By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots have to feel confident headed into today's 6A-AA District Fast Pitch Softball Tournament.
The tournament's first and second rounds will be played at twin sites -- Hazen and DeValls Bluff -- with tonight's championship game scheduled to be played at DeValls Bluff.
The Lady Patriots, in their first full season of fast pitch softball, finished with a 10-4 record which earned them the fourth seed into today's district.
Their first round opponent is fifth-seeded Humphrey.
The Lady Patriots swept Humphrey in regular season.
That game will be played at 4:15 p.m., today at DeValls Bluff.
A first-round win over Humphrey will put the Lady Patriots against the Woodlawn-Carlisle winner at approximately 6 p.m., at DeValls Bluff, but more importantly, a first-round win over Humphrey assures the Lady Patriots of a berth into the Region 6 A-AA Tournament, scheduled to be played April 27-29 at Sherwood.
The Lady Patriots split their two regular season games against Carlisle and lost a doubleheader to Woodlawn, the league's undefeated and No. 1 seeded team.
Against the four teams in the lower half of the district bracket, P-W swept DeValls Bluff and Barton and split with Gillett and Hazen.
The only team to sweep P-W this season was Woodlawn, even though P-W was the only league team to go seven full innings against Woodlawn.
"I feel like we should really be the No. 3 seed going into the tournament," said P-W Coach Beverly Bass. "But things got changed around and that didn't happen. I don't even see the need to play a district tournament in softball. We should just send the top four teams onto regional and state like other conferences do."
The Lady Patriots ended the regular season by winning their final seven games and outscoring their last seven opponents by a combined 81-to-13 total.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
New Forrest City American Legion Coach Darrell Gaskin saw what he wanted to see during player tryouts Saturday and Sunday at the Sports Complex.
"I was impressed with what I saw," Gaskin said. "The kids who came out worked hard, and I saw some good arms and some good bats."
Gaskin said he had 22 players for Saturday's two-hour workout and about 25 on Sunday.
He hopes to carry all of the ones who took part in the two-day tryouts since the Legion program once again this season will field an A and a AAA team.
"There are a few others who couldn't be here this weekend, who are going to be playing," Gaskin said.
Gaskin said he would officially begin Legion practice sessions on May 3.
"The high school season ends on April 30 and I will give the kids a couple of days off to rest up before we hit the field," Gaskin said. "We open on May 18 so we will have to hit it hard for two weeks."
Forrest City opens its 2002 season on Saturday (May 18) when they host Newport at the Sports Complex.
Gaskin has high hopes for the Legion season.
"After seeing the kids work out Saturday and Sunday, I feel a lot better about the season," Gaskin said. "I think we can have some success."
Gaskin said his major goal is to return the respect for American Legion baseball back to Forrest City.
"The Legion program here has not been where it needs to be over the past few years," Gaskin said. "And that is the first thing we want to change."
Gaskin said the National Anthem will be played before each home game and the flag will be flying.
"I have a 'like' and 'dislike' list and I read those to the kids this weekend," Gaskin added. "I told them I wasn't going to be satisfied with anything less than total effort in all areas -- on and off the field."
Former Forrest City graduate and American Legion player Ric Guzman is going to assist Gaskin this season as will UCA student Ben Holmes.
The Forrest City Legion teams have some 60 games on the summer schedule.
The ASA sanctioned Lamb Invitational adult softball tournament will be held Saturday, April 27, at Jonesboro's Southside Complex.
The tournament will have a men's E-EE team bracket and a women's open division.
Entry fee is $125 per team and deadline to enter is April 24. For information call Brad Lamb at (870) 972-6832 or (870) 243-8105.
Trophies will be given for first, second and third place teams.
* PREP SPORTS
FAST PITCH SOFTBALL
Monday, April 22
Forrest City at Blytheville, 4 p.m.
A-AA District Tournament
Palestine-Wheatley vs Humphrey, 4:15 p.m. at DeValls Bluff
SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL
Monday, April 22
District 6 Slow Pitch Tournament
Hughes vs Elaine, 1 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Monday, April 22
Blytheville at Forrest City, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 23
Jonesboro at Forrest City, 4 p.m.