Spring Sports

It's been a really fun semester watching Ryan play baseball, Lauren and Erin play soccer together and Sheridan play soccer on the weekends. These last months have flown by with games and tournaments all running together. Neither the baseball team or the soccer team made it past the first round in the state tournament and Sheridan's team didn't win a game all season, but it didn't devastate us at all because everyone enjoyed their teams and their accomplishments. I like it that way, and I'm sure glad we're done driving to Mena!

High School Sports - Senior Year

Can't put into words what it means to know Ryan is wrapping up his sports as a high school senior. Last night was Senior Night, it was a simple ceremony but meaningful for all involved. 6 of these boys have played ball together since they were seven years old. I've got to say that although we have district, regionals and state tournament to go, it will be good to continue closing the door on high school for my very determined son.

Last week we learned he won one of the ROTC scholarships to U of A. He interviewed and applied for this scholarship at the end of last year. We've been "on hold" waiting for news about this full-ride scholarship. When he got the official offer, we learned it is a three-year scholarship.  We'll continue applying for what we can receive for his first year. School fees for a year are around $21,000. We're all relieved and happy that he has chosen to pursue an education in Fayetteville. It's one hour and 15 minutes from our house, and he'll be a third generation graduate from the University.

Getting some Press

River Valley All-Stars: Ryan Rogers
Mon, 06/06/2011 - 4:04pm Category: Sports
ByMark Freeman
mark@rivervalleyleader.com
Clarksville junior Ryan Rogers has about a year to make the biggest decision of his young life.

Rogers has been named All-State in baseball after batting .534 with three home runs and 11 doubles, while reaching base at a .671 clip.

After a football season that saw the all-everything Rogers play offense, defense and special teams, Rogers was also contacted by both participants in the 2011 National Championship Game. Auburn and Oregon both emailed the strong-legged Panther, as news of his 50-yard field goal spread around the country.

“This summer will go a long way in determining what I’ll do at the next level,” Rogers said. “Right now I plan to play college baseball.”

Rogers plans to attend baseball camps this summer--- including the Extra Innings All-Star events for underclassmen July 6-7 in Jonesboro--- before switching gears back to football. Rogers received the most votes in the 4A-4 district to nab the Extra Innings honor.

The Panthers’ baseball season was, as Rogers called it, a successful one. Clarksville needed to beat Subiaco and Dover in a doubleheader to win conference, something Rogers said the team took a great deal of pride in doing.

In the regional tournament, Rogers and the Panthers fell to the eventual state runners up Prairie Grove, as the Tigers pitched their ace, whose fastball topped out in the upper eighties.

Coming into the season, Rogers worked on his catching skills, as Coach Jake Hudson found that saving his best fielder by playing him in the middle of the infield would not work with his young pitching staff. Rogers practiced blocking pitches and strengthening his arm, and throughout the season he cut down several runners trying to steal.

The best baseball game Rogers had from this season was against Subiaco, where he hit two home runs, a single and a double, just missing the cycle by a triple.

But as for the best memory from the 2011 year---in true Panther fashion--- Rogers chose a walk-off homer to beat Ozark.

“It was a really good year,” Rogers said. “It was fun; we were winning, so that made it even more fun.”

My boy is 17. He is a junior. He is in his second to last season of high school baseball. He has grown up right before my eyes. He still hugs me. He likes to text me. He sometimes thinks I'm worked up about nothing, but mostly he just wants to be close to the family. My college vote is for an SEC school...we'll see.

Baseball/Soccer/Track = Thursday

Rich and I went to Tulsa/BA for a quick trip on Thursday. He had a meeting and I was handing out marketing materials to moms who want to know more about my event. We were on a bit of a tight schedule as we were both headed opposite directions to watch our kids play ball. Erin was out of town at a track meet, she has injured her knee, so was not running, just cheering.

I had soccer duty in Clarksville, and I needed to pick Sheridan up from a friend before the game. Game time was 5:00. Richard was on baseball duty and they were scheduled to play in Subiaco (30 min away), and the game was to start at 4:30. Unfortunately, or fortunately for us, Subi's baseball field was under water so we got to watch both games...from the visitor's stands at our football field! This only happened once last season.

We can sit on the top row and see both the baseball field and the football/soccer field. Woo hoo! Small town living at it's best!

Both teams won! Lauren scored 2 goals and assisted with another! Final was 5-0. Ryan pitched the last three innings and got us a win in a tight game, 9-8.