KFDM COOP

Dallas area. Don't think he's coaching.

Senior Babe Ruth kicks off today By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Mid County's Senior Babe Ruth league will be hosting the annual 16, 17-18 year-old East Texas State Championship Tournament this weekend at Nederland High School. The 17-18 year-old all star bracket gets started at 4:30 p.m. today with Wharton and Brazoswood squaring off. Mid County and Bay City are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. The losers' bracket will continue on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. while the winner's bracket will pick up play at 3 p.m. The 16-year old bunch doesn't begin play until Saturday at 10 a.m. when Mid County faces off with Wharton. MC and Wharton will play a best of three series to determine which team will move on to Regionals in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Game 2 of that series will be at 5:30 p.m. Both the MC squads look poised to continue Mid County's typical success in State, Regionals and sometimes the World Series. In fact, the 17-18s look really strong. For instance, the past two 16-year old MC teams have gone as far as the WS before losing out. Most of the players from those teams make up this years 17-18 squad. MC is led by all state short stop and District 22-4A MVP Eric Harrington. Joining Harrington is catcher and teammate at Port Neches-Groves High School Jon Carnahan. Also from PN-G is Mitchell Todd, JJ Garcia and Austin Sangster. Nederland High School is represented by Ryan Sampere, Jude Vidrine, Justin Richard, Adam Broussard and Aaron McFarland. From Vidor, VJ Bunner, Will Fontonow, Chad Sims and Taylor Robichau. Other players include West Brooks' Aaron Bender, Hamshire Fannett's Randall Courville, Little Cypress-Mauriceville's Ben Jones and Lumberton's Stephen McDonough. The 16-year old squad has a handful of players with varsity experience. Their roster features Nederland's Cody Laird, Ryan Brady, Trey Terracino, Jackson Broussard, Marcus Louivere, Adam Zahradnic and Taylor Williams. Chris Sweetenham, Blake Reyenga, Jacob Lynch and Sammy Sparrow are all from PN-G. The rest of the roster includes, Ross Foret of Beaumont, Brandon Landry of Orange, Dylan Mulhollan of Orange, Sean O'Connell of Port Arthur and Lumberton's Skylar Stampley. The 16-year old head coach Clint Landry says he has a very balanced squad but knows Wharton will be tough to beat two times. "I think we have strong pitching and defensively and I think we are very capable with the bats," Landry said. "We're just going to have to hit the ball." The 17-18s are coached by Jimmy Collins. Collins said his group is as good a group that MC has had in five to six years. Last year, Wharton beat out MC in the 17-18 year-old division. It was the first time MC did not advance to regionals since 2002, the same year the 16s won the WS with the likes of Alan Harrington and Colin DeLome. This year will likely change as Alan's little brother Eric leads the way. If MC's 17-18s do advance, Regionals will be in El Dorado, Arkansas. "I think this is a very good team," Collins said. "We are very deep in pitching, quality speed, great defensively and we got a couple long ball hitters. We have plenty of weapons at our disposal. I think this team is very capable of going all the way. Hopefully we can win three quick ball games this weekend and start looking forward to regionals." Collins said he had not determine who is starters will be or how exactly they will lineup but he said with their depth, everyone and anyone should be able to make a difference at some point this summer. The championship games are scheduled for Sunday. If the 16s need a third game to decide its champion, that game will be played at 2 p.m. Sunday while the 17-18s will start at 11:30 a.m. If there is no 16-year old game, the 17-18s will play at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Nederland Little League All-Stars win championship The Port Arthur News BRIDGE CITY — Nederland's big hitters combined efforts with a strong 3.2 innings of relief work from Jared Ramoin to put away Bridge City 10-3 on Thursday night to claim the District 32, 11-12 year old championship. With the win, Nederland will advance to sectionals which will be held in the Woodlands at the Orwall Little League, starting July 11. Sectionals will be a four team, double elimination tournament. After Nederland took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, BC fought back with three runs of its own in the third inning off Nederalnd's Preston White. White issued a pair of walks with one out in the third. A wild pitch set BC up with runners at second and third with one out. Then Blaine McElduff scorched a double to right center to bring in two runs. McElduff scored from second off an RBI single from starting pitcher Westin Crain to give BC a 3-2 advantage. Crain ended up getting the loss. Nederland got to Crain early for a 2-0 lead but Crain settled down in the second. Then with the score 3-2 going into the bottom of the third, Nederland batted around for five runs to take a 7-3 lead. That was all the room Ramoin needed as he held BC scoreless through the final three innings. In fact, after the third, BC was never put a runner on base for the remainder of the game. Ramoin was credited with the victory. He allowed just one hit and struck out six. Nederland's Colton Weisbord added a run in the fourth inning when he hit a first pitch home run to lead off the bottom half. That solo shot came off McElduff and gave Nederland an 8-3 lead. Weisbord also drove in two more runs in the fifth inning. For the game, Weisbord was 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and two singles. He scored three times and drove in four runs. He might just be a name Nederland should get used to hearing. Nederland also beat BC 4-1 on Tuesday to advance to the championship. That result sent BC into the loser's bracket to face Groves. In that matchup, BC gave up a four-run lead to Groves late in the ball game, allowing Groves to knot the score at 10 all and send the contest into extra innings. Groves scored five in the top half of the seventh to take a commanding lead. BC responded, however, tying the game at 15 and finishing the game with a walk-off grandslam for the victory. BC had no such luck with last inning heroics on Thursday, however, as Ramoin, Weisbord and company slam the door shut once they took the 7-3 lead. Nederland collected 10 hits as a team while BC managed just two. Both of those hits came in the third inning.

Heck of a Resume!

Yes sir

Wayne Mahaffey has been named the new HF Baseball Coach. Coach Mahaffey has been a teacher and coach for 31 years. He was the Head Baseball Coach at Grapeland from 80-82 then from 82-89 was an assisant at Bridge City with Coach Young. Coach Mahaffey is a Colmesneil Grad and a Grad of East Texas Baptist where he was a four sport player. He will also be an assisant Football Coach with the Longhorns. He recently coach several years at Rusk.

Filing claims syringes will test positive for Clemens' DNA Tests of syringes and other steroid paraphernalia that trainer Brian McNamee submitted to federal agents will test positive for Roger Clemens' DNA, according to a brief filed in court by McNamee's lawyers. Although there has been considerable speculation about the materials McNamee submitted to federal agent Jeff Novitzky in January, his attorneys had refused to discuss them publicly until the filing of the brief. The brief, in support of McNamee's attempt to obtain an early dismissal of a defamation case Clemens filed against him or have the case moved to New York, was filed in court on Tuesday. The paraphernalia, including syringes and bloodied gauze pads, "will test positive for Clemens's DNA," the brief asserts. "Once the DNA results are revealed, there will be little dispute about who is telling the truth." E-mail and voice mail messages left Thursday for Clemens' lead attorney, Rusty Hardin, and two other lawyers in Hardin's office were not immediately returned. At the time the existence of the evidence became public, Clemens' lawyers claimed it was "manufactured." McNamee's attorney, Richard Emery, said McNamee kept the items -- dating to 2000 or 2001 -- because he "had this inkling and gut feeling that he couldn't trust Roger and better keep something to protect himself in the future." Clemens claims in his lawsuit that McNamee defamed him with false allegations that McNamee injected Clemens with HGH and steroids, as part of his testimony to Congress and in the Mitchell report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The case originally was filed in Texas state court and was shifted in February to the U.S. District Court in Houston. McNamee wants the case dismissed or transferred from Houston to New York. Emery argues that federal agents and a congressional committee have determined that McNamee has been truthful. Emery's defense also relies heavily on statements from Clemens' former teammates Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch that confirmed what McNamee said about them and their use of performance-enhancing drugs. It is anticipated that U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison in Houston will rule on McNamee's motions in August or September. McNamee's lawyers first tried to dismiss the case in early March. When Clemens' lawyers responded on May 27, they added a new claim of "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and two additional claims of defamation. In the latest filing, McNamee's lawyers said New York has the most interest in this lawsuit and that many of the potential witnesses reside in New York. McNamee claims no defamation took place and that it would be a burden for him to defend the case in Texas. According to the filing, McNamee earned only about $3,000 between January and June of this year. McNamee also claims that he is immune from defamation because he made his comments to former Sen. George Mitchell, who led baseball's probe into performance-enhancing drug use, at the behest of federal prosecutors.

They are hot right now!

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8) Good stuff!

Don't think so

Great coach!

Vidor lands Bickham, Pachuca as assistants Van Wade The Orange Leader VIDOR — Reunited and it feels so good. That will be the case for the Vidor football program as Dwight Bickham will return to work with long-time friend and head coach Jeff Mathews. Bickham, who was an assistant for Mathews in Pirate Country in the past, was the head coach and athletic director at Deweyville High School the last three years, will return to the Pirate staff as a top-notch assistant and running back coach. Bickham had a solid amount of success leading Deweyville to two playoff appearances. The Pirates went 6-4 in 2005 and made the bidistrict playoffs and made a repeat performance by going 8-3 in 2006 to make the bidistrict round again. Deweyville finished 4-6 last season as Bickham posted an overall 18-13 record at his alma mater. “It’s great to have Coach Bickham back,†expressed Mathews. “He ran a superb program in Deweyville but we’ll gladly take him back.†Bickham was instrumental as an assistant for the Pirates in the past, on both sides of the ball. “Dwight is so knowledgeable about the game and he’s the type that you like to pick his brain,†Mathews said. “He really knows how to push the right buttons and the kids, they’ve always responded to his style of coaching.†Mathews picked up another excellent hire in Chris Pachuca, who will coach the offensive line. Pachuca spent the last three years in Deweyville working with Bickham. Pachuca, a Port Neches-Groves graduate, was also an assistant at LC-M before heading to Deweyville. “It’s a big deal for us to land two excellent coaches,†said Mathews. “Chris has such a great knack of getting kids motivated and his reputation is top-notch. He comes from such a great background. I’ve known his father George 9Pachuca) who coached at PN-G for years and years. He comes from a great family.†Vidor is still looking to fill the position of head softball coach to replace Chad Reed. Also looking for a head softball coach is Bridge City as Sophia Mount turned in her resignation last week. Several other positions have been filled recently in Orange County. Toby Foreman will return to West Orange-Stark to help on the offensive side of the ball and coach track again after leading to Baytown Lee last year. LC-M graduate Mike Stewart, who was the head coach at Lulig the last two years, leading that school to back-to-back playoff spots, is the new offensive coordinator at Orangefield. Josh Smalley departed as Orangefield offensive coordinator to return to his alma mater in Bridge City where he will be the offensive coordinator there. Chad Landry, who coached baseball at Hamshire-Fannett the last five seasons, is now the head baseball coach at Bridge City. Callie Orebo, who led the WO-S Lady Mustangs to three regional tournament appearances in basketball, will return to her head-coaching duties after stepping down for a year last season.

7 weeks..47 Days!

This hire will be a GOOD hire!

We'll know tonight (Thursday).

SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement Franchise moving to Oklahoma City, team colors and name will remain with Seattle SEATTLE - The SuperSonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season as part of a settlement with the city of Seattle, ending a contentious relationship that resulted in a trial in which the judge was due to issue her ruling Wednesday. The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay up to $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the KeyArena lease between the NBA team and the city. The team's name and colors will be staying in Seattle. "We made it,'' Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. "The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season.'' Bennett said the move would start Thursday and the first focus would be on the SuperSonics' players. Bennett announced that the settlement calls for a payment of $45 million immediately, and would include another $30 million paid to Seattle in 2013 if the state Legislature in Washington authorizes at least $75 million in public funding to renovate KeyArena by the end of 2009 and Seattle doesn't obtain an NBA franchise of its own within the next five years. "We understand that city, county, and state officials are currently discussing a plan to substantially rebuild KeyArena for the sum of $300 million,'' NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement. "If this funding were authorized, we believe KeyArena could properly be renovated into a facility that meets NBA standards relating to revenue generation, fan amenities, team facilities, and the like.'' Bennett said he and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed a binding agreement Wednesday, which would be formalized later, that keeps the SuperSonics' name, logo and colors available if Seattle gets a replacement franchise. "We have 30 million reasons why we have support for a future NBA team,'' Seattle city attorney Tom Carr said. In April, the NBA Board of Governors approved Bennett's application to move the team to Oklahoma City, pending the outcome of the trial between the team and the city. The settlement came six days after the trial concluded. It doesn't cover a pending lawsuit filed by Starbucks Corp. chairman Howard Schultz, who is seeking to regain control of the team he sold to Bennett in 2006 for $350 million. Schultz claims that Bennett didn't follow through on an agreement to negotiate in good faith for a new arena in Seattle for one full year before seeking relocation options. The trial was centered on the lease agreement between the city and the team that called for the Sonics to play at KeyArena through the 2009-10 season. Sonics lead attorney Brad Keller contended that Bennett should simply be able to write a check to satisfy the final two years of the lease. Keller argued that the "specific performance'' clause the city rested its case on should not apply in a garden-variety dispute between tenant and landlord. Bennett and his ownership group previously offered to pay the city $26.5 million in February to buy out the final two years of the lease. They were rebuffed.

Because this is the first i have heard of it. Once i get the info we'll post the story.

Good video!

Four OC players make TSWA All-State Van Wade The Orange Leader Four Orange County baseball standouts made their respective All-State Texas Sports Writer’s Association teams that were announced on Wednesday. Bridge City’s Casey Jackson, who signed to play college baseball at Midland College, captured First Team honors on the Class 3A All-State squad. Jackson’s teammate Joe Robertson, who will be a junior next season, made Honorable Mention along with Orangefield junior-to-be catcher Jacob Felts. Little Cypress-Mauriceville standout catcher Stefan Leger made Honorable mention on the Class 4A unit. Joining the Orange County trio on the 3A team includes First Team outfielder Malcolm Bronson and Honorable Mention picks in Hardin-Jefferson first baseman Taylor Monse and his teammate Kevin Roebuck in the outfield;Kirbyville outfielder Randy Musgrove and Jasper pitcher Justin Parsons. Joining the Bears’ Leger on the elite 4A unit includes Port Neches-Groves’ Eric Harrington, who made the Third Team as a pitcher and Honorable Mention at shortstop. Three other PN-G players made Honorable Mention as well in catcher Jon Carnahan, third baseman Kane Benoit and outfielder Blake Reyenga. Buna, which advanced to the Class 2A State Semifinals, was represented by Honorable Mention pitcher Brandon Hillin.

The Rodgers Recruiting Report , operated by Texas Recruiting Analyst Randy Rodgers, releases its second annual Pre Season All Academic Football Team for the state of Texas. Now in its 10th year of providing recruiting information to college and high school coaches, as well as parents and student athletes, The Rodgers Recruiting Report is recognizing rising seniors (Class of 2009) who have a gpa of 3.0 or better and a test score of at least 1000 (SAT) or 21 (ACT). Over 200 players were nominated by their high school coaches and counselors. “It was our intention,†states RRR’s Randy Rodgers, “to recognize outstanding student athletes, who have excelled on both the field and in the classroom. While many of these players will eventually sign athletic scholarships, there are so many more that can benefit from the considerable amount of academic scholarship assistance that exists. Our purpose is to furnish our database to those schools that do recruit students on the basis of academic scholarships. Its my opinion we have only scratched the surface of the vast pool of deserving Texas high school athletes.†RODGERS RECRUITING REPORT PRE-SEASON ALL ACADEMIC TEAM FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB Drew Allen 6’5 205 Alamo Hts. RB Rex Burkhead 5’11 195 Plano RB Bo Snelson 5’9 185 Pasadena Memorial WR Terdema Ussery 6’4 195 Dallas St. Mark’s WR Brady Brown 6’5 205 Argyle TE Trey Graham 6’5 230 Waco Midway OL Chase Douglass 6’6 265 Flower Mound Marcus OL Jessie Coffey 6’7 275 Denton Guyer OL Stephan Huber 6’5 280 Nederland OL Nick Ash 6’5 265 Keller OL Clint Naron 6’5 315 Klein Oak PK Dustin Hopkins 6’2 180 Clear Lake

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I was at the PN-G/Ozen game last year. Good game. What hurt Ozen was a couple of Turnovers.

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