By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The registration period for all of the Forrest City fall leagues has been extended to friday, Sept. 3.
The fall leagues, which will begin play during the third week of September, include youth flag football, youth soccer, 16-under fast-pitch softball, 12-under youth baseball and adult and co-ed softball.
"The fall program is getting bigger each year," said Recreation Director Kenneth Taylor. "The interest is there."
Taylor said he has three teams signed to play in the girls' 16-under fast pitch league and at least three teams signed up for the fall 12-under boys' baseball league.
"We may get another team in each," Taylor said. "We will have to wait and see."
In the boys' flag football league, there are six teams signed up for the 6-8-year-old division and two teams signed up for the 10-13 age group.
"We will play the flag football league games on Monday and Thursday nights," Taylor said. "And we will try to schedule the younger kids early so they don't have to be here past nine."
Taylor has signed two flag football teams from Marianna, one from Hughes and three from Forrest City in the younger age group.
As always, the fall soccer league will be just as big as it has been in the past, maybe bigger.
The soccer leagues are tentatively scheduled to play on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Sports Complex.
Taylor is not sure just yet which nights the fast pitch softballleague will play on.
As far as the men's and co-ed adult softball leagues, Taylor is expecting several more teams to register before Friday.
Youth soccer fees, ages 4-16, are $15 for those players living inside the Forrest City city limits and $25 for youths living outside the city limits.
Individual fees for the boys' flag football league, ages 6-11, are $20 for in-town players and $25 for out-of-town players.
Team fees for the adult men and co-ed fall softball leagues is $250 with an additional $10 charge for each roster player living outside Forrest City.
For more information about any of the leagues, call Taylor at 633-3667.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Everything is just about ready for the opening of the 2004 football season in Forrest City.
Athletic Director Mike Bender said the final preparations to Sam Smith Stadium should be completed today.
The Junior Mustangs will open their season Thursday night by hosting Marianna at 7 p.m.
"We have been trimming around the fences and grooming the playing field," Bender said. "The guys are supposed to check out the public address system today and make sure the scoreboard is working properly. We have some equipment here that is showing signs of age that needs our attention."
Bender said work was completed last week on replacing several of the old wooden bleacher seats on the home side of the stadium.
"We tightened some screws and replaced some of the planks which were in the worst condition," Bender added.
The Stadium will also see action Friday when the Mustangs host Poplar Bluff, Mo. for the season opener and will also be used next Tuesday when the seventh and eighth-grade Colts open their seasons.
Sam Smith Stadium will be used 21 times this season to host football games.
Mustang Arena is also getting a facelift in the form of having the floor refinished and repainted.