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Page 14

February 6 - 12, 2014 | The Trussville Tribune

Sports

Clay-Chalkville girls focused on hard work

by Gary Lloyd

Editor

Clay-Chalkville is not focused on the rankings.

It is focused on hard work.

Shortly after the varsity girls' 74-60 loss to Class 6A No. 3 Shades Valley in the Jefferson County Tournament finals, firstyear head coach Courtney Payne said her team and the Lady Mounties were comparable in guard play and in the post. Transition defense and Shades Valley's press were the keys.

"They would crowd around to the ball," Payne said of Shades Valley. "They played well off of the ball. Their press is tough."

The Lady Cougars answered each Shades Valley bucket and briefly led by as many as three points late in the third quarter last Friday.

"That was the hardest we've played all season, without a doubt," Payne said. "They stepped up above and beyond even I

think what they thought they could do. They proved it to themselves."

The girls stayed in the game despite senior sharpshooter Bria Bethea being out with a sprained ankle. Bethea is the team's most consistent 3-point shooter, knocking down seven of them in a 64-59 win over No. 9 Gadsden City on Dec. 13. She's the team's second-leading scorer behind junior guard Kristian Hudson.

"I think our girls really stepped up without her," Payne said. "She's a big part of our team."

Clay-Chalkville is 236, its losses by an average of 11.5 points per game. The losses are twice to Jeff Davis, twice to Gadsden City, to Hoover and to Shades Valley. A 10-point loss to Gadsden City and the 14-point loss to Shades Valley were played much closer than the final scores indicate.

But look at the wins, too. Clay-Chalkville opened this season with a 59-28 win over Class 5A No. 8 Center Point. It beat Class

file photo by Ron Burkett Clay-Chalkville junior guard Kristian Hudson

6A No. 7 Lee-Huntsville 67-59 in November. It most recently won at Center Point, now No. 6 in Class 5A, 66-60. Its 23 wins are by an average of around 20

points per game. Despite the big wins,

and taking into account the losses, Clay-Chalkville has yet to be nominated in the Alabama Sports Writers

Association for Class 6A top 10 consideration. In fact, the rankings, which are released each Thursday, have shown the same top 10 in the same order for the past three weeks. The only difference in the Jan. 9 rankings was that two teams switched between No. 5 and No. 6. In the "others nominated" listing, the same seven teams -- Austin (20-8), Baldwin County (17-4), Enterprise (19-9), Hoover (13-12), Lee-Montgomery (15-7), McGill-Toolen (19-5) and Murphy (15-6) -- have been nominated the last two weeks.

"To tell you the truth, we're not even looking at that," Payne said. "That doesn't matter to us. If we can come out and play basketball like (against Shades Valley), that's what matters because at the end of the year, the teams that play the hardest will be the most successful. It takes care of itself."

Hudson said the team may notice the rankings, but that it doesn't get caught up in it.

"Opportunities come and go, and I think we'll get a chance if we prove ourselves," said Hudson, who scored 27 points against Shades Valley. "Coach continues to preach to play hard and see how far we get."

Today, Clay-Chalkville will play in the Class 6A, Area 9 tournament at Gadsden City. The Lady Cougars are the No. 2 seed and face third-seeded Oxford at 7:30 p.m. The winner takes on the winner of Gadsden City and Pell City at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 for the tournament championship. Hudson said the mindset hasn't changed as the playoffs approach.

"I think we did come together more as a team like we did (against Shades Valley)," Hudson said. "If we take the same energy and mentality and same effort that we had, and take it anywhere, I think we'll do great things."

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune. com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

Senior softball league open, begins in March

by Gary Lloyd

looking for people age 55 recreational and competi-

or older who are interested tive leagues. Games are

Editor

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The Russ Arthur Senior on the softball field.

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evenings at George Ward Park in Birmingham.

Games are scheduled to begin in March, while the competitive league games will start in April.

The league has several players from Trussville and most area cities.

For more information, visit or email Ed Girard at edward.

girard@.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune. com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

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February 6 - 12, 2014 | The Trussville Tribune

Page 15

Former Pinson Valley star Jennings honored

by Erik Harris

For The Tribune

Like any other mother, Paulette Jennings loves watching her son take the diamond to play America's pastime.

After logging another day of work at Gardendale Elementary School, nothing makes her happier than taking a seat and becoming the biggest fan in attendance.

But unlike the parents of most ballplayers, Paulette has been cheering for her slugger for more than 20 years. It's not her unwavering commitment to be her son's No. 1 fan that sets her apart from most mothers, but her willingness to travel more than 600 miles to do it. That is, if she's not rooting from afar via ESPN.

"I just love watching him," Paulette said. "It doesn't matter, I can sit in front of the TV or I can be cooking and watching. It doesn't matter, wherever he's playing I'll be trying to watch him."

It was 21 years ago that she signed Desmond Jennings up for little league baseball. This was Desmond's first experience with organized sports, yet that wouldn't stop him from shining.

This newfound success motivated the youngster to strive for more. Soon thereafter Desmond was displaying his talents on the gridiron and the hardwood. It was at this moment that Paulette knew her son, with the proper guidance, could achieve excellence.

It came as no surprise to her that she was standing before the crowd in Mike Dutton Gymnasium to accept Desmond's retired No. 3 basketball jersey Saturday.

She stood alongside Mike Dutton -- Desmond's high school basketball coach and current HewittTrussville boys' basketball coach -- as the Pinson Valley crowd showered them with cheers.

"It feels great because he worked so hard while he was going here and playing all the sports so this feels really great," Paulette said.

From this point forward, No. 3 will be worn in honor of Desmond only by the chosen team caption of the Pinson Valley boys' team. Desmond can now be found wearing No. 8 as he protects the deep left-centerfield alley at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"I go (visit Desmond) every chance I get because I work for Jefferson County so I try to go when school is out and I stay down there a lot then, but I want to go every month," Paulette said.

Desmond was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 10th round of the 2006 MLB Draft and was called up from Triple-A Durham in July 2011. Desmond is currently the starting center fielder for the Rays with a .250 career batting average with 37 home runs and 73 stolen bases.

His 133 hits and 82 runs scored helped the Rays reach the 2013 American League Division Series, which they dropped to eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

But before ESPN broadcasters knew of Paulette's son, he was wowing Pinson Valley fans in all three major sports. From football in the fall to basketball in the winter and, of course, baseball in the spring, Desmond shined brighter than the others.

Dutton always believed foot-

photo by Erik Harris Desmond Jennings' home and away Pinson Valley basketball jerseys

ball was his best sport despite being his head basketball coach.

"We always kidded tongue and cheek that baseball was his worst sport and he's starting for the Rays now," Dutton said. "He was a heck of a player and a heck of a person."

Before graduating from Pinson Valley in 2005, Desmond made

great achievements not only in baseball, but football and basketball as well.

He is the school's all-time leading scorer and single-game leading scorer (43 vs. Erwin) in basketball. He was also named to the 2005 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A Basketball First Team All-State.

"I think everyone pretty much knew what he was capable of doing," Paulette said. "He talks to his [former] coaches all the time."

Mike Shula extended him an offer to sign with Alabama as a wide receiver, before the Cleveland Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. Jennings turned down Cleveland's offer and opted to enroll at Itawamba Community College, where he starred in baseball and football.

"He would've been great at Alabama," Dutton said. "He's just the best that I've ever seen."

Jennings led all junior college wideouts with 54 receptions, 848 yards and six touchdowns. He then performed on the diamond by hitting .378 with 29 stolen bases, which was good enough to get him drafted by Tampa Bay with the 289th pick of the 2006 MLB Draft. He signed.

Only five days after being called up to the big leagues, the outfielder launched his first career home run, a two-run blast against the Oakland A's.

On Sept. 7, 2011 Rays manager Joe Maddon filled out his lineup for that afternoon's game against the Texas Rangers. He opted to put his 25-year-old left fielder from Pinson in the leadoff position in front of center fielder B.J. Upton.

Jennings led off the bottom of the 10th in a 4-4 game. He connected on the first pitch from Mark Lowe and watched the ball sail 40 feet over the left field wall for his first career walk-off home run and 1,000th win in franchise history -- nothing Paulette didn't already know he could do.

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Page 16

February 6 - 12, 2014 | The Trussville Tribune

Clay-Chalkville infielder signs with Southern Union

by Gary Lloyd

Editor

Clay-Chalkville senior second baseman Kyle Mosley on Monday signed to play college baseball at Southern Union State Community College in Wadley.

Mosley said he could possibly start at second base or right field at Southern Union.

Mosley, who wants to major in physical therapy, plans to transfer to a university after his time at Southern Union. He'd like

file photo by Gary Lloyd Clay-Chalkville senior Kyle Mosley hits a pitch last season.

to play Division I baseball "Baseball in college to

after his two years in Wad- me, especially in Wadley,

ley.

will be a job," Mosley

said. "When I move to the campus I plan on revolving everything around baseball and doing whatever I can to make it to the next level."

Clay-Chalkville opens the 2014 baseball season at home Feb. 17 with a doubleheader against Pinson Valley. The first game is at 1 p.m.

"I feel blessed to be able to play at the next level," Mosley said. "It's an honor to be able to represent Clay-Chalkville on and off the field at SU."

2 from Hewitt-Trussville

win indoor track state titles

by Gary Lloyd

ciation Track and Field run with a time of 1:55.86. state championship at the On Tuesday, Lyle won the

Editor

CrossPlex in Birming- Class 6A 1,600-meter run. ham.

Two Hewitt-Trussville Veronica Lyle won the Contact Gary Lloyd at

runners earned state Class 6A girls 800-meter news@trussvilletribune.

championships Mon- run with a time of 2:12.96. com and follow him on

day at the Alabama High Austin Norwood won the Twitter @GaryALloyd.

School Athletic Asso- Class 6A boys 800-meter

Hewitt-Trussville runner 3rd Hewitt wrestler commits to

nationally in 800-meter run Rochester Institute of Technology

by Gary Lloyd

by Gary Lloyd

Editor

Editor

Hewitt-Trussville senior

Hewitt-Trussville senior wrestler An-

runner Veronica Lyle is one

drew Patterson recently committed to

of the top 800-meter run-

wrestle at Rochester Institute of Technol-

ners in the United States.

ogy in New York.

Lyle on Jan. 25 ran the

Patterson last summer earned a bronze

800-meter in 2:12.98 at the

medal in the 2013 Summer Deaflympics

Last Chance Invitational at

in Bulgaria.

the Birmingham Crossplex,

Patterson won bronze in the 66kg free-

the third-fastest time in the

style wrestling competition over Gur-

U.S. Mary Cain, who com-

banberdi Charyyev of Turkmenistan.

peted in the 2013 World

Patterson reached the third-place match

Championships in Athletics in Moscow, is No. 1.

photo courtesy of Hewitt-Trussville Athletics by defeating Uzbekistan's Abdurakhmon Sattorov in his first match. He then was

"She has the heart of a

Hewitt-Trussville senior Veronica Lyle

defeated by Plamen Donchev of Bulgar-

champion," said Hewitt-

ia.

Trussville Athletics Direc- in November. She beat the tional in the 5,000-meter Patterson qualified for the Deaflympics

submitted photo

tor Karen Johns.

second-place finisher by 11 run and fourth in the same by winning the 2013 USA Deaflympic Andrew Patterson, center, with his bronze

In the Last Chance Invi- seconds.

race at the Montevallo Ear- Freestyle Wrestling Qualifier in Virgin- medal

tational, the second-place Lyle last year won the ly Bird Classic.

ia last April. He won the freestyle and

runner finished in 2:15.59. individual 5,000-meter

Greco Roman competitions at the quali- former Hewitt-Trussville wrestler.

Lyle, a University of cross country race at the Contact Gary Lloyd at fier.

Alabama signee, won the Scottsboro Invitational. news@trussvilletribune. Patterson was coached in Bulgaria by Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvil-

AHSAA Class 6A cross She placed seventh at the com and follow him on Thad Ferguson and in Alabama by Ala- and follow him on Twitter

country state championship Chickasaw Trials Invita- Twitter @GaryALloyd.

bama Wrestling Club's Jake Elkins, a @GaryALloyd.

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