Big congrats to Keifer

Last week we sent our congrats out to Lady Dawg basketball standout Ansley Stalcup on her signing with Asbury University, and this week we are doing the same to Bulldog standout Keifer Dalton who has decided to trade in the blue and white for the red and white next season, taking the offer from Coach Ray Harper at Western Kentucky University to walk on with the Hilltoppers.

Keifer will become the first Bulldog to play Division I men’s basketball in many, many years – as best as I can remember since Jim DeForest played for Austin Peay (1962-64).

I have come to know Keifer over the past several years covering his play for Clinton County, and with him beginning a starting role for our Dawgs during his 8th grade year, that time has been longer than we get to enjoy spending with most players.

Of course it’s no secret that I have an allegiance with the Hilltoppers also, so I’m looking even more forward to seeing Keifer in a WKU uniform this coming season;

One of the best I’ve come to be acquainted with through the past three decades I’ve been covering Big Blue roundball, I couldn’t be happier or more proud of this young man and his decision to take his game to the next level at nearby Bowling Green. Congrats to both Keifer, as well as to his parents, Keith and Charlotte Dalton.

Go Big Red!

Sports on the diamond heads for district play next week

With graduation fast approaching, spring sports are winding down and regular season action is now behind us, with a look ahead being focused on post-season play.

C.C.H.S. Athletic Director Mike Beard informed us Monday after the 16th District softball and baseball tournament meeting, that our Lady Bat Dawgs will be facing Cumberland County in next week’s 16th District Tournament, while the Bat Dawgs will take on Russell County in first round action.

The games are set to be played at Cumberland County’s Veterans Memorial Park in Burkesville and both Clinton County games are set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Hopes for a Triple Crown on the line Saturday

Horse racing fans – and I am what would be considered an armchair fan at best, will once again find themselves looking for a television screen this Saturday afternoon for the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore at the Pimlico Race Course.

Of course the world will be watching to see if Kentucky Derby Champion American Pharoah can pick up the second leg of the coveted but illusive Triple Crown of horse racing before moving on to the Belmont Stakes in June.

Like the Derby, this column is written prior to the actual field being set for this weekend’s race, but a lot of race news continues to filter in during the days leading up to race day, and on Tuesday, things began looking better and better for Pharoah when it was announced that more than likely, he would not be racing against any Todd Pletcher trained horses on Saturday.

Simply put, that would mean that Pletcher’s trio of top contenders, Materiality, Carpe Diem nor Stanford would be included in Saturday’s field.

That said – my money goes on American Pharoah with the field knowledge I have as of this writing – to win.

Post time for the race, televised on NBC, will be about 5:15 central time.