Tentative conference assignment for 2012-14

Well, the Arkansas Activities Association met this month to put together the proposed conference assignments for the 2012-2014 cycle that will be voted on the entire body in August. As of right now, Beebe High School will remain in the 5A East. As a matter of fact, the East is the only conference in Class 5A that will remain the same. However, Helena-W.Helena is rumored to appeal their being placed in the 5A Central and may petition the AAA to reconsider and to put them in the 5A East and switch Beebe to the newly formed 5A Central Conference, which includes schools such as Jacksonville, North Pulaski, and Pulaski Academy. There are 7 Pulaski County schools in the Central. We will know more in August when the full body of the AAA meets to vote on all of the proposed conference assignments. Stay tuned!

New girls basketball coach for Beebe High

Well, the monthlong saga, also known as the search for the new girls basketball coach at Beebe High looks like it is over. Greene County Tech boys assistant coach Greg Richey was offered and has accepted the job. Coach Richey has had a reputation of winning conference championships and has been a part of state championship teams in track and basketball. Prior to being at GCT, Coach Richey was the boys basketball coach at Crowley's Ridge Academy in Paragound. He then was the boys junior high basketball coach at GCT, where he led the junior Eagles to numerous conference championships. He was then promoted to be Coach Bowlin's assistant, where, in a three year span, he was a part of two teams that won the 5A boys championship and was on a runner up team the other year. Coach Richey will be bringing his intense attention to detail, as well as his daughter, who will be a sophomore at BHS, and will be playing under her dad. Let's welcome Coach Richey and his family to Beebe. I wish Coach Richey the best of luck as he leads the Lady Badger basketball team in 2011-12 and beyond.

Baseball & softball all-stars

Congradulations to Beebe High baseball players Griffin Glaude and Bryson Scott, along with Beebe High softball player Megan Harris for being selected to play in their respective All-Star games which will be held later in the month in Fayetteville. Also, congradulations to Badger baseball player Dylan Byrd, who will continue his baseball career at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge. Griffin, of course, will be playing for the UCA Bears.

Don't forget.................

The school year ends this Friday, June 3. Please remember as you go out and about the city of Beebe and in the country as buses continue to run. Remember that it is against the law to pass a school bus with the red lights flashing.

New Beebe High girls basketball coach

For the first time in nearly ten years, there will be a new senior high girls basketball coach. Jamison Ingram has been hired as the new Beebe High School girls head basketball coach, replacing Lora Jackson, who was transferred to an administrative position. Coach Ingram comes from Heber Springs, where she was the assistant to senior high coach Jamie Riddle and was also the girls junior high head basketball coach. Prior to being at Heber Springs, Coach Ingram was the girls head basketball coach at Quitman High School. Coach Ingram played her high school basketball at Sheridan High School. Coach Ingram will be officially hired at the next Beebe School Board meeting, which will be next month.

Lora Jackson

In the Beebe School Board meeting on May 10, the board transferred Beebe High School girls basketball coach Lora Jackson to the newly created position of Athletic student services coordinator. Beebe High School is taking applications for the girls head basketball coach position through May 24. For more information, contact Athletic Director Jerry Jordan at Beebe High School or you can apply at www.badger.k12.ar.us.

2010-2011 Beebe Badger year in review

Well friends, here is what happened during the 2010-2011 school year, as far as Beebe High sports:

1. The Beebe Badger football team, after starting off 0-3, finish with a 6-1 record in the 5A East Conference. The Badgers narrowly lost to Batesville 14-10 in week ten and finish 2nd in the conference. The Badgers would lose to the Alma Airedales in the 1st round of the 5A playoffs to finish the year 6-5.

2. The Beebe Badger boys basketball team, with 1st year coach Ryan Marshall, finish 2nd in the 5A East behind the Blytheville Chickasaws. The Badgers achieved one notable milestone, winning 20 games for the first time since the 1982-83 season. Beebe went 20-7 and lost to Siloam Springs in the 1st round of the 5A state basketball tournament.

3. The Beebe Badger weightlifting team fell short in trying to repeat as 5A state champs, finishing 2nd in the 5A weightlifting meet to the Greenbrier Panthers.

4. The Beebe Badger wrestling team, coached by David Payne, narrowly wins the the 5A wrestling title over Little Rock Christian. The Badgers won the title in the last meet.

5. The Beebe Badger baseball team wins the 5A East Conference title for the first time ever, goes 23-5 for their best record statistically, however, the Badgers fall short in trying to repeat as 5A champs by losing in the state quarterfinals to the Arkadelphia Badgers, 11-1. Badger pitcher Griffin Glaude signs a national letter of intent to play for the University of Central Arkansas.

6. The Beebe Badger softball team finishes with a 16-10 overall record, 9-5 in the 5A East Conference, good enough for 3rd place, and advances to their eighth consecutive state tournament, where they lose to Alma 5-1 in the 1st round.

7. Badger trackster Reece Totty competes in the Meet of Champs, where he finished sixth in the two day event.

8. The Beebe School Board approves the installation of field turf at Bro Erwin Stadium. The turf will cost approximately $680,000 with over $400,000 coming in private donations from the community. The project will start June 1 with a tentative finish date of August 1.

I'm back

Hi there! Wow, has it actually been a year since I last posted on the blog? Yes it has. A lot has happened since last May, when the Beebe Badger baseball team won the 5A state championship. I will elaborate in a different post as far as what all has happened. I am going to try and better update. There's a lot that is going on as far as Badger athletics that I will talk about. On a personal standpoint, life is trying to get back to some sort of normalcy. We'll see if that will continue, but I'm optimistic. Hope you enjoy the blog.


Shane

BEEBE BADGERS WIN 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN BASEBALL!!!!!

Updated on May 25, 2010- I want to thank Russ Lindsey for letting me post these pics that he took last Friday at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. Russ gave me permission to use these pics. I will give a short description of each pic, starting from the bottom and going to the top:

#1- The four seniors on the 2010 team holding the trophy and the banner, signifying the state championship.

#2- Junior Griffin Glaude, who struck out 11 and also drove in two runs, holding up his MVP trophy.

#3- Glaude dropping to his knees after the final out, preparing for the ceremonial dogpile from his teammates.

#4- The traditional dogpile. Griffin is somewhere on the bottom, haha.

Badger fans, it is truly a great day to be a Badger!!!! The Beebe Badgers defeat the Monticello Billies 6-2 at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville to win the 2010 Class 5A baseball championship. Junior Griffin Glaude dominated on the mound with an 11 strikeout performance. He also drove in two runs on his way to be being named MVP. I will hopefully post pictures taken by Badger fans who attended today's historic game on here very soon! Beebe wins its first ever state championship in baseball. Congradulations to Coach Mark Crafton and the rest of the Badgers!!!

spring football practice

This afternoon, I paid a visit to Bro Erwin Stadium as the Beebe Badger football team was taking part in spring football practice. They were working on short yardage and goal line situations. There were a number of Badgers that I was very impressed with, but keep your eye on sophomore to be Jared Gilliam. He made some tackles on defense that really impressed the coaching staff. These Badgers are bigger and stronger and should make some noise as Beebe returns to the 5A East after a two year stint in the 5A Southeast. After practice, I spoke w/ former Badger Victor Howell. Victor told me that he is attending Arkansas Baptist College on a football scholarship and will also run track. His goal is to hopefully attend the University of Tulsa and maybe play football for them. I have a feeling we'll be hearing his name quite a bit over the next few years.

5A state championship game in baseball

Well Badger fans, Friday afternoon, the Beebe Badger baseball team will be trying to make history as they attempt to win their first ever state title in baseball. The Badgers, who are 24-7, will take on fellow 5A Southeast Conference mate Monticello in the championship game. The Badgers dominated Sylvan Hills, 9-1 on Monday night to advance to the title game. I spoke w/ Coach Mark Crafton via e-mail today, and he told me that these kids are pumped and are looking to make history. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM at Baum Stadium on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. I will not be broadcasting that game, but I invite all Badger fans to make the trip up to Fayetteville. Go Badgers!!!!!

Greg Miller, President/CEO of NEARSports

That is a picture of Greg Miller, President/CEO of NEARSports, broadcasting at a game last fall. Greg passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. He was 55 years old. He is survived by a son, Chris, daughter, Lindi, and his mom. I had only known Greg for a year, but I will always be indebted for what he did for me, both personally and professionally. I still remember the first conversation w/ him. It was in the late fall of 2008. As many of ya'll know, I was not broadcasting that year, and was going through many changes in my life, personally. My wife had moved out a month earlier, and I was adjusting to life as a single man. I was trying to not only find some normalcy in my life, plus, trying to make some extra money broadcasting. I had read that NEARSports had been sold and I contacted Greg to see if there were any broadcasts in north central Arkansas. Greg contacted me and we spoke for 30 minutes to an hour. I sensed the passion in his voice that he had as far as broadcasting and also for his family. Before he and I actually met, he and I had many phone conversations. We spoke a lot about high school sports, about the Badgers, about Greene County Tech, but we also spoke about life. See, one thing that Greg and I had in common was the fact that we were both/went through divorce. I learned a lot about Greg the announcer, but also learned a lot about Greg the person. No matter how many hours we worked, Greg was always, and I mean, always there for his kids. He was so proud of his son. Greg gushed with pride at the fact that Chris was attending Williams Baptist College, a school that Greg was very closely associated with. He was also very proud of Lindi. I can still remember a phone conversation in which his daughter had some of her friends over and you could hear them in the background. I still remember the day that we finally met. A two hour drive to Paragould and then trying to find NEARSports office. I still remember that voice when I walked in the front door. There was no doubt that it was indeed Greg. I can still picture all the momentos that were in his office: the posters, hats, pictures, etc. Greg Miller was just as passionate about sports and family in person as he was on the phone. I think that's what I'll always remember about him. I still remember Media Day, when he and I did a live broadcast of Media Day 2009, getting ready for football season. He was so complimentary of the facilities and the football program. You would've thought he lived in Beebe. The last contact that I had with Greg was about a month and a half ago. I told him to get ready because both the baseball and softball teams were going to be in the postseason and to get ready to get the approval from the AAA. I don't know what's going to happen with NEARSports, but I'll always remember Greg Miller. He took a chance on a temporarily retired play by play announcer and put me back in the booth. He always took the time to talk to me and to help me, whether it was trying to get my first internet broadcast going correctly, or just trying to pump me up. He did a lot for me personally and professionally and I'll never forget him. Thanks Greg!!

5A state softball tournament in Wynne

Well Badger fans, the Lady Badger season has sadly come to an end at the hands of the Vilonia Lady Eagles, a team that Beebe defeated earlier in the season. As of this writing, I do not have a final score, but the game was called at the top of the 7th inning because of lightning with Vilonia leading 3-0. Beebe ends their season at 17-9.

5A state baseball tournament in Monticello

Well Badger fans, Coach Mark Crafton and his Beebe Badger baseball team are one win away from playing in their first state championship game as the Badgers will take on 5A Southeast foe in one semifinal on Monday evening. On Friday afternoon, in a game that was moved up because of graduation ceremonies for both Beebe and Greenbrier, the Badgers eeked out a 3-2 win over the 5A West Panthers. On Saturday, the Badger offense exploded as they defeated the #4 seed from the 5A East, Forrest City, 11-3. The 5A tournament has seen two #1 seeds going down in the 1st round, which included Magnolia, the team that Forrest City defeated in the 1st round. This is the first time EVER that a BHS baseball team has played in the state semifinals. It should be an exciting game. I will post an update as soon as I find out a score. I won't be broadcasting this game(See post on NEARSports), but I'll be following the Badger Express as they will hopefully play for a state championship next weekend. Go Badgers!!!!