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Entertainment

Family Fun Day features baseball pros

By DAWN REISS
Published December 10, 2005

LECANTO - Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton returns to Citrus County today with a few of his friends.

The Mike and Kautia Hampton Family Fun Day starts at 10 a.m. at Lecanto High School. The day includes a free carnival. Players will sign autographs, and a home run derby follows at 12:30 p.m.

Scheduled to appear are Braves Tim Hudson and Adam LaRoche; LaRoche's brother, Jeff; former University of Florida quarterback Doug Johnson; Florida State alumnus Casey Weldon; and former Crystal River High School quarterback Clayton Trenary (Class of 2001), among others, said Brent Hall, director of the Mike Hampton Pitching-In Foundation.

Hampton, a 1990 Crystal River graduate, had reconstructive elbow surgery Sept. 28, sidelining him until 2007. He will be at the event but will not participate in the home run derby, Hall said.

This is the fourth Family Fun Day, and Hampton has also arranged to bring in country music stars Travis Tritt and Trace Adkins for a concert at Rock Crusher Canyon in Crystal River. The gates open at 3:30 p.m. with the show starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, and were still available at press time via ticketmaster.com.

Proceeds from both events will go to local nonprofit organizations to help provide four $10,000 scholarships and for the purchase of search and rescue dogs in memory of Jessica Lunsford.

This story includes information compiled by staff writer Jorge Sanchez.

[Last modified December 10, 2005, 00:51:18]