News sports 2008-07-05 Andanh.com

Teams ready for next step Thu, 3 Jul 2008 10:47:43 -0500
The area championships are now secure, so local Little League teams head to Country Heights in Owensboro for the District 1 Tournament beginning Friday - with squads looking to advance to the state tournament later this month. The Bowling Green East 11- and 12-year-old all-stars made a big impression after going through area play unblemished. BG East crushed its opponents by a combined 52-0 in the first two games, before rallying to outlast Warren County South 6-5 for the championship on Sunday. East will open play against Hancock County at 7 p.m. Friday. “I think they are playing with a lot of confidence,” BG East manager Rick Kelley said. “I think the success they had last year lends itself to creating that confidence level. I think they are excited to be moving forward and look forward to the competition.” The blowouts were huge statements, but Kelley said he liked what he saw in the win against South. “I think it is good to have a close game,” Kelley said. “I was proud of them because they didn’t get down when they were down 4-0 after a half inning. It’s a test of a true champion when you can bounce back after you get in a difficult situation, and they proved that they could.” While the offense has been impressive, Kelley said his pitching has been big as well. “We have four guys we wouldn’t hesitate to go with on any given night,” Kelley said. “They have good control and they’ve been throwing strikes. I don’t care if it is the big leagues or Little League - it’s all about throwing strikes.” BG East will be joined by Warren County South, which looks to not only defend its district crown, but to try to put itself in position for a second straight state title as well. South opens play against Franklin-Simpson at 3 p.m. Friday. “Our goal was to, number one, to qualify for the district tournament,” WC South manager Joe Pitts said. “We succeeded in accomplishing that goal. Would we have liked to go in as the area champions? Yeah, but we came up a little short against a quality East team. We’ll go up as the runner-up and try to represent the area and the Warren County South Little League as best as we can.” South can take comfort in knowing that last season it fell in the area tournament, but bounced back and eventually advanced to the Great Lakes Region. Two players, Clay Stivers and Ty Pitts, who were a part of that run, are back - and Joe Pitts said he expects to lean heavily on both. “We are looking at those two to lead us from their experience last year,” he said. “We’re putting a lot of weight on their shoulders to try and show the rest of the guys what it will take to win the district and qualify for state.” Joe Pitts said he thinks the pieces are there for another deep run. “Even though we didn’t show it as well as we could have in the East game, I think defensively we’re strong throughout the lineup,” Joe Pitts said. “I like our pitching and I think our pitching depth is going to pay dividends for us.” In the 9- and 10-year-old division, Warren County South heads in with plenty of momentum after a 3-0 run through the Area Tournament. South outscored its opponents 41-17, including a pair of 10-run wins in the final two games. “We feel very confident going into Owensboro this weekend,” WC South manager Brian Bybee said. “The last two games really gave the kids a lot of confidence.” The offense has been clicking, something that Bybee said he wasn’t sure about heading into the postseason. “It was a question mark early on, but for some reason everyone just hit a switch,” Bybee said. “Right now we have no gripes about what we are doing offensively. We are putting up runs and hitting the baseball and that is all you can ask for.” South will be tested right out of the gate, facing Owensboro Southern at 5 p.m. Friday. The pool also features a third area winner - Ohio County - as well as Franklin-Simpson. Bybee said his team has a tough road to get to Monday’s semifinals. “There is no doubt we might be in a tougher pool,” Bybee said. “But I think if we go out and play like we did in the area, I feel good about our chances to win a couple of games in this pool and advance to Monday.” BG East will play in the other pool, opening play against Butler County on Friday. East went 2-1 in the Area Tournament, beating BG West and Warren County North.

NBA vet Askew to lead BG squad Thu, 3 Jul 2008 10:47:43 -0500
The newly formed Kentucky Mavericks of the American Basketball Association didn’t waste time in finding the face of its franchise - and they found a pretty familiar one to hoops fans. Former Memphis State star and longtime National Basketball Association player Vincent Askew was named the team’s first head coach Wednesday. Askew, who played for eight teams over his nine NBA seasons - perhaps most notably for the Seattle Supersonics - said his decision to join the new franchise centered on a simple factor. “Honestly, it was the state of Kentucky,” Askew said by phone Wednesday. “I grew up in Memphis and when I grew up, the two states I always heard about that basketball was big in were Kentucky and Indiana. I’ve always been a big Louisville fan, even though we beat them all the time in college, and I just love Kentucky. “I was contemplating (a job with the ABA’s Los Angeles franchise), but after talking with (Mavericks president and CEO) Jason Smith - and knowing that it’s right down the street from Memphis - it became a no-brainer for me. That’s basketball country.” Askew’s most recent head coaching job was in the Continental Basketball Association, where he coached the Albany Patroons franchise. As a player, Askew made a name for himself as an outstanding defensive player. That’s a philosophy he plans to continue with the Mavericks. “I believe in fundamentals and in defense, that’s how I made my niche in the NBA, by being a defensive player who played the game the right way,” said Askew, who also had playing stints in the CBA and in Italy. “I played under Larry Brown and George Karl and they taught me that there’s only one way to play - share the basketball, play defense and play smart.” Smith said bringing in a coach with Askew’s experience could do wonders for the first-year franchise, which will try to find an identity early. “Vincent honestly is a good friend of mine from Memphis, and when he called me I knew we had a good personal bond together and he decided to come down here and accept the job with us,” Smith said. “Some of his references are (general manager) Steve Kerr and (head coach) Terry Porter of the Phoenix Suns. I talked to (former University of Kentucky and NBA player) Shawn Kemp (and) a lot of former NBA officials who have given me a call and they all talked highly of him. “And it was an honor to get him down here. It took a couple of days to make the decision, but I decided that we needed a face of this franchise and I needed to grab him.” Smith, who called Askew a “defensive mastermind,” said he too expects the team to be constructed with a defensive approach. He added that hiring a person with such a long basketball history has lessened his nerves about the upcoming season. In fact, Smith felt confident enough to make a bold guarantee. “We made the announcement over a few Web sites and we had several players all over the country out of state that said they’ll be coming here to try out just to play for Vincent Askew,” Smith said. “At first, I was kind of nervous about it being our first year, but now, I’m planning on having me a championship this year. And you can put that in the paper - I got this one.” Askew wouldn’t guarantee a title next season, but he did say that he’s grown accustomed to winning. “I don’t necessarily set goals for wins and losses, but more to get better every day,” he said. “I’m used to winning and I’m going to bring guys in that are going to fit into what I’m going to try to do. “To play defense, to play hard and to play to win instead of just getting after stats.” Mavericks tryout dates set The team will hold its first official tryout sessions next week. Tryouts will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the Phil Moore Park Gymnasium. The tryouts are open and will require a $25 registration fee. The team also will award a $2,000 bonus to the player it deems the “most impressive” throughout the tryout period.

Breeden earns Olympic trip Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:21:00 EST
Elaine Breeden of Lexington, Ky., guaranteed herself a spot on the U.S. Olympic swimming team last night by winning the 200-meter butterfly at the Olympic Trials.

Many to blame for sorry case of Ellis Park Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:18:00 EST
The death of a racehorse can move millions to tears. The death of a race track, not so many. But if the death of the filly Eight Belles moments after the Kentucky Derby moved thoroughbred racing to action on a national scale, the closing -- or near-closing -- of Ellis Park ought to signal an even bigger warning to the sport's leaders in this state.

'It's every Williams for themself' tomorrow Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:13:00 EST
The most unusual and, at times, uncomfortable rivalry in tennis is once more in the spotlight at the pinnacle of the sport: Venus will play Serena in their third all-in-the-family Wimbledon final tomorrow. It's their seventh Grand Slam title match -- Serena holds a 5-1 edge -- but first final at any tournament since 2003.

Spillman arrested for DUI again Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:08:00 EST
Junior wide receiver JaJuan Spillman's career with the University of Louisville football team likely is over after his second arrest in less than 18 months.

Beshear dissolves racing authority Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:10:00 EST
Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order yesterday to dissolve the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, reorganize it as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and remove about half the membership.

Bats prevail in 12-11 slugfest with Indianapolis Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:09:00 EST
Louisville Slugger Field was not exactly the "friendly confines" for pitchers last night. The Louisville Bats and Indianapolis Indians watched their pitching staffs get abused for nine innings, but the home team survived as Alvin Colina drilled a three-run homer in the seventh to lift the Bats to a 12-11 victory in the finale of a four-game series.

Reports: Arenas settles for less Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:32:00 EST
Gilbert Arenas will re-sign with the Washington Wizards for $111 million over six years, taking millions less so his team can have more financial flexibility, two newspapers reported.

Merritt upsets Wariner in 400 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:21:00 EST
Jeremy Wariner isn't invincible anymore -- a point LaShawn Merritt proved again last night. Merritt pulled his second upset of the year over the world's supposed fastest 400-meter runner, pulling away from Wariner in the final 150 meters to win the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

Winner couldn't give away national title Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:03:00 EST
Thurlow Rogers' winning margin yesterday at the USA Cycling Masters Nationals was three seconds. It would have been a few minutes if not for an attempt at generosity.

Strong field of 10 to try Locust Grove Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:00:00 EST
Graded-stakes winners Brownie Points, Bayou's Lassie and Meribel head a field of 10 entered yesterday for the $150,000, Grade III Locust Grove Handicap on Sunday's closing-day card of Churchill Downs' spring meet.

PREP BASEBALL: Elizabethtown upends Central Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:08 -0500
ELIZABETHTOWN What a difference two weeks can make.

PREP BASEBALL: John Hardin sweeps North Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
RADCLIFF It’s been said that hitting is contagious and the John Hardin Bulldogs certainly had a bad case of it spread through the team Thursday night.

PREP SOFTBALL: Krupinski, Central Hardin shut out John Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
CECILIA Having been shut out in their previous two games, the Central Hardin Lady Bruins were in a little bit of a funk.

PREP SOFTBALL/BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Lady Panthers fall; Mayfield moves to 7-1 Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
The slumping Elizabethtown Lady Panthers lost for the 10th time in 13 games, falling to visiting Warren Central on Thursday, 3-1.

BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS RESULTS: Thursday's Matches Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
Results from Thursday's area high school tennis matches:

Griffey homer gives Reds 3-0 win over Washington
Ken Griffey Jr.'s first career at-bat against Jason Bergmann was a good one.

Marshall football game times set
Times have now been set for all 12 of Marshall's 2008 football games.

Fairview basketball camp big hit again
While the basketball offseason has had a different and fairly crazy overall feel, a few things have remained normal.From June 17 to June 20, Fairview hosted a basketball camp in which 25 teams turned out — 19 varsity and six junior varsity teams.

ADAM VANKIRK: Golf gets a little juicy
Let me just say this. The world of sports and the use of performance enhancing drugs in relation to it is out of control. You can barely even get through a day without hearing about it.

Jackson's single leads Diamondbacks to 6-5 victory
Conor Jackson hit the winning two-run single as the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied from a five-run ninth-inning deficit to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Thursday.

MELINDA ROBINSON: Webb going for win No. 13
Ashland’s own Brandon Webb takes the mound today at 3:40 and hopes to become the first major league pitcher to reach 13 wins this season.

Keep it safe on the waters this July 4th
If you intend to be on Barren Lake over the holiday, and especially to watch the fireworks from a boat, be advised that the Kentucky State Police and the Department of Fish and Wildlife will be ramping up their patrols.

LOCAL SPORTS BRIEFS
BCMS football practice begins July 14Softball league plays two nights a weekT.J. Samson golf scramble is July 26Men’s C state qualifier will be July 18-20

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