Sports

Having arrived in the city two Octobers ago where the annual Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) conference was being held, hunger pangs caused me to pull into a fast food sit-down eatery in Eufaula, Alabama.

While devouring my sandwich, a lady dressed in camo walked into the restaurant and ordered her sandwich. Since the conference I was to attend had to do with the outdoors, I suspected she was in Eufaula for the same purpose as me. I walked over, introduced myself and asked if she was there for the conference.

She nodded that she was, invited me to sit at her table. We shared our lunch together and I became acquainted with Joella Bates. Little did I know at the time that I was having lunch with a world class archer who I was to learn could do far more with bow and arrow than I could with a gun.

Winn Parish was proudly represented at the first ever USSSA 6U World Series Softball Tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama last month. Isabella Brees Fleming, from Dodson, and Mariyah Harris, from Atlanta, are two outstanding young ladies who played on the same softball team for the Winnfield Recreation Department’s K&D Construction team. Their team won first place in the 5 – 6 year old league, and at the end of the season, both won awards for their performances on the field. Bella earned the Most Home Runs award, and Mariyah earned the Most RBIs award.

Bella is the daughter of Kayla and Dustin Fleming, and is a second grader at Dodson High School. She usually plays second base and right center when she is on the softball field. Mariyah is the daughter of Angela and Warren Green, and is a first grader at Atlanta High School. Mariyah is the pitcher and plays left center position.

On our way home from a weekend get-away to Mississippi, my wife and I exited I-20 for a stop in Tallulah. As we approached the on-ramp to get back on the interstate, a sign abruptly changed our plan. That particular on-ramp was closed, necessitating an alternate route west toward home.

Highway 80 parallels the interstate and we proceeded along the highway with cotton and soy bean fields stretching for thousands of acres on either side of the road, making for an impromptu but enjoyable side trip.

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Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and meet with new Winnfield Senior High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Lyn Bankston, and he had plenty of positive things to share about the team and upcoming season.

He said one of the most impressive things about the team is that when they began discussing goals, they were not only about winning games, but were about developing values and principles. Coach Bankston said the first goal established was based on the acronym TEAM – Together everyone achieves more. The team’s second goal is to build trust in one another. Their third common goal is to affect someone in a positive way each day. The fourth goal the team set was to work through the process every day in all phases of their lives to become winners.

A mid-summer phenomenon kicked off for the first time three years ago and is about to make its appearance again. The Lincoln Parish Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited will hold its annual banquet Thursday night, August 10, at the Ruston Civic Center.

The first event turned heads not only around northern Louisiana but around the country because of what took place that sultry August night. While this area is home to several outdoors events each year, nothing comes close to what happened that night. More than 400 folks showed up for this, the very first banquet this group sponsored.

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The Winnfield Senior High School Tiger Football Team is excited to announce that the sale of 2017 – 2018 season tickets began on August 3rd. The ticket sales will continue until August 24th.

The ticket price this year is $50 per seat and includes five home games during the regular football season. Those individuals on the waiting list for season tickets will be contacted after August 25th regarding ticket availability. And, the school asks that readers be reminded that the season tickets are not valid for Junior Varsity football home games.

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Hunter Simons and Austin Stevenson were part of a four member team that placed ninth overall in the nation with Coach Bob Davis directing the team. They were part of the Louisiana Shooting Sports delegation that traveled to Nebraska to compete. The national competition encompasses a variety of disciplines, including archery, BB gun, muzzle loading, air rifle, rifle, air pistol, pistol, shotgun, and hunting skills.

These 4-H member from Winn Parish first practiced on the parish level with personal coaches, advanced to the regional level and then won at the state level that qualified them to compete nationally. “Winn Parish has over one hundred participants in the shooting sports program, according to Donny Moon, and the numbers are growing each year”.

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Pictured, left to right: back row: lzabella O’Bannon, Kindra Gorham, Raelynn Bartlett, Camden Johnson, Natalie Callender, Lauren Rouse, Ja’Shira Henson. front row: Madelyn Gorham, Josie Perrett, Ra’Shunta Holden, Kyleigh Blundell, Riley Gough. The players and coaches would like to thank their sponsors, including Gaar Timber LLC, Sikes General Store, Country Girl, Mrs. Diana Smith and S&S Industrial of Natchitoches, as well as everyone who purchased raffle tickets in support of the team.

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The Winnfield Senior High School 2016 – 2017 baseball team finished their season with an overall record of 14 – 19 and 5–5 in district play. Although most would look at this record and say it’s not a winning season, others look beyond the numbers and know the boys have a lot to be proud of. The season was filled with joys, sorrows, errors, rough games, close losses, bad calls, double plays, shut outs, home-runs, a grand slam, amazing catches, defensive plays, close games, and great pitching! For these boys, baseball is not just a game – it is a way of life. Sometimes it is more than numbers or stats on a piece of paper. It is more than winning games. Baseball is about building character, working as a team, learning the importance of sportsmanship, and being there for your team-mates. Baseball is about playing a game you love with heart and integrity.

The Winnfield Senior High School Baseball Team landed several players on the 3 – 3A All District Teams for the 2016- 2017 year, in recognition of their accomplishments on the field, throughout the season.

Those named to the 3 – 3A District Teams are as follows: Justin Lawson, sophomore, 1st Team All District, Utility Player; Jackson Teal, senior, 1st Team All District, Outfield, MVP WSHS Baseball Team; Jacob Desadier, senior, 2nd Team All District, 2nd Base, Defensive Player of the Year WSHS Baseball Team; Joseph Tinnerello, senior, 2nd Team All District, Pitcher; Brett Jurek, freshman, 2nd Team All District; Utility Player; Offensive Player of the Year WSHS Baseball Team; and Joshua Tinnerello, freshman, Honorable Mention, Outfield.

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