KFDM COOP

Jennings 'not sharp' for Astros in 7-5 loss to Tigers KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Chad Durbin and Zach Miner didn't make it any easier for manager Jim Leyland to decide who'll get the last spot in the Detroit Tigers' bullpen. "I thought they both actually threw the ball good," Leyland said Saturday. Durbin allowed one run and two hits in four innings, and Miner gave up four runs and four hits in four innings as a Detroit Tigers split squad beat the Houston Astros 7-5. "A couple of balls they didn't hit real good fell in for them," Leyland said, referring to Miner's outing. "He got a little frustrated, trying to be too perfect." Leyland used the third inning to teach Durbin a lesson. "He got the two quick outs and then (Craig) Biggio got the little blooper and Brad Ausmus hit a mediocre fastball," the manager said. "You've got to finish the inning. I just reminded him of that. It's no big deal, but what happens is you get that out, maybe it keeps (Lance) Berkman or somebody on deck in the ninth inning of the game. Stuff like that's important." Houston starter Jason Jennings allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings. "I feel like I'm where I need to be," he said. "Eighty-five pitches and just the one walk. Pounding the zone pretty good. A few of the hits were on the ground, which is a good sign. It wasn't great, but it's definitely been worse." Jennings, who struck out two, has one more start before the regular season. "He wasn't sharp," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "Certainly not as sharp as I saw him last year. He reports that typically he has bad springs, that he doesn't throw the ball well in the spring. That may offer an explanation." A scary moment for Jennings came in the fourth inning when he fell hard on his left knee while fielding a ball. He looked a bit shaken up at the time, but said he was fine. "I don't know what I did," he said. "I thought I had a play on it." The competition for Houston's right-field job got thinner after the game when the Astros released Richard Hidalgo. He was a distant third in the race behind Luke Scott and Jason Lane. Hidalgo attended spring training with the Baltimore Orioles last season but did not appear in a major league game. The Astros offered him a minor league assignment, but he declined, saying he wanted to pursue another major league opportunity. "This is someone that we had high hopes for, that he would come back and rejuvenate his career here," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "We had no qualms about the way he went about his business. He was a professional, his defense was solid, above average for sure. It's just that offensively he never came around like we hoped he would. Rather than prolong it any further, we just thought we would give him the news today." Hidalgo had six hits and nine RBIs this spring. His only home run came on Friday, when he hit a three-run shot. Hidalgo left the facility without talking to reporters. Purpura said it was disappointing that Hidalgo wasn't able to revive his career with the Astros, but that the decision wasn't difficult. "There's certain guys that you pull for, but you have to be objective about it," he said. "Our job is to be objective about all of our players and do the right thing for the ballclub. So from that point of view it was easy."

www.panews.com The ball is definitely rolling toward Lamar University bringing back football. In its meetings last week, the Texas State University System approved expenditures for 2009 of $6.5 million for Cardinal Stadium renovation and $3.6 million for the renovation of the J.B. Higgins Fieldhouse. LU president Jimmy Simmons said restarting football is still contingent on the university raising enough in donations and pledges to cover additional costs that could be in the $10 million range. The TSUS funds can be used only in conjunction with Lamar playing football . .

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www.panews.com 2A Kountze once again makes noise on Gamble Award Bob West column for Sunday, March 25 The Port Arthur News Good basketball players are where you find them, as once again underscored by Kountze having two players — 2A state tournament MVP Cameron Powell and Clayton Busby — among the five Mr. Outside and five Mr. Inside finalists for the 2007 James Gamble Awards. This marks the fourth time in the five years that Kountze has had two players selected. Only Ozen, with 10 total selections, has been represented with more players than Kountze (8). With Lamar-bound Ashton Hall twice being named Mr. Inside and Keithan Hancock winning a Mr. Outside, Kountze matches Ozen in winning the top award three times . . . Here’s hoping folks will circle Thursday, April 12 on the calendar and plan to attend the fourth annual Port Arthur News /Gamble Award Game at the Parker Center. The crowds have been decent every year, but never what we feel the game deserves, considering it spotlight’s the area’s top ten schoolboy players. Although I’ll leave the talent evaluating up to James Gamble, this year’s crop of guards has to be the most explosive overall group we’ve ever assembled. With Memorial’s prolific J’Covan Brown joining 2006 Mr. Inside Cris Richard of Ozen, 2007 3A state tournament MVP Ryan Donahoe of Hardin-Jefferson, Kountze’s Busby and East Chambers scoring machine Tremain Thomas, there’s an incredible amount of firepower.

BC's 'Golden Girls' dazzle at Cardinal Relays The Port Arthur News 1,600-meter run – 1. Morgan Broussard, BC, 5:55.92; 2. Erica Garza, BC, 5:58.41; 3. Paige Sermons, H-J, 6:05.90. 1,600-meter relay – 1. Hamshire-Fannett (Macy Howerton, Memri Carmon, Kindra Wright, Ariel Stevenson) 4:22.26; 2. Bridge City 4:35.78; 3. Jasper 4:36.58. Final standings – 1. Anahuac 154; 2. Hamshire-Fannett 133; 3. Silsbee 117; 4. Bridge City 111.5; 5. Jasper 43.5; 6. Orangefield 39. BOYS DIVISION Discus – 1. Justin Granger, OF, 130-4; 2. Patrick Carlton, BC, 126-9; 3. Jeremy Granger, OF, 122-5. Shot put – 1. Ahmad Jones, Silsbee, 45-0?; 2. Daniel Paulus, Silsbee, 42-10; 3. Cody Sanders, H-J, 42-0?. High jump – 1. Daniel Winfree, OF, 6-0; 2. Justin Anderson, H-J, 5-10; 3. Derek Evans, OF, 5-10. Long jump – 1. Terrance McCarter, Silsbee, 21-5; 2. Jardell Elam, Silsbee, 20-9?; 3. Justin Anderson, H-J, 20-9. Triple jump – 1. Jardell Elam, Silsbee, 41-5?; 2. Justin Anderson, H-J, 41-0; 3. Mikel Willis, Silsbee, 40-10?. Pole vault – 1. William Harper, Silsbee, 13-0; 2. Kelby Shandy-Kerby, Anahuac, 12-6; 3. Mikel Willis, Silsbee, 11-6. 3,200-meter run – 1. Ryan Kelly, BC, 11:05.09; 2. Tim Cude, BC, 11:23.56; 3. JT Culp, BC, 11:55.94. 400-meter relay – 1. Silsbee (Terrance McCarter, Chris Castle, Brandon Watts, BK Johnson) 43.55; 2. Hamshire-Fannett 44.19; 3. Bridge City 44.35. 800-meter run – 1. Logan Stewart, BC, 2:07.52; 2. Kellen Free, OF, 2:11.08; 3. Bolton, Silsbee, 2:11.24. 110-meter hurdles – 1. Xavier Thomas, Silsbee, 15.41; 2. Chris Rountree, Silsbee, 16.30; 3. William Harper, Silsbee, 16.71 100-meter dash – 1. Cody Mills, BC, 10.93; 2. Terrance McCarter, Silsbee, 11.08; 3. Justin Anderson, H-J, 11.21.

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I would love to see that game.

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www.panews.com BC's 'Golden Girls' dazzle at Cardinal Relays The Port Arthur News BRIDGE CITY -- Bridge City's 'Golden Girls' encountered their share of good and bad news on Friday night at the 34th annual Cardinal Relays. Senior Christina Jacques and junior Brittany James would have preferred gold rather than silver, yet both standout Bridge City girls distinguished themselves at the annual event held in Larry Ward Stadium. The Golden Triangle's area leader in the high jump, Jacques sustained an upper leg strain during her earlier triple jump competition and opted not to compete in Friday's high jump. Jacques placed second with a distance of 35-4 1/2 in the triple jump. She did not enter the high jump after she favored the tender leg in the mid-afternoon. It was a disappointment for Jacques, who shattered a 23-year-old school record by clearing 5-6 in the high jump at Liberty's Trinity Valley Relays earlier this month. James thankfully avoided injury but also settled for a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash and a third-place finish in the 100 meters. James had one consolation in the sprints, though. The Bridge City junior -- already the area leader in the 100 meters (12.3) -- established a new Golden Triangle area-best in the 200 when she clocked a 27.00 to trail only Anahuac gold medalist Shakita Webb at 26.14. Webb won two events -- the 200 and the triple jump -- and ran the anchor leg on two other gold medal relay teams (the 400- and 800-meter relay) to guide Anahuac to the team title with 154 points in the girls division. Hamshire-Fannett followed in second with 133. Silsbee edged BC for the boys team title, 175-172, with a competitive third-place effort from Orangefield at 97. Silsbee claimed gold medals in seven events while Bridge City notched gold in six of them. Ryan Kelly and Logan Stewart were the Cardinals' lone double winners. The standout senior distance runner Kelly captured wins in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events. Stewart won the 800-meter run and ran a leg on the victorious 1,600-meter relay squad.

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This system factors in yards, stats etc and has done a decent job.

Pretty accurate!

You know i mentioned last year some of these are pretty darn accurate.

>..Well if they lost what a heck of a season!!!!!!!!

??? Who's your baseball team?

Loved Brody as well!!!!!!!! Your right Mid South and Southwest were the best!!!!!!!

:o Don't see to many Astro haters around here. I hate the Braves!! ;D

I just really dislike the Cards!!

Go U.S.!!!!!!!

8) 8)..I have FL and Ohio State in the big one.

> > > Dam

Who are the starters?

Pleaser post Central playoff score when possible.

Final Four OSU vs. Georgetown UCLA vs. UF