CCHS, Logan Co. UHA softball meet on diamond team keeps rolling SPORTS B3 SPORTS B3 B1 SSPORTSPORTS

Friday, March 30, 2012 | Sports Editor: Joe Wilson | 270-887-3260 | [email protected]

LOUISVILLE VS. Bluegrass battle

KEITH JENKINS | KENTUCKY NEW ERA Christian County senior Malena Whipple (right) trots home after connecting on a two- run homer in the top of the second inning of a District 8 softball game against Hop- kinsvile on Thursday at Lady Tiger Field. Whipple also had an RBI-single in the Lady Colonels’ 18-2 rout. Lady Colonels pound Hopkinsville, 18-2

BY KEITH JENKINS NEW ERA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Melanie Whipple blasted a two-run homer, Zatoria Leavell added a two-run triple, and Kaitlin Harris and Katie Keller each had two-run doubles as Christian County rolled to an 18-2 victory over host Hop- kinsville in a District 8 softball game Thursday night at Lady Tiger Field. Cultures clash in commonwealth “Our hitting, I thought It was the first district win of the season for the seven- time defending District 8 we hit the ball pretty champion Lady Colonels (5-0, over UK-UofL hoops meeting 1-0 District 8), who needed just good today. They just five innings to put away the BY COLIN FLY split the four previous meet- Lady Tigers. But first-year AP SPORTS WRITER “ fans ings — and it pits Louisville hit it better.” Christian County coach Jim coach Pitino against one-time Perrin said his team still has a LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — This from Kentucky friend and now frosty foe Cali- long way to go. Bluegrass State rivalry runs pari. Not to mention Kentucky Anthony Holloway “I didn’t like our patience,” deep, and the divide is wide. freshmen phenoms Anthony Just 70 miles apart, Lexington have been waiting Davis and Michael Kidd- Hopkinsville softball coach n said Perrin, who is in his sec- ond stint at the helm of the and Louisville are worlds apart Gilchrist, who have been program. “I thought we could when it comes to college bas- their whole lives steady in taking the Wildcats have been a little more patient out there at the plate and pick and ketball. Come Saturday when to the top, vs. a ragtag flock of choose our spots. … But any time you can beat your cross-town rivals, the Cardinals and Wildcats for this game.” Cardinals who’ve won eight you have to be pleased.” meet at the Final Four in New straight with a rotating cast of Hopkinsville (3-4, 0-2), which suffered only its second loss in five out- Orleans, a berth in the national mostly unknowns such as Pey- ings, played uphill all night after opening the game with a two-base error title game is just the beginning. Mitch McConnel ton Siva and Gorgui Dieng. Here, the game is likened to SEE DISTRICT, PAGE B3 Kentucky Senator n “It’s not about (Pitino) or I; a civil war. it’s about these players,” said Pick a side: Wildcats or Car- Kentucky Sen. Mitch Mc- Calipari, who’s in his second dinals. Rupp’s Runts or the Connell said on the Senate floor. consecutive Final Four still Doctors of Dunk. or “Basketball fans from Ken- searching for the national title . John Calipari or tucky have been waiting their that’s eluded him. “Hopefully . whole lives for this game.” we both have our teams ready Colonels’ Collins signs “If the excitement and frenzy This is the grudge match to to play, and I think we will, and and turbulence that’s been end them all. we’ll go at it.” stirred up in Kentucky this It’s the fifth time the schools The Cardinals (30-9) lost this week could be harnessed, we will meet in the NCAA tourna- year’s matchup vs. the Wild- letter with Ky. Wesleyan could solve our energy crisis,” ment — the two sides have SEE BATTLE, PAGE B2

BY KEITH JENKINS Collins, a retired military vet- NEW ERA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR eran and ROTC teacher at Chris- Kentucky coach John Calipari (above) re- tian County, moved north from acts to a play against Baylor last weekend Christian County head football Orlando, Fla., last March to join in the NCAA tournament South Regional coach Steve Lovelace com- his father who had been sta- finals in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Wildcats mended Daniel Collins on his un- tioned at Fort Campbell. Daniel guard (25, right) shoots selfishness and great attitude. went from finishing 0-10 with his under pressure from Louisville’s Gorgui Those very attributes are what high school team in Florida to Dieng during their game on Dec. 31 in led the two-way starter to a col- playing for Lovelace and his Lexington. The Wildcats and Cardinals lege scholarship. perennial state championship- meet at 5:09 p.m. Saturday in the Final Collins, who contending Colonels. Lovelace Four in . played tight end led Christian County to a 10-2 and defensive end mark last season and to the Class for the Colonels 5-A state title game in 2010 and last season, signed 2008. a national letter “It was a new experience,” of intent to con- Daniel Collins said of playing for tinue his football a winning program. “It felt good. Louisville vs. career at Ken- It felt good winning on a weekly tucky Wesleyan Collins basis. I never experienced that College in Owens- before.” Kentucky boro during a ceremony Thurs- Royce Collins, who sat by When: Saturday day inside the Christian County Daniel’s side as he signed the let- Where: New Orleans High School library. ter, thanked Lovelace for giving Time: 5:09 p.m. “I liked the city overall, and the his son the opportunity to play at On the air: TV: CBS (Ch. 5), 5 p.m.; coaches really reached out to the next level and more impor- tantly receive a college educa- Radio: WHOP-FM (98.7)/WKDZ-FM me,” Collins said. “I enjoyed what (106.5), 3 p.m. they were saying to me and how tion. they presented the school. I loved “The team he was on (in it.” Florida), the culture, the envi- Collins, the son of Royce SEE CCHS, PAGE B3

IN THIS SECTION TODAY’S GAMES TOP SCORES SCOREBOARD B2 PREP PREP PREP PREP PREP PREP SPORTS BRIEFS B3 Baseball Baseball Softball Softball Softball Baseball TV B4 TRIGG CO. CHRISTIAN CO. DAWSON SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CO. UHA 14 TODD CO. CENTRAL 2 COMICS B5 AT UNION CO. 5:30 P.M. VS. LONE OAK 6:15 P.M. AT HOPKINSVILLE 5:30 P.M. AT UNION CO. 6 P.M. LOGAN CO. 4 TRIGG CO. 17 PADUCAH TILGHMAN HOPKINSVILLE UHA TODD CO. CENTRAL TODD CO. CENTRAL 0 LOGAN CO. 10 AT UHA 5:30 P.M. VS. SIKESTON, MO. 6:15 P.M. AT BOWLING GREEN 5:30 P.M. AT EDMONSON CO. 5:30 P.M. FRANKLIN-SIMPSON 3 CHRISTIAN CO. 0