Gads. It has been a long while since I tapped keys on this page. I think it has been too long. I have no doubt others might disagree.
This past Sunday the North Harrison High School Class of 2018 celebrated Commencement in the gym. The place was packed. It should have been. These were great students and they deserved to be recognized. I wish I could mention each one of them here. I will, however, share with you a photo of my niece, Katie, walking to the stage to accept her diploma. It was a very proud moment. To know that her mother in 1984, me in 1986, her Uncle Darrell in 2001…I think, and now her in 2018. All of my kinfolk graduated from schools in Mississippi or Louisiana. So I think that is kind of neat.
Congrats and God Bless to all the Graduates!
Last week we lost the greatest football coach Indiana University has ever known. Bill Mallory died after complications following a fall he took. Tragic. So very tragic. I saw Coach Mallory a few years ago before an IU game. He was 80 and he looked like he could kick my ass. I think he could have. That is also why he is the greatest IU football coach of all time. He could still kick my ass! Hired in 1984, Coach Mallory’s first IU team was 0-11. I was a junior in high school. By 1986 he had the Hoosiers in a Bowl Game for the first time since 1979. He won Big Ten Coach of Year honors in 1986 and 1987 at INDIANA! That is respect folks! He took the Hoosiers to 6 of the 11 bowl games in school history. He won two of three bowl wins in IU history. Of course IU in their infinite wisdom fired the man. IU has not had a history of good coaching decisions. There is not enough room here for me to give Coach Mallory the credit he deserves.
Bill Mallory Field @ Memorial Stadium is the only answer for that.
This past high school baseball season I had the chance to be Public Address Announcer for NHHS Cougar games. It was a blast. Thanks goes to Athletic Director Hal Pearson for letting me do it! The team had a winning season and I congratulate them. Coach Cody Johnson and his staff did a great job.
This past fall I wrote a piece or two about the NHHS Football team. Brett Rudolph was a guy on the football team I featured in some of my writing. Brett was the NHHS catcher this past year, as he was last year. He is so gifted behind the plate.
In 1978 as a Brownstown Little League player, I played EVERY position in the field that year. I played all the infield positions. I played all the outfield positions. I pitched (one game) and I caught a few games when I had to. Looking back, I am thankful I can say that now at age 50. At age 10, I was not so sure.
One of the things catchers do is follow the play down the first base line to catch up with any errant throws to first base. The catcher reacts to the hit, runs down the base line and make sure the throws to first are true and if they are not, he finds the ball and makes the decision as to what to do with it. The following sequence was taken in the first round of the sectional at Silver Creek…otherwise known as Sewer Creek.
The batter about to hit the ball.
Brett runs toward first.
Brett hustles his butt off to get down the line. Don’t ever think a catcher just squats behind the plate all day! Brett showed us how it is supposed to be done…again.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson