The Trophy House, Inc. & Clark Sporting Goods will be holding  The 2009 Grand Slam Baseball Challenge on Saturday May 16th at Brower Park in Hope Mills, NC. There will be 3 exciting events including;

The Golden Glove – a contest to see who can catch the most fly-balls! 

Circle The Diamond – A running challenge where players compete to see who can round the bases in the fastest time!

And last, The Home Run Derby!!! Gates open around 2PM – food will be provided and trophies will be rewarded!  A $20 registration fee is required to participate. A portion of the proceeds will be given to the family of Kenny Smith and various youth association programs in the area! Registered youth baseball players ages 7-12 may participate.

Everyone that participates will receive a 2009 Grand Slam Baseball Challenge T-shirt!* and other gifts from The Trophy House / Clark Sporting Goods!

 We’re inviting players from all of the local rec-centers to come out and take part in this event!  Team uniforms must be worn!  You must be a registered youth baseball player. You can sign-up online http://www.clarksportinggoods.com or at one of our store locations.

3006 Bragg Blvd | Fayetteville, NC 28303

5613 Rockfish Rd. | Hope Mills, NC | 28348

For more information you may contact 910-609-1791 or email: ladams@thetrophyhouseinc.com  

*Registrations start May 1st, 2009 and end May 14th, 2009!* Limited space available – pre-registration is MUST!

I just don’t know. They didn’t go in when we needed them.” Terry Sanford needed them in the third quarter, when the team made three trips to the line and came away empty each time. The Bulldogs didn’t miss in the fourth quarter until rarely used back-up Michael Stone missed a pair with the score 57-51 with 53.3 seconds remaining. Still, this team never gave up despite myriad challenges. Zach Faircloth, the county’s top scorer averaging 19.2 points per game, fouled out with 2:58 left. Referees whistled Terry Sanford for 27 fouls compared Mount Tabor’s 19, and the Spartans turned those calls into 24 points. Behind Chris Wilson’s team-high 16 points and Mike Mason’s double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, the Bulldogs trailed only 58-55 with 32.4 left. But Josh Hicks answered on the other end with two made free throws, and Terry Sanford never managed another basket.

“I want to congratulate Terry Sanford,” said Mount Tabor coach Andy Muse, whose team closed a 31-1 season with 27 straight wins. “Tremendous coach, high-character kids, big effort, it’s everything you thought you would get out of a state championship game from the opponent.” Early on, it didn’t look like Muse would be handing out compliments to the Bulldogs (28-4). Because if Terry Sanford coach Bill Boyette tossed and turned Friday night, and the nightmare was related to basketball, it probably looked like this game. MT appeared ready to run the Bulldogs right off the floor with a 25-8 run to start. The Spartans held Terry Sanford scoreless for the final 4:33 of the opening frame, but the biggest blow came with 45 seconds left. That’s when Faircloth picked up his third foul, putting him on the bench until halftime. Behind Erik Salas coming off the bench to contribute seven points, the Bulldogs weathered the second-quarter storm surprisingly well.

They held Mount Tabor to only four points on 1-for-7 shooting and scored 16 to pull within 29-24 at the break. Now that’s the Terry Sanford basketball fans usually see from a team that held opponents to only 44.6 ppg this season, best in the county. Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t continue in the third as the team went empty from the foul line a couple times, allowing the Spartans to stretch the lead back to 10. C.J. Harris led the Mount Tabor charge with five of his game-high 20 points coming in that frame. The future Wake Forest player is one of three Spartans who will play Division I basketball next season. Josh Hicks, who is on his way to Old Dominion, had 14 points to round out the Spartans in double figures. Faircloth, one of three Terry Sanford seniors, has yet to announce his college plans. He will be the biggest loss for a young team that still doesn’t want to swallow a bitter end to this season.

“I’m extremely proud of my basketball team,” Boyette said. “I know we’re disappointed, but I had a great group of guys and I’m very fortunate to coach them.” Staff writer Paul Shugar can be reached at shugarp@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.

http://www.clarksportinggoods.com

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(Article by: The Fayetteville News & Observer) 

Seventy-First coach Bob Paroli receives and shows off his championship ring as his wife, Billie, second from right, and Seventy-First principal Al Miller, far right, look on.

When Bob Paroli began coaching high school football 51 years ago, nobody was talking about getting rings at the end of a championship season.

But Paroli, head football coach at Seventy-First, remembers where the talk quickly turned after his Falcons beat Douglas Byrd for the state 4-A championship in Kenan Stadium last December.

“The topic of conversation was we were going to get rings,’’ Paroli said. And Wednesday night in the auditorium at Seventy-First High School, that’s what happened.

In a ceremony for players, parents, coaches and wives, Seventy-First handed out 51 rings to the players, staff and other key people in the drive to the first state football championship for Paroli in his long and distinguished career.

Josten’s, the same company that is making this year’s Super Bowl ring for the Pittsburgh Steelers, did the work on the Seventy-First ring.

To pay for them, Paroli solicited donations from a number of Fayetteville businesses. All of the rings handed out Wednesday night were bought and paid for thanks to their generosity.

It was fitting that the first ring of the night was presented to Paroli by his wife, Billie. One person watching as the ring slid onto Paroli’s finger was Harold Smelcer, who has been a supporter of Paroli’s football teams for the last 25 years.

“The ring is the icing or the candles on the cake,’’ said Smelcer, who spent many years at Douglas Byrd on the sidelines before following Paroli to Seventy-First.

“I don’t know if it’s the ring,’’ Smelcer added, “it’s just the idea of him finally getting that championship.’’

For James Hopper, Most Valuable Player in the state championship, his ring didn’t mark the end of a championship season. It was a move to a new phase of his life.

“That ends one chapter and it’s time to start a new one,’’ he said.

“This is a mark showing I accomplished that chapter. I’ll probably wear it one or two days, then after that I’ll give it to my parents. I know they’ll keep it in a safe place for me.’’

Then there’s Anthony Shaw, a senior safety who found himself at a position filled with talent. He spent more time on the sidelines than he did on the field, but never complained, never failed to show up for practice, was always ready to do whatever was asked of him.

And now, for all his sacrifices and frustrations, he’s got a ring to show people. “It’s an experience that can’t be taken away from me,’’ he said. “I’ll wear it at school to show all my friends and teachers. I can show my kids later on, future generations.

“It means a whole lot with the experience and who I experienced it with.’’

Paroli hopes the rings will remind his players of something else beyond the championship season. “Whether they realize it or not, they are a band of brothers,’’ he said. “I think this is one more thing that hooks them even closer together.

“It’s the closeness of the group of people that shared it. Everybody shared it. Parents. Friends. It was a very nice affair.

“We’re just thankful that people were willing to help us realize the dream of having a championship ring.’’

Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.

Original Article Ref:

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=320286

Custom Trophies, Plaques, Awards, and more!

High Quality Sporting Goods for all sports!!

Trophy House, Inc. / Clark Sporting Goods

http://www.thetrophyhouseinc.com

Clark Sporting Goods

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The Trophy House, Inc. & Clark Sporting Goods Announcement:

We will be holding our 2009 Baseball Season Preview (Open House) on Saturday March 7th @ 2PM – The event will be held at our Hope Mills store location! @ 5613 Rockfish Rd, Hope Mills, NC (910) 609-1791.

Food, Beverages, and discounts will be provided!  Everyone is encouraged to attend. For more information please call 1(800)647-3006 or email kroy@thetrophyhouseinc.com / info@thetrophyhouseinc.com