FHSAA paves way for hurricane help

The Florida High School Athletic Association has launched a hurricane relief program aimed at bridging the gap between schools affected by Hurricane Irma and those offering help.

A portal on the FHSAA website can be used by member schools to connect with businesses and others who want to assist.

The idea came about after the FHSAA was “inundated with phone calls and emails” from across the U.S. as schools and state associations offered support.

Affected schools are encouraged to list items that were damaged due to the storm. Others can post items they’d like to donate.

There were numerous posts made on the site as of Wednesday afternoon detailing damage to scoreboards, storage sheds, batting cages, and more.

West Orange, which cannot play football on its home field due to stadium damage from Hurricane Irma, will use Olympia’s stadium to play its Monday, Oct. 9, makeup game vs. Timber Creek.

This week, the Warriors (1-2) moved their Friday night home game to the opponent’s stadium at Cypress Creek (2-0).

At this point, the final scheduled West Orange home game, against Evans, Oct. 20, is set to be played on the Trojans field.

The Week 10 Colonial (0-3) at Boone (2-0) and Oak Ridge (0-3) at Olympia (2-1) games have been shifted from Thursday, Oct. 26, to Friday because Oct. 27 — originally an Orange County Schools student holiday — has become a school day. It replaces one of the days classes were out due to Hurricane Irma.

The Cypress Creek at Dr. Phillips, Timber Creek at Orlando University, and Hagerty at Edgewater games stay with a Thursday slot that week according to OCPS athletics supervisor

Last week’s Poinciana at Bishop Moore district game is rescheduled to Monday, Oct. 9.