The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, July 10, 2019 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Amidst the negativity and build-up of opinion seeping through the media, ar- ea children and young adults are learning valuable lifelong lessons through shooting sports provided by the 4-H. "It's good to have a program where kids can go to 4-H and learn something positive about firearms," event coordinator Keith Jenkins said. "Through shooting sports, they learn skills that they can use for the rest of lives, and we can teach them how to do it in a safe and responsible manner." 4-H'ers are able to shoot shotguns, ri- fles, muzzle loaders, and bows and arrows during the once-a-month event that takes place at the 4-H Shooting Range. Jenkins said the 4-H does not promote hunting, but many of the 4-H'ers said they were participating in shooting sports to im- prove their skills for hunting. "There are just many other aspects after hunting," Jenkins said. "We have archery By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net It's been 50 years since the Otwell High School basketball team claimed its only sec- tional championship in school history. How- ever, for players, coaches and fans, it doesn't seem like that long ago when the Millers' gym was filled to capacity. The 1969 team was honored at the Jeffer- son Township Ruritan's Fourth of July Cel- ebration. The Millers served as the grand marshals of the parade, which was followed by a ceremony where State Sen. Mark Mess- mer, R-Jasper, made a proclamation to com- memorate the team. "When they told me about the 50th cele- bration for the Otwell Millers, I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to give them some recognition from the State of In- diana," Messmer said. "It's just a great op- portunity to relive the experience of win- ning the sectional championship. It's a fun day for the team and family members, and a great way to celebrate what small-town America is all about." Otwell defeated North Daviess in the sec- tional championship game. The Cougars had just consolidated the year before and had the returning letter winners for three varsity squads. Rick Weisman was a standout, playing forward and center on the Millers' 1969 team. He said that just because a team was knocked out of the sectional, didn't mean its fans stopped showing up to the games. Weisman said everybody in the gym, ex- cept for North Daviess' fans, were cheering for the Millers in the title game. "Just looking at the crowd and it was standing room only," Weisman said. "We came back over the hill, coming from Da- viess County back into Pike County, and all you could see for at least a mile was tail- lights. That was everyone waiting for us. I'm just glad we had this here for the com- munity." Weisman said head coach Andy Ander- son's continuity offense was like a well-oiled machine because the team had been run- ning it since they were in grade school. Anderson learned his offense from the former Butler great Tony Hinkle. Hinkle's legacy is remembered on the Butler campus with Hinkle Fieldhouse, longtime site of Indiana's state high school championships and featured in "Hoosier." The fieldhouse, originally named Butler Fieldhouse, was the largest basketball are- na in the United States for decades. It was renamed as Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1966. Hin- kle coached 41 seasons of basketball at But- ler, ending in 1970, and remained with But- ler University until his death in 1992. "I like to think it was an intelligent game," Anderson said. "We never stalled or de- layed. I wouldn't have the word stall in my vocabulary. I believe you have to attack, and when they come and get you, that opens up a lot of advantageous angles. We were always looking to go to the bucket." Otwell was down by as many as 15 points on multiple occasions in the game against Community shows their heart for Harbin HOW SWEET IT IS "IT'S STILL SWEET AFTER 50 YEARS" The 1969 Otwell Miller basketball team, cheerleaders and State Sen. Mark Messmer pose for a photo at the Otwell Gymnasium during the Jefferson Township Ruritan's Fourth of July Celebration. The Millers were honored as the grand marshals of the parade on Thursday, July 4. Jess Hedge #226 and Byron Adams #18 try to muscle each other during the Firecracker Derby at the Jefferson Ruritan Fourth of July Festival Satur- day night. Josiah Ross, 11, and Deacon Jenkins, 10, try out the rifles during the Pike County 4-H shooting sports event that took place on Saturday, July 6. Pictured are Brittany and Zach Harbin with their son, Riv- er Harbin, following his heart transplant surgery at Riley Chil- dren's Hospital, in Indianapolis. photo from archive By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The inaugural Heart for a Hero Soft- ball Tournament is scheduled to take place Friday, July 19 and Saturday, Ju- ly 20 at the Winslow Ballpark. Proceeds from the event will be used to support River Harbin and pro- vide River Harbin Prayer Warriors with care packages for other inpatient chil- dren waiting on a transplant. Anyone 18 years or older can play in the co-ed tournament, which costs $200 per team. Each team must have between 10 and 15 players. Trophies will be awarded to the winners. "Being a softball player, the thought crossed my mind that a benefit softball tournament would raise a considerable amount of money, so I contacted Brit- tany Harbin to get her thoughts on ev- erything," event organizer Jamie Blake said. "Brittany mentioned that her and some friends had already been discuss- ing and planning to have some kind of benefit for River, but just hadn't figured out exactly when, where or what yet. So we collaborated with one another to combine the softball tournament with the live bands, food and other events at Lugnutz to make this benefit draw as large of a crowd as possible and be a huge success for the cause. "We've been planning this for months now, having meetings and phone calls to get everything organized. We've had a lot of people volunteer their time and resources to help get this thing go- ing. Everyone and everything they've done so far is very much appreciated. Our hopes are that everyone who has been following River's story and all his prayer warriors, near and far, are able to come out and take part in this spe- cial event in honor of River." The event will also include live bands, a cornhole tournament, inflatables for the children, plate lunches and other food. There will also be a silent auction and half pot drawing. There will be River Harbin Prayer Warrior shirts and RTIC tumblers avail- able for purchase as well. Organizers are still looking for busi- See HEART on 2 See HONOR on 2 See SHOOT on 2 Hours: Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to Noon The Lohano Center For Advanced Medicine Endocrinology Services Now Accepting New Patients. Self-Referrals Accepted. Call 812-254-2250 to schedule an appointment Vasdev Lohano, MD, FACP Alicia Fields, DNP, FNP-C, RYT WE ARE PROFFESIONAL GRADE uebelhorgm.com 1-800-937-8721 Jasper, IN Otwell Demo Derby Photos See more inside on page 2 4-H shooting sports teaches valuable lessons