Young Central squad looking to improve

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Friday, July 31, 2009 12:25 AM CDT

This year's Hopkins County Central golf team boasts plenty of youth, a new coach and one ace in the hole -- home-course advantage for the 2nd Region tournament.

The Storm's 11-man roster includes just two seniors, but a lot of desire to make a deep run on the links this fall.

"I'm going to be very upset if I don't make it to state," senior Heath Williams said. "I would have been anyways, but if I don't do it here (Madisonville Golf and Country Club)...I've been playing it for three years with school golf and I'm a member here this year, so I've played it twice every day for the last two months."

Williams, the team's No. 1 golfer, will be among a trio of golfers first-year coach Mark Rutledge depends upon this season. Senior Andrew Schniepp and junior Joey Watkins have also stepped up this summer to help during practice.

"When we go out, I try to put them as the lead player in each group and match up behind them," Rutledge said. "I tell them to help out when they can if they see somebody where they can fix a swing or talk them through."

Rutledge takes the spot of Daniel Kukahiko, who will step aside this year to focus on school.

"I've told them I'm more of a manager than a coach because I can't help them a whole lot with their swing," Rutledge said. "They pretty much know what they're doing."

Rutledge, who has previously coached varsity baseball and girls basketball, said several individuals have promised aid including Kukahiko, Lady Storm coach Mike Zimmer, former coach Matt Bell and Madisonville Golf and Country Club owner, professional Jeff Howerton.

Watkins said despite the coaching change, the team has not missed a beat.

"It really hasn't changed much," he said. "It's still relaxed and just having fun."

Behind the trio of Williams, Watkins and Schniepp is junior Blake Mitchell and sophomores Landon Griffith and Zac Luckett. Freshmen Brett Eakins, Jericho Smith and Dalton Utley and sixth-graders KO Taylor and Trevis Bell round out the roster.

"We're young, so it's going to be a tough way," Watkins said. "You just have to try to keep improving and play better."

Williams said he still sees the potential for a lot of success.

"We have three guys - me, Andrew and Joey - that are going to be out there shooting fairly consistent, fairly low mid 30s, upper 30s, low 40s," Williams said. "Past that we're looking for two more people that can shoot halfway decent, and I think we can win a few more matches than we did last year for sure. I think we'll be better than last year."

Central begins the 2009 golf season 4 p.m. Monday when the Storm play host to Hopkinsville and Christian County.

BLOG: Take a bite out of crime

As NFL fans wonder what color and city to get their latest Ron Mexico aka Mike Vick jersey in, I can’t help but think of one of my favorite all-time baseball players, Pete Rose.

What kind of world do we live in that Mike Vick, fresh from his 23-month federal sentence for leading a dogfighting ring, can be reinstated to the game of football, but baseball’s all-time hit king can’t get a break 20 years following his banishment?

I’m not here to defend Rose’s character or what type of person he is, but it’s certainly some food for thought. Even Hank Aaron said earlier this week he thinks Rose should be eligible for a Hall of Fame vote. Can there even be a baseball HOF without the sport’s greatest hitter? I’ve never been to Cooperstown, so as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t exist, kind of like Santa Claus post age five or a needle-free baseball clubhouse.

Mark McGwire was up for HOF consideration last year. He’s been implicated with steroid use and fell considerably short of the needed votes to earn induction, but he was still eligible. If betting on baseball is the cardinal sin of the game, what is steroid use? The taboo sin that’s OK if you want to take the risk?

Let Pete Rose into the HOF for his merits on the diamond. He bet as a coach, not a player. He earned all of his records and awards cleanly. Let him in as a player, not a coach. He PLAYED the game right. Just like Cal Ripken Jr., Rose was an icon and standard to be held on high for how to play.

As one reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer wrote earlier this week, not acknowledging Pete in the Hall is like depriving young fans of the game’s history. Who wouldn’t want their son or daughter (softball) playing like Charlie Hustle? Rose once said “I’d walk through hell wearing a gasoline suit to play baseball.” That type of passion for a sport should be respected, revered and imitated. 

Rose was seen at a Reds-Padres game this week. He had great seats behind the plate. Did he pay for them? I don’t know, but he didn’t get them from the ballclub. Rose must find his own way any time he wishes to watch a game. That’s a bit ridiculous when the team he propelled to two World Series Championships and a decade of dominance can’t reward him because of MLB’s ban.

Rose hasn’t made the best life decisions and he’s not the most cuddly human being, but his talent deserves its just recognition. Vick served nearly two years in jail for dogfighting and got a second chance from NFL commissioner Roger Goodel. Meanwhile, Rose has been suffering in his own personal prison for two decades thanks to a continued line of uptight succession now represented by Bud Selig.

America is built on second chances, give Pete his.

Tapp ready to return to racetrack

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Thursday, July 30, 2009 12:26 AM CDT

Six weeks ago, motocross racer and Madisonville native Ethan Tapp lay in a hospital bed as doctors worked to wire his mouth shut following an accident at an Indiana course.

A simple track run nearly derailed Tapp from participating in the sport's most touted amateur race, the 28th annual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships.

Although Tapp just began eating solid foods, he will be among some of the nation's best bikers when he takes to the track next week. The event takes place Aug. 1-8 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

"It's going to be the biggest competition I've had all year," Tapp said. "It's pretty rigorous trying to get into it. It's a lot of people's goal just to make it to this race, let alone turn it into a career. I consider myself pretty lucky with the talent I have to be able to do something like that."

Tapp, a 2008 Madisonville-North Hopkins grad, pushed the limits of his luck when he was testing a new suspension setup in June when a mishap cost him valuable training time.

"It just caught me and I hit my chin on the handle bars," Tapp said of his accident. "I knew my jaw was broken. It was the most excruciating pain I've ever had out of all the bones I've broken. I didn't wreck. That was the most heartbreaking part. I just rode off the track and realized we had to go to the hospital."

Fortunately, Tapp had already qualified for next week's national championship by placing well during a series of area and regional qualifiers.

To prepare for the prestigious race, Tapp hired a trainer and practiced for three months in southern Georgia where he raced nearly seven hours a day.

"We were doing long 30-minute motos, we did sprints, starts," he said. "We worked on corners, and then after that we take about an hour break and we all go to the gym until late at night. We work out until about 8 p.m."

Next week's race marks the second consecutive year Tapp has participated in the championship, but he said he has attended the race every year since 2004. This time, Tapp will race in the 450cc A class and 450cc A pro sport, the highest level of amateur racing, he said.

Practice sessions begin Monday and Tapp's first race is Tuesday morning, though he has at least one race every day through Aug. 7.

Tapp will be accompanied by 41 other racers in each respective class. A winner will be crowned after three races and will be determined on a point system, which awards a certain number for each place.

"We all take off at the same time," Tapp said. "We all funnel into a really small first corner that's not big enough for 42 people. It's pretty much 100 percent skill from once the gate drops until the end of the race."

After enduring weeks of recuperation from his jaw injury, Tapp's fate will be determined by the slimmest of margins.

"If you're not on top of your game, if you're not ready to go out and do battle, you won't get a good start," he said. "Milliseconds is what decides from being in between first through 10th off of the start and being buried at the back of the pack going into the first corner."

Check next week's editions of The Messenger to track Tapp as he chases his dream.

Teaching game the mission for Fox

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:26 AM CDT

When Madisonville resident Adam Fox walks across the stage to grab his diploma next month, it won't be the typical graduation stroll.

In a few weeks, Fox will graduate from the Myrtle Beach, S.C., campus of Golf Academy of America and begin the job market search to become a golf pro.

Fox, a 2006 Madisonville-North Hopkins graduate, started the program in January of 2008, but his passion for golf began at the age of 11 when he played with his grandfather.

Fox played in high school and upon his graduation from North, the desire to peruse the sport remained.

"After high school, I really didn't know what I wanted to and then I stumbled upon the academy over the Internet," he said. "I thought this could be a good opportunity, so me and my parents called and got some information and just built on it from there."

For four semesters, Fox has studied an intensive series of classes from the game's history and rules to tournament operations taught by a faculty that includes 10 golf pros. During his time, Fox has learned details about grasses, managing events and repairing clubs. The school also conducts business courses and all graduates receives an associate's degree in business management.

"I could sit here and ramble on all day about all the things I've learned and all the different categories of the golf game that has been put into my mind and opened my eyes about everything," he said.

"They really strive on building your game once you get here and making you a better teacher and putting you in the right direction you need to go in."

Fox said he took a club repair and marketing class where he learned the make-up of clubs and club heads and different shaft types. The Myrtle Beach Golf Academy boasts one of the largest club repair shops on the east coast, he said.

Now in his final semester, Fox gets a break from the classroom each Friday to give lessons to seniors and Special Olympics children.

Each individual seeks different advice, but there are some common themes, Fox said.

"A lot of people are seeking longer, straighter drives," he said. "With the seniors, they just want to hit it longer. They can't really hit it that far and they just want distance."

Keeping a good mindset is pivotal as well, Fox said.

"Patience is the key," he said. "You have to learn to keep a steady line, always look for the positive. You can't dwell on the negative."

Fox has seen plenty of time on the course as well with his scheduled days on the links and discounted rates.

The classroom instruction and implementation on the course has allowed Fox to improve his game tremendously, he said.

"The courses down here are extremely harder than the ones back at home," Fox said. "I've improved a lot on everything from putting to driving. My ball striking has gotten a lot better.

"I've improved as a person too. I've picked up a lot of good qualities and I know what I want to do now, which is teaching people the game."

Eli Barron tourney tees off Saturday

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 12:26 AM CDT

For 41 years, golfers from Hopkins County and the western Kentucky region have been attending Madisonville Golf and Country Club's annual Eli Barron Golf Invitational.

The course has changed its look, participants have come and gone and other tournaments have sprung up, but the event continues to hold its charming draw. This Saturday and Sunday, golfers and spectators will descend on Madisonville for the latest installment in a storied event.

Few individuals know the Eli Barron better than local resident and five-time winner Jimmy Riddle.

"There are very few invitational, individual tournaments anymore," Riddle said. "It seems like every one wants to go with scrambles. I've seen state amateurs and state opens, and I even just got back from the Southern Amateur in Memphis.

"There's probably 25 people following the lead groups, where at the Eli Barron, I'll bet you Sunday there could be 100 golf carts following. It's kind of a party on Sunday to watch the final group. If you're playing good, it's a blast. If you're playing bad, it's kind of embarrassing."

Course owner and PGA professional Jeff Howerton said the local community has kept the Eli Barron a well-attended and anticipated event.

"I think with our membership, our golfers at the club are really strong and they have a lot of friends," Howerton said. "It's a good way for the whole community to get out, play a little golf, have a little dinner and get together. It's a pretty good social event as well. Saturday night we have entertainment. A lot of the guys look forward to it all year."

The event has been known to attract talented golfers from around the state, including professional J.B. Holmes, who won the Eli Barron in 2004.

"Everybody pretty much knew (Holmes) was going to go on to be a good player on the tour, so that was exciting," Howerton said. "There were a lot of people there."

Other prominent past attendees included Steve Rogers, Jimmy Brown and Adam Gary. In addition to Riddle, 2007 champ and Owensboro native Andy Roberts and Murray State University senior Mitchell Moore are expected to compete for this year's title.

Although Riddle has plenty of experience at the Madisonville course, he said that knowledge can work both ways.

"You also know where all the trouble is too and if you're thinking about that, that makes you hit it bad," he said.

Nothing beats the feeling of overcoming the course's hazards and the mental difficulties that come with the two-day invitational and being part of the final group, Riddle said.

"It's just something to stand on top of the hill at 18 and seeing all the people that will be there Sunday," he said.

Each year presents a new field and most often a new winner, but the Eli Barron continues to be one of the most anticipated sporting events in Hopkins County and western Kentucky.

"It's really prestigious for the area," Howerton said. "It's time to shine. You have to play your own ball, play two days. There's not too many of those tournaments left in our area."

Central girls win bronze at Bluegrass State Games

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 12:24 AM CDT

The Hopkins County Central Lady Storm led a trio of local soccer squads that attended the 25th annual Bluegrass State Games in Lexington during the weekend.

The Lady Storm, coached by Susan Phelps, took three of four games en route to a bronze medal with their play on Saturday and Sunday.

Last year, the Central girls finished 4-13-3, but endured a lot of major injuries to key players. This season, Phelps said it's pivotal to start strong and build confidence early.

"I had no idea what to expect actually because we had most of our players back that were injured last year and a lot of them were playing new positions," she said. "They looked really, really good at camp, but I had no idea what it would look like in a game situation when they're put under a different bit of pressure."

Central shutout its competition Saturday with a 2-0 victory against Owen County and a 1-0 win over Paducah Tilghman. Brooke Daugherty tallied both goals against Owen while Courtney Kolb recorded the lone goal in the nightcap.

The Lady Storm dropped their first game Sunday 4-0 to Mercy, but rebounded with a win against Bryan Station. Central tied Bryan Station 1-1 in regulation but won with four penalty kicks by Kolb, Rachel Gaddis, Allison Littlepage and Megan Linton. Senior Hannah Murphy scored in regulation.

Both the boys and girls teams from Madisonville-North Hopkins also competed in the event. First-year coach Jeremy Roach directed the boys to a 1-2-1 weekend mark while coach John Tichenor made the transition to the Lady Maroon program with two scrimmage losses.

The North girls crew drew a pair of difficult opponents led by Ft. Thomas Highlands, who finished last season 17-4-4. The Lady Maroons fell 3-0 to Highlands and 4-0 to Bourbon.

Tichenor, who replaced former girls coach Steve Shepard, said his squad did not fair as well as he expected, but he's still optimistic.

"I'm teaching them things that they're just not accustomed to and it's going to take a while to learn," Tichenor said. "More than anything, I'm just learning what some girls know and what they don't know, what they can and can't do and that's what the Bluegrass Games are for, especially for my team right now."

Meanwhile, the boys started the tournament strong with a 3-0 victory against Ryle with goals from Maarten Adams, Logan Whitfield and Zack Yonts. Then, the Maroons tied George Rogers Clark in a scoreless match.

Eric Logan scored a goal early as North held a 1-0 halftime advantage Sunday against Daviess County, but the Maroons surrendered two second-half goals in a 2-1 loss. Adams tallied his second goal of the weekend in a 4-1 loss to Ballard.

Like the North girls team, the boys will be searching for leaders to take the offensive responsibility after some big departures.

Roach said he expects Adams to establish himself as a threat.

"One person we know we're going to depend on up there is Maarten Adams," Roach said. "We're not going to face anybody that is going to be able to match him as far as speed goes. He's the fastest guy on the field all season."

Although each team experienced mixed levels of success at the Bluegrass Games, all three have plenty of time to improve before soccer season officially begins Aug. 17.

Messenger to launch Sports Network site

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Sunday, July 26, 2009 9:20 AM CDT

The Messenger will soon launch a new tool that will allow local youth and adult sports leagues to submit and publish their own results, statistics and photos online in Hopkins County's most-visited news Web site.

In partnership with CommunitySportsDesk, The Messenger created the Messenger Sports Network to expand coverage of local youth and adult teams associated with such organizations as the ABA, YAA and YMCA, as well as others.

"The new Messenger Sports Network will provide us an opportunity to reach and better serve a broader segment of sports fans in the Hopkins County area," Messenger publisher Rick Welch said. "It's an invaluable and professional tool that will positively highlight our community sports."

Submitting information is free for all interested leagues and individuals.

The Messenger provided CommunitySportsDesk with contact information for local organizations.

Leagues can benefit financially from using the service. Twenty percent of the revenue generated by advertisements sold by The Messenger for the Web site will be returned to the respective leagues.

Once launched, a link will be available at www.the-messenger.com and information can be submitted any time by coaches, players, fans or family. Each league or sport will have its individual page with standings, stats and photos.

One organization that has already expressed interest using The Messenger's new feature is the Hopkins County Family YMCA.

"I definitely think we'll use it, hopefully starting with our fall activities, which will be soccer and football and we have a fall/winter swim team," sports and marketing director Kelly Forbes said.

Although the YMCA holds non-competitive leagues, Forbes said individual stats would be posted.

Representatives from CommunitySportsDesk will teach and assist individuals how to submit information to be published on the Web site, which will utilize a user name and password. Results can be submitted from any where there is Internet access.

Forbes said the idea of controlling the timeliness and the posted information while creating exposure for the YMCA's programs drew the organization to the Messenger Sports Network.

In addition to posting information on the Web site, Welch said he plans to publish the results in The Messenger. The tool will allow The Messenger to disseminate results instantly online and provide leagues with an opportunity to share their success with the community.

"Between our staff's coverage and the information teams will submit to the Messenger Sports Network, The Messenger will continue its long-standing tradition of providing the most comprehensive sports coverage available in Hopkins County," Welch said.

Coaches required to take course on injuries and safety

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:24 AM CDT

Summer's intense heat may have spared Hopkins County this week, but Wednesday marked the final day for local high school coaches to complete a mandatory four-hour training session to learn how to prevent and treat heat-related illnesses and other injuries.

The online course was created by the Kentucky General Assembly as a result of the death of Max Gilpin, a football player at Pleasure Ridge Park. Gilpin, a sophomore, collapsed during a sprinting drill during a preseason practice in Aug. 2008. Gilpin's coach David Jason Stinson has pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide in relation to the death.

Now, each Kentucky high-school coaching staff is required to take part in the session and the distributed information is designed to help coaches treat, if not prevent future injuries.

"It pretty much breaks it down slide by slide all the things we have to deal with injuries, heat-related (illnesses) and fractures," Hopkins County Central football coach Zach Hibbs said. "It goes into great detail on each one, so we know how to identify the crisis situation, and also how to act in a crisis situation. It's a very in-depth process."

During the online session, the program prompts coaches to answer multiple-choice questions about scenarios shown in the viewed material.

Though Gilpin's injury came on the football field, coaches in every sports season must complete the course.

"I think if you're going to make any coaches watch, make all of them watch it," Madisonville-North Hopkins boys basketball coach Marty Cline said. "It's the right thing to do. I understand the purpose and I agree we're trying to be preventative in all of our aspects of coaching."

In addition to advising coaches how to treat heat-related maladies, the training session teaches how to administer first-aid and head injuries like concussions, Cline said.

Hibbs said the course instructs to take the simplest measures like searching for holes or obstructions on the field.

Even though athletic events like football and basketball practices and games typically have an athletic trainer on hand, Cline said the course teaches how to handle emergency situations when there isn't a trainer present.

"We're all fortunate here we have adequate athletic training supervision around most of the time, but they're not here all the time," he said. "We're not always going to have a trainer around and this helps along with the medical symposium clinic we attend every two years and keeping our CPR/first-aid up to date."

Keeping a level head and not surrendering to "panic mode" is a key principle to maintain as well, Hibbs said.

"We want every situation to feel safer for the players," he said. "Those first moments after a collapse from a heat-related injury are the most vital. The course tells you we have to be ready to go through drills and practice drills before our season starts to ensure we know how they work."

Local coaches hope not to be called to employ the techniques and measures learned from the mandated training session, but feel prepared just in case.

"I think anything that improves the safety for our kids and also makes us more aware of a situation where we can help is good," Hibbs said.

Camp combines fun, fundamentals

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 8:29 AM CDT

MORTONS GAP -- Youth athletic camps and workshops present more than opportunities for the participants to gain knowledge on an individual sport, but also life lessons.

Organizers at this year's Hopkins County Central Storm Basketball Fundamentals Camp hope each of the 65 campers understand the possibilities to grow as players and people during this week's event.

Storm coach Matt Bell said the kids can benefit in a myriad of ways.

"If we can help them to learn something about themselves or about the game of basketball this week than we feel we've done a good job, as well as teamwork," Bell said. "These kids don't play together on regular teams. They come from all over the county and even outside the county, so just learning how to play with each other on the floor (is important)."

Bell said participants range from all directions of Hopkins County as well as a few from Webster County. The camp, which began Monday and lasts through Thursday, has two sessions with grades one through four in the morning and five through eight in the afternoon. This year's event marks the second time Bell and Lady Storm coach Jennifer Hibbs have worked in conjunction.

Each session is geared toward the different age levels in varying aspects, but the general focus remains the same.

"Our camp is more designed for individual improvement rather than who wins what award at the end of the camp," Hibbs said. "The kids learn it's not about what you do, it's about how you get better every single day."

Sydney Abbott, a third-grader at Southside Elementary, took part in the camp for her second time and described her favorite stations.

"I like to do the obstacle courses and go upstairs (in the gym) and do the jump stuff."

Hanson Elementary fifth-grader Noah Cunningham elaborated on the jumping station, which he rated his favorite.

"You jump rope and try to get 30 in a row," Cunningham said. "Then, you stood on one foot and tried to get 15 and stand on the other foot and get 15. Then, you jumped on boxes."

As one of the elder campers, Cunningham said he also learned techniques like outlet and curl passes.

For the coaches, it's also rewarding to see how their own players, who serve as helpers, relate with the children.

"For every camper we try to have a player that is either a big brother or big sister and the kids really take to their players, so during our breaks the players mess around with the kids and interact," Hibbs said. "They get along with each other."

As coaches, it's also fun to watch the Central players incorporate skills they have been taught during practice or the season, Hibbs said.

"In station work, our players teach the campers stuff we have been teaching them from day one, and they're not great at, but it's interesting to see our players teach the campers," she said. "You see them get frustrated or you see them really break stuff down, so as a coach when you see your players teach somebody else that just lets you know that at least they're listening to things you say."

From campers to players and coaches, each has an opportunity to learn at this week's camp whether about life or the game.

Tippett finds tough going in tourney

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 12:01 AM CDT

When Kalem Tippett left for last weekend's Under Armour College Bass National Championship, the Hanson resident had hopes of capturing his second collegiate title of the summer. Unfortunately, the fish eluded his hook and dream.

Tippett, a junior at Murray State University, claimed the U.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on May 28-29, but a change in location provided new challenges as he finished 25th in a field of 60 entries Saturday.

Tippett and partner Vincent Campisano won at Lake Lewisville, Texas thanks to solid execution of ledge fishing, but the strategy didn't pay off for Tippett and new partner Jonathan Byrn on the Arkansas River at North Little Rock, Ark.

"We had a tough week down there," Tippett said. "The whole river was tough. We pre-fished for four days and then fished two, and it only took 14.5 pounds to even make the top-five cut. We just couldn't find them."

The duo endured a bit of bad luck as well, which made the odds even more difficult.

"We found one creek that had some good fish in it, but we had a bad draw on the first day," Tippett said. "We were almost the last boat out, so I knew we wouldn't get in there first, so we never even hit it.

"I ended up the first day, I hit something with my prop and ruined my prop, bent my prop shaft up, so the second day I could barely even run the big motor. We pretty much had to drop the troll motor and fish around the ramp."

Despite the challenging conditions, Tippett and his partner managed a bit of success.

"We had one 12.5 inch Kentucky Bass the first day," he said. "The second day we had two fish that weighed 5.5 pounds, and we lost another one about two pounds right out the boat."

After the first day, Murray placed 41st with a 1.14-pound total. With two fish on the second day, the pair jumped to 25th at 6.62 pounds. Even the event's most successful fisherman encountered some difficulty. On the third day of fishing, the top five boats held a one-day shoot to determine a winner and two different pairs recorded a blank.

During such situations, a fisherman's mindset is challenged, Tippett said.

"You lose a lot of confidence in yourself," he said. "Looking back, I know where the guys who ended up winning were fishing, and we fished a little bit of that stuff, but evidently we didn't fish it right."

Tippett said he plans to participate in a FLW qualifier at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. in October. The winner will be invited to participate in the FLW Cup.

Indiana dominates second half for freshman victory

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Sunday, July 12, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

MORTONS GAP - A monstrous second-half run propelled the Indiana Elite Girls 14U squad to a big win in the first-ever Kentucky-Indiana Girls Freshman All-Star game at Hopkins County Central.

The Kentucky crew trailed just four points at halftime, but Indiana powered ahead on a 30-6 second-half outburst en route to a 49-21 victory on Saturday evening. During the final 12 minutes, the Bluegrass All-Stars tallied just one field goal. Four of the team's second-half points came on free-throws in the final 37 seconds.

Still, the honor of playing in such an event resonated with the local all-stars, especially Hopkins County Central's Shalara Wells, who participated in both contests.

"It means a lot because I'm only going to be a sophomore and last year was my first year playing varsity and I started," Wells said. "It means all that hard work paid off.

"It's kind of nervewracking to be playing in both games though. I'm the youngest player in the second game, but I feel honored to be in both games."

Even for Central coach Dwain Orten, who commanded the Kentucky youngsters, the experience meant a lot. "It's a privilege to do it," he said. "We're a pretty talented team. We practiced twice because of the dead period, so we haven't had a lot of practicing in. They're an AAU team, played about 45 times this summer, so it was a pretty big challenge."

Indiana and Kentucky battled back and forth during the opening quarter with four lead changes and two ties, but the Hoosier stars grabbed the lead for good on a Maura Muenstermann jumper with 2:21 remaining in the first. The bucket gave Indiana an 8-6 advantage and the team pushed the lead to seven by the end of the first.

Kentucky fell behind by as many as nine points twice during the second quarter, but a put-back by Central's Ja'Leigh Smith and score by Webster County's Mariah Herrera drew the game to 19-15 at half.

Wells started the offense for Kentucky in the second half. Wells accepted a pass on the far corner and drove baseline to the hoop for two. The bucket represented the team's lone field goal of the second half, though.

After a 10:32 scoreless drought, McKenzie Ames and Madisonville-North Hopkins' Morgan Duvall each hit a pair of free-throws.

Orten said Indiana's second-half full-court press forced the girls into a tight situation. Not knowing each others' tendencies made it even more difficult.

"I think it was just unfamiliarity with each other," Orten said of his team's second-half struggles. "Two practices, the only thing we can do is practice against the older girls, and it's really hard to get anything done with all the talent out there. From 14-year-olds to 18-year-olds is a big difference on the girls."

For Indiana, three players reached double-figures led by Jacey Ritzert's 14.

Wells and Mariah Herrera each finished with five points to lead Kentucky offensively. Lady Storm guard Kaitlyn "Krhea" Orten tallied three points on the first three-point field goal of the game for either squad.

Despite Saturday's outcome, Orten said he's confident his team will rebound in the next matchup.

"I think the next time we play them we'll have an idea of what to do to them, plus we'll have some more practice under our belt," he said.

Indiana 13 6 14 16 - 49

Kentucky 6 9 2 4 - 21

Indiana: Jacey Ritzert 14, Maura Muenstermann 12, Tyra Buss 10, Ellie Fruit 5, Tori Schickel 5, Lori Thomas 2, Olivia Hunt 1

Kentucky: Mariah Herrera 5, Shalara Wells 5, Kaitlyn Orten 3, McKenzie Ames 2, Morgan Duvall 2, Ja'Leigh Smith 2, Jessica Stone 2

Locals shine as Kentucky wins Junior All-Star Game

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:28 AM CDT

MORTONS GAP -- Some of the western Kentucky's most highly touted girls high school basketball players were on display Saturday evening during the annual Kentucky-Indiana Jr. All-Star game at Hopkins County Central.

Hopkins County players stole the show in a 41-32 Kentucky win, but several regional players also appeared on the Indiana Elite 16U roster, which set up some interesting matchups.

Madisonville-North Hopkins post players KeKe Drake and Tayla Foster teamed with Webster County Lady Trojan Lynette Harris to clog the lanes against a much smaller Indiana squad.

"Their team was full of all guards, so we took advantage of them in the post in the second half," Drake said.

Indiana held a slim, one-point lead at halftime, but Kentucky took a 28-25 advantage late in the third on a three-point play by Foster and never surrendered.

"They didn't have much of an answer for our interior post players," coach Erik Peyton said.

The team's defense, led by sophomore Shalara Wells, also played a pivotal role.

"I think she's probably one of the best on-ball defenders that we have and she's the youngest on the team," Peyton said.

Kentucky outscored Indiana 22-12 in the second half.

Peyton said his team showed greater patience in the final 16 minutes and worked as a unit.

"They always come out and try to do what I ask, give a full effort," he said. "Most of them ask questions, so you can just tell they're all competitors and want to win."

Some high school teammates like Drake and Foster worked together with fellow Lady Maroon Lyndi Tedder to create a smooth offensive flow. Others like Webster's Ellie Steiner and Kerstin Hayes found themselves wearing opposing jerseys on Saturday.

Steiner, who has played with the Elite for a couple summers, even dropped a three-pointer on Hayes to take a brief 25-23 lead.

"When I hit that three, I was like 'Ah,' man, she's going to get me for that one,'" Steiner said. "I didn't know what she was going to do to me."

While Steiner may have led her squad with nine points, Hayes' crew secured the victory.

Henderson County's Ariel Barnes also crossed state borders to play with the Indiana team.

Lady Storm guard Hannah Murphy looked sharp for Kentucky as she chipped in with six points. Murphy's points came on back-to-back three-point attempts within 30 seconds of each other in the second quarter.

Drake said Murphy and Tedder's play at the point aided the team significantly.

"It's great because both of them can shoot threes, so if we don't have a shot (inside), we can rely on them to make a three," Drake said.

Tedder proved her skills shooting from outside, driving the lane and finding open teammates. Tedder finished with a game-high 13 points. Drake also reached double-digits with 12.

Indiana 8 12 5 7 -- 32

Kentucky 6 13 9 13 -- 41

Indiana: Ellie Steiner 9, Sarah Thomas 7, Kelsie Linneweber 5, Giorgia Stringer 5, Erica Carpenter 4, Tessa Lynch 2

Kentucky: Lyndi Tedder 13, KeKe Drake 12, Hannah Murphy 6, Tayla Foster 4, Hadley Burns 2, Kerstin Hayes 2, Shalara Wells 2

Quinn stepping down as North football assistant

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Saturday, July 11, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

Through the years, many faces and football coaches have changed along the Madisonville-North Hopkins sidelines, but one constant for the past 13 seasons has been assistant Mike Quinn -- until recently.

After serving seven different head coaches and watching his two sons, Barry and Ryan Quinn, play and graduate, Mike Quinn announced he is stepping down from his varsity position. Instead, Quinn will continue his football endeavors as head coach at Browning Springs Middle School.

Quinn said he's been involved with football for more than 30 years and needed to lighten his responsibilities.

"I felt like I just needed a break a little bit," Quinn said. "People don't understand the time it takes to be involved coaching in football or basketball mainly because you do the scouting and everything. With the summer process of the workouts and the different camps and everything, I just felt I needed a little break."

Quinn's presence with the Maroons program has allowed each successive coach to hit the ground running after a new hire.

"It definitely made it an easy transition," coach Will Weaver said. "There were never any doubts whatsoever about coach Quinn's loyalty or work ethic. His heart was always in it for the kids. That's one thing I can definitely say about him. Everything he does is for the kids' benefits."

During his tenure, Quinn worked with the freshman, junior varsity and varsity squads. His duties ranged from directing the running backs, linebackers and defensive backs to manning the headset as defensive coordinator and managing equipment needs.

His many skills and talents made him a wonderful asset, Weaver said.

"He was a guy who I moved around quite a bit on offense and defense to fill the holes because he does have head coaching experience, and he's coached just about everything you can coach on the offensive and defensive side of the ball," Weaver said. "He was always one of those guys you could count on: being on time, doing what you asked him to do, putting his heart and soul into it."

As Quinn considered what he'll miss the most, his dedication and passion could not be questioned.

"I'll miss Friday night games, not being there and really the other thing I'll miss is breaking down film of the opponents," Quinn said. "I always enjoyed doing that, figuring out what they were going to do to you."

With Quinn's departure and a new season a month away, Weaver has added four assistants to his staff.

-- Chad Price (offensive line coach)

-Coached previous four years at Indianapolis Warren Central, which won four straight 5A state championships 2003-06

-Three-time All-American offensive lineman at Western Kentucky University

-- Jay Burgett (outside linebackers and receivers)

-Defensive coordinator at Ohio County 2008

-Played at Mayfield High School and Murray State University

-- Alan Hall (linebacker coach)

-- Brock Shoulders (defensive coordinator)

Workman: girls varsity team likely in 2010

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Friday, July 10, 2009 12:24 AM CDT

For the second consecutive year, there will be no girls varsity soccer at Dawson Springs, but athletic director Kent Workman said a 2010 return is likely.

Workman and the administration made the decision at the conclusion of the past school year to continue with a junior varsity team with just 12 athletes showing interest. Two girls, Beth Anne Dickens and Workman's daughter Emilee Workman, will play their senior seasons with the boys varsity team.

Although the Lady Panthers had enough players to field a team, Kent Workman said it still didn't seem realistic given the chance of injury.

"We felt if somebody gets injured, somebody gets sick or whatever, now you're down to no reserves and if two are out, you're pretty much in the hole," he said. "We felt like we were taking a really, really big risk if we tried to do that with those numbers...It was a really iffy situation at best, so the most logical way out was to stay with what we had."

Dawson Springs did not field a team last season following the graduation of seven seniors from the 2007 crew and instead played a JV schedule with Dickens and Emilee Workman on the boys team. Jim Hillerich will continue to coach the JV squad this fall.

Dawson Springs' last girls varsity team finished 3-12-3 and recorded a 3-3-2 mark in its last eight games.

At a small school like Dawson Springs, Workman said interest in sports can dwindle between different classes leading to disbanding of teams.

"It's really odd because you go through classes in school where you have either a lot of kids out of that class play athletics or they don't," he said.

Workman said he thinks only half a dozen girls from his daughter Emilee's class participate in athletics while more than 20 eighth-graders play at least one sport.

"It goes in cycles and those cycles either really, really help us or really, really hurt us," Workman said.

Another reason soccer struggles to gain interest is the lack of a youth league in Dawson Springs.

"A lot of the problem is we don't have enough kids here that participate at the youth level to make up enough teams," Workman said. "When Emilee and Beth Anne were young, we played at Princeton."

Other soccer fans can play in Nortonville or with the Hopkins County Family YMCA's program.

Workman said he would feel comfortable having 14 or 15 players to field a team and expects those figures next season.

"If the numbers of girls come out again next year that are playing this year, we should be back to varsity status," he said. "We should have good numbers next year."

Central camp to open Friday

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:37 AM CDT

Friday's Hopkins County Central Summer Football Camp bears the name of the Storm program, but first-year head coach Zach Hibbs said the youth skills camp is less about school affiliation than helping local athletes improve.

Hibbs and the Central football staff will host a camp for children in grades 4-8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the school's athletic complex. In addition to producing greater football knowledge, Hibbs said he hopes to create more familiarity with Central.

"A lot of these kids never get to meet us because we're on the south end (of the county) and we don't necessarily want it to be just a Central camp," he said. "Anybody is welcome to come and that's why sometimes I hesitate about putting the Central on top... We just want everyone to come have an opportunity to get better and meet us."

Athletes will be broken down into two groups: grades 4-6 and 7-8. For the younger players, the focus will be fundamentals and integrating fun into the game, while the elder division will learn finer techniques.

"With the older kids, we're going to work a lot of the skills because several of the kids -- it doesn't matter if they're going to be here or at North -- they need those skills and just helping them get geared up for their seasons in the seventh and eighth grades," Hibbs said. "That'll help tremendously."

Some camps tend to focus on positions that incorporate handling the ball like backs and receivers, but as a former lineman and line coach, Hibbs said he will make sure the positions affectionately known as "the trenches" are not forgotten.

"To me that's just as important as working the skills for receivers and running backs and defensive backs and linebackers," he said. "If kids don't know how to get into a proper stance, then it's not very easy to be an offensive lineman. If kids don't know how to get in a good stance on defense and fire off the ball, then they're at a disadvantage, so it's important for the line to get a good skills camp too."

Each camp participant will be allowed to choose his main position, but all will learn both offensive and defensive aspects.

Hibbs said many of the stretches and drills that will be utilized in Friday's camp come from various colleges the coaches played with as well as Central's own program. The camp will conclude with a passing challenge.

Several current and former players, including 2009 grads Keith and Kevin Couch, will be on hand to help as well.

Registration will be held prior to the camp beginning at 8 a.m. Cost is $20 per athlete. For more information, contact Hibbs at 339-2270.

'Dead period' a welcome time for athletes

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Saturday, July 4, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

The annual two-week summer "dead period" that prohibits high school athletes from participating in official practices may seem perturbing at first to coaches, but across Hopkins County many agreed it's a necessary part of the season's preparation.

Each year, students and coaches break for a two-week period in the summer to step away from their respective sports and relax before reconvening to tackle the arduous pre-season conditioning and preparation. This summer's respite began June 25 and continues through July 9.

Kent Akin, the Hopkins County Central girls cross country coach, said he wants his athletes to take it easy during the period.

"Basically I tell them to enjoy the time off, get away from everything about the sport and just enjoy being a kid," he said. "Our season is so long being four months of constant running, I just tell them to take some time off and get themselves mentally ready."

Storm basketball coach Matt Bell echoed Akin's words almost verbatim.

"Basically we just rest and relax and enjoy being a kid," Bell said. "It gives them time to be with family or hang out and do whatever it is they want to do to have a good time during the summer break."

At Madisonville-North Hopkins, soccer coach John Tichenor is making the transition from the boys program to the girls, but the message remains the same.

"I encourage them to go on vacations, do mission trips, go swimming, all the things they want to do because there's a short window there," Tichenor said. "They had a long school year. They need to do fun stuff to prevent burnout, but at the same time I want them to do some running, do some fitness."

Lady Maroons golf coach Sam Westfall said events like the Greater Owensboro Golf Series help his athletes stay tuned.

"I tell them just to work on their weaknesses," Westfall said. "I think that's the most important thing, especially in golf."

Football coach Will Weaver said he encourages the players to utilize their free memberships to Trover Sports Medicine.

"We talk to them about trying to get over there at least two or three times a week during the dead period just to maintain what we worked hard to build prior to the dead period," Weaver said.

The time off is also welcomed by the coaches, though.

While Weaver relaxed with his family in West Palm Beach, Fla., Bell said he has used the time to take his son to a basketball camp.

"It gives us an opportunity to sit down and really have some good, quality family time," Bell said.

As the Fourth of July weekend nears so does the end of the annual break from practice, and all teams will reconvene with renewed vigor and determination.

"We'll get right back in the gym with our summer hoops camp (July 13-16) and start having individual workouts in the evening," Bell said.

For the Lady Maroon soccer team, a timed two-mile run awaits.

While it lasts though, local student-athletes will be enjoying time away from the fields and courts.

"I always sell this period as a time to kind of get away from football a little bit and to come back fresh because we have a long season ahead of us," Weaver said. "Before you know it we'll be scrimmaging and our goal is to make a good run at the playoffs. I think you can burn your kids out if you don't have a time in the summer where you get away from football a little bit."

Sarles staying active for Demon Deacons

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Friday, July 3, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

Wake Forest University may not have a Division-I sanctioned swimming team, but that has not prevented 2006 Madisonville-North Hopkins graduate Shawn Sarles from continuing his endeavors in the pool for the Demon Deacons.

Sarles, a former Maroon swimmer, will return to school this fall as president of Wake Forest's swim club.

As president, Sarles, 21, coordinates practices, meets and recruits potential new members, but his greatest enjoyment comes from staying active.

"I'm just happy that I can still get in -- after maybe two weeks of swimming in a row -- and get around my high school times," he said. "I'm usually a second or two off my butterfly and backstroke times. That makes me feel kind of good to know I can still do that even though I don't practice as hard as I used to."

The team boasts 10-15 members and typically takes part in two fall semester meets and two spring meets. Members practice three times a week, usually on their own accord using an outlined booklet left at the pool.

The Wake squad receives funding from the school and competes against other Atlantic Coast Conference teams such as the University of North Carolina, Duke University, the University of Virginia and Georgia Institute of Technology.

"I think maybe two-thirds of them have teams, but they have club teams as well," Sarles said. "Georgia Tech, I know their club team is their "B" college team, so they always kill everybody because their kids actually swim practices with the college team. You just can't compete with that."

Sarles said matching up against teams like Georgia Tech gets him amped.

"I really like competition, I really like going to the meets," Sarles said. "It's good because it motivates me to stay in shape, to get in the pool because I have a meet coming up."

Although the atmosphere and training may be more lax at times than his high school days, Sarles said he enjoys his time in the pool and staying fit.

"I really like it because I want to be active, especially as I get older and I get busier with work and away from the gym," he said. "It's good to have and it's something I can do for a long time because it's not going to wear my joints down that much."

K.I.T. League up for grabs

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009 12:10 AM CDT

As the Tradewater Pirates struggle through a mid-season slide, many of the K.I.T. League's teams still find themselves in contention for this year's regular season crown.

Entering Wednesday's action, five of the league's six teams, including Tradewater, are within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Fulton Railroaders.

Nearing the season's mid-point, each team remains focused on winning the K.I.T., but several players around the league are putting together outstanding individual statistics.

Sikeston's Kody Campbell has assembled quite possibly the most mind-boggling stats. Campbell leads the league in hits (32) and RBIs (24) and ranks second (.337) in batting average to Marion Bobcat Rob Dyer (.353).

Still others have ran away with certain categories like Tradewater's Sean Flaherty for stolen bases. Thus far, Flaherty has swiped 18 bags, seven more than his closest competitor.

As a team, the Pirates have exhibited great speed on the base paths. Sean Mahley, Matt Presley and Cass Via also rank among the league's top five for stolen bases.

For Tradewater, Presley has exhibited his offensive balance ranking in the top 10 in six different offensive categories. Most notably, Presley leads the team with a .321 average.

Brock Green represents Tradewater's only other hitter to break the .300 mark at .301. Green and teammate Colby Price have clubbed a team-high three home runs on the year, three behind league-leader Tyler Choate of Owensboro.

Although Pirate infielder Austin Messerli has posted a mere .190 average, he leads the league in doubles. Of Messerli's 15 hits, eight are two-baggers.

On the mound, Bucs starting pitcher Dustin Williams places among the best pitchers. Williams leads all K.I.T. pitchers with 47 strikeouts and sits in a tie for second in both wins (3) and fewest hits allowed (9).

Four pitchers have secured four wins this season. Teammates Tim Dunn and Tyler Farley have both accomplished the feat for Fulton.

The most astounding statistic so far this season comes from a trio of pitchers. Union City hurlers Jon Ivie and Kevin Henry and Sikeston's Zach Secoy have each thrown a minimum of 15 innings and surrendered just one earned run. Ivie and Henry maintain a 0.42 ERA while Secoy comes in at 0.60. Ivie boasts a season-high six saves as well.

Pirate Ryan Tabor leads the Tradewater staff with a 1.86 ERA, yet ranks 12th in the league. Williams and Mahley are tied for 13th at 1.93.

League leaders were based on a minimum criteria of 60 plate appearances for hitters and 15 innings for pitchers.

Sharks' coaches get victory soak

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:17 AM CDT

Before Wednesday evening's swim meet ended, Madisonville Sharks co-coach Mary Katherine Kington unloaded her phone and other items in her pockets anticipating the traditional postgame victory tossing of the coaches into the pool.

Madisonville created a large advantage early against visiting Western Hills Country Club and Kington sensed the coming plunge. When the final event ended, she kicked off her sandals and braced as four young swimmers raced toward her alongside the shallow end of the pool.

After her soaking, Kington had one word to describe her feelings during such a runaway meet.

"Anticipate," she said. "You have to put your cell phone down, put your keys down. You don't want anything in your pockets because it'll be ruined."

Soon after Kington's forced leap, the team targeted Shawn Sarles. Finally, announcer Keith Cartwright called for all coaches to be throw in and Joseph Porter became the last to be tossed.

The swimmers earned the honor to dunk their coaches with a 759-244 victory in a Country Club Conference meet. Twelve different individuals recorded at least one event win and for the Sharks.

Kendall Adkins, Olivia Devine, Jack Dodds, Ashton Gaines, Ches Hill, Linny Hooper and Libby Shockley each posted two individual victories to pace Madisonville.

Clay Cunningham, Jett Kik, Kael Knight, Kylee Knight and Morgan P'Pool rounded out the individual winners.

Kington said the team won all but two of its relays on the evening as well.

Porter, a sophomore swimmer at Transylvania University, said as the younger children progress he tries to incorporate concepts he has learned with the Pioneers.

"Practices are becoming more fun because we can actually do real sets and races and relays," he said. "It's more like stuff from college where I can bring in advanced things."

One of the team's veteran swimmers Kathryn Cartwright, a swimmer for Hopkins County Central, pulled double duty working as lifeguard and taking part in the meet.

"It is kind of extra," she said. "I am swimming and getting paid, so it's encouraging to swim."

Like Cartwright, Kington and the coaches took a dive despite being on the clock.

"They think when they win a home meet they have to push the coach in, which I don't really understand why," Kington said. "It's kind of fun for them. They feel like it's a reward for swimming well, so we don't mind. We always bring an extra change of clothes to make sure."

Still, Kington pondered why she has become the first target after victories.

"I don't know the answer - maybe because I'm the meanest," she said with a smile.

The Sharks return home at 5 p.m. Wednesday with plans of another soaking.

North names Sandidge head coach

By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com

Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:07 AM CDT

Three weeks after firing Madisonville-North Hopkins baseball coach Scott Vance, the Maroons athletic department announced its replacement in assistant Bobby Sandidge.

Sandidge, who served the past two seasons as a North assistant, earned the department's recommendation on Monday and will assume the duties of leading one of the school's most successful programs.

"I think we're going to pick up where we left off," Sandidge said. "I know I'm a young coach. I know some people may have their doubts because I am a young coach, but I'm very motivated. I'm a hard worker, and I look for the guys to expect nothing less."

Sandidge will fill the void left by Vance, who maintained a successful Maroon squad during his seven years as coach. Many of the program's supporters were upset when Vance was not retained on June 8.

"The main thing I want to address is I'm a team player, and I'm not here to say I'm the answer to anything," Sandidge said. "I'm here for the kids. I'm here to better these guys as young men. I'm here to win baseball games, and basically I think you can't go wrong if you make it about the kids."

Athletics Director Gale Travis told The Messenger in a release that an in-house hire like Sandidge proved ideal.

"He has worked closely with the program, the players, and the boosters, so his hiring should insure a smooth transition for all parties," Travis said.

Sandidge, a 1999 Hopkins County Central graduate, maintained an assistant role with the Storm baseball program from 2007-2008. Sandidge played shortstop for North for two years before moving to Central as part of the district's restructuring for three more seasons. During his junior and senior season, Sandidge was an all-state selection.

After high school, Sandidge earned all-conference honors at Brescia University his freshman year before ending his playing career. Once Sandidge stepped away as a player, he said it took him a few years to realize the desire to maintain an aspect of baseball in his life and decided to take up coaching.

Sandidge's promotion will mark his first head coaching job, but he said he's prepared after years of studying the game from individuals like his high school coach, Scott Marks, and alongside Vance and Lee James.

"(Vance) knows the game of baseball better than anybody I know around here anyway," Sandidge said. "He's a very intelligent person on the field, and I learned some things from him, but I'm also my own person ... I think every coach is different, and I've learned things from the three coaches I've been around, coach Marks probably the most."

This summer, Sandidge has been helping the American Legion Post 6 Madisonville Miners team as an assistant under Marks.

As for characteristics of a Sandidge-coached team, the newly hired skipper said he plans to blend the skills he has learned.

"I do like coach Vance's aggressive style of baseball, but I also believe you have to adapt your style to whatever kind of team you possess," he said. "Next year, we're going to have some young guys, we'll have some speed. I think smaller ball next year will be more of what you'll see.

"We're going to play as a team and win as a team. There's not going to be any individual efforts. We're going to win as one and lose as one."

Sandidge said assistant coach Sean Watts will continue with the program. Sandidge said he will be looking to fill positions for another assistant's job and head junior varsity coach.