The Districts seeds have been released for the softball district being held next week in Crane.
Forsyth is 12-5 on the season and is the number one seed followed by Crane at 8-2. Those are the only two teams in the field above .500 . Blue Eye is right at the even mark but they were seeded right behind Spokane. Hurley, Galena, and Chadwick complete the seven team field.
The first season of competing full time in the Spring has gone well for Hollister Softball. Coach Willy Morgan’s squad has been very competitive this spring and has eight wins on the year, including chalking up a second place finish in the Marionville Tournament this past weekend.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association has placed the Lady Tigers in the Strafford District instead of linking them with Forsyth and the other tri-lakes area teams at the district over in Crane. The seedings have been released for that district.
As expected Strafford is the number one seed. The Lady Indians are the defending state champs and are undefeated this year. Plato is the two and Fair Grove the Three. The Lady Tigers received the four seed and they will take on fifth seeded Conway in the first round. Sparta, Niangua, and Fordland round out the field.
First Round Games will take place on Monday.
Strafford plays Fordland at 4. The Hollister-Conway game will start around 5:30. Plato plays Niangua at 7 and at 8:30 it will be Fair Grove vs Sparta.
The Lady Tigers have already beaten Conway once this season. They got a 10-0 run-rule victory at the Ballparks of America the first week in April.
The Link below will take you the the Tournament Bracket
When you see Josh Neville out of uniform you don’t necessarily think Stand Out Football Player. He is not oversized or just scream “great athlete”. But, that is until you see him play… Simply put, he is a dude.
Neville is a great example of what hard work and determination can do for a player. The Hollister outside linebacker is a two time first team All-COC selection. Last week he signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his football career at Central Methodist University
The Tiger defense will surely miss his presence. While wearing the blue and white, he was credited with 160 tackles, 111 of the of the solo variety. He had 15 tackles for loss. He caused 5 Fumbles and recovered the pigskin 7 times. And for good measure he picked off 5 passes.
Central Methodist is located in Fayette, Missouri and is a member of the NAIA’s Heart of America Conference.
NevilleSigning (Click on link for media interview with Josh)
Josh with mom and coachesmaking it officialCoach Hamon
What has been expected for a few years now is finally coming to be. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced at its annual convention that they will be going on one division in men’s and women’s basketball starting with the 2020-2021 school year. The move was approved on Monday by the organizations Council of Presidents.
The schools will be allowed up to an equivalent of eight scholarships. This brings to an end the playing of two different divisions that has been in place since 1992.
One thing that has yet to be decided is the size of the National Tournament. One option would have 64 teams qualifying with various play in sites leading to a final 16 team Championship. Another favors staying with the current 32-team format at one site. That question could be answered as early as June.
And, while Kansas City is not guaranteed as the final site for the men’s tournament, the NAIA has indicated that they would like for that to be the case.
I think the bigger question is where the women’s tournament will be held. Should they stick with the 32-team format, Sioux City would be hard to beat. However, if they choose to go with only the final 16 advancing to the final site, you have to wonder if they could not play the tournaments in Kansas City. Or, what if they do them in back to back weeks? If they do that, they could possibly have them at the same site, even if they stick with the 32-team format. But, that is all speculation on my part.
A near capacity crowd was on hand Thursday Night at the South Central Missouri Fellowship of Christian Athletes annual Athletes and Coach of the Year Banquet at Chateau on the Lake.
The Inspirational and Uplifting Night was headlined by speaker Anthony Robles. The 2010-2011 NCAA Wrestling Champion at 125lbs was born without his right leg. He did not let that or anyone stop him. He spoke to the group about perseverance and ability within us all to become a champion.
The male and female athletes of the year were honored at the Banquet. The recipients this year were Kinsey Stevens from Galena and Payton Varner from Cassville.
Stevens, an All-Confernce Cross-Country Runner and All-American Cheerleader will attend Pittsburg State University in Kansas and hopes to study Exercise Science or Biology.
Varner, a golfer and manager for the basketball team at Cassville will attend Crowder to study History.
Both athletes are extremely active in their respective FCA groups and their churches.
The Coach of the Year was Vicki Spivey, Hurley Huddle Coach and Head Softball Coach.
It was an incredible evening. To see the work that God is doing in our area schools is tremendous. Brian Mitchell, hits the road, most of the time, before the sun comes up in the morning. Whether its Coaches Bible Studies, Team Huddles, or one of the other 1500 tasks Brian does every day to further the work of the organization, his work is always Christ centered and for the Glory of God.
Jim Connell and I got a chance to sit down with Robles before the event. Click on the link below to hear that conversation..
