Memories of the Woodbine Rebel Softball Shootout

(Column by Trevor Sherman)

It used to be right around this time of year that I would get a phone call or a visit from my good friend Jimmy Hendrickson, asking me to start running info in the newspaper letting folks know how they could sign up for the Annual Woodbine Rebels Softball Shootout.

The Shootout tournament was a yearly summer tradition that ran for nearly 50 years, all the way up until just recently, when plans moved forward for a major overhaul of the Miller Park facility off of Barton Mill Road in Corbin.

I remember the first Shootout that I attended. It was the summer of 2014, and I had been working as the Sports Editor of the News Journal for about six months. It’s funny to think about now, but I was really stressing big time about covering the tournament.

You see, the Shootout was really about the only game in town when it was held in mid-June. By that time, pretty much all school sports had wrapped up, and Little League All-Star tournaments had yet to begin. For this reason, that week’s edition would typically feature wall-to-wall slow pitch softball coverage.

The coolest thing for me at the Shootout was always to see the old newspaper clippings that would hang in the shelter where the concession stand and rest rooms were located. These clippings went back many years, and included write-ups and photos from previous News Journal Sports Editors such as Mitch Howard, Trent Knuckles, and of course, the late Jim McAlister.

I wanted to do as good of a job as those guys did covering this annual event, but those were some mighty big shoes to fill. I had my work cut out for me.

I am happy to look back now and say that I passed the test. As a matter of fact, some of those Woodbine Rebel Shootout sports sections that I put together were among my all-time favorites. It was always a good time for the guys playing in the tournament, and it was also a good time for me, the guy covering the tournament.

Probably my personal favorite Woodbine Rebel Shootout memory is when it came an absolute monsoon in 2015, meaning everyone had to play on fields that were basically underwater. That made for some really great photos.

There are no current plans to revive the tournament, and I hear that participation in slow pitch softball is kind of down across the board right now, but who knows what the future might hold? Only time will tell…

Other stuff:

• I spoke to Whitley County boys golf coach Mike Harris the other day. He asked me to help spread the word about the 23rd Annual WCHS Golf Scramble. It is scheduled to be held Thursday, June 9, at the Burnside Golf Course in Burnside, KY.

Start time is slated for 9:00 a.m., and there will be prizes for first and second place teams. Lunch will be served after the scramble.

Teams will consist of four players with an entry fee of $400 per team. For more information, call Coach Harris at (606) 344-6028.

• I’ve noticed recently some posts on the Whitley County Soccer Facebook page promoting the program’s upcoming youth soccer camp on May 16-18.

The camp will be for boys and girls grades K-6, and will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days at the Whitley County soccer complex in Williamsburg.

The cost for each camper will be $30, and $25 each for any siblings that sign up.

For more info, contact Coach Michael Branham at michael.branham@whitley.kyschools.us or Coach Kelly Sawyers at kelly.sawyers@whitley.kyschools.us.

• I also saw on the Whitley County Baseball Facebook page where Jeremy Shope won his 100th game as head coach of the Colonels last week. I would like to take this opportunity to send out a big “congrats” to Coach Shope, who has always been awesome to work with. I know he has worked hard since coming to Whitley County a few years back, and that hard work is definitely paying off for both him and his players.

• Finally, I came across a post on the Corbin High School Wrestling team’s Facebook page over the weekend that showed a certificate from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the US Marine Corps. The certificate was made out to Redhound wrestler Seth Huff, and was for the Character and Leadership All-American Award.

I am not personally familiar with this award, but it sounds like a heck of an honor to me. Congrats to Seth, and keep up the great work on and off the mats!

That’s all for this week. We have some busy days ahead, with baseball and softball postseason play about to get underway early next week. Also, tennis and track region and state competitions are just around the corner. Best of luck to all!