AZSPORTSNETWORK

Spring Fever is Abound!

Softball:
Winslow scrimmage launches softball season for Payson HS. If you remember last year that Payson missed the playoffs. This was difficult because the coach had announced to the parents they were in and then a few situations with teams from the North changed and the Longhorns were out. Read the full article at:
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2010/feb/24/winslow_scrimmage_launches_softball_season/

Track and Field:

Payson:
Maddie Nossek admits she is among the many Payson High School upperclassmen now pondering, “I was just a freshman, I blinked, and I’m a senior.”

As one of the finest athletes to ever come out of Payson HS she is looking forward to an excellent season. read her story at:
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2010/feb/24/lady_horn_looking_challenge_close_prep_career/

Good morning 2A fans!

As the ever popular Smoke Signals Movie would say, "Its a good day for 2A sports"!

Softball:

Scrimmages:
2-25-2010: Tanque Verde and Tombstone hit the diamond today at Tanque Verde HS @ 4pm.
2-25-2010: Florence @ SCA at 4pm

Baseball:

Scrimmages:
2-25-2010: Tanque Verde and Tombstone hit the diamond today at Tanque Verde HS @ 4pm.
2-25-2010: Florence @ SCA at 4pm

New Coaches:

PRCA:
Former Professional Baseball Player Doug Jones won the state championship and then decided it was a good time to retire and is no longer leading the Lions after only 1 season. The new HC for the Lions is Mark Fritzsen, who has coached at Baboquivari and PRCA in many sports. He is a well respected coach and it is nice to see him get a chance at PRCA. If you remember a loooooooooong time ago he was quite the star athlete at St. David HS. I remember talking with his former Coach Crawford who had nothing but praise for his former player.

Northwest Christian:
There has been a coaching change at NWC. After quite a successful career as coach at NWC, the former Coach and current AD Alan Boelter is no longer coaching baseball. It seems that NWC has now decided to follow in the footsteps of SCA, (Bill Swift) and PRCA, (Doug Jones) and bring in a former professional player in none other than Damion Easley, who had a very successful playing career in the major leagues.

Easley has played for the California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the New York Mets.

While with the Tigers, Easley was a 1998 American League All-Star. That year, he batted .271 and set career-highs with 27 home runs and 100 RBI. He also participated in the 1998 Home Run Derby. In 2001, Easley became the ninth Detroit Tiger to hit for the cycle. In 2001, Easley also had a five-hit game and an inside-the-park home run.

On November 16, 2006, Easley signed with the Mets as a free agent.

On August 2, 2007, Easley became the 24th player in Mets' history to hit an inside the park home run (against the Milwaukee Brewers), during a 12-4 victory [1].

On August 18, 2007, Easley suffered a high ankle sprain while advancing to second base on a wild pitch. This injury ended his 2007 baseball season, but he resumed play with the Mets in 2008.

At the end of the 2008 regular season, Easley held the record among active players as the one who had played the most games without reaching the postseason (1,706 games).

Good Morning,

Softball:

Gila Bend:
It seems that Genesis may end up on the mound. They do have a good 9th grade pitcher with some good pedigree. This youngsters name is Allison Montano. If I remember correctly her brother played at Yavapi and some minor league ball as well. Her arm is sore and not sure when she will be taking over the duties.

Gila Bend New Coach:
Their former coach decided before the season started not to coach so the new coach is Katie Welsh. She will take over the reigns after the 4 year starter Diamond graduated. Life after Diamond may prove to be a tough go for a while.

Drug Testing:
If you know me I am pro-drug testing for athletes as long as it is done correctly. I want to mention that the Gila Bend Board approved 5-0 drug testing for their school! This is a huge accomplishment for their AD and Principal Wirtzberger who is making some huge changes at Gila Bend. Although the complete details have not been put out in detail, this is a huge deal and we congratulate the Gila bend Board for thinking of students and doing what is right.

Scrimmages:
2-25-2010: Tanque Verde and Tombstone hit the diamond today at Tanque Verde HS @ 4pm.
2-26-2010: Ajo at Patagonia at 4pm

Baseball:

Scrimmages:
2-25-2010: Tanque Verde and Tombstone hit the diamond today at Tanque Verde HS @ 4pm.
2-26-2010: Ajo at Patagonia at 4pm

JV Programs:
Tanque Verde is excited that for the first year they will have a complete JV squad for the baseball season. This is good numbers for a 1A school for sure.

Patagonia:
The new head coach is Ross Spencer who was also their HC for baseball.

Football:
Gila Bend:
Board approved of a new football coach for the upcoming 2010 football season.
The new coach is: Andrew Iasci (Pronounced Yosh) From what I know he is currently a teacher at GB.