Bloomingdale/ FishHawk
August 2024 Volume 23, Issue 8
Ph: 813-657-2418
15
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CELEBRATING 22 YE ARS OF PUBLISHING POSITIVE COMMUNITY NEWS
LOCAL MACK ESTRADA SIGNS CONTRACT WITH THE NEW YORK YANKEES
By Lily Belcher
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
TRAVIS MANION 9/11 HEROES 1-MILE AND 5K RUN RETURNS TO FISHHAWK
By Sharon Still
Mark the calThe event is endar for Saturput on by the day, September Travis Man28, and head out ion Foundation to Park Square (TMF), a nonPlaza at Fishprofit organizaHawk to support tion that honors the community the legacy of 1st and patriotism Lt. Travis Manat the annual ion, USMC, who Travis Manion is known for the 9/11 Heroes Run, quote, “If not me, a heartfelt tribthen who?”, a reute to honor the ply to his family heroes of 9/11, Join the Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run on September 28. when asked why Visit 911heroesrun.org/tampa to sign up. our veterans and he wanted to refirst responders. Runners and walkers of turn to war. Manion was killed by a sniper all ages and fitness levels are invited to on April 29, 2007, while leading a counterparticipate in 1-mile and 5K offerings. Ad- attack in Iraq. Those words are now the ditionally, there is a division for ruckers, a mantra of TMF, which was established in sport grounded in Special Forces training his memory and is a call to action for peoin which participants carry weighted ruck- ple to improve their communities. sacks. Beau Higgins, former race director, Veterans Village within Park Square at served as commanding officer in the 1st FishHawk will open up at 7 a.m. on race Reconnaissance Battalion, where Manion day, with online registration and packet served as one of Higgins’ Marines before pickup. The 9/11 Heroes Run opening cere- he was killed. mony will commence at 7:50 a.m. “His family wanted to keep his legacy The 5K race, including the Ruckers in alive,” said Higgins. “The idea of the founRemembrance, will kick off at 8:46 a.m., dation is to remember the sacrifice and marking the exact time the North Tow- find a way to give back.” er was struck on September 11, 2001. A The Park Square Plaza at FishHawk is 1-mile Remembrance Run will follow at located at 16132 Churchview Dr. in Lithia. 9:03 a.m., the exact time the South Tower Visit 911heroesrun.org/tampa to sign up. was struck on 9/11. The event will culminate with an awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Online registration is currently open and sponsorship opportunities are available at JILL ANDREW 20TH .........................PG 3 several different levels, both locally and na- MOTORING TAMPA BAY..................PG 5 tionally. Volunteers are needed and there GOLD AWARDS EARNED..............PG 12 is also an opportunity to participate as a HON MAYOR’S RACE.......................PG 21 Virtual Runner, from Sunday, September 1, EYE ON BUSINESS ................PGS 25-26 to Tuesday, October 15.
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FishHawk Youth Sports “It gives me a Association and Bevis Elgreater reason other ementary alum Mack Esthan myself to play trada inked his deal with and do things that the Yankees after being I might not want to selected as the 11th round do,” he said. and 331st pick in the MLB While Estrada was draft. Estrada, 19, was the already planning to 2nd youngest Yankee draft play for Florida State pick this year. University in the fall, “I felt like I was being Mack Estrada signed with the Yankees this his decision to join rewarded for my hard work summer, starting his journey to the majors. the Yankees now and reaping what I will allow him sowed,” Estrada said. to jump straight While he wasn’t a into his playing fan of a specific team, career and climb he knew he wanted the minor league to don the classic pinladder. stripes after learning His draft day more about the Yanselection was a kees. long time com“Just everything ing. Estrada has about them is world been watched class,” he said. by scouts and Among these ‘world-class’ qualities are attending pre-draft workouts, where he has the staff, including three biomechanics spoken with the Yankees. trainers who Estrada will get to work with “It would be nerve-wracking if you didn’t at the Tampa training facility as he has al- feel like you belonged in the spot that you’re ready reported to the the Tampa Tarpons, in,” he said about playing in front of scouts. the Yankees Single A MiLB affiliate team. He said there were games that he felt He said getting to train so close to home so nervous, he felt like he was going to made his commitment to the Yankees minor throw up. “But by the time I stepped on the league system even better. mound,” he said, “all those nerves are gone, Like most rising baseball stars, Estra- and I just feel confident.” da’s journey to the majors started in Little The Estrada family is no stranger to athLeague. At just 9 years old, he met family letic success. Parents Rick and Michelle Esfriend and retired MLB pitcher Joey Eischen, trada are athletes themselves proud of all who has played a key role in guiding the Yan- of their kids and Michelle played softball in kees commit. college. The Estradas lived in FishHawk beAside from being his pitching coach, fore moving to Valrico and Mack graduated Eischen has been a mentor both on and off from Lakeland Christian High School as a the field, encouraging Estrada to be tough, two-sport athlete with baseball and football work hard and not take handouts. before heading to Northwest Florida State Specifically, Estrada was taught to per- College to to pitch before being scouted. form like he was a warrior in the coliseum, Eldest sister Allie was also a softball not just as a pitcher but also as a warrior player while Lauren played softball for Polk for Christ. Estrada’s faith and this reminder State and Warner College and Stephanie is have played a large part in his journey to the a college cheerleader at Florida Gulf Coast majors. University.
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Osprey Observer Newspaper team members at Busch Gardens to try out newest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Phoenix Rising is now open. The coaster has a height requirement of just 44 inches and will have speeds up to 44 miles per hour. Full story on page 31.
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8/31/23