Tournament Success

Rain tried to wash out the first Cumberland Falls Classic Softball Tournament last weekend, but most of the games planned were played Saturday at Corbn and Whitley County.
The teams that came in from out of town were in awe of the two facilities. Covington Holmes coach Mike Hughes got to play at both locations and said he was just amazed at the two sites. “We don’t have anything like this in northern Kentucky,” Hughes told me. Prestonsburg coach Jack Pack was equally impressed with Whitley County. “This is some stadium.”
Holmes, Harrison County, Prestonsburg, Bell County and Rockcastle County came in to play the three local teams. Corbin and Whitley County served as host for the first tournament and all said they would be glad to return next season.
Next season the Cumberland Falls Classic will probably expanded to 12 teams since Williamsburg now has their own field and will not have to share Briar Creek Park any longer.
Give credit to coach Jim Black and his staff at Williamsburg. They have put together a very nice complex for the girls to play on. It might not be the stadium like Corbin and Whitley County, but it certainly is a complex to be proud of.

Corbin won the first Cumberland Falls Classic, downing Rockcastle County, 8-4 in the championship game. The Lady Redhounds trailed 4-0 before exploding for eight runs in the final three innings.
Coach Gary Akins’ team played with more enthusiasm, hustle and determination than I have ever seen out of his team in two years. They played the tournament with an entirely new spirit for the game of softball.
Abby Baylor, Ali Burton, Rachel Akins and Felicia Pigg were selected as Players of the Game, but they really played as a team last weekend.

Whitley County finished fourth in the tournament after beating Williamsburg and Prestonsburg in pool play. They lost to Rockcastle County, 4-0 then lost to Covington Holmes in the third place game. Maggie Thornsberry and Brittany Fox were selected Players of the Game in the two wins.
Coach David Halcomb said of the loss to Holmes, “That may have been the worst game we have ever played. We let them sit around waiting for that game and didn’t get them prepared to play Holmes.”
It looks like Corbin and Whitley County will have to play in the first-round of the district tournament next month and it looks like a cat fight to the end. It’s ashame one of the teams will be limited. That will be one heck of a game to watch.

South Laurel’s Amber Neace will stay close to home next year. She will play basketball at the University of Cumberlands. Neace was an outstanding volleyball player as well as softball player at South Laurel. She will be a great local addition to the Lady Patriots.

Eric Blackwood told me last week that he will try to walk on at Eastern Kentucky University next season. The Corbin football standout, with his speed, should be able to make the Colonels. He was one of the leading scorers and runners for the Corbin Redhounds the last several years.

Ladale Rider and Eli Rhodes have signed with the University of the Cumberlands to play football the next four years. Rider was Kentucky’s leading scorer his junior year at Whitley County High School. Rhodes had a great senior season and got the attention of the area colleges.

Two Williamsburg ladies signed with the University of the Cumberlands in track and cheerleading. Danni Barton and Erin White tried out for the 2007 Patriots cheerleading squad and will receive a scholarship to cheer on the football and basketball teams at UC. Both ladies will push the Cumberlands cheerleading squad to another level. UC was third in the Mid-South last season.

Corbin’s Heather Clouse and Kaya Wood have signed to play basketball with the Lindsey Wilson Lady Raiders. Clouse will play on the varsity squad and Wood will play on the JV team at Lindsey Wilson.

Speaking of basketball, last week I came out with the 2006 All Area Basketball Team. I put the wrong name on one of the players from Whitley County. Stephanie McCullough was suppose to be on the First Team and I put Samantha Daugherty. My apology to Stephanie.

Shane Sams has moved from Eastern Kentucky University to Muhlenberg North High School. The former Redhound played at the University of Kentucky and went on to West Virginia as a graduate assistant. He spent last season on the sidelines at EKU but decided his heart was in high school football and accepted the position at Muhlenberg North.