By Mike Sinnott

FLORENCE, SC – The U.S. Army’s Florence Recruiting Company is proud to announce 20 teams have registered to compete in the inaugural Palmetto Passing League (PPL) at the Freedom Florence Recreation Complex on June 18.

The 2011 Palmetto Passing League includes Cheraw, Conway, Creek Bridge, Darlington, Dillon, East Clarendon, Hannah Pamplico, Hemingway, Kingstree, Lakewood, Lamar, Latta, Lee Central, Loris, Marlboro County, North Myrtle Beach, South Florence, Sumter, West Florence, and Wilson.

Each team guaranteed to play a minimum of four games with three games in pool play to determine the seeding for the 20-team single-elimination tournament. The PPL is a traditional seven-on-seven non-contact passing league played on a shortened field with only passing plays from the line of scrimmage. The games feature quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs, giving them an opportunity to sharpen their skills in a fun, competitive atmosphere.

“The Sports Flash” (TSF) Radio Network will manage the Palmetto Passing League. In 2010, TSF Radio Network launched the Pennsylvania Passing League, which featured 32 teams playing in two divisions with more than 600 student-athletes participating. The National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers invited the Pennsylvania Passing League’s division winners to play an exhibition at halftime of their 2010 preseason opener at Heinz Field. The 2011 Pennsylvania Passing League begins on June 11 with the PPL West Division at Gateway High School, outside of Pittsburgh. The PPL East Division will be played on June 25 at Susquehanna Township High School, outside of Harrisburg.

For more information about the Palmetto Passing League, go online to the official PPL web site at www.TheSportsFlash.com/PALMETTO.htm. For additional information, contact TSF Radio Network’s Mike Sinnott at (517) 927-4570 or West Florence’s Trey Woodberry at (843) 616-1928, or via e-mail at TheSportsFlash@aol.com or armystrong.sc@thesportsflash.com.

The Florence Freedom Recreational Complex is a multi-use facility built in 1990 and operated by the City of Florence. The complex is designed to host various state, regional, and national-level tournaments. The complex has two press box control towers that include computerized scoreboards, public address capabilities, restrooms, and umpire’s locker room, as well as two full-service concession stands. Freedom Florence is located off of Pamplico Highway at 1515 Freedom Boulevard. For more information, call 843-669-4597 or 843-665-3253 or go online to www.CityofFlorence.com/freedom.

The United States Army is charged with protecting America’s freedom and preserving peace. The Army trains and equips its soldiers to be the best, especially when it comes to their job, leadership, and soldiering skills. With more than 150 jobs available in many exciting fields, the U.S. Army provides many job training and leadership training opportunities. From working with computers to assisting doctors to fixing helicopters, there’s an Army job that’s right for you. For more information, go online to www.GoArmy.com.

“The Sports Flash” Radio Network provides 190 radio stations in 13 states with customized, local sports reports, reaching 2.5-million listeners each week. In addition to its traditional radio advertising campaigns, TSF Radio Network has expanded into sports marketing, managing tobacco prevention campaigns that target high school students in several states, including: Kentucky; Montana; North Carolina; South Carolina; and Wyoming. Since 2006, TSF Radio Network has managed the Army Iron Man campaign; the Army STRONG Wrestler of the Year; and HOOP STARS of the Year campaigns for U.S. Army Recruiting battalion’s across the country. In 2010, TSF Radio Network expanded into event management, sponsorship with its creation of the Pennsylvania Passing League. For more info about the TSF Radio Network, contact Mike Sinnott at (517) 927-4570.