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SPORTS NEWS FOR
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2001
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Bethel Signs Women's Tennis Player |
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By Matt Floyd
The Bethel College Women's tennis team has signed
Samantha Simmons of Cape Girardeau, MO to play in the
newly restructured sport this fall.
Simmons, daughter of Jody Simmons and John Lashley, is
a 2001 graduate of Jackson County High School, where
she played tennis for three years. In addition to
being a member of the Wildcat tennis team, Samantha
will be a member of the Balladeers choir.
Bethel is located in McKenzie. It is a four-year
private liberal arts institution sponsored by the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and
offers Bachelors of Arts and Science as well as a
Master of Arts degree.
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Soccer Season Begins August 18 |
The McKenzie Soccer Leagure will have their opening
ceremony for the fall season on Saturday, August 18 at
the city park. Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. when
all teams will march in and be introduced by team.
Pictures will also be made that day. The coaches will
provide a picture schedule and season schedule within
the next two weeks to the parents.
Two hundred, fifteen boys and girls, ages five through
14 are currently enrolled to play. Shirt orders will
be made on August 1. Anyone not signed up by that date
will have to provide their own shirt.
Sponsors and supporters of the soccer program have
made this season possible so come out to the city park
on Saturday mornings and see the youth of McKenzie
enjoying fun and exercise. Any questions may be
referred to John Barham at 352-3472.
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Huntingdon 11-12-Year-Old Little League Boys Gain
Second Place in State Tourney
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By Pat Cole
Huntingdon's 11-12-year-old Little League boys were in
an enviable position last weekend when they met
Donelson American in the championship game of the
Little League State Tournament in Elizabethton. As one
of only two teams who had advanced from 118 teams to
the second round of tournament competition, the
Huntingdon squad had reached that distinction
undefeated. Still, rain delays, solid hits by their
opponent and two consecutive games seemed to take
their toll on the boys from Carroll County.
The Huntingdon All Stars began the tournament with an
8-5 win over Sparta, followed by a win over Giles
America. They secured their spot for championship
honors with a 3-2 win over Johnson City Nationals in a
nine-inning battle Thursday night.
Against Sparta, Huntingdon got early hits and took an
early 2-0 lead and a third run in the second inning of
the afternoon game on Saturday, July 21.
In the game against Giles America (score unavailable),
Carroll County continued to dominate to advance to
semifinal action in the winner's bracket and met the
Johnson City Nationals.
In true championship style ball, both teams were
determined to advance undefeated to the championship
game. However, it took nine innings for Huntingdon to
break a tie at two for the 3-2 victory. Although the
Nationals ace struck out 17 Huntingdon batters for the
night, Huntingdon still managed to gain the edge. With
the game tied at two in the bottom of the ninth
inning, Cody Crocker singled to put Drew Smith on
second. A passed ball moved the runners to second and
third with two batters out. Chris Donald then came to
the plate and hit a hard ball to second. Britani
Fisher threw the ball to first, but not before Donald
reached the base and Smith reached the plate to give
Huntingdon the victory. Both Killian and Huntingdon
pitcher C. Crocker pitched the entire game. Crocker
noted later that he had never pitched nine consecutive
innings and his arm was tiring, but he persevered for
the victory. Donald had three hits to lead Huntingdon,
including the single for the winning run.
The following night, the Nationals were unable to gain
any more heroics and fell to eventual champion
Donelson 10-8, putting the Americans against the
Huntingdon All Stars.
Saturday Huntingdon seemed to have fate on their side.
Not only were they undefeated throughout the state
tournament, they had not been beaten throughout the
road to Elizabethton. Donald was the starting pitcher
for Huntingdon and between his arm and a strong
defense from the other eight players on the field, the
first nine Donelson went to the dugout without a
single baserunner. Donelson also made some errors,
leading Huntingdon to a 3-0 lead after two complete
innings of action. Andrew Baskin was on the mound for
the American team and in the third inning, had three
up and three down as Huntingdon was unable to add to
their lead. The fourth inning found both teams unable
to gain a run although both teams had two runners to
reach base.
The fifth inning was Huntingdon's nightmare. Donelson
began the inning with a baserunner as the leadoff
batter was hit by Donald. A couple of hits later,
Donelson had narrowed the margin to a single run and
then they took a one and finally two run lead, which
would be all they would need to take the victory in
the first of two games for the championship.
In the second game, Donelson took a 3-0 advantage
early on a three-run homer by Daniel Winningham.
Huntingdon managed to load the bases, but scored only
one run in the effort. Donelson improved their margin
to 4-1on a solo homerun. In the third inning, defense
was the name of the game for both squads. Pitcher Cody
Crocker managed to gain nine strikeouts in his four
innings on the mound, but the homeruns hurt. The
Huntingdon All Stars added a run in the fifth inning,
and ultimately scored a third, but Donelson continued
to hit well and scored eight runs for the
championship. The South Regional will be played in St.
Petersburg, Florida, with the winner of that
tournament going to the World Series in Williamsport,
Pennsylvania.
Huntingdon had a good run for a state title and gave
it everything they had. This squad is full of talented
young men who will no doubt be heard from again as
they enter Babe Ruth action the next two years.
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