FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 SPORTS NEWs-LEADER North floridaCrushers The 9-U North Florida Crushers baseball travel- ing team is still looking for players for the spring season. The season runs January through June with half home games in the Femandina Beach area and half away games in the Jacksonville area. Contact Scott Miller at 753-1620 or Karen Miller at 753-1622 or e-mail k1mi1246@aol.com. PALregistration The Isle of Eight Flags Police Athletic is holding registration for the 2008 seasons for basketball ($25 fee), boxing ($100) and track and field ($110) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the administrative office, 1525 Lime St., Fernandina Beach or from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the PAL Community Technology Learning Center after- school program, 202 South Ninth St., Suite 1. Birth certificate, wallet-size photo and copy of latest report card are required. Students whose grade point average is 1.9 or lower must attend the PAL afterschool program at least twice a week to play. Volunteer applications for prospective coaches and referees will be accepted during registration. Basketball season begins Jan. 30. Call 277-7344. Free-throwcompetition All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2008 Knights of Columbus Free-Throw Championship. The local competition will be held Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. at the Peck Center Gym, 510 South 10th St., Fernandina Beach. The event is sponsored annually, with winners progressing though local, district and state compe- titions. All boys and girls 10-14 years old are eligi- ble to participate and will compete in their respec- tive age divisions. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For entry forms or information, contact Walter Conti at 321-0941 or Tom Smeeton at 321-4139. Elm Street Little League Elm Street Little League will hold spring regis- tration from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 26 at Charles Albert field. Girls softball (9-12 and 13-16 years old), minor league baseball (6-8), major league baseball (9-12) and senior league baseball (13-15) are offered. Cost is $40; add $15 for a sibling. Coaches, volun- teers and board members are needed. Contact Wayne Peterson at 753-1663. Amelia Island Runners Amelia Island Runners, Fernandina Beach's local running club, is holding midweek group runs under the lights at the Fernandina Beach High School track on Citrona Drive. The runs are free and open to the public for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Last session is from 6-7 p.m. Jan. 30. Visit www.ameliaislandrunners.com. YuleePop Warner Yulee Pop Warner will be holding registration for the 2008 season soon. Early sign-up ($100 first child, $75 additional child) is from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 2. Registration will also be held from 9 a.m. to noon March 8, April 12, May 17, June 7, June 14, June 21 and June 28. Fee is $125 first child ($10.0 additional child). Birth certificate'and wallet-size photo are required at registration. End-of-year report card and physical are required by June 28. YuleeLitde League -Yulee Little League will hold registration for the 2008 spring season Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon and Jan. 28-31 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the ballpark on Goodbread Road. Players must be'5 years old by May for baseball and must have turned 7 years old by Dec. 31 for girls softball. Original birth certifi- cate and proof-of residency are required at time of registration. Players must be present to try on uni- forms. Tryouts are. Feb. 1-2. IOpening day is March 8. Opening ceremonies start at 9 a.m. Volunteer applications for prospec- tive managers and coaches will be accepted during registration. Call 225-9611 and leave a message. BabeRuth Fernandina Beach Babe Ruth is registering players for the 2008 season. Register online at www.leaguelineup.com/fernandina or in person from 6-8 p.m. Mondays in January at 1001 Beech St. Registration will also be held from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 26 at 1001 Beech St. Fees will be reduced $10 (first player with sibling discount) for players registered before Jan. 15. Fees will be $90 for city residents and $95 for county residents for the first player with sibling discounts. Deadline to register is Jan. 28. Late fee is $10. Anyone inter- esting in having a child try out for an upper division should contact Henry Arato at harato@aol.com. Managers and coaches must attend an umpire clinic Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. and a training clinic (TBA). Each team will need two trained scorekeepers. Anyone interested should attend the clinic Feb. 9, beginning at 10 a.m. Baseball teams in the senior division will be required to attend a safety clinic. Getready OldTimers The Nassau County Old Timers are practicing at the YborAlvarez sports complex on Bailey Road in Fernandina Beach at 6:15 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact Jody Montgomery at 753-0889. The game is Feb. 2 Pirates on the Run The Pirates on the Run 5K/10OK, walk and kids' runs will be Feb. 2, starting at Fernandina Beach. City Hall. This race will be a perfect final race before the new 26.2 with Donna marathon in Jacksonville. With a course measured to USA Track & Field standards, it's also an excellent opportunity to achieve a seeded position in the 2008 Gate River Run. The event will also feature a two-mile non-com- petitive walk and half-mile and one-mile fun runs for the kids. The fun begins with the 5K/10K races at 8:30 a.m. with the walkers following the runners. The kids' runs start at 9:45 a.m. All of the events start and finish at Fernandina Beach City Hall, 224 Ash St. Awards in the 5K and 10K will be given to male and female runners in these categories: Overall winners, overall masters (age 40 and over), grandmasters (50 and over) and senior grandmas- ters (60 and over); and three-deep in these age groups: 13 and under, 14-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64,65-69, and 70 and over. All preregistered runners and walkers.will also get a long-sleeve T-shirt with a pirate theme. An awards ceremony with food, drink and door prizes will follow the kids' run at City Hall. Race proceeds will benefit youth running, including Girls on the Run of Northeast Florida and the Amelia Island Runners' high school scholarship fund. The entry fees for the 5K/1 OK and walk are $20 through today, or $15 for Amelia Island Runners (except online). After today through race day, the fee is $25 for everyone. The children's entry fee is;$10. No dogs and strollers will be allowed on the course. For information or to download a race applica- tion visit www.ameliaislandrunners.com. Applications will also be available at Club 14 Fitness. Sign up on the day of the race from 7-8 , a.m. at City Hall. No applications will be accepted after 8 a.m. on race day. Preregistered runners arid walkers may pick up race packets at Club 14 Fitness on Feb. 1 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. or on race day at City Hall, starting at 7 a.m. E-mail race director Deborah Dunham at ddun ham426@aol.com or call 261-7398. Australia Dayrugby match The Jacksonville Axemen will host the Australia Day Challenge Rugby-League game at the University of North Florida Jan. 26. The game will see the Russell Crowe-owned Sydney Rabbitohs take on the current European Superleague cham- pion Leeds Rhinos. Visit www.jaxaxe.com. General admission tickets, on sale at the UNF Ticket Box Office, are $10 (plus $2 taxes and fees). The UNF Ticket Box Office is located at the. Fine Arts Center (Building 45) in room 1400 and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (904) 620-2878 for information or to purchase tickets, cash or check only-at UNF. Yogaevents Y Yoga's stretch and strengthening class meets Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 a.m. This. class enhances body movement and is done pri- marily on an exercise ball. Yoga classes at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m: Wednesdays are cardio ball workouts. A yin yoga class, structured for those who need physical rehabilitation, meets at 5 p.m. Tuesdays. On Jan. 27, Y Yoga will have candlelight yoga sessions at 5:30 p.m. Hot power vinyasa yoga is Jan. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. This is a cardio class done in a very hot room. The cost is $15, or $5 with a pre-paid yoga session. An introduction to yoga class is Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. WRESTLING Fernandina Beach High School 48, Episcopal 33 Jan. 19 at FBHS 103-Nick Morf won by forfeit 112-Beau Baxter won by forfeit 119-John Morrissey lost by pin (vs. Bledsoe) 125-Kyle Owens won by pin 3:04 (vs. Raymond) 130-Chad Livingston won by pin 1:59 (vs. Jennessee) 135-Jordan Tudor lost by pin (vs. Wilson) S 140-Kevin McEntee won by pin :24 (vs. Wilson) " ..145-Sean Watkins lost by pin (vs. Terre) 152-Mitch Haley won by pin :58 (vs. Ferdman) :",-160-lan Muir lost by pin (vs. Burns) ..:1-71-Donnie Moore won by pin 329 (vs. Vincent) COACH Continuedfrom 12 COACHI Continued from 12A 189-Matt Roberts lost by pin (vs. Bryant) 215-Jack Williams lost 8-7 (vs. Kurtonas) . Heavyweight-Chris Kremler won by pin (vs. Dopson) JV-Tanner Lee lost by pmn (vs. Curnutte) FBHS 63, First Coast 24 103-Morf won by forfeit 112-Baxter lost by pin (vs. West) 119-Morrissey lost by pin (vs. Razon) 125-Owens won by forfeit 130-Livingston won by pin (vs, Thompson) 135-Tudor won by forfeit 140-McEntee lost by pin (vs. Aolsten) 145-Watkins won by pin 5:09 (vs. Roe) 160-Haley lost 13-9 (vs. Bell) also taught turf management, was relieved of his teaching and coaching duties on Jan. 17. Cooksey said he understood why the Hilliard community wanted Whittenburg back as head coach. In fact, Braddock said that Cooksey was made aware that Whittenburg would get his coaching position back, providing that he was healthy enough to coach. But Cooksey said he didn't understand why he couldn't have stayed on as a teacher for the remainder of the school year. "It was such a surprise to me," Cooksey said. "I'm just surprised that they didn't at least reassign me somewhere and let me finish out the school year. I'm quite shocked about that." He also said that he wasn't told he was being let go. According to section four of Florida Statute 1012.33 (3) (a), "For any person newly employed as a member of. the instructional staff after June 30, 1997, the initial annual contract shall include a 97-day probationary period during which time the employ- 171-Moore won by forfeit 189-Roberts won by forfeit 215-Williams won 12-2 (Tim) Heavyweight-Kremler won by pin "We're happy to finish district wrestling undefeated among all of the district teams," FBHS Coach Mark Durr'said. "However, we know it will not be any walk in the park at the district tournament. We will be the team with a bull's eye on our back, we know that other teams will be gunning for us. "Our job is to be ready to wrestle like we are capable of and the rest will work itself out. This is a team sport, we need all of our weight classes to come through. "We feel really strong with some of our classes like 171 (Donnie) and 215 (Jack). We like our chances at all the'other classes if they work hard for the next couple of weeks. We will be ready to go Feb. 2." ee's contract may be terminated without cause or the employee may resign without breach of contract." Cooksey said that his 97th day was Jan. 17. Without getting into specifics, Braddock said that the timing of Cooksey's departure will actually give the coach an advantage next season. Since Cooksey wants to be a head coach somewhere next year, Braddock said he will have a head start wherever he ends up. "It's just an advantage for any coach to start work- ing in January," Braddock said. "High school athletics in the state of Florida are so competitive that any foot- ball coach has to be working in January, or they have no chance of playing in December. "Coach Cooksey is a man of strong character, and he knows that when God closes one door, he. opens another usually bigger and better. Our school family wishes him and his family only the best." E-mail comments and suggestions to dshanks@nas saucountyrecord.com. CONFERENCE CHAMPS JOHN WILSON/SPECIAL The Fernandina Beach Middle School girls soccer team defeated Green Cove Springs 2-0 Jan. 11 to clinch the Florida Crown Conference title. The FBMS Lady Pirates were unbeaten this season and boasted an 8-0 record. They were also crowned Nassau County's middle'school girls soccer champions. CRUSHERS CRUSH SUBMITTED The North Florida Crushers, the local nine-and-under traveling baseball team, opened the sea- son with an 11-6 victory over the North-Florida Hurricanes. The Crushers incldue,.front rown. from left, Scotty Riyenbark, Mitch Hawldhs, Dylan Sanborn, Cole Chavers, Cody Everetts;Ryanw Miller; middle, Ridge Sheffield, Brylen Ericksen, Brett White, Noah Winebarger; back row, coaches Cliff White, Scott Miller, Butch Sanborn, Sonny Winebarger and Jay Chavers. The team is still looking for players. Contact Scott Miller at 753-1620 or Karen Miller at 753-1622 or e- mail klmil246@aol.com. 2008 SCHEDULES FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER Jan. 21-25 District at Bolles Jan. 31-Feb. 8 Regional tournament Feb. 13-16 State at Fort Lauderdale YULEE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL Jan. 25 at Bolles Feb. 4-9 District at Episcopal 6/7:30 FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL Jan. 25 BISHOP SNYDER 6/7:30 Jan. 29 UNIV. CHRISTIAN 6/7:30 Feb. 1 HILLIARD 6/7:30 Feb. 4-9 District at Episcopal .Denotes games for district seeding FERNANDINA BEACH.HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING Feb. 1 District TBA 'Feb. 8-9 Regional TBA Feb. 14-16 State TBA YULEE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING Jan. 25 BRADFORD 7:00 Feb. 2 District at Episcopal 10am Feb. 8-9 Regional at Matanzas TBA Feb. 14-16 State at Lakeland TBA FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL Jan. 28-Feb. 2 District tournament TBA * Denotes district games YULEE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL Jan. 25 at Baker County Jan. 28-30 District 6/7:30 TBA FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOFTBALL Jan. 29 Preseason at West Nassau Feb. 4 at Fletcher 6:30 Feb. 5 at Stanton 6:00 Feb. 7 BAKER COUNTY 5:00 Feb. 11 at Hilliard 6:00 Feb. 13 at Bishop Snyder" 4:00 Feb. 15 YULEE* 7:00 Feb. 19 TRINITY CHRISTIAN' 7:00 Feb. 20 at Lee 5:00 Feb. 22 at West Nassau' 7:00 Feb. 26 at Wolfson 6:00 Feb. 27 at Terry Parker 6:00 Feb. 29 at Bolles' 6:00 March 4 BISHOP SNYDER* 7:00 March 5 STANTON 6:00 March 7 WEST NASSAU* 7:00 March 11 BOLLES* 6:00 March 12 LEE 4:30 March 14 at Yulee' 7:00 March 17 FIRST COAST 6:00 March 18 TERRY PARKER 6:00 March 20 BALDWIN" 7:00 March 25 at Trinity Christian' 7:00 March 27 at Baldwin* 7:00 April 10 at Baker County 6:00 April 11 HILLIARD (seniors) 7:00 April 14-17 District at West Nassau ' Denotes District 4-3A games FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS Feb. 14. BAKER COUNTY 4:00 Feb. 20 at Bishop Snyder 4:00 Feb. 21 at Stanton 400 Feb. 27 YULEE (AlP) 4:00 Feb. 28 WEST NASSAU 4:00 March 3 TRINITY (AIP) 4:00 March 5 PAXON (AlP) 4:00 March 7-8 Camden tourney 3:00 March 10 at West Nassau 400 March 12 BISHOP SNYDER (AlP) 4:00 March 18 at Bishop Kenny 4:00 March 25 at Providence 4:00 April 8-9 District at Bolles FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD Feb. 19 at Andrew Jackson 3:00 Feb. 21 WEST NASSAU 4:30 March 1 at Sandalwood 8am March 8, at Forrest 8am March 13 at Episcopal TBA March 15 at Raines 7:30am March 18 at West Nassau 4:30 March25 COUNTY MEET 4:30 April 5 at Ribault' 8am April 8 District 4-2A meet TBA April 16 Region 1-2A at Bolles TBA April 26 State at Winter Park TBA FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY BASEBALL Feb. 5 First Pitch at Sandalwood 7:00 Feb. 7 First Pitch at Sandalwood 4:00 Feb. 12 TERRY PARKER 6:00 Feb. 14 at Baker County 6:00 Feb. 18 LEE 6:00 Feb. 22 at Stanton 6:30 Feb. 26 at Bishop Snyder' 4:00 Feb. 28 WEST NASSAU' 6:00 March 1 at Ware County 1:00 March 4 MARIST 7:00 March 7 at Winter Haven 7:00 March 8 at Lake Wales 12:00 March 14 BOLLES' 7:00 March 15 WARE COUNTY 1:00 March 18 at Episcopal* 6:00 March 20 TRINITY* 7:00 March 21 at Nease 7:00 March 25 at Yulee' 7:00 March 28 at Lee 6:00 April 2-5 DIAMOND CLASSIC April 8 BALDWIN* 7:00 April 10 at Fleming Island 4:00 April 11 COLUMBIA COUNTY 7:00 April 14 CAMDEN COUNTY 7:00 April 17 YULEE 7:00 April 21-24 DISTRICTTOURNEY * Denotes District 4-3A games FERNANDINA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL Feb. 14 ORANGE PARK 5:00 Feb. 19 at Orange Park 5:00 Feb. 20 YULEE 5:30 Feb. 22 at Baldwin 6:00 Feb. 26 WEST NASSAU 5:00 Feb. 28 at Yulee 6:00 March 3 at Bolles 6:00 March 6 STANTON March 7 TRINITY March 10 BISHOP SNYDER March 12 EPISCOPAL March 14 at West Nassau March 18 BOLLES March 19 at Episcopal March 21 at Camden County March 24 at Stanton March 27-28 JV tourney at Yulee March 31 FLEMING ISLAND April 1 at Fleming Island April 7 BALDWIN April 9 CAMDEN COUNTY April 10 at Trinity YULEE HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY BASEBALL Feb. 5 vs. Hilliard at Baker Feb. 7 vs. Baker at Baker Feb. 12 ORANGE PARK Feb. 15 BISHOP SNYDER* Feb. 19 at Baldwin* Feb. 23 at Gainesville Feb. 23 at Hawthorne Feb. 26 TRINITY CHRISTIAN' Feb. 29 at First Coast March 1 at St. Johns Co. Day March 3 FLEMING ISLAND March 7 at Bolles' March 12 ST JOHNS CO. DAY March 14 HILLIARD March 18 at West Nassau' March20 vs. Mandarin at UNF March25 FERNANDINA BEACH* April 1-5 at Terry Parker tourney April 7 EPISCOPAL' April 8 WEST LAWRENCE, Ga. April 11 at Paxon April 15 at Hilliard April 17 at Fernandina Beach April 18 HAWTHORNE April 21-24 District at Femandina District games Fernandina Mulch &Stone The Mulch Man Says: Mulch Rock *Stone Sand * Pine Straw Dirt Palm Trees...And More WE DELIVER 1.3 miles West of bridge on AIA 04. o .7r77 Mn.S5:30 Fernandina Beach, FL W i4 1 Sat.8:00-1:00 www.femandinamulch.com 4^, SPORTS SHORTS