By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Junior Mustangs have a new head coach.
Chris Houser, 28, was approved Monday night as the new junior high boys' basketball coach, replacing long-time coach Jimmy Williams, who retired from coaching in March.
Williams passed away in April.
Houser has spent the past three seasons coaching basketball and track at Marion at both the junior and senior high levels.
In the classroom, Houser will teach American History and Geography.
"At least that is the plan right now," Houser said. "And that's what I am aiming toward. I think I will be helping with the junior high football team during the two-a-days but once school begins, I will be strictly basketball.'
Houser said he was attracted by Forrest City's revitalized basketball program.
"I have been hearing very good things about the program at Forrest City and the caliber of athletes in the program," Houser said. "I think the level of competition in 5A is higher and I am looking forward to that challenge."
Houser takes over a junior boys program which won the 5A district tournament in March and returns a good nucleus of players.
Houser is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas at Conway and spent time student teaching at Conway and Beebe before taking his first coaching position at Marion.
Forrest City is also in need of a head coach for the junior high girls' basketball team. That opening came available when last year's coach, Jacky England, was promoted to head coach of the senior high girls' team, a position vacated when former head coach Sue Jayroe decided to step down earlier this year.
"I am very impressed with Mustang Arena," Houser said. "It's an exciting time for me."
The T-Ball League postseason tournament will try once more to get started Friday night.
The tournament, scheduled to begin Tuesday, was rained out by heavy thunderstorms which moved across the state.
That pushed the opening games to Friday night.
The double elimination style tournament will run through Tuesday, June 29.
One of the major differences in the tournament this season is that no games are being played on Saturday, which draws the tournament out over 12 days.
Most of the tournament games will be played at 6 p.m., until the final days when the 7 p.m. start time will come in play.
In other league play, the 12-under and 16-under girls' fast pitch softball leagues will end their seasons tonight.
Delta Breeze has already clinched the 12-under league title and can finish the year unbeaten with a win tonight over Crowley's Ridge.
Bonanza, at 8-1, can clinch the 16-under league title tonight with a win over Clay. Bonanza earned at least a share of the league title Monday by turning back Pizza Inn 6-5.
The adult men and women's slow pitch softball league plays tonight as well.
On the boys' side of the Sports Complex, Junior Babe Ruth plays it final games tonight while the Minor (pitching machine) League will play a pair of games on Field 7 beginning at 6 p.m.