By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The chances of playing any high school baseball or softball games at the city's Sports Complex this week, are slim to none.
In other words, a full week's worth of prep sports has been lost in the county.
That according to Forrest City Parks and Recreation Director Kenneth Taylor.
"The fields are under water now and from what I understand the chance for more rain today and tonight stands at about 80 percent," Taylor said. "Right now, I would say nothing will go as planned this week."
The Forrest City Mustang baseball team were rained out of their AAAAA-East Conference game against Blytheville Tuesday and Friday's home nonconference game against Wynne is probably lost as well.
That means the Mustangs aren't scheduled to play again until Tuesday, April 2, when they go to Blytheville.
Forrest City is on Spring Break all next week.
The Lady Mustangs fast-pitch softball team will lose it's full week of games this week -- having already lost Monday's conference game against Jonesboro and will lost Thursday's game against Blytheville.
As of Wednesday morning, none of the rain outs for baseball or softball had been rescheduled.
The Forrest City track teams have been rained out of their scheduled meets this week as has the golf team.
Hughes has lost baseball and softball contest this week.
Palestine-Wheatley's schedule didn't lose anymore ground since the school is on Spring Break this week.
The entire state has been covered by rain since late Saturday afternoon, saturating the ground and causing flooding problems in many areas of the state, including the Eastern portion.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
With the registration process for youth baseball and softball completed, all that remains for Forrest City Parks and Recreation Director Kenneth Taylor to do is "dotting and crossing" the left-over i's and t's.
Taylor said today the program's overall numbers -- down considerably headed into the final stages last week -- "are back about where they should be."
Taylor said the Junior Babe Ruth League (boys 13-15) is down by one team this season and the girls' 16-under fast-pitch softball league will field one less team this summer.
However, a couple of other leagues were able to add a team.
"Actually, it all works out," Taylor said. "We were down in a couple of areas but we were up in other leagues, so it's about the same."
The T-Ball League will field 14 teams this season.
The youth leagues are scheduled to begin play the first week in May.
The adult men's and women's softball league registration process continues and will run through April 1.
Taylor says he thinks the number of teams in that league will be about the same as in the past.
Taylor said a move to establish a 40-over adult softball league didn't get the numbers signed up he had hoped for. Neither did a proposed 18-under girls' fast-pitch league.
There are still some coaching vacancies within the league.
Taylor said coaches are needed in the Bambino 9-10 and 11-12-year-old leagues, and in the pitching machine (Minor League) and Junior Babe Ruth.
The girls' 10-under slow-pitch league needs two coaches as does the 16-under fast-pitch league.
Taylor said renovation projects at the park -- raising the outfield fences on the girls' softball fields and restroom makeovers -- are on schedule.
"All of the work will be completed by the time the season is scheduled to start," Taylor said.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City Mustang Arena will host a 13-Under AAU Basketball Showcase on Saturday, March 23.
Four teams, including the Forrest City Colts, will take part in a round-robin style event in which each team will play three games.
The Colts are being coached by Casey Baxter and Murry Cline.
Admission to the games are $3 for adults and $2 students.
Forrest City will start the day by playing the Jonesboro Miracle at 9 a.m.
They return at 12:45 p.m., to take on Jonesboro's NEA Dream Team, which features Forrest City seventh-grader, Stephon Weaver. The Colts will play their final game at 3;15 p.m., when they face the Little Rock Wolfpack.
* PREP SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Tuesday's Score
Blytheville at Forrest City - Rained Out
GIRLS SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL
Tuesday's Score
West Helena at Hughes - Rained Out
Wednesday, March 20
Hughes at Clarendon - Rained Out
GIRLS FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL
Thursday, March 21
Blytheville at Forrest City - Rained Out