their team option on center Goga Bitadze  for the 2023-24 season, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.   In addition, Orlando has declined its team options on Michael Carter-Williams and Admiral Schofield.   Bitadze (6’11”, 230, 7/20/99) played in 38 combined games (one start) last season (2022-23) with both Indiana and Orlando, averaging 4.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 12.0 minpg., while shooting .552 (69-125) from the floor.  He appeared in 21 games with the Pacers, averaging 3.3 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 9.6 minpg. Bitadze was waived by Indiana on Feb. 9, then signed as a free agent by Orlando on Feb. 13. He played in 17 games (one start) with the Magic, averaging 5.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 15.0 minpg.  Bitadze scored in double figures six times (five times with Orlando), including a season-high 14 points on Oct. 22 @ Detroit an

T AMPA ( www.sportsdayjax.com )   –   University of South Florida Vice President for Athletics Michael Kelly and new Beach Volleyball Head Coach Pri Piantadosi-Lima have announced that the Bulls' newest intercollegiate athletics program will begin competition in the 2025-26 academic year.   "During the process of hiring Pri to lead our first-ever beach volleyball program, we began to look closely at the best timeline in respect to the recruiting cycle and having our first student-athletes on campus," said Kelly. "Pri’s deep knowledge of the sport and the recruiting cycles within it, as well as her past experience helping to establish a successful program at Eckerd led us to this strategic timeline that will allow her to build a roster for sustained success." Piantadosi-Lima, who previously led the Optimum Beach program out of St. Petersburg that has produced more than 90 collegiate athletes in the sport, was hired to lead the USF program on June 6 and has been a

ORLANDO ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) – Another accolade has been bestowed upon Florida Atlantic men's basketball head coach Dusty May.  On Thursday evening, May was named iHeartMedia State College Coach of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel. May outdistanced Florida State football coach Mike Norvell by 173 votes to earn the honors.  The May resume continues to add awards after the Owls' head coach led Florida Atlantic to new heights in the 2022-23 season.  The Owls advanced all the way to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament after having zero previous March Madness wins in program history. Florida Atlantic posted an incredible record of 35-4, which marked the most wins in NCAA Division I this season and are only three wins shy of the single-season Division I record. The Owls became only the third No. 9 seed to make the Final Four in NCAA Tournament history. Additionally, Florida Atlantic was only the fifth team ever to reach the Final Four after previously having no NCAA Tournament

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. ( www.sportsdayjax.com )  –  Brian Miller and Jordan Groshans each blasted a home run in the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s 7-5, 10-inning win over the Gwinnett Stripers Sunday afternoon at Coolray Field. After a scoreless ninth, Groshans began the inning at second as the ghost runner and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jerar Encarnacion worked his third walk of the game and Charles Leblanc doubled off Gwinnett (33-42) reliever Grant Holmes (L, 3-2) to put Jacksonville ahead 6-5. Encarnacion went to third and Brian Miller added an insurance run with a sac fly to pad the Jumbo Shrimp lead to 7-5.   Jacksonville initially took the lead in the top of the second. With two outs, Leblanc drew a walk and Miller (2) blasted a two-run homer putting the Jumbo Shrimp up 2-0.   A costly error gave Gwinnett the lead in the bottom of the second. Braden Shewmake was hit by the first pitch of the inning and Daniel Robertson drew a walk in the next at-bat. Hoy Park laid a bunt down b

  JACKSONVILLE ( www.sportsdayjax.com )-   The fourth head coach in UNF baseball's 36-year history is announced as Joe Mercadante is tabbed to lead the program as made official by Director of Athletics Nick Morrow. A meet and greet will be held in July at a date to be finalized, with it also being streamed on North Florida Ospreys on Facebook.  "As we went along the hiring process it became evident that Joe Mercadante would be a great fit for UNF and UNF baseball," Director of Athletics Nick Morrow said. "He has a positive reputation throughout the baseball community for his relentless recruiting efforts, the development of his student-athletes and being a coach of high character. Joe is a Florida native and is well connected throughout the state, allowing him to step in and make an immediate impact on the program. We are thrilled to welcome Joe and his family back to their home state and to the University of North Florida." "It is time for alumni, fans and

PORT ST. LUCIE ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) -- A stellar class of athletes has been tapped for induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class.  The eight-member class, representing six different sports, includes an eight-time NBA All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, a two-time Super Bowl winning coach, a two-time World Cup champion and world champion jet car driver. The eight will be inducted in a ceremony to be held at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on November 8. “How exciting to be able to recognize such a talented, accomplished and diverse group of athletes,” said Rick Hatcher, President and Chairman of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame board. “Their contributions to their sport, their com-munities and impacts they’ve had on a worldwide stage make this a remarkable class. We are honored to welcome them as the newest members of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.” The announcement was made Friday as part of a reception held at the

 IRVING, Texas ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) –   College Football Playoff (CFP) Executive Director Bill Hancock announced that he will step down when his contract expires February 1, 2025.  “My time at the CFP has been a dream come true,” said Hancock, 72, who will be entering his 19th season working in post-season football this fall. “I cherish what I do and the folks I get to work with. And I do love college football. Now I will run through the tape, as the track coaches say, and then I will enjoy whatever next steps are waiting for Nicki and me.”  Hancock was named executive director of the CFP a few months after the event was created in 2012. He was the only CFP employee at the time.  The leaders of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame directed him to finalize the details of a media rights agreement, negotiate agreements with bowl games and championship-game host cities, build a staff, find office space, contact members to serve on the selection committee, and dra

  JACKSONVILLE ( www.sportsdayjax.com )  –   The Miami Marlins have announced that right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto has been assigned to Jacksonville to continue an injury rehabilitation assignment presented by H2 Health.  Cueto was placed on the 10-day IL on April 4 with a biceps injury after departing from his Marlins debut on April 3 after just 1.0 inning. He began a rehab stint with a start for the Jumbo Shrimp on May 6, but departed after 2.1 innings with a sprained left ankle.  He has started two games for Double-A Pensacola on this current rehab stint, giving up four runs on 11 hits in 6.1 innings. He had signed a one-year deal in January with Miami that included a club option for the 2024 season.   A two-time All-Star and member of the 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals, Cueto has gone 143-108 with a 3.46 ERA over 356 MLB appearances, including 354 starts, in a 16-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Royals, Chicago White Sox and Marlins.   A