EVENT FEATURE
2019 SUNSHINE STATE GAMES COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM 7
Professional Softball League (WPSL)
and host of the nationally televised
1999 WPSL All-Star Game. The stadium
was converted to softball in 1999 after
being the spring training facility of the
Cincinnati Reds major league baseball
team from 1987-1996.
In 2003, the field of 22 teams in the
18-and-under division was one of the
strongest lineup of teams to play in a
tournament in Florida, featuring All-
State High School Players and Division
I collegiate signees from Broward,
Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Polk
counties.
Beginning in 2010, the Easton Newberry
Archery Complex became a fixture on
the SSG calendar of events for archery.
Venues like this and its programs that
have shown an increase in the youth
participation in the sport since that
time. Over the last 10 years, SSG archery
has more than doubled in participation
numbers to nearly 200 archers.
Located 15 miles west of Gainesville, the
Easton-Newberry Sports Complex is
comprised of 100 acres of multi-recreation
use and archery-specific property. The
archery program focuses on training
archers and coaches, developing
curriculum, and providing a world class
venue to host archery events of all sizes
and styles.
Since the early 1900s, Florida has been
home to Major League Baseball Spring
Training and Sunshine State Games
baseball players have stepped into the
same batter’s boxes as Hall of Famers and
World Series champions. Osceola County
Stadium, former spring home of the
Houston Astros, hosted competition for
the 2001 Sunshine State Games.
But when the Games were held in
Lakeland, baseball competition was
played on the diamond at Historic Henley
Field, where dating back to 1922, the
likes of Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Hank
Greenberg and Al Kaline shagged fly balls
and scooped up ground balls.
In 2007, it was the Florida Pokers 16 and
under team, from Plantation, celebrating
on Henley Field after winning six games
over the course of the weekend and won
the Championship Game 8-4 over the
Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay.
Pokers pitcher Adam Cam, then a juniorto
be at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman
Douglas High School, retired the side in
the bottom of the fourth inning and the
Pokers entered the fifth inning down
2-1. Cam’s momentum led the way for
the Pokers to score five runs in the fifth
and a 6-2 lead. Cam earned the team’s
most valuable player award and, after the
game, celebrated his win and award with
his father on Father’s Day.
Since 1980, Sunshine State Games
athletes have challenged themselves and
tested their skill levels in over 20 Florida
communities. These local hosts are eager
to welcome Florida athletes of all ages
into their communities and state-of-the
art facilities.
As the Sunshine State Games progresses
into its fifth decade of competition,
Florida athletes will continue to share the
medal stand with heroes of their sport
past, present and future.
Historic Henley Field in Lakeland
played host to the SSG. Adam Cam’s
pitching performance on Father’s Day
in 2007 earned him an MVP award he
celebrated with his father.