By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The 87 golfers who signed up to play in the third annual "Ralph" golf tournament Monday, made it about half way through the course before Mother Nature intervened.
Strong thunderstorms rumbled through the area just after the noon hour, ending the charity tournament being played at Forrest City Country Club.
"Most of the 21 teams got through 11, maybe 12 holes," said tournament organizer Mallory Parker, "before the rain got us. That meant, of course, that we had no winning team. We drew names for the prizes, which was basically about all we could do."
Parker explained that the tournament used a shotgun start and there was no way to match holes because everyone had played different holes.
"But it all worked out and everyone was pleased and everyone had a great time, while it lasted. It was just a good combination of folks coming together for a worthy cause," Parker said.
The tournament, named in honor of the late Ralph Thompson, raised just over $6,000 this year which will be used to benefit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and like-minded Christian organizations.
"We don't know exactly how much of that money stays in this area to benefit the East Arkansas FCA, but a good chunk of it stays at home," Parker said. "The FCA makes the decision about how to disperse the funds."
Johnny Thompson, Ralph Thompson's son, was on hand for the annual event and stood amazed at the results of many long hours of preparation.
"Many individuals from the East Coast this way put in lots of long man hours to make the tournament what it has become today -- a success," Thompson said. "It is amazing how it comes together. We have to, at times, literally piece the whole thing together. My secretary has her hand in getting things together, Mallory Parker takes care of the local spin and countless others who work hard behind the scenes."
Officially named the Ralph Thompson Memorial, the tournament has become affectionately known as "The Ralph."
As Johnny Thompson said during the official welcoming speech, it could be called "a sacrifice of time and money for those who work diligently each year to bring it all together."
Thompson said the tournament would continue to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes especially the Forrest City chapter, comprised of nine counties and a local office, opened earlier this year, which staffs and supports those counties.
"So many people have put in so much work to maker this tournament a success," said Thompson, who is entering his second full season as head football coach at East Carolina University.
"Everybody who comes to play and help is making a difference. The tournament is growing and that is a blessing. Dad is probably walking around with his coffee cup with a big smile on his face. He never was the kind of man who sought out attention for himself, but deep down he knows the real good is doing good for others."
The tournament -- especially this one -- has been emotional for Thompson, his mother and the family members.
"Falling the day after Father's Day makes it a little more emotional than the past two have," Thompson said. "It's made our family stop and reflect a little more."
This year's total puts the tournament's three-year total of money raised at more than $20,000.
The tournament used a four-man scramble format.
BLYTHEVILLE -- The vacation ended Monday for Forrest City Post 4's American Legion baseball team.
The team hasn't played for two weeks and the layoff showed. Forrest City managed just one run and five hits in two games.
Three Blytheville players homered and Matt Noble tossed a two-hitter Monday as the Blytheville AAA American Legion blanked AA Forrest City, 7-0, at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex.
Blytheville Marine Terminal, the A Legion team, also got a crack at Forrest City, winning the nightcap 2-1 behind Cody Wells' complete-game three-hitter.
Derek McClung and Brad Lawrence hit consecutive homers to key a five-run, sixth inning.
Shawn Lee led off the fourth-inning with a solo shot.
That was plenty for the left-handed Noble, who allowed just one walk while striking out four in the complete-game win.
After Bo Whitaker drew a lead-off walk in the sixth, McClung gave Blytheville (13-6) its fourth hit of the game, just clearing the 375 sign in center.
Lawrence followed with a blast to left, making it 5-0 Blytheville. After Matt Bell popped out to third, Brandon Ballard and Noble sent back-to-back base hits to center and both came home one batter later, when Justin Brown roped a two-out double to center.
Forrest City went down in order in the seventh to end the game.
Forrest City's biggest scoring threat came in the second inning, when it had runners on the corners with one out.
Landon Bullard punched a single past a diving Whitaker in the hole at short, moving Josh Livingston to third.
Noble then got the next hitter, Keil Smith, to ground to Whitaker, who stepped on second and fired to first for the inning-ending double play.
Jason Smith had Forrest City's other hit, a one-out double in the fourth. Catcher Kris Overman voided it by throwing out the FC third baseman as he tried to steal third.
Lee put up the first run of the game, the monstrous home run to left. Forrest City starter Curtis Cole, who gave up all seven runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, retired the next two batters, but Lawrence and Bell reached on back-to-back errors to keep the inning alive.
Lawrence scored when Bell reached safely on the shortstop's overthrow to first.
Noble led Blytheville at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Brown and Lee were 1-for-4 each and McClung, Lawrence, Brandon Ballard and Bell 1-for-3 apiece.
BMT 2, FC 1
Marine Terminal took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the seventh to complete the two-team sweep of AA Forrest City.
Wells reached on a one-out error at third and came home when the next batter, Zach Walls, reached on an error by the pitcher, ending the game.
Wells recorded seven strikeouts, while issuing just one free pass in the win.
His counterpart, Josh Livingston, went the distance in the loss, allowing four hits and five free passes.
Forrest City scored first in the top of the third.
Jason Smith followed a 1-6-3 double play with a two-out double and later scored on an error by the catcher.
Blytheville answered in the fourth. Jeremy Slaughter led off with a triple and scored when the next batter, Kyle Thaxton, drove a sac fly to right.
Thaxton and Josh McDaniel were 1-for-2 each and Slaughter and Wells 1-for-3 apiece.
The AAA Casons host Jackson, Mo., at 5:30 p.m. today on Field 8, while Marine Terminal entertains Zone 2 foe Searcy at the same time on Field 7.Forrest City will try again today in a scheduled game at Jonesboro beginning at 5 p.m.
On Thursday, the team will open play in the George Kell Classic at Newport.
Noble then got the next hitter, Keil Smith, to ground to Whitaker, who stepped on second and fired to first for the inning-ending double play.
Jason Smith had Forrest City's other hit, a one-out double in the fourth. Catcher Kris Overman voided it by throwing out the Forrest City third baseman as he tried to steal third.
Lee put up the first run of the game, a home run to left. Forrest City starter Curtis Cole, who gave up all seven runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, retired the next two batters, but Lawrence and Bell reached on back-to-back errors to keep the inning alive.
Lawrence scored when Bell reached safely on an overthrow to first.
Noble led Blytheville at the plate, going 2-for-3.
*Marine Terminal took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the seventh to complete the two-team sweep of AA Forrest City.
Wells recorded seven strikeouts, while issuing just one free pass in the win.
Josh Livingston, went the distance for Forrest City, allowing four hits and five free passes.
Forrest City scored first in the top of the third.
Jason Smith followed a 1-6-3 double play with a two-out double and later scored on an error by the catcher.
Blytheville answered in the fourth. Jeremy Slaughter led off with a triple and scored when the next batter, Kyle Thaxton, drove a sac fly to right.
Thaxton and Josh McDaniel were 1-for-2 each and Slaughter and Wells 1-for-3 apiece.
The AAA Casons host Jackson, Mo., at 5:30 p.m. today on Field 8, while Marine Terminal entertains Zone 2 foe Searcy at the same time on Field 7.Forrest City will try again today in a scheduled game at Jonesboro beginning at 5 p.m.
On Thursday, the team will open play in the George Kell Classic at Newport.