Spring Sports

The high school spring sports was full of excitement in the area this year. First of all, the Corbin Redhounds are in Lexington this week to play in the Kentucky High School State Baseball Tournament at Applebee’s Park.
The Redhounds (29-9) will take on the Boyd County Lions in the Elite Eight Thursday at 6 p.m. with the winner moving on the the Final Four Friday night.
Corbin is in a tough bracket with three defending champions, Boyd County, Harrison County and defending state champ, Christian County. The Redhounds are very capable of getting a win over Boyd County but a win over Christian County or Harrison County might be considered an upset. It would not be the first upset by a county team this spring.
Before we close out the spring sports season, let’s not forget some of the accomplishments of the 2005 spring season.
•Williamsburg pulled off a Cinderella story in the softball district tournament when they defeated the Barbourville Lady Tigers, Corbin Lady Redhounds and Whitley County Lady Colonels to win the 49th District Softball Tournament.
Eighth grader Cecily Sears became the lady of the hour as she led the Lady Jackets to the upsets.
•The Corbin boys tennis team won the region title once again led by senior Barrett Freeman. If you have been around the school, you have seen the progress of the new tennis courts. Corbin will possibly host the regional tournament next year.
Barrett Freeman was the only senior on the boys squad, so good things are expected out of next year’s team by coach Curt Hart. The Redhounds have won the region title five straight years.
•Hart might have been a little sad during tournament time because one of his daughters, Leah, played her last game as a Lady Redhound. Leah Hart and Courtney Head ended their high school careers. Melanie Hart will return for her final season of play next spring.
•The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets made it to Applebee’s Park in the All “A” Classic, losing to the Lexington Christian Eagles. The Jackets beat Lee County in the Sectional in a thrilling game that saw fans down the fence lines and every spot filled on the banks of Briar Creek. Williamsburg, like Corbin, was loaded with seniors. Brent Foley, Andy Greer, Matt Jones, John Reynolds, Darrin Stanfill and Charlie Witt saw their high school careers come to an end. They indeed saved the best for last. Their senior year was marked with much success.
•Let’s not forget the Whitley County Colonels. Coach John Smith did an excellent job putting together an outstanding baseball team at WCHS. With a foundation set by senior pitcher Jeremy Taylor and senior teammates, John Nelson, Adam Prewitt and Michael Schrenker, the Colonels ended the season on high note, finishing second to Corbin in the district and region. Had they won the region I have no doubt the Colonels would be playing at Applebee’s Park this week.
What can you say about Schrenker? The young man with more school spirit than anyone I’ve seen at Whitley County can out for baseball, made the team and made a huge impact on the Colonels. The kid can hit the ball!
•Whitley County made its first trip to the state tennis championships. Exchange student Daniel Rosenbusch gave the Colonels the extra person they needed to pair up with Colby Wilson to advance to the state tournament. Becca Wilson and Allison Adair also got together and qualified for the state finals.
•Williamsburg scored well in the boys regional and brought back the championship trophy from Eastern Kentucky University. The girls missed getting second by a single point, but did well at the state meet. Erin White finished with a second place spot in the pole vault and will return next year.
Unfortunately senior Tyler Harris, who taught Erin quite a bit about the pole vault, saw his high school career come to an end.
•What does next season bring? Only time will tell…