KFDM COOP

[Hidden Content]

LC-M grad Rowell OK after bus fire in Iowa Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader Little Cypress-Mauriceville graduate Jake Rowell is used to being on fire during baseball season — just not in the literal sense. Rowell, playing for the Clarinda, Iowa A’s during a summer league, was involved in a bus fire early Monday after a weekend trip through Kansas. Rowell, who is signed to play for Angelina Junior College, and the 24 other member of the team escaped without harm yet lost baseball and personal equipment. The team was traveling on Interstate 29 back home after taking two-of-three on a weekend trip when one of the bus’s inside tires blew out and quickly started a fire. Clarinda Coach Ryan Eberly got everyone off the bus and shortly Rowell said another player spotted the fire in the back of the bus. “The whole back-quarter panel was on fire,†Rowell said. “We had no time to get anything out of the bus. We called 9-1-1 and by the time they got there, half the bus was gone. When the fire was put out, it was empty. It looked completely bare.†Rowell said he lost about $3,000 worth of baseball equipment and personal iteams to the fire. “I was kind of in awe the whole time,†Rowell added. “I am glad we got off the bus but I know I only needed about a minute to get my things off the bus. I guess hindsight is 20-20.†Now Rowell and the A’s are trying to find new uniforms and equipment to finish off what was a promising season. “We had jsut took two-out-of-three from two good teams,†Rowell said. “We were really feeling it over the weekend. It takes feeling hot to a new level now. “We can sort of laugh now because a guy from Minnesota walked into a team meeting that said ‘Burnsville: 5A State Champions.’†Rowell, the 2007 Orange Leader Offensive Player of the Year, is playing with the A’s after talking to his coaches back at Angelina. “So far it is everything they promised it would be,†Rowell said. Rowell just never dreamed of being that hot early Monday morning.

[Hidden Content]

Glad to hear he's doing well.

Astros' Berkman extends lead in vote at first Also in the NL infield: Tejada's 2nd, Matsui's third for July 15 game Lance Berkman maintained his lead among National League first basemen in the All-Star balloting, and he's not all that far away from having a teammate join him among the NL greats. Miguel Tejada is fewer than 8,000 votes behind Florida's Hanley Ramirez for the NL's starting shortstop spot. Ramirez leads 418,197-410,553 with New York's Jose Reyes a distant third in balloting announced Tuesday. Tejada leads NL shortstops with 73 hits and 37 RBIs in to go with a .312 batting average. Ramirez leads all his peers with nine homers and 44 runs to go with a .292 average and 13 steals. Berkman extended his lead with 585,369 votes, roughly 96,000 clear of St. Louis' Albert Pujols. Berkman is the NL leader in slugging percentage (.750) and runs (57) while also residing in the top three in home runs, RBIs, batting average and on-base percentage. Kaz Matsui is third among second basemen, but doesn't have a third the votes of the NL's overall vote leader, Chase Utley of the Phillies. Ty Wigginton is a distant fifth at third base, and Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence are sixth and 12th, respectively in the outfield. The All-Star teams will be announced July 6 for the July 15 game at Yankee Stadium. NL positional leaders: C — Geovany Soto (Chicago); 1B — Lance Berkman (Houston); 2B — Chase Utley (Philadelphia); 3B — Chipper Jones (Atlanta); SS — Hanley Ramirez (Florida); OF — Alfonso Soriano (Chicago); OF — Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago); OF — Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati)

I agree

12 Hr. shifts? Shoot you can pay our way! ;D

Oh come on BUC you would travel to see them Bucs.

8)

Good luck Coach!!

UIL studying proposal for split district alignments The UIL hasn't given up on a split conference alignment for football districts. The plan, which is based on enrollment and would reshape the current alignments, was brought to the UIL's Legislative Council in October. The Legislative Council postponed consideration of the plan, but asked the UIL staff to come up with a split conference alignment based on the numbers submitted for the realignment and reclassification released in February. A split conference alignment would create 16 districts in Division I made up of the schools with the largest enrollment in each classification and 16 districts in Division II made up the schools of the smallest enrollment in each classification. Four teams would still advance to the playoffs in Class 5A and 4A and three teams in Class 3A and below, necessitating a first-round bye in one division. Area football coaches agree something needs to be done to make the numbers more equitable, but they give mixed reviews to the proposal recently released by the UIL. "I just don't like the whole idea," Memorial's Mickey Finley said. "I think it's all going to be a lot more travel, a lot more money. The way gas prices are now money's getting tight on travel budgets. It has to be more travel for everybody." The proposal would place Memorial in a Class 5A, Division I district with Converse Judson and Wagner, Laredo United and San Antonio Churchill, Madison, MacArthur and Roosevelt. "We can stay within the San Antonio-Corpus Christi area, but when you start talking big school are you going to throw in a Laredo or downtown Houston somewhere?" Finley asked. "That's where it starts to get complicated." Finley doesn't see as much of a problem with the disparities in enrollment among Class 5A schools as he does in the smaller classifications. "There may be a difference in 5A, but if you've got a couple of thousand students there's way plenty to pick from," said Finley, who has coached at every classification level. "I think where it really affects you is like at 3A. I remember when we were at Cuero and playing Southlake Carroll for the state championship and their enrollment was double ours and we weren't a small Class 3A school." The gap between the largest and smallest schools in Class 2A is the reason Refugio's Jason Herring supports the proposal. "I think it levels the playing field as far as the number of kids," Herring said. "The numbers game is going to get you. If you make those long, deep runs in the playoffs it makes a difference. This will level the playing field for more schools. It will take away a school with 215 having to play a school with 415." El Campo's Bob Gillis is also in favor of the proposal, even though the Ricebirds would be placed in a Class 4A, Division II district with La Marque. "I think it's a positive," Gillis said. "I've been an advocate of it because it seems like the most fair way you can do it as far as numbers. I know everybody looks at what district they're in, but numbers-wise it's fair." The proposal would also eliminate first-round playoff games between district champions, as sometime occurs in Division I bi-district games. "There should be a reward for winning the district championship," Herring said. "I'm a big believer in that. In the current format, you can have a 10-0 team vs. a 10-0 team in week one. This is a more balanced format and it gives you a little reward for winning the district championship." Many coaches believe the UIL came up with the split conference alignment plan as a way to avoid creating a Class 6A. "I know they're trying to stay away from 6A," Cuero's Mark Reeve said. "This is not a bad alternative. They've got to do something. It can't be any worse than it is now." "I don't know how they would do it," Gillis added. "It's easy to say go to 6A. The better question is how do you create a more equitable system. It could be 6A or it could be 8A." The biggest opposition to the split conference alignment has come from superintendents and athletic directors from multiple-school districts in urban areas who don't want their teams placed in different districts. "You're going to have rivals split up out of districts," Gillis said. "There are going to be some scheduling problems and there are going to be some costs associated with this. Sooner or later you have to come up with something. The gaps are widening." Finley knows the Victoria school district's situation will change when the new high schools are built. He also wonders how long the split conference alignment will be only for football. "It's just football the first time," Finley said. "Then they're going to expand it next time because that's the way they work."

[Hidden Content]

Jerre Cole....Here's some info on the new Coach [Hidden Content]

Yea i'm ready for that game Wednesday..

Haven't seen it.

Be here before u know it

UH got luck in their last victory

[Hidden Content]

kogt Former Orangefield Assistant Coach Kristin Holbrooks is the new head volleyball coach, replacing Linda Riddick. Holbrooks was an all-district performer at Little Cypress-Mauriceville, graduating in 2002.

kogt The Marlins are the 2008 OYBS Mustang Champions. Bottom left: Jack Dallas, KJ Miller, Beau Bickham, Brandon Trevino, Nathan Trevino and Dalton Brock. middle row: Mitchell Lee, Jason Picard, Keegan Sonnier, Dillon Sterling and Kobe Colbert. coaches Kent Miller, Dave Pederson and Tony Dallas.

’Cats searching for new OC Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader ORANGEFIELD — Orangefield Athletics Director Blake Morrison knows every April and May he will be posting a few jobs here and there. Coaches move on and holes need to be filled in Bobcat Country this season just like any other. Morrison’s football is in search of a new offensive coordinator as Josh Smalley has left Orangefield to go home to Bridge City to fill the same position for Bridge City Athletics Director Cris Stump. “He’s from Bridge City so you really can’t blame him for that,†Morrison said. “So now we have the offensive coordinator spot open and hope to get one in as soon as possible.†One spot has already been filled by Morrison as Kristin Holbrooks is the new volleyball coach as Linda Riddick who was recently reassigned to coach each sport except track. “This gives us a great staff down there,†Morrison said. Riddick will stay on to be the varsity golf coach. Holbrooks, a LC-M graduate, is someone Morrison expect to be around in Orangefield for quite some time. “Kristin knows the girls real well and has a passion for the game of volleyball,†Morrison added. “She has a good working relationship with Coach (Chris) Jost and has a good handle of the game. I think she will do an excellent job.†With the moves and a strong core of female players coming back to Orangefield, Morrison knows the future is bright across the board. “We didn’t have many seniors this past year,†Morrison added. “From volleyball to softball to track, we had success last year. We are going to keep that coming along. I really expect good things from our girls’ program.†As for his offensive coordinator, Morrison is searching for a long-term partner instead of a come-and-go replacement. “I want someone who will come in, be able to fit in Orangefield and work well with the kids,†Morrison said. “Every April and May coaches start moving around and changing colors. People look for better jobs and new titles. We wanted someone for the long-term and someone who cares about the orange and white.â€

Carthage is dang good without a doubt, Jasper is only getting better under a dang good coach. Will be a great game...

Wed. 430 Spring game!!

Jasper in a close one!! Should be a good one!