By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It felt like anything but spring at the East Arkansas Spring Premiere NIT youth baseball tournament, played Saturday and Sunday at Marion.
With temperatures hovering only around 50 and gusting winds, more than 30 teams in six age divisions braved the two days to get in a lot of baseball.
The tournament, originally scheduled to begin Friday, was rained out and didn't get underway until noon Saturday.
Two of the age divisions, the 13-year-olds and the 14-year-olds, had to be eliminated, due to late start. Forrest City Lucas Trucking, playing in the 11-year-old division, finished third.
Other local teams playing in the tournament included two East Arkansas Bandit teams, comprised of Forrest City and Wynne players as well as teams from Newport, Cabot, Searcy, West Memphis and Marion.
The annual Razorback Rally will be held Wednesday, April 16, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
University of Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt will be the featured speaker at this year's Rally, once again sponsored by the East Central Arkansas Razorback Club.
Former Forrest City Coach Harold Horton and former UA Razorback baseball coach Norm DeBriyn will be at the Rally as well.
Tickets are available now from several local merchants and are $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids ages 12 and under.
The fourth annual Harold Horton Award will be announced at this year's Rally.
The rally will begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. and a catered dinner will be served at 7 p.m. A silent auction will also be held.
*The East Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes will sponsor their "Evening of Challenge" banquet on Tuesday, April 8, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The keynote speaker for the evening will be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, who played 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers and is the winningest quarterback in NFL history.
Former Arkansas football coach and current Rice University Coach Ken Hatfield is sending a videotape presentation.
The "Evening of Challenge" will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 per person and are now on sale at several Forrest City businesses.
Prairie and Woodruff.