The South Gibson Star-Times serves the towns of Haubstadt, Owensville and Fort Branch.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1468517
South Gibson Star-Times Sports Tuesday, May 24, 2022 B-5 200 W. Gibson St, Haubstadt 812-768-5678 www.brettscarcare.com Online Vehicle Accessories Store 209 N. US-41, FORT BRANCH 812-753-4332 www.connerscarcare.com CONNER'S CAR CARE TIRES & SERVICE 7994 Professional Drive, Fort Branch T 812.615.5178 www.grabbewealthgroup.com Investment Advisory Services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Grabbe Wealth and Retirement Group is not a registered broker/dealer, and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. MATT GRABBE AAMS® Financial Advisor 600 E John St • Fort Branch 812-615-0219 LittleMiraclesLearn.com Like us on Facebook! From the littlest Titans to the biggest... Best of luck at Sectionals! 812-753-3553 • www.SGStarTimes.com The 2022 Gibson Southern varsity baseball team members are front row (l to r): Drew Foster, Adam Thompson, Bradyn Epperson, Logan Thomas, Brayden Malone, Logan Maurer, Garrett Reid, Regan Farmer and Colton Okes. Back row: Assistant Coach Reed Farmer, Assistant Coach Zach Pullum, Kaden Hurless, Ethan Ziliak, Eliott Church, Oliver Hamilton, Justin Stimpson, Mason Yanc- ey, Noah Bryant, Levi Dickerson, Ryan Holzmeyer, Head Coach Chris May and Assistant Coach Axel Freudenberg. TITAN BASEBALL Good Luck at Sectionals Middle school lacrosse takes on championship tournament By Shellie Kyle SG Star-Times Guest Writer editor@sgstartimes.com The South Gibson 12U and 14U lacrosse teams finished successful seasons this week, with the 14U team making it to the Championship game of the City Tournament for the sec- ond straight year, where they lost a hard-fought game to Me- morial. This is only the second full year of the South Gibson middle school lacrosse pro- gram, while other programs such as Memorial have had lacrosse (known as L A X) for more than 5 years. The pro- gram began when a group of 4th grade football players who were becoming disen- chanted with baseball attend- ed a high school Titans club L A X game. Corey Foster had taken his son Eli and some of his friends, Ian and Elijah, to watch many then-current Ti- tan football players playing L A X. The boys thought the game looked physical and fun, something like a combination of football and soccer, so they got L A X sticks and began playing for fun. By the next spring, with help from high school coach Bryan Novotny and others, they assembled a coaching staff with Foster, Jason Adams and Jeremy Ott and had just enough players to field a team. The players prac- ticed and were ready, until their excitement was dashed when COVID-19 cancelled their entire season the day before their first game. They had to wait another year un- til March 20201 for their first game. With still just enough to field a team for the 12U 5/6th grade team, just ten players on a team that can easily have 20 - 25 players that all play, there were no subs and all players had to play the entire game. Then, many of those same boys would stay and play up on the 14U 7/8th grade team, which also had just enough to field a team. That first season is considered a learning sea- son for the team. This year, those same three 4th graders who were inspired watching the high school team are now 7th graders on the 14U team in their second full season and it is clear the team has benefited from all that ex- tra playing time, as they went 8 and 4 on the season, over- all 104-48, and made it to the City Tournament Champion- ship against teams with over double the years' experience and a much bigger roster. The 14U team consisted of almost all 7th grade players, plus four 8th graders, so they look for a strong season over the next few years; especially as they added another coach, Eric Burdge, who has a knack for coaching fundamentals. Coach Foster shared, "Coach- ing this group over the past several years has been so en- joyable and rewarding. To see the progress they've made from the first indoor prac- tices is amazing. Now to see them compete the way they do is inspirational! Now we have a whole group of 5th and 6th graders coming up right be- hind them to keep it going." The 12U team was primarily 5th graders in their first year of playing, but added several 6th graders as the season pro- gressed, and ended the season 6 -5, overall 39 -46. Eli Foster, who plays midfielder and at- tacker, commented, "I was im- pressed with how quickly the 5th graders picked things up practicing with us this year. I'm looking forward to practic- ing in the off-season and com- ing back stronger next year." Leading scorer for the 14U team Ian Maikranz said, "This has been a fantastic L A X sea- son! L A X brings the best out of me. Next season we hope to win the Championship! " Ian, who plays midfielder and does face-offs for the team, went on to encourage others to try L A X, saying, "We are always looking for people to join, to pick up a stick and come prac- tice with us." Coach Ott commented, "It is amazing to see how far these boys have grown to love this sport and how talented they have become in just two short years. And the fifth and sixth graders that are new this year completely surpassed my ex- pectations and will continue to amaze all those that watch in the years to come." The coaches all are thank- ful to Haubstadt Communi- ty School for allowing use of the practice football field and for Coach Hart allowing use of the turf football field for games. Coach Eric Burdge, who joined the coaching staff this year said, "At the middle school level, the support we receive from the high school coaches and all of our parents is very impressive. At our 12U and 14U level, we have a very talented group of kids. I'm very proud to be a small part of the GS L A X Club program. I believe our future is very bright! " High school coach Novotny said, "We are very excited about our youth/mid- dle school programs. The mid- dle school is only in its second year, 2020 was a tough year for everyone and delayed the start of getting these boys out there a year sooner. But their prog- ress and enthusiasm have al- lowed them to compete very quickly. The 12U and 14U have already laid the ground- work for the next group of boys. It's exciting to see boys walking around with lacrosse sticks in our towns in South Gibson. Our high school team is starting to make some prog- ress on the field competitive- ly and with our numbers. Any program is only as good as its young players getting experi- ence early and we're starting to accomplish that. It'll take hard work, nothing is ever given to you, but their love of the game will pay off for these guys as they come up through the ranks. We are very fortu- nate to be in a community that supports its athletics like the South Gibson school system. Their support to allow us plac- es to play and practice is im- measurable." Anyone interested in join- ing the program could contact Coach Ott, Foster or Burdge. From left: Eli Foster, Elijah Ortiz and Ian Maikranz stand in the lacrosse goal with their sticks. Titans leave the field after their first full season last year after making it to, but losing in their Championship against Memorial. This in- cludes the fill team, no subs, and the original ones who got it started, from going in fourth grade to that high school game.