Turnovers … by Alan B. Gibson

Posted May 25, 2016 at 1:49 pm

Kudos to the Bat Dawgs

Picking up a district tournament win on Monday night guaranteed our Clinton County Bulldogs a berth in the 4th Region Tournament over in Bowling Green.

Advancing to Tuesday’s 16th District championship game and guaranteeing themselves a spot in regional tourney play was a huge feat in itself, but making the win even sweeter was that it came in a 1-0 down to the wire finish against the Lakers of Russell County, the program that has dominated 16th District baseball since the school was moved into our district and region a decade ago.

In fact, it is the first time since 1977 that the Dawgs have earned a win over the Lakers on the diamond. That’s 39 years – to keep you from reaching for your smart phones.

Looks like Coach Michial Conner has his squad peaking at just the right time. Monday night’s win over the Mighty Lakers came after our regular season final game last Thursday that saw Clinton County earn a bottom of the seventh, two outs, three run, 3-2 win over Warren Central.

The Dawgs were to face Metcalfe County Tuesday evening in the district championship (too late for coverage this week), and will advance to the 4th Region Tournament that will be played at WKU – beginning Monday.

Congrats to the Bat Dawgs and coaching staff, and good luck in the regional!

Congrats to our grads, and especially our graduating athletes

Here is my annual congratulations to all of our graduates who will be swapping sides with their tassels this Friday night when they accept their diploma as a part of the 99th graduating class of Clinton County High School.

In particular, since this is primarily a sports related column, I offer a special congratulations to our athletes who are members of this 2016 graduating class, and also to their parents/guardians.

To you athletes, take a few minutes this week to reflect on just what those parents/guardians have done for you down through the years.

Countless trips to the gymnasium/fields since little league for practices, games, tournaments, etc. Night after night of sitting in the car waiting to pick you up or sitting in the stands watching you perform. Late meals, cross state trips, late homework help, driving home from away games late, and then not only having to get you up to get to school the next morning, but in most cases, get to work themselves.

It was all for you, so you could enjoy these years of being a part of a team. It was mostly a thankless duty, but one that parents accept with pride. Give them an extra hug.

Congrats to all of these parents/guardians on a job well done.

As for you graduating athletes, thanks for everything you did for our school and our community down through the years. You wore the blue and white uniforms with pride and honor, and you made our jobs here at the Clinton County News in covering your games and matches, especially rewarding.

The lessons you’ve learned as a part of these teams will stay with you for the rest of your lives – believe me. Forever you will find yourself making a decision in life that is the result of a lesson you learned related to your experiences with sports.

Finally, remember those fans in the stands who yelled and cheered for you and your team(s) down through the years, just because you were a part of our blue and white Clinton County High School community. Up until Friday, you were a player. After you pick up that diploma Friday night, you are now a fan. Come back often and take your place in the stands and get behind those who follow you on the floor or on the field.

Give them the fan support you have enjoyed.

Again, congratulations on your achievements and thanks, once again, for representing us in the manner that made an entire community proud. Win or lose, we were always proud.

And remember this, while you might now forever be an alumni rather than a student, you are now, and forever will be, a Bulldog…

Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog!