Sunday, June 15, 1997

Four area high school players to be in Texas High School all-star baseball game

Sports smorgasbord while wondering whatever happened to former Clyde athlete Bernie Cook:

-- Four area high school baseball players will get the thrill of a lifetime on June 27 when they play in the Texas High School all-star game at the Ballpark in Arlington.

They are Ranger first baseman Mark Adams, Jim Ned outfielder Kristopher Ortiz and Eastland third baseman Brad Arrington. They will play for the North squad in the A-2A-3A contest at 11 a.m.

Then Abilene High pitcher Josh Duwe will play for the North in the 4A-5A game at 3 p.m. Cooper outfielder Cory Aldridge was also selected to play, but he has signed a pro baseball contract with the Atlanta Braves and is not eligible for the game. Understand the Cougars' Miles Durham may be next in line to play, unless he signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers...

-- The Texas Association of Golf Coaches have named their all-state teams which includes several area athletes.

Girls named to the team are Daysha Weaver and Alissa Wells of Snyder (Class 4A), Wendy Gray of Haskell (2A), and Melissa Smith and Meagan Hill of Robert Lee and Kyla Neal, Pam Mason and Kari Roan of Baird (A).

Boys picked were Jason Tavarez of Robert Lee (A), Chris Kleiner (2A) and Parker Briley of Wylie (3A).

The all-staters finished in the top 10 at the state meet, but only those whose coaches are members of the TAGC will receive certificates from the association....

-- Special congratulations to oldest grandson Gregory Ashburn of Rising Star who won the standing long jump at the Hershey Games at Early two Saturdays ago, thus qualifying for the state meet in Austin on June 28....

-- Toby Villa, who grew up in Haskell, later coached at Abilene High and this past season led Tahoka to its first ever trip to the Class 2A state tournament, is the new head boys basketball coach at Wharton, a Class 4A school in South Texas....

-- Since 1937, 14 pro football hall of fame players have performed at the Cotton Bowl along with 12 Outland Trophy winners, 11 Lombardi Award winners, 10 Heisman Trophy winners, 7 Maxwell Award winners and 5 Walter Camp Award winners.

The Bowl also has contributed more than $110,000,000 to participating schools and this December is adding a women's basketball tournament with proceeds supporting higher education....

-- The All-Americas Bowl slated July 19 at Elmer Gray Stadium is not the only Six-Man all-star football game this summer. The Can-Am Game is slated July 5 in Saskatchewan pitting Canadians against Americans....

-- The NAIA will have only one division in football starting this year instead of the two that were formed in 1969. The gap has closed between the quality of teams giving scholarships and to those who don't, so the NAIA says.

Could it be because of the dwindling number of schools belonging to the NAIA? A large number have moved to the NCAA like the American Southwest Conference, which includes Hardin-Simmons, McMurry and Howard Payne, which is now NCAA Division II.

Last year's Division I champ, Southwestern Oklahoma, is now a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference....

-- Get those letters, faxes and e-emails to us regarding your favorite high school football game or games for our special football edition on Aug. 24. It takes time to compile the information.

They can be sent to the sports department, Box 30, Abilene, 69604, or faxed to 915-673-1901 or e-mailed to Al Pickett, alp@abinews.com or Bill Hart at BFHart@juno.com.