They’re coming a little later in the day that usual -- and I apologize for that -- but here are some of my preferred pickups at the moment Crim isn’t even in the Yahoo player pool as of yet The 27-year-old is getting his first major league callup as the replacement for Jake Burger in Texas and should start at first base regularly for now who was a 19th-round pick in the 2019 draft after a standout career at Mississippi College He’s since hit .296/.372/.507 in six minor league seasons with his Triple-A line coming in at .286/.373/.486 with 49 homers in 308 games He was at .313/.365/.565 with seven homers through 28 games with Round Rock this year The switch from the .190/.231/.330-hitting Burger seems like a pretty obvious call at this point The odds are against Crim becoming a long-term regular but he possesses a perfectly solid right-handed bat and he’s consistently struck out less than 20% of the time in the minors If he starts regularly and hits in the middle of the Texas order he’s not going to need to be a 120 OPS+ guy to amass some fantasy value in such a nice situation He’s a fine replacement for those who were using Burger or perhaps relying on someone like Ryan Mountcastle or Wilmer Flores at first base I mentioned Gonsolin in the Quick Hits portion of the column when he was six-percent rostered last week A victory and nine strikeouts in his season debut now have him picked up in one-third of leagues since he’ll get to take on the Marlins for a second straight start Gonsolin did have a 4.50 ERA in his first start back from an inflamed back but that was largely due to bad outfield play behind him leaving him just a half tick down from his 16-1 season in 2022 and both his slider and splitter looked sharp Maybe he wouldn’t be a must pickup on an average team but with a top offense and bullpen supporting him he seems worth using in all formats for now Of course, health is an always an issue with Gonsolin. His career high for innings was the 132 he threw during his miraculous 2022 campaign. He’s topped 100 innings just three times in all since being drafted in 2016. He won’t show up all that high on next week’s updated Top 300 rankings just because it’s so unlikely that he’ll remain useful for even four of the next five months he’s probably a top-50 starter for the short term With Justin Martinez (shoulder) joining A.J the Diamondbacks are minus their top two relievers only just returned from shoulder inflammation and struggled some Thursday in a game in which he probably shouldn’t have been used in the first place (he wound up throwing 34 pitches on no rest after tossing 11 in his season debut) The save chance in that game went to Shelby Miller who quickly converted the opportunity while facing the bottom three hitters in the Mets lineup It’d probably surprise most that Miller’s save against the Mets was only the fourth of his career though his fifth and final one of those came way back in 2016 Injuries shifted him to the pen for good in 2021 but after 55 2/3 innings with a 4.53 ERA out of the pen for the Tigers he wound up getting cut with a week left to go in the season Things have gone much differently for Miller so far this year The one run he’s allowed in 13 2/3 innings was unearned His 94.5 mph average on his fastball is up one mph from the last couple of years and he’s done great work with the splitter that had led to mediocre results since he added during his stint with the Dodgers two seasons ago he probably shouldn’t pitch on back-to-back days very often Torey Lovullo doesn’t seem too worried about it having already used him on consecutive days four times Miller will probably wind up hurt again at some point it won’t be until after Martinez and/or Puk is back healthy - It has to be very close to Bubba Chandler time in Pittsburgh as Triple-A simply isn’t posing much of a challenge The 2021 third-round pick has a 1.42 ERA and a 36/7 K/BB over 25 1/3 innings in his six starts The Pirates are trying to keep his innings in check so he’s yet to throw more than 71 pitches in an outing He’ll be restricted some there in the majors which will probably cost him wins on a subpar offensive team He figures to offer mixed-league value anyway - Colin Rea still might be a pretty fringy option in 12-team leagues but it’s hard not to like the way he’s throwing since moving into the Cubs rotation His current 93.8 mph average on his fastball would be a career high and he’s striking out four batters for each one he walks Especially with as well as the Cubs are playing he’s a solid choice against mediocre offenses in 10- and 12-team leagues and maybe an every-week guy out for at least a month due to a strained oblique Jorbit Vivas might offer some short-term value The 5-foot-9 infielder was hitting .319/.426/.436 with just eight strikeouts in 116 plate appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being called up Friday He was a disappointing 6-for-10 stealing bases but he’s usually more efficient there (he was 21-for-26 in 101 games last year) but he’ll get a couple of cheapies in Yankee Stadium It’s not worth dropping someone of significance for him but those who were relying on Chisholm could do worse for a stopgap A Division of NBCUniversal DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only and there is no gambling offered on this site This service is intended for adult audiences No guarantees are made for any specific outcome If you or someone you know has a gambling problem Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMEMPHIS (WMC) - A man was arrested in Olive Branch for a shooting in southeast Shelby County according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s office deputies responded to a shooting on East Shelby Drive in southeast Shelby County Deputies arrived on the scene and found a man lying on the ground near a Walgreens store with a gunshot wound Deputies rendered aid until Shelby County Fire personnel arrived and took the victim to Regional One in non-critical condition The Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit (VCU) launched an investigation into the incident Detectives identified the shooter as a 35-year-old named Adrian Woodard The investigation showed the shooting happened after an argument between Woodard and the victim VCU detectives obtained a warrant for Woodard’s arrest on the charge of aggravated assault the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team (FAT) with help from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office found and arrested Woodard at his home in Olive Branch He was taken into custody and booked into the DeSoto County jail Click here to sign up for our newsletter Click here to report a spelling or grammar error High school baseball teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties now know their path to an NCHSAA state championship the state’s athletic governing body releasing its playoff brackets Monday afternoon with the second round being played that Friday night Third round competition is set for Tuesday Regional semifinal matchups are scheduled to take place May 16 with a winner-take-all Game 3 scheduled for May 23 NCHSAA state softball championships will be played at Ting Park in Holly Springs or Burlington Athletic Stadium The best-of-three series is scheduled for May 30 and 31 WHAT'S NEXT?: NCHSAA finalizes playoff formats, new mercy rules at spring board meeting LAST WEEK'S HONOR ROLL: Track stars, home runs and hat tricks: Gastonia, Shelby area spring sports top performers Burns’ pursuit of a third NCHSAA 3A West title in a row begins with it as a 4-seed Also starting at home will be 5-seed Lincoln Charter and No 28 West Wilkes and 17-seed Surry Central to their respective ballparks East Gaston will be the lone area 2A team to board a bus Tuesday the 20th-ranked Warriors bound for Mooresville and a matchup with No Co-Southern Piedmont 1A/2A regular season champion Cherryville may enjoy an extended stay at Fraley Field this postseason The Ironmen will host Bradford Prep to open the postseason Cherryville is one in a pair of area 1A teams who will start the playoffs at home 10 Piedmont Community Charter welcoming 23-seed Swain County to Gastonia for a first round matchup Highland Tech and Mountain Island Charter will hit the road in Round 1 After claiming its first Big South 3A championship in four years The Chargers will host 31-seed South Rowan on Tuesday Western Foothills 3A co-champion North Lincoln landed the No 5 seed and the opportunity to host 28th-ranked Smoky Mountain in Round 1 13 East Lincoln welcomes 20th-ranked North Henderson North Gaston and Kings Mountain look for road upsets at Central Davidson Gaston Christian seeks Class 3A state gold 2 seed and a bye to the quarterfinal round Cary Christian or Greensboro Day on Saturday (29) Kings Mountain at (4) Rockingham County (19) Stuart Cramer at (14) Central Davidson (32) Southwestern Randolph at (1) East Rutherford (24) Community School of Davidson at (9) Maiden (17) Langtree Charter at (16) Corvian Community (24) Mountain Island Charter at (9) Thomasville (28) Bessemer City at (5) Uwharrie Charter (30) Bishop McGuinness at (3) Christ the King (22) Highland Tech at (11) Bethany Community (26) Mountain Heritage at (7) Leadership Academy (23) Swain County at (10) Piedmont Community Charter (18) Cornerstone Charter at (15) Eastern Randolph Cary Christian or Greensboro Day at (2) Gaston Christian More than 50 families recently participated in Duke Energy Science Night James Love Elementary School in Shelby James Love Elementary is one of 180 North Carolina elementary schools that hosted Duke Energy Science Nights in April Funding from the Duke Energy Foundation allows the festival to provide each school with the support and materials needed for the activities The Duke Energy Foundation seeks to power vibrant communities through investments in high-performing sustainable initiatives that emphasize STEM including programs that help create greater access to and participation in STEM-related informal and out-of-school educational opportunities Duke Energy Science Nights feature hands-on activities designed to help children and their families explore science You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience The Shelby County Chamber honored outstanding educators and students in Shelby County during a luncheon on Wednesday PELHAM – The Shelby County Chamber held a luncheon on Wednesday April 30 honoring outstanding educators and students within Shelby County with multiple school systems represented at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena The 2024-2025 Student & Educator of the Year awards brought together faculty and students from the dozens of schools spread throughout Shelby County in a day celebrating the power of education was co-sponsored by the University of Montevallo and Alabama Credit Union the 2025 board chair of The Shelby County Chamber expressed his excitement for the event in his opening remarks “It is a great day to be in Shelby County,” Morris said “I’m encouraged by the young talent in this room Morris also serves as the president and CEO of AmFirst and outlined how the company has poured back into education in Shelby County our company has reinvested almost half a million dollars in scholarships to local students two-year colleges and also the University of Montevallo,” Morris said “We believe we can make the areas that we support better by giving people different opportunities to learn at different levels.” Morris then turned it over to Cami Hammond the community and career development manager with the Shelby County Chamber Hammond presented all of the honorees and awards at the luncheon The following teachers were nominated for Elementary School Educator of the Year: The following teachers were nominated for Middle School Educator of the Year: The following teachers were nominated for High School Educator of the Year: Eligible students were grouped into two categories: Career Tech Standout and Distinguished Student Standout The following students were nominated for Career Tech Standout of the Year: The following students were nominated for Distinguished Student Standout of the Year: each of the award recipients also received a cash award in the form of a check Each recipient also received a $50 gift card to T the funds were intended to be used to continue their education and career development were encouraged to use the funds as they saw fit for their classrooms “Our panel of judges who reviewed the information had an extremely challenging time choosing the recipients in each category,” Hammond said “That’s a true indication of the excellence that we have right here in Shelby County classrooms.” The following individuals won each of the awards presented at the luncheon with an additional Future Leader of the Year award winner selected from all of the student nominees: For more information on The Shelby County Chamber Just one AAC game is on Monday’s college basketball schedule That contest is the Wichita State Shockers squaring… The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) face the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday take on the Brooklyn Nets (21-39).… The Wichita State Shockers versus the North Texas Mean Green is a game to catch on the Monday… The Monday college basketball slate has plenty of exciting matchups in store Our computer model has suggested picks… What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter View Results (WZTV) — A major entrance to one of East Nashville’s most popular parks remains closed after severe erosion damaged the roadway along the Cumberland River which leads into the eastern entrance of Shelby Park has been shut down since early April after heavy rainfall caused a slope failure near the embankment across from the Naval Building Metro Parks officials say nearly 6.3 inches of rain fell over a four-day span in April The resulting erosion made the area unsafe for drivers Engineers are currently working to stabilize the slope but the repairs are expected to take months Davidson Street is not anticipated to reopen until mid to late October those trying to access Shelby Park should follow the detour signs directing traffic via Naval Hill and Sevier Street Metro officials advise planning for extra travel time when heading into the park Stay with FOX 17 News for updates on the construction timeline GREAT FALLS — A federal jury in Great Falls awarded more than $27 million dollars in a lawsuit filed against private prison company CoreCivic to Nathaniel Lake who was nearly beaten to death in one of their prisons in Shelby While serving time in the CoreCivic owned Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby in 2018 Nathaniel Lake was assaulted by another inmate beaten and choked for more than three minutes without intervention from staff He was found unconscious fifteen minutes later and life-flighted to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls Lake spent four months in the ICU before returning to the prison for another six months until his conviction for attempted sexual intercourse without consent was overturned by the Montana Supreme Court coordination,and cognitive abilities remain severely and permanently impacted A federal jury found the Tennessee-based company CoreCivic liable for failing to protect Lake and awarded $27,750,000 in compensatory damages says it’s a small price for the permanent injuries and trauma that Lake will face for the rest of his life with the doctor's visits and everything in the future According to a news release from Lake’s attorneys the inmate that assaulted Lake was serving a double life sentence without parole for deliberate homicide and had previously assaulted 11 other inmates The assailant buzzed out of his own locked pod and into Lake’s locked pod without interference from jail staff the inmate assaulted Lake because he believed that Lake had attacked his dog while in the yard Heenan believes the violent incident is part of a larger problem and hopes this case can bring policy changes to CoreCivic facilities Lake's circumstance is not isolated…there's been other people who have had problems at CoreCivic facilities one of the things that came out in the trial was has there been any policy changes since this CoreCivic is a for-profit prison operator with more than 40 jails and prisons across the country as well as immigration detention facilities “We take the safety and well-being of every person in our care very seriously We respectfully disagree with this decision don't believe it reflects the facts of the case and will appeal it on several legal grounds.” Lake’s legal team says they will keep fighting for him until the judgement is paid they want to still say they didn't do anything wrong a Montana jury said otherwise…Among the many kinds of policy issues that come out of a jury verdict like this I think it’s cause for the state of Montana to be examining is this where Montana wants to send its prisoners?” Report a typo is set to graduate from the University of Mount Olive in May with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling The road to getting her degree hasn't been easy "My journey into mental health work is deeply personal driven by the loss of my 14-year-old cousin to suicide," Nixon said "Her passing ignited a realization in me that we all go through moments in life where we need someone to talk to and that’s where I believe I can make a difference." Nixon once dreamed of becoming a pediatrician But life has guided her toward a path that feels even more fulfilling Nixon worked with children in childcare and elementary schools "I’ve been drawn to those who are often overlooked — the quiet ones and those facing tough backgrounds," Nixon said She's always been curious about the deeper reasons behind their behavior Nixon's pursuit to work in the mental health field is from both personal experiences and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact "It was through my own grief and depression that I realized the importance of reaching out for help — not as a sign of weakness Recognizing that she needed support was a moment of clarity and insight "It wasn’t until I began sharing my struggles that I discovered others were facing similar challenges," Nixon said I openly talk about mental health with my friends and family and it has become an essential part of my journey toward healing and understanding." Nixon worked as a teacher assistant at Wrightsboro Elementary School She continued to work there while attending school which allowed her to gain valuable experience in the classroom when it was time for me to begin my practicum and internship I made the difficult decision to leave that position in order to focus on my professional development in the mental health field," Nixon said Stay informed: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the StarNews app her goal was to make a real impact in her community of Castle Hayne "Mental health is often overlooked in the Black community who wants to become the professional that others feel comfortable opening up to She hopes to create a space where young people feel heard and to navigate their challenges with compassion and understanding More: A youth organization with ties to a 100-year-old club in Wilmington is making an impact Nixon had always envisioned working with young children as most of her experience had been with elementary-aged kids and younger Nixon's internship has led her to work with youth and adults "I’ve found a deep passion for serving this population," Nixon said Self-doubting herself was Nixon's biggest challenge: "For so long I needed others (besides my parents) to believe in me but it wasn't about other's opinions it was me believing in me." After Nixon's first semester at Mount Olive she was placed on academic probation after receiving two Bs and a C then she remembers her faith and her personal motto ― "If He brought me to it After that first semester she received only As "My hope is to inspire others to hold on to their dreams and challenge yourself because truly we have no clue what we can do until we take the next step in our journey," said Nixon "One of the most important lessons I’ve discovered is that it’s okay to ask for help." Nixon says this realization has not only shaped my academic path but also how she approaches her work with clients Nixon started to understand that being her genuine self and building authentic rapport is key to making the most meaningful impact I’ve seen how trust and openness can create a safe space for healing and growth," Nixon said Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. One of her long-term dreams is to establish a counseling group for youth — whether on her own or in partnership with others in her community "It’s more than a career; it’s a mission to make a difference and inspire others to do the same," Nixon said Whitaker covers community news for the StarNews Reach her at cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com AC Cars, Cars, Shelby There’s nothing like Shelby Cobra…or is there This 700hp Shelby Cobra wasn’t made by AC Cars or Shelby but actually created by Florida’s Backdraft Racing and it is the ultimate American dream machine The iconic Shelby Cobra open top sports car is deeply beloved The Backdraft Shelby Cobra comes with a very special surprise under the hood It looks every part like the original and iconic roadster faster and more powerful beast on the inside EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie The original Shelby Cobra open-top Roadster is an icon in its own right so of course there will be countless remakes Florida-based Backdraft Racing has thrown its hat in the ring and created yet another replica of the speediest snake in America There is probably only one thing that’s better than the roadster and that’s definitely a 700 horsepower version of it These hair-raising speeds are created by a brand new addition to the lightweight roadster using a Ford Performance VMS Stage 2 Godzilla 7.3-liter V8 engine While the style of the roadster can’t be mistaken for anything other than the Shelby Cobra with its Monterey blue color and black stripes it has a lot of the most modern tech under the hood The fake snake comes with a high-performance five-speed manual transmission as well as Wilwood disc brakes and spectacularly huge Forgeline alloy wheels This roadster could be better described as a supercar with all of its fabulous extras but it’s still close enough to the iconic Shelby Cobra that we know and love Huge props to Backdraft Racing for bringing back a racing icon Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects While I hadn't been to church in a long time new friend invited me to attend Easter service at Core Community Church which used to be Dowds Elementary School in Shelby when we were teammates on Shelby's 14- and 15-year-old all-star baseball team He was our catcher and I played first base Being an all-star was one of the highlights of my life back then Ronnie has been a much-needed friend during a time when I'm watching the most important person in my life slip away I haven't really had any contact with him for decades I believe Ronnie came back into my life for a reason I was not raised to go to church even though both my grandmothers I kind of recall attending a church service as a child in my beloved West Virginia Core Community Church is a so-called modern church Those often emphasize community engagement contemporary music and worship styles and a focus on real-world issues while traditional churches may prioritize established doctrines liturgical practices and historical reverence Many modern churches are independent or non-denominational teenage stepdaughter and one of her friends in the back of the worship area I immediately noticed there were chairs instead of pews Core Community Church featured a five-piece band for the Easter service He reviewed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ Words projected on a screen helped me learn more than the basic knowledge I had of the event the crucifixion of Jesus refers to his execution where he was nailed to a wooden cross and left to die I can't imagine the sheer brutality of such an event having nails driven through one's hands and feet Easter is perhaps the holiest day of the year but I have wondered why it's not recognized on the same day each year "Why Am I Here?" That's a question I have wondered about many times over the years Before heart problems forced me to retire from tennis in 2013 I used to play doubles at Lakewood Racquet Club at that time One member of our group said he worshipped at "Our Lady of Lakewood." It was a funny comment I ran into a couple of people I know from covering Shelby City Schools Ronnie pointed out someone else I knew from Auburn Elementary School The pastor didn't have people greet the person next to them which has always made me feel a bit uncomfortable at church services I have covered for stories There also was no offering; maybe that is indicative of modern churches a food truck with 700 doughnuts awaited the parishioners I'm not saying I will join Core Community Church or even attend occasionally but I plan to be there for the Mother's Day service Macclesfield………………………………………………                                                                 Mrs Brenda Harrell of Crisp; and five grandchildren High school softball teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties now know their path to an NCHSAA state championship the state’s athletic governing body releasing its softball playoff brackets Monday afternoon NCHSAA state softball championships will be played at Duke University in Durham or UNC Greensboro on May 30 and 31 WHAT'S NEW?: NCHSAA finalizes playoff formats, new mercy rules at spring board meeting Big South 3A co-champion Crest is the area’s highest ranked team earning the 5-seed in the 3A West regional bracket The Chargers will host conference foe and 28-seed Forestview in Round 1 Reigning NCHSAA 3A West champion Kings Mountain landed at No hosting 20th-ranked North Lincoln to open the postseason Western Foothills 3A champion East Lincoln is at No taking on conference rival and 25-seed Foard which is back in the postseason after nearly a decade 24 and will travel to ninth-ranked Hibriten After earning its first conference title since going back-to-back in 2010 and 2011 East Gaston is seeded ninth in the 2A West bracket Right behind them is Catawba Shores 1A/2A champion Lincoln Charter the 10th-ranked Eagles starting the playoffs against No Catawba Valley 2A tournament winner West Lincoln landed at No Cherryville is the highest-ranked area team in the 1A West bracket Metro-8 1A champion Piedmont Community Charter is No with Mountain Island Charter landing at No 8 with a matchup against 25th-ranked North Stokes Highland Tech was ranked 15th and is set to take on No 32 Yellow Jackets traveling to top-ranked Union Academy (17) Southern Guilford at (16) South Rowan (30) Central Academy (CATA) at (3) Oak Grove (31) Eastern Guilford at (2) Rockingham County (25) Providence Grove at (8) East Rutherford (25) North Stokes at (8) Mountain Island Charter (28) Eastern Randolph at (5) Bethany Community (29) Bradford Prep at (4) Uwharrie Charter (22) Mountain Heritage at (11) Swain County (26) Gray Stone Day at (7) Piedmont Community Charter ALABASTER – As another successful school year in Shelby County draws to a close staff members from around the county’s various schools joined together to celebrate many outstanding individuals as the 2024-2025 Shelby County Support Persons of the Year on Thursday The awards were handed out across eight categories to staff members that work behind the scenes to ensure that each school day operates in a smooth and efficient manner bettering the educational environment for students throughout the academic year the 2024-2025 Overall Support Person of the Year was named as Kathryn Wright a paraprofessional from Calera Intermediate School She was also named as the winner of the Instructional category as well who serves as a special education teacher on the third grade team at CIS is in her sixth year with the school system and while she has not always been in the educational field she feels she always knew that this job was where she was supposed to be “I always wanted to be a special education teacher,” Wright said “It doesn’t even feel like work to come and to make an impact on (the students’) lives I love the relationships that you build and watching them meet their goals and just watching them grow.” assistant principal at Calera Intermediate School expressed her gratitude for all that Wright does each day describing her as a teacher and a role model for others to look at and someone who is exemplary in her field “She’s the one you go to when you need advice on how to handle students and who other (paraprofessionals) look up to and strive to be like every day,” Hogge said Hogge also discussed how Wright is excellent at handling any kind of situation making the most of getting to work with her students “She doesn’t get enough credit for what she does,” Hogge said “She is just one of those people who puts her head down and does the job and takes on any situation and faces it head on no matter if that situation is a happy situation or a difficult situation She is always looking for what’s best for students and that drives what she does every single day.” seeing the growth and development of her students is the biggest reason she continues to get up with a smile as she heads for work “That keeps it exciting and it’s just neat to see how you have all these kids and all of them have different needs and they’re all still so special Then to watch them grow from third grade to fifth grade and then you have to say goodbye and that stinks The winner of Accounting was Whitney Warren of Oak Mountain Elementary School Principal Jan Curtis described Warren as a teacher who is very helpful each day and has a genuine gentle passion for her job and everything she does is with this gentle always looking for ways to help people and really to make their days easier and brighter.”  Warren finds joy in making everyone’s world better always looking for ways to directly or indirectly help students to have the best educational experience possible If I can help the custodian get what they need I know it’s directly affecting the students.” The Custodial winner was Cecil Martin from Inverness Elementary School who according to assistant principal Erin Moody never seems to have a day that is less than extraordinary “He does love to do his job and go unrecognized but he really deserves the most recognition.” Martin loves to go behind the scenes when nobody is looking to do his job and make IES spotless that is what he feels makes his job that much more enjoyable “The bonus part comes in with just a kid smiling,” Martin said especially being their first year here and everything ‘I say good morning to every kid that I see.’” The Food Services award winner was Tear Lee of Calera Elementary School Principal Shannon Montgomery sees the true love that Lee has for the kids each day and enjoys how hard she works to give the kids the best meals possible She is one of the most hardworking ladies that I know and I love the fact that she just loves our kids.” When she sees all of the students come into the lunch room striving to love on them no matter what mood they are in when she sees their faces they’re crying because they want to stay with their mama I can love on you just like your mama can.’” The Maintenance winner was Nick Wells of Shelby County High School Wells has seen the change that has been enacted within the school but knows the cause and reason for his job is still the same “We live in a totally different world than I came through this school in,” Wells said we should do it to the best of our abilities so that everybody sees that it takes everybody to make it work.” the positivity and determination that Wells possesses makes him great at his job as he looks to get everything in tip-top shape for the school to be running efficiently positive attitude—just someone that’s great to have in the building,” Dudley said There is nothing that is beyond his expertise and scope he’s going to find out for you as quickly as possible The Nursing award was given to Laura Blackburn of Mt As a former employee of Children’s Hospital in Birmingham Blackburn’s work with children matches her personality “Being around kids just gives me a lot more energy and it makes me feel happy They like to be silly and have fun and they’re always so sweet Principal Tina Neighbors makes a point to note that Neighbors is very valuable to the school bringing a lot to the environment that she steps into each day “She brings a lot to the school because she loves children,” Neighbors said trying to determine the next course of action for them…She’s just added so much to our school.” The Secretarial winner of the year was Penny Walker she has been a blessing to the school and all of the families that she has come across “When parents come in and they’re upset or they don’t know how to fill out a form or how to do something online or get access to something Walker loves being able to help the numerous parents that she sees in any way possible giving them the resources they need to be able to do something or answer their questions “I love working with students and parents,” Walker said “I love just being in the community and being that face that greets them when they come into the community and giving them resources that they need to feel at home and feel successful the job that she holds for the school is perfect because I need a good hour of coffee and Jesus before I talk to people,” Johns said “I pick up my first kid at about 6:24 (a.m.) and we’re back at the school bby 7:15.” she sees the passion that Johns puts into her job noticing how she strives to make not only the students’ mornings and afternoons better “She loves her students and wants them to have successful lives,” Aderholt said “She cares about their futures and ways that she might can help them All of the winners were honored by the Shelby County Schools Board of Education for the hard work that they have put in during the school year and they now will look forward to doing the same in the future of their employment ALABASTER – The Shelby County Schools Board of Education delivered a special presentation to honor one of the county’s most successful baseball coaches with a commemoration he will not soon forget During a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday May 1 at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center the board unanimously approved a motion to name the baseball field at Vincent Middle High School as “Kenny Wright Field.” The new name is presented in honor of former Vincent baseball coach Kenny Wright who coached the program starting in 1980 and ending his tenure in 1992 Over the course of his career with the Yellow Jackets Wright is the only coach to have won back-to-back state championships with those coming in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons shared a sentimental embrace with Wright when presenting him with the honor as he knows him on a personal level which made the moment special “What I’d like everyone to know is how much this means to me to be able to present this to coach Wright,” Brooks said “I met coach Wright as a 23-year-old young kid head coach and didn’t know what I was doing he and his wife Jane… I’m just appreciative of so much that I learned from coach and so thankful for the opportunities that we had together as friends to impact children’s lives and kids’ lives “I’m just grateful for his journey in Shelby County Schools but more so in our beloved Vincent community This is a special honor for me to be able to present this.” the board presented three teachers the Owens-Young Award which spotlights teachers who show exemplary integration and leadership with technology in the classroom The award honors Denise Owens and Michael Young who were both former Shelby County Schools employees that passed away but were innovative in those areas during their careers This year’s winners of the Owens-Young Award were Krista Bender of Oak Mountain Intermediate School Heather English of Chelsea Middle School and Tamika Whitt of Calera High School Each teacher will receive a $1,000 check to be used in their classroom towards the purchase of any technology advancement The board also approved a bid for CNP smallwares which was awarded to Mobile Fixture and Equipment for its price bid on the items as well made the approval for personnel actions related to human resources With the North Carolina high school baseball playoffs set to commence, a host of teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are expected to be part of the postseason dance Here are top baseball players to watch in the Gastonia Shelby area as the NCHSAA and NCISAA playoffs begin Tuesday Statistics were provided by coaches or gathered via MaxPreps and GameChanger through May 1 BRAVE NEW WORLD: NCHSAA finalizes playoff formats, new mercy rules at spring board meeting HONOR ROLL: Track stars, home runs and hat tricks: Gastonia, Shelby area spring sports top performers Has a 6-0 pitching record with a 0.85 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 41 innings. He’s only walked nine batters. Anderson is also effective at the plate, hitting .369 with a home run and 16 RBIs. Brock Bumgardner has also been solid at the plate and on the mound. He’s hitting .397 with four home runs and a team-high 30 RBIs. The sophomore has a 6-2 pitching record with a 1.68 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 41 ⅔ innings.  Talon Dalton leads Cherryville with a .449 batting average along with 20 RBIs. Hit .492 with 16 extra-base hits, including two home runs and 14 RBIs. Parker Stafford has been the Warriors' top pitcher, allowing 33 runs (18 earned) on 30 hits this season, with 72 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. Has allowed 14 earned runs on 41 hits this season, striking out 89 batters over 57 ⅓ innings pitched. The Wildcat pitching staff also has the services of Jackson Livingston, who has a 6-0 pitching record with seven earned runs allowed over 46 ⅔ innings, along with 54 strikeouts. Hit .350 this season with a home run, nine doubles and 23 RBIs. Erwing Soza has a 5-2 pitching record with a 1.58 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 31 innings. The Storm leadoff man hit .417 this season with four RBIs and 27 runs scored.  Stuart Cramer’s pitching staff has been up to the task, particularly sophomores Dylan Rodkin and Jack Scholz, as well as senior Mason Price. The Storm have earned a team ERA of 2.76 and 217 strikeouts in just short of 145 innings pitched.  The Rebels’ senior hurler has been awfully reliable this season as the starting pitcher for six of his team’s 15 wins this season. He’s pitched 24 ⅓ innings in those games, allowing eight earned runs on 20 hits with 31 strikeouts. He’s also been aided by a lineup including steady players such as Jacob Driggers, Ryder Dellinger, Hayes Kiser, Braden Helms and Landon Jenkins among others. Led the Raptors with a .500 batting average, a home run, four triples and three doubles, in addition to 14 RBIs. The Coastal Carolina signee has allowed three earned runs in 45 ⅔ innings with 91 strikeouts, helping the Knights earn a share of the Western Foothills 3A title with North Iredell. Cason McGinnis, Eli Sipe, Chad Matthews and Beckett Rinkus have also performed well for North Lincoln this season. Hit .519 this spring with three home runs, seven doubles and 24 RBIs. He’s also served as the Charger ace, allowing five earned runs in 57 ⅓ innings and 64 strikeouts. He goes into the postseason with an ERA hovering around 1.00. McSwain anchors a deep Crest lineup including Jeremiah Lowe, Landry Ohmstead, Eli Black and Zack Rayfield, among others. Hit .459 this season with a team-high seven home runs and 32 RBIs. He also has a 0.86 ERA, including 43 strikeouts in 16 ⅓ innings pitched. Reed Osborne led the Eagles with a .472 batting average, six home runs and 18 RBIs. Nate Rollins (.457 BA, four home runs, 27 RBIs), Danny Okoniewski (.426 BA, home run, 19 RBIs) and Adam Rodgers (.400 BA, home run, 16 RBIs) supplement an explosive Lincoln Charter lineup. Hit .421 this season with six doubles and 15 RBIs. He’s one of four Mustangs with 20 hits or more, joined by Brandon Washington, Brody Hager and Ryker Wensil. Evan Matile led East Lincoln with four home runs, with Dylan Scott hitting three. The Gardner-Webb signee is back after spending much of the season sidelined with injury. He’ll supllement an already talented Bulldog lineup, including Marshall McGowan, Drew Dixon, Yates Toney, Hagan Hoyle and Nick Williams — arguably the Burns player currently swinging the hottest bat — among others. Putnam also bolsters a Burns pitching staff already consisting of Jackson Toney, who threw a five-inning no-hitter earlier this season. Led the Mountaineers with a .409 batting average along with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 22 runs scored.  Led the Eagles with a .412 batting average, six home runs and 31 RBIs. He’s joined by senior standout Meridian Leffew in the Gaston Christian lineup, hitting .408 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. Pitchers Logan Davis and Cooper Summerlin have been stellar, the Eagles winning nine of their 11 games pitched with 83 strikeouts between them. Despite a late-season swoon, the Red Raiders still boast a deep lineup with the potential to give teams fits. Taylor is at the top, serving both as South Point’s leadoff man and No. 1 pitcher. Gavin Smith, Landon King, Zeke Pruitt, Patrick Blee, Gavin Gibson and Peyton McCarn help keep opposing pitchers off balance. Wake Forest Heads to Shelby to Battle App State4/28/2025 5:12:00 PM | Baseball The Demon Deacons defeated the Mountaineers Shelby Van Pelt’s novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures so we asked her a few questions about writing one of them will pop up in a signing line at one of my events But I’ll write pretty much any time of the day except early morning I have a tough time getting into a creative headspace first thing in the morning But the character of Marcellus the octopus was born in that class and the words of encouragement the instructor gave me quite literally changed my life prodding me to keep going with my oddball octopus character I actually started re-learning guitar last year but even being able to strum a simple song is so satisfying Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is now available in paperback via Ecco Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature Masthead About Sign Up For Our Newsletters How to Pitch Lit Hub Privacy Policy Support Lit Hub - Become A Member Lit Hub has always brought you the best of the book world for free—no paywall you'll keep independent book coverage alive and thriving The original Mustang Shelby GT500 had a short four-year lifespan from 1967 through 1970. It would take another 37 years for the nameplate to return, and its revival cemented the OG Shelby as a legend. Buyers flocked en masse to Ford for the reborn 2007 Shelby GT500 assuming it would be another short production run but it quickly became the flagship Mustang for over a decade—give or take a couple of model years The answer, apparently, is yes. After two years of radio silence, a leaked memo from February 2025 referenced the Shelby’s return Here’s what we know so far about the next great Pony Car The only things certain in life are death and taxes—and racing stripes on a Shelby Mustang we think Ford will move away from the gaping-mouth design of the previous generation and build on the design cues from the Dark Horse Our exclusive rendering showcases the Shelby’s new face with a larger take of the Dark Horse’s grille where prominent vents feed more air to the engine bay and brakes meeting the edges of the headlight and feeding into the Shelby’s wider stance the new GT500 should be properly flared out both front and rear GT500 test mules with sketchy Dark Horse body panels and camouflaged backsides have been spotted near Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn The camo disguises extra width at the rear and misaligned fenders at the front also suggest a slightly wider track And a new Shelby wouldn’t be complete with a big ol’ vented hood and a rear spoiler We don’t know if a Carbon Fiber Track Package will be offered this time around. It’s possible Ford could tone down the track offerings since the GTD now exists as the ultimate corner-carving Mustang But a big carbon fiber spoiler is virtually guaranteed Interestingly, Ford does have a 1,000-hp engine already in its wheelhouse. The 7.3-liter supercharged Megazilla 2.0 crate engine was announced in January 2025 It’s unknown if this engine meets emission requirements for production use but if Ford wanted to give this GT500 a proper send-off you could do worse than dumping a massive pushrod V-8 between the fenders but a slightly destroked version of this engine would displace 7.0 liters The original GT500 from 1967 through 1970 came with—you guessed it—a 428 cubic-inch V-8 Ford generally hasn’t done much with GT500 suspension tuning in the past which swapped in MagneRide magnetorheological dampers and a host of other upgrades Bigger brakes will certainly be part of the new GT500 but the GTD’s existence adds some uncertainty Will Ford make a concerted effort to upgrade the GT500’s handling chops We think a comfortable middle ground is likely here Test mules have already been spotted with old GT500 wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires It’s just a question of how close Ford wants to get to the $300,000-plus GTD’s capabilities in a cheaper (but still expensive) GT500 It’s reasonable to believe the new Shelby GT500 with its Legend engine will start at least in the high $80,000 range But we wouldn’t be surprised if Ford just bumps it to $100,000 The leaked memo mentioned adding more production shifts later in 2025 for the 2026 Shelby GT500 so we could see this car debut before the end of this year Miata and Mustang Are Among the Last Affordable Convertibles 2026 Jeep Compass Unveiled: Hybrid or EV With Up to 375 HP The Ford Mustang GTD Is Back at the Nürburgring Lotus Emira With Yellow Exhaust Tips Pays Tribute to an F1 GOAT because of the color," said owner Juan Garcia "The name Grinch came because of my wife's obsession with the Grinch." Garcia gave us a tour around the ultra-powerful green beast that he calls The Grinch and what went into his decision to buy and run his 2020 Shelby GT 500 he was not a professional mechanic," said Garcia drawing attention at automotive events across the city 1-252-753-3400     1-252-753-3400   please call us.We will begin the process of bringing your loved one into our care right away Our support in your time of need does not end after the funeral services Enter your email below to receive a grief support message from us each day for a year Farmville Funeral Home4226 E. Church St.Farmville, NC, 27828Tel: 1-252-753-3400 Carli Bailey was still a child when she fell in love with her family's business she was telling classmates that someday she would be the funeral home's director "I can't ever remember wanting to do anything else," she said Her last name may be Bailey, but she is the sixth generation of the Barkdull family to serve the Shelby community opened the place in 1895 as the Barkdull Funeral Co "That's 130 years ago this year," she said The family changed the name to Barkdull Funeral Home in 1941 then Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in 2014 the family remains dedicated to their vocation Barkdulls have a storied history in ShelbyThe Barkdull family has kept a record of their milestones over the years the funeral home bought its first automobile after 19 years of using a horse-drawn carriage Albert Barkdull joined the family business in 1929 The family's fifth generation was the first to have co-owners: Eric Barkdull began his tenure in 1976 and his sister Carli Bailey officially joined the business in 2013 especially when I was in elementary school," she said helping set up chairs and tearing them down and setting them up and tearing them down 30,000 times." works there as a certified crematory operator and funeral assistant who is a funeral director and a licensed ordained minister "We were each other's first boyfriend and girlfriend way back when," Kyle said He went on to Kenyon College in Gambier to play football "I have had my whole life planned out," she admitted with a laugh I never knew it to be different or weird to be in a funeral home." She followed her childhood dream and moved south to attend the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science one of the nation's oldest schools for morticians they had us all raise our hands," Carli said if you're the first generation funeral director She was soon the only student whose hand was still in the air "I realized this was pretty cool," Carli said "I'm the sixth generation and that doesn't happen very often." The next thing on her list after college was to move home Little did she know Kyle had also returned to Shelby "We just kind of rekindled our friendship," Kyle said Their seventh wedding anniversary was this Easter Marrying into the Barkdull family introduced him to a line of work he never suspected might one day become his life's mission "She tried her best to keep me out," he said His first job for the Barkdull family was visiting homes and hospitals after a loved one had made their unfortunate phone call especially when you're a sixth-generation Barkdull "We can't go anywhere in Shelby without someone knowing her and coming and talking to her," Kyle said "If we go out on a date and we want to have time alone sometimes that doesn't happen because everyone knows her." When they do go to dinner or to their kids' school events they drive separately in case one needs to leave for a work call "I’ve left a full shopping cart in the middle of the store," Carli said Their goal is to be as helpful as possible during one of the most difficult times of a client's life "Death can be inconvenient for everybody," Carli said "We pretty much have always had a 20-minute rule you should be at the funeral home within 20 minutes to get to that family." Once Kyle has made a delivery to the funeral home Carli takes over with the embalming and restoration More: Amish education: After eight years in school, plain life begins with service to community The restorative arts are where Carli's passion shines the most "We want to bring their dignity back to them," she said Waiting to get started is never an option she allows herself Her record for starting a preservation is five minutes after arrival "I want to get straight to work," Carli said she quit worrying about the time of day or how many hours she may have already worked that week "I’ve always had the philosophy that whatever's going on in my life it's no comparison to what the person across the table is going through," Carli said They talk about it during the ceremony and often send cards after "She constantly worries about these things that the family is not going to think it looks like them," Kyle said "It makes me feel good to hear people say such great things about the work that she does That's how detail-oriented she is and fixated on those little things to just make sure that they look perfect for that family but healthier — she wants to return the vibrancy of complexion lost to illness "Preferably in our sleep in the middle of the night." She knows how important it is for family members to have one final and she learned that first-hand 10 years ago 'I always looked up to her'Some of her favorite childhood memories are of following her mother She was always impressed with how busy her mother was and how many people would stop her in public to thank her for helping their family through a troubling time "She was always dressed so nice," Carli said but Lesli became a little more worn down than normal That's when the family learned she was ill with ovarian cancer Lesli Barkdull-Neal passed away in 2015 "The first thing that I think of when I think of my Mom isn't that horrible image of her when she passed away," Carli said It's that memory of her mother that pushes her to try her hardest "You dump everything you have into it," Carli said "So many times I've come home and just been exhausted mentally because I'm so worried about if I did enough." and they hope someday the family's seventh generation will join them in their service to others getting to sit there and listen to people talk about their loved ones," Carli said and they sometimes get to be able to breathe for the first time and laugh That's a good feeling that you can provide that for somebody." With the North Carolina high school softball playoffs set to commence, a host of teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are expected to be part of the postseason dance Here are top softball players in the Gastonia Statistics were provided by coaches or gathered via MaxPreps and GameChanger through April 30 KEEP CHOPPIN': East Gaston softball trusted the process. Now, the Warriors are reaping the benefits ALL HANDS ON DECK: No matter young or old, here's how everyone is chipping in on Crest softball's success She’s also served the Red Raiders inside the circle earning a 10-8 pitching record with a 4.79 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 99 ⅓ innings Asbher is backed by a prolific lineup including three players (with more than 70 at bats) hitting better than .400 Cailey Evans (14 RBIs) and Taylyn Leford (15 RBIs) Madison Bridges has a team-high three home runs and 25 RBIs Freshman pitcher Makaylee Gantt has a 3.89 ERA along with 91 strikeouts Jaelynn Motley (19 RBIs) and Paige Hammond (home run 11 RBIs) are hitting better than .500 as well Bailee Roper and Sophie Gibson also have batting averages above .400 Leads the Raptors with a .458 batting average 13 RBIs) and Leilani Swanson (eight RBIs) also are hitting above .400 earning a 7-2 record with a 0.41 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 68 ⅓ innings pitched She also has a .395 batting average with 10 RBIs Paige Fleming leads the Mountaineers at the plate with a .421 batting average 15 RBIs) and Avery Cruise (13 RBIs) are also hitting .400 Ledbetter has enjoyed a stellar season campaign earning a 17-3 record with a 0.67 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 105 innings pitched Allie Summer leads the Chargers at the plate Maddie Crocker is hitting .468 with two home runs Kenedy Miller also hit .400 with eight RBIs Hit .436 with two home runs and 14 RBIs this season She’s one of three Knights with 20 hits or more Maysen Reames has a 14-4 pitching record with a 2.04 ERA and 125 strikeouts Proctor hit .500 this season with 12 extra-base hits — including a home run — and 32 RBIs She’s one of five Lady Ironmen players with 20 or more hits this season who leads the team with a .538 batting average Alexis McSwain has a team-high four home runs to go with 21 RBIs Landyn McBride (15 RBIs) and Ava Miller (home run Smith hit .460 this spring with more than half her hits going for extra bases (14 doubles Laney Williams had a team-high .490 batting average Aaliyah Sain (.431) and Bailee Cook (five RBIs) hit better than .400 this season Laylah Haynes led the Bulldogs with four home runs and 24 RBIs Thomas is hitting .500 with three home runs and 12 RBIs as a senior Jordyn Aungst has been solid inside the circle for East Lincoln a 1.66 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 71 ⅔ innings The freshman catcher leads a dangerous Warrior lineup with a .507 batting average with Wheeler one of five players with a minimum of 70 at bats to hit better than .400 this spring Hannah Massey (20 RBIs) and Kyndall Godley (20 RBIs) She also has an 11-6 pitching record with a 3.06 ERA and 130 strikeouts Stacia Cowan hit a team-high .500 batting average with two home runs Kaylin Pardo has a .426 batting average with six home runs and 23 RBIs while Abree Sutton hit .406 with three home runs and 24 RBIs (WZTV) — Sometimes you meet someone and think Hermitage's Judy Charest was that type of person "Miracle on Shelby Street" is appearing in film festivals across the world Filmed here in Tennessee by Bright Morning Films one of the co-producers is very close to the story and this was one last gift to his beloved wife That Christmas morning, Marguerite Hunt jumped off the Shelby Street bridge with her 3-month-old baby in her arms. she found one of the men who saved her and thanked Harold Hogue for saving her and her mom “ When he came through the door, he gave me the biggest hugs and I had the strangest feeling that I had been in those arms before,” said Judy from an interview in 2017. The promoters say they have something their big blockbuster competitors don’t have: A powerful story with a powerful message Michael knew he had to make a movie as the last love offering to his beloved wife and I wanted to make her proud," he said So we get it out there all over the world.” we will let you know the minute you can see it in a local theater Get reports like this and all the news of the day in Middle Tennessee delivered to your inbox each morning with the FOX 17 News Daily Newsletter. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application son of the late Wilbur Eugene Jones and Geroldine Lucille Abner was born on November 5 Missouri and departed his life on Saturday He was the owner and operator of Hunter Lane Process Servers LLC and a United States Veteran of the Army 1972 he was united in marriage to Fran Jones in Belton and Shelly Carter of Indianapolis; one brother Sheila Rae Abner of Georgia; six grandchildren Nancy Lee Walterscheid and Carolyn (Carrie) Jo Poole Henry and two brothers John Douglas "Sonny" Henshaw and Travis Poole Graveside service will be held on Wednesday 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full military honors Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Adopt Today: Meet Shelbyby Tylor Brummett — A 3-year-old dog at the SPCA of Southwest Michigan is looking for a forever home Shelby is a beagle and is described as the "snuggly lap dog," according to SPCA Executive Director Katie Timber Timber expects Lightning will be more than 50 pounds when he's fully grown "He seems very lovable," Timber said I would just say he'd do well in most homes." You can catch Adopt Today every Saturday morning on News Channel 3 Roundup of Saturday’s high school spring sports action from the Greater Spokane League East Valley 1-2 (DH): Jackson Ables went 3 for 3 with three runs Mason Watt had a double for East Valley in the five-inning opener North Central 1-12 (DH): Kian Carruthers hit a three-run double in the ninth inning and the visiting Wolfpack (10-10 8-9) split a doubleheader with the Eagles (14-4 Ethan Turley hit a two-run triple and struck out eight in a complete game in the opener Deer Park 2-4 (DH): Will Focht hit a two-run single in the ninth inning and the visiting Greyhounds (13-7 Pedar Tobeck went 1 for 3 with a double for Deer Park Brayden Randall went 2 for 4 with three runs and four RBIs in the first game Rogers 9-9 (DH): JC Weger went 4 for 5 with a double and four RBIs and the visiting Knights (12-5 Shelby Swanson hit two home runs and drove in eight in the four-inning opener Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get the day’s top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy PLEASANT SPRING DAY: The sky is partly to mostly sunny across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures in the 60s and 70s A few isolated showers could form this evening over the Tennessee Valley otherwise tonight will be mostly fair with a low in the 50s Read More it will likely be October before we see weather this nice again across Alabama with a few more clouds the farther north you go as an upper-level low spins over the Ohio River Valley Read More knew he made the right decision to open his own business but it wasn’t until he won the 2023 Birmingham Small Business Week Pitch Competition that he got an additional boost Read More COOL START: Temperatures are in the 40s across much of North/Central Alabama just before daybreak… for some places this will most likely be the last morning with temperatures in the 40s until late September or October Read More Sunday brought Alabama a taste of early spring and a mix of sun and clouds—especially north of the Tennessee River where a few sprinkles are still possible Read More Exceptional Anglers events at Oak Mountain State Park teach basic fishing skills to students with disabilities from Alabaster and Pelham city schools and the Shelby and Jefferson County school systems Read More Sunday brings Alabama a breath of fresh air—literally and figuratively—with cooler temperatures and low humidity replacing Saturday’s storms in a refreshing pattern shift worthy of a “Cool Change.” Read More but dense fog may pose a travel hazard overnight and into Sunday morning across north Alabama and southern Tennessee Read More the severe threat is nearly over in Alabama as storms shift east into Georgia Read More strong storms remain active in eastern Alabama this evening with gusty winds Read More A new severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for northeastern Lee County and heavy rain moving east toward Auburn and Opelika Read More Severe storms continue across east Alabama with warnings active in Chambers County and strong storms impacting several others under Severe Thunderstorm Watch #221 through 10 PM Read More Strong to severe storms continue moving through east-central and southeast Alabama this evening with the threat of damaging winds and frequent lightning continuing through 10 PM Read More Severe storms with 60 mph winds and quarter-size hail are moving into Tallapoosa and Chambers counties Read More ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BY ALEX WEINER I dug through the archives of our daily poll question on ArizonaSports.com to find this nugget from July 12 2018: “What should the D-backs do with Shelby Miller moving forward?” Miller had just allowed five runs in one inning during his fourth start after Tommy John surgery His Diamondbacks tenure to that point had been a failure due to injuries and poor performance and the winning vote in our poll with 63% was “Send him down to the minors.” the Diamondbacks placed him on the injured list with right elbow inflammation He came back to throw one scoreless inning at the end of the season his final appearance with the franchise that traded its No 1 overall pick for him three seasons earlier Miller was the overwhelming favorite (68%) for who should receive the bulk of Arizona’s save opportunities with A.J Miller earned his first save of the year on Thursday with a 1-2-3 inning to secure a series victory at the New York Mets He’s having quite the redemption season “It seems like it was so long ago,” Miller told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Friday “The injuries that I had back then and just poor performances those three years were tough “It was the first time I’ve struggled in my career and it was just kind of a downward spiral for myself So it’s nice to come back with a different mindset different stuff and just be a reliever and contribute to this team the best I can I’m just stoked to be a Diamondback.” Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo pregame on Friday that if Miller is available there is a good chance he’ll pitch on the back end again Miller has thrown 13.2 innings without an earned run He signed a minor league deal including a spring training invitation with the D-backs during camp and quickly stood out in Cactus League His path to the roster became clear when Kevin Ginkel and Kendall Graveman started on the IL To Miller’s point about not having struggled before he was a first-round pick straight out of Brownwood High School in Texas and quickly climbed prospect rankings He debuted at 21 years old and finished third for 2013 NL Rookie of the Year with the St He made the All-Star team in 2015 with the Atlanta Braves before turning 24 Arizona traded shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson in a package for Miller ahead of the 2016 season one of the franchise’s dubious moments After his three-year stint with Arizona ended splitting time in the majors and minors as he transitioned into a relief role “I’d probably say 2023 with the Dodgers was like my first full year in the big leagues as a reliever and first time I was throwing different pitches,” Miller said I was spending most of the year in the minor leagues but I was relieving that whole year as well … Obviously got it down as far as preparation and what I need to do to be ready every single day as a reliever But 2023 is probably the first year it all clicked for me.” He was stellar for the 2023 Dodgers, pitching to a 1.71 ERA in 36 games. As a reliever, he’s attacking hitters much differently Instead of peppering hitters with fastballs (83% four-seamers he’s complimenting his heater with a splitter and a sweeper neither of which have resulted in a hit this year He’s also fared against both lefties and righties so far “I just wanted to go somewhere I had some familiar faces,” Miller said “Bouncing around these past four or five years from organization to organization going to a team that was near and dear to me and the coaching staff and being back with this club has been a blessing.” Shelby Miller's first time around with the Diamondbacks didn't go so well Right now, he might be Torey Lovullo's best closer option, writes @alexjweiner: https://t.co/W6AhdUQWUI pic.twitter.com/jnjNdluKUS — Arizona Sports (@AZSports) May 2, 2025 Puk is on the 60-day IL with left elbow inflammation. Martinez landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation after Wednesday’s game and his timeline is uncertain as they await imaging “I think we have tons of guys down there capable of throwing leverage innings,” Miller said “There’s a strategy for what we do here And a lot of times it ends up being Shelby for everybody in the lineup … We’re still trying to find out how he feels right now with the heavy workload that he’s had there’s a good chance you’ll see him on the very back end.” Follow @alexjweiner The right-hander has not allowed an earned run in 13.2 innings and has quickly emerged as one of the top arms in the bullpen "My first time around here wasn't that great but getting to come back and succeed so far and just continue that success hopefully and then it's just amazing to be back and be a Diamondback and be in Arizona for sure," Miller told DbacksTV reporter Jody Jackson after his successful save opportunity on Thursday the lasting memory of Miller for Diamondbacks fans was a pitcher whom the team paid a premium for and failed to live up to the billing Arizona had traded a significant prospect haul including former 2015 top pick Dansby Swanson to the Braves to acquire the All-Star right-hander his first outing in his return to the Diamondbacks was facing Swanson for the first time nearly 10 years after the trade After Miller left Arizona following the 2018 season He had struggled to find his footing in the major leagues for the next four seasons but found something toward the end of the 2022 season he's been on an upward trajectory for his career and has reinvented himself as a solid right-handed reliever Despite his success with the Dodgers and relatively solid underlying metrics on Statcast in his year with the Tigers Miller had to sign a minor league pact with the Diamondbacks in February he's been lights out and made the club on his own merit he's proven to be a reliable arm and is getting higher leverage situations In his last six outings Miller's average leverage index on Baseball Reference averages 2.80 anything higher than 1.0 is considered high-pressure situations That's come out of necessity as both the team's high-leverage relievers Miller will be tasked with getting a lot of those outs for the bullpen It will be interesting to see how manager Torey Lovullo divvies up the roles in the bullpen as it's currently constructed Based on results and underlying performances it would make sense to ask Miller to get the biggest outs of the game Whether that's pitching the ninth or facing the heart of an opposing lineup in the eighth The 34-year-old doesn't have a lot of experience pitching in the ninth inning the latest coming in Thursday's series-clinching win over the New York Mets he pitched a scoreless eighth in the second game then pitched a tidy ninth in just eight pitches in the finale there's more adrenaline than when you're behind but I think closing games is probably the most for sure." Diving into what has made Miller successful this season averaging 94.5 MPH with above-average horizontal and vertical break Because of the sheer movement numbers on the pitch and his ability to fill up the zone with it batters are just hitting .143 and slugging .143 against his fastball this season Having a plus fastball isn't the only reason that Miller has been successful; he can also throw some quality secondary stuff The splitter has been a key pitch in his revival as a reliever He developed it in his one year with the Dodgers in 2023 and it's become his go-to secondary offering the results did not match the quality of contact as his xBA (.227) and xSLG (.385) were better than the actual results of a .239 average and .457 slugging That likely factored in the Diamondbacks' decision to sign him despite a cold market for his services in terms of major league contracts the pitch has taken off to new levels and has become a real weapon for Miller to put away hitters with The splitter has already generated a +3 run value as batters are hitless against the pitch with a 37.0% whiff rate Factoring in that hitters have to expect an explosive mid-90s fastball the ability to land both pitches puts hitters in a bind It's no surprise the two pitches have combined for a +7 run value to begin the season Miller has one of the best chase rates in baseball at 41.8% That's led to either whiffs or soft contact as his 31.6% whiff rate sits in the 82nd percentile and average exit velocity of just 84.8 MPH The combination of swing-and-miss and weak contact is ideal to have in the back of the bullpen While he isn't likely to sustain a 0.00 ERA his 1.96 FIP and 2.23 xERA are both bullish on his run prevention ability Miller will end up being the high-leverage bullpen arm the Diamondbacks have needed all season it's incumbent that Lovullo use his best reliever available for the biggest situations of the ballgame If Miller emerges as a key late-inning arm and the Diamondbacks make a deep postseason run it will complete quite the redemption arc in the right-hander's career not the failed starter arc from one of the franchise's most infamous trades from 2016-2018 The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Many people wouldn't believe how big the art and music scene is in Wyoming Art and music can be found in most parts of the state and many artists have taken their talents to the national level One of those talented musicians is Wyoming native and Bluegrass artist Shelby Means She was born in Kentucky but moved to Wyoming with her family when she was four She lived in the Cowboy State until she moved to Nashville in 2010 Shelby has been busy leaving her mark on Bluegrass music Playing bass and singing with bands like Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and Della Mae has kept her busy through the first part of her career but now she's adding sole artist to her resume On May 30, Shelby will release her debut self-titled solo album. You can go to her website, Shelby Lee Means.com Means is a driving player with a deep pocket she’s also an accomplished songwriter and a heartfelt vocalist whose voice is rooted in tradition while authentically her own Means invites listeners to experience the same soulful presence and adventurous spirit she has built her career on Her singing and playing have been heard across the country and around the world I enjoyed chatting with Shelby about her life in Wyoming Discover how Wyoming nurtures musical talent as Shelby Means, a rising Bluegrass star, transitions from band member to solo artist with her new album. Don't miss it!\nRead More One of those talented musicians is Wyoming native and Bluegrass artist Shelby Means On May 30, Shelby will release her debut self-titled solo album. You can go to her website, Shelby Lee Means.com Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight Glassblower Ryan Gothrup of Mobile Arts adds a fin to a glass fish Saturday at the Kingsport Arts Festival Kids chalk up a section of Shelby Street sidewalk during Saturday's Kingsport Arts Festival Artist Brett Marcus Cook shows his watercolor technique during Saturday’s Kingsport Arts Festival on Shelby Street An assistant at the Clay Gurus demonstrates the final step of raku pottery firing Saturday at the Kingsport Arts Festival A girl picks up the beat with Symphony of the Mountains Executive Director Cassidy Lester principal percussionist with the Symphony. Artist Madison Ramey gets a smile of approval from a face-painting subject Saturday at the Kingsport Arts Festival Henna artist Karishma Manji practices her art on a girl at Saturday's Kingsport Arts Festival offer folks the chance to try their hand at watercolor painting Saturday during the Kingsport Arts Festival Maggie Kern takes the reins as parents James and Amanda Kern of Duffield check out "Kitty-Up," one of the Kingsport Cultural Arts Horse Brigade of painted horses on display in downtown through November Linore Huss of Kingsport Cultural Arts with a work-in-progress finger painting at the Kingsport Arts Festival schmooze during the Kingsport Arts Festival Saturday From a drumbeat and molten glass to watercolors and pottery on fire the Kingsport Arts Festival had plenty to occupy a visiting public Saturday Kids chalk up a section of Shelby Street sidewalk during Saturday's Kingsport Arts Festival An assistant at the Clay Gurus demonstrates the final step of raku pottery firing Saturday at the Kingsport Arts Festival during Saturday's Kingsport Arts Festival Linore Huss of Kingsport Cultural Arts with a work-in-progress finger painting at the Kingsport Arts Festival KINGSPORT - From a drumbeat and molten glass to watercolors and pottery on fire festival coordinator with Kingsport Cultural Arts alternated between helping attending artists answering visitors’ questions and manning a finger painting station on Shelby Street the Festival brought together 17 artists and nine activity stations for a visual and hands-on arts experience folks could try their hand at paper crafts and bucket drumming or get their face painted or don a henna design “It’s really exciting to have a second year and be able to expand on what we did in 2024 from a couple of little activities and vendors,” said Huss “It’s a lot bigger this year and we hope to continue that trend.” While a planned iron pour had to be cancelled when an exhibitor was not able to make it to Kingsport Saturday festivalgoers got to see molten and fiery elements in other forms Glassblower Ryan Gothrup of Mobile Arts demonstrated a glass sculpture of a fish and other items at The Inventors Center Jacob Vitjms and Kip Brixey of The Clay Gurus provided a display of Japanese Roku pottery firing that involved burning wood smoke and steam flashing from buckets of water as they and their assistants took 1,800-degree Fahrenheit pottery from a kiln and set the glazes in a quick-cooling process For kids and adults wanting to try body art local muralist and artist Madison Ramey scaled down her commercial work into face painting Karishma Manji applied henna in longer lasting but temporary floral and flowing designs The Kingsport Arts Guild let people try their hands at watercolor paintings while providing inspiration with a display of area artists’ work in the medium sidewalk chalk drawing and other traditional and avant-garde art displays were on hand during the festival Symphony of the Mountains had plenty of drumsticks and five-gallon plastic buckets on hand for a day-long rotating percussion session While The Investors Center was not hosting people in protective helmets and overalls while pouring molten iron this year Center director Brandon Harrell said the festival has been an opportunity to show that the facility is not just a place for invention “We’re mostly here to show people this space exists,” Harrell said between guiding tours of the center’s spaces for wood- and metal-working laser graphics and design and other skill areas People can sign up for $35 a month and a three-month minimum to use center tools and equipment and use some consumables to learn a new skill build things for their home or even start a new business Larger projects require that center users buy their materials but being able to use tools on site makes those projects and starting a new business more economical people could look at Kingsport Cultural Arts’ Horse Brigade project – a series of six fiberglass carousel horses decorated by area artists People could be seen during the day taking selfies with or shooting pictures of friends and family with the horses The horses will be on display through at least November Online: www.ArtsKingsport.org Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Please disable your ad blocker, whitelist our site, or purchase a subscription Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account A baseball season can often be a war of attrition A 162-game schedule is a grind for any team and when the cold streaks or the bumps and bruises start to pile up the teams that can weather the storm most effectively are often the teams that will put themselves in a position to be hoisting a trophy at the end of the year The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in such a position right now With Jordan Montgomery out for the season following Tommy John surgery and All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte and co-closer AJ Puk already on the IL the Diamondbacks were dealt another tough blow on Thursday when they were forced to place their other closer on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation Martinez saved eight games for the Diamondbacks in 2024 pitching to a 2.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while striking out 91 batters in 72 2/3 innings The 23-year-old looked electric in spring training and began the 2025 season with a 2.70 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10 innings while picking up three saves as a co-closer with AJ Puk He was able to pitch around a few baserunners to secure a save in his next performance Martinez was averaging 93.5 on his sinker and allowed three baserunners before being pulled from the game right?” said Diamondbacks’ manager Torey Lovullo before Thursday’s contest against the Mets so we called [Martinez] in and had a really nice We just figured this was the best option for him to get back to Arizona and let’s find out what’s going on in his shoulder.” the team is simply saying that Martinez is experiencing fatigue in his shoulder and Martinez himself “feels strongly that there’s nothing wrong,” according to Lovullo the team will get imaging done and allow Martinez the time and space to rest work to get their young closer back up to speed “He said he’s not sure why it’s fatigued,” explained Lovullo “He was working hard to strengthen [the shoulder] but we’re going to remain optimistic that everything’s clear Just a little bit of a rest is going to get him back up to speed.” with both Martinez and AJ Puk on the injured list who will be taking the ball in the ninth inning to close games for the Diamondbacks “I know everybody’s gonna ask me who’s gonna be closer,” smiled Lovullo The three names that Lovullo mentioned specifically were Shelby Miller Thompson is a side-armer who registered the final outs on Wednesday night in the win over the Mets when Martinez had to be lifted from the game He has eight saves in his MLB career and currently ranks 5th on the team in Game Leveredge Index which is a Fangraphs stat that measures the average leverage (or how important to the game) a situation is when the pitcher comes into the game it would seem that Thompson is likely just an ancillary option to close games The pitcher with the highest Game Leveredge Index score on the Diamondbacks the pitcher who has pitched in the biggest spots this season “His emergence and his growth from the last time I saw him has been enormous,” said Lovullo “He’s executing pitches at a very high level and getting huge outs for us.” Miller has yet to allow a run on four hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 15 and walking four It’s been quite the resurgence for the former 19th overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft who posted a 4.08 ERA in 735 MLB innings as a starting pitcher before officially moving to the bullpen in 2021 He pitched mainly low-leverage innings early on before finally getting thrust into some medium and high-leverage spots with Detroit last season “Nothing really changes too much,” Miller said of his shifting roles over his career you kind of have to be ready for any situation at any time The preparation part stays the same: just go out and you have a game plan and attack hitters with the best stuff you got.” That stuff for Miller in 2025 has included a few changes to his arsenal like modifying the shape and attack plan on his splitter “I killed some vert on the split,” he explained before Thursday’s game against the Mets The pitch now has 1.5 inches less vertical drop but slightly more horizontal run the bigger change is that Miller is no longer as focused on using it early in the count Miller threw his spitter early in the count 63% of the time and only 32% of the time in two-strike counts It had just a 36% zone rate and an 11% called strike rate so the choice to use it early in the count is a bit perplexing he’s throwing it early in the count just over 44% of the time while using it in two-strike counts 51% of the time which measures how often a two-strike pitch results in a strikeout and the overall swinging strike rate is up 7% to 21.3% overall Much of that may have to do with how often he’s attacking low in the strike zone he’s throwing his splitter in the lower third of the strike zone or below it 83% of the time He did that just 70% of the time last year So even though the overall zone rate on the pitch is worse the approach is working much better for Miller I really don’t want to throw for a strike,” Miller confirmed “The key to any kind of pitch is just to have a look You want everything to kind of be in the same zone as late as possible and break from there So there will be times where I need to throw a split for a strike but that’s not necessarily what I’m trying to do.” Another change that has worked for Miller has been bringing back his sweeper they wanted me to go to kind of that gyro or bullet slider and I didn’t really have very much success with it against right-handed hitters,” he explained which is just something that’s a little slower Miller’s sweeper is averaging 15.2 inches of horizontal movement at 82.6 mph compared to his slider last year which had just five inches of horizontal run at 88.3 mph The sweeper has only posted an 8.3% SwStr% compared to a 12% mark on the slider last year but Miller sees the value of the sweeper being more than just swings and misses “It’s just a different look to right-handed hitters and then obviously using the split and heater off of that.. but it’s just something to be able to show and throw for a strike and get ahead in counts There’s gonna be hitters that swing and miss off of it so it’s just a nice pitch to have a bigger shape to be able to use.” The changes to the arsenal that helped fuel this breakout have also put Miller in the position where he may be called on to get the final outs of the game He knows that being a good closer takes “confidence in yourself and your stuff and then after that it comes to execution.” But that level of confidence is something Miller feels when he steps onto the mound right now and he has every look of the kind of pitcher you’d want to slam the door on the opposition for you that could also work against him if you’re projecting out saves since Lovullo could continue to use him in the highest leverage situations even if they happen to be in the sixth or seventh inning then Kevin Ginkel would emerge as the favorite to rack up the most saves in the Arizona bullpen until Martinez and/or Puk return The 31-year-old saved five games for Arizona last season and was in the mix for the closer’s role during a strong spring training before shoulder inflammation landed him on the IL He made his season debut on Wednesday night and was immediately thrust into a high-leverage spot coming into the game with two out in the seventh inning He walked Pete Alonso but struck out Mark Vientos to preserve the lead for Arizona “I feel great,” said Ginkel after his performance It was cool to be in a spot like that and deliver for the club.. The biggest thing was coming back and feeling good and bouncing back after an outing I think the hardest thing as a reliever is when you come back from an injury I feel like I’ve mentally and physically prepped.” From the third inning on I felt like I was ready for that situation The veteran has been ready whenever his name is called many times in his Arizona career which is why his manager knew that he could turn to him right off the injured list “I knew [Ginkel] was going to get back in that saddle right away because of that experience,” said Lovullo “He’s already pitched at the highest level in the biggest games and I knew he’d step into that and succeed.” Being a “leverage guy” also means that Ginkel won’t strictly be used in the ninth inning that I’ve come into games in the fifth or it’s been in the eighth with two outs so it really doesn’t matter because there’s moments in the game where that momentum shifts to the other side and it’s hard to regain that momentum Being able to keep that energy and that momentum in our dugout is critical Anytime you can leave runners stranded or put up a big zero after we score if Ginkel’s name is called in the ninth innings “I definitely have appreciated pitching in [late inning] spots and delivering for the club Getting the last three outs in the game is really tough However [Coach Lovullo] wants to do it with Martinez out now going forward The next few games will give us a better understanding of how the Diamondbacks are going to deploy their bullpen but early usage patterns seem to point to Shelby Miller being used to get the highest leverage outs with the game hanging in the balance but other times it could be in the seventh or eighth Ginkel would likely be the favorite to come in for the ninth inning and secure the save but Ryan Thompson will also hear his name called when they don’t want to put too much strain on Ginkel’s shoulder that might make Shelby Miller the priority add given his success so far this season but Kevin Ginkel should also see enough save opportunities in the coming weeks to be valuable in most league types as well SHELBY — When the Clear Fork Colts went into the top of the seventh inning trailing by a run with their backs against the wall THE SHOW: Clear Fork grad AJ Blubaugh receives call-up to Astros, achieving lifelong dream And it led to a huge 7-3 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference victory over the Shelby Whippets giving the Colts the series sweep and keeping them in the hunt for a league championship The Colts scored five runs in the top of the fifth to turn a one-run deficit into a four-run victory The rally was completed when junior Porter Schmidt ripped a two-RBI single to center field "We just kept playing baseball," Schmidt said "We don't really worry too much about the score or let that dictate how we play the game We love getting ahead early and finish by stepping on the gas but whatever we have to do to win is what we are willing to do Shelby is a great team with a very good program Schmidt collected three hits and three RBIs as he had one in the second inning that started the scoring for the Colts and ended it by plating some insurance runs you are never supposed to get down on yourself," Schmidt said "You just have to keep a positive mentality throughout the game and I made sure to do that from the start." Clear Fork coach Gabe Kennedy saw a breakout game coming for Porter and it came at the perfect time to help him sweep his alma mater in the MOAC series "He has been such a great player on JV during his freshman and sophomore years that it was only a matter of time before he made an impact on varsity," Kennedy said and we have been looking for the juniors to start producing The senior has been battling an eye issue that has caused him to not be able to see clearly out of one eye Kennedy approached Chamberlin before the top of the seventh and simply asked him if he could even see Chamberlin hesitated for a second before telling his coach he could Kennedy told him he would pinch hit for the second batter of the inning and the move paid off Chamberlin ripped a single to set in motion a string of five straight singles and a five-run rally "Judah Chamberlin deserves a ton of credit," Kennedy said had a very good season last year and comes over here and has faced adversity He has done everything we have asked of him and made the most of his opportunity." Shelby coach Jon Amicone didn't see his Whippets boot the ball around like they did in Monday's Game 1 at Clear Fork when the Colts scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to snap a scoreless tie "Clear Fork did a really good job of putting the ball in play finding holes and got a spark there in the seventh But I still feel like we put a lot of great at-bats together offensively Nic did a great job of getting some soft contact but those hits just kind of dunked in and that's baseball This one is tough because I know our kids competed really hard." 3-7 MOAC) saw Quinton Albert collect two hits while Brady Bowman Brock Fisher and Connor Hartz add one apiece Eyster was lights out through six innings on the mound holding the Colts to just two runs "I am extremely proud of our kids," Amicone said "I thought Nic Eyster pitched extremely well tonight He is our senior and he did a really nice job of keeping us in the game." two from Chandler Ball and one apiece from Mason Sansom Schmidt had three RBIs while Ball had two and Rahall and Hotz had one apiece Mason Ball pitched an absolute gem allowing three unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts in a complete-game effort The Colts sit in second place in the MOAC title race two games back of Highland in the loss column The two teams are set for a two-game series next week that will tell the tale of either a championship season for the Colts or if they need to spend the following week preparing for the postseason your kids have done their jobs well," Kennedy said We are going to find out what we are made of next week II Timothy 4:7 – I have fought a good fight and his paternal and maternal grandparents Seth is also survived by his dear sister Ali Suitor their children Cecilia and Nate Suitor and many loving aunts Seth graduated from Bryant High School and the University of Central Arkansas He was employed by Waymack and Crew in the film industry Seth was a member of New Life Church of Bryant Seth was very grateful for the values instilled by his parents He had many lasting friendships and cherished relationships…the most cherished of all…his dear children whose lives and accomplishments brought incredible joy to his life…seeing them as they are and what they would grow to be Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on March 28 Arrangements entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home  Online guestbook:  www.SmithFamilyCares,com