bobcats’ eye on goals · after all, his personal records of 14.82 in the 110 hurdles and 40.1 in...
TRANSCRIPT
BY PAT [email protected]
Little wonder Branson coach TroyNimmo welcomes the extra workrequired for a coach to have his schoolserve as a District host.
Of Branson’s 14 District champi-onships dating back to 1985, the Piratescelebrated eight District titles on theirhome field, either at Mang Field orPirate Park.
Branson’s last two District champi-onships in 2010 and ‘13, were won athome. The Pirates won a District title in2008 at Republic.
“I’d host every year,” Nimmo said ashe preps for Class 5 District 11 play atPirate Park beginning Saturday. “It’s notlike we say we want to host and we getit automatically. But a lot of (coaches)don’t like to host because it is a lot ofwork. There is work getting the fieldready and dealing with all the otherpreparations. There is a lot of paper-work.
“A lot of guys would prefer not tohave to deal with that and focus on thegame itself.”
With the Pirates hosting Districtsalmost on a semi-annual basis, they
have a routine to follow. “We’ve hosted so many times that it’s
not a big deal,” Nimmo said. “We’relucky in that we have threegroundskeepers who will get the fieldgame-ready for us. They take a lot off ofus. When we come to the park Saturdaymorning, we don’t have to worry aboutdoing anything more than hang the flagand get water in the dugouts. Not allschools are that lucky.”
Nimmo doesn’t think it’s any coinci-dence Branson has fared so well atDistricts when at home.
BY PAT [email protected]
Ransom Allphin would already be on the records board in the 110hurdles and 300 hurdles at many schools. After all, his personal recordsof 14.82 in the 110 hurdles and 40.1 in the 300 hurdles make him astrong contender to medal at State this spring.
But with Reeds Spring traditionally having premier hurdlers, theWolves’ standards in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles are lofty marksthat have stood the test of time.
Ransom’s oldest brother, Owen, holds the mark in the 110 hurdles
(14.38) and Dustin Patton holds the record in the 300 hurdles (39.31).“They’re attainable, but I’ve still got a little ways to go,” Ransom
said.A junior, Allphin likes the motivation his records chase provides. “It’s nice to have something to reach for and have to work hard to
get,” he said. “I would like to beat my brother’s record.”Allphin is a determined sort, as evidenced by his progress to this
point. Further proof of his resilience was offered in February, when hewas awarded the Eagle Scout award.
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FORSYTH — With Forsyth begin-ning play in the Ozark Summer Leagueon Wednesday, Lady Panthers coachTommie Anderson likes his options inthe center circle.
Forsyth is looking for a replacementfor Sonjia Cotter, as she preps for thebeginning of her career at Mineral Area.
Cotter was Forsyth’s No. 1 pitcher thepast two seasons, but was able to throwonly a half-dozen games this year due toa pre-season knee injury.
Kelsey Harris, a sophomore, spelledCotter for the majority of the season.
“She threw a lot and (freshman)Karissa Chambers came in and threw
some in varsity games also,” Andersonsaid. “Karissa did not seem fazed. So, Ithink she will be ready mentally.”
Dayva Cardwell and HopeFortenhagen threw jayvee ball this year.
“I would say all four of them have thepotential to get there,” Anderson said.“It will be a matter of who works in theoff-season to improve their speed. Weneed to add speed and definitely need towork on our changeups. Carissa has avery good changeup. She just needs tobe more consistent with it.
“If we don’t add speed, the changeupwill be extremely important.”
Emily Shipman, an eighth-grader, is aprized prospect who has already caughtthe attention of college coaches as a
catcher. After injuring aknee, she is takingpitching lessons fromTim Ford, the father offormer Branson pitcherBri Ford and futureLady Pirates pitcherCat Ford.
“She has tried pitch-ing off and on,”Anderson said. “I’veseen her pick it up in aspan of a couple ofweeks. I worked withher for fun one day andshe came back twoweeks later throwing strikes. She’s soathletic she could pick up any position.”
Allphin thankful to still have added motivation of chasing school hurdles records
Lady Panthers looking for new pitcher
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 • bransontrilakesnews.com BBRRAANNSSOONN TTRRII--LLAAKKEESS NNEEWWSS12A
Contact Sports Editor Pat Dailey at 417-334-3161, ext. 106 or email [email protected]
Pat Dailey | Branson Tri-Lakes News
Ransom Allphin will take part in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4 x 200 relay and 4 x 400 relay for Reeds Spring on Saturday.
Kelsey Harris,left, will beamong the
options in thecenter circle forForsyth coach
TommieAnderson next
year.
Pat Dailey | Branson Tri-Lakes News
Hayden Gibsonand Bransonentertain WestPlains at 6 p.m.Saturday in aClass 5 District 11opening-roundgame.
Pat Dailey | Branson Tri-Lakes News
ALLPHIN — cont. on 11A
PIRATES — cont. on 10A
Bobcats’seasonends
Bobcats’seasonendspage 10Apage 10A
nTITLE CHASE:Reeds Spring’s boyswill be among thefavorites to win theClass 3 District 6 teamchampi-onshiponSaturday.
Assist-antcoachCraigBarr saidif theWolvescan claimthe teamtitle, itwould bethe pro-gram’sfirstDistrict championshipgoing back at least 30years.
A year ago at FairGrove, Reeds Springfell half a point short ofthe team title, withStrafford edging theWolves.
Barr said the coach-ing staff has notfocused on winningteam titles to this point,with the exception ofthe COC Small SchoolsMeet and the JasonPyrah Invitational atWillard. The Wolveswon both titles, blowingout runner-up Bolivarby 67 points at the con-ference meet.
“We have tried to layback a little this year sothe kids are (fresh) forthis time of the year,”Barr said.
Reeds Spring’s depthcould also allow theWolves to compete forteam championships atSectionals in Eldon onMay 21 and at StateMay 27-28.
nMILLER TIME: ReedsSpring junior GarrettMiller is ninth in thestate leaders for allclasses in the javelin.
Miller’s personalrecord is 159-0 at theCassville Invitational.
The top throw thusfar is 178-10 byRaymore-Peculiar’sBrady Johnson. He isone of three throwers totop 170-0.
REEDS SPRING TRACK | Wolves and their slew of standout sprinters enter Class 3 District 6 Meet with high hopes of qualifying for Sectionals
FORSYTH SOFTBALL | Pre-season knee injury to Cotter allowed sophomore Harris and freshman Chambers to gain experience in center circle
Pirates happy to be home — againBRANSON BASEBALL | Nimmo’s bunch receives No. 5 seed for Class 5 District 11 and will play No. 6 seed West Plains in opening round Saturday
Robinettegrateful tobe healthy
BY PAT [email protected]
REEDS SPRING — Korey Robinettehas taken Reeds Spring’s stretchingexercises during prep time for meetsmore seriously this spring than he did inthe past.
After straining aquadricep muscle a yearago during the COCSmall Schools Meet,Robinette was relegatedto idle status at Districts.
The Wolves sprinterhas enjoyed a healthy jun-ior year this spring leadingup to Saturday’s Class 3District 6 Meet at Mt.Vernon.
“I’m grateful for it,” Robinette said ofhis good fortune this year. “Last yearwas pretty humbling. I’ve started stretch-ing more and taking care of my bodymore because I can’t have those injuries.As soon as I hurt my quad, I was think-ing, ‘I can’t let this happen again.’ I wentinto therapy making sure it healed right.”
Likewise, Robinette has made surefellow sprinter Hunter Flett followedprotocol and continues to do so after hestrained a hamstring earlier this season.
“He’s doing what I had to do lastyear,” Robinette said. “I got on to him.As soon as he got hurt, I told him,‘You’ve got to go to (the school trainer)and start healing up.”
After sitting out Districts a year ago,Robinette advanced to Sectionals as analternate on the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200relays.
His workload Saturday will includethe 100, 200 and legs on the 4 x 100 and4 x 200 relays. His personal record in the100 is 11.00 and 22.81 in the 200.
During Districts and Sectionals, thereare 10- to 15-minute breaks in betweenraces.
“It will be good to have more rest inbetween events,” he said. “Usually, atthe regular(-season) meets we go to, Iwill run the 100 and then right awayhave to run the 4 x 200 relay and 4 x 100relay.”
The 4 x 100 relay team is fresh frombreaking its own school record by pos-ing a 42.65. Robinette and Flett arejoined by Keenan Haynes and ColterWhitten.
“We’d been missing (Flett),”Robinette said. “As soon as we got himback, we broke our record.”
CraigBarr
Wolvescoach
Korey Robinette
Wolvesjunior
Eye on goals
n PIRATES‘SCOOP: Witha .529 battingmark, ChadReusch topsthe Tri-LakesArea in hitting.For completeindividualstats, seepage 10A.
n LADYPANTHERS‘SCOOP:Forsythreached theClass 1 District8 title game forthe secondtime in threeyears this sea-son.