TOURNAMENT TIME – NEWS JOURNAL STYLE

It’s almost here, the 2009 NIBROC gets underway today. The crowds should start rolling into Corbin this afternoon and grow throughout the week.

That also means our Corn Hole Tournament will get underway Friday night. Yes, I mistakenly put in a deadline on one of the issues. We talked about originally starting the tournament on Thursday night, but we wanted for folks visiting NIBROC to have a chance to take part.

As you walk Main Street Thursday night look for us beside the News Journal enjoying some practice time. Come throw a few bags and see if you don’t get the fever to play in the tournament. I guess you have read by now we are giving $350 for first place and $150 for second.

We’ve got some good teams in the tournament and some not so good teams. The not so good team is mine, well, Mike Simpson, my partner, is pretty good. I guess that narrows the bad one down to me.

I just hope I don’t make a fool of myself. Two weeks ago I ask Mike if he would like to play in the tournament and he said he would. We decided we better practice so I ran off some rules, which happened to be the wrong ones. So, instead of throwing from the regular-guy distance we were throwing from what seem like a mile away.

Mike started out strong and whitewashed me two games, 21-0, so I should have gotten the hint from that to turn in my bags of whatever is inside.

However, the stubborn in me kept going and I got a little better. That was until Mike and I played Trent (Knuckles) and Chris (Parsons) Sunday. First of all, we were throwing what looked like so close, I was throwing them over the boards. Second, I was throwing behind the box (I didn’t know there was a thrower’s box), so now it’s time to start all over. This game should be called Corn-fused instead of Corn Hole.

Trent and Chris went undefeated to say the least. But, hey, we even figured out how to lose twice with 10-point leads.

Anyway, you can’t be any worse than me, so come on out and put down a measly $25 and join us in some fun at NIBROC ’09.

You can sign up at the News Journal Thursday night between 6-7 p.m. and again Friday night from 6-7 p.m. We will start the tournament right after the draw. Hey, maybe I can draw that team called bye. They always lose, don’t they?

Fall Season

High schools started around the area this week. There was a Meet the Redhounds last night and there will be a Meet the Colonels Thursday night at 7 p.m. and a Meet the Yellow Jackets Thursday at 7:00.

Volleyball started this week with soccer opening next week as well as the pigskin sport of football. I love the start of the season but by the end it is getting pretty cold.

We have already had some remarkable efforts to start the season. Williamsburg’s girl’s golf team won two events and finished fifth in another. That might not sound big, but when you consider they played with the best in the state at Somerset with one sophomore and four middle school players, it sure is.

Becky Sharpe, a sophomore, was the medalist in two of the events. She beat out about 80 golfers to win the Pulaski County Invitational. That’s a tremendous achievement for a golfer from a small school like Williamsburg.

As young as the Lady Jackets are, they are headed for some big headlines over the next several years. Jeff Sharpe has done a fantastic job building a small school powerhouse.

Then you look at the Corbin boys’ golf team. They put 10 players in the South Laurel Invitational and nearly pulled off a sweet. They were close to taking first and second place.

Brad Harris can really challenge his team to be ready for tournament play. I think he has already warned them to be ready everyday if they want to play in these invitational tournaments. I don’t remember a team that could go 8 to 10 deep and not be hurt, especially with an eighth grader (Conner Maguet) leading the way.

I’m looking forward to soccer, I am sure Corbin will have another regional contender. The girls were young last year, so they should be much stronger this season.

Then there is football! It will be disappointing if we don’t have a couple of teams in the state semifinals again.

It looks like Corbin, Whitley County and Williamsburg will challenge for a state title once again and Lynn Camp could be the surprise of the four.

I’ve been impressed with all four teams. All four will play some of the toughest games that can be scheduled. None backed down and took the easy road.

Corbin has Danville, South Laurel, North Laurel, Lexington Christian, Hazard, Clark County and Middlesboro. They only three gimme wins look to be Leslie County, Knott Central and Harlan. And, don’t expect Harlan to roll over.

Lynn Camp has Clay County, Whitley County, LCA, Campbellsville, and Williamsburg. You should be able to count wins over Pineville, Harlan, Clinton County, Berea and McCreary Central. That is if they stay healthy.

There is not a sure win on the Colonels schedule. Lynn Camp is the smallest school on the slate but I’ve seen the Wildcats tear into the Colonels before, so you can’t count that one yet.

I’d have to give them the edge over North Laurel and Perry Central. But, remember what happened at Perry Central two years ago and the Colonels have to march into Hazard again this season.

North Laurel has a Larkey at the helm, so can you really count that one a win.

The others are Lexington Catholic, Bell County, Belfry, Harlan County, Clay County, Letcher Central and Rockcastle County. Shew, what a schedule.

Williamsburg may want to be glad they are in the smallest class after seeing that schedule. That is until to have to play the Jackets slate of 10 games.

I think we can count Jellico, Harlan, Berea, Clinton County and Pineville. But, two of those are away (Harlan and Pineville). That makes it even tougher.

Then there is South Laurel, Knox Central, Hazard, Campbellsville and Lynn Camp.

Another tough schedule and enough said.