KFDM COOP

7PM Start. Post updates here. www.kogt.com www.kjas.com will carry the game.

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Wide-eyed Donovan hired to coach Magic ORLANDO, Fla. -- Billy Donovan found the opportunity too good to resist: a big payday, a promising team and a job close to home. "My decision to come here had nothing to do with the University of Florida. ... This is a totally different environment," Donovan said Friday when introduced as coach of the Orlando Magic. Donovan and the Magic agreed to terms Thursday in a whirlwind deal that turned Florida basketball upside down. For a long time, he was said to be leaving. But he quieted speculation two months ago by declining a job at Kentucky. Donovan accepted a five-year, $27.5 million contract, which pays more than twice the annual $1.7 million he was making at Florida and the $3 million he was expected to earn on an extension there he had yet to sign. Donovan replaces Brian Hill, who was fired after two consecutive losing seasons. Hill's ouster followed the Magic's first playoff appearance in four years, which ended in the first round against Detroit. The 42-year-old Donovan built a budding dynasty in Gainesville, taking the school to its first national championship game in 2000 and winning the title the last two years. He has been a head coach for 13 seasons -- two at Marshall and the past 11 with the Gators. In Orlando, Donovan will try convert that college success into a pro championship -- a notoriously difficult feat in the all-business NBA. Donovan said one priority was finding a player who can score from the perimeter to help All-Star Dwight Howard and 7-footer Darko Milicic. General manager Otis Smith said he was looking for "someone who was going to help our young team become better basketball players." Donovan was known for that at Florida. "Billy Donovan has been here for 11 years, won two national championships," Florida president Bernie Machen said Thursday at the Southeastern Conference's annual spring meeting in Destin. "He's been a great ambassador for the University of Florida. We'll always love Billy Donovan, whether he's here 11 years or 21 years." A source told ESPN.com's Pat Forde that Donovan will have no front-office responsibilities. "He's just the coach," the source said. "I love Billy Donovan to death and thank him for what he did for us," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. Foley said he and Donovan talked on Thursday and Donovan told him that the Magic job intrigued him more than any other and that he was ready for a new challenge. And, "the Magic made him one helluva an offer," Foley said. "He just felt it was the right time," Foley said. "I think he's ready for a new challenge in his life. He's had two great years here and obviously he's an attractive candidate. But it was a tough decision for him." Foley said that going to Orlando, which is less than two hours away from his home in Gainesville, also made it palatable for his family. "He doesn't have to move very far," Foley said. "They're giving him some authority to hire some people and they've got a young team with salary cap money. It's not like it was in middle America or the West Coast. It's ideal." Donovan is leaving a Gators team that is losing its top seven scorers after the season, including potential top-10 NBA picks Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer. In Orlando, Donovan inherits a team without a single first-round draft pick -- or much veteran experience. Orlando is rebuilding around Howard, a third-year player who made his first All-Star team this season, and counting on bigger contributions from Trevor Ariza and J.J. Redick. The Magic intend to re-sign free agent Milicic, who flourished despite an injury in the playoffs, but he still has to prove his NBA value. A big question mark for Orlando is whether Grant Hill will return. The often-injured star's contract expired this season, and he could retire or chase a title elsewhere. If Hill leaves, it would open much salary-cap room for a skilled offensive player. Donovan has shown he can improve even mediocre programs. At Florida, a traditional football school, he made it to the NCAA title game three times in his 11 years. He led the Gators to nine straight 20-win seasons, nearly doubling the amount it had before his arrival. Florida won three SEC championships under Donovan after getting just one in 77 years previously. He became the winningest coach in Florida history on Dec. 20 and now has 261 victories. With the Magic, he'll face a similar challenge. Orlando hasn't been out of the first round of the playoffs in a decade. Donovan said he would help in Florida's search if asked and "feels strongly" about longtime former assistant Anthony Grant, currently the head coach at mid-major Virginia Commonwealth, succeeding him in Gainesville. "If [Foley] said to me, Billy, I want to talk to you about this, I'd help in any way I can," Donovan said.

Go State!!

I'm sure they know who's starting.

Yes he has, congrats!!

Houston Texans 7 on 7 Saturday June 2nd...SQT Saturday; June 2nd: pool A: Alamo Heights Baytown Lee Bellaire Chavez pool B: Channelview Friendswood Katy Klein pool C: Manvel Pasadena Memorial Port Arthur Memorial Stafford pool D: Strake Jesuit Katy Taylor Waller West Brook Sunday; June 3rd pool A: Atascosita Cinco Ranch Clear Creek Cy-Creek pool B: Cy-Falls Dulles Katy Seven Lakes Klein Forest pool C: Klein Oak LaPorte Langham Creek Pearland pool D: Texas City Woodlands Spring Stratford

Rice University's Small School SQT set for June 9 currently has 7 open spots. Contact Coach Olin at Baytown Lee at 281-420-4643 for more info. Here is the field Bandera Danbury Diboll Giddings Hitchcock LaVilla Orangefield West Orange-Stark Wharton

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BC's Jaden Dillon touches home plate but Jasper catcher Blake Alexander also held on to the ball for the out as the Bulldogs scored 7 unanswered runs for an 8-6 win over BC in Game 1 of the best-of-three. BC finished with seven errors as the wheels fell off with a 6-1 lead. Game 2 is Friday at 7pm on KOGT.

dangit

OF will challenge for the playoffs!

Kelly has some key players back and look to have a very good season. Kelly will host 5A Louisiana power Sulphur on Oct. 12 this season!

Big weekends for ex-Bulldogs net awards, trip Dave Rogers’ column for Thursday, May 31 The Port Arthur News Add a few more bullet points to the long list of accomplishments for Mid-County baseball players. Dustin Hood and Brock Lemire, the left side of the Nederland High infield in 2005, had big weekends for their respective college teams last week. Lemire was named NJCAA Division III player of the year by the American Baseball Coaches Association Tuesday. That followed the sophomore third baseman’s selection last week as a juco All-American and being named most valuable player of last weekend’s Division III World Series. Lemire entered the World Series hitting .439 with 10 home runs and 60 RBIs. He went 10 for 19 (.526) in five games at the national tournament to lead his Tyler Junior College Apaches to the title. He was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored in Tyler’s 13-5 win over Joliet, Ill., in the championship game. Meanwhile, Hood, who also quarterbacked the Bulldogs deep into the football playoffs his senior season, earned all-tournament honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. The sophomore shortstop’s 6-for-16 performance at the plate in four games helped lift Wake Forest’s Demon Deacons from the last seed in the eight-team ACC tourney to a runnerup finish behind North Carolina. That earned the Winston-Salem, N.C., school its first NCAA tournament bid since 2002 and will bring Hood back to Texas this weekend. The Deacons, 33-27, will play in the Round Rock regional beginning Friday at 1 p.m. against UC-Irvine, 40-15. “It’s going to be really, really exciting,†Hood said about playing in Texas. “It’s usually just my parents who will come up to a game every once in a while because it’s such a long drive. Being just four hours from home is really exciting. There will be a lot of family and friends there.†It isn’t lost on Hood that the host team in the regional is the University of Texas. “I’ve grown up a Texas Longhorn fan my whole life,†he said. “Now maybe getting the chance to play against them will be a good experience.†The Longhorns, 44-15, ranked fifth in the latest Baseball America Top 25 poll and UC Irvine No. 9. “Everybody’s excited about the opportunity we have,†said Hood, who is hitting .289 with a team-leading 71 hits and 40 RBIs. “We’re playing two top 10 teams, but it’s nothing different for these guys. Our conference sent four teams to the World Series last year. “We just took down Clemson and Miami and both of them were in the World Series last year. I don’t think facing Texas will be anything new for us. We’ve faced the best teams in the country all year.†Hood and his teammates opened the ACC tournament with an 11-2 loss to Florida State, then came back to beat No. 18 Clemson 3-2 and Miami 7-3 to win their four-team pool. They lost to No. 3 North Carolina 3-2 in Sunday’s championship game, but still earned the school’s first postseason berth in five years.

CARTHAGE - If Woodville is to advance to the state baseball tournament for the second time in three years, the Eagles will have to win two games on Saturday. Brandon Choate's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Hooks to a 1-0 victory and one-game lead in the Hornets' best-of-three Class 2A Region III Final series against the Eagles at Jim Reeves Memorial Field. The loss also snapped a 16-game winning streak for Woodville (23-10), which is making its third straight appearance in the regional finals. The Eagles were the Class 2A state champions in 2005. Hooks (27-8) loaded the bases in the eighth against Woodville right-hander Brandon Riley, who had a no-hitter going through 5 2/3 innings. Tad Hill opened the inning with an infield single that glanced off the right hip of Riley. Matt Ridge followed with a walk and Jon Phillips reached on a fielder's choice as Eagle third baseman Taylor Thompson was unsuccessful in trying to get a force out of Hill. With the Eagles' infield drawn in, Choate laced a base hit through the left side of the infield to bring home Phillips with the game-winner for the Hornets. The Hooks' player poured out of the dugout to mob Phillips, then ran up the first base line to engulf Choate. The game had been a pitchers' duel between Riley and the Hornets' Josh Stevens. Riley allowed just three hits while striking out 15. Stevens also surrendered three hits and recorded 14 strikeouts. Hooks did not record a hit off Riley until Phillips doubled with two out in the sixth. The Hornets' only other base runner came on an error by the Eagles in the fifth inning and a dropped third strike in the first that resulted in a passed ball. The Hornets did have the potential game-winner 90-feet from home plate in the sixth. After Phillips double with two outs, Choate was intentionally walked and Junior Willis loaded the bases on an infield fielding error. But Riley got out of the jam with his 14th strikeout of the game. Woodville's only real scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth when Brian MacGinnis singled with one out and Reese Winters walked with two outs. However, Stevens got his counterpart Riley to ground out to first to end the threat. No other Eagle runner got past first base. Paul Price walked to lead off the game, but he tagged out in a rundown. Winters was hit by a pitch in the fourth, but was left stranded, Trey Ford singled in the fifth and was thrown out attempting to steal second by Hooks' catcher Choate. MacGinnis then singled in the sixth and Jarvis Barlow was left stranded after strikeout in the seventh. Price also walked again in the eight, but the Eagles were stymied by Stevens. The second game of the series is in Carthage at 3 p.m. Saturday. If a third is needed, it will follow 30 minutes later.

I think the UIL goes by records when seeding for next week.

Jasper snares Game One away from Cardinals Gabe Pruett The Orange Leader BEAUMONT — There is something about playing the Jasper Bulldogs which brings out the worst in the Bridge City Cardinals. The Cardinals' defense, which had been stellar throughout the playoffs, committed six errors Thursday night as the Bulldogs took Game 1 of the Class 3A Region III Regional Finals, 8-6, in front of 2,126 fans at Lamar University's Vincent Beck Stadium. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. today at Vincent Beck. Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to the large crowds, the gates will open at 5 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Vincent Beck. Jasper (31-6) scored the winning runs in the top of the fifth as John Bradley led the inning off with a single to center. With one down, relief pitcher Aaron Stephenson sacrificed Bradley to second and he would then come in to score on a Bridge City (27-7-1) error making it 7-6. Taylor Hart reached on a bunt and moved to second on a stolen base before coming in to score on another Cardinal error when designated hitter Malcolm Bronson reached on the play. "They battled and did what it took to win the game," Bridge City Coach Billy Bryant said. "It is not real complicated. We made a bunch of errors and when their second pitcher came in, we could not hit him." Stephenson came in to pitch in the top of the third and from then on the Cardinals batters could only deliver four hits and one run. Stephenson struck out nine batters and walked just walked one batter. One of the biggest plays in the game occurred in the top of the fourth as with two down and a runner on first in the top of the fourth, Bryant elected to intentionally Hart and pitch to Bronson. Bronson made the Cardinals pay for the decision as he ripped a two-run triple into right center making it 6-3 Cardinals. Bronson did not stay at third long as he came in to score off a Travis Reagan infield single making it 6-4. Justin Parsons then reached on a throwing error by Bridge City catcher Casey Jackson after Jeff Stringer struck out Pryor. The Cardinals then once again let the Bulldogs off the hooks as both baserunners came in to score as Chantz Pryor reached on a Bridge City error. In all in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored five runs on three hits and got help from two Bridge City errors. "We did the intentional walk because the next guy up was a better match-up," Bryant said. "Sometimes those things do not work out for you. There are no guarantees, we were just trying to give ourselves the best chance." The Bulldogs got their first run in the top of the first as Pryor led off with a single and moved all the way to third on two stolen bases. Stringer then struck out the next two batters and then struck out Ryan Ellis but BC catcher Casey Jackson dropped the ball and when he threw to first the ball got past first baseman Chase Warner. The error allowed Pryor to score making it 2-1. Stringer worked the entire game for the Cardinals as he gave up nine hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters. "That triple killed me," Stringer said. "We would get a break but then they would capitalize on our mistakes. It is hard to win with six errors no matter who you are. We had momentum but just fell completely apart. This is unacceptable. I know I also didn't have my best game tonight so we have to come back tomorrow and do a whole lot better." The Cardinals broke out of the gates early as Troy Bolton led the bottom of the first inning off with a double to right center. Bolton came in to score making it 1-0 as Johnny Dishon advanced all the way to second on an error by Jasper third baseman Parker Phillips. Matt Hicks then ripped a RBI single into left field giving Dishon plenty of time to score from second making it 2-0 Bridge City. Bridge City then busted out for three more runs in the bottom of the second as Joe Robertson led off with a single to right center and moved to third as Jaden Dillon hit an infield single and advanced to second on an error. During the play, Robertson came in to score on another Jasper error making it 3-1 Bridge City. Bolton sacrificed Dillon to third and Dishon was walked on five pitches. With two down, Casey Jackson roped a two RBI double to right center making it 5-1 Cardinals. Bridge City scored its sixth run as Daniel Willey led off with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Dillon then brought Willey home with a RBI single to left. "I can't point to one play being the killer tonight," Bryant said. "If you don't play well against a good team, you will not win."

WOW!! Go Cavs

Hell froze over and the Astros won!!

Mostly throwing.

Did anyone meet up?

TX City wins game 1 4-3.

Hooks takes game 1 1-0 in 8 Innings..

I believe the errors were 5 for BC 4 for Jasper.