Sports News May 6, 2009

Good Luck in the State Playoffs to All of Our Copper Country Athletes

All these area teams/players qualified for 2009 State competition. Top row (L-R): Seniors from the Globe Tiger baseball team, San Carlos golfer, Jessica Chapman, Miami senior golfer, Kevin Canez. Middle row (L-R): Seniors from the Globe Tiger softball team, Hayden High School's Rico Larona, Miami tennis-doubles team, Courtney Canez and Ariel Assermelly. Bottom: Miami High School baseball team. Globe is now 15-1 with two games left to play in the regular season. The final game will be played at home on May 1 against Maricopa.

Pinal Mountain Little League Announcements

Attention all boys ages 13 through 15. The Pinal Mountain Little League will be having a Junior Baseball League, formerly known as "Babe Ruth." All girls age 13 to 16, we will also be having a Senior Softball League. Registration for both leagues will be held at the Pinal Mountain Little League Sports Complex, in Claypool, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., beginning April 27 and ending May 11. Final registration will be at tryouts, which are scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. Location to be announced. Also, the league has announced a tentative date for opening ceremonies. That date is Monday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. Pinal Mountain Little League is still seeking volunteer umpires and announcers. If you are interested in umpiring, please contact Brian Hudson at 928 - 812 - 0376. To volunteer for announcing, e-mail the league at pinalmountainll@ cableone.net. Also, anyone interested in working the concession stand, please contact Tiffany DeCino at 928 - 961 - 0898.

2009 State Playoff Schedule

2A/3A State Tennis ** Matches played @ Phoenix Tennis Center - 6330 N. 21st Ave Phoenix, Az ** - Friday, May 8 - Central #1 Superior - Christin Urquijo and Babriella Godinez Vs. South #4 Bisbee 10:00 a.m East #3 Miami - Courtney Canez and Ariel Asermelly Vs. Metro #2 Phx Country Day 10:00 a.m. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2A State Baseball ** All games played @ Peoria Sports Complex - 16101 N. 83rd Avenue Peoria, Az 85382 ** - Friday, May 8 - South #1 Hayden Lobos Vs. North #4 Red Mesa 4:00 p.m. South #2 San Manuel Vs. North #3 Many Farms 12:00 p.m. South #3 Ray Vs. North #2 Greyhills Academy 12:00 p.m. South #4 Miami Vs. North #1 St. Johns 4:00 p.m. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1A/2A State Golf - Monday, May 11 - ** Matches played @ Cave Creek Golf Course - 15202 19th Ave Phoenix Az ** 3A State Golf ** Matches played @ Poston Butte Golf Club - 6100 W. Merrill Ranch Pkwy Florence Az ** - Monday, May 11 - +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2009 State Playoff Schedule 3A State Baseball ** All games played at Surprise Baseball Complex - 15850 N. Bullard Ave. Surprise Az ** #6 Show Low Vs. #11 Safford Field 5 - 4:00 p.m. #3 Globe Tigers Vs. #14 Monument Valley Field 5 - 7:00 p.m. #7 Payson Vs. #10 Chinle Field 6 - 4:00 p.m. - Friday, May 8 - ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3A State Softball ** All games played at Rose Mofford Softball Complex - 9833 N. 25th Ave, Phx Az ** #2 Safford Vs. #15 Payson Field 2 - 4:30 p.m. #6 Window Rock Vs. #11 Globe Field 6 - 3:00 p.m. - Friday, May 8 - Miami's Kevin Canez San Carlos' Jessica Chapman Vs. 1A/2A Field 3A seedings are based on AIA Power Points as of May 5.

Roger Hurst Memorial Softball Tournament

The 5th Annual Roger Hurst Memorial Scholarship Co-ed Softball Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday May 31 at the Globe Community Center. Entry fee for the popular event is $175.00 per team. All proceeds from the tournament will go towards the donation of two $500.00 scholarships to a pair of local high school seniors. The scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the championship game. Come on out and enjoy a wonderful weekend of co-ed softball for a great cause. There will be a concession stand as well as raffles for those in attendance. For more information you may contact Tim or Ginger Horta at 928 - 701 - 3974 or 928 - 200 - 0252.

Junior Braves Take First Ever Region Championship

Team members: Edwin Belvado, James Boni, CJ Dalmacio, Alvin Enriquez, Josh Gooday, Jeffery Kenton, Michael King, Anfernee Palmer, Anthony Swift, Marquez Swift, Anfernee Thompson, Anthony Thompson and Coach Dave Hankin. For the San Carlos baseball team and the many fans in attendance on Saturday, April 25 in Hayden, it will be a day they will never forget. The Junior High Braves captured the 2009 Central Junior High League Title in dramatic fashion, with an exhilarating 9-8 Finals win over the host Hayden Lobos. After beating the South’s #1 seed, Eloy, 8-4 in the Semi-Finals that morning, the Braves took on the Lobos, who had held on to beat Globe, 6-5 in the first Semi-Final. The Junior High Braves would rally from behind three times in the Title game, scoring what would prove to be the game-winning run in their final at bat in the top of the 6th, when Tony Thompson’s single plated James Boni from 2nd. After coming on in relief of starting pitcher Edwin Belvado earlier in the game, Boni would need to get out of a jam in the bottom of the 6th. With two outs and runners at 1st and 3rd, he got what would prove to be the last Lobo batter to foul out to his catcher, CJ Dalmacio, who dove to his left and made an incredible grab that sent the Braves players and fans into a celebratory frenzy. While the SCJH pitching and defense was solid the entire season, it would be the Braves bats that would carry them, particularly in the postseason. Including their opening round 12-5 win at home against Ray the previous week, the team scored in 14 of the 17 innings in which they would bat in their three playoff games. The Championship victory capped a season that Coach Dave Hankin felt "showed outstanding achievement by all the players, both on the field and in the classroom. This was a team where the players believed in themselves and each other. When times got tough, they stuck together and grew stronger in their desire to succeed." Coach Hankin and all the SCJH Braves’ supporters are extremely proud of all the boys for their efforts in bringing home the first ever junior high baseball title to San Carlos!

Learn to Play Tennis at Gila Community College

30-year tennis instructor, Thomas Smith is the tennis instructor at Gila Community College. Gila Community College will be holding Beginning Tennis I & II classes starting May 26th. These classes are for students who just want to learn a fun sport or wish to learn good tennis basics that will allow them to become one of the greats. The classes will be held at Cobre Valle Country Club on Mondays and Wednesdays. Beginning Tennis I will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. and Beginning Tennis II will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. Each of the classes is one credit and will run through July 20th. The instructor for these classes is Thomas (Tom) Smith who has about 30 year's tennis instruction experience. Tom has taught tennis for the Park and Recreation Departments of Phoenix and Paradise, California and has taught privately for over 20 years. Tom is a graduate of Miami High School, where he was on the varsity tennis team from 1965 through 1967. He was a longtime member of the local tennis club (Pinal Mountain Racket Club) where he won several singles tournaments and one doubles tournament. Last day to register for Tennis classes is May 27th. Stop by GCC's Gila Pueblo Campus at 8274 Six Shooter Canyon Road in Globe to register or call 928-425-8481 with any questions. Gila Community College is committed to providing high quality classes for the residents of Gila County.

Goodbye Manzanita Speedway

This spring, after 58 years, the Phoenix clay oval is shutting it's doors. Claypool drivers Dennis Gates and Don Earven took advantage of the Thursday April 9th race to drive their modified cars for the last time, on the super fast, and legendary, half mile. Gates has raced at Manzanita for forty years, his night was short as an overwatered track led to a meeting with the turn three's wall. Earven fared better with a fifth place finish in a competitive main event. Starting mid-pack Earven, a former Sprint car driver, moved up steadily and was racing with the leaders at the end. "This has been a tough year for me in many ways." said Earven "Racing on the half mile at that speed can take your mind off things for the moment. I bought this modified about a year ago and spent the first 6 months updating the suspension. I have a new professional built car in the works and I want to thank my friends in the Globe-Miami area for all their support and help." With the closing of Manzanita's Speedway, racers and fans in Gila county will have to travel to Tucson or Show Low. Gates said, " I'm going back to Late Models."

NRA Forum is May 15

Two events for NRA members only will be held May 15 and 16 in Phoenix, in a Celebration of American Values. A forum on May 15 will include Governor Jan Brewer, Senator John McCain, commentator Michael Reagan, and others. Tickets are $50 each. A banquet at the Phoenix Convention Center May 16 will feature John Stossel of ABC News’ 20/20 and Lt. Col Ollie North. For tickets, call 1-877-67287632 or visit www.NRAAM.org.