SPORTS
A6
Loveland Herald
July 27, 2011
HIGH SCHOOL | YOUTH | Editor Melanie Laughman | mlaughman@communitypress.com | 248-7573
RECREATIONAL
Your Community Press newspaper serving Loveland, Miami Township, Symmes Township
communitypress.com l: loveland@communitypress.com
HERALD
Back and Norse with Loveland’s Schappell By Scott Springer
sspringer@communitypress.com
FILE PHOTO
NKU’s Kevin Schappell in action in March 2007 for the Norse in the NCAA Division II tournament against Grand Valley State. Schappell scored 868 points for the Norse from 2003-2007. Schappell was a prep star for the Loveland Tigers.
SIDELINES Select baseball tryouts
Select baseball tryouts for 10U team in the Milford and Loveland area scheduled for Aug. 1 and Aug. 6. Those interested in trying out but who are unable to attend either session, or simply would like additional information about our team, please email Erik at Miamivilleselect@hotmail.com.
Baseball tryouts
Cincinnati Fury, a newly formed, select youth baseball organization formed to compete at a high level with honor and integrity through skilled coaching, is having tryouts The 11U tryout is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 9 a.m. registration, and the 15U tryouts are 3 p.m.-7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. registration. Dates are Aug. 6 at Miami Meadows Park, 1546 Ohio 131, Milford; Aug. 13 at Seven Hills School, 5400 Red Bank Road; and Aug. 20 at Northern Kentucky University, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky. Players only need to attend one date. Players are to dress in long pants and bring the necessary baseball equipment (gloves, bats, batting helmets, catcher’s gear, hats, etc.). Water will be provided. Cincinnati Fury has the competitive advantage of a solid staff with extensive baseball knowledge and experience guided by the coaching philosophy of Don Gullett Jr. Don’s father, Don Gullett, a former MLB pitcher and pitching coach will be the Fury’s pitching coordinator. Cincinnati Fury will have open tryouts for anyone eligible for the 2012 11U and 15U divisions. Players will go through a pro-style workout where they will be assessed individually on a range of skills. Visit www.gulletts.com, e-mail GBI@gulletts.com, or call 390-7800 for more information.
Football camp with a Bengal
The Varsity Oline-Dline Football Camp, conducted by Cincinnati Bengal Nate Livings, for Southwest Ohio area youth going into grades 7-12, will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Wednesday, July 27, at Keehner Park in West Chester. Livings has enlisted the support of his NFL teammates to help make this camp a success. The camp is for players in seventh through 12th grades. There are only 30 spots for Oline campers (tight end, tackle, guard, center) and 30 spots for Dline campers (defensive end, tackle, noseguard), Early registration is recommended. Campers will be given personal instructions by NFL player and area coaches. Participants will have opportunities to get autographs and take pictures with the NFL celebrities. Campers can register online AT www.NateLivings.com.
After 1,403 points at Loveland High School (second only to Bobby Capobianco who broke his record in 2009) and 868 at Northern Kentucky University, Kevin Schappell is in his comfort zone on the basketball floor now as a second-year assistant under NKU coach Dave Bezold. The former Tiger and Norse sharpshooter spent three seasons as a West Virginia grad assistant under Bob Huggins before returning to the Tristate and familiar surroundings. “Cincinnati’s home for me,” Schappell said. “It’s always my home. Northern Kentucky’s like a big family. I’m happy to be home. Coach B (Dave Bezold) brought me back here.” Schappell helps coach Bezold with NKU’s summer camps and is using his local ties to tap the local roundball market for the Norse. Along with his stellar playing career, it doesn’t hurt that he was part of West Virginia’s Final Four staff two years ago under Huggins. “Coach Huggs is one of the best coaches in the country,” Schappell said. “He doesn’t get enough credit for how good of a coach he is. A lot of people just think he just brings in players. He’s one of the smartest people I know.” Now, Schappell’s trying to do what Bob Huggins tried to do at UC – keep
the local talent in town. “We signed five local kids this year from Cincinnati,” Schappell said. “It’s great basketball in Cincinnati. I grew up playing high school Schappell basketball here. It makes it easy to recruit here when you know a lot of the high school coaches. It’s nice to be able to get some guys to stay at home who are talented.” As a three-time Fort Ancient Valley Conference player and four-year starter under former Loveland coach Mike Ferone, Schappell knows his craft and his market. “I always shot the ball real well,” Schappell said. “Coach B always likes the guys that can shoot the ball. I worked on it a lot growing up. Coach B likes guys that are very skilled and can shoot the ball. It was a good fit for me to come here.” Oddly enough, it took a mild illness for Schappell to earn an invite to the Highland Heights campus. “The most memorable game was a (tournament game) at Anderson,” Schappell said. “I had the flu. Carl Richburg (Mason) was guarding me and I had 41 that night. Coach Bezold offered me that game. I was only a junior.” Schappell eventually finished his Norse career with 106 career threepointers.
“I played behind some good guys my sophomore and freshman years,” Schappell said. “I worked on my game and didn’t get frustrated. My junior year, I was all-conference. I continued that as a senior.” Schappell now scours Greater Cincinnati in search of players like himself. The Norse always have shooters and Schappell takes pride in watching NKU take on Division I talent every summer at the Deveroes League at Woodward High School. What they don’t have in terms of layup-line looks, they make up for in teamwork and long-range bombing. “The one thing about the Deveroes League is we go as a team,” Schappell said. “We’re still Division II, so we can enter as a team. Our guys go out there and work hard. We all shoot the ball well and there’s not a lot of defense played over there. Our guys should be able to knock down 40 percent of our three-point shots.” This season, he looks forward to returning to West Virginia as the Norse will take on his old boss and the Mountaineers. Schappell hopes the attitude the Norse bring in playing DI talent in summer translates well in Morgantown. “If you can shoot the ball and pass the ball, you can play anywhere I think,” Schappell said. Go to cincinnati.com/blogs/presspreps to see a video interview with NKU’s Kevin Schappell.
Shipley keeps busy with football camp By Scott Springer sspringer@communitypress.com
As the NFL lockout appeared near an end, Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley kept busy July 2122 at Sycamore High School by hosting a football camp for area youth in conjunction with D1 Cincinnati. After addressing the campers and prior to participating in drills, the former Texas Longhorn spoke to the Community Press about the camp and his NFL experiences. It looks like you might have a job again with the NFL lockout ending. What do you hear? “I think we’re going to find out more. I think everyone’s real excited to get back to work. I’m happy about being in Cincinnati and out here with all these kids. We’ll teach them something and we’ll all have fun.”
SCOTT SPRINGER/STAFF
Da’ron Freeman-Lewis (left) of John P. Parker School in Madisonville takes instruction at Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley’s football camp at Sycamore High School. In the center is Mike Fackler of Loveland, while Brandon Showes of Winton Woods stands to the right. My roommate was Chad (Ochocinco) last year. We’ll see if that happens again or not. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited about getting back down there and getting back to work.”
Where all have you been training at? “I’ve been in Texas some. I’ve been in Texas quite a bit. Also, in Nashville about the last two months.” This hot weather is noth ing new to you (being from Texas). It looks like you have a whole crew of kids out here. “It’s just one of those things you’ve got to get used to. The little kids are used to running around and being outside. They’re having a lot of fun and we’re just making sure they get a bunch of water.” Did you ever go to anything like this when you were a kid? “I went to a lot of football camps went I got older, like eighth grade through high school years. I just remember at that age that getting to go play with a professional football player is a
SCOTT SPRINGER/STAFF
Liam Hamill of Loveland breaks up a pass in the endzone intended for Antonio Holman of St. Joseph’s Elementary downtown at Jordan Shipley’s football camp at Sycamore High School. The Bengals wide receiver held the camp July 21-22 in conjunction with D1 Cincinnati.
SCOTT SPRINGER/STAFF
Mike Fackler of Loveland takes the hand-off from Anthony Cheers of Lakota Ridge Junior High at Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley’s football camp July 21.
neat thing. I’m just going to try and make the rounds and make sure I spend some time with every kid.”
coached my (younger) brother. He’s at Brownwood High School in central Texas.”
Did you every get a chance to meet an NFL player as a young kid? “I really didn’t get a chance to go meet one. Like I said, it’s just special for them to be able to do that and hopefully I’ll get to do that with everybody.”
He’s pretty good at what he does too, right? “He’s really good. They made it to the semifinals last year and he’s been in the state championship two other times.”
around and obviously have an interest in football. I just want to make sure they have a chance to talk to me and ask me anything they want to know so they know what they need to know to get better and have fun playing.”
You seem to be very approachable. I’m sure the kids are having a good time just coming up and saying “Hi” to you. “Well, the main thing is we’re excited they came
You’ve been around for a year now, do you get an upgrade in Georgetown (Bengals training camp)? Do you get a room by yourself? “I don’t know about that.
Your dad (Bob Shipley) was your high school coach, is that right? “My dad was my high school coach, yeah. He also
An off-football question, you’re a country music fan, who’s your guy/group/act right now? “I have a lot of favorites. Lately, there’s guy named Ryan Bingham; he’s from Texas. Aaron Watson is another guy from Texas, a friend of mine that’s really good. Obviously, I’ve been in Nashville for awhile so I’ve been watching a lot of stuff there too.” Ryan Bingham was just in a movie, wasn’t he? “Yeah, Crazy Heart. He’s got some cool stuff.” We’ll look for you onstage with him soon. “We’ll see about that.” To see the video of his interview, go to cincinnati.com/ blogs/presspreps.