Scott Brown's SportsBytes on WKDZ

First home run

NEPOTISM ALERT!!  NEPOTISM ALERT!!

I can remember my first home run that traveled over the fence.  It took this right-handed batter 25 years to hit a homer left-handed in a church league softball game.

My 8-year-old son Micah has now tied me.

Always awesome when your child does well.  Even more awesome when his home run snatches victory from the jaws of defeat.  How about a two-out, two-strike, game-tying three-run home run for your first home run that travels over the fence?

Micah's brother Darrin drove in the winning run the next inning.

Great night to be a dad.

Billy Gillispie files a federal lawsuit against Kentucky

Former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has filed a federal lawsuit in Texas asking for Kentucky to pay him the money he is owed.

But, because Gillispie never signed a contract with the university, he is claiming that Kentucky interferred with his re-negotiations with Texas A & M, which would have paid him around $7 million.

According to the lawsuit when Kentucky first contacted Gillispie about its basketball job he was in the process of negotiating a new seven-year contract with Texas A and M where he was employed at the time.

Here is part of the story from Fox TV 26 in Houston.

The lawsuit states that new deal would have paid Gillispie an annual salary of $1.75 million. The proposed deal was to run through 2015 and if Gillispie had stayed with the Aggies through 2012 he would have received an additional $1 million. If he had stayed through 2015 he would have received yet an additional $750,000. The contract with Texas A and M was never formalized.

In his lawsuit against UKAA Gillispie alleges "defendant intentionally interfered with Coach Gillispie's contract negotiations with Texas A and M through its fraud as well as fraudulent misrepresentation and inducement."

The lawsuit states had defendant not interfered during Gillispie's negotiations with Texas A and M, Gillispie would have gladly remained the head basketball coach with the Aggies.

If this goes to trial, there may be some skeletons in Gillispie's closet that surface that he may not want to become public.

Stay tuned.

CLICK HERE to read the story from My Fox Houston.com

Back up and running

After some unexpected computer issues that saw me without internet usage for about a week, the blog is back up and going and I will be posting stories from the past week.

Thanks for your patience and continued readership of the sports blog.

Second Region Baseball Tournament begins Monday

The Second Region Baseball Tournament begins Monday at Elmer Kelley Stadium in Madisonville.

Trigg County (18-14) will play Henderson County (24-6) at 4pm.  Trigg County hasn't won a game in the region tournament since 1989 when they surprised West Hopkins 13-10 in the first round.  They lost to Henderson County 26-1 in the semifinals that year, which was the last time Trigg played Henderson County in the postseason.

The Colonels have won 14 of their last 16 games, including a 4-3 win over Union County in the Sixth District championship game.

CLICK HERE to read a preview from the Henderson Gleaner

MONDAY'S REGION TOURNEY GAMES

10am - Christian County (16-14) vs. Union County (16-13)

1pm - Crittenden County (16-12) vs. Hopkins County Central (12-11)

4pm - Henderson County (24-6) vs. Trigg County (18-14)

7pm - Madisonville (23-9) vs. University Heights (21-7) 

Trigg County ties for sixth at State Track Meet

Trigg County's girls' relay teams brought home a pair of state championships and set a new school record in the process.

Trigg's 400-meter relay team of seniors Janada Acree and Abigail Torian, freshman Shelby Grubbs, and eighth grader Khadijah Grubbs won the event in a time of 49.72, becoming the first Trigg team in school history to beat 50 seconds.  The 2002 team, led by Pauline White, and last year's squad set a Class 1A state record with a time of 50.16 seconds.

The 800-meter relay consisting of the same foursome team just missed a state record by winning in a time of 1:43.68 seconds, just missing the state record by .05 seconds (Fort Campbell, 1991).

The school record, which is normally counted at the state meet because of the advanced timing, is 1:43.30, set in 1982.

The 1600-meter relay team of Acree, Khadijah Grubbs, DiAsia Acree, and Alex Olin finished ninth.

In the sprint events, Abigail Torian won the 100 meter dash, edging Paducah Tilghman's DeAudrea Horne by .04 seconds.

However, both Torian and Horne were surprised in the 200 meter dash by Western Hills eighth grader Alisha Adair, who nipped Horne by .05 seconds and Torian by .40 seconds.

Shelby Grubbs finished 11th in the 100 meters in 13.14 seconds, and Khadijah Grubbs was 11th in the 200 meters in 27.01.

In other events, freshman Lynease Byers finished eighth in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:35.

Janada Acree finished 11th in the high jump with a height of 4-feet, 10-inches.

Trigg County finished tied with Paducah Tilghman in sixth place with 37 points.  Highlands won their second straight title with 62.5 points, edging Lloyd Memorial who was second with 61 points.

Christian County 2 Henderson County 0

Stacey Harbold pitched a three-hit shut out and belted an RBI double to help Christian County beat Henderson County 2-0 Wednesday in Hopkinsville.

Harbold (right) struck out six and walked just one in pitching the complete game.  Harbold is expected to see more time on the mound after usual starter Hannah Driver suffered a hamstring injury Tuesday.  CCHS head coach David Joiner said Driver could miss two to three weeks.

Griffen Joiner added an RBI double in the third inning that plated Casey Castille. 

Christian County won their 15th straight game and improves to 31-2 on the season.  They travel to Marshall County today.

You can listen to the Christian County win over Henderson County by visiting the Toyota of Hopkinsville Audio Rack.

Bradley Sutherland tied for 52nd at D-III Championship

Transylvania University golffer Bradley Sutherland is tied for 52nd place after the first round of the NCAA Division III Golf Championship at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Sutherland had four bogeys and a birdie in his 3-over round of 75.  He is currently eight shots behind the leader.  Sutherland's teammate, Matthew Martin, is tied for fourth place with a 3-under 69.

Transylvania stands tied for 11th place after the first day, 18 shots behind Methodist University.

Another former Trigg County golfer begins his NCAA Tournament play today.

University of Charlotte freshman Tyler Mitchell will play in the first round of the NCAA Regionals at the Red Tail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla.  The 49ers are the #12 seed in the regional, which includes top-seeded Georgia and eighth seed Kentucky.

Mitchell finished tied for 12th as Charlotte won the Atlantic 10 title for the fifth straight year and have posted top 10 finishes the past two years in the NCAA Championships.

Perdue Field undergoing a facelift

Perdue Field is undergoing a facelift.

The home of the Wildcats since 1971 1972 (first game played there was Oct. 27, 1972) is getting a new playing surface, with a new drainage system.  Work on the project began Monday, with the Bermuda grass surface being moved to the practice field just east of Perdue Field.  A new Bermuda surface will be sprigged this week.

TCHS Athletic Director Jim Perrin said the project, which will cost around $18,000, will be completed in a matter of days and should make the field ready in time for the start of the 2009 season.

Tuesday afternoon, members of the football team assisted in getting the new surface in place at the practice field.

Perrin said a new scoreboard is also on the way to Perdue Field to replace the current one that is nearly 25 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Campbell 10 Trigg County 2

Fort Campbell scored six times in the first two innings and handed Trigg County a 10-2 loss Tuesday at the Complex.

The Lady Falcons avenged an earlier 10-0 loss to Trigg County in April.

Sisters Jordan and Courtney Brower each had three hits for Fort Campbell, and Heather Hinze drove in three runs with two hits, including a double.

The Lady Falcons consistenly found holes in the Trigg defense and had seven of their 14 hits in the first two innings.  Five more came as part of a four-run sixth inning.

Dakota LIttlejohn had a single and reached base three times in the game, while Ashlee McGee, Paxton Stroud, Sheniqua Smithers, and Elizabeth Torian all had singles.  Trigg County left 12 runners on base and left the bases loaded twice.

Whitney Cain struck out four in the loss.

Trigg County (2-11) will play at Hopkinsville Thursday at 5:30pm.  You can hear the game on Boomer Radio 100.9/96.5 FM starting at 5:20pm.

Trigg County won the JV game 8-2 behind the pitching of Ashley Noel.  Trigg's JV is now 4-7 on the year.

Muhlenberg South 5 Trigg County 3

Muhlenberg South dealt Trigg County a rare home loss on Tuesday, beating the Wildcats 5-3.

The Suns (11-13) scored three times in the second inning and made it stand up, helped by four Trigg County errors in the field.

Mitch Rogers and Hogan Bailey each had two hits for the Wildcats, who had six hits on the afternoon.  Shane Banks (right) took the loss on the mound.

Trigg County had won seven straight home games before the loss and have an 8-2 home record.

The Wildcats (16-13) will host Madisonville Thursday at 7:30pm at the Complex.

Russellville 6 Trigg County 5

Trigg County couldn't push across the winning run in the seventh inning and fell to Russellville 6-5 Monday.

Russellville broke open a 4-4 tie with a two-out, two-run triple.

Trigg County loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but could only push across one run.

Morgan Parker had two hits, including a three-run double.  She also singled.  Dakota Littlejohn, Elizabeth Torian, Sheniqua Smithers, and Sierra Bush also singled for the Lady Wildcats, who fell to 2-10 with the loss.

Trigg County will host Fort Campbell today at 5:30pm at the Complex.  You can hear the game on Boomer Radio WKDZ/WHVO at 5:20pm.

Trigg County 16 Dawson Springs 0

Will Stagner homered and drove in five runs as Trigg County blasted Dawson Springs 16-0 Monday at the Complex.

Stagner belted a 3-run shot as part of a four-run third inning.  He also singled and doubled.

Shane Banks also had two hits, and Hunter Smilie had a pair of RBI groundouts.  Tyler Thomas added and RBI single and Hogan Bailey had a bases-clearing double.

R.J. Sholar picked up the win on the mound, allowing just a double and striking out six in five innings of work.  He didn't walk anyone.

It marked the third time this year Trigg County has scored as many as 16 runs in a game.

Before the contest, seniors Josh Green, Jordan P'Pool, Tyler Thomas, Donald Bush, Shane Banks, and Will Stagner were recognized as part of Senior Day festivities.

Trigg County (16-11) returns to action today at home in a 5:30pm contest with Muhlenberg South.

Trigg Elementary Arrowcats win National Archery title

 

Trigg County's Elementary Arrowcats topped 55 other schools to win the National Archery in Schools National Competition in Louisville.

Trigg County Intermediate scored 3,233 points, which was 38 points more than second place Meigs (Ohio) Intermediate School.  Last year, Meigs edged Trigg County by seven points to win the national title.

The elementary school also won a national title in 2005.

Kaila Cunningham finished fourth in the elementary girls division with a score of 279, which was four points out of first place.  Elizabeth Wagoner finished 13th with a score of 273, followed by Sarah Shipley 16th (272), Deanna Ladd 21st (271), Virginia Cundiff 27th (269), and Brooklyn Stevens 32nd (267).

For the guys, Brent Jones was Trigg's top finisher in 13th place with a score of 276, which was 16 points out of first place.  Skylar P'Pool was 31st (273), and Gabe Nolcox was 32nd (273).

Trigg County's High School team took second place, just 38 points behind champion Henderson County.  Trigg finished third to Henderson County last year.  There were 84 schools in this year's event.

Danielle Reddick took second place in the female division with a score of 291.  Jessica Nystrom of Hartland (Mich.) High School won, finishing two points shy of a perfect score with 298 points.

Reddick later won $2,000 in a scholarship shootout.

Sloane Patterson finished 10th (286), followed by Emily Shipley in 22nd (282), Jennifer Hyde in 31st (280), Christi Wilson in 37th (278), and Ellen Shipley in 38th place with 278 points.

For the guys, Timmy Blakeley was Trigg's top finisher in a ninth place tie with 291 points.  Grady Cofield finished 28th (287), Landon Sumner 54th (284), Jeremy Alexander 78th (282), and Ryan Russel 100th (280).

In the middle school division, Trigg County finished seventh but produced an individual national champion.

Patsy Banister, last year's national elementary champion, repeated the feat at the middle school level with a score of 288, winning a tie breaker for the title.

Shaye Patterson finished one point behind Banister in third place.  Shelby King finished 26th in the female division with a score of 276, followed by Lexie Hyde in 50th (272) and Kelsey Miller in 64th place (269).

For the guys, Ryan McCloud was Trigg's top finisher with a score of 279 while Duncan Mangels was 101st with a score of 272.

Asheville (Ala.) Middle School won the team title, edging Henderson South Middle School by 32 points to claim the team title.  Trigg was seventh, some 92 points back.

 

Trigg County High School took second place at the National Archery in Schools Competition.

 

Patsy Banister is a national champion for the second year in a row.  She won the elementary division last year and the middle school division this year.  It's the third straight year a Trigg County female has won a national title.

 

Danielle Reddick (center) took second place in the high school division and won a $2,000 scholarship in the scholarship shootout.

 

Kaila Cunningham finished fourth in the elementary school female division.

(Thanks to Joy Colbert for the pics!)

Patrick Patterson to return to Kentucky

Patrick Patterson has taken his name out of the NBA Draft and will return to Kentucky for his junior season, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

“I have the chance to graduate in three years, which is important to me and my family,” Patterson said in a release. “I want to help Kentucky compete for a national title, and even more than that win its eighth national championship. I’m also really excited about playing for Coach (John Calipari) and developing my game in the dribble drive offense.”

CLICK HERE for the story

Trigg County 7 Livingston Central 5

Trigg County scored early and often and was able to hold off Livingston Central 7-5 Monday night in Smithland.

The win moved Trigg County to 5-0 in the district and locks up the top seed in the district tournament that begins in two weeks at Trigg County.  Trigg is now 14-10 overall.

Will Stagner highlighted a four-run first inning with a three-run homer.  Donald Bush added a solo shot in the second as part of the 11-hit Trigg attack.

Mitch Rogers and R.J. Sholar each had two singles for Trigg County, but the Wildcats left 16 runners on base, including the bases loaded three times.

Shane Banks picked up the complete game pitching win, striking out four and walking two.

Trigg County is scheduled to host Christian County tonight at 5:30pm at the Complex.

Livingston Central 12 Trigg County 0

Trigg County showed some obvious signs on rust having not played a game in a week, losing 12-0 at Livingston Central Monday.  The 12-run loss was Trigg's first mercy rule loss since the second game of the season.

Livingston Central's Mariah Owen pitched a five-inning no-hitter, fanning three and walking five.  She also doubled and drove in three runs at the plate.

The Lady Cardinals took command of the game with a 10-run second inning and were helped by six Trigg County errors.

Livingston Central (17-8) wrapped up a perfect run through the district with a 6-0 mark.  They are 17-8 overall and will take the top seed into the district tournament where they will again play Trigg County.

The Lady Wildcats fell to 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the district.  Trigg will host Russellville today at 5:30pm at the Complex.

Timmy McGee featured in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd

 

Trigg County's Timmy McGee was featured in the recent Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd segment that appears in the magazine and online.

McGee's exploits in the State Powerlifting Meet where he set a new state record with a 700 pound deadlift was featured.

Sam Love was featured in an SI Faces in the Crowd segment in the early 1980s.  Just a few months back, Caldwell County golfer Emma Talley was featured.

CLICK HERE to see the SI Faces in the Crowd

Trigg County's softball game moved to Lyon County

Trigg County's softball game with Livingston Central has been moved to Lyon County tonight because the Complex field is too wet.

The game will actually be the second game of a doubleheader.  Lyon County (5-8) will play Crittenden County (5-9) at 5:30, followed by Trigg County (2-7) and Livingston Central (16-8) at 7:30pm.

Because the Fifth District uses seeding for its postseason tournament, all district games must be played before the district meeting to establish times and dates.

It will be Trigg's first game since last Tuesday.

Brad Sutherland wins second straight HCAC golf title

Transylvania's Bradley Sutherland won his second straight Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference golf title and was named conference player of the year for the second straight year.

Sutherland, of Cadiz, shot an even par 72 on the tourney's final day at North Bend, Ohio, which was two shots better than anyone else.  He finished the tournament at 17-over par, which was four shots ahead of teammate James Dawson.

As a team, Transy finished 37 shots ahead of second place Franklin College and will compete in the NCAA Division III Championship for the third year in a row May 13-16 at the PGA Golf Club at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Jimmy Chapman out as UHA girls basketball coach

University Heights has decided not to renew the contract of girls basketball coach Jimmy Chapman, according to a story in Saturday's Kentucky New Era.

Chapman was 44-82 in five seasons as Lady Blazer coach, including the school's first-ever trip to the Second Region Tournament two years ago.

Chapman, who is also the girls' softball coach at UHA, told the newspaper he will not return in that capacity next year by his choice.

Sutherland second after three rounds of the HCAC Golf Tournament

Transylvania golfer Bradley Sutherland is in second place, one shot behind the leader after three rounds of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Sutherland, the defending conference champion, remained steady after three rounds, shooting a 5-over-par 77 at Ashton Oaks in North Bend, Ohio.

He is one shot behind Franklin College's Eric Whittaker, who rebounded from a first round 83 to shoot 5-over in the next two rounds combined.

There is no such drama for the team title where Transylvania takes a 25 shot lead into the final round.

The Pioneers are looking for their third consecutive HCAC Tourney win and a bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, scheduled for May 13-16 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Mother Nature forces cancellation of UHA Lady Blazer softball tournament

Bad weather has forced the cancellation of the UHA Lady Blazer softball tournament scheduled for Saturday.  Trigg County and UHA were among the teams slated to play in the day-long event in Hopkinsville.

Saturday Morning Sports Report this week

On this week's Saturday Morning Sports Report on WKDZ:

• An interview with Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day as we get his take on the fastest two minutes in sports
• An interview with John Asher of Churchill Downs and his take on this year's Derby field.
• A live update from Alan Watts, who is at Churchill Downs for the Derby.
• An interview with Roy Gregory from Austin Peay State University about their annual Governor's Bass Tournament scheduled for May 9 on Kentucky Lake
• A recap of the week in local sports.

The Saturday Morning Sports Report can be heard at 8:10am on WKDZ 106.5 FM and online at www.wkdzradio.com.