SPORTS HEADLINES 3.26.12

High School Baseball : The Hopkinsville Tigers are in action this afternoon hosting Trigg County. First pitch at 5:30, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Elsewhere: Caldwell County travels to Webster County, Russellville at South Warren, Hopkins Central hosts Ohio County, Madisonville hosts Dawson Springs, Marshall County at Crittenden County, Lyon County hosts Livingston Central.

High School Softball: Hopkinsville goes to Russellville, University Heights at Trigg County, Todd Central welcomes Bowling Green, Logan County at Warren East, Dawson Springs at Webster County, Lyon County hosts Livingston Central.

Hopkinsville High senior golfer Dayton Jones finished third at this weekend’s Golfweek Junior Tour event at Fuzzy Zoeller’s Covered Bridge Golf Club in Sellersburg, Indiana. Jones 149 total was just one shot behind the winner.

College Basketball

Kentucky is back to the Final Four for the second consecutive year after defeating Baylor Sunday in the South Regional final in Atlanta 82-70. Michael Kidd Gilchrist had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead a quartet of double figure scorers for the Wildcats. Anthony Davis pitched in 18, Doron Lamb added 14 and Terrence Jones added 12.

Kentucky now faces Louisville in the first national semifinal Saturday at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Tip off at 5:09, with pre game coverage at 3:30 on Lite 98.7.

A programming reminder Coach John Calipari will have his call in show at 5, with Big Blue Insider at 6 on Lite 98.7.

The other national semifinal on Saturday will feature Ohio State and Kansas. The Jayhawks used a 12-0 run in the last 3 minutes of the game to down North Carolina 80-67 in Sunday’s Midwest Regional final in St. Louis. You’ll be able to hear both semi final games and the national championship on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP beginning Saturday at 3:30.

NCAA Women’s Tournament:   Kentucky has earned a trip to the Elite Eight with a 79-62 win over Gonzaga in the Kingston Regional Sunday. The Wildcats will meet Connecticut in the final Tuesday afternoon at 5.

Meanwhile, Tennessee plays 37-0 Baylor in the final of the Des Moines Regional this evening, with a trip to the Final Four in Denver on the line.

College Football

Austin Peay has picked up a signee. Dylan Ragsdale—who led Clarksville Academy to a District 10-A championship last season—signed with the Governors over the weekend. Ragsdale played tight end and safety in his high school career, with Governors coach Rick Christophel saying Ragsdale is projected to play safety.

NHL

The Nashville Predators moved into fourth place in the Western Conference with a 6-1 thrashing of the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday night. The Predators are back in action tomorrow night at St. Louis.

SPORTS HEADLINES 3.24.12

High School Baseball

Friday scores: Daviess County defeated Christian County 10-7, Russellville shutout West Creek, TN 10-0, Union County over Lyon County 9-1, Henderson County run ruled Madisonville 16-0 in 5 innings, Webster County blanked Paducah Tilghman 2-0.

Tiger Classic at Murray High: Murray defeated Trigg County 2-0, Dawson Springs lost two games 5-2 to Fulton City and 12-7 to Fulton County.

Today's games: University Heights meets Warren Central and Breckinridge County at Red Devils Round Robin in Owensboro, Hopkinsville plays a doubleheader at Barren County, Fort Campbell meets Dawson Springs at the Tiger Classic in Murray, where Trigg County will also face Ballard Memorial and Fulton City, Russellville hosts Monticello.

High School Softball

Friday scores: Christian County defeated Daviess County 9-2 behind three home runs from Maggie Glass, Maidsonville defeaed Hopkinsville 9-0, Dawson Springs run ruled Trigg County 12-1 in five innings.

Today's games: Christian County goes to Apollo, Trigg County travels to Madisonville, Caldwell County meets Reidland and Paducah Tilghman at the Lone Oak Invitational, Todd Central plays in the South Warren Spartan Invitational.

Christian County High student athlete Courtney Baker signed a collegiate letter to play volleyball for Asbury University. Baker is the fourth student/athlete this week to sign to play athletics at the collegiate level, joining golfer Jonathan Grabara, softball's Zatoria Leavell and soccer's Kim Hyde.

College Basketball

Kentucky advanced to the finals of the South Region of the NCAA tournament after defeating Indiana 102-90. Six Wildcats were in double figures led by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kentucky meets Baylor Sunday in Atlanta, after the Bears defeated Xavier 75-70. Tip off Sunday afternoon at 1:20, with airtime at noon on Lite 98.7.

North Carolina defeated Ohio 73-65 in overtime in the Midwest Region semifinals in St. Louis, where Kansas defeated North Carolina State 60-57. North Carolina and Kansas play in the final Sunday afternoon.

The first two teams for the Final Four will be determined today as Louisville meets Florida in the West Regional final in Phoenix and Syracuse tangles with Ohio State in the East Regional final in Boston. Coverage of both games at 3 this afternoon on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

In the women's NCAA Tournament: Tennessee meets Kansas in semifinal action of the Des Monies regional this afternoon. Kentucky returns to action tomorrow in the Kingston regional semifinals against Gonzaga.

SPORTS HEADLINES 3.23.12

High School Baseball: Bowling Green over Logan County 12-3, Calloway County over Dyer County, TN 9-2, Murray over Watertown, TN 13-3.

Today’s games: Fort Campbell meets Carlisle County, Trigg County meets Murray, Dawson Springs goes against Fulton City at the Tiger Classic, Russellville travels to West Creek, TN, Caldwell County at Reidland, Madisonville hosts Henderson County, Union County at Lyon County, Hopkins Central at Muhlenberg County.

High School Softball: Barren County run ruled Logan County 22-8 in 5 innings, Henderson County over Webster County 6-2.

Today’s games:   Hopkinsville at Madisonville, Caldwell County at Murray, Trigg County hosts Dawson Springs, Russellville at Edmonson County.

Hoppers Baseball

Representatives for the Hoptown Hoppers were on hand at the Kiwanis Club meeting Thursday to tell the history of Hoppers baseball and tell about the new Ohio Valley League coming to town this summer. Team president Carter Hendricks says sponsorships are still needed, along with those who would be interested in housing players this summer and that season passes are now available.

If you need more information, contact Carter Hendricks at 348-6226. Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP will be the voice of Hoppers baseball, broadcasting all 20 home games and playoff games this season.

College Basketball

The Louisville Cardinals got 15 points and eight rebounds from Chane Behanan in defeating Michigan State 57-44 in West Regional action in Phoenix. Russ Smith added 11 for the Cards who now face Florida who defeated Marquette 68-58 in the other semi final. Louisville and Florida play Saturday.

In the East Regional, top seed Syracuse held off Wisconsin 64-63 and Ohio State defeated Cincinnati 81-66. Syracuse and Ohio State meet in Boston tomorrow in the East Regional final.

Top seed Kentucky meets Indiana in a rematch of one of the two losses for the Wildcats this season in a South Regional semi final tonight in Atlanta. Tipoff at 8:45, with pre game coverage at 7 on Lite 98.7. The winner meets either Baylor or Xavier, who play in the first game on Sunday.

In the Midwest region semifinals in St. Louis, North Carolina meets Ohio University, without the services of guard Kendall Marshall who broke the wrist in his non shooting hand against Creighton Sunday, with the other game featuring Kansas and North Carolina State. Coverage of tonight’s action begins at 6 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

ESPN reported Thursday Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd Gilchrist is going to the NBA Draft, however the Courier Journal reports Kidd Gilchrist said on Twitter that he does not know where the report is coming from and that it was his decision whether he would return or go pro. Earlier this month, Kidd Gilchrist said he planned to stay all four years at Kentucky.

UK signee Alex Poythress was named Tennessee’s Gatorade Player of the Year Thursday. The Clarksville Northeast senior averaged 28 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks this past season. Poythress is also a McDonald’s All American selection.

Western Kentucky University hired a new women’s basketball coach Thursday. Former Lady Topper Michelle Clark-Heard will replace Mary Taylor Cowles. Clark played for Western from 1987-90. She has been an assistant coach at Louisville the last five seasons and before that served two years as head coach at Division Two Kentucky State.

NFL

Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck says he understands why the Titans tried to sign free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. Hasselbeck sais Thursday he has a ton of respect for Manning and expected there would be interest from the Titans. Hasselbeck says he plans to move on and take care of what he controls.

NHL

The Nashville Predators lost at Pittsburgh 5-1 Thursday night, with Alexander Radulov—playing in his first game since 2008—scoring Nashville’s lone goal. The Predators are back in action tomorrow night hosting the Winnipeg Jets at 6 in Bridgestone Arena.

WKU HIRES NEW WOMEN'S HOOPS COACH 3.23.12

Western Kentucky University has hired another of its former players to be the new coach for Lady Topper Basketball.  Michelle Clark-Heard, who played for the Lady Toppers from 1987-90 was named today to replace Mary Taylor Cowles.

Clark-Heard had been an assistant the last five years at the University of Louisville, and before that was head coach at Division II Kentucky State for two years.  Clark began her coaching career for former Western women's coach Paul Sanderford when he was the head coach at the University of Nebraska.

SPORTS HEADLINES 3.22.12

High School Baseball:   University Heights hosts Crittenden County, Christian County entertains Hopkins Central, Fort Campbell travels to Houston County, TN, Trigg County entertains Graves County, Russellville welcomes West Creek, TN, Logan County hosts Bowling Green, Caldwell County hosts Dawson Springs, Madisonville travels to Muhlenberg County, Livingston Central entertains Union County.

High School Softball: University Heights is in 8^th district action at Fort Campbell, Todd Central at Russellville, Logan County hosts Barren County, Caldwell County welcomes Lyon County, Hopkins Central goes to McLean County, Henderson County entertains Webster County, Madisonville at Union County, Mayfield battles Graves County, Paducah Tilghman at St. Mary and Murray is at Reidland.

High School Tennis:   University Heights met Henderson County on Wednesday, with the Blazers losing their match 3-6, while the Lady Blazers won 6-3.

Christian County student/athlete Kimberly Hyde signed a collegiate letter Wednesday to play soccer for Brescia University. Hyde is the second Lady Colonel player to sign with Brescia for the 2012-13 school year, joining teammate Brittany Mason.

College Basketball

The NCAA Tournament continues tonight with play in the East and West Regionals. In the West at Phoenix, Louisville meets top seed Michigan State, with Marquette playing Florida in the second game.

East Regional action in Boston has Syracuse going against Wisconsin, while Ohio State meets Cincinnati. Coverage of all four games begins at 6 this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Kentucky plays Indiana in the South Regional tomorrow night in Atlanta, with tip off at 8:45. Pre game coverage begins at 7 on Lite 98.7. Baylor and Xavier play in the opening game of the evening at the Georgia Dome.

Western Kentucky University athletics director Ross Bjork has confirmed he will be leaving to accept a similar position at Ole Miss. The 39-year-old Bjork has served as Western’s AD since 2010. Bjork will replace Pete Boone who is retiring after 13 years as Ole Miss AD.

College Softball: Former Christian County standout Griffin Joiner and the Kentucky Wildcats defeated Western Kentucky 4-2 in Bowling Green Wednesday night. Joiner was 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored and threw out a base runner. Kentucky is 13-15 on the season and plays at Auburn this weekend.

College Baseball:   Western Kentucky used a six run inning in downing Austin Peay 12-8 at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville.

NHL: The Nashville Predators are back in action this evening at the Pittsburgh Penguins. First puck drops at 6 pm.

PGA Tour: The Arnold Palmer Invitational begins today at Bay Hill near Orlando, with Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker and former UK golfer JB Holmes in the field.