SPORTS HEADLINES 6/8/12

Rawlings/KHSAA State Softball:   Christian County lost its first game in the state tournament on Thursday by the score of 1-0 to 9^th region winner Ryle. The Lady Colonels had scoring opportunities on a couple of occasions, but were unable to produce a run. Ryle scored its lone run in the 6^th inning in improving to 21-13, while Christian County is 31-7 on the season.

The Lady Colonels will have to fight their way through the losers bracket today, meeting Ashland in the first game at 11 am at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro. The Heritage Bank pre game show airs at 10:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Other games of note Thursday: 1^st region winner Lone Oak defeated Green County 4-3, 3^rd region winner Owensboro Catholic got by Johnson Central 2-1 and 4^th region winner Greenwood shut out Scott County 3-0.

Lone Oak will play Owensboro Catholic in a winners bracket game at 9 this morning and Greenwood will play Mercy also at 9 am.

Kentucky National Insurance/State Baseball Tournament: 2^nd region champ Henderson County edged Newport Central Catholic 1-0 in 9 innings and Meade County defeated Ashland 4-2.

Today’s semi final games have Henderson County meeting Meade County and Bishop Brossart going against Woodford County.

High School Basketball:   Hopkinsville High School is scheduled to have a news conference this afternoon at 2 to announce a new girls basketball coach.

The Kentucky-Indiana All Star games take place this weekend, with the opening games this evening in Louisville. Former Hopkinsville standout Christy Soldo is playing for the Kentucky stars this weekend.

The Kentucky New Era reports Trigg County High School is looking for its second athletic director in as many years. Kenneth Oakley announced his resignation at the end of the school year. Trigg County principal Shannon Burcham says the search is underway, with hopes of having a new AD by mid-July.

Hoppers Baseball: One night after being drubbed in the home opener, the Hoptown Hoppers made history Thursday as Jason McDonald threw a no hitter as the Hoppers defeated Owensboro 9-0. Former UHA standout Matt McGowan had three hits in the win. The Hoppers are now 3-2 on the season and tied for the league lead. The Hoppers face Owensboro again Saturday night at Colonel Field on Aaron McNeill House night. First pitch at 7:05, with pre game coverage at 6:50 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Last night in the OVL: Madisonville defeated Fulton 7-6 in 10 innings.

Tonight in the OVL:   Marion at Owensboro and Madisonville at Fulton.

NFL:   After participating in some running drills Thursday, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt says he feels good. The Tennessean reports Britt ran five 100 yard sprints after organized team activities on Thursday. It was the first time he did some running since recent arthoscopic surgery. Britt tore both the ACL and MCL in his knee during week 3 last season and spent the remainder of the season on injured reserve.

SPORTS UPDATE 6/7/12

The Madisonville Messenger reports Hopkins Central’s Jordan McNary has been named the 2^nd region softball player of the year. McNary hit .537 for the Lady Storm this spring and had a school best 22 game hit streak during the season.

The 2^nd region softball coach of the year is Madisonville’s Jenn Valeriote. The second year coach lead Madisonville to a 25-11 record in the just completed season. The Lady Maroons lost in the semifinals of the 2^nd region tournament to Henderson County.

Major League Baseball action this afternoon has Chicago at Milwaukee, with Atlanta at Miami, Pittsburgh at Cincinnati and St. Louis at Houston on the schedule for this evening.

The Boston Celtics are a win away from moving to the NBA finals, as they host game six of the Eastern Conference final against Miami this evening. The Celtics have rallied from a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 series lead.

Oklahoma City won the Western Conference championship over San Antonio last night.

SPORTS HEADLINES 6/7/12

Hoppers Baseball:   More than 450 people attended opening night for the Hoptown Hoppers at Christian County’s Colonel Field Wednesday night, but it was the Fulton Railroaders who came away with an 18-4 victory.

The Hoppers built an early 3-0 lead after four innings, before the Railroaders scored all of their runs in the next five at bats, including batting around twice. Former University Heights player Kyle Barbee was 1-3 at the plate and pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one.

Brock Downey, who pitched only one inning for the 1-4 Railroaders gets the win, while Hopper starter Will Hammock takes the loss for the 2-2 Hoppers.

Hoptown is back in action this afternoon with a 1:05 game against Owensboro at Colonel Field, with pre game coverage at 12:50 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Elsewhere in the OVL:  Marion defeated Madisonville 11-1.

In OVL play today: Fulton travels to Madisonville.

Kentucky National Insurance/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament: Quarterfinal play began Wednesday, with 4^th region winner South Warren losing to Woodford County 7-3, while Bishop Brossart defeated St. X 5-3.

Today’s quarterfinal games have 2^nd region winner Henderson County meeting Newport Central Catholic at 5 Hopkinsville time, followed by Meade County and Ashland.

Rawlings/KHSAA State Softball Tournament:   Christian County meets 9^th region champion Ryle in its first game at 5 this afternoon at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro. Heritage Bank pre game coverage at 4:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Other games have 1^st region winner Lone Oak meeting Green County, 3^rd region champ Owensboro Catholic takes on Johnson Central and 4^th region winner Greenwood meets Scott County.

High School Basketball: WHOP Sports learned Wednesday afternoon of the resignation of University Heights basketball coach Randy McCoy.   Mc Coy says he is leaving to pursue other coaching opportunities. McCoy was 91-53 in his five seasons at UHA, leading the Blazers to the 2008 All A State championship and an appearance in the Boys Sweet 16.

The Kentucky New Era reports Hopkinsville High School will have a news conference at 2 pm Friday to name its new girls basketball coach. Tonya Wells resigned the position last month after leading the Lady Tigers to the 2^nd region championship this past season and a quarterfinal round appearance in the Girls Sweet 16.

College Basketball:   The Courier Journal reports University of Louisville forward Steven Van Treese has been granted a release from the Cardinals program. Van Treese said playing time and a log jam of scholarship players led him to leave. Van Treese played in just three games last season before being sidelined with a season ending injury.

College Football:   Kentucky’s program has received another commitment for the 2013 class. The Courier Journal reports Resse Phillips, a quarterback from Signal Mountain High School in Chattanooga plans to come to Kentucky next year. He is the third commitment and the second in two days for coach Joker Phillips.

Minor League Baseball:   The Bowling Green Hot Rods game at Lansing was suspended in the 11^th inning due to rain last night tied at 4-4. The game will resume before the regularly scheduled game at Lansing this evening.

The Nashville Sounds open a four game series against the Iowa Cubs this evening in Des Moines.

MCCOY RESIGNS AS UHA COACH 6/6/12

WHOP Sports has learned University Heights basketball coach Randy McCoy has resigned as boys basketball coach. McCoy told Sports Director Todd Hamilton he is leaving to pursue other opportunities. McCoy has spent the last five years as Blazer coach, leading them to the Class A State Championship in 2008, along with an appearance in the Boys Sweet 16.

McCoy's win-loss record at UHA was 91-53, with his best record in his first season with the Blazers, going 30-8 in the 2007-08 season. McCoy is a long time coaching veteran, including time as head coach at Pikeville College.

SPORTS UPDATE 6/6/12

Caldwell County High School has a new boys’ basketball coach. The Princeton Times Leader reports Daniel Kukahiko will replace Steve Smiley who resigned after three seasons. Kukahiko—who is a 2001 graduate of Caldwell County—has spent the last six seasons as an assistant at Hopkins Central.

Post positions were drawn today for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another will go from the number 11 post and is trying to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.

The Courier Journal reports Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was kicked in the head by one of his horses at Belmont Park Tuesday. Lukas was handling six year old Hamazing Destiny when he was struck on top of the head. Lukas was treated at Winthrop University Hospital and was expected to be back at the track today. Lukas will have Optimizer in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.

Major League Baseball tonight has St. Louis at Houston, Cincinnati hosts Pittsburgh, Chicago at Milwaukee and Atlanta is at Miami.

Oklahoma City can wrap up the NBA’s Western Conference final with a win over San Antonio this evening. The Thunder lead the series 3-2.

The Los Angeles Kings could hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup for the first time in franchise history if they defeat the New Jersey Devils this evening. The Kings lead the series 3-0.