It’s that time of year again for this year’s 66th Annual Tiger BBQ! Welcome back our very own Detroit Tigers with a delicious menu, fabulous entertainment and most of all the Detroit Tigers Baseball team.

Be sure to act fast and get your tickets for Tuesday, February 28, 2012 because the deadline for ordering is Monday February 20, 2012. The gates open at 6:00 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium. Tickets prices for adults will be $50 and children (12 and under) $25. The menu will consist of: Roasted Corn, Shrimp, BBQ Ribs, Char-broiled Steak, Italian Sausage, Baked Beans and Cole Slaw.

The 2012 spring season marks the club’s 47th consecutive season of exhibition play at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased online from Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets can also be purchased by mail:
Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce/ 66th Annual Tiger BBQ
P.O. Box 3607 Lakeland, FL 33802-3607
(863) 688-8551 ext. 224 or 223

Some of the top teams venturing out to our region will be Northwestern, Navy, Georgetown, Army, Yale and North Dakota State. This collegiate spring training is a time for major league scouting, practice, and preparation for what will be a tough season ahead. the Russmatt Baseball tournament is a great opportunity to grab family and friends, and scout out your favorite potential pros or just enjoy a great day of baseball.

Be on the lookout for game schedules, weather updates, and game results that will be updated daily through our Facebook and Twitter accounts. The finalized tournament schedule will be published in February at www.CentralFloridaSports.com.

Links:

• Detroit Tigers, Spring Training
• Independent Softball Association
• National Softball Association
• Home School World Series
• Florida Youth Soccer Association
• PSP Paintball World Cup
• Warrior Dash
• Lake Mirror Classic Auto Show
• Orange Cup Regatta
• Sun N’ Fun

Video Packages:

• Prospectwire Showcase
• Arts & Culture Update with Jessica Robers

Show Sponsors:

• Abuelos
• Holiday Inn Winter Haven
• Best Western Park View
• The Avenue Hotel
• Hollywood Window Tinting & Signs
• The Terrace Hotel
• Days Inn Lakeland North
• The Ledger

Original Air Date: December 2, 2011

Polk County Fire Departments will be all be competing for one title; The Flying Tigers Chili Throwdown Champion. Competitors will be judged in two categories; best chili as voted by judges and people’s choice award that will be judged by the fans. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in each category.

For more information, visit www.LakelandFlyingTigers.com.

Dates:  3/26-3/27, 4/2–4/3, 4/9-4/10 & 4/16-4/17
Venue:  Cypress Lanes – Winter Haven

This 4-weekend event will bring in over 2,000 youth bowlers and their families from across the state of Florida to Polk County. For more information please visit www.centralfloridasports.com or www.fsusbcy.com/Pepsi-Tournament.html

 Sun n Fun International Fly-In & Expo – Sun ‘n Fun, Inc. – Aviation

Dates: 3/29 – 4/3
Venue: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport – Lakeland

The Sun ‘n Fun Fly In will bring in people from around the world for one of the world’s largest Air shows truly making this an international event. Plan to join as this year the event will showcase the popular Blue Angles Precision Jet Demonstration Team! For more information on this event please visit www.sun-n-fun.org  

Patrick Patriots Twirling Corps – Florida State Solo Championships

Dates: 4/2 – 4/3
Venue: Polk State College – Winter Haven

Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) President’s Cup

Dates: 4/2 – 4/3
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale
This FYSA event will host 64 youth soccer teams and bring in over 1,000 participants and 4,000 spectators to Polk County.  For more information please check out www.centralfloridasports.com or log on to www.fysa.com

Florida Half Century 60+ Softball Tournament

Dates:  4/2 – 4/3
Venue:  Auburndale Softball Complex – Auburndale

This Florida Half Century will bring in over 50 senior softball teams from across Florida to Polk County. For more information please visit www.centralfloridasports.com or www.fhcsoftball.org

RussMatt Baseball is hosting the Central Florida Collegiate Invitational for the third straight year in Polk County.  More than 200 collegiate teams will train and play games over the course of six weeks. Teams from all collegiate levels (NCAA Division I, II & III, NAIA, Junior Colleges) including Illinois State, Bowling Green, Yale, and Army are participating this year.  The entire schedule can be found here 2011 RussMatt Polk County Schedule

Field codes: COLS=Chain of Lakes Stadium, COL#=Chain of Lakes Park Field #, LM#=Lake Myrtle Park Field #, Southeastern University=SEU, Warner University=WU, Henley Field=HF, Lake Bonny Park Field#=LBP#, Polk State College=PSC, Lake Region HS=LRHS, Winter Haven HS=WHHS, Webber International University=WIU, Tenoroc HS=THC, Kathleen HS=KHS and Jenkins HS=JHS

 RussMatt Baseball is hosting the Central Florida Collegiate Invitational for the third straight year in Polk County.  More than 200 collegiate teams will train and play games over the course of six weeks. Teams from all collegiate levels (NCAA Division I, II & III, NAIA, Junior Colleges) including Illinois State, Bowling Green, Yale, and Army are participating this year.  The entire schedule can be here 2011 RussMatt Polk County Schedule

Field codes: COLS=Chain of Lakes Stadium, COL#=Chain of Lakes Park Field #, LM#=Lake Myrtle Park Field #, Southeastern University=SEU, Warner University=WU, Henley Field=HF, Lake Bonny Park Field#=LBP#, Polk State College=PSC, Lake Region HS=LRHS, Winter Haven HS=WHHS, Webber International University=WIU, Tenoroc HS=THC, Kathleen HS=KHS and Jenkins HS=JHS

This week, we wind down from the RussMatt Collegiate Central Florida Invitational and gear up for the 37th Annual Sun n’ Fun International Fly-In and Expo.  Be sure to check these events out!

Central Florida Collegiate Baseball Invitational – RussMatt Baseball Dates: 2/18 – 3/28
Venue:  Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale, Chain of Lakes Ball Park – Winter Haven

For more information on RussMatt Baseball please visit www.russmattbaseball.com  and for local sporting events and news check out www.centralfloridasports.com

Florida’s Natural Charity Classic – LPGA Futures Golf Tour
Dates: 3/26-27
Venue: Lake Region Yacht and County Club

This event will bring in over 155 participants and over 250 spectators to Polk County. The LPGA Futures Golf Tour showcases professional women golfers as they earn their LPGA card to get on the tour. For more information on this event please visit www.floridasnaturalcharityclassic.com or www.duramedfuturestour.com 

High School Pre-season Challenge – Auburndale Hoops’
Dates: 3/25 – 3/27
Venue: Auburndale High School – Auburndale

For more information please visit www.eteamz.com/auburndaleyouthbasketball 
 

9^th Annual Lady Fire Shootout Classic – Fire Youth Sports, Inc.
Dates: 3/25 – 3/27
Venue:  Various High School Basketball Gymnasiums – Lakeland

Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) State Cup Round 1 
Dates: 3/26 – 3/27
Venue: Lake Myrtle Sports Park – Auburndale

This FYSA event will host 39 elite youth teams from around the state with ages ranging from 11 to 19 to Polk County.  Over 580 participants are expected along with over 1,000 spectators. For more information visit www.fysa.com or www.centralfloridasports.com

Bartow March Madness – Independent Softball Association (ISA) 
Dates: 3/26 – 3/27
Venue: Bartow 555 Complex – Bartow

For more information please visit www.isasoftball.com or www.centralfloridasports.com

 
Men’s Senior Baseball League/Men’s Adult Baseball League – Grapefruit Classic
Dates:  3/26 – 3/28
Venue:  Chain of Lakes Baseball Complex – Winter Haven

This adult men’s baseball tournament will bring 25 teams to the area for three days of competition at the Chain of Lakes Complex. For more information, please visit www.centralfloridasports.com or www.msblnational.com

 
Sun n Fun International Fly-In & Expo – Sun ‘n Fun, Inc. – Aviation
Dates: 3/29 – 4/3
Venue: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport – Lakeland

The Sun ‘n Fun Fly In will bring in people from around the world for one of the world’s largest Air shows truly making this an international event. Plan to join as this year the event will showcase the popular Blue Angles Precision Jet Demonstration Team! For more information on this event please visit www.sun-n-fun.org on local sports and news check out www.centralfloridasports.com

RussMatt Baseball is hosting the Central Florida Collegiate Invitational for the third straight year in Polk County.  More than 200 collegiate teams will train and play games over the course of six weeks. Teams from all collegiate levels (NCAA Division I, II & III, NAIA, Junior Colleges) including Illinois State, Bowling Green, Yale, and Army are participating this year.  The entire schedule can be found here 2011 RussMatt Polk County Schedule

Field codes: COLS=Chain of Lakes Stadium, COL#=Chain of Lakes Park Field #, LM#=Lake Myrtle Park Field #, Southeastern University=SEU, Warner University=WU, Henley Field=HF, Lake Bonny Park Field#=LBP#, Polk State College=PSC, Lake Region HS=LRHS, Winter Haven HS=WHHS, Webber International University=WIU, Tenoroc HS=THC, Kathleen HS=KHS and Jenkins HS=JHS

RussMatt Baseball is hosting the Central Florida Collegiate Invitational for the third straight year in Polk County.  More than 200 collegiate teams will train and play games over the course of six weeks. Teams from all collegiate levels (NCAA Division I, II & III, NAIA, Junior Colleges) including Illinois State, Bowling Green, Yale, and Army are participating this year.  The entire schedule can be found here 2011 RussMatt Polk County Schedule

Field codes: COLS=Chain of Lakes Stadium, COL#=Chain of Lakes Park Field #, LM#=Lake Myrtle Park Field #, Southeastern University=SEU, Warner University=WU, Henley Field=HF, Lake Bonny Park Field#=LBP#, Polk State College=PSC, Lake Region HS=LRHS, Winter Haven HS=WHHS, Webber International University=WIU, Tenoroc HS=THC, Kathleen HS=KHS and Jenkins HS=JHS