Tuesday marked my sixth month at The Messenger and for New Year’s Day, I would like to recount some of my favorite events of 2008 and include a few awards for what they’re worth.
My tenure began in the midst of yet another exciting Tradewater Pirates baseball season. It was nice to start my first job since college graduation by covering America’s pastime.
During the K.I.T.-C.I.C.L. All-Star game, I got to visit Huntingburg, Indiana’s League Stadium where A League of Their Own was filmed.
Speaking to Travis Ford, Billy Gillispie, Dennis Felton, Denny Crum and Darrell Griffith also list amongst the most notable memories from 2008. And no, Ford and Gillispie’s names do not list first because I’m a University of Kentucky fan.
For those that I still have not met, I’m from Ohio and have no feelings either way. Much like the Hopkins County Central and Madisonville-North Hopkins rivalry, I merely observe and will not take sides.
Individuals from both Central and North as well as Dawson Springs and beyond have been quite cordial and made me feel quite welcome during my short stint in western Kentucky.
In fact, many of the student-athletes have been too nice. There’s no need to address a 22-year-old recent college grad as ‘sir.’ It must be the southern hospitality.
Speaking of hospitality, the hospitality tents and rooms provided by Central and North have been stocked with incredible amounts of great food. As stated on SportsNuts on Dec. 17 by my fellow sports reporter Forrest Rutherford and I, there are few meals a sportswriter will refuse, especially in this economy.
Mr. B’s wings, baked beans and chili, all have hit the spot, but none more than Tammy Dugger’s potato soup at North soccer games. Although, Dugger’s soup overcame a late run from the kielbasa stew served during Central’s Holiday Classic.
Onto the awards portion.
Most captivating team: North boys soccer. Before starting at The Messenger, I had never observed a soccer game except occasionally on TV, never regarded it as an exciting sport. That changed upon watching John Tichenor’s Maroons.
Tichenor conducts his team like one should, as a cohesive unit. Banding together, North’s unselfish play helped lead the team to some thrilling games. The Maroons were not without stars though as Rush Dugger and Miles Durham commanded the offense, John Arnold and JD Lester manned the defense with plenty others.
Best ending (that I saw): Dawson Springs-Caldwell County boys basketball. On Dec. 18, Caldwell County took four shots in the game’s final 10 seconds before finding the bottom of the net to win the game 77-75. I don’t find satisfaction watching the Panthers lose, but as an objective journalist it was quite thrilling.
Best ending (that I kinda
See Brockman/Page B2
saw): North-Central football
Forrest covered the game itself as I made the rounds through the crowd seeking comments on a story about the rivalry. After I typed my story from the stadium, I tried to send it via e-mail but could not get any connection.
With the fourth quarter winding to a close, I raced back to the office to retype the story in entirety. Once I arrived back at the stadium, the game was over and the heroics missed.
Do it all award: Wesley Ipock. This kid never stops competing. During the fall, Ipock played soccer, kicked for the football team and set record after record running for the Storm cross country team.
This winter, the senior is now in the pool. What’s in store for the spring?
Most helpful statistician: Kent Akin. With Akin’s help, watching a Central football game was less stressful.
Akin provided the offensive stats in full to Forrest and I upon completion of each game. Without the information, we would have had less time to focus on the finer aspects of the game.
Most underrated local college athlete award: Tim Hall. Former North runner Tim Hall experienced quite the season at Austin Peay State University (Tenn.), but probably slipped under the radar of most local readers.
Hall overcame a pre-season hip injury, endured sloppy conditions in many races and concluded the season by competing despite suffering from food poisoning.
Through it all, Hall paced the Governors through the majority of their races. Hopefully by spring, Hall can have a successful track season to look forward to and cap his collegiate career.
Most super super fan: John Nicely. There’s no knowing the amount of calls Nicely put into various sports radio programs around the state this year or the hours he spent attending games throughout Hopkins County, and there’s also no way any local resident can top him.
If anyone has not yet met Nicely, they must not be a sports enthusiast because if they had got out to nearly any event, they would run into him. I got my first call from John on my first day of work as he welcomed me to the area.
Simply put, John is Hopkins County’s most super super fan.
That concludes the awards. Thanks Hopkins County for a great sports season thus far.
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