Stories from Wednesday, July 3, 2013

he Marshall County 10-year old All-Stars turned in a valiant effort, but had to settle for second place in the Little League District 3 softball tournament after suffering a heartbreaking 10-9 extra inning loss to Giles County on Monday night at Richland Park in the third game of a best-of-three series. Giles County held a 8-3 lead through the first four innings of play, but Marshall County came storming back in the top of the fifth and pushed across six runs in the frame to seize a 9-8 advantage.

For the second time in two days, the Marshall County eight-year old All-Stars were unable to hold onto a late lead against the Giles County Black team, as they suffered a gut wrenching 12-11 loss in the championship round of the Little League District 3 softball tournament on Saturday night at Richland Park. Needing two wins to take home the District title, Marshall County held a 11-8 lead through the first four and a half innings of play and appeared they would force a deciding game.

The Marshall County eight-year old All-Stars advanced to the championship round of the Little League District 3 softball tournament by crushing the Giles County White team 12-1 in four innings on Saturday night at Richland Park. Aided by a pair of five-run innings, Marshall County cranked out 11 hits to go along with five Giles County errors. Addison Bunty and Sarah King both tallied two hits to lead Marshall County's offensive attack, while Abi Bailey, Taylor Pickle, Maddi Yeager, Brianna Brown, Reese Worthington, Kaniyah Taylor, and Haylee Hobby added one hit apiece.

The Marshall County eight-year old All-Stars fell into the losers bracket of the Little League District 3 softball tournament after dropping a 10-9 decision to the Giles County Black team in the first round on Friday night at Richland Park. Marshall County trailed 6-4 through the first five innings of play, but came storming back in the top of the sixth and pushed across five runs in the frame to seize a 9-6 lead. Giles County then conjured up some late game magic of their own and tallied four runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the dramatic victory.

The Marshall County 12U Cal Ripken all-stars were not going down without a fight in front of their hometown fans, beating South Williamson 8-1 on Friday night before Maury County knocked the hosts out of the District 8 Tournament on Saturday. In Friday night's second round at the Richard Cashion Sports Complex in Lewisburg, Marshall County's bats came alive as they banged out eight hits, including two-hits apiece by Colton Barber (2-3, 2B, RS, RBI) and Andrew Lando (2-3, two doubles, RS, 3RBIs).

The District 8 Cal Ripken 12U Baseball Tournament opened up Thursday night at the Richard Cashion Sports Complex in Lewisburg and after Lawrenceburg run-ruled South Williamson 14-1 in the first game, Giles County easily handled Marshall County 9-1 in the nightcap, dispatching the hosts to the loser's bracket.

The 16U TN Blaze captured the Rocket City Rampage title Saturday at the Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex in Huntsville, Al., sweeping away the competition with a 5-0 tournament record. Shelbyville's Jami Johnson picked up the win in the circle for the Blaze in the 8-2 title-clinching win over the Madison Mayhem, while Shelbyville's Baylie Deason slammed the game tying homerun before MCHS' Kenzie Jo Anderson knocked in the eventual go-ahead runs. Below is the Blaze, displaying the championship hardware.

Despite a strong pitching performance from starting hurler Mikaela King, the Marshall County 12-year old All-Star softball team was pushed to the brink of elimination from the Little League District 3 tournament when they lost 4-1 to tourney host Giles County on Friday night in the first game of a best-of-three series at Richland Park. Giles County built a 4-0 lead through the first five innings of play before staving off a late rally attempt by Marshall County in the bottom of the sixth to claim the three-run victory.

On Saturday night, the Marshall County 12-year old All-Stars were eliminated from the Little League District 3 softball tournament when they lost 12-2 to Giles County in five innings at Richland Park in the second game of a best-of-three series. Marshall County actually held a 2-0 lead through the first two innings of play, but things quickly fell apart after that point, as Giles County outscored them 12-0 over the next three frames to sweep the series.

The Marshall County 10-year old All-Star softball team moved within one win of advancing to the Little League State tournament after defeating Giles County 12-5 at Richland Park in the first game of a best-of-three-series on Friday night in the District tourney. Giles County jumped out a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Marshall County controlled the game from that point on and outscored the tourney hosts 12-1 the rest of the way to take home the victory.

Giles County forced a deciding game in the best-of-three series against the Marshall County 10-year old All-Stars in the Little League District 3 tournament by pulling out a 10-8 victory on Saturday evening at Richland Park. Having won the opening game of the series 12-5, Marshall County held a 2-1 lead through the first inning and a half of Saturday's contest, but Giles County erupted for nine runs over the next two frames to seize a 10-2 advantage.

Lewisburg sisters Faith and Hope Bone were honored at the Columbia Girls Fastpitch awards ceremonies as All-Stars. Faith received the 12U MVP award and Hope, playing on the Splash as a 9 year old in the 12U division received the Sportsmanship Award. Columbia Girls Fastpitch League had more than 300 girls participating this season.

Elbert Blackwood Jr., 73, husband of Mary Ann Blackwood and a resident of Stevens Road in Chapel Hill, passed away Saturday, June 29, 2013, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, July 2, at Heritage Funeral Home with Charlie Norman and Tommy Hemphill officiating. Burial followed in Temple Cemetery in Marshall County...

Benjamin Addison Masters, 90, of Lewisburg, died Friday, June 28, 2013, at NHC Lewisburg. Mr. Masters was a native of Florida, and he was the son of the late James Lewis and Minnie Mae Tidmore Masters. He served his country in the Army during World War II, was the former owner of Okay Tire Store, and he was one of the founding members of the First Assembly Of God...

Sarah Christine Hardison, 85, of Lewisburg, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at her residence. Mrs. Hardison was a native of Maury County, and daughter of the late Leslie Franklin and Melvina Cole Blalock. She was retired from South Central Bell Telephone Company and was a member of Westvue Church of Christ...

Sara Lee Crabtree, 88, of Delina, died Friday, June 28, 2013, at her residence. Mrs. Crabtree was a native of the Delina Community, and daughter of the late Felix Massey and Dortha Wells Mauldin. She was retired from Cosmolab Corporation and was a member of the Delina Church of God...

By Jessica Moore Staff Writer Lewisburg has recently welcomed its newest asset to the community, The Connelly Dream Center located on 5th Avenue North, in the old Connelly School building. The Dream Center is a project started by the local church, First Assembly of God, located on West Ellington Parkway...

By Jessica Moore Staff Writer As many as six retailers are thinking about opening stores in Lewisburg, Director of Economic Development Greg Lowe told Industrial Development Board members Monday, without divulging any names. Lowe was also optimistic about existing industries...

By Karen Hall Editor A chance purchase in a Houston antique shop in 2010 led to a strange quest for a woman who visited Lewisburg earlier this spring, looking for more information. Cathy Handford bought three little books in the antique shop, and they turned out to be journals for the years 1936, 1937, and 1960...

By Jessica Moore Staff Writer It seems as though everywhere you look you will see a fireworks tent this week. Ever wonder why people sell fireworks or what their biggest sellers are? The Fireworks Supermarket is a tent owned and operated by two local families, the McQueens and the Moffetts. ...