Fall 2026
Central Florida SunsTeams
Central Florida Suns 12U Baseball
Head Coach
Paul Bibaud
Central Florida Suns 10U Baseball
Head Coach
Justin Frost
Established 1995
About theCentral Florida Suns
For over 30 years, the Bono family has shaped youth baseball in Central Florida — producing college players, professionals, and champions on and off the field.
Our Mission
The Central Florida Suns are a travel baseball and softball program based in Central Florida that was established in 1995. Our goal is to develop young athletes into complete players and excellent students. Through competitive travel baseball and softball, dedicated coaching, and a supportive team culture, we prepare our players for success on the diamond and in life.
Our coaching staffs are committed to building fundamentals, fostering a love for the game, and pushing each athlete to reach their full potential.
Our Values
Excellence
We strive for the highest standards in every practice, game, and tournament.
Discipline
Building habits of consistency, focus, and accountability in young athletes.
Effort
Maximum effort is the non-negotiable. We compete on every pitch.
Teamwork
No individual is bigger than the team. We win and grow together.
Family
Families are the foundation. We support each other on and off the diamond.
Why Families Join
What sets the Suns apart
- Experienced coaching staffs with competitive playing backgrounds
- Year-round player development focused on fundamentals
- Competitive tournament schedule across Florida
- Family-first culture that values character as much as talent
- Positive, high-energy environment that builds confidence
- Preparation for high school and beyond
Where it all began
A family's love for the game
Bono Baseball: More Than a Game — Big Stories by BYUtv
In 1995, Mike Bono — a lifelong baseball man and Indiana native who played Division I ball at Murray State University — founded the Central Florida Suns in Longwood, Florida. What began as a passion project to give Central Florida youth a high-level competitive outlet grew into one of the most respected travel baseball organizations in the state.
Mike didn't start from scratch. He had spent decades building Central Florida's baseball infrastructure — winning championships in Pony, Babe Ruth, American Legion, and AAU baseball. As a charter member of Florida's AAU Baseball Committee, he helped launch AAU baseball in the region. His AAU teams served as feeder programs for some of Central Florida's top high schools, and his Lake Mary teams sent 14 players to college baseball in just two seasons (2001–2002).
The Suns quickly became a pipeline for top talent. By 2000, the 17U Suns team was competing for an AAU national championship, finishing 3rd in the nation. In 2001, Mike's American Legion Post 53 team went 51-2, one win away from the World Series.
Today, the Central Florida Suns continue that tradition with baseball and softball teams carrying 30 years of winning culture into the next generation of young players.
30 Years of Milestones
A timeline of defining moments
1995
Founded by Mike & Mickey Bono
Mike Bono and his son Mickey founded the Central Florida Suns baseball organization in Longwood, Florida, building on Mike's 40+ years of coaching amateur baseball across Central Florida.
2000
National Runners-Up
The Central Florida Suns 17U team competed for AAU's national championship, finishing 3rd in the nation — one of the program's earliest landmark achievements.
2001–02
College Pipeline
14 players from the 2000 Suns team went on to play collegiate baseball — a testament to the program's player development model.
2014
USSSA Wilson DeMarini Elite World Series
9U baseball team qualified for the prestigious USSSA Wilson DeMarini Elite World Series. Finished 17th out of the top 40 ranked teams in the country.
2015
USSSA Wilson DeMarini Elite World Series
10U baseball team finished 3rd in the country amongst the 40 best teams throughout the country.
2018
First Fastpitch Softball Team Formed
The Suns expand into fastpitch softball by forming a 10U softball team.
2024
Little League World Series Champs
Three members of the Central Florida Suns 12U baseball team, Chase Anderson, Landon Bono, and James Feliciano help lead Lake Mary Little League to the 2024 Little League World Series title. Landon Bono also won the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby.
2025
#1 Ranked USSSA 12U Softball Team
The 12U Sun softball team finished the 24-25 season as the #1 team in USSSA Power Ranking and Points Ranking.
2025
Little League Softball World Series
Members of the Suns 12U softball team, Addison Bono, Alana Luu and Katarra Thomas, help lead Lake Mary Little League to the 2025 Little League Softball World Series.
2025
Mike Bono — Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame
Mike Bono received the prestigious Legacy Award, being inducted into the 2025 Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his decades of extraordinary contributions to Central Florida baseball and softball.
Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame Inducts Mike Bono, Legacy Award Video
The Bono Family
Four generations of baseball and softball knowledge
Mike Bono
Founder & General Manager
An Indiana native who played Division I baseball at Murray State University (1969–1973), Mike moved to Central Florida and spent 40+ years building the region's baseball landscape. He founded the Central Florida Suns in 1995, won Florida championships in Pony, Babe Ruth, American Legion, and AAU baseball, and served as a charter member of Florida's AAU Baseball Committee. His teams have produced dozens of college and professional players. Mike co-authored Peak Power Baseball and serves on the board of the Hamilton Foundation, which provides scholarships to students based on need and merit. In 2025, he was inducted into the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame with the Legacy Award. He and his wife Sheila have been married for 50 years and have four children and six grandchildren.
Mickey Bono
Director of Operations
The eldest Bono son, Mickey has been coaching and instructing baseball in Central Florida for over 32 years, starting while still in high school at Lake Brantley. He played for Chet Lemon's Juice, competing for a national championship, and worked with Doyle Baseball. Mickey coached the Suns from 1995–2000 alongside his father, coaching his twin brothers Kyle and Ryan. He served as one of the original instructors at the Hit & Run Baseball facility (2005–2013) and coached Lake Mary High School's fall team for seven years. A five-time men's league all-star, Mickey co-founded Bono Baseball & Softball, the Suns' state-of-the-art indoor training facility in Lake Mary.
Kyle Bono
Head Coach · UCF Hall of Famer · 2024 LLWS Champion Coach
A two-time all-state performer at Lake Mary High School, Kyle attended UCF on a baseball scholarship, becoming one of the nation's dominant closers. He set UCF records that still stand today — a 0.83 ERA in his freshman year, a career 1.66 ERA, and 5 single-season shutouts. He earned two All-American honors as a sophomore. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2004, Kyle played professional baseball before retiring to coach. In 2023, he was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2024, he coached the Lake Mary Little League team to the Little League World Series Championship. His son Landon — the LLWS catcher and 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby champion — now plays for the Central Florida Suns.
Ryan Bono
Coach & Co-Owner, Bono Baseball
Kyle's twin brother Ryan was a four-year starter at UCF, finishing as a .300+ hitter and one of the program's all-time top-10 performers in seven offensive categories. Nominated for the prestigious Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top catcher, Ryan was considered 'the best overall catcher in school history' by both pitchers and coaching staff. He signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros before stepping away to build businesses with Kyle, including Bono Baseball & Softball and Landscapes of Florida. Ryan coaches Suns softball and his daughter Addison and son Austin both play in the Suns program.
Recruitment & team inquiries
ContactCentral Florida Suns
For general questions about the Central Florida Suns, fill out the contact form below. If you have a question about a specific team or age group for tryouts or other inquiries, please email the coach directly from the team page.
Follow the team
Central Florida SunsSocial Media
Click on the links below for our social media