By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It was hot, but everyone had a good time Monday at the four-man scramble golf tournament played at Forrest City Country Club and sponsored by the East Central Arkansas Razorback Club.
The club decided to host the golf tourney this year rather than having a banquet as they have done in the past.
The idea was a good one.
"Everyone who played in the tournament and everyone who helped organize it had nothing but positive things to say," said Club President Buddy Billingsley. "It appears to be the consensus that we will probably stay with the tournament."
For Billingsley, the tournament will be remembered as the final event of his presidential tenure. Billingsley is stepping aside after 10 years and handing the gavel, so to speak, to incoming president Brent Bender.
The tournament drew 17, four-person teams, with several University of Arkansas coaches and former coaches thrown in the mix for added flavor.
"We were hoping for 20 but we fell just a little short," Billingsley said. "The banquet required a lot of organization each year but the tournament was tougher publicity wise, because we were dealing with a smaller circle of people. Not everyone plays golf, but anyone can come to the banquet.We just wanted to have some fun with it and I think in that respect, we succeeded."
The Arkansas coaches and former coaches were teamed with many of the local golfers.
Former UA baseball coach Norm DeBriyn, Lady Razorbacks basketball coach Susie Gardner, Lady Razorback golf coach Kelly Hester, Razorback golf coach Mike Ketchum and assistant coach Grant Oswalt were among the list of University of Arkansas coaches who made the trip.
Former Forrest City football coach and vice president of the Razorback Foundation,Harold Horton was on hand and accepted the jacket and pin on behalf of Razorback football player, Caleb Miller, this year's Harold Horton Award winner. Forrest City Athletic Director Mike Bender made the presentation.
Ketchum along with Billingsley, Matt Howton and Sawyer Ramsey comprised the team with the lowest score, a 17-under 54.
The team was 10-under on the front side and seven under on the back side. Along the way, they recorded four Eagles.
Bender, Larry Nicholas, Coy Grace and Bonner McCollum had the highest score, a six under 65, but according to Billingsley, "got paid as much as the winning team did for their effort."
Bobby May of Forrest City was closest to the pin on hole No. 15 while Oswalt won the longest drive competition.
"There were a lot of people who put in some quality time helping with this event," Billingsley said. "I could not have done it by myself and I want to thank each and every one who volunteered their time, especially the UA coaches."
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Throughout the AAAAA-East, summer football drills are heating up.
It doesn't really matter what the local weathermen are saying, the intensity levels on the practice fields are rising.
For the second straight day today, the Forrest City Mustangs endured a lengthy morning session.
A much-needed lengthy session, according to Mustang head coach Donnie Willis.
The 2004 Mustangs are young and need all the practice time available from now until the season-opening game on Sept. 3.
Losing more than 20 seniors, the Mustangs are searching for replacements in many key areas especially along the offensive and defensive lines where the Mustangs will be the most inexperienced.
The Mustangs will move into different practice times on Wednesday, the first inservice day back for area teachers and staff.
The Mustangs are the seventh pick in the conference this season.
Elsewhere, around the conference:
At Jacksonville, the Red Devils began practice on Monday.
The Red Devils have 5 of 6 starters returning this season.
Projected Jacksonville starting quarterback J.C. Goffe struggled early in skeleton drills, dropping a snap and slipping to the ground while dropping back.
But as the practice progressed, the 6 foot 5 senior settled in nicely as practice went on and began throwing smooth, on-target passes consistently.
Red Devil head coach Johnny Watson said about 70 players were out for the first day, which consisted of two practices in which the team split into units for most of each session.
Watson was pleased with the condition his players were in when they reported for the first official day of duty.
According to Hooten's Football Jacksonville's strength in 2004 will be the linebackers and the listed weaknesses for the Devils are the depth of the line and the receiver core. Jacksonville drew a fifth-place preseason vote in the East.
Jacksonville's last playoff appearance was in 2002.
And the Devils have a playoff record of 13-17.
*The Cabot Panthers' football team took advantage of another outlet while preparing for the 2004 season.
Cabot, along with Greenbrier, Conway and Malvern, played 7-on-7 scrimmages for three consecutive weeks leading up to the opening of summer football drills.
Each team ran 15 offensive plays. Cabot started each play at the 40-yard line even if a pass was completed.
The Panthers, picked to win the AAAAA-East, return only three defensive starters in the linebackers and secondary, including Cody Canterberry, Brandon Shiell and Thomas Valdez.
Returning starting quarterback Ryan Cotroneo split time with Canterberry.
Both looked good at times throwing the ball. Several players, including Alec Tripp and Joey Joslin, made good catches. Canterberry also saw time at receiver.
While the Panthers were using the drills for a defensive purpose, the offense got plenty of use out of it too.
Cabot's first team offense worked mainly on the staple Panther offense, the Dead T, but did try several pass plays about midway through practice.
The Panther starters and two-deep were in the first day of practice, as simple mistakes (which were pointed out clearly) were the theme of the day.
The Panthers will participate in a benefit scrimmage on Monday, Aug. 23, at Lake Hamilton.
The season-opener is Tuesday, Aug. 31, against Conway at War Memorial Stadium.
The Cabot-Conway game is the second of a doubleheader with Benton and Bryant as part of the Diamond Bank Bowl.
*Sylvan Hills, moving back into the AAAAA-East this season, jumped right into implementing their game plans as the Bears opened summer drills.
Sylvan Hills is just going once a day.
Bears' head coach Ron Sebastian said he is slowly stepping up the intensity of practice in order to acclimate the players to the heat.
Only 41 Bears dressed out for the first day, but much more than that were on hand for practice.
Sebastian expects to dress out about 60 for theopening season game.
WACO, Texas -- The Bryant 12-and-under All-Stars will play in the Little League Regional Tournament champioship game at 7 p.m., tonight.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
After losing the first game of the Southwestern Region Little League Tournament 5-1 to Richmond, the Bryant All-Stars bounced back to win their last three games and once again are one win away from the Little League World Series.
Richmond beat Bryant last year in the championship game of the Regional tournament, and the teams will meet up again to play this year in the championship game to make it to Williamsport for the World Series.
The All-Stars rebounded from Thursday's loss to Richmond by defeating Colorado Springs, Colo. 9-3 Friday.
Bryant played Louisiana South Lake Charles Saturday and won 1-0. Each team finished the game with two hits, but Bryant was able to outscore Louisiana.
Benny Wells was the winning pitcher for Bryant retiring six batters and walking two. Sergio Arias got a save for the game.
Bryant scored its one run in the third inning. Caleb Garrett was on base after walking. Kaleb Jobe hit a double for the only RBI of the game to score Garrett.
Bryant beat San Antonio, Texas, 12-5 on Sunday in the semifinals of the Southwestern Regional to advance to tonight's championship game to try and avenge last year's loss to Texas East of Richmond.
In Sunday's semifinal game, Bryant garnered 12 hits and led San Antonio 8-0 before closing in on a 12-5 victory.
Dylan Pritchett was the winning pitcher for Bryant. The All-Stars held San Antonio to no runs until the fifth inning. Texas scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.
The Little League Baseball World Series for 11-12-year-olds will be played in Williamsport, Aug. 20-29.