INDIANAPOLIS — Ty Dillon pulled away from Kyle Busch down the stretch Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to win for the first time in the Nationwide Series. Dillon passed Busch off the final restart with 25 laps and held on … Find out how to read more online.

This column should be read while listening to “Welcome To My World” by Jim Reeves (running time: 2 minutes, 38 minutes). • Ever since Roger Goodell took over the NFL, the league has been all about protecting its image above … Find out how to read more online.

DUNEDIN — Justin O’Conner’s two-run homer highlighted a four-run sixth inning that broke open a scoreless game and sent the Charlotte Stone Crabs to a 6-1 victory against Dunedin on Saturday. Pitching on a rehab assignment for the Tampa Bay … Find out how to read more online.

After missing a month of action, Matt Tellor is back in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves Rookie-league affiliate. The Venice High School graduate and June draft pick played in one game, the Danville (Va.) Braves opener June 19, before … Find out how to read more online.

ST. PETERSBURG—If the Tampa Bay Rays were going to continue their improbable run toward relevancy in the American League playoff race, they needed to start taking care of business at home. The Rays entered Friday six games below .500 at … Find out how to read more online.

DUNEDIN — Not even Justin O’Conner’s stellar night at the plate could save the Stone Crabs on Friday. Ben White pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out six while allowing seven hits as the Dunedin Blue Jays beat Charlotte … Find out how to read more online.

ENGLEWOOD — Englewood’s Cats Pop Warner teams need more players before practice starts Friday. The skills camp ended Monday, but only one Englewood division, the mighty mite Bobcats, has enough players now to play if the season started this past … Find out how to read more online.

Port Charlotte High School safety Malik Vaccaro-Dixon gave a verbal commitment to the University of Central Florida on Wednesday night, getting his commitment out of the way more than a week before the Pirates’ first fall practice. Vaccaro-Dixon had also … Find out how to read more online.

DUNEDIN — The Stone Crabs struggled at the plate Thursday night, but Reinaldo Lopez shined on the mound as Charlotte beat Dunedin 2-1 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Lopez (6-4) pitched 72⁄3 innings of one-run ball, striking out three and … Find out how to read more online.

CLEARWATER — The Charlotte Stone Crabs won a slugfest against the Clearwater Threshers on Wednesday afternoon. The Stone Crabs outhit the Threshers 15-13, including home runs from Jonathan Quinonez and Justin O’Conner, en route to a 10-6 victory at Bright … Find out how to read more online.

Eric Atherholt was in the middle of his first athletic banquet at Community Christian School last spring when he offered a few motivational words to the kids that could serve at his mantra. “I challenged the kids to work hard … Find out how to read more online.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Welcome to the new Atlantic Coast Conference. It’s where a founding member is out, a fast-rising program is in, Notre Dame is there, too — sort of — and nobody else is leaving. Where a one-time punchline … Find out how to read more online.

Florida State League North Division W L Pct. GB Daytona (Cubs) 15 8 .652 — Brevard County (Brewers) 13 7 .650 ½ Tampa (Yankees) 12 12 .500 3½ x-Dunedin (Blue Jays) 11 14 .440 5 Clearwater (Phillies) 9 15 .375 6½ Lakeland (Tigers) 5 18 .217 10 South Division W L Pct. GB Palm Beach (Cardinals) 18 6 .750 — St. Lucie (Mets) 15 7 .682 2 Bradenton (Pirates) 15 8 .652 2½ x-Fort Myers (Twins) 15 8 .652 2½ Charlotte (Rays) 7 17 .292 11 Jupiter (Marlins) 4 19 .174 13½ x-clinched first … Find out how to read more online.

PUNTA GORDA — For the second year in a row, North Port High School’s projected starting quarterback is transferring to Charlotte High School. Tarpons athletic director Brian Nolan said Brennan Simms officially enrolled at Charlotte on Monday. Simms started for … Find out how to read more online.

CLEVELAND — If LeBron James was going to win another NBA title, heal broken hearts and continue building his legacy, he knew there was only one place to go. To Ohio. Home. Four years after he left for Miami, a … Find out how to read more online.

North Port resident Gennifer Mendez rediscovered her golf game. The former North Port High School standout plans to attend the LPGA and Symetra Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 during August in California. Mendez, who competed for University of South Florida … Find out how to read more online.

LOUDON, N.H. — NASCAR President Mike Helton said Friday there is no animosity from the governing body toward the recently formed, nine-team Race Team Alliance that will collaborate on initiatives and issues facing auto racing. The goals of the RTA … Find out how to read more online.

VIERA — The Charlotte Stone Crabs scored at least one run in each of the first four innings, and got seven shutout innings from Austin Pruitt on Friday in a 6-2 win against the Brevard County Manatees. Pruitt (5-4) allowed … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — Leonardo Reginatto spent the first 14 innings of the series against Jupiter watching from the dugout as rehabbing Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar played his position and batted in his spot in the lineup. On Thursday, … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — It was feast or famine for Blake Snell in his first seven starts for the Charlotte Stone Crabs. In his eighth start on Thursday, it was a little bit of both. The left-hander gave up six hits, … Find out how to read more online.

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds starter David Holmberg struggled in his season debut, giving up five earned runs in 22⁄3 innings in a 6-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader on Tuesday. Holmberg, a graduate … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — It had been a long time since the Charlotte Stone Crabs last listened to Juicy J’s “Bounce It.” It’s the hip-hop song that normally booms out of the clubhouse speakers after wins, but they haven’t had much … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — When the Tampa Bay Rays arrive at Tropicana Field for a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, Yunel Escobar plans to be there. The rehabbing shortstop played nine innings and went 1 for 4 … Find out how to read more online.

FORT MYERS — When the Charlotte Stone Crabs emerged from the visitor’s clubhouse late Saturday night, there were no sullen faces, no quiet shuffles to a long bus ride home. For the first time in five games, they were all … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — Casey Weathers used to rack his brain for answers every night. “Why does my elbow hurt?” “What the heck is going on?” “I’m not competitive out there. My elbow hurts, and I can’t figure it out. I … Find out how to read more online.

FORT MYERS — Jared Sandberg doesn’t have a whole lot of confidence right now. Just like his team, the Charlotte Stone Crabs’ manager is feeling the pressure. The pressure on the offense to come through with runners in scoring position. … Find out how to read more online.

ST. LOUIS — Lance Lynn bounced back from his worst start of the season with 62⁄3 scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals placed consecutive two-out RBI doubles just out of right fielder Giancarlo Stanton’s reach in a three-run sixth … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — Jordan Harrison got called up to the Charlotte Stone Crabs on May 8. Fifty-seven days later, he finally stepped onto the mound for them. The left-hander came off the disabled list and pitched five innings against the … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — If the Charlotte Stone Crabs were going to snap a nine-game home losing streak, Thursday seemed like the night to do it. They were playing in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 6,942, likely the biggest they’ll … Find out how to read more online.

HOUSTON — Prized free agent Carmelo Anthony visited Houston on Wednesday and was greeted with images of him in two Rockets uniforms. A day after visiting the Bulls, the New York Knicks’ star continued his tour in Houston. A video … Find out how to read more online.

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Stone Crabs’ bullpen continues to find new ways to blow leads late in games. On Monday, it was a walk-off three-run home run. On Tuesday, it was a two-run eighth and a three-run ninth. And … Find out how to read more online.

The Englewood Cal Ripken League will be represented by two teams in the South Florida Small League Tournament Thursday through Sunday in North Fort Myers. The tournament is a double-elimination format. The 10-and-under team has Bryan Ramsden as the manager. … Find out how to read more online.

ENGLEWOOD — The Englewood 2 Bombers 14-and-under all-star team concluded an outstanding season with two tournament championships in May. The Bombers finished the regular season with a 13-2 record, then won the tri-city end-of-season tournament at Englewood Sports Park — … Find out how to read more online.

JUPITER — Granden Goetzman’s first triple with Charlotte sparked the Stone Crabs to a 3-1 comeback victory on Saturday night. The Stone Crabs won their second consecutive game with three runs in a wild eighth inning that saw Charlotte manager … Find out how to read more online.

JUPITER — The Stone Crabs weren’t about to let this one get away. Charlotte sent 12 men to the plate in a seven-run first inning and beat Palm Beach 10-5 on Friday night to snap a 10-game losing streak. Charlotte … Find out how to read more online.

The last year and half has been a frustrating time for many area racecar drivers. Punta Gorda Speedway shut down early in 2013, and the track now called Three Palms Speedway — has yet to reopen since being sold to … Find out how to read more online.

JUPITER — Reinaldo Lopez gave up seven earned runs over two innings and the Charlotte Stone Crabs lost their 10th consecutive game. They remain winless in the second half of the Florida State League season. Palm Beach used six singles, … Find out how to read more online.

The rational mind says 90 minutes of scoreless soccer is perfectly acceptable for the United States today. When all you need is a draw to advance — and the same holds true for the German side the U.S. will face … Find out how to read more online.

ST. PETERSBURG — The crowd rose to its feet as David Price walked off the mound and tipped his cap, but the ovation might have been more than recognition of a job well done. It might have been goodbye. “If … Find out how to read more online.

JUPITER — With Charlotte taking an early 2-0 lead and Albert Suarez keeping Palm Beach in check, it looked like the Stone Crabs were on their way to their first win of the second half of the season. They’ll have … Find out how to read more online.