May 2010 by Jane Hutson

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www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

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Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Apr10:Layout 2

THE

HOTTEST PRODUCTS

THE

4/21/10

10:08 AM

Page 1

SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS

LATEST TECHNOLOGY

LIPSCOMB UN IVERSIT U NIVER SIT Y Excellent Instruction in a Character-Building Environment BASEBALL

BASKETBALL

SOCCER

SPEED & STRENGTH

SONY • SHARP • PANASONIC •TOSHIBA • HITACHI • LG • JVC • PIONEER • SAMSUNG

www.electronicexpress.com

A TENNESSEE COMPANY FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1983

DAY CAMPS • BOARDING CAMPS • CAMPUS SETTING • EXCELLENT FACILITIES • EXPERIENCED STAFF

(615) 966-5899

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY • ONE UNIVERSITY PARK DRIVE • NASHVILLE • www.lipscombsports.com

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Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Th e L i n e U p

A Word from the Publisher..........6 Publisher/Editor Jane Hutson

FCA.................................................8

Account Executives Jane Hutson Doc Smith Jon Williams

Ask the Coach............................ 10

Photographers

Sports Mom Spotlight................17

Kevin Pieper

Contributing Writers Autumn Boaz Paul Erland Rudy Kalis Roger Lipe Jim Muir Kevin Pieper Kathy Steakley

Shut Up and Serve..................... 23

Ask the AD - Lipscomb.............. 26 The A Game................................ 42 Ask the Trainer........................... 44

For more information regarding Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine contact Jon at 615-480-6455 or email jwilliams@midtensportsmag.com or contact Doc at 615-586-9615 or email docsmith85@hotmail.com.

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Rudy Kalis Looks Between the Lines.......... 46

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Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Th e L i n e U p

A Word from the Publisher..........6 Publisher/Editor Jane Hutson

FCA.................................................8

Account Executives Jane Hutson Doc Smith Jon Williams

Ask the Coach............................ 10

Photographers

Sports Mom Spotlight................17

Kevin Pieper

Contributing Writers Autumn Boaz Paul Erland Rudy Kalis Roger Lipe Jim Muir Kevin Pieper Kathy Steakley

Shut Up and Serve..................... 23

Ask the AD - Lipscomb.............. 26 The A Game................................ 42 Ask the Trainer........................... 44

For more information regarding Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine contact Jon at 615-480-6455 or email jwilliams@midtensportsmag.com or contact Doc at 615-586-9615 or email docsmith85@hotmail.com.

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Rudy Kalis Looks Between the Lines.......... 46

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Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

A Word from the

Publisher Y

ou know, there’s much truth to the saying, “When one door closes, another one always opens.” And sometimes what’s behind that new door is bigger and better than you ever imagined. That’s where I find myself these days with the launch of Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine. Transitioning from a comfortable career of 24 years to a completely new line of business is challenging, scary and thrilling but mostly it’s just fun – especially when it involves high school and college sports right here in Middle Tennessee. In late January of this year, I talked with an old friend of mine, Jim Muir, who has been publishing a sports magazine in Southern Illinois that I’ve subscribed to for years. In that conversation, we fell upon the idea of starting a local magazine in the Nashville area too. We quickly decided to make a go of it, developed our business plan, and stepped through a big, new door. When I started my first job out of college many years ago, my father gave me what I know now to be some sound advice. “Surround yourself with good people, JanieBabe, and you’ll find it much easier to succeed.” And that’s exactly what we’ve done here at MTSM. Some of the outstanding sports notables joining us for this and upcoming issues are Rudy Kalis (everyone’s favorite sportscaster), Connie Mitchell at Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Dave DeRocher, former standout at USC, professional volleyball player, and head of “Shut up and Serve.” Freelance writers Kathy Steakley,

Paul Erland, Autumn Boaz, and Kevin Pieper have all joined us to put together the foundation of our magazine. Additionally, we will also regularly feature articles on sports medicine, what’s happening in sports at our local colleges as written by the athletic directors from Belmont, TSU, and Lipscomb University. We’ve even added a little something for the sport’s moms out there too. You know us – we’re the ones in the SUVs and minivans full of kids. We have the coolers and chairs and sunscreen and we’re cheering loudly for our little sluggers, goalies, and outfielders, whether they are 6 or 16. And of course, we’ve included coverage of local high school standouts and some great pictures of our local athletes will be in each issue too. When Jim and I started talking with local sports fans around town, the same name kept coming up. “Have you checked out CoachT.com yet?” they would ask. We quickly decided we needed to meet this guy. So we did. Coach T is one of our first feature articles in MTSM and we’re pretty sure you’ll find his story as interesting as we did. In the world of high dollar travel sports, the “little league of their own” takes center stage year after year. At $120 a year, the Dixie Youth League baseball program out of Hendersonville is developing D-1 players at an impressive rate. Autumn Boaz takes you inside the league that competes with the travel teams and wins. Coaches and athletic directors are great sources of stories so I emailed about a hundred in the mid-state back in February. Within minutes, I received my first response from James Festervand of Blackman High School in Murfreesboro. He said he has an outstanding runner on his track team and that if we were covering all sports, we should consider doing a story on Jared Phillips. So we did. This isn’t your ordinary track kid. He’s extraordinary and

ASK THE AD

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

someone we think you need to know about. And we think you’ll find Coach Festervand isn’t an ordinary coach either. Kevin Pieper’s story and pictures tell the story of a gifted natural runner and his dedicated coach. We all have our favorite TV stations we watch for news, sports and weather. Well, Rudy Kalis is my “sports guy” so I picked up the phone and called WSMV one morning. I left Rudy a message and he called me back that afternoon. I couldn’t believe it! We met the next day and Rudy said, “Sure, I’ll be glad to write for you and I already know what story I’ll write for the first issue.” It’s a great story about teamwork and staying true to your faith. Get ready to be inspired. So why would we launch a high school and college sports magazine right as school is getting out for summer? Great question, but what we’ve found is that there are sports stories walking the halls, courts, and fields of our schools every day. Let us hear from you about those stories, old or new. Whether it’s living legends or new raw talent, we want to share the stories that are virtually going untold. We’ll keep it positive and inspiring and we’ll share it in our publication and on our website. Jim and I hope you’ll enjoy Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine as much as we enjoy putting it together for you. Let us know what you think at jhutson@midtnsportsmag.com.

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A Word from the

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www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Faith on the Field Significance in Sport

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Brentwood 1701 Mallory Lane ............................ 370-8650 Nolensville Road 5300 Nolensville Road .......... 445-4565 West End Avenue 2714 West End Avenue ........ 329-1700 Cool Springs Market Kroger Center ............... 771-7423 Hermitage 5108 Old Hickory Blvd.. ...................... 846-1208 Hickory Hollow Mall Antioch .......................... 731-6513 100 Oaks Mall Nashville .................................... 297-1000 Post Square Center 21 White Bridge Rd ......... 352-4510

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Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

his is possibly the most annoying thing in sport today. The media seems fixated on adding significance to sporting events by dredging up the most obscure statistics and stories to spice up their reporting. Every day on local and national sportscasts we’re subjected to information like, “That was the first time since 1956 that a Wildcat quarterback threw for 400 yards in a game.” Sometimes it’s even worse, “This is the first time since 1922 that a left-handed pitcher from Blue Dog, Texas named Johnny has struck out 14 batters in a 9 inning game.” All this research and effort seems to be aimed at adding significance to this day’s game or this season’s achievements. Some of us hear these things and don’t understand the compulsion with such strained efforts to bring significance to sport. We see the inherent significance that is in every season, each competition, and every possession of the ball, each at bat, each pitch and every second. Sport has significance all by itself for those who compete. The exertion of will, the concentration of mind, the spiritual energy expended and the teamwork executed brings significance to each practice, conditioning period, film session and even more to the competition itself. That seems to be lost on certain ones who stand on the periphery of the world of sport. The significance of sport to them is found in statistics (the more remote the better) or the stories (endless “behind the scenes” stories of players or coaches). Join me and all those who play their hearts out as we experience the real significance in sport. It’s in the daily life of sacrifice, teamwork, aches, pains, exhilaration, joy, disappointment and satisfaction. Leave the research for the media and for those outside who just don’t get it.

MTSM is proud to partner with the Middle Tennessee chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We will publish the column, Faith on the Field, each month written by staff of FCA. (Excerpt from article written by Connie Mitchell, FCA Middle Tennessee.) In 1973, Steve Robinson had just finished four years at the University of Tennessee playing football and was preparing to start life after graduation, but not as a missionary in a foreign country. Steve applied for a job with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He had been involved with FCA on UT’s campus and was excited to pursue a job within this mission field. He was the only employee at the FCA Middle Tennessee office when he was hired. Steve has now been serving God through athletics all his life. Many of the first athletes he introduced to Christ now also work with and in FCA. The FCA goal “is to present to coaches and athletes and all that they influence the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and serving him in the fellowship of the church. During the past 37 years Steven Robinson has seen Middle Tennessee FCA grow tremendously. There are now 220 FCA Huddles in operation with 15 people on staff. FCA is an inter-denominational ministry in middle schools, high schools and colleges. If anyone is interested in knowing more they can visit the website at www.fcanashville.org where there is information about events, staff and summer camps.

Sports Trivia 1. How many professional sports teams are there in Tennessee? 2. Who is the only Tennessee-born Heisman Trophy winner? 1. 3 – Titans, Predators, and Grizzlies 2. Steve Spurrier

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Faith on the Field Significance in Sport

THE

HOTTEST PRODUCTS

LATEST TECHNOLOGY

NAME BRANDS YOU KNOW & TRUST AT LOW PRICES

SONY • SHARP • PANASONIC •TOSHIBA • HITACHI • LG • JVC • PIONEER • SAMSUNG

www.electronicexpress.com

A TENNESSEE COMPANY FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1983

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

Sports Trivia 1. How many professional sports teams are there in Tennessee? 2. Who is the only Tennessee-born Heisman Trophy winner? 1. 3 – Titans, Predators, and Grizzlies 2. Steve Spurrier

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

years. Dustin played four years of college baseball at Austin Peay State University. He was All Ohio Valley Conference his senior year on the OVC championship team. He was drafted that summer by the Detroit Tigers. After his playing career ended he took over the Northeast High School baseball program.

Do you count pitches?

Walter Schultz has over 35 years of playing and coaching experience. He holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Cumberland University, and Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Higher level playing experience includes both basketball and baseball at the collegiate level and baseball at the professional level, spending several years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Coach Schultz is an assistant basketball coach, varsity pitching coach and varsity running backs coach at Ensworth High School. “Absolutely. It is important to count pitches for the safety of the pitcher. During the offseason, it is the coach’s job to get pitchers ready for the long season. Most pitchers average one game per week, but that game can be very demanding. A pitcher must be strong, mentally and physically. Every pitch takes a toll on the player - good or bad. Durability is one big key to success.

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

Effective pitchers must be able to pitch late into the game. A pitcher who has trained his body to withstand a 100 plus pitch outing and not lose focus, velocity, or accuracy is an effective pitcher. A pitching coach must know when his pitcher is reaching his limit and he must act accordingly. It would be nice to have all pitchers at that level, but realistically that isn’t the case. As coaches we do what’s best for the school, the team, and its players. We’ve all been young before, and we all have probably felt a bit ‘invincible.’ Some players would pitch every game, if you’d let them. It is our responsibility to keep them healthy, to teach them, to encourage them, and give them a chance to succeed every time they step on the field.” Dustin Smith is the head baseball coach at Northeast High School, a position he’s held for five

“I do count pitches. Being a former pitcher, who had arm surgery from too many pitches, I keep a very detailed pitch count. During the first half of the season, I allow my pitchers to throw 85-90 pitches. As they build up there arm strength I will gradually increase. I will not allow them to throw more than 115 pitches per game at anytime during the season.” Jeff Forehand enters his fourth season as the head coach for the Lipscomb University Bisons. In 2009 he guided the team to a 17-13 Atlantic Sun Conference record, good enough for second place. The Bisons were 24-32 overall. Forehand coached six seasons at Trevecca Nazarene University in the NAIA, compiling a 211-142-1 record. Trevecca was 42-20 after winning both the TranSouth Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2005 with a 46-17 record. In 2004 Trevecca was 44-17-1. In 2004 he was named NAIA Region XI Coach of the Year and TranSouth Conference Coach of the Year. He was also named TranSouth Conference Coach of the Year in 2005. One of the more unusual aspects of Forehand’s coaching career is that every one of his jobs, both on the college and high school level, has been in his hometown of Nashville. Jeff and his wife, Karen, have two sons, Gant and Brooks. They live in Nashville. “We do track pitches and keep pitch counts for every pitcher. We generally only use pitch counts when evaluating whether to send a pitcher out for another inning and to determine their recovery plan which includes the amount of rest and workouts.”

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Do you count pitches?

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Phillips, second from left, and his teammates have a little fun after practice, with a speedwalking challenge. While he describes himself as “sometimes shy and calm,” his coach says he can be a “lively one”.

Born to Run Blackman’s Jared Phillips has taken his God-given talent and combined it with determination, desire and a strong work ethic to emerge as one of the top runners in Middle Tennessee 12

By Kevin Pieper MTSM Reporter “Look at those legs.” “He’s built like a deer. An ostrich,” whisper voices from within the small crowd gathered near the finish line. “Who is that guy?” For a moment, it almost sounds like the intro to the Superman TV show. But this person isn’t a superhero, and his identity is not secret. You’ll find his name at the top of many of this year’s track and crosscountry results in Rutherford County. But he isn’t just another fast runner – Blackman High School junior Jared Phillips is on his way to toppling a Rutherford County speed record set by Dale Short in 1975. Coach James Festervand discovered Phillips in his first year of teaching track and cross country at Blackman Middle School, when Phillips was in his 8th grade year. Phillips had been playing basketball and football, but his interest in those sports waned as time passed. So he made the switch to track, with Festervand as his coach and mentor. For a competitive middle school track team, that’s a pretty late time to get started in the sport. “But he just blew away the competition,” says Festervand. “It was after that, that we realized there was something pretty special going on.”

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

There was one particular Macon County meet where “Jared beat a field of 150 runners by a minute and a half – it was pretty incredible.” That first year, the Blackman Middle School team never experienced a loss, winning both county and mid-state competitions. Success would follow Phillips into his freshman year of high school where he ran on the varsity team and qualified for the state track meet. “This is also one of those sports where you hate it and never want to do it again, or you love it and want to do it forever,” says Festervand. “And I loved it,” adds Phillips. “After playing football for so long, I finally found a sport I enjoyed doing.”

“Go through the season and don’t get hurt. You don’t need to kill yourself to still have the results you want,” he advised. He not only recovered, but Phillips again qualified for that spring’s state track meet as the only sophomore to compete in the 800-meter where all of his competition were juniors and seniors. As a junior, Phillips qualified for the state cross-country championships where he was the highest-placing junior on the field., where a majority of his competition was juniors and seniors. “He competed extremely well, and placed 8th overall,” says Festervand. “There were two seniors directly behind me, and then a couple

Phillips laps two runners in the twomile.

“It (running) is how I live, what I eat, what I drink, how I sleep.” – Jared Phillips, Blackman track and cross country standout –

And he was quite good at it. However, while the love continued, the winning record did not. He was also separated from Festervand that next year, having moved on to high school. “Jared was pretty injury prone,” says Festervand. “He pushed himself too hard. He had the impression that if you ran as much as you could, that you could possibly get better, but that’s not the case. You need to run smarter, as opposed to running harder and longer.” His sophomore season ended with an injury before the final state meet that fall. While no longer his coach, Festervand continued to be Phillips’ mentor.

of juniors,” Phillips said. Outrunning older and more experienced track athletes has become the norm for this young star, including his teammates.

“I’m not going to say I’m a better coach than all the others, but I want to run smart. There’s no point in running somebody until they puke.”

Final race positions, with Phillips as leader. www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Born to Run Blackman’s Jared Phillips has taken his God-given talent and combined it with determination, desire and a strong work ethic to emerge as one of the top runners in Middle Tennessee 12

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

Phillips laps two runners in the twomile.

“It (running) is how I live, what I eat, what I drink, how I sleep.” – Jared Phillips, Blackman track and cross country standout –

of juniors,” Phillips said. Outrunning older and more experienced track athletes has become the norm for this young star, including his teammates.

“I’m not going to say I’m a better coach than all the others, but I want to run smart. There’s no point in running somebody until they puke.”

Final race positions, with Phillips as leader. www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

But this doesn’t bother them – in fact, they look up to Phillips. “I mentally prepare for it, so age doesn’t matter,” says Joel Corado, a senior and teammate of Phillips for the past three years. “We’re good runners, but he’s

strides.” Phillips downplays this, though. “We do a lot of speed and sprint workouts, and they’re always on my tail.” Festervand has taught them to work as a team. “It’s great if you’re good, but you need your team,” he

There are two to three kids in this county that have what he has, and some days he’s better than them. I hope that he’ll be peaked by the end of the season. I fully expect his best times before the end of May.” – James Festervand, Blackman track and cross country coach – just a natural,” adds senior Ben Stevens “If it wasn’t for Jared, we probably wouldn’t run well on the weekend. He always makes us do

coaches. Watching Phillips interact with his coaches and teammates, you can’t help but notice

Phillips is has natural talent and dedication. Or as track coach James Festervand puts it, a mix of “smart running, guts and confidence.”

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

that he has an unassuming and reserved character. He has skill without ego, confidence without conceit. “I don’t want to really brag on myself,” he says, responding to one interview question. At the April 2 meet – that one with all the whispers – Phillips ran a two-mile in 10:32, lapping most of the competition. The congratulation by his coach was met by a small nod, and a smile found only on the Mona Lisa – a humble but modest acknowledgement. Festervand says Phillips has the “most God-given form, like a gazelle. He strides right, head up.” But it still takes work, and he has a secret formula: “It (running) is how I live, what I eat, what I drink, how I sleep,” says Phillips. It’s not just a few hours after school, but a lifestyle commitment, adds Festervand. It’s also part mental skill. “I feel like whenever I get out on the track, I’m there to win and nothing else,” says Phillips, although he quickly follows up with, “but I know winning isn’t everything.” “You have to adapt to a race, adjust to the opponents’ weaknesses,” say Festervand. “Find the top two to three runners, and let them run.” And Phillips has run with this advice, no pun intended, as proven by his junior record. For several years, Jared has whittled down his best times, and his current 5K time is within a minute and a half of the 1975 all-time 14:41 set by Short. He’s trimmed his 800-meter down to 1:59, and the one-mile to 4:40. He also runs the 4x800 relay and cross country. “There are two to three kids in this county that have what he has, and some days he’s better

A little last-minute adjustment before hitting the track.

than them,” says Festervand. “I hope that he’ll be peaked by the end of the season. I fully expect his best times before the end of May.” But even if it doesn’t happen, he still has next year to try again, barring any injuries. There’s also college to consider. “Not many think about it,” say Festervand. “Could they compete in college? Yeah, but it’s not really their interest.” “For college, I want to go to a school with the best of both worlds – something that suits my academic pursuits (athletic medicine),” says Phillips, “but also has a good running program.” Kentucky and Vanderbilt are high on

his list. “My pitch [to colleges] for Jared is that I’ve never told him a single thing to do that he couldn’t do. I have confidence in him, and he has confidence in me,” says

Festervand. “I plan to start hitting them pretty hard come middle of May,” starting with MTSU. It also helps that he has a 3.75 GPA, and an ACT score of 33.

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

coaches. Watching Phillips interact with his coaches and teammates, you can’t help but notice

Phillips is has natural talent and dedication. Or as track coach James Festervand puts it, a mix of “smart running, guts and confidence.”

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

A little last-minute adjustment before hitting the track.

his list. “My pitch [to colleges] for Jared is that I’ve never told him a single thing to do that he couldn’t do. I have confidence in him, and he has confidence in me,” says

Festervand. “I plan to start hitting them pretty hard come middle of May,” starting with MTSU. It also helps that he has a 3.75 GPA, and an ACT score of 33.

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Dual Duty

Coach James Festervand issues a little last-minute advice, as Phillips enters his final lap in the two-mile race April 2. “I have confidence in him, and he has confidence in me,” says Festervand.

Can you take a kid and run him for seven years? That’s the question James Festervand posed to the administrations of both Blackman Middle School and Blackman High School, where he now has the dual role of coaching at both schools. “One year in, I’ll know if I’ll have them for six more years,” he says. He starts his high school practice 20 minutes earlier than the middle school team, to remind the older students that they are the role models for the younger ones. “If you have high school students doing the right things, the middle school students will copy them,” he says. The two age groups can learn in a group, such as how to stretch, and lessons on the whiteboard, but are not allowed to practice together. Festervand says it’s also important to remember how their priorities change over time. - The 6th-7th graders are just starting out, and need help learning how to focus. “They’re all over the place,” he says. “It’s like herding cattle (but in a good way).” You have to teach them a routine. - The 8th graders are typically the “core group” for middle school competition. - By 9th grade, “they’ve matured,” and will continue to grow each year until graduation. “Teenage conversations are different,” says Festervand. “You can maybe relate to them a little more than you can the middle school athletes. There was this one time we went to Alabama for a race, and headed back, the middle school kids were all asleep with their iPods. On the high school trip, we did karaoke, and I wasn’t worried as much about sticking heads/hands out windows. They’re more prepared and have it together.” Above all else, he has one rule: “You can’t be negative in practice; it’s just not allowed. As soon as a negative thought creeps in, you’re done.” Teaching proper health is another key element to raising quality runners long-term. “It’s a 3:30 to 5:30 sport to run, but you need to be eating the right things, watching what you’re doing to your body,” he says. “And I don’t mean those power gels or jelly bean things – that fad stuff.” Festervand has been known to trick his students, when they think they need an extra boost. But instead of those overpriced gimmicks, “I just lie to them and tell them to eat a little taste of honey. It tricks them into thinking they’ve done something special.” Dehydration and diet are the biggest health issues, he says, as you can burn 1,000 or more calories per practice. “Some coaches have this run-run-run mentality, but you just can’t do that,” he says. “There’s no point in running runners until they puke, or you may as well cut the season in half.” Jared Phillips is his “five-year guy”, but even the best runners make mistakes, he says. Phillips ended up in the hospital thanks to sinus medicine inducing dehydration. “It just sucks it all out of you.” Festervand ran four years at Oakland High School, one of only two high schools in Murfreesboro with a track program at the time, and as a college student, he returned to coach two seasons as a student teacher. In 2006, he rebooted the Blackman Middle School track program, and in 2009, became head cross-country and assistant track coach at Blackman High School after Coach Patton departed for a principal job. “If my mentor could do it across town, then surely I could do it across the street,” says Festervand, referring to Steve Williams, who at one point had coached at both Riverdale High School and Central Middle School.

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

Sports Mom by Kathy Steakley “There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson –

ichele King hid it well when I first met her. There were no tell-tale dark circles under her eyes, no food stains on her clothes and no fatigue in her voice. In fact, she had energy, an ease of conversation and such an infectious personality that I never guessed the chaos – albeit organized – that is her life. When she casually mentioned having seven children, my jaw dropped. When she continued with the fact that they are twelve and under, I had to sit down. Michele and her husband, Bill King, are parents to sons Billy (12) and Cameron (11), twin daughters Jilian and Rachel (9) and sons Brandon (7), Harrison (6) and Benton (4). Five of their children are currently playing baseball and are on a combined six teams, ranging from Grassland Middle School, competitive rec, travel ball for Music City and GAA Baseball, with Jilian being a key player on a boys’ team. I won’t even mention the basketball schedule. Once upon a time they would stay at every practice & watch every game. That has understandably become impossible. With three or four games a night, their world is now divide and conquer. In addition to week night games, they will be involved in at least one tournament every weekend from now until mid July at parks spread out from Franklin to Spring Hill, Murfreesboro to Crieve Hall and on it goes. The weekend tourneys are unpredictable. There may be a three hour delay, games cancelled, games rescheduled and then the fun starts all over again the next day. To keep the brood busy in the down time between games, the Kings pack whip sticks, scooters,

candy, skateboards but no Band-Aids – she is over Band-Aids. The day we sat to talk at a picnic table behind Grassland Elementary while one of the boys had practice, it felt a little like being at Daytona, with her other children – who are equally as engaging as their mom – whipping all around us. If someone crashed, she would not hover but just have them get back up, keep going and let the scrapes all air out. Michele has several tips that she advises to stay sane. The first is Plan Ahead – at least a month ahead. With her older kids sometimes not starting games until 8:00 or 9:00 at night, it is normal for her to be up until 2:00 in the morning getting things done, uniforms washed, schedules planned. The next suggestion is to Cook Ahead. When the kids get off the bus every afternoon and make their way down the half-mile driveway, dinner is waiting. If they don’t eat then, they are out of luck for the evening. She also advises doing A Little Each Day to get ready for the weekends. She will plan out the exact take along food and money for meals they will need for a weekend tournament, start loading drinks in the freezer early in the week and go ahead and load whatever food she can in a cooler. And finally the last tip from Michele is Stay on Top of the Clothes. She always lays out game clothes the night before, if not days before. Michele is a fan, by the way, of Fels Naptha soap to remove the loads of clay they bring home on their uniforms. On top of all the crazy fun with the kids, Michele is an Independent Consultant for Southern Living at Home. She hosts either day time or evening parties, which are a blast, working around the sports calendar. Even that

takes a lot of planning and organization on her part, and even one little kink can throw off an entire day. Bill’s car is a stick shift, which Michele cannot drive. When she hosts a party she will drive her van to someone’s house and unload the Southern Living pieces she’s presenting. Bill will follow her there in his car, take the van full of kids & drop whoever needs to be dropped at their respective practice or game, then circle back to leave the van for Michele and be on his merry way in his car. Whew! Before children, Michele worked for Nortel from 1988 through 1997, and was extremely successful thanks to her competitiveness and drive. She has no regrets, though, about her choice to be at home with her children and is not looking to change that any time soon. With her youngest two still at home except for pre-school days, it is a challenge to have down time just for herself. Michele laughingly comments, “I potentially have two hours and 15 minutes alone in my house two times a week, but it has not happened yet!” So how did they land here? They just got started playing ball and it kept going. There is a closeness that comes with playing with the same team, friends and parents for a length of time. Mostly, though, they question: if you don’t play sports, what are you going to do? Bill and Michele want their children to stay active, be motivated and not just sit around all day playing video games and watching Sponge Bob. And in this season of their lives what better arena to accomplish those things than the world of team sports. And who knows … maybe Michele will finally find that two hours and 15 minutes of free time some day!

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Dual Duty

Coach James Festervand issues a little last-minute advice, as Phillips enters his final lap in the two-mile race April 2. “I have confidence in him, and he has confidence in me,” says Festervand.

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

Sports Mom by Kathy Steakley “There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson –

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

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Honestly, though, I don’t know of anything different. I’ve always been a female, and I’ve always been AfricanAmerican, so I’m used to it.

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STV: You were the first woman to coach a Division I men’s basketball team. Do you think more women could do that? TP: I’ve been asked that question a lot, and I’m going to say no. I think part of being a coach is that you reTeresa L. Phillips is a sports pioneer. A former Vanderbilt basketball player, Phillips spent time as the head women’s “Reprinted from FCA’s Sharing Now I see a bigger picture for myself ally have basketball coach at Fisk University (Tenn.) and Tennessee State University for a number of years before becoming the to firstbe accepted, especially the Victory magazine. and she for took whatover I do myforjob andtime in my on the theTSU college level with recruiting woman to coach a Division I www.sharmen’s basketball team, which at in TSU a short in 2003. Now ingthevictory.com” personal life. athletic director, Phillips .was named one of the 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustrated andrelationship-building. Until womand Being an AD can becoming be a tough Tennessee’s second-most influential sportswoman by TheSTV: Tennessean—all this while just one ofen a handful of start being assistant coaches and female athletic directors in the country. By Clay Meyer job with highly scrutinized decisions, being worked into the structure of that controversies and, many times, concoaching staffs and recruiting, they Also noteworthy about Phillips is that she is the mother of two boys and an active volunteer with several community Teresa L. Phillips is a sports piofrontation. How do you handle those organizations, including FCA. just aren’t going to jump to becoming neer. A former Vanderbilt basketball situations? head coaches. This month,Phillips Phillips donated STV At to share what it’s like walk a mile—or, perhaps, drive the player, spenta few timeof her as busy theminutes toTP: every level of toathletic adIt isn’t the X’s and O’s part. It isn’t athletic lane—in her shoes. head administration women’s basketball coach at ministration you will have controverthe handling of personnel. It’s the Fisk University (Tenn.) and Tennessies. You’ll be placed in the middle culture—the institution of coaching. STV: You’ve got quite a list of achievements and awards. What do all of those honors mean to you? see State University for a number of situations where you have to arbiThere is more to it than running a of At years before becoming the first trate, and will TP: the time I received them it was a compliment, and it felt likethere some of thealways work I’d be donetough was being acknowledged. program and coaching a team. You But now, I don’t pay as a much attentionI to awards or recognitions the pastyou because athletics can be such a woman to coach Division men’s decisionsfrom because areI think working have to crawl before you can walk. “What have you done for me lately?” vocation. to people continue to and excel make things happen. Now I see basketball team, which she took overYou have with onwork a variety of and levels. You have to get into the room before a bigger picture for myself and for what I do in my job and in my personal life. at TSU for a short time in 2003. Now In my job, I work with the public, you can sit at the head of the table. the TSU director, Phillips washighly scrutinized the community, thecontroversies alumni, the and, staff,many times, STV: Beingathletic an AD can be a tough job with decisions, Until women are integrated into the named one of thedo101 Influential the coaching staffs and, most imporconfrontation. How youMost handle those situations? system as assistant coaches, I don’t Minorities in Sports by Sports Illustantly, the young people. Not a week think that’s a natural progression. TP: At every of athletic administration you will have controversies. placedaindecision the middle of situations where trated andlevel Tennessee’s second-most goes by that I You’ll don’tbemake you have to arbitrate, and there will always be tough decisions because you are working with people on a variety of levels. influential sportswoman by The Tenthat impacts someone’s future. That STV: A s a mother and a major nessean—all this while becoming just is very and itstaffs can and, alsomost be importantly, In my job, I work with the public, the community, the alumni, thehumbling, staff, the coaching the youngAD, your schedule must university’s people. a week goes by that I athletic don’t make that impacts someone’s future. That is very humbling, and it can one ofNot a handful of female di-a decision very stressful. There are many sleepbe pretty full. What’s your typical day also be very There are many sleepless nights. rectors in stressful. the country. less nights. like? Also noteworthy about Phillips is One of the things I wish I could do One of the things I wish I could do better is lay my burdens on the Lord and just leave them there. That is one TP: of theOh, my goodness. I have two that she is the mother of two boys better layover myallburdens on thelisten Lord biggest challenges I’ve had to face being in my position. But I is pray of my decisions, to everything, the13 and 15. My schedule in sons,make ages anddecision an active several and just leave them there. That is one best I can.volunteer Then I movewith forward.” the morning revolves around getting community organizations, including of the biggest challenges I’ve had to them up and getting them to school. I STV: What is it like to be a female in a stereotypically role? FCA. facemale being in my position. But I pray cook them breakfast every day. I think This month, Phillips donated a few over all of my decisions, listen to eveit’s very TP: I actually think that has changed since I’ve been in this role. There are more women in athletic administration thanimportant for us to sit down of herthink. busy minutes to STV to share rything, make the best decision I can. people and have breakfast together because what it’s like to walk a mile—or, perThen I move forward.” there are a lot of things going on. But theredrive have been awkwardadministration times. Athletics is always more of a man’s world. You know your decisions are going to be haps, the athletic After I drop my kids off at their questioned you’ll be under different levels of scrutiny. my life, so I lane—in and herthat shoes. STV:That’s Whatnotisabnormal. it like toI’ve beencountered a female that allschools, I get to work at about 8:30 don’t view it as a negative but just a part of the challenge I wake up to every day. in a stereotypically male role? a.m. From there, it just depends. STV:though, You’ve got quite a listdifferent. of TP: been I actually Honestly, I don’t know of anything I’ve always a female, think and I’ve that always has been African-American, I could besositting in marketing and achievements and awards. What do changed since I’ve been in this role. promotion meetings or dealing with all of those honors mean to you? There are more women in athletic adbudget issues. I’m also involved with TP: At the time I received them ministration than people think. 4/13/2010 3:24 PM a lot of university events that aren’t it was a compliment, and it felt like But there have been awkward athletically related and sit on comsome of the work I’d done was betimes. Athletics is always more of a mittees that have nothing to do with ing acknowledged. But now, I don’t man’s world. You know your deciathletics. But really, as you can impay as much attention to awards or sions are going to be questioned and agine, everything at the university afrecognitions from the past because I that you’ll be under different levels of fects athletics, and athletic success think athletics can be such a “What scrutiny. That’s not abnormal. I’ve enimpacts the university. A lot of my day have you done for me lately?” vocacountered that all my life, so I don’t is dealing with our 15 sports, head tion. You have to continue to work view it as a negative but just a part of coaches and compliance; dealing and excel and make things happen. the challenge I wake up to every day. with academic matters; and dealing Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

with circumstances and situations that have occurred between coaches and student-athletes, especially if they are problematic situations. It can be a little bit of everything. STV: Is it hard to balance all of that and keep your faith as your top priority? TP: It is hard to balance it all because it really is too much. You can’t do all of those things. I have a very supportive staff here at Tennessee State, and I have a mighty God. No matter what things are thrown on me in a work day, I can pretty much release those, which I wasn’t able to do earlier in my life. But I have been spiritually strengthened to understand how to put everything in its place. That isn’t an easy thing to do, and it has been a challenge. But the challenge has humbled me to know that I can’t do it by myself. That is one of the most important things you learn in your Christian journey: You can’t do things by yourself. No matter how smart, good, strong or tough you are, you need to allow God to work in your life and to experience how much easier life is once you lay your burdens down. STV: That is a great point. God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. Are there any Scripture verses you turn to in tough situations? TP: One verse that I’ve always liked and that has helped me through tough times is Isaiah 12:2 (NASB) – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

FCA Connection:

As a basketball player in the late 1970s at Vanderbilt University, Teresa Phillips got her first taste of FCA by attending one of the ministry’s small group Bible studies for athletes. Once she began coaching at Tennessee State, she was reunited with the ministry through FCA’s Lee Brown and his work in the Nashville urban ministry. Currently, Phillips assists the ministry wherever she can, including helping in FCA fundraising efforts. According to Phillips, FCA has made an incredible impact on her Christian walk and has allowed her to witness life changes in many TSU coaches and athletes. “Lee Brown has done great things here in Nashville,” she said. “He is off the chain! He has brought so many of our student-athletes and coaches to Christ. I am so thankful for FCA’s presence on our campus. It has made, and will continue to make, a huge impact.” According to Brown, who came on staff with FCA 11 years ago when Phillips was TSU’s head women’s basketball coach, Phillips has made an impact on the lives of the student-athletes simply by opening doors for the gospel to be shared. “Through Teresa’s influence, FCA has been able to have an awesome impact on the students and coaches at Tennessee State,” he said. “I get to speak to every team on campus every year, and all of the freshmen and transfer students are provided with an FCA Bible. I am grateful that she trusts me to be on that campus.” Phillips also made a lasting impact on the FCA ministry from a different angle when she served on the local board of directors in Nashville. “By serving on the board, she was able to see the ministry from behind the scenes,” Brown said. “I admire the way she is so down to earth, an easy person to approach, kind, has a sense of humor and is very encouraging. She is just a good person and a great lady.”

STV: What is something you tell your children every day? TP: That I love them. I think that is very important. We take for granted reminding people—especially our children—of that. There are a lot of kids in the world who aren’t told that every day, week, month or year, or who have never been told it. But I don’t just tell them; I show them. And that’s just like every person we come in contact with. Through us, they all need to hear and see the love of Christ.

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

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FCA Connection:

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

We’re Here! “We applaud the efforts of those contributing to this magazine. Our student-athletes deserve to have their stories told.” – Bernard Childress, executive director TSSAA

Those two little words mark the beginning of big changes in the way sports stories are reported in Middle Tennessee By Jim Muir

“MTSM will focus on amateur athletes who need to be recognized and raised up as the future leaders of our community. “ – Trigg Wilkes, executive director, A-Game Sportsplex

fter months of painstaking planning, marketing, promoting and far more ups than downs the inaugural issue of Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine has hit newsstands. MTSM Publisher Jane Hutson, the driving force behind the new monthly publication, said a new era has been launched in Middle Tennessee sports coverage and emphasized that the MTSM goal is a simple yet powerful one. “Our mission at MTSM is to publish a positive, non-confrontational, non-controversial magazine about high school and college sports in Middle Tennessee,” she said. “We will tell the stories about athletes, coaches, fans, officials, teams, sports writers, and much more. Our purpose is to inspire our readers with positive stories surrounding sports from our own schools and teams.” With a front cover displaying a map of the Middle Tennessee coverage area and two little but powerful words – ‘We’re Here!’ – MTSM will deliver an innovative new concept in sports reporting,

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

according to Hutson. “We have been overwhelmed with the positive responses we have received so far about the magazine,” said Hutson. “People throughout Middle Tennessee have shared with us how excited they are about the publication and website and the story ideas and suggestions are endless! Our contributing writers, photographers and partners have joined together with a common cause to create a new publication and website that we hope you truly enjoy – and on top of that we are having a blast putting it together for you!” MTSM is a free publication and will be distributed at all YMCAs and various fitness centers throughout Middle Tennessee, A-Game Sportsplex, in Franklin, Dick’s Sporting Goods and hundreds of other locations in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Maury, Wilson, Cheatham, Robertson, Sumner, Montgomery, and Dickson counties. Additionally, complimentary issues of Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine will be sent directly to 75 high schools and seven area colleges that include Vanderbilt, Trevecca, Middle Tennessee State, Lipscomb, Belmont, Tennessee State and Austin Peay. A native of Southern Illinois Hutson was a basketball standout at Benton High School before taking her athletic skills to Western Kentucky where she played four years for the Lady Hilltoppers. Hutson, her husband John and daughters Madelyn and Kathryn, live in Brentwood. After more than two decades in the wireless communication business

Hutson tackled a career where she said “I hope to make a difference in people’s lives.” Noticing a lack of positive feature stories about athletes from throughout the region Hutson said she opted for change rather than complaints. “I believe MTSM will fill a void by telling great high school and college sports ‘stories behind the stories’ happening right here in Middle Tennessee,” Hutson said. “There are great stories walking the halls of our schools right now that aren’t being told. We plan to change that.” According to Hutson each issue of MTSM will feature a monthly “MTSM Standout” athletes of the month and during the calendar year will also highlight sports that are oftentimes overlooked by the news media. MTSM will also have monthly columns on sports activities at Vanderbilt, Trevecca, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee State, Belmont, Tennessee State and Austin Peay. MTSM will also have a monthly contribution from a variety of columnists/sports enthusiasts that include Kathy Steakley’s “Sports’ Mom Spotlight” – a look at the sometimes hectic and oftentimes wacky world of raising young children that are involved in multiple sports. Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine will also feature a monthly column by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes entitled “Faith on the Field” and another recurring monthly column called “Shut up and Serve” written by well-known sports figure Dave Derocher. While Hutson is quick to point

out the gap that MTSM will bridge in covering sports in Middle Tennessee an impressive group of well-known sports figures are lining up to tout the mission of the new monthly magazine. Bernard Childress, a 1973 graduate of Columbia Central High School where he was an all-state basketball player and a 1978 graduate of Belmont where he led the conference in scoring back-to-back years, said he’s excited about what MTSM has set out to accomplish. Childress, who currently serves as executive director for Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA), said many of the greatest athletic stories are going untold. “There are so many positive and inspirational stories surrounding the coaches and student-athletes that participate in our programs,” said Childress. “As a matter of fact 98 percent of the things we are involved in are very positive. Unfortunately, we only hear about the other two percent.” Childress said MTSM’s mission is to showcase the great stories that many times only those who coach and oversee high school sports hear about. “Now the entire state will be able to share and read about some very courageous young athletes,” said Childress. “Many of them stare adversity in the face and rise above it. They enhance their education through participation in athletics and go on to become successful citizens in life. We applaud the efforts of those contributing to this magazine. Our student-athletes de-

“I think the positive and powerful value of having a magazine like MTSM is that it represents what is great and valuable about high school sports in this area.” – Rudy Kalis, sports anchor, WSMV-TV

“There are great stories walking the halls of our schools right now that aren’t being told. We plan to change that.” – Jane Hutson, MTSM publisher –

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

We’re Here! “We applaud the efforts of those contributing to this magazine. Our student-athletes deserve to have their stories told.” – Bernard Childress, executive director TSSAA

Those two little words mark the beginning of big changes in the way sports stories are reported in Middle Tennessee By Jim Muir

“MTSM will focus on amateur athletes who need to be recognized and raised up as the future leaders of our community. “ – Trigg Wilkes, executive director, A-Game Sportsplex

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

“There are great stories walking the halls of our schools right now that aren’t being told. We plan to change that.” – Jane Hutson, MTSM publisher –

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

serve to have their stories told.” Sure to be a hit with readers each month will be a column written by Nashville sports’ icon Rudy Kalis, sports anchor at WSMV-TV. Kalis has crossed paths during his long and exciting career as one of the nation’s premiere sports newscasters with some of the greatest names in sports history including Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Wilma Rudolph, and Darrell Waltrip. Kalis said MTSM will fill a void in Middle Tennessee. “I think the positive and powerful value of having a magazine like MTSM is that it represents what is great and valuable about high school sports in this area,” Kalis said. “The stories about the coaches and athletes who want more than anything to use sports as a teaching tool for character and determination to never give up are much-needed. Plus the

touching and sometimes humorous stories that make us smile and feel better about life.” Hutson said MTSM will also feature a high-quality website that will compliment the print version. “That’s one of the most exciting aspects of our strategy – the launch of our website (midtnsportsmag.com) which will quickly follow the launch of the magazine,” Hutson said. “Our website will have more stories, more information and pictures on the published stories, columns and articles in the monthly publication and will archive the monthly issues in easy to find formats.” Trigg Wilkes, a fixture in Middle Tennessee sports for more than three decades, currently serves as executive director of AGame Sportsplex in Brentwood. Wilkes played basketball at Belmont University in the last 1970s and early 1980s when, as he

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

describes it, “the rivalry between Belmont, Lipscomb and Trevecca was second to none.” Wilkes has served as a certified basketball official with TSSAA for more than 20 years. Wilkes said MTSM will provide coverage of an area long overlooked. “From a media standpoint, Middle Tennessee has become a professional sports region,” Wilkes said. “MTSM will focus on amateur athletes who need to be recognized and raised up as the future leaders of our community. These young student athletes deserve to be recognized as leaders within their peers groups for their accomplishment on and off the field. MTSM is well positioned to be a game-changer for our kids, our schools and our community.”

What’s up Middle Tennessee? Dave and Mandy Derocher

y name is Dave Derocher AKA Davey D and I want to tell you a little story. I am going way back to 1992 to a whole other world, the University of Southern Cal. Yes Trojan Fans, it’s the same place that has launched superstars like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinert, Carson Palmer and the list goes on. (Sidenote: My best friend tells me that if USC were its own country, it would rank 20th in Olympic Medals.) The tradition at SC is sick and somehow I was part of it all. I will never forget being one of the players of the 1990 National Championship volleyball team. Besides getting a sweet championship ring and being on national television we had the honor of standing in the Coliseum during halftime to be honored by 80,000 screaming cardinal and gold Trojan fans. Do I seem a bit nostalgic? I can’t help it because it was one of the highlights of my life. During my junior year, after a disappointing season filled with injuries, I saw that my volleyball career was more fragile than an egg dropped out of the fridge. I lost my starting spot and found myself on the dreaded bench watching my little career fade away. The great basketball coach

John Wooden once mentioned ‘the bench was one of the greatest teachers in the world.’ In my case, ‘the bench’ helped lead me to God. I began praying a lot and asking God for a better way to live. Soon I started seeing my life more through the eyes of my Heavenly Father and I received His gift of Jesus Christ into my life. Soon after my new life, I started attending bible studies on campus. I was learning all about the bible from a really cool minister who played hoops at Loyola Marymount University. I loved his stories and totally jibed with him. One night I finished practice and wore a shirt that said “SHUT UP AND SERVE” across the front. A Latino grad student came up to me and said “Man that’s what we need; people just need to shut up and serve Jesus.” I laughed real hard and told him it was a volleyball shirt I received from a beach sponsor.

Eighteen years later I still remember that moment. Since then, I have been doing everything I can to help people learn to ‘SHUT UP’ all the excuses, fears, and doubts, so they can learn how to ‘SERVE’ the most wonderful person that ever walked this earth. As a minister for 16 years, I have seen God touch thousands of lives all over the world. I pray that you would join my sweet family on our journey as we learn how to “Shut Up and Serve” together. It would be an honor to travel this road with you. To God be the glory.

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www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine • May 2010 • www.midtnsportsmag.com

What’s up Middle Tennessee? Dave and Mandy Derocher

ASK THE TRAINER

www.midtnsportsmag.com • May 2010 • Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine

Riverdale Lady Warrior Southern Classic Lawrence County is the 2010 winner of the prestigious Riverdale Lady Warrior Southern Classic – a three-day event that featured 43 teams playing in front of huge crowds at 10 different locations. It’s been said ‘that a picture is worth a thousand words’ and Middle Tennessee Sports Magazine photojournalist Kevin Pieper proved that old adage is correct as he captured through his lens the excitement and determined play of the annual event.

ons Ash Lady Falc , left, an ton Tywm Pressn ly u a C and wly miss o rr a n ll ne ld collian outfie eir April sion in th coln Lin 2 game. t dged ou e County n a ti hris Trinity C ady yL m e d a Ac , issuing -1 Lions 2 loss in their only ent. am the tourn Lions y The Lad place, d ir took th . .7% score with a 85

Warrior M eg riors defe an Kelley beats o ated the Brock, T ut Lady Eagle Ry game. exas Lad lee Whit e. The R y Eagles iverdale 9-0, in th Wareir April 2 tourna ment

Brock outfielder Morgan Bailey snags an out with the narrowest of margins, just able to hold onto the ball with the tip of her glove.

The Beech dugout makes some noise for their batter and baserunners. Riverdale’s Taylor Lee evades second baseman Sarah Roberts in a failed run-down attempt by the Brock Lady Eagles.

Buccaneer Alex Banks pitched a shutout, allowing only three hits in five innings. Beech defeated the Brock, Texas Lady Eagles 9-0.