KFDM COOP

Grid slate heavy on home games, Thursdays By Dave Rogers Published April 20, 2008 Home cooking could become a habit this fall even if regular game dates don’t, thanks to the fall football schedules put together for Baytown’s three high schools. Both Robert E. Lee and Ross Sterling will play six of their 10 regular-season games this fall at home. For Sterling, the total is really seven, as they’re listed as “visitor†for this year’s Battle of Baytown against Lee. Goose Creek Memorial will play half its first 10-game schedule within the friendly confines of Baytown. Put them all together and that’s 17 varsity football games scheduled for Stallworth Stadium this fall. Considering the regular season is only 11 weeks long, well, stadium workers had better get ready to be ka-chinged into a higher tax bracket. And cancel those weekend trips to visit grandma and/or the deer lease. With only two schools last fall, there were only nine Stallworth Stadium games for Lee and Sterling’s varsity teams, so the traffic and workload at Goose Creek school district’s showplace stadium is definitely going to pick up. And you can forget booking Stallworth for your family reunion the weekend of Sept 11-13. The Patriots (Thursday vs. Bellaire Episcopal), Ganders (Friday vs. Rosenberg Terry) and Rangers (Saturday vs. Sam Rayburn) have home games at Stallworth all three nights. Without a senior class, Memorial’s first slate of games are bound to have a bit of a subvarsity feel. Playing into that are three Patriot home games on Thursday nights (Aug. 28 vs. Pasadena; Sept. 11 against Episcopal; and Oct. 9 against Barbers Hill). Most football coaches prefer to play on Thursdays rather than Saturdays. There are several reasons, including not having to alter pregame routines as much when switching from Friday to Thursday as when switching from Friday to Saturday. The biggest one, however, is a Thursday game allows the varsity coaches the rare opportunity to scout future opponents on Friday and Saturday. So, Lee has two home Thursday games (Sept. 18 vs. Terry; and Oct. 23 vs. Channelview) while its only Saturday game is on the road and mandated by its host for the evening (Sept. 27), Katy Seven Lakes. Memorial’s only Saturday game is also on the road, a season-ending (Nov. 1) game at Humble’s Turner Stadium against Kingwood Park. It’s scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and it’s one of only two day games scheduled for GCCISD teams this year. Sterling got the other, a 3 p.m. Nov. 1 outing at Beaumont West Brook. Speaking of travel, Lee will be burning the most of next fall’s high-priced diesel fuel. The Ganders have to take three lengthy trips – to Katy’s Rhodes Stadium to play Seven Lakes Sept 27; to Beaumont (Oct. 17) and to Port Arthur (Nov. 7) Sterling’s only notable road trips are to New Caney (Oct. 3) and West Brook (Nov. 1). A jaunt to Pearland (Sept. 5) is the only trip in excess of 30 minutes Memorial will be making. If you like your home games early and often, Sterling’s your ticket in 2008. The Rangers don’t go on the road until October, playing their first four games (Aug. 29 vs. La Porte; Sept. 5 vs. South Houston; Sept. 13 vs. Sam Rayburn; and Sept. 19 vs. Pearland Dawson) at Stallworth, followed by their open date. Throw in the Lee game and Sterling will be playing three of its final six games at home, too. Lee’s schedule of six home games is evenly distributed: one on the road, two at home, one on the road, two at home, one on the road, two at home; while Memorial alternates home and road games throughout its schedule. Getting Port Arthur at home (Oct. 17) might be a break for Sterling. And there doesn’t seem to be a huge disadvantage to the Rangers having to play North Shore (Oct. 24) and West Brook (Nov. 1) on the road, because those two teams figure to be a tall order no matter where they play. While Memorial appears to be catching a slight break by playing both Dayton (Sept. 26) and Barbers Hill (Oct. 9) at Stallworth, Lee’s chances to beat West Brook (Oct. 17) and Port Arthur (Nov. 7) get tougher by having to play those two after long road trips. Of course, it’s all speculation at this point trying to decipher the pros and cons of teams’ schedules. One thing is certain, though. Whether you like or dislike this year’s schedule, it will totally flip-flop next year, with the home teams for each matchup being reversed.

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From the Port Arthur News MAURICEVILLE — Just like the first meeting between the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears and Nederland Bulldogs, Nederland jumped out with a two run lead only to watch LC-M answer and win. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the second, the Bears batted around the lineup, using five walks and four hits, including a grand slam from Stefan Leger that capped off an eight run inning. LC-M went on to beat the Dogs 10-6 in Saturday afternoon's District 22-4A matchup. With the win, the Bears end a three-game slide and improve to 21-6 overall and 8-4 in league play. With just two games to go, LC-M sits alone in the third and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, Nederland falls to 7-5 and is in a tie for fourth place with the Ozen Panthers. The Bulldogs outhit LC-M 8-6 in the contest but left eight runners on base. On top of giving up a grand slam, Josh Dean, who suffered the loss by throwing just 1.1 innings and giving up six earned runs, and Ryan Sampere each issued four walks. LC-M took full advantage of the free passes by scoring eight in the second and then adding two more on a two-run shot by Tim Berry in the fifth inning off Sampere. After taking over for Dean, Sampere allowed two more runs, including Leger's four-banger, in the second. The senior right-hander did hold the Bears scoreless for the third and fourth innings, giving Nederland opportunities to crawl back in the ball game. Sampere gave up four earned runs in three innings of work. "We just didn't pitch very well today," said Nederland head coach Cody Robbins. "We gave up too many walks and they just hit the ball hard. Dean didn't have his best stuff and that just happens sometimes." With two outs in the third, Nederland responded with a two-run shot by Aaron McFarland that brought in Kirby Bellow. Bellow singled earlier in the inning. Including the two-run job by McFarland, the senior designated-hitter and third baseman, doubled in the second and was 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and two runs scored. McFarland's third inning homer put the score at 8-4. Then in the fourth inning, Nederland cut the game to 8-6 when Jordan Pitts hit a two-run homer over centerfield. Pitts four bagger brought in Trey Terracinawho singled earlier in the inning. The Bulldogs might have lost some of the wind in their sails after a lead-off walk to Jude Vidrine in the top of the fifth inning led to a goose egg on the scoreboard. Vidrine was stranded at third as Nederland's next three batters went down on strikes. Berry's homer in the bottom half of the fifth put the nail in the coffin, giving the Bears a 10-6 lead. On top of his homer, Berry also singled in Matt Johnson and Wade Estes in the second inning to give LC-M a 3-2 lead. Berry was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. All but two players in the Bears' lineup scored in the second inning. Leger tallied the first and last runs. He led the inning off with a single and later scored when Estes drew a walk with the bases loaded. Phillip Richard, Berry, Chad Richard and Leger all scored on the grand slam. Both of the Richards' drew walks to set up Leger with a diamond full of Bears. Dallas Brown got the win. He pitched 3.2 innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits. Ben Jones relieved Brown for 2.1 innings of scoreless ball. Jones started the seventh inning with back-to-back walks, however, which led head coach Steve Griffith to go to sophomore Shane Waddell for the final three outs. Waddell came in with runners at first and second with nobody out but got Jude Vidrine to pop out to second, induced a ground ball from Anthony Babino and Terracina popped out to the pitcher's mound to end the game. Griffith said the win was as big as any district win he has had in 15 years with LC-M. "We've come out on top of some really hyped games before — games we played for first place — but this was one we had to have just to stay in third. I say that's a bigger deal," he said. Griffith added his club is in control of its own destiny now. "All we have to do is win these next two ball games," he said. "It's as simple as that, if we win the next two, we're in." The Bears travel to Lumberton on Tuesday and then end the regular season with a showdown with second place Vidor (9-3). That game will be at Mauriceville. LC-M beat Vidor in the first district meeting. Nederland needs two wins next week just to have a chance for a postseason berth. The Bulldogs are away for both of their games, playing at Dayton on Tuesday and at Lumberton on Friday. For Nederland to get in the playoffs, it will need either Vidor to lose to both Ozen on Tuesday and LC-M on Friday, or will need LC-M to lose one of its final two games. "We're still in this," said Robbins. "I thought our pitching was a little shaky today — sometimes that's just how it goes. We still have faith in our guys and don't think for a second we're going to lay down and not finish this season.

I agree!

Feds studying Astro Turf, other brands, for lead dangers TRENTON, N.J. — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is looking into the possible health hazards of lead in artificial turf installed at schools, parks and stadiums across the country. Two fields in New Jersey were closed this week after state health officials detected what they said were unexpectedly high levels of lead in the synthetic turf and raised fears that athletes could swallow or inhale fibers or dust from the playing surface. The artificial-turf industry denied its products are dangerous. But the CPSC said it is investigating. "We have a great deal of interest into any consumer product that could be used by children where children could potentially be in harm's way because of lead exposure," CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said. The United States has about 3,500 synthetic playing fields made of various materials, including nylon and polyethylene, and about 800 are installed each year at schools, colleges, parks and stadiums, according to the industry's Synthetic Turf Council. Artificial turf was once a luxury reserved for professional sports teams, but its use has exploded in recent years as a way to save costs and reduce water use. Pigment containing lead chromate is used in some surfaces to make the grass green and hold its color in sunlight. But it is not clear how widely the compound is used. The New Jersey Health Department found lead in both of the nylon fields it tested, but in none of the 10 polyethylene surfaces it examined. Both nylon fields were Astro Turf brand surfaces. Jon Pritchett, chief executive of General Sports Venue, the Raleigh, N.C.-based licensee of Astro Turf products in the United States, said the company's tests have shown a low risk of exposure to lead. "Obviously, we take very seriously any concerns about the safety of our products, and this is no exception," Pritchett said. New Jersey found itself at the forefront of the issue after state health authorities stumbled onto the lead while investigating whether runoff from a scrap-metal operation in Newark had contaminated an adjacent playing field. New Jersey's epidemiologist, Dr. Eddy Bresnitz, said fibers and dust created through wear and weathering might become airborne, where they could be inhaled or swallowed. But Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council, said the lead is fixed in place in the nylon and does not leach out, and thus poses no health risk. He also said that in recent years, manufacturers have begun offering lead-free nylon surfaces. "In the 40 years that synthetic sports turf has been in use in the United States and around the world, not one person has ever reported any ill effects related to the material composition of the fibers," he said. Bresnitz has ordered additional tests on how easily fibers and particles from artificial turf can be swallowed or inhaled. He said the risk from playing on a lead-impregnated field is probably very low. Nonetheless, he suggested washing thoroughly after play, laundering clothes separately and wetting down fields to keep the dust and fibers down during play. Two fields in New Jersey — Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken and a playing surface at the College of New Jersey in Ewing — were voluntarily closed after state health officials found up to 10 times the amount of lead that is allowed in soil on contaminated sites that are being turned into homes. The government has no standard for how much lead is allowable in artificial turf. A city-owned field in Newark was closed last fall after similar test results; officials there are replacing the surface. Lead can cause brain damage and other illnesses, particularly in children. Fibers don't break off easily on nylon fields, according to Dr. Davis Lee, a Georgia Tech professor and consultant to turf manufacturers. He said even if fibers were to come loose, the lead pigment particles still would not fall out. Artificial soccer, baseball and football fields are popular because they are durable and eliminate the need for watering, pesticides and mowing. Costs start at about $300,000 and go up depending on the type of turf, the size of the field and other factors.

Jazz win game 1 [Hidden Content]

Yup!

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Rockies edge Astros; lefty Rodriguez hurt Cooper tossed in dispute over call in center field Astros manager Cecil Cooper has been waiting impatiently since the start of the season for his offense to show some signs it’s going to get on track and put up runs in bunches. With the Astros scratching and clawing for every hit tonight against the Colorado Rockies, Cooper finally reached a breaking point and let three weeks of frustration – and a blown call – lead to his first ejection as manager. At least Cooper wasn’t around to see the Astros go down weakly at the plate in the final three innings and lose their third game in a row, 3-2 to the Rockies at Minute Maid Park. Cooper was ejected in the seventh after arguing Rockies center fielder Ryan Spilborghs should not have been awarded a catch on a fly ball hit by Geoff Blum, who would have wound up on second base to start the inning. The Astros managed only one base runner in the final five innings as Rockies pitchers sent down 16 of the final 17 batters they faced. Manny Corpas pitched the ninth for his fourth save. Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee went a combined 1-for-12. With the Rockies leading 3-2, Blum led off the seventh with a fly ball that Spilborghs made a dive for in right-center. Spilborghs, with his back to the infield, held the ball up in the air to show the umpire he had made a catch, and Blum was called out. But several players in the Astros’ bullpen who had a good look at the play were signaling that Spilborghs didn’t catch the ball, something that television replays appeared to confirm. Blum stood at second base with his hands on his head in disbelief while Cooper sprinted into shallow center field to confront second base umpire Mark Wegner, who made the call. Wegner had a conference with the rest of the umpiring crew and didn’t overturn the call. Cooper turned his attention to plate umpire Rick Reed on his way back to the dugout and was thrown out. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez left after four innings of a 2-2 game because of a sore left groin. He gave up five hits, two runs, three walks and struck out five batters. The Rockies took a 3-2 lead in the fifth against reliever Oscar Villarreal (0-3) when Brad Hawpe singled home Matt Holliday, who led off the inning with a costly walk. The Astros managed just two infield hits after the third inning, including Michael Bourn’s one-out single in the eighth. Bourn stole second base – his second steal of the game and major-league-leading 11th of the season – but Kaz Matsui and Tejada both flied out to left. Bourn reached on an error to start the first, stole second and scored when Tejada hit into a double play. The Rockies tied it in the second when Garrett Atkins led off with a double and scored on a single by pitcher Aaron Cook (2-1). J.R. Towles led off the third with his fourth homer of the year to put the Astros ahead 2-1, but Colorado came back and tied it again in the fourth on Spilborghs’ RBI single.

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That was unbelievable!

You going to that game SFA?

22-4A PN-G (10-2) Vidor (9-3) LC-M (8-4) Nederland (7-5) Ozen (6-5)

:'( :'(

Me to!

Mavs leading in the 3rd

Get out and enjoy it!!

Not sure. I didn't remove it.

Your correct!

Go Rockets!

Spurs Win in 2 OT!! [Hidden Content]

Highlights [Hidden Content]

Get your Popcorn ready!!