As the spring sports season winds down (already), some things have caught my attention along the way, whether it be related to the season or just things that have happened with local athletes. It’s in a segment I’d like to call “You know what impresses me?”

-You know what impresses me? The small schools in Jackson County, like Crothersville, Medora and Trinity Lutheran, giving students the opportunity to participate in sports (in some cases, more than one sport). In the first place, they are small schools and I think it’s great they offer the sports. Secondly, the kids have done really well this year. They don’t care about there being three or four, maybe a few more, competing in one meet or match. They just look to improve their own game, and that’s something to be admired, in my opinion. They go out there and put forth a great effort. Good for them.

-You know what impresses me? The teams that have turned their seasons around is something to be looked at. Seymour’s softball team is one, as they were 4-12 last season and they are currently 7-7. Also, Brownstown Central’s baseball team was 8-21 and they are 10-7 as of May 15. The Braves recently had a five-game winning streak.

-You know what impresses me? Speaking of winning streaks, the Seymour baseball team put together 10 straight wins recently. Yeah, they then lost three straight, but they’ve picked it back up by winning their last two. They have about five games left before sectional to improve their 17-6 record. Also, kudos to senior Jesse Wilson, who set a school record for career home runs (14) earlier this month.

-You know what impresses me? Trinity Lutheran’s boys and girls track and field teams have done well in their debut at the school. They have participated in five meets this season. The girls won a four-team meet midway through the season and the boys and girls were second in a five-team meet in their final outing. The girls will compete in the Seymour Sectional May 19 and the boys will be at Bedford May 21. Who knows? There may be some Cougar runners advance to regional and beyond.

-You know what impresses me? The Brownstown Central girls track team won the Mid Southern Conference meet May 12 at Eastern High School. It was their eighth straight year of winning the MSC. The girls have had some strong performances this season. They won eight of 10 meets, and they were second in a three-team meet at Jennings County and fourth in a tough Jeffersonville Invitational. The boys and girls team continued their streak at the BCHS Relays, too, each winning for the 16th time this season. They may very well have some runners move out of sectional, too. Same goes for the Seymour track teams.

-You know what impresses me? Two of Jackson County’s baseball teams made their way onto the state rankings list in their respective classes. In recent weeks, Trinity Lutheran moved as high as No. 7 and they were No. 9 last week in Class A. Seymour is on the brink of the 10 top, as they stood at No. 12 in Class 4A last week. Trinity has had a few winning streaks along the way, and they are currently 12-5.

-You know what impresses me? All of the county golf teams have had their ups and downs this season. Part of that is due to young squads. But for the several of the teams, those underclassmen have stepped up quite well. At Seymour, two freshmen, Travis Thompson and Austin Felix, started out the season competing in one of the top four spots in matches, and they have basically remained there. The Owls also have several seniors who have produced some nice scores in different matches, and they are expected to fill that role.
For Brownstown Central, a group of sophomores have had some solid scores this season, and junior Zach Pranger has been consistent. For the seniors, Jeff Turmail recently had his best round of the season (41) and was able to be a part of the team’s match score.
At Trinity Lutheran, a bulk of their players are underclassmen, too. Their scores have varied throughout the season, but the team was 4-1 at one point. Finally, at Crothersville, the golfers have struggled to find a rhytm lately, but earlier this spring, the team won the school’s first-ever match, as they defeated Columbus Christian. The Tigers have only had a team about three years, and several of them play other sports in the spring. Golfers will compete in conference tournaments the weekend of May 23, and all county golfers will play in the Bedford Sectional.

-You know what impresses me? Seymour’s No. 1 doubles team of Rachel Haskett and Kelsey Black have put together a winning senior season so far. The young Owls squad has lost some tough matches this season, but the team will once again play host to the sectional this week, and I’m sure they are looking to put forth a great effort. Haskett and Black advanced to regional last year.
Brownstown Central and Trinity Lutheran also will be at the Seymour Sectional. BC has lost several 3-2 matches this season, and they won their first match of the season (against Trinity Lutheran) on May 14. Trinity also has only won one match this spring.

-You know what impresses me? It’s not about spring sports, but two things have recently happened that are worth mentioning. Two Seymour girls athletes have recently signed to play college sports. Junior Erin Murphy verbally agreed to play basketball at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne after she graduates from SHS in 2010. This past winter, Murphy scored her 1,000th career point, and she has a whole season to add to that.
This last Thursday, May 14, senior Chelsea Hendrix officially signed to play volleyball at the University of the Cumberlands. She’ll begin there in August, and she’s going to study pre-med.
Congratulations to both of these young ladies on quite an accomplishment. People should keep in mind that these are student-athletes, and they have to balance school and sports. That’s no easy task, and I’m sure if you ask them, they’ll agree. But they have shown that it’s manageable.
I’m sure they’ll represent Seymour well.

There may be some other things that I’m forgetting to mention. There also may be some things coming up that I could add to this list. Sectionals for different sports begin soon, with tennis this week and softball the following week. I can’t believe it’s wrapping up already. It’s been a busy one, even with the many rainouts.

Are there some things that have impressed you about spring sports or anything that’s gone on in local sports this spring? If so, feel free to e-mail me at zspicer@tribtown.com. I would be glad to hear your feedback.

So to the Jackson County teams, I wish you all the best of luck as you close the chapter on another season of spring sports.

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