By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
When Scott McKennon and Lloyd Taylor returned from last month's American Legion meeting in Little Rock, they brought back with them a 60-game schedule, the 'A' district tournament, $118 in the program's bank account, no coach, no major sponsor, and a desperate need for new uniforms.
No problem -- at least for McKennon, who along with Taylor and other Legion parents -- have taken the reins of Forrest City's American Legion baseball program, which has struggled to stay active for the past two seasons.
When it appeared during the off-season, that the program was close to death, McKennon decided it was time to take action.
"I certainly didn't jump up and holler 'I want the program,'" McKennon said, "but I wasn't going to let the program die either. Even if Lloyd and myself had to coach the team ourselves, that wasn't going to happen."
McKennon, like the others, has a personal interest in the program. His son, Colby, is certain to be one of the team's main ingredients as will Brad, Lloyd's son. McKennon has coached in the Forrest City city leagues for years and is a former American Legion baseball player in his own right.
"Our goal is to renew the interest in the city's American Legion baseball program," McKennon said. "By that I mean to try to generate more interest beyond the Legion parents who always support the program."
The first thing McKennon and Taylor did after returning from the Little Rock meeting was start the search for a new coach -- the program's fourth head man in four seasons.
It didn't take long for the two to settle on Forrest City native Darryl Gaskin.
"Darryl is a God-send," McKennon said. "The team is his to run as he sees fit. We have all the confidence in the world in him and feel assured he is the right person to bring respectability back to the program."
Gaskin has worn many hats on the baseball and softball fields, having coached at the youth level and having been an umpire at all levels for several years.
Gaskin said that things will be different.
"I'm excited about this opportunity and this challenge," Gaskin said. "I'm ready to start the season tomorrow. I'm not going to be a task master, but the kids who play will be disciplined and will represent Forrest City with respect whether we're playing here or on the road."
With Gaskin in place, McKennon began the fund raising task.
A meeting with the city's Advertising and Promotion Commission netted $5,000, which will help fund the district tournament, set for July 12-15 at the Sports Complex.
McKennon hopes a program fund raiser, which is now in progress, will generate another $5,000.
"The fundraiser, along with some other projects, will give the Legion program more money to operate with this season than it has probably ever had," McKennon said.
That's a good thing, since once again this season Forrest City American Legion will not have one single major sponsor.
Nimock's Oil ended its team sponsorship following the 2000 season.
"We have talked with several businesses and they are all willing to do what they can for the program," McKennon said. "But no one business is doing a Lion's share of the sponsorship. We will just be Forrest City American Legion."
McKennon has also ordered two new sets of uniforms this season.
"The old uniforms are in bad shape," McKennon said. "New uniforms were a must this year. It's always been my assumption, if you look good, you feel good and you tend to play better."
McKennon said during the season, his duties will be strictly behind the scenes.
"The team is Darryl's baby, all the way," McKennon said. "If there are financial decisions or other problems away from the playing field, to be made during the year, that's when myself, Lloyd and some others will step to the plate."
Forrest City will open its season on Saturday, May 18, by hosting Newport at the Sports Complex at 1 p.m.
There is a restructured conference in place this season which includes Mt. Home, Blytheville, Paragould, Jonesboro, Wynne, Newport, Batesville, Searcy and Stuttgart.
Forrest City has nonconference games against Lonoke, Greenbriar and Morrilton.
For more information about the fundraiser, contact McKennon at 633-4747.
Forrest City American Legion baseball tryouts will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, at the Sports Complex.
For more information, contact Scott McKennon at 633-4747 or Darryl Gaskin at 633-7614.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It's the same old soggy story for high school sports as rain continues to fall throughout the state, washing away virtually every spring sport scheduled.
Once again today, Forrest City and Hughes prep schedules were cancelled.
Palestine-Wheatley is on Spring Break this week and did not have any activities scheduled.
Today's Patriot Relays, set for Marion, have been called off as well as the Forrest City Mustangs baseball game against AAAAA-East conference member Blytheville.
The Marion track meet has been reset for April 9 and will involve both the Forrest City Mustangs and Lady Mustangs.
The Mustangs were able to get in three games last week, defeating Osceola 8-0 on Friday, losing to West Memphis 10-3 Thursday and losing to Searcy 15-1 on Saturday.
Beyond today, the Mustangs have home-and-home games scheduled against Wynne Thursday and Friday, but those games may be in jeopardy as well with rain remaining in the forecast through Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Hughes lost a softball game today against West Helena and will most likely lose Wednesday's scheduled game against Clarendon.
The Hughes baseball team is scheduled to play at Barton on Thursday while the Forrest City Lady Mustang softball team has Blytheville scheduled for Thursday.
Forrest City is scheduled to begin its Spring Break next week.
* PREP SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Tuesday, March 19
Blytheville at Forrest City - Rained Out
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Monday's Scores
West Memphis at Forrest City - Rained Out
GIRLS SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL
Tuesday, March 19
West Helena at Hughes - Rained Out
Wednesday, March 20
Hughes at Clarendon, 4 p.m.
GIRLS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL
Monday's Scores
Forrest City at Jonesboro - Rained Out
Thursday, March 21
Blytheville at Forrest City, 4 p.m.