SIDELINES 12.11.14

+ Florida League to begin high school program

The Florida Collegiate Summer League, called the Florida League, for short, announced recently that it will kick off a high school baseball program in 2015.

The Florida League already operates its College Division, with college baseball players from around the country coming to Central Florida to compete in the two-month summer season, and its Futures League, which includes high school graduates preparing to play at the college level.

The new high school division will be focused on developing high school-age players to become collegiate and professional players. The Florida League High School Division teams will consist of 18U, Upperclass, 16U, Underclass and 14U teams.

 The first tryouts for the teams will take place on Jan. 17 and 18, 2015, at Sanford Memorial Stadium, 1201 S. Mellonville Ave., Sanford. The tryout will have college coaches in attendance.

+ DP alum sets college record

Former Dr. Phillips standout Shawn Moffitt was named the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Dec. 8, after his performance for the UCF Knights against the East Carolina Pirates Dec. 4.

Moffitt made 4-of-6 field goals and both extra-point attempts for the Knights in a win over the Pirates to clinch a share of the conference championship. In doing so, he became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 305 points. He is also atop the program record books in field goals made, with 51, and third in school history with 78 consecutive extra points made.

+ Isom commits to S. Illinois

Daquan Isom, a standout running back for the Dr. Phillips football team who helped lead the Panthers to the regional finals in the Class 8A State Playoffs this fall, has committed to Southern Illinois.

Isom, who transferred to Dr. Phillips from Apopka for his final season, selected Southern Illinois over other offers, including FAMU, Alcorn State and Southeast Missouri State.

+ Montverde boys to play on ESPN2

The boys basketball team from Montverde Academy will be competing in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 Dec. 12.

The Eagles, ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, will face nationally-ranked Bishop O’Dowd on their home floor inside the Montverde Academy Center for Sportsmanship and Wellness. 

Montverde is led by Ben Simmons, who is committed to play at Louisiana State University next fall.