Better Newspaper Contest

Page 24 Division 2 Best Sports Event Coverage/Category 11 First Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Cats scratch to the finish This all-encompassing review of North Harrison's heartbreak- ing state title game defeat was very well done from start to finish, with all the angles covered. Second Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Finished! Lanesville's run to a state baseball championship was very well documented. Outstanding work. Third Ben Kibbey Brown County Democrat (Nashville) County's first state girls golfer hopes to inspire Best Sports News or Feature Coverage/ Category 12 First Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Miniard brings beat to Eagles Good story about a determined young man who is super supportive of his team. Second Ben Kibbey Brown County Democrat (Nashville) Eagle tough: Girls soccer player makes history on football team This girl has guts and determination and the story reflects her drive to succeed. Third Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Pease, driven by team, faith in act of kindness Just a well-written, straightforward game story that made me feel like I'd been there. Best Sports Commentary/Category 13 First Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Second Sharon Hamilton The North Vernon Sun Third Jim Buchberger Dearborn County Register (Lawrenceburg) Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Each Lady Cat had a red ribbon placed around her neck, then, one by one, they walked across the center stage Saturday night at Bankers Life Fiel house to stand alongside their teammates. Hands locking, the Lady Cats formed a bond, not only caught on the overthe- top massive center court TV, but with the communities of New Salisbury, Ramsey, Palmyra, Depauw, Bradford and beyond. It was evident through the tears, hugs and some blank faces that the Lady Cats were after the blue ribbon. About two feet below the stage, it was on the hardwood the Lady Cats came up on the short end of another bid for a Class 3A girls' baske ball state title. While the shots didn't fall against South Bend St. Joseph, the Lady Cats have poured more into a community than anyone might realize. The fanfare during the last month — check that, last year and four months — has been more than amazing to witness. It's on the court where this group of North Harrison girls' basketball players have poured in countless hours of energy. However, it's off the court where the Lady Cats havewon the hearts of many. Those inside the basketball world have been aware of North Harrison's potential for greatness within the girls' program for a few years. While that number may have begun in the hundreds about threeyears ago, it's since grown to thousands. No place was the bond between players and fans more evident than with the assistance of blaring musicwithin Charlestown Arena for the regional championship. With candied-striped blue pants and wide grins, the Lady Cats filled the hall between the lockers and the playing floor with energy. Don't ask me who has the best dance moves on the team; I think several will lay claim to the honor themselves. More than half of The Charlestown Arena was decked out in blue, many standing to boogie along with the music and the Lady Cats. If not getting down to the tunes, lungs were belting choruses of "Sweet Caroline." Each time North Harrison cut down nets along the way to Bankers Life, the Lady Cats wore out host venues by eclipsing curfews. Players and coaches took the time to pose for photos with fans and sign autographs for others. At Charlestown, the party on the floor carried on so long the lights dimmed before a team photo was snapped. The same happened in Jeffersonville upon winning semi-state. Thirty minutes on the scoreboard for a celebration brought on the blaring horn as families continued to gather for group photo ops. Cats scratch to the finish For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat Of the 10 seniors on the Lanesville baseball roster, there is an 11th upperclassman banner remaining at Ed Jaegers Memorial Field. The Babe Ruth-like pose on the purple-and-white banner belongs to team manager Brandon Miniard. Why does the banner remain as the others have been clipped from the fence and sent to personal destinations? Keeping with most baseball players, superstition is the reasoning. "I kept it up there," Miniard said. "I keep the pants I wore during the game and my jersey in my bag. I haven't taken them out since sectional. It's a pain in the butt to carry around, but we're winning." The superstition goes beyond the banner and clothing rituals. Facial hair has a key, too. All through the College World Series, teams come up with various dye jobs, funky cuts or show off long locks for team unity. Miniard? "I've been growing out my beard," he said, combing through the patchy hairs along his jawline. "It's a playoff beard." Miniard has been one of the players from the get go, with an eye on championships as well. As an eighth-grade student, Miniard said a volunteer was sought to do the baseball scoreboard for games. He took the gig and, after a few ups and downs of figuring it out, Miniard found a home in the press box. Soon, scoreboard operating led to taking over the microphone. The idea of becoming a team manager came from watching the boys' basketball team capture a sectional championship his freshman year. "That's why I joined my sophomore year, hoping to be part of a sectional championship," Miniard said of managing the boys' basketball team the last three campaigns. The senior, however, came into the managing role on the baseball diamond as a freshman. "As a high school freshman, I decided to do team managing per request from some friends like Ryan (McCubbins) and Greg (Daly)," Miniard said. "Besides (playing) tennis, I didn't have much to keep me busy after school." There have been some lighthearted moments as well. "At first, I had no clue what I was doing as a manager," Miniard said. At the time, Rusty McCubbins, Ryan's father, was the coach of the baseball team. Miniard brings beat to Eagles Eagles making hearts sing For the complete story, visit hspa.com. Brian Smith The Corydon Democrat I did my best Lou Brown impression Saturday after-noon. An overnight illness plunked me with a pitch to the stomach, limiting me to my bed and one other location in my house Saturday morning. Needing to follow Lanesville's progress at the Jas-per Semi-state round, I had baseball on my mind, de-spite my eyes not wanting to open. Lou Brown, the fictional manager of the Cleveland Indians in the Major League movie series, post-heart attack, was dancing on his bed upon his team winning the championship series. Limited to a radio and head-phones, Brown went against doctor's orders to ease back from a heart attack. Me? I modernized from the early 1990s technology and logged on to a live stream (thanks WXVW) of Lanesville's 6-2 victory over Indianapolis Lutheran at the Class 1A Jasper Semi-state. Since last June, I've heard from multiple Eagles' players about their drive to get back to Victory Field in Indianapolis. There was no settling for less in 2017 with many starters returning from the 2016 appearance. When '16 postseason star Brenden Bube went down with a knee injury during basketball season, there was a collective deep breath taken in Lanesville. Coach Zach Payne and his staff stuck to a more challenging schedule, focused on winning the Southern Athletic Conference title and welcomed the arm of Cameron Harvey. It wasn't hard to think back to the Major League series when I was down and out due to Harvey. He sat out his junior year, recovering from an elbow surgery, eager to get back on the mound. Debuting his arm for the Eagles in 2017 (Harvey played first base as a junior), the black- rimmed glasses and electric fastball hearkened back to Ricky (Wild Thing) Vaughn. With better control than Wild Thing, Harvey has picked up the ball in clutch post-season games and delivered. Through 20 innings of postseason play, opponents have scored one earned run. Thirty- three batters faced in that span have turned back to the dugout after striking out. Against Lutheran, Harvey struck out eight of his first nine batters faced. Harvey had to be making the hearts of the likely pro- purple crowd at Ruxer Field sing at the completion of each inning. For the complete story, visit hspa.com.

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