FREE PRESS Page 8 Colby Free Press Wednesday, March 28, 2012 SSPORTSPORTS Colby softball team prepares for season

By Kayla Cornett sophomores.” regional fi nals. They lost to Pratt Colby Free Press The girls have been practicing 2-1 after winning two games in [email protected] for three weeks now, and Elliot the tournament. said they are still trying to set po- The team begins its season Fri- The Colby High softball team is sitions. day with games in Holcomb. The getting ready for its season, which “We’re doing controlled scrim- next two games are also on the means fi nding a way to fi ll the mages with live pitching this week road, in Dodge City on Tuesday holes left by departing starters. to help determine the positions,” and Ulysses Thursday, April 5. The Lady Eagles lost fi ve se- he said, “but we’ve got some of Colby’s fi rst home game will be niors this year, Skyler Mengel, the people plugged in already.” Tuesday, April 10, with Ellis, fol- Caitlyn Wark, Tera Raymond, Despite the team’s youth, Elliot lowed by two more home games, Brittany Bange and Bailey Koer- said he’s feeling confi dent about against Hugoton on Friday, April perich. Coach Jack Elliot said that the coming season. 13, and against Goodland on Mon- makes the team very young this “We’ve been practicing really day, April 16. season. well,” he said, “and I have a feel- The varsity girls play all of their “We have one senior returning,” ing we’re going to be decent by home games on Field 2 at the Col- he said, “six returning juniors and the time regionals come around.” by ball fi elds and the junior varsity we have 28 players total, which Last year, the Lady Eagles had plays on Field 4. means the rest are freshmen and a 19-5 record and made it to the Track coach qualifies for paralympic trials For the fi rst time he lost part of his right leg six ters with a personal best time of 1:54.93, just missing years ago, James Ortiz ran in a race Saturday at the the national standard for the National Junior College Alex Francis Classic in Hays. Athletic Association championships of 1:54.82. Ortiz, in his third year as coach of the Colby Com- Jonathan Burgess won the 1,500 meters with a munity College men’s cross country and track teams, personal best of 3:59.17 and qualifi ed for nationals ran the 400-meter event to qualify for the U.S. Para- in this event. lympic Trials this June in Indianapolis. Edward Limo placed second in the 5,000 meters, Ortiz fi nished with a time of 58.36, which qualifi es which qualifi ed him for nationals with a time of him for the trials. The time also meets the London 15:12.62. “B” Standard, which is the qualifying time for “B” Saturday, Kristen Mitchell won the 100-meter runners for the Olympics, just missing the London event with a season-best 10.88 seconds. “A” Standard of 58.00 seconds. “The guys who competed this weekend had a At the same meet, part of the Colby men’s track great meet,” Ortiz said. “This was a great start to the KIM WESSEL/Golden Plains Schools team competed Friday and Saturday. outdoor season and hopefully a sign of more good First grader Dylan Bice worked on his shooting skills during physical education class at Gold- “Because it was spring break at the college, we things to come. en Plains Elementary School. Students in grades one to fi ve will demonstrate their skills at the only took a partial squad to the Alex Francis Clas- “I feel like we picked up right where we left off in Rexford gym on Friday. sic,” said Ortiz. “We had athletes compete in seven the indoor season.” events – two fi eld events and fi ve on the track. We The team will leave Wednesday to compete in won three of the fi ve track events and fi nished sec- its next meet, which is a two-day event in Austin, ond in another.” Texas. Bulldog elementary students Friday evening, James Leonard won the 800 me- K-State coach hired at South Carolina to demonstrate skills By Pete Iacobelli Martin will have two scholar- Kansas State and discounted any By Judy Rogers tremely excited to show off their skills in an actual AP Sports Writer ships to use for next year’s club rift with Wildcat athletic director Golden Plains High School game,” Rush said. COLUMBIA, S.C. – Prepare and possibly three if Ellington John Currie for the decision to [email protected] There will be a $1 admission fee for the games, for “The Stare” at South Carolina sticks to playing two sports and he leave. Martin was upset that the which will go to the Lions Club Eye Glass fund. games next season. is on a football scholarship. The school suspended forward Jamar Golden Plains Elementary students will be dem- The Rexford Lions Club will put on a hamburger, The Gamecocks hired fi ery new coach says he’s already be- Samuels for the Wildcats’ NCAA onstrating basketball skills they have been work- hot dog and sandwich feed in the commons area of Frank Martin from Kansas State gun tapping recruiting contacts. tournament loss to Syracuse. ing on in physical education classes Friday at the the gym. They will also hold a raffl e drawing for to re-energize a program that Martin doesn’t have to rush. He However, “that administration high school gym in Rexford. prizes including a red-and-black blanket, a digital had dropped to the bottom of the got a six-year deal worth $12.3 has been phenomenal. I can’t be Students in grades one through fi ve have been camera, a Colby Community College autographed . million. He’ll make $1.9 million more thankful for how that admin- working on dribbling, passing and shooting ills basketball and other prizes. Martin spoke for nearly an hour this fall, a step up from his sal- istration treated us. They gave us for the past several weeks under the direction of Proceeds will be used to support school and in front of several hundred fans, ary of about $1.4 million with the what we needed,” Martin said. physical education teacher Laura Rush and stu- community activities. Tickets can be purchased media and South Carolina ad- Wildcats. Kansas coach , Mar- dent teacher Kim Wessel. that night or in advance from any Lions Club ministrators. Afterwards, he was South Carolina also agreed to tin’s Big 12 Conference rival, said “They have been working very hard and are ex- member. asked to demonstrate his harsh, pay Martin’s $1 million buyout at the coach would be missed. laser-like stare, which was a fea- Kansas State. “Our league will miss him. I’m tured attraction at Wildcat games South Carolina athletic direc- sure people in Manhattan (Kan.) the past fi ve years. tor Eric Hyman spoke with for- will, too,” Self said. “He was Denver Nuggets beat Bulls 108-91 in Chicago “It’s something that happens mer coaches, players, the NCAA nothing but good things for our when it’s time to compete,” Mar- and administrators in the search basketball league.” By Rick Gano ing team entering play Monday, The Bulls went nearly fi ve minutes tin said, laughing. for a new coach to replace Darrin Now, the SEC has another out- AP Sports Writer got the fi nal six points of the sec- before hitting their fi rst second- Martin says the time for the Horn. sized personality to matchup with ond quarter and then started the half fi eld goal and were just 5 of Gamecocks to compete is now. “Quite frankly, we feel like league heavyweights like Ken- CHICAGO – Ty Lawson got the third on a 10-0 run to take a 64-52 16 in the pivotal third quarter. He told the players Tuesday we’ve got the right person,” he tucky’s and Flori- message. Denver coach George lead, one it would eventually build Lawson matched his season morning that they weren’t far off said. da’s . Martin said Karl told him to push it and that’s to 16 later in the quarter. with 27 points, Arron Affl alo had from SEC success, despite going Martin, 46, called it a whirlwind he got a text from his friend, Ala- what he did Monday night. Right Behind Lawson’s nine points, 22 and Al Harrington 17 for the 10-21 and 2-14 in the league this courtship with South Carolina that bama coach Anthony Grant, that at the Chicago Bulls. the Nuggets outscored the Bulls Nuggets, scrapping for a playoff season. really took off this weekend while read, “Frank, our league just got Lawson and the Nuggets were 27-16 inCOMING the period to go up 81-68. spot in the West. able to speed up the pace, move COMING “I’ve got to fi gure out a way, the coach was in New York help- better.” and that’s my job, to get them the ing CBS Sports with its coverage Martin is the son of Cuban im- and share the ball, get to the rim confi dence that they need to win of the NCAA tournament. Martin migrants who coached high school and shoot 50 percent in beating that next game,” Martin said. joked that he had basketball studio basketball in Miami for 15 years the Bulls 108-91. IT’S GETTING Not that it will be easy. analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny and was an assistant at Northeast- The Nuggets also outrebounded The Gamecocks lose their lead- Smith and Greg Anthony urging ern for four seasons before Bob the Bulls – the NBA’s best team ing scorer in senior Malik Cooke. him to take the job before he left. Huggins brought him on to his on the boards entering the game Their No. 2 scorer, point guard Martin was 117-54 in fi ve years staff at Cincinnati. Martin credits – by 45-32, forced them into 16 Bruce Ellington, was back at foot- with the Wildcats. They reached Huggins with jump starting his turnovers and outscored Chicago CLOSER ball practice Tuesday after an- the NCAA regional fi nals in 2010 career, saying the current coach at 54-24 in the paint. nouncing two weeks ago that he and lost to Syracuse in the third West Virginia helped him get into Denver, tied with Oklahoma would only play basketball next round this season. college coaching. City as the league’s highest scor- TUBBS & SONS FORD SALES season. Martin thanked everyone at 810 S. Range, Colby, KS • 785-460-6746 • 800.369.3673 • tubbsford.com

Lets Get Growing!! Colby Trap Club 2012 Summer League - JUST ARRIVED - Summer trap league begins Tuesday evening April 3rd then the first Tuesday each month following through October 2nd. Seed Potatoes Onion Sets Put together a 5 person team or show up Tuesday Burpee Seeds Weeks Seeds evening, there are teams that are in need of a shooter Liberty Garden Seed Assortment and are still looking for additional teammates. Wed. April 4th League Fees are $50 per 5 person team Colby Community College Farm due the first shoot.Shooting Fees are $15 per Colby, KS (3 miles East of Colby on Highway 24, 1 mile North) IT’S TIME TO APPLY shooter each monthly shoot. Selling over 50 head of Performance Tested Bulls Pre Emergent Fertilizer If you are wanting to learn how to shoot and have fun Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford, Gelloveih, Balancer, Salers, with friends while learning, this is your chance. Red Angus and South Devons will Sell! Come See Whats New For Spring! We have several members that are certified range masters and are always willing to give helpful pointers. 10 Registered Saler Yearling Heifers Will Sell! We don’t just sell plants, we grow them! • • We welcome all • • CCC Students Trained Quarter Horses Will Sell! You can also join the trap club for a $50 annual Preview and Demonstrations Start 9:00 a.m. Golden Plains Garden Center fee which will give you a punch card for 8 nonleague SALE TIME 1:00 p.m. 9:30 to 5:30 1140 Plains 25 round trap or skeet shoot Mon. - Sat. & Ave. - Colby rd For more information Call 785-460-5465 Greenhouse 785-462-7528 The trap range will be open at 5 p.m. on April 3 Or visit www.colbyccag.com to view our online catalog If you have questions call Paul 785-460-2839