Enrollment up in Abilene, area schools

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Courtney Gann shows lab equipment to students in the pre-AP chemistry class at ATEMS Friday.

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News The Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science has enrolled more students this year overall. Students move between classes or go to lunch Friday.

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Students wait for the bell at end of the digital interactive media class at ATEMS Friday.

The first week of school has wrapped up for Abilene and surrounding towns, giving school officials a chance to look at preliminary attendance numbers.

In Abilene and surrounding cities, most school districts reported higher enrollment at the end of the first week compared to the end of one week a year ago.

Day five enrollment in the Abilene Independent School District this year totaled 16,925, compared to 16,819 last year.

The district reported increases in elementary students, middle school students and special programs, with a small dip in high school enrollment. Special programs include pre-K, early childhood centers and some special education alternative programs.

District officials expect numbers to fluctuate in the first few weeks with more accurate numbers available in a couple months.

On Oct. 28, a snapshot enrollment number will be recorded for UIL classifications. AISD spokesman Phil Ashby said the snapshot number will be the official enrollment for the biennial UIL high school reclassification.

Mark Gabehart, AISD chief technology officer, said the Texas Education Agency collects more than 90 pieces of information from the Oct. 28 snapshot, including number of campuses, number of students, dropout rates, TAKS scores, college admission testing and dropout rates.

Although the snapshot number is used for UIL classification, it is average daily attendance that is used to determine state funding. Each district uses an average that is updated and reported throughout the year for funding purposes.

Abilene’s Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science was one of the AISD campuses to see an increase in students. The academy opened two years ago. Although enrollment for upperclassmen has remained constant, the number of ninth-graders at the academy jumped from 80 to 100 between this year and last, said Director John Martinez.

“Our goal is to continue to put kids in seats and we would be happy to have between 100 and 125 per grade level,” Martinez said. “Our classes are not as full as others in the district and we definitely want to alleviate that problem that parents are worried about having too many students in a class.”

Wylie ISD saw little change between the end of this week and the end of the first week last year. Enrollment Friday was 3,346, three students more than this time last year, according to Superintendent Joey Light.

Merkel ISD Superintendent Bill Hood said enrollment is up in his district — 1,171 this year, compared to 1,099 a year ago.

The Clyde CISD administrative office confirmed Friday that its attendance numbers are slightly down — 1,436 this year, compared to 1,488 on the fifth day of class a year ago.

Superintendent Glenn Coles said Hawley ISD enrollment numbers are down now — 696 students this year, compared to 733 a year ago.

Jim Ned CISD, which is currently working with an interim superintendent, will not have numbers to release until the end of next week.

Several local teams advance to VHSL state finals

baseball, softball and tennis highlights  

Lancaster vs J.J. Kelly

Appomattox vs Honaker

Mathews vs Virginia high

Rappahannock vs JJ Kelly

2011 U.A. Baseball game at Wrigley Field

Under Armour and Baseball Factory today announced the roster, to-date, for the 2011 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, which will take place at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.  The 2011 game marks the fourth year that Under Armour and Baseball Factory have collaborated to present the All-America Game. 

Players will experience four days of festivities that begin on Wednesday, August 10 and culminate with the game on Saturday, August 13.  For the second year in a row, the game will air live nationally on MLB Network, called by Greg Amsinger and Jonathan Mayo, with the first pitch taking place at 1:05 p.m. CST.  It will also appear via live webcast on MLB.com.  Over the first three years of the game, 88 of the 103 draft eligible players who competed in the Under Armour All-America Game were selected in the MLB Amateur Draft, including 18 first round picks.  

An amazing five local players will be competing in the event including Yency Almonte (RHP, Braddock), Nick Basto (SS, Archbishop McCarty), Lewis Brinson III (Coral Springs), Nick Travieso (RHP, Archbishop McCarthy) and Miami Westminster Christian two sport star David Thompson (PICTURED).

“Under Armour is excited to present the premier showcase for the country’s elite high school baseball players for the fourth consecutive year,” said Matt Mirchin, senior vice president, Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field is the perfect venue for the next generation of baseball athletes to learn, excel, and highlight their exceptional talents.”   Baseball Factory scouts thousands of high school players worldwide before selecting the athletes that make the Under Armour All-America Game.   Players are evaluated at events throughout the country, including the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryouts, National Tournaments, National Showcases and National Teams.  In addition, players are reviewed at outside events that include high school games, tournaments and summer leagues.  From more than 400,000 high school baseball players, only 36 will earn distinction as Under Armour All-Americans in 2011.  The final players are selected by a committee of Baseball Factory scouts, led by Steve Bernhardt, executive vice president of baseball operations.    “Baseball Factory works with 25,000 players each year at more than 400 events nationwide,” said Steve Sclafani, CEO and founder, Baseball Factory.  “We pride ourselves on helping players build their way to greatness, and what better place to serve as the pinnacle of their high school careers than the Under Armour All-America Game, powered by Baseball Factory, at Wrigley Field.  We are excited to join Under Armour in showcasing these talented players at Wrigley Field and across the country on MLB Network.”   “We’re excited to host the fourth annual Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and provide these promising high school players from around the country with an opportunity to play at historic Wrigley Field,” said Wally Hayward, executive vice president, chief sales & marketing officer, Chicago Cubs.   The coaches who will lead baseball’s next superstars during the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game are Steve Bernhardt, Glenn Cecchini, Scott Demetral, Todd Fine, Jim Gemler, Steve Mandl, Matt Richter, Vince Sacco and Sammy Serrano.  Each coach has extensive experience in recruiting or coaching some of the best talent in the game of baseball.  In addition, many have held positions in or are currently associated with the scouting departments of a number of Major League Baseball clubs. MLB Network’s Larry Bowa and Bill Ripken will act as guest managers and coaches throughout the game telecast.   The pool of available players for this year’s game is very talented and the selection process is extremely competitive.  Of the 36 roster positions available, 31 have been filled and Baseball Factory is currently evaluating the remaining candidates to see which players will earn the coveted final five spots.

Toledo is preseason MAC favorite

Toledo is the preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference championship.

The Rockets, who welcome back 19 starters, were tabbed to win the West division while defending champion Miami of Ohio was narrowly picked to win the East over Ohio. The poll of media covering the MAC was announced Tuesday during the conference’s media day in Detroit.

Toledo finished second in the West last fall before losing to Florida International in the final minute of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

GROUP A SOFTBALL: Holston back in hunt for crown

Holston High School’s state softball tournament experience wouldn’t have been complete without an intense, extra-inning game with the season on the line. Right?

“That’s exactly right,” said Cavalier head coach Lisa Blackburn.

Holston survived for a 4-3, eight-inning state semifinal victory over William Campbell on Friday afternoon as freshman Amelia Wampler’s RBI hit in the top of the eighth inning plated Faith Ritchie for the go-ahead run.

The Cavaliers will meet Bath County  today at 10 a.m. in the VHSL Group A, Division 1 title game at Virginia Tech. Holston beat Bath County, 2-1, eight days ago in the finals of the Region C tournament.

Holston followed a familiar script to reach the state championship game.

Over the last two seasons, Holston has played into extra innings in three of its five state tournament games. The Cavaliers have won all three of the games that went beyond seven.

As a result of the latest pulsating victory, the Hogoheegee District champions are in the state finals for the second straight year.

 “We knew we could do it,” Wampler said. “We pulled it through and that’s all that matters.”

It appeared Holston’s road to the state finals would take a major detour earlier in the game.

After three innings, Holston had committed two errors, trailed 2-0 and failed to get a hit off William Campbell pitcher Lauren Marstin.

“I think we were just a little nervous,” said Holston pitcher Morgan Lowe. “We started to calm down and make our plays.”

Lowe drove in Megan Honaker for Holston’s first run in the fourth inning. Mariah Morrison added a two-run double later in the inning to give Holston a 3-2 lead.

“We just had trouble getting our bats going to start with,” Blackburn said. “We kept popping things up. [Marstin] was doing a good job of bringing the ball inside and we weren’t being patient. … I always feel like we’re going to hit, we just don’t know what inning it’s going to start.”

The lead held until the bottom of the seventh inning when William Campbell tied it on an RBI infield single by Brittney Lawhorn with one out. The Generals had the potential winning run on third base with one out, but couldn’t produce.

“It was a good game between two good teams,” said WC coach Chris Smith. “At this level you expect that.  They hit the ball well. I thought we did a good job hitting the ball. … Just a timely hit here and there for them.”

Wampler had the biggest hit for the Cavs with her shot to left field with two outs in the eighth inning. Wampler is the lone ninth grader on Holston’s roster and has been a reliable slugger all season.

Blackburn said the youngster has been working diligently in the batting cage recently.  She reaped the rewards of those extra hitting sessions Friday.

“I got up there and told myself I wasn’t going to be the last out,” Wampler said. “It worked out.”

William Campbell got the tying run on third base in the bottom of the eighth, but Lowe got Marstin to slap a grounder to third baseman Brianna Thomas, who made the routine play, for the final out.

Lowe had given up just nine hits in her previous three games – and tossed a perfect game against Haysi in the state quarterfinals – but yielded nine hits on Friday to the aggressive Generals.

“That was definitely the best hitting team we’ve faced all year,” Lowe said. “They hit from top to bottom. We had a little trouble making our plays, but we pulled through.”

Bath County ace pitcher Jailyn Ford awaits the Cavaliers in today’s title game.

Holston does have the experience factor on its side.  Eight players who played in last year’s championship game – a 5-1 loss to Gretna – are back and will look to win the school’s first state softball crown.

“We have a good group of girls,” Lowe said. “We’ve been together since we were little. We’ve all had the experience. I think we could go all the way.”

Carl Kraushaar, Wooden’s first UCLA center, dies

Carl Kraushaar, starting center for the late John Wooden’s first two years as coach of UCLA, has died, the school said Saturday.

Kraushaar died of natural causes surrounded by his family in Newport Beach on Thursday, UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said in a statement. He was 84.

Transferring from Compton College the same year the coach later known as the Wizard of Westwood arrived from Indiana State for the first of his 27 seasons, Kraushaar began what was to become a storied spot _ center at UCLA under Wooden. The position would later be filled by Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“He was a real pleasure to play for,” Kraushaar told his hometown newspaper the Daily Pilot in 2003. “He was a wonderful coach and a wonderful person. Those were his first two years at UCLA. I couldn’t have made a better choice for a coach.”

As a junior transfer, Kraushaar was the leading scorer on a team that earned a school-record 22 wins in 1948-49. The team won the Pacific Coast Conference Southern Division and lost in the conference championship game.

The following year, Kraushaar was named to the All-PCC team as he led the Bruins to 24 wins, their first conference title and their first NCAA tournament.

Kraushaar was drafted by the Rochester Royals, now the Sacramento Kings, in the 1950 NBA draft, but instead became a high school teacher, coach and administrator, ending his career as a vice principal at LA County’s Norwalk High School in 1987.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, four children and five grandchildren.

Wooden slowly built the program into a powerhouse, eventually leading UCLA to seven straight NCAA titles and 10 in 12 years. The legendary coach died last year at age 99.