Golden anniversaries means a long time. What all can take place in
50 years? When one stops to think about it, lots of memories come
back. Some good and some you would like to forget.
The golden anniversary comes this year with an association with
Tiger athletics for this corner. In 1958 some young whipper snapper
came to Alexandria fresh out of Ball State to take up residence in
Small Town USA. Alex was not a new place since the previous school
year student teaching had been done under Shorty Burdsall.
Now Mom was not sure she wanted her baby boy to go to the tough town
of Alexandria. Alex at one time was loaded with bars during the gas
boom days and one knows what kind of atmosphere that can be. You
know what, I‘ve never regretted that decision for residence.
It was also the first year that I owned a car of my own. Dad told me
when I graduated from high school he would either buy me a car or
help me financially through college. Another good decision.
Without Alex I would never have met my wife and then would not have
two great children as well as a neat daughter-in-law and fantastic
grandson. More goods that outweigh the bads.
Alex has given me the opportunity to meet many great people. Some
dear friends, some casual acquaintances and some just because they
support the cardinal and gold are special.
In the fall of 1958, the Times Tribune was in need of a sports
writer. At that time the Tribune was a 5 days a week paper. A little
banty rooster with red hair decided to take a chance on a farm boy
from Fayette County. Bud Zink will always be special for that
opportunity.
In 1959 a very special event took place that will always rank high
in writing for the Tribune. Alex won the basketball sectional. Since
there were only three people in my graduating class, winning a
sectional was a very delightful new experience and the bonfire on
Harrison Street in front of what is now the Chamber of Commerce was
huge as well as the school dance on Monday.
In 1967, the single life was to be no more as Marge caught me so the
sportswriting business came to an end. Besides a new marriage for a
long time bachelor to get used to, it was also the year that the
athletic directors job at AMHS started in the fall.
Retirement from the school business in 1993 it was time to seek some
part time employment so the Times Tribune gracefully accepted me
back in the fold. It was different now since it was a weekly but
thank goodness the move from the dingy office across the street to
the present office helped.
In 1995 when the Tigers won the first ever basketball regional the
way the Tiger fans showed up at Hinkle Fieldhouse was amazing. I can
still vision now Tiger coach Mickey Hosier leading the Tigers onto
the floor as that sea of cardinal and gold rose to their feet to
cheer them on.
Through the years there has been many fantastic people to work with
here in the Tribune office. Quite often Ol Dix was the lone male.
The good times far outweigh the bad. Our little pranks on each
other, the idea that if you went someplace you brought back a freaky
souvenir. This has since been disbanded but was fun. For fear of
leaving someone out, let's not get personal, let's just say thanks.
Most of all the coaches and school administration has been great. It
is not easy talking to reporters after a tough game but Tiger
coaches did just that. Many times it would have been easier to say
forget it.
Alex and Elwood have been known through the years to not like each
other very well at times. Such has not been the case with Ed
Hamilton, Call Leader sports editor. All of his help is greatly
appreciated, sharing info and some good phone conversations.
Without the athletes there would be no need to have sports writers.
Through the past 50 years they have kept the paper with information
to write about, most of the time with joy but at other times it has
been tough to have a positive story.
All good things must come to an end and such is the case with Dixie
Quotes writing for the Times Tribune. At the completion of the
spring sports season this year the ink pens will be put up and you
readers will get to enjoy someone new in the sports area of the
Tribune. I am proud of the opportunity to be a part of Tiger
athletics the past 50 years and take with me many great memories.
One last group I surely want to thank is my family. My wife Marge
has been a Tiger through all 50 years with many nights away from
home and caring for Tricia and Jim while they were younger. Both
children have supported Dad which has made Dad proud of both.
I will miss it no doubt and plan to continue to see some of the
games but it will also be nice on those rainy Friday nights in
football to stay at home in the easy chair or not sit on the wooden
bleachers for the indoor games. Hopefully you will give the new
person the same great opportunity you gave me. Now with just two or
three more Dixie Quotes columns to write it is time to remember,
"ONCE A TIGER, ALWAYS A TIGER. WALK TALL, BE PROUD YOU ARE A TIGER."
Lady Tigers get three big CIC softball wins last week
by BOB DICKSON
Three pressure packed CIC softball wins kept Alex in the hunt for
the conference title last week. Spring a 5-1 CIC record the Alex
ladies were to host Blackford on Monday and with a win would share
the title.
Three teams enter the final week of play with one loss. That would
include Alexandria, Frankton and Madison Grant. Alex defeated
Madison Grant, Frankton defeated Alexandria and Madison Grant
defeated Frankton.
Alexandra 6, Eastbrook 3
The Lady Tigers scored four runs in the first inning and it was
enough to secure the win. Erin England opened with a single but was
caught stealing. Kiley Biscoff singled with Erin Overman and Sarah
Almack reaching on errors. After a fielders choice off the bat of
Molly Diruzza as well as Adrienne Diruzza, Brook Sayre had a big
double to make it 4-0.
Eastbrook narrowed it to 4-3 in the third thanks to four singles and
two Alex errors.
Alex picked up single runs in the fifth and sixth to extend their
lead. In the fifth, consecutive singles by Biscoff, Overman and
Almack accounted for the run but three runners were left on base.
Andrea DiRuzza ’s double and Biscoff single provided the needed
offense for the score in the sixth.
Almack went the first six innings allowing 7 hits, had 6 strike outs
and 2 walks. Joni Dent pitched the seventh.
Alex’s offense was led by Biscoff 3-4, Andrea DiRuzza 2-3, England
1-4, Overman 1-3, Almack 1-4, Molly Diruzza 1-3 and Sayre 1-3.
Eastbrook 0-0-3-0-0-0-0—3-7-2
Alex 4-0-0-0-1-1-x—6-10-2
Alexandria 10, Oak Hill 0
It was a merry go round before this game was finally played.
Scheduled to be played on Thursday at Oak Hill the weather forced
postponement. The re- scheduled date was Friday but Oak Hill could
not get their diamond ready so it was moved to Alexandria with the
Lady Tigers as visitors.
Coach Rob Sayre’s ladies scored each of the first three innings to
make the game a five inning affair.
Putting two runs on the board in their initial at bat, Alex went up
for good. Singles by Erin England, Kylie Biscoff, Erin Overman and
Molly Diruzza along with a walk to Andrea DiRuzza and Brook Sayre’s
fielders choice did the damage.
Four times the scoreboard blinked in the second for the Lady Tigers.
With one out, Biscoff walked followed by singles from Overman,
Almack and a walk to Molly. Andrea’s ball was booted and Alex led
6-0.
New faces led to the four run third. Adrienne Diruzza opned with a
single and Emily Wyatt doubled. England reached on an error and
Biscoff followed with a base hit. After the first out, Almack’s
fielders choice got a run home and the cardinal and gold led 10-0.
Oak Hill threatened to score in the second with two walks but Almack
came back to strike out the side.
Offensively for Alex it was Biscoff 2-3, Overman 2-4, England 1-4,
Almack 1-3, Molly Diruzza 1-1, Mariah King 1-1, Adrienne Diruzza 1-3
and Wyatt 1-2.
Alexandria 2-4-4-0-0—-10-10-0
Oak Hill 0-0-0-0-0—-0-2-2
Alexandria 4, Mississinewa 0
Mississinewa 7, Alexandria 0
The first game of the twin bill was the CIC game and it was a huge
win for the Lady Tigers by a 4-0 verdict.
Ole Miss had only one CIC loss as did Alex and the Lady Tribe was
14-2 on the season. The win kept Alex alive for a possible share of
the conference title.
“Sarah was at her best,” commented Coach Sayre in reviewing the
game. “They did not have a base runner past second base and had only
three base runners the entire game.”
Platting two runs in both the fourth and seventh innings, Alex
pulled off the win. The Lady Tigers fourth saw Almack lead off with
a double. With one out, Molly Diruzza walked and Andrea DiRuzza hit
safely to make it 2-0.
Alex threatened in the fifth as Adrienne doubled and Emily Wyatt
walked. England’s fielders choice was followed by a walk to Biscoff
but the bases were left loaded.
The final two runs saw Adrienne walk and score on a wild pitch.
England singled and came home on Biscoff’s fielders choice.
Almack went the distance allowing 5 hits and getting 7 strike outs.
Hitting for the Lady Tigers was England 1-3, Almack 1-4 and Andrea
1-3
Game one
Alex 0-0-0-2-0-0-2—4-3-0
Miss 0-0-0-0-0-0-0—0-5-0
Game two saw Alex commit six errors and get only four hits. Joni
Dent pitched the first five innings and Ashlee Jones finished it
out.
Alex hits were by England 1-3, Biscoff 2-3, and Almack 1-1.
Game two
Alex 0-0-0-0-0-0-0—0-4-6
Mis 0-2-1-0-4-0-x—7-6-2
Alexandria 3, Taylor 0
The busy week opened with a 3-0 at Taylor for the Lady Tigers.
Alex scored a single run on the second with Brook Sayre doing the
damage. They plated two more in the third on a single by England,
Mariah King reached on an error with Joni Dent and Andrea Diruzza
getting base hits.
Dent pitched five innings getting 5 strike outs and allowed 2 hits.
Almack finished the final two innings allowing one hit and had two
K’s.
England was 2-3 as was Dent with Andrea 1-3, Sayre 1-2 and Allison
Gouker 1-3.
Alex 0-1-2-0-0-0-0-0—-3-7-1
Taylor 0-0-0-0-0-0-0—-0-3-2
Alex draws Winchester in Lapel sectional action
by BOB DICKSON
The two favorites in the Lapel Class 2A softball sectional landed in
opposite brackets. Alex and Frankton are rated as the teams to beat
with Wapahani listed as a solid darkhorse. Alex and Frankton hooked
up in a 9 inning encounter a week ago with the Lady Eagles winning
4-3. They could not meet again until the sectional finals.
Wapahani and Elwood will open sectional play on Monday, May 19. The
Lady Raiders could have a say in the sectional title as they split a
double header with Alex and was scheduled to play Frankton but the
game fell victim to weather. Wapahani did score an impressive win
this week over Blackford.
Game two will pit district rivals Frankton and Lapel. Frankton has
defeated the Lady Bulldogs 5-0 in their regular season meeting.
Alex will face Winchester in the fourth game slated for 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 20. Game three will find the two winners on Monday
facing off. Alex attempted to schedule the Lady Golden Falcons early
in the season but was unsuccessful.
The winner of the Lapel sectional will travel to Indianapolis
Scecina for regional play on May 31. They will face the winner of
the Lawrenceburg sectional.
County teams in action at Pendleton Heights will find the Lady
Arabians opening play with Anderson while Highland will oppose New
Castle in an opposite bracket. Liberty Christian faces the tough
task of playing host Wes Del in 1 A action.
Central Indiana Conference teams finds 2A Madison-Grant opposing
host Eastern at Greentown while Oak Hill awaits the winner of that
contest in the bye game. In 3A play at Blackford it will be
Mississinewa versus Delta, Eastbrook facing Yorktown and Blackford
lacing them up with Muncie South. With one week to go in CIC
softball action four teams head to the final week with still a
chance to gain the conference title.
Tigers fifth in CIC golf tournament
by BOB DICKSON
Alex shot well enough to get a fifth place finish in Saturday’s CIC
golf tournament at the Shady Hills course.
Led by Matt Johnson’s 89 the Tigers did much better than expected
from the young squad. Johnson’s score earned him second team all
conference honors.
Oak Hill won the title on their home course with Frankton second.
Team scores were Oak Hill 321, Frankton 333, Eastbrook 335,
Mississinewa 342, Alexandria 368, Elwood 383, Madison- Grant 396 and
Blackford 408.
Tyler Keith of Oak Hill was medallist shooting 71.
Alex scores included Johnson 89, Derek Glass 90, Zach Collis 91,
Justin Hamilton 92, Brady Hayes 100.
Oak Hill 161, Alexandria 200
Alex-Collis 47, Hamilton 47, Glass 52, Beeman 54, Johnson 55
Oak Hill-Keith 35, Rinch 39, Taylor 42, Linna 45, Rogers 51
Oak Hill B 206 Alex B 241
Alex-Marlatt 49, Mevzek 58, Parker 65, Hood 69.
Highland 159 Alexandria 241
Alex Johnson 41, Glass 47, Collis 44, Hamilton 50, Beeman 53,
Marlatt 60
Highland B 179 Alex B 219
Alex-Mevzek 47, Hayes 54, Jones 62, Hood 56, Parker 69. |
