ABOUT THE SUNS

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.

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.

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.

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.