Volume 11 Number 7 (606) 246-0230 July 2014

WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM

Back to school means its also time to get back in the game!

Page 2 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014

As area schools get ready to open their doors, their athletes have already spent several days in the summer heat getting ready for their season openers. The photos on these two pages

represent some of the hard work being put in by high school football players at Bell County, Pineville and Middlesboro as they get ready. Pinnacle Photos / Ray Welch

Pineville in the trenches

August 29 at South Floyd

September 5 Middlesboro

September 12 at McCreary Central

September 19 Lynn Camp

September 26 Claiborne, TN

October 3 at Allen Central

October 10 at Jenkins

October 17 at Harlan

October 24 Hazard

October 31 at Williamsburg

Pineville Mountain LionsAugust 22 at S. Pittsburg, TN

August 30 at Washington County

September 5 Whitley County

September 12 at Middlesboro

September 19 Knox Central

September 26 Wayne County

October 3 at Casey County

October 17 at Corbin

October 24 McCreary Central

October 31 at Harlan County

Bell County Bobcats

Fine-tuning the Bobcat offense

July 2014 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM Page 3

August 23 at Grant County

September 5 at Pineville

September 12 Bell County

September 19 Harlan Independent

September 26 Pikeville

October 3 at Union, VA

October 10 at Lexington Christian

October 17 Danville

October 24 Somerset

October 31 at Lynn Camp

Middlesboro Yellowjackets

Jackets working on the passing game

Former UTEP and Auburn head coach Tony

Barbee has joined the UK men’s basketball

staff as a special assistant to the

head coach.

He will take on an administra-

tive role in operations formerly

held by Rod Strickland, who left

to become an assistant coach at

the University of South Florida.

Barbee was previously the

head coach at UTEP and at

Auburn and has served as an as-

sistant coach under Calipari for a total of

nine seasons in his career.

“Tony has been a part of my basketball

family for over 20 years,” Calipari said.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching him grow

up and mature with this game since I started

recruiting him when he was 16 years old. I’m

thrilled with the knowledge and experience

he brings to this program and our staff and

am looking forward to working with him

again.”

"I’m so excited to reconnect with my

coach, mentor, and friend Coach Cal on his

staff at Kentucky,” Barbee said. “I can't wait

to join the Big Blue Nation in its quest for

No. 9."

Barbee played for Calipari at UMass be-

fore starting his coaching career

as a graduate assistant on the Mas-

sachusetts staff in 1995-96. The

Minutemen advanced to the

NCAA Final Four in Barbee’s

first season as a member of the

coaching staff.

As a player, Barbee

helped lead the Minutemen to a

pair of Atlantic 10 championships

and two NCAA Tournaments. UMass went

91-39 during his four-year career. Barbee

still ranks among the school's all-time lead-

ers in numerous statistical categories, includ-

ing scoring with 1,643 points. He was a

second-team All-Atlantic 10 player in 1991

and 1993 and All-Atlantic 10 Freshman team

selection in 1990.

The Indianapolis native played profes-

sionally in Spain and France after his playing

career at UMass. He earned his B.A. in

sports management from UMass in 1993,

with a minor in African-American studies.

He and his wife, Holly, have a daughter,

Hayden Alexandra, and son, Andrew Marsh.

Tony Barbee joins the UK staff

as a special assistant to the head coach

Page 4 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014

Former Lincoln Memorial University baseball standout

Logan Sawyer was selected as the Northwest League Pitcher

of the Week on July 27th after continuing his dominance in

relief for the Tri-City Dust Devils. A native of Knoxville,

Tenn., Sawyer was a 29th-round selection by the Colorado

Rockies in June's MLB First-Year Player Draft, becoming the

seventh player in program history to get drafted.

Sawyer earned Pitcher of the Week distinctions after

making a pair of scoreless relief appearances for the Dust

Devils. Sawyer's initial appearance of the week came against

the Eugene Emeralds on July 22, when he picked up his first

professional win after shutting down the San Diego Padres'

farm team over four innings of relief. The Seymour High

School graduate allowed only two hits with one strikeout and

one walk over that span.

Five days later, Sawyer continued his excellence out of

the bullpen with another superb performance against the

Everett AquaSox, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The 6-

5, right-hander spun five scoreless innings with five strike-

outs and only one walk.

Sawyer has made nine total appearances with the Dust

Devils, starting three of those outings. Despite struggling in

those three starts with nine earned runs allowed, the SAC All-

Tournament Team pitcher has compiled a 1-0 record with a

0.59 ERA in six relief appearances. Opponents have hit right

at the Mendoza Line (.200) against Sawyer in 15 1/3 innings

of relief. He has fanned 11 and walked only four over that

span. Sawyer led the Railsplitters with seven wins, 74 2/3 in-

nings pitched and 66 strikeouts during the 2013 campaign.

Former LMU baseball ace Logan Sawyer

named Northwest League Pitcher of the WeekWhile many college student-athletes spend the summer qui-

etly honing their skills, LMU women's soccer rising sopho-

more Christina "Beans" Joseph (Sebastian, Fla.) has spent

hers on a much grander stage. Joseph is currently a member

of the Trinidad & Tobago Women's National Team, as the rel-

atively young nation attempts to qualify for the 2015 FIFA

Women's World Cup.

"I am excited for 'Beans' as well as our program," com-

mented LMU head soccer coach Helio D'Anna. "That level

of exposure is good for her and of course the team. LMU ben-

efits both with the name being showcased out there and get-

ting back an even better player."

Early in the summer, Joseph traveled to Trinidad & To-

bago - a small island off of the coast of Venezuela - to take

part in summer training with the national squad.

Quickly approaching, Beans and the Soca Princesses will

host the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament August

19-26. The winner and runner-up from both group A and B

in that tournament earn a bid to the 2014 CONCACAF

Women's Championship, which determines the participants

in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. Three

teams from CONCACAF will earn qualifying spots to the

World Cup. T&T enters the upcoming CFU tournament

ranked 46th in the world and fifth in the CONCACAF.In her

debut season with the 2013 Lady Railsplitters, Joseph ap-

peared in 18 matches with 12 starts and 938 total minutes

played. Beans recorded seven shots with two on frame over

that span. The Lady Railsplitters finished the 2013 campaign

with a 10-8-1 overall mark.

LMU President Dr. B. James Dawson and Athletic Director

Roger Vannoy proudly announce the hiring of the first-ever

Strength and Conditioning Coach in school history, naming

Stephen Linzmeier to that position effectively on August 1.

"LMU is very excited to welcome Stephen Linzmeier as

our first Strength and Conditioning Coach," Vannoy said.

"His professional training and experience will prove invalu-

able in preparing our student-athletes to be the best they can

be. I personally look forward to his expertise with organizing,

operating and continuing to improve our training facilities."

Linzmeier brings a tremendous breadth of knowledge and

experience, most recently serving as the assistant strength

coach at the University of Indianapolis. While holding that

post, Linzmeier worked with 10 of the program's 19 varsity

sports, formulating individualized exercise programs to de-

velop all of the aspects of fitness: aerobic, endurance,

strength, speed, flexibility and power.

Prior to his two-year tenure in Indy, he held a similar po-

sition at Butler University. With Butler, Linzmeier designed

strength and conditioning regimes for 13 Division I athletic

programs including women's basketball, baseball, softball

and men's soccer. He also assisted with Butler's men's bas-

ketball program, which was the 2011 NCAA National Cham-

pionship runner-up.

He became the full-time assistant strength and conditioning

coach at Butler in January 2011 after beginning his stead in

Indianapolis, Ind. as an intern with the Bulldogs in 2010.

Linzmeier will begin his duties at LMU immediately.

LMU soccer’s Christina Joseph earns spot on

the Trinidad & Tobago National Team

Linzmeier selected as the first-ever

strength and conditioning coach at LMU

Russ Tolliver heads to Pebble Beach theweek of September 22nd

The First Tee of Pine Mountain is send-

ing Russ Tolliver to compete in the 2014 Na-

ture Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach,

an official Champions Tour event that will

be held September 26-28 and televised inter-

nationally on Golf Channel.

Tolliver will join 80 other participants

from The First Tee chapters for the event,

which is in its 11th year.

“Nature Valley is proud to be associated

with this event, and thrilled to see these jun-

iors get the call of a lifetime,” said Joe Ens,

vice president of marketing at General Mills.

“The First Tee is doing incredible work help-

ing young people learn important life lessons

like the Nine Core Values. We look forward

to welcoming Russ and the full junior field

at this year’s tournament.”

Tolliver was selected by a national panel

of judges who evaluated playing ability and

comprehension of the life skills and charac-

ter education learned through their involve-

ment with The First Tee. More than 150

applications were submitted.

Champions Tour players committed to

play include two-time Nature Valley First

Tee Open winner and defending champion

Kirk Triplett, Charles Schwab Cup con-

tenders Jay Haas and Kenny Perry and a

number of World Golf Hall of Fame mem-

bers.

Russ has had this experience on his

“goal ladder” for some time now and has

comprised an impressive resume of golf, ac-

ademic, and community service. He has

worked hard winning several events in The

First Tee Pine Mountain’s Competitive Edge

program and winning four of the Tourna-

ment Series events with a 37.8 average. He

has been part of a successful Corbin High

School golf team gaining state-wide expo-

sure and experience while representing The

First Tee. Russ has also accomplished two

“Hole-In-Ones” while at programming with

The First Tee.

Tolliver and the other juniors will be

teamed with 81 Champions Tour players and

162 amateurs as they compete for the pro-ju-

nior title at Pebble Beach Golf Links and

Poppy Hills Golf Course. Play will be con-

ducted on these courses on Friday and Sat-

urday, and the final round will be played at

Pebble Beach on Sunday.

“I’ve known Russ since he was born and

we have watched him grow up in this pro-

gram. He is an intelligent young man with a

bright future. Russ has been blessed with a

family rich in golf tradition. Ironically, his

Great-Grandfather was an iconic figure play-

ing daily thirty years ago on the same prop-

erty where his local chapter of The First Tee

is now located”, comments Donnie A. Cald-

well, PGA , The First Tee Master Coach at

The First Tee Pine Mountain.

Russ is extremely excited for this amaz-

ing participant opportunity. He said, “My

first thoughts are obvious. It is the trip of a

lifetime. But past that it is a chance for me

to advance outside the box; to do something

awesome.”

The First Tee of Pine Mountain is one of

177 chapters around the country and in select

international locations. Serving the south-

easter portion of the Commonwealth since

2001, more than 5000 young people have

been served through chapter programs and

The First Tee National School Program,

which is in 11 Bell, Knox, Harlan, and Leslie

elementary schools. The programs are fo-

cused on building character through The

First Tee Nine Core Values: honesty, in-

tegrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence,

responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and

judgment.

To learn more about The First Tee of

Pine Mountain, visit www.thefirst-

teepinemountain.org. For more information

on the 2014 Nature Valley First Tee Open,

visit www.thefirstteeopen.com

July 2014 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM Page 5

Local teen to play with Champions Tour pros in the Nature Valley 1st Tee Open at Pebble Beach

For reduced golfing rates go to www.playpinemountain.com

Page 6 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014

The Kentucky High School Athletic Associ-

ation has handed down sanctions to Cordia

High School following a nearly yearlong in-

vestigation for violations of KHSAA bylaws

including Bylaw 1 (Responsibility of Eligi-

bility), Bylaw 4 (Enrollment Requirements),

Bylaw 6 (Transfer Rule-Citizens of the U.S.

or U.S. Territories), Bylaw 7 (Transfer Rule-

Foreign Exchange Students), Bylaw 11 (Fi-

nancial Aid), Bylaw 16 (Recruitment/Undue

Influence), Bylaw 23 (Limitation of Season)

and Bylaw 25 (Requirements for Coaches).

Among the penalties imposed by the Com-

missioner are:

Suspension of the Cordia HS boys’ bas-

ketball team from playing scrimmages or

contests during the 2014-15 regular and

postseason, as well as the 2016 postseason.

During its suspension, the school would be

permitted to conduct regular season practices

from October 15 until the first allowable day

for district tournament play. Included in this

penalty is a stipulation that representatives

of the boys’ basketball team with eligibility

remaining may transfer to specific KHSAA

member schools without penalty;

Forfeiture of all boys’ basketball games

from the 2013-14 season for the use of at

least one ineligible player in all games. The

score will be recorded as 2-0 for all games

which Cordia won, and the game score will

remain the same for losses but will be noted

as forfeits;

Probation for Cordia’s interscholastic ath-

letic program through the 2018-19 season.

With this probation, Cordia will be placed on

conditional membership, with its member-

ship status to be reviewed at the end of the

2014-15 school year to determine whether its

membership should continue to be recom-

mended for approval by the Board of Control

beginning with the 2015-16 season. Also as

part of its probation, all Cordia coaches and

athletic administrators shall be required to at-

tend an in-service workshop in Lexington,

conducted by the KHSAA staff concerning

Association Bylaws and Kentucky law that

affects interscholastic athletics during the

2014-15 school year. Additionally, an Assis-

tant Commissioner will also be assigned to

work directly with the Superintendent of

schools and the Principal of Cordia to ensure

development of policies, procedures and best

practices to be implemented in the athletic

program;

Suspension of two members of the Cordia

HS boys’ basketball coaching staff from the

2014-15 postseason boys’ basketball tourna-

ments sanctioned by KHSAA.

An aggregate fine of $25,980 for various

infractions per the fine schedule in Bylaw

27.

“The majority of the aforementioned viola-

tions are clearly indicative of a school with-

out any appreciable level of institutional

control over its athletic program. While

some violations date back to the 2010-2011

school year, the major violations occurred

during the past twelve to twenty-four

months. The violations in previous years,

however, add context and it is my conclusion

that they illustrate an undeniable pattern of

practice and culture of noncompliance that

has been allowed to evolve at Cordia,” said

KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett in his

communication to the school. “Unfortu-

nately, after this long and careful review, this

series of events may well represent the most

wanton and blatant disregard for Association

rules in its 97 year history. There is appar-

ently no person within the school or school

system willing to actively and aggressively

control and manage the athletic program.

Therefore, students have been allowed an

unrestricted privilege of participation with-

out compliance with applicable and appro-

priate rules.

“Participation in interscholastic athletics has

long been recognized as a privilege and not

a right. This is an important distinction. With

this privilege comes responsibility. A theme

throughout this matter has been the partici-

pation, whether at practice or competition, of

ineligible student-athletes,” added Tackett.

“The participation by any ineligible students

may have affected the outcome of those

games. Moreover, participation by an ineli-

gible student-athlete potentially jeopardizes

coverage under the KHSAA’s catastrophic

insurance policy that is provided for all stu-

dent-athletes. The collective Association of

member schools, including Cordia, have

agreed to abide by the Bylaws of the

KHSAA which are indisputable when the

knowledge is there to prevent an ineligible

player from participating.”

During the course of its investigation, the

KHSAA found sufficient evidence that rep-

resentatives of the athletic program, includ-

ing representatives of the Lotts Creek

Community School who are inextricably re-

lated to both the school and its athletic pro-

gram, committed violations of KHSAA

bylaws, many of which were acknowledged

by the school, including:

Falsifying records, or maintaining inaccu-

rate records with regards to living arrange-

ments of transferring student-athletes;

Allowing a staff member to lease housing

to the family of a student-athlete without

ever receiving payment;

Impermissible contact with multiple stu-

dent-athletes with the intent to sway them to

enroll at Cordia for the purpose of competing

in athletics;

Providing free transportation to relocate a

student from an out-of-state school;

Providing plane tickets on two separate

occasions to a student-athlete so he could

travel out-of-state;

Facilitating housing for a student-athlete

at no cost to him or his family;

Providing money and clothes to student-

athletes;

Conducting tryouts for non-enrolled stu-

dents;

Paying the entire cost of education for two

students on an F-1 exchange VISA to attend

Cordia;

Providing housing to numerous students

that participated on the boys’ basketball

team, as well as housing for their families;

Allowing ineligible players to practice and

compete in contests before they were cleared

to participate;

Requiring players to attend practice prior

to the official start date for preseason prac-

tice (October 15), and disciplining students

who missed these practice sessions;

Holding “open gym” practices that were

limited to the boys’ basketball team and thus

mandatory, following the elimination from

the postseason; and

Failing to properly monitor the coaching

requirements for individuals coaching in the

boys’ basketball program, including the ob-

ligation to complete the legislatively man-

dated Sports Safety Course. These violations

included a 30-day period during the 2013-14

season when no member of the coaching

staff met the requirements of Bylaw 25.

Cordia High School receives stiff penalties from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

July 2014 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM Page 7

NASSAU, Bahamas – ESPNU and the

soon-to-launch SEC Network will televise

the six-game University of Kentucky men’s

basketball team’s Big Blue Bahamas tour

live from Nassau’s 2,500-seat Kendal G.L.

Isaacs National Gymnasium August 10-12

and August 15-17. All six

games will now tipoff at

1 p.m. ET.

ESPNU will televise

the first three games of

the tour – Sunday, Au-

gust 10 against the Puerto

Rico national team re-

serves, Monday, August

11 vs. French first-divi-

sion team Champagne

Chalons-Reims Basket

and Tuesday, August 12

vs. the Puerto Rico reserves.

Kentucky will take two days off August

13-14 before the Wildcats resume action Fri-

day, August 15 against the Dominican Re-

public national team, airing on SEC

Network.

The Wildcats conclude the tour with two

more games on SEC Network: Saturday, Au-

gust 16 against Champagne Chalons-Reims

Basket and Sunday, August 17 vs. the Do-

minican Republic national team.

“We can’t think of a better way to show

off some of the best basketball in the United

States and the world than to have the games

televised by ESPNU and

SEC Network,” said Com-

plete Sports Management

President Lea Miller. “We

are thrilled to be among the

first events to air on the SEC

Network with Kentucky’s

Big Blue Bahamas tour in a

great setting in Nassau.”

“The slate of Kentucky

basketball games airing on

ESPNU and continuing on

the SEC Network is a prime

example of our programming commitment

to expand and cover the conference on a new

platform in a way that hasn’t been done in

the past,” said Justin Connolly, ESPN senior

vice president, college networks. “The live

games provide viewers with unique early ac-

cess to a team that played for the National

Championship just a few short months ago.”

KENTUCKY

BIG BLUE BAHAMAS

TOUR SCHEDULE

all games at

Isaacs National Gymnasium

August 10: Puerto Rico Reserve Team

1 pm ET (ESPNU)

August 11: Champagne Chalons-Reims

Basket 1 pm ET (ESPNU)

August 12: Puerto Rico Reserve Team

1 pm ET (ESPNU)

August 13: OFF DAY

August 14: OFF DAY

August 15: Dominican Republic National

Team 1 pm ET (SEC Network)

August 16: Champagne Chalons-Reims

Basket 1 pm ET (SEC Network)

August 17: Dominican Republic National

Team 1 pm ET (SEC Network)

Kentucky’s “Big Blue Bahamas” tour

to be televised by ESPNU/SEC Network

Page 8 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014

The University of the Cumberlands (UC)

football team has had a tremendous impact

on the football field in recent years. The

awards and success have been historic in-

cluding a recent undefeated regular season,

the program’s first ever NAIA #1 ranking,

and an NAIA national championship game

appearance. The Patriots have also been

well known to make a huge impact on the

community. Three Patriot football players

have continued this trend in the summer

working for the University of the Cumber-

lands’ Mountain Outreach (MO) summer

team.

Iquan Deed (Montezuma, GA), Chad Bond

(Tullahoma, TN), and Randy Maynard

(Pikeville, KY) are working with Mountain

Outreach this summer, giving back to the tri-

county area in Southeastern Kentucky.

Those three Patriots as well as others have

helped build two homes for families in need

over the summer break. One of the houses

is located in Whitley County while the other

is located in London, Kentucky. The football

players have not been the only ones helping

in building the homes this summer. Patriot

football Head Coach Matt Rhymer and UC

baseball Head Coach Brad Shelton also do-

nated their time and services to help build the

home in Williamsburg.

Coach Rhymer is happy about the impact his

team has had on the community comment-

ing, “Mountain Outreach is a picture of what

our University stands for in regards to serv-

ing others. We are blessed as a University

with people who care about other people.

Some people are less fortunate, and as Chris-

tians, it is our responsibility to look after

those people. Mountain Outreach exempli-

fies teamwork, sacrifice, humility, service,

and commitment to see a vision completed.

We have three young men working this sum-

mer with them and I’m excited to see how

much they have matured as young men after

serving all summer.”

Rhymer continued saying, “Our theme for

the season will be ‘Serve’ coming from

Matthew 23:11 which says, ‘The greatest

among you will be your servant.’” As a staff

and team, we will focus on being servant

leaders. We will take on community service

projects as a staff and team. In addition, we

will study scripture each week that focuses

on serving others. There will be several

guest speakers that will expand on the sub-

ject as well. I’m looking forward to seeing

these three young men take on leadership

roles and be examples of servant leadership

on campus, on the field, and in the commu-

nity.”

Marc Hensley, Director of Mountain Out-

reach, is pleased with the work he has been

getting from the football players, as well as

the rest of his summer team saying, “They

have definitely been contributors. One, two,

or three people don’t make a team, but they

are a part of a much bigger team. What I

have been pleased with is that all college ath-

letes have a big demand on them and it al-

ways impresses me when an athlete gives up

a summer vacation to help and to give back.

All three of these young men have good

character and live their lives for others.”

Mountain Outreach has been nationally rec-

ognized for its work several times: the Ac-

tion Institute for the Study of Religion and

Liberty selected it as one of ten charities to

receive the Samaritan Award; USA Today

noted the program in its 1996 "Make a Dif-

ference Day" competition; and President

George H. Bush honored Mountain Outreach

as his 220th Daily Point of Light.

The University of the Cumberlands football

team is preparing for their upcoming 2014

season, where they hope to continue their

success of last season. The Patriots will host

their 2014 Media Day on August 29th at 5:00

PM at James H. Taylor, II Stadium. Parents,

students, and fans are encouraged to come

out for the event where everyone will have

the opportunity to meet the 2014 Patriot foot-

ball team.

University of the Cumberlands football continues to have a huge impact on the community

July 2014 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM Page 9

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Ken-

tucky University football team was picked to

finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference

this fall in a preseason poll conducted by the

OVC coaches and sports information direc-

tors. The announcement was recently made

at the OVC football media day event.

The Colonels, who have won a record 21

OVC titles, tallied 82 points in the poll.

Since Dean Hood took over as EKU's head

coach in 2008, the Colonels have won two

OVC championships (2008, 2011) and 33

league games.

Jacksonville State picked up 10 of the 18

first-place votes and was tabbed as the OVC

preseason favorite. The Gamecocks, who

were also the preseason favorites in 2005,

2008, 2010 and 2011, totaled 118 points to

out-distance two-time defending champion

Eastern Illinois in the vote. The Panthers

piled up four first-place votes and 110 total

points in being picked second.

Eastern Kentucky hosts both league fa-

vorites this season – Jacksonville State on

Nov. 8 and Eastern Illinois on Oct. 11.

Senior placekicker Andrew Lloyd was

the lone EKU representative on the presea-

son All-OVC team. Lloyd, a senior from

Winchester, Virginia, made 8-of-10 field

goals last year in his first season of action

with the Colonels. He finished the year on a

strong note, making his last six field goal at-

tempts including a season-best 49-yarder in

the finale at Murray State. Lloyd registered

15 touchbacks on kick-offs in 2013, the most

by an EKU kicker in six years under head

coach Dean Hood.

The Colonels return six starters on each

side of the ball from a team that finished 6-

6 in 2013.

Eastern Kentucky begins the 2014 fall

season with a Thursday night road game at

Robert Morris on Aug. 28. EKU's home

opener is slated for Sept. 13 against More-

head State.

Fans can reserve 2014 season tickets by

contacting the EKU athletics ticket office at

859-622-2122.

Eastern Kentucky University football

picked to finish fourth in OVC preseason poll

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 27: Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, races the

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents The John Wayne Walding 400 at the

Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Credit: 300169Patrick Smith/NASCAR via Getty Images

Jeff Gordon’s record-setting fifth victory

at Indianapolis Motor Speedway clinched

him a spot in the 2014 Chase for the

NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming he starts the

remaining six races in the regular season.

Now what? Now, he goes full bore, with

one goal in mind: More “Winner” decals,

and the three bonus points that go with each

once the Chase starts. Each Chase participant

will have their points reset to 2,000, with

three bonus points tacked on for each win

during the 26-race regular season.

Arguably, those bonus points are more

important than ever, especially in the first

round – the Challenger Round. The bonus

points are applied only to that round, rather

than across the entire Chase, as in past years.

So, each point is three times as important

over those first three races. And entering

NASCAR’s playoffs with a bevy of bonus

points would greatly enhance a driver’s abil-

ity to advance to the Contenders Round.

Bonus Baby:

Gordon now aims for extra chase points

Page 10 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014

for tee times or club memberships

call 606-248-3831

You can visit us online at

www.middlesborocountryclub.com

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UK Football team to sign autographs at FanDay on August 9th

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Football

Fan Day has been set for Saturday, Aug. 9 at

Nutter Fieldhouse at 9 a.m. ET, with a prac-

tice open to the fans following at 10:45 a.m.

at Commonwealth Stadium. Admission and

parking is free of charge.

Kentucky’s student-athletes and coaches

will sign autographs at the annual event at 9

a.m. and fans will also be able to pick up new

2014 posters and schedule cards. The 2014

Wildcats will be available for autographs in

the Nutter Fieldhouse and the autograph ses-

sion will conclude at 10:15 a.m., with the

squad hitting the field at 10:45 a.m. for an

open practice at Commonwealth Stadium,

which is slated to conclude at Noon.

Parking and admission are free, with

parking available in the red, green and blue

lots immediately adjacent to the stadium.

The event will conclude the opening

week of fall camp for the 2014 Kentucky

Wildcats, who are scheduled to arrive for

camp on Aug. 4, with UK’s annual media

day set for Aug. 8. Kentucky’s season

lidlifter will be on Aug. 30 vs. UT Martin,

with kickoff set for Noon at Commonwealth

Stadium.

The season opener will be televised by

the SEC Network, to check to see if your tel-

evision provider has the SEC Network, visit

GetSECNetwork.com.

Fans can purchase season tickets, and

single-game tickets for home and away

games, by visiting UKfootballtix.com.

PRACTICE DATES OPEN TO PUBLIC

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops will open

up three preseason practices to fans and

media in 2014, with more information, in-

cluding times, to be determined. Fans can

mark their calendars to watch morning prac-

tices on Monday Aug. 11 and Aug. 18, in ad-

dition to a practice on Tuesday Aug. 12.

UK Football Fan Day

is set for Saturday, August 9thBARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College

senior wide receiver Domonique Jefferson is

a 2014 Preseason NAIA All American selec-

tion, the Collegiate Development Football

League ( CDFL) announced on Wednesday.

He is a second team honoree.

Last season, Jefferson (Lawrenceville,

Ga.) recorded arguably one of the best sea-

sons ever by a Bulldog receiver. He finished

the year with 41 receptions for 897 yards and

11 touchdowns. He is the 17th player to haul

at last 40 receptions in a season, finishing

two yards shy of setting the single-season

record for receiving yards. Shawn Kelley

had 899 yards in 2007 on 69 receptions. Jef-

ferson's 11 touchdown catches are tied for

second-most in program history. Only Kyle

Callahan had more touchdown receptions

(13 in 2008) in a season, and Sean Mackey

also had 11 during the 2010 campaign.

Of the 17 players to amass 40 receptions

in a season, no player had a better yards-per-

catch average than Jefferson. In fact, Jeffer-

son's 21.9 yard-per-reception average is 5.2

yards better than the second-place person

(Courtney Elesby at 15.7 in 2004) on the list.

Jefferson ranks seventh in program his-

tory with 95 career receptions, third in career

yards receiving (1,734) and second in career

receiving touchdowns (19).

For his efforts, Jefferson was named an

All-Mid-South Conference East first team

member.

This 2014 Preseason All-America Football

Team is presented by the CDFL. It was se-

lected by the, “D2 vs. NAIA Challenge”

Bowl committee and the 2015 “Team Amer-

ica” coaching staff. It is based upon player

nominations and evaluations made by col-

lege coaches, college sports information di-

rectors, regional scouts and media personnel.

The CDFL is honored to showcase the 2014

preseason All-American players and to spon-

sor the annual “D2 vs. NAIA Challenge. " to

be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on

Saturday, December 20, 2014, The selected

players are on the watch list for invitation to

this game.

Union posted a 3-8 overall record and 2-

4 MSC East mark in 2013. The Bulldogs

open the 2014 campaign on Aug. 28 when

they take on NCAA FCS Murray State Uni-

versity (Ky.) at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Union College’s Domonique Jefferson

named a 2014 preseason NAIA All American

July 2014 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM Page 11

I had watched several

bucks from the safe con-

fines of a barn. They came

out each evening and fed

in a field that had only

been planted about a

month prior. Of the five

bucks that were pretty con-

sistent, there was one ten

pointer that I kept my eye

on even though he was not

much bigger than one of

the large six-pointers.

When the season opened, I

sat in my stand for two af-

ternoons in a row only to

watch the deer stay several

yards below the reach of my bow. After the

second day I determined to make a move fur-

ther into the woods and try to make up the

distance. Well, as it usually happens, guess

where the deer showed up the next evening?

You’re right. They were above me where my

stand had previously been. They were

milling right at the edge of the field and

moving toward the center. I immediately fig-

ured my hunt was over except for three

things that suddenly hit me. 1. It was still

fairly early in the evening. 2. The wind was

blowing, and 3. It was beginning to rain…..

So stalk mode set in and everything changed.

I got down out of my stand and eased my

way back up the hill keeping one tree after

another between me and the line of sight of

these deer. When I got to the rolling field,

these bucks had moved to a place that al-

lowed me to crawl for about forty yards

without being spotted. After those forty

yards, there was a line of sunflowers and

sorghum that I would have to filter through

and then a stand of weeds that were about

knee high that would have to be my last stop

before shooting. After maneuvering through

each obstacle, I finally settled in the weeds,

both knees in the ground, drizzling rain run-

ning down my body, and ranging my buck at

twenty-five yards away. I drew my bow and

let the arrow go. Perfect shot! What a hunt!

What an adventure! What a story! It truly is

one I will never forget. Oh yeah, and then

there was the buck.

After giving the

deer ample time to expire,

I began the search and

soon spotted his rack in the

distance. It was a nice rack

but I had shot the six-

pointer. I still don’t know

when the transfer hap-

pened. I think it had to be

as I was hunkered down in

the weeds but I’m not sure.

But the neat thing about

this hunt is that it still re-

mains one of my best be-

cause of the quest

involved.

What we all have to remember is

that while a picture can bring a wow factor,

the story is what brings the memory. A busi-

ness owner may be proud of the fact he owns

a business, but it’s only because he knows

what it took for that to happen. Those who

put a flag at the top of a mountain do not do

so to portray a single moment in time, but

the end of an adventure that most have not

taken. Pictures and prizes are not what keep

me hunting. That’s why many hunters go

home empty handed. It’s not because they

could not have harvested an animal but be-

cause the journey would not have given the

mount any integrity.

What is true in hunting and in other

areas of life is also true as I follow Christ.

Sure I want results but God knows those re-

sults lose their value – their integrity, if the

journey is not equal to the prize. I know you

want this thing to end. I know it seems that

you have been climbing and crawling for

years. I know it seems like for every three

steps forward, you get knocked back two.

But I also know this, especially if you are a

man; you have been built for the adventure,

for the journey, and for the risk and God is

using your life to tell a story about Himself.

Let Him do it and not only will you be

gripped by the adventure but you will be

thrilled by the prize.

Gary Miller

gary@outdoortruths.org

Outdoor Truthswith Gary Miller

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Generations of hunters

have honed basic hunting skills and tech-

niques and provided tasty table fare by stalk-

ing the forest for squirrels.

For a young Chris Garland, squirrel hunting

provided a gateway into the woods and re-

mains a family tradition.

“I still enjoy it,” said Garland, now an assis-

tant director in the Kentucky Department of

Fish and Wildlife Resources’ wildlife divi-

sion. “Opening weekend comes and I almost

feel obligated to go. I’ll go a little bit in the

early season and I like to go after deer gun

season. That’s another fun time to hunt be-

cause there is a little less pressure on other

species and fewer people in the woods, es-

pecially on public lands.”

Kentucky’s fall squirrel season opens Aug.

16 and continues through Nov. 7. It resumes

Nov. 10 following a pause for the opening

weekend of modern gun deer season and

ends Feb. 28. The outlook is encouraging.

“I think we’ll have another good season,”

said Ben Robinson, small game biologist

with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We’ve

been trending up for a little while. The squir-

rel population is in really good shape right

now.”

Hunters help Kentucky Fish and Wildlife

monitor the squirrel population by volunteer-

ing for the annual Squirrel Hunter Coopera-

tor Survey.

Last year, data provided by 81 hunter coop-

erators showed they saw an average of two

squirrels per hour and hunted for an average

of three hours. Dogs were used on 5.6 per-

cent of squirrel hunts.

Biologists expect more of the same this year.

The fall mast crop plays a considerable role

in squirrel populations. Following a good

mast year, squirrels typically enter spring

and summer in better physical condition and

female squirrels tend to produce healthier lit-

ters.

“Fortunately we had a pretty good mast year

last year,” Robinson said.

As children, many of us were taught to stop,

look and listen before crossing a roadway or

railroad tracks.

The concept also applies to squirrel hunting

during the early fall season when trees are

still full of leaves and the dense foliage can

conceal squirrels from a hunter’s sight.

That’s why a lot of people prefer to use a

shotgun in the early season.

Look for stands of hickory, oak and beech

trees. Freshly cut nuts falling from above or

shavings piled around the base of a tree are

tell-tale signs of a good place to set up. Soft

mast like dogwood berries and black gum

fruit also is an important food source for

squirrels in the early fall. As the season

wears on, there’s a variety of hard mast

available, particularly acorns.

“Even if it’s kind of dry, usually there’s

enough dew on the ground in the morning

that you can sneak around without making a

whole lot of noise,” Garland said. “You can

hear them cutting and barking or just see the

movement in the tree limbs. If it’s a really

foggy morning or it’s rained recently, when

they jump from limb to limb, you can hear

the water hitting the forest floor.”

Setting up in the early morning or at dusk are

good bets. Squirrels are most active during

those periods.

“Be patient. Wait for noise. See the treetops

moving. See the leaves bouncing around,”

Robinson said.

Novices may find squirrel hunting to their

liking because it doesn’t require an abun-

dance of equipment or gear to get started.

A 20-gauge or smaller shotgun is preferred

by many for early squirrel season while a

.22-caliber rifle is a late season staple once

the leaves have fallen. Some comfortable

camouflage clothing, a grippy pair of boots

along with bug spray, and you’re all but set

for an early season outing.

“It’s nice time to get out and a good way to

introduce kids to firearms because you don’t

need a high-powered rifle,” Robinson said.

“You can take a .22 or a .410 out and get kids

oriented to firearms and hunter safety. And

if you’re using dogs, you’re up walking and

moving. You’re not going to be bored.

There’s a lot to look at and a lot to do.”

Hunters are allowed six squirrels per day,

with a possession limit of 12 squirrels. Con-

sult the 2014-2015 Kentucky Hunting and

Trapping Guide for additional information

about squirrel hunting.

Fall Squirrel Hunter Cooperator Survey logs

are available by calling Kentucky Fish and

Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 or online at

fw.ky.gov. Click on the “Hunt” tab, select

“Game Species” from the dropdown menu

and click “Squirrel.” Each year, hunting log

cooperators receive an annual report and a

small gift for their participation.

Kevin Kelly is a staff writer for Kentucky

Afield magazine, the official publication of

the Kentucky Department of Fish and

Wildlife Resources. He is an avid angler with

a passion for muskellunge and stream fish-

ing.

Kentucky Afield OutdoorsAnother good fall squirrel season is expected

Page 12 WWW.PINNACLESPORTSVIEW.COM July 2014