This was a very fitting year to break the attendance mark too. This season marks the 60th season Lakeland has been a member of the Florida State League (FSL).  Lakeland was an original member of the FSL in 1919 and has won five league championships.   Lakeland has been a Detroit Tigers minor league affiliate since 1967, the second longest affiliation in all of Minor League Baseball.  The season also celebrates the 45th anniversary of Joker Marchant Stadium. 

There are only a few more chances to catch the Flying Tigers this season.  For more information and the rest of their schedule, visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com or call (863) 686-8075.

Sundays at 8:00 pm
Mondays at 8:00 am
Tuesdays at 11:00 pm
Wednesdays at 3:00 am
Thursdays at 4:30 pm
Fridays at 12:00 pm
Saturdays at 6:00 pm

Don’t have any of the cable providers we listed? Well, as long as you have a computer, you can always catch the show there. Visit the Polk County website and click on the PGTV link at the bottom of the page for live streaming.

Health & Wellness Night
Exciting night tailored to show our Flying Tiger fans new fitness techniques, teach proper eating habits and get them working towards a healthier tomorrow! The night will feature fitness instructions, business display tables and great giveaways.

Thursday, Sept. 2 vs. Dunedin Blue Jays @ 7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 6:00 p.m.)
Thirsty Thursday
Fans can enjoy $1 beer and soda every Thursday home game.

Bark in the Park
The Flying Tigers have partnered with the Humane Society of Polk County for the second Bark in the Park of the season. Fans can visit local vendors set-up inside the stadium, see adoptable pets and enter to win great prizes throughout the game. (Fans are encouraged to bring their dog out to the ball park with them. Pooch passes are available at the box office for only $1.)

Friday, Sept. 3 vs. Daytona Cubs @ 7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 6:00 p.m.)
Joker Marchant Stadium Photo Card Giveaway
The first 250 fans will receive a special photo card celebrating the 45th anniversary of Joker Marchant Stadium.

Chick-fil-A Night
Look for special promotions, contests and giveaways throughout the game from Chick-fil-A.

Ladies Night
The night will feature wine tasting from Keel & Curley Winery, special giveaways, beauty tips and business display tables for all women in attendance.

Saturday, Sept. 4 vs. Daytona Cubs @ 6:00 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.)
Hispanic Heritage Night
Join the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Polk Hispano for Hispanic Heritage night, featuring Live Hispanic music, Live dancing, plus local business displays inside the stadium. Fans are encouraged to bring with them new or used baseball gear to donate to Roberto’s Kids, started in the name of Roberto Clemente to give equipment to less fortunate children in the Dominican Republic.
.

Sunday, Sept. 5 vs. Daytona Cubs @ 11:00 a.m. (Gates open at 10:00 a.m.)
Sunday is Kids Day. All kids 14 and under will receive free admission to the game. Kids can play catch on the field at 10:00 a.m. (weather permitting). Kids can also run the bases just like the Flying Tigers following the game (weather permitting). All fans will receive a voucher for a free sundae compliments of Dairy Queen.

The Flying Tigers are a Class A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com or call (863) 686-8075.

Independent Softball Association (ISA) Twilight Fall Kickoff
Dates: 9/4 – 9/5
Venue: Bartow 555 Softball Complex – Bartow
- This ISA event will bring to Polk County over 500 participants and 100 spectators.
- For more information please visit www.isasoftball.com or www.centralfloridasports.com

• Dates: 8/27 – 8/29
• Venue: Bartow 555 Softball Complex – Bartow, Auburndale Softball Complex – Auburndale
• This ISA event will bring in over 200 participants and 400 spectators to Polk County
• For more information on this event please visit www.isasoftball.com or check out www.centralfloridasports.com

 Overall fishing’s gotten pretty tough around Winter Haven. The surface temp is around 90, therefore most bass are staying in deeper, cooler water. Good electronics are a must right now. Those that know how to use their electronics are still having some success despite the heat. Finding the shad schools is the key to finding the bass. Look for some type of cover: submerged grass, brushpiles or anything else you can find in 8 ft of water or deeper. If shad are hanging around the cover than so are bass. Concentrate on 8-14 ft in darker water and 10-25 ft in clear water. Same old Summer patterns still best. Shad colored deep diving crankbaits along with Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics will continue to produce the most consistent action. Don’t forget to vent fish caught deeper than 15 ft. Also look for schoolers in open water. Throw any shad imitating bait of your choice into the frenzy. Lures that can be cast long distances are best as it always seems the fish surface just out of range. For those of you hell bent on fishing the bank, get out very early to catch a few fish flipping deeper grassbeds, pads, reeds, or cattails in dark water lakes. After that try a few docks and head for the A.C. Best time to fish is at night.  

Kissimmee Chain

The bite has definitely slowed on Kissimmee. Not as many fish hanging around brushpiles as there was a month ago. Bass are mostly in shad chasing mode now and feeding mostly at night. Flip outside grasslines early, then further in as the day progresses. Also look for schoolers around mouths of trails early. Try shad colored topwaters or spinnerbaits. If there’s no clouds and wind the bite dies off in a hurry. Shell beds are worth a shot with shad colored crankbaits and Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics. It’s a real chore to catch a few fish on clear, calm, hot days after about 9:00 a.m. There’s a few fish hanging around the little bit of hydrilla that remains in lake cypress. Flip or cast soft plastics around any visible grass that’s matted. Try rattlebaits or spinnerbaits around the submerged grass.
 Toho fishing a little better than other lakes on the chain now. Offshore hydrilla beds should produce the best results. Try spinnerbaits or rattlebaits early around submerged grassbeds then switch over to Texas/Carolina rigged soft plastics during midday hours and fish slow to entice bites from hot, lethargic, fish. Flip matted hydrilla with 1/2 – 1 oz weighted soft plastics or Jigs. Also check creek mouths for flowing water and schooling bass.

Central Florida is where you’ll find beautiful lakes, great bass fishing and Monte Goodman. Monte has made a career of doing what he enjoys and does best as a professional bass guide and successful tournament angler. Guiding and fishing competitively for the past 15 years has given him the experience, skill and knowledge it takes to be a great fisherman. Monte is also a vocal advocate of Florida’s habitat and conservation efforts, supports and practices “catch and release” himself and encourages others to do the same. A member of tournament trails such as FLW, FOMNTT, BFL, and B.A.S.S just to name a few. Credited with well over a hundred local tournament wins, was back to back Angler of the Year in the largest B.A.S.S. affiliated club in the world, and has won numerous Big Bass honors. Monte’s ability to adapt, his versatility and lengthy resume has earned him a reputation anyone would be proud of.

Saturday, August 21 vs. Tampa Yankees @ 6:00 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.)
Bike Night
Bikers can enjoy a private parking area for bikes, a special on-field bike parade, bike displays and much more.

Law & Order Night
The Flying Tigers will pay tribute to all of those that fight to protect us and our rights everyday. We will have fun in-game promotions and in game recognition for all those groups in attendance.

Subway Kids Club Autograph Session
Special pre-game team autograph session for Subway Kids Club members.

Monday, August 23 Doubleheader vs. Tampa Yankees @ 5:00 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.)
The Flying Tigers will play two 7-inning games vs. the Tampa Yankees beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Monday is $1 hot dog night. Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs during both games. Also, check The Ledger for a special two-for-one ticket offer.

The Flying Tigers are a Class A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com or call (863) 686-8075.

Wednesday, Aug. 18 vs. Brevard County Manatees @ 7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 6:00 p.m.)
All-You-Can-Eat-Night
Wednesday is All-You-Can-Eat Night sponsored by Little Caesars and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. Tickets are just $10 and includes admission to the game and all-you-can-eat Little Caesars pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, cracker jacks, popcorn, pretzels and chips as well as food from Jimmy John’s from 6:00-9:00 p.m. or while supplies last.

Thursday, Aug. 19 vs. Brevard County Manatees @ 7:00 p.m. (Gates open at 6:00 p.m.)
Thirsty Thursday
Fans can enjoy $1 beer and soda every Thursday home game.

Social Media Night
Check out the Flying Tigers on Facebook (South Paw) and Twitter (LkdFlying Tigers) for more information.

The Flying Tigers are a Class A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. For more information please visit the Flying Tigers online at www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com or call (863) 686-8075.

Florida Half Century- Softball
Dates: 8/21 – 8/22
Venue: Diamond Plex – Winter Haven, Southwest and Westside – Lakeland
- This Florida Half Century event will bring into Polk County over 500 participants and over 800 spectators.
- For more information please visit www.fhcsoftball.org or www.centralfloridasports.com

United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) – Baseball
Dates: 8/21 – 8/22
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
- The Florida USSSA Baseball event will bring into Polk County 300 participants and over 350 spectators.
- For more information on this event please visit www.centralfloridasports.com or www.usssabaseball.org