Wellston drivers excel

Shawnee’s Todd Boyer, like most high school baseball coaches, is keenly aware of the value encompassed through summer league baseball.

Shawnee High School product Kyle Dixon inks a baseball letter of intent with Mid-America Christian University

Former Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Michael Rodgers captured the men’s 100-meter championship at the USA Track and Field Championships Friday in Eugene, Ore.
A couple of years ago, Michael Rodgers contemplated an early retirement from track and field while selling shoes out of the trunk of his car.

Two Wellston products claimed championships at last weekend’s competition at Brill Motor Speedway.

Former Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Michael Rodgers captured the men’s 100-meter championship at the USA Track and Field Championships Friday in Eugene, Ore.

When you’re searching for a peaceful, quiet place to wet a hook, ride your horse or pitch a tent, look no further than central Seminole County.
East of the city of Seminole is a lake named for its biggest fan — the sportsman. Found in abundance at Sportsman Lake are the subtleties of nature and fish willing to bite.

The Shawnee Soccer Association is seeking volunteers for the upcoming fall season. They meet 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month at Wesley United Methodist Church.

With the 2009 All-Star Game approaching, Ryan Franklin is having a banner pitching season for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Franklin, who grew up in Spiro, pitched for Seminole State College and presently makes his home in Shawnee, has been a major player in the Cardinals’ 40-34 record and first-place standing in the National League’s Central Division.

Blake Griffin was the consensus No. 1 pick. Shaq to the Cavs was the consensus blockbuster.
On a day of head-turning trades around the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers started Thursday night’s draft with the obvious choice: Griffin, the only player considered a sure thing in a class full of question marks.

Oklahoma Baptist University’s two-time All-America first-baseman Josh Collazo has signed a professional contract with the Shreveport-Bossier Captains of the American Association.

Oklahoma Baptist golfer Chase Lindsey, a freshman from Oklahoma City, has been named a Ping All-West Region selection by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Lindsey, who was All-NAIA National Tournament, finished 13th in the NAIA Championship individual standings.
Lindsey also was All-Sooner Athletic Conference, placing fifth at the SAC Championship in April.
Though a freshman, Lindsey is no stranger to individual accolades. He placed fourth in the state tournament as a sophomore at Christian Heritage Academy. He won the title as a junior and placed second in his senior season.

Easton Sports, Inc., recently announced that St. Gregory’s University softball players Sharon Bell and Cortney Reynaga were named to its 2009 All-American team.
The pair was among only five NAIA players on the team, which includes players from NCAA Division I and below.

Oklahoma Baptist University finished 14th in the 2008-09 Learfield Sports Director’s Cup NAIA Standings.
The competition recognizes the best overall athletic programs in the NAIA. The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 12 sports – six women’s and six men’s.

Two longtime and successful members of the state’s softball establishment have been inducted into the Oklahoma Slow-Pitch Softball Coaches’ Hall of Fame.
Tommy Block and David Smith were inducted during ceremonies last Saturday at the All-State Slow-Pitch games in Norman.

Through 12 games, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz defensive back Fred Shaw ranks third in the interception department of the Arena Football2 League.
Shaw, a Shawnee High School product in his fourth year in the league, has eight interceptions. He trails only league-leader Micha Robinson of the WB Scranton Pioneers with 11 and William Mulder of the Kentucky Horsemen with nine.

Eighth-grader-to-be Daniel Langley garnered his first-ever golf championship this past week at a South Central Junior PGA tournament at the Lakeside Municipal Course in Stillwater.
Langley, from Shawnee, posted a 7-over-par 77 in the one-day, 18-hole tournament to forge a four-shot victory over runner-up Mason Overstreet (81) in the 12-13 year-old division.
The 13-year-old Langley notched a 2-over-par 37 on the front side and a 5-over 40 on the back nine.
His previous best 18-hole effort had been 80 in a June 12 tournament at Perry.
The third-place finisher in the 12-13 division at Stillwater was Kyle Story with a 13-over 83.
Finishing fourth at 84 was Arjun Reddy and Max Griffin was fifth at 85.
There were 21 entries in the 12-13 division.
Langley’s 77 was better than every entry in the 14-15 Stillwater format except for champion Brendon McDonald at 72.

Note: This is the first part of a short series on lakes in the Tri-County area.
PRAGUE — Oklahoma is known for its abundance of lakes — both large and small — that offer ample opportunities for anglers. Some of them are just a stone’s throw from Shawnee, including a Lincoln County gem that screams “crappie.”
Prague Lake bears the name of the city that owns it. At only 225 acres, it’s little more than a pond when compared to the Sooner State’s giant, the 105,500-acre Lake Eufaula.
But don’t let Prague Lake’s small stature fool you — it has big potential.
Dale Goodnight, the lake’s ranger, has seen some large fish pulled from the lake that sits quietly in the woods northwest of Prague. Some of these fish include crappie in the two-pound range.
Speaking from personal experience, these numbers are accurate. My cousin and I fished the lake regularly this spring, and caught a number of crappie that measured 10 to 14 inches and weighed between one and two pounds. The largest specimen, caught by my cousin, measured a whopping 16-plus inches and weighed three pounds.

Twenty years after one of the most tumultuous days in Oklahoma football history, Barry Switzer says he hasn't forgotten what happened. He just doesn't dwell on it.

Despite the impending crunch on many schools from the nation’s economic woes, Bethel Public Schools athletic director Tommy Block believes that all Wildcat sports programs will fare well in the coming academic year.
No talks have been held regarding the need for budget cuts, schedule cuts or other financial adjustments, Block said, and all programs are set to move ahead on a normal basis.
“We haven’t had to make any changes at the moment, and right now I don’t think we’re going to have to,” Block said. “We’re all right.”

Mike Switch, right, a 1986 Shawnee High School graduate, is presented with an All-State coaches’ plaque at the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Association All-State banquet June 5 in Weatherford. Switch was the head coach of the Oklahoma Middle West team that defeated the Middle East team, 77-71, on June 6. Presenting the plaque to Switch was Rocky Clarke, OGBCA President. Switch, the head coach at Riverside Indian School the last four years, is now the head coach at Frederick.