CU SHORTSTOP RECOGNIZED
LEBANON -- Cumberland senior Sam Kikla was named the TranSouth Player of the Week Tuesday after posting a .692 batting average (9-for-13) in four games and helping the second-ranked Bulldogs run their current winning streak to 14 games. It also marks the 13th TSAC Player or Pitcher of the Week honor by a Bulldog this season.

Kikla scored nine runs, had RBIs and hit four home runs in the four contests, as Cumberland swept a doubleheader on Wednesday against Milligan College and a twinbill on Friday versus Lyon College.

The Malabar, Fla., native added one double and one triple, walked twice and was hit three times while compiling a 1.846 slugging percentage. Kikla hit a pair of two-run homers in the first game of a doubleheader against Milligan College and had a game-tying triple in the bottom of the seventh in the second contest against the Buffaloes.

He then hit a solo homer in the 12th inning, tying the contest at four, a game the Bulldogs won later in the 12th.

He singled twice and scored two runs in Friday’s opener against Lyon College and reached base and scored four straight times in the second game, including a two-run homer in the fifth.

Kikla is now batting .391 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, 70 runs scored and 32 walks and has been hit 14 times this season.

Cumberland finishes the regular season Thursday and Friday at Mid-Continent (Mayfield, Ky.) and begins the TranSouth Championships next Monday at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
LEBANON -- Despite rumors to the contrary, the City of Lebanon’s Junior Pro Football League is still alive and kicking. There has been much confusion since the recent forming of the Lebanon Youth Football League under the umbrella of Tennessee Youth Football Alliance (TYFA).

“We’re two different operations,” said William Porter, Director of the Lebanon Recreation Department.

The City of Lebanon has sponsored junior pro football since the late 1970s with a junior league for kids ages 7, 8 and 9 and a senior league for players 10, 11 and 12. Last year, we had more than 275 participants, not including cheerleaders,” Porter said.

“We’ll continue to offer Junior Pro Football as long as we’ve got children wanting to participate.”

The difference between the two operations is very similar to recent trends in youth baseball and softball. Some parents want their children to play league (or rec) ball. This means almost no out of town travel, games during the midweek and a reasonable participation cost. Those wishing to go this route will probably stay with the City of Lebanon’s Junior Pro program.

Other parents are looking for their children to participate in “travel ball” which usually includes out of town road games roughly every other Saturday against similar teams and a higher participation cost per child. Those who are looking for a “travel ball” experience would most likely be interested in the TYFA -affiliated Lebanon Youth Football.

Porter says the City’s Junior Pro League will still play senior league games on Monday nights and junior league games on Thursday at the Walter J. Baird Junior High Field. Games will feature four, eight minute quarters fol- lowed by a running clock “fifth quarter” to ensure playing time for all participants.

Registration cost for the Junior Pro League is still only $30 per player which includes a jersey and a post-season trophy. Registration for this fall’s league is currently being accepted at the Harold Dean Greer Recreation Building in the Baird Park Complex.

For more information, call the City of Lebanon’s Recreation Dept. at 449-0303.

NASHVILLE -- After losing a 3-1 quarterfinal game to Trevecca Nazarene earlier in the day, fifth-seeded Cumberland's softball season came to a close with a 2-1 loss in eight innings to Bethel in an elimination game in the TranSouth Championships at the Trojan Softball Complex Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs finish the year with a 20-30 mark, a 13-win improvement over second-year head coach Heather Stanfill's first campaign.

Bethel's run in the eighth inning came on an RBI single to left that Christina Manis came inches of snagging on a dive. The hit off the bat of Amanda Renfroe scored Brittany Edmonds, who singled up the middle and moved up a base each on a wild pitch and a passed ball.

The tally was the first for either team since the first inning when Bethel struck first, getting a run on the board in the top of the frame on a pair of singles, including Amanda Renfroe's hit that scored Lindsey Davis, who started the game with a bloop to right field and stole second. The two hits and a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Wildcats, but Katie Pacifici grounded back to pitcher Allison Blackwood to end the threat. The two walks were the first free passes issued by Blackwood in 36 2-3 innings, dating back to the second game of a doubleheader against Mid-Continent University on April 16.

It didn't take long for Cumberland to answer, knotting the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame. Christina Manis beat out a leadoff bunt and stole her 22nd base of the year, swiping second. The speedster from Hendersonville, Tenn., moved to third on a groundout by CaSarah Gilliam before Blackwood ripped a double off the wall in left-center, scoring Manis. The two-bagger was the eighth of the year for the Lawrence County High School product and her team-leading 27th RBI.

Trevecca 3, Cumberland 1
Cumberland University fell behind early and couldn't climb out of the hole against host Trevecca Nazarene in a 3-1 earlier Thursday.

Blackwood, who had the most RBIs of any player in the tournament after the first day with five, drove in Cumberland's only run of the day with a one-out single that brought Manis home. The former Station Camp High School standout led off the inning with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Gilliam.

The Cumberland lead was short-lived as the Lady Trojans (39-13) put up two runs with two outs in the bottom of the first. After Manis robbed a base hit with a diving catch to get the second out of the inning, Anais Puertas got a bloop single into shallow left-center and Karli Rush followed with a triple into the right-field corner. Rush came home on a single by Monica West, who went 3-for-3 and drove in Trevecca's other run in the third inning.

Watertown corn hole tournament --  A corn hole tournament to benefit the volleyball and softball teams at Watertown High is planned for 6 p.m. Friday, April 30 at Robinson Stadium.
Entry fee is $40 per team, but a $5 discount is available if you bring your own board.
Call Coach Brandy Baird at 237-3434 or email her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

HP two-man scramble -- Hunters Point Golf Club will stage it annual “Two Man Amateur Scramble” Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2. Entry fee is $190 per team; $200 if paid after April 30. Carts are not included. A practice round green fee is included with a paid entry fee if taken on or before April 30.  For more information or to register, call the Pro Shop at 615-444-7521.

MJMS baseball camp -- Mt. Juliet Middle School Baseball Camp will be held at the Mt. Juliet Middle baseball field July 12-15, between the hours of 9-11:30 a.m. MJMS baseball Coach Rick Johnson will conduct the camp. Baseball fundamentals will be stressed and all skill levels will be represented. Boys ages 6-14 are encouraged to attend, regardless of experience. Along with individual skill instruction at all positions, we will also focus daily on proper conditioning and preparation for game play. Camp fees are $60 and all Bear campers receive a free t-shirt. Please register in advance. MJMS camp applications are available at MJMS and area elementary schools. For more information, call Coach Johnson at 754-6688 ext. 5851, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .