By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
Brian Black, most recently interim head coach at Nashville’s Whites Creek High, has been hired as the new baseball coach at Lebanon High. Black, 27, replaces Tracy Slone, who was dismissed from his post back on June 10 after compiling a record of 125-122 in seven seasons on the job.

Black inherits a squad that went 13-21 last season, but produced wins over Mt. Juliet, Dickson County and Beech -- three teams that advanced to the TSSAA sectionals.

“Brian Black will be our new baseball coach and will be teaching Special Education at LHS,” principal Myra Slone said in a written statement. “Brian is certified in many areas and everyone I talked with said that he is an outstanding teacher in each area -- whether it was teaching an Advanced Placement class or a Special Education class.

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
Brad Rowlett has resigned as Lebanon High softball coach to take the softball job at Mt. Juliet High School. Rowlett, 50, has been the LHS softball coach for the past 12 years (223-189 record) and will replace Kacey Pedigo as the head coach of the Lady Bears.

A resident of Mt. Juliet for the past 30 years, he will teach Special Education at Mt. Juliet Elementary School. Rowlett informed the Lebanon team of his decision in a meeting Friday afternoon.

"This was an extremely hard decision on my part," Rowlett said via a telephone interview Saturday. "I've poured a lot of time and effort into building the Lebanon High program. There's some good, young talent there. I look forward to taking on the challenge at Mt. Juliet -- a place where expectations are certainly higher."

Lebanon Junior Pro Football -- The City of Lebanon will hold Saturday sign-ups for the 2011 Junior Pro Football League July 9 and July 30 between the hours of 9-11 a.m. at the Harold Dean Greer Recreation Building, 416 Baird Park Circle. The registration fee is $30. Children must be 5-years of age by August 1, 2011 and cannot turn 12 on or before August 1, 2011. Those playing on a 5th or 6th grade team are allowed to participate in this league, but those on a 7th or 8th grade team can not. Early registration will be accepted at the Greer Building between the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (closed 11-12 for lunch) Monday through Friday. For more information, call Nancy Lee at 449-0303.

Sox & Jox Golf Classic -- The Wilson Sox 11U travel baseball team will be holding a scramble tournament Friday, July 22 at the Windtree Golf Course in Mt. Juliet. Entry fee is $125 per player with many prizes and special features. In addition to flighted scoring that recognizes the winning teams, this event will be offering a $400 Skins Contest that will be part of an all inclusive SUPER TICKET that you can purchase at the time you signup or the day of the event. For information, contact: Doug Jennings at (615) 476-9064 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dixie Youth fall ball -- The Lebanon Rotary Dixie Youth baseball  league will again hold a fall instructional schedule during the months of August and September. Play is instructional and score is kept but not standings, with official umpires. Cap and shirt provided.  Players ages 9-10 will play in the minor league division, while players 11-12 will play in the major league division. Ages of players, for each division, will be as of April 30, 2012. A $75 registration fee will be required for all players. Fall league play will start in August and run until September 30. Send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information.

Hunters Point Junior Golf -- Hunters Point Golf Course will host the 2011 Coca-Cola Junior Golf Tournament Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23. Entry fee is $29 for ages 11 and up, and $15 for ages 10 and under. Age divisions: 10U (3 holes Wednesday, June 22), 11-12 (9 holes each day), 13-15 (9 holes each day), 16-17 (18 holes each day). Lunch will be served daily.  To register, call the Pro Shop at 615-444-7521.

Devilettes future stars camp -- The Lebanon High girls’ basketball team will be hosting the Devilette Future Stars individual camp for girls entering grades 4-8, June 22-24 from 8-11 a.m., with drop-off beginning at 7:30 a.m. Camp fee is $50. Each camper will receive individual instruction from Devilette coaches and players, a t-shirt and new basketball. Contact Coach Courtney McFarlin at 615-444-9610 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CU baseball camps -- Cumberland University’s baseball program has announced the dates for its annual slate of summer camps.
· Fundamental Camp - June 20-23; Ages 8-14; 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
· Pitching Camp - June 27-30; Ages 8-14, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon
· Advanced Fundamental Camp - July 5-8; Ages 13-18, 9 a.m. - 12 Noon.
 For information, check Cumberland’s website at gocumberlandathletics.com (camps & clinics section) or call Coach Ryan Hunt at 547-1365.

Hoop camps at FBC -- Lebanon’s First Baptist Church will offer several different basketball camps until July 20. They range from individual camps all the way to team camps with something for everyone in grades K-12. Go to: fbclebanon.org; or visit the church office 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays or call 417-4510.

From Post staff reports
All-Pro kicker Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans is teaming up with McClain Christian Academy to host a one-day football camp on Tuesday, June 21 at the school’s main campus located at 1662 Leeville Pike.

The Rob Bironas Kick & Cover Football Camp is a benefit for MCA and open to anyone grades K-12. Titans linebacker Gerald McGrath and punter Brett Kern will be on hand to assist.

The camp will be divided into two-hour blocks according to grade level. The K-4 grade block will be from 8-10 a.m, 5th-6th grades will be from 10-12 Noon, 7th-9th grades will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and 10th-12th grades will be from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Cost is $35 for 12-under and for 13 year old-up is $60.

Participants registering by June 20 will get a camp t-shirt. Info is available by calling MC at 615-444-2678 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5TH HEAD COACH FIRED

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
Last Friday’s firing of Blue Devil baseball coach Tracy Slone brings to five the  number of Lebanon High head coaches dismissed by principal Myra Sloan since taking her job a year ago.

Tracy Slone’s seventh and final season as head coach of the LHS baseball program ended with a record of 13-21 -- including victories over TSSAA Sectional qualifiers Mt. Juliet, Beech and Dickson County.

“Coach Slone came to Lebanon High School as our baseball coach after Coach (Barry) Messer left in 2004,” Principal Sloan said. “I have known Tracy since he first moved to Lebanon and also when he taught at LHS as a Special Education and Physical Education teacher.  I appreciate his dedication to LHS and the passion for the game itself and for the young men that have played under his direction.”

“At some point, I’ll have something to say about this,” Coach Slone said, “but not right now.”

Team parents and players attempted to meet with Principal Sloan Tuesday in support of Coach Slone, but that visit was delayed, then postponed when the gathering swelled to over 20. It is believed a spokesman for that group will have a face-to-face meeting with Director of Schools Mike Davis in the next several days.

LHS knocked off Hendersonville in the first round of the District 9AAA tournament, then lost to Gallatin 3-0 and eventual state qualifier Mt. Juliet 5-1 to close the 2011 season.

Slone’s 2009 Lebanon team went 23-13 and reached the Regional Tournament for the first time in over a decade -- losing to Coffee County in the semi-finals.

Slone is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Cumberland University where he pitched on the Bulldogs’ first World Series team in 1988. He played two seasons of minor league baseball in the New York Yankees and Oakland A’s organizations.

Prior to coaching at LHS he was the head coach at Lincoln County High School and at Lakeland High in LaGrange, Ind. During his prep coaching career, Sloan has seen 80 of his former players go on to play at the college level and three more sign pro contracts.

Slone now joins the ranks of football coach Bobby Brown, boy’s basketball coach Doug Keil, track coach David Glasscock and wrestling coach Darren Plumlee as having been dismissed under Principal Sloan’s tenure.

Brown has secured a position with the Lebanon Special Schools District as assistant principal at Baird Middle School. Within days of his firing, Keil was hired as assistant basketball coach and math teacher at Mt. Juliet High.

Glasscock has been named an assistant principal at Carroll-Oakland Elementary while Plumlee will teach and coach at Baird Middle School this fall.

The coaching vacancy at LHS was listed on the TSSAA’s online bulletin board Monday morning, June 13.