BIG NIGHT FOR UCHS!

May 8, 2008 turned out to be a big day for Unicoi County High School. On this day, in Elizabethton, both the girls softball and boys baseball teams, in inclement weather, won their respective DISTRICT 1A-AA Championships. The Lady Devils won 1-0 over Elizabethton and the Blue Devils crushed Happy Valley 12-0. Jessica Mason struck out 8 and drove in the game’s lone run with a third inning double. She received Tournament MVP honors. Serth Whitson no-hit the Warriors and also earned Tournament MVP honors as both squads move on to the Regionals next week. Congratulations to both teams and to the coaching staffs. It is well deserved. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILLIE MAYS

He has been retired for 35 years. Millions of baseball fans have never seen who many people consider the greatest baseball player ever. Personally, i think Babe Ruth was. But, in my lifetime, Willie Mays is the best baseball player i have seen. Henry Aaron and Roberto Clemente are second and third on my list. Nobody patrolled centerfield with the grace and boyish enthusiasm of Mays. He played with a joy seldom seen in the major leagues. He simply loved being a ballplayer and getting paid for it. He had the best of both worlds. There was nothing Mays couldn’t do and do brilliantly. The”SAY HEY KID” TURNS 77 today. When you consider who may be the greatest living ballplayer, not many mention Willie’s name. Why? I’m not certain. After all, Aaron, Musial  are still alive and are also worthy of such lofty praise. But, despite his surliness in public, Mays brilliance on the field was undeniable. Happy birthday, Willie. May you have many more.  

UNICOI COUNTY KEEPS ROLLING ALONG!

In both baseball and softball, Unicoi County High keeps rolling along. The Blue Devils won a 5-4 thriller over Happy Valley in the second round of the District 1A-AA Tournament in Elizabethton while over at Elziabethton High School, the Lady Devils behind the superb pitching of Jessica Mason, defeated South Greene 6-0. Mason had 16 strikeouts as  the Lady Rebels could only mange five hits off of her. It has been an interesting season for both teams lets see how far they travel in the post season.

HOW ABOUT THAT BLUE DEVIL TRACK TEAM!

While it has been reported without much fanfare, the Unicoi County High track team has been putting on some impressive performances. At their conference meet on April22, Cameron Miller and Kara Lynch were awarded for their outstanding performances in field events. Miller, a junior, clinched first place in both the long jump(19 feet-3/4inch) and the triple jump(40 feet 3 1/2 inches). Kara Lynch finished first in both the shot put(33 feet 8 1/2 inches) and in the discus(85 feet 8 inches). Other Blue Devils did well at the meet: Diuone Wilson finished first in the girls high jump( 4 feet 4 inches), Sarah Briest first place in the pole vault(7 feet 6 inches). Guillermo Mendoza took first place in the boys discus(119 feet 9 inches), Trev Rowe finished first in the pole vault(11 feet). Congratulations to the aforementioned and all those who placed in the conference meet and to coach Randy Brewer and his assistants for the fine job they have done this season. Good luck in the North Subsection/Regional meet on May 5 at Sullivan North. 

CONGRATULATIONS, KELBY AND CALEB!

Congratulations are in order for Unicoi County High tennis players Caleb Pate and Kelby Marston on winning the boys and girls 2008 District 1A-AA Tennis singles titles. Pate won the boys title with a 6-2,6-2 straight set win over number one seeded Wade Tugman of Johnson County. Marston defeated Rachel Pulliam of South Greene 6-3,6-1. It was the first singles titles for both players. Both move on to the Regional Tournament on May 12 in Morristown. Jonathan Kenney, Mary Beth Shults, Lacey Harris and Pate were named to the All-District Tournament team. Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS, LADY DEVILS!

Out of adversity emereges character and the Lady Devils displayed it with a 1-0 win over Elizabethton to clinch the Watauga Conference title for a 13th consecutive year. With Jessica Mason unable to pitch due to a mild concussion, freshman Kara Woods stepped up her already impressive game as the Lady Devils offense had temporarily vanished. Pitching three consecutive games, Woods won all three by identical 1-0 scores. The final win, over Elizabethton, was won without Unicoi County getting a hit. Woods compiled 14 strikeouts as the Lady Devils look forward to the District 1-AA Tournament. Congratulations Ladies.

JUST A BUMP IN THE ROAD?

The Unicoi County Blue Devils baseball team hit a bump in the road against Happy Valley as they lost 5-2. It was their first Watauga Conference loss of the season. Happy Valley’s starting pitcher, Logan Bowling, walked eight and hit one batter  while giving up only two hits. And Unicoi County could only manage two runs. The Blue Devils missed an opportunity to clinch the conference title outright. There will be another day and lets hope this is just a bump in the road.

YOU GO GIRL!

She finally won a race! Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an Indy car race with a victory in the IndyJapan 300 a few days ago and it was about time. I’m sure the male drivers are split in their opinion about but who cares? She won fair and square and i hope she wins many more.

Will the curse be broken this year?

I know it is early in the baseball season to talk about the World Series but I have been wondering: Will this be the year that the A-Rod curse be broken? I have my doubts. Why? Because any team that has had A-Rod on their roster has never been to the World Series. You can look it up! Superstitions are a little silly. But, being an old baseball player myself, i can’t help but wonder about it. If i swear under oath - my answer is: NO, IT WON’T BE BROKEN.

WELL DESERVED!

It has been announced that the Green Bay Packers will retire Brett Favre’s number four jersey at their home opener in September. Well deserved. Other than his eventual induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in five years, no honor is more fulfilling than his team retiring his number. Is he the best ever? In my humble opinion, no. But he is on a short list of all-time greats. Congratulations, Brett.