Scott Brown's SportsBytes on WKDZ

Second Region Baseball Tournament starts on Memorial Day

Webster County will play host to the 2012 Second Region Baseball Tournament that gets underway Memorial Day morning.  Union County is the defending region champ and will look to become the first school to repeat since Christian County won three straight in 2004-06.

(10:00 am) - Henderson County (23-13) vs. Christian County (19-19) -- These schools have combined to win six of the last eight region titles and have met in the title game four times in the last seven years.  The last time they met in the first round was 2003.  The southern Colonels have won eight of their last 10 games but lost two games to the northern Colonels.  Henderson beat Christian County 16-1 on St. Patrick's Day and 7-2 on May 10th.  Last year, Christian County dropped a first round game for the first time in eight years.  Henderson County hasn't lost a first round game since 2004.  The northern Colonels are one of three teams in the region tourney with over 20 wins. 

(1:00 pm) -- Madisonville (17-13) vs. Crittenden County (13-21) -- No team in the Fifth District had a winning record this year as Crittenden County advances into the region tourney as a district champ with 21 losses.  The teams did not play during the regular season as Crittenden County was 10-12 against teams in the region, while Madisonville was 12-7.  The Maroons saw their 15-year district title streak end last week to Caldwell County and will be looking to advance to the region title game for the first time since 2003.  Crittenden County last won a first round game in 2009.

(4:00 pm) -- Hopkinsville (17-14) vs. Union County (27-10) -- Hopkinsville's reward for winning the Eighth District?  A game with Union County in a rematch of last year's region title game won 2-1 by the Braves.  Union County has the most wins of any region team but lost to Henderson County 6-0 in the Sixth District title game last week.  The teams met once during the season, with Union County winning 12-2 on April 27th.  Hopkinsville has won five of their last six first round games, while Union snapped a five-game losing streak in first round games last year. 

(7:00 pm) -- Caldwell County (22-15) vs. LIvingston Central (12-21) -- Caldwell County got perhaps the best first round draw as they will play a LIvingston Central team they beat 12-2 and 11-1 during the season.  The Tigers reached the 20-win mark for the first time in a decade and snapped Madisonville's run atop the Seventh District.  Caldwell, however, hasn't advanced past the first round since 2005.  Livingston Central on the other hand is making their first appearance in the region tournament in six years.  Their last win came in 2003. 

 

Second Region Softball Tournament begins Monday

The Second Region Softball Tournament begins Monday at Webster County High School in Dixon.  Incredibly, three of the four first round games are identical to 2011.  Of the eight winningest teams in the region this year, seven are in the tournament.  The only exception is Webster County (17-20).

(11:00 am) -- Henderson County (18-14) vs. Lyon County (12-12) -- These teams began the season on opening day, and they will open the region tournament as well.  Henderson County hammered Lyon County 16-1 way back on March 20th in Eddyville.  Henderson County won last year's region tourney opener 13-1.  Henderson County has won three straight first round games and will be looking to bring home their first region title since 2006.  Lyon County hasn't won a first round game since they beat Henderson County 11-3 in the 2008 tournament.  This matchup is the only one in the first round that doesn't feature teams with 20 wins.

(1:00 pm) -- Hopkins County Central (24-11) vs. University Heights (21-13) -- UHA is back in the region tournament for the first time in three years.  They will be looking for their first win in the region tournament in over a decade.  Hopkins Central won the earlier game between the schools 8-4 back on April 20th.  UHA enters the tournament having won nine of their last 10 games.  Hopkins Central has won just five of eight games coming into the tournament.  They edged Madisonville 3-2 to win the Seventh District title.  Hopkins County Central ended Christian County's four-year run as region champs last year and have won 10 straight region tournament openers.

(3:00 pm) -- Livingston Central (31-6) vs. Madisonville (25-10) -- This first round contest features teams both be considered darkhorses that could surprise their way to the region title game.  Livingston Central has the most wins of any team in the region.  The Lady Cardinals advanced to the Final Four of the All-A Classic State Tournament and went 15-1 against Second Region teams this year but did not play Madisonville during the season.  Junior pitcher Emily Jenkins did not allow a single hit in two wins in the Fifth District Tournament.  Meanwhile, Madisonville has won 11 of 13 games heading into the tournament with those losses to Hopkins Central and Christian County.  Madisonville won a game at the region tournament last year for the first time in a decade and advanced to the title game.

(5:00 pm) -- Christian County (28-6) vs. Union County (20-13) -- Don't count Union County among those who like the Second Region draw.  This year marks the third straight time they have drawn Christian County in the first round.  The Lady Colonels have won the last two first round games by a combined 29-1 score.  The teams have met three times this year, with Christian County winning 6-0 on March 30 and 9-0 on May 12.  However, Union beat Christian County 6-5 back on May 18th, snapping the Lady Colonels' 12-game winning streak against region opponents.  Union County last won a first round game in 2009, while Christian County hasn't lost a first round game since 2006.

Services for Glen Ringstaff have been announced

Funeral services for former Trigg County girls' basketball coach Glen Ringstaff will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the community activities building on the campus of Caldwell County High School.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Princeton.

Ringstaff passed away Wednesday at his home following a fight with cancer.

Ringstaff coached the Livingston Central girls' program for two seasons (1986-88) and was the head coach of the Trigg County Lady Wildcats from 1992-94, leading them to a 28-23 record.  In 1994, Trigg County advanced to the Second Region tournament, losing to eventual region champion Henderson County in the first round.

Ringstaff remains the only Trigg County girls' basketball coach with a winning record during his tenure.  He left coaching after the 1994 season to become the assistant principal at Trigg County Middle School.  He later served as principal at Caldwell County High School.