Mike Amos

Sports Columnist

Baseball, softball and football are the topics in today’s discussion.

Of course the big event going on in Troy this weekend is the Atlantic Sun Softball Tournament at the Troy State Lady Trojans Softball Complex on Elm Street.

The Trojans are 45-15 on the season and a pre-tournament favorite as the host school. The Lady Trojans lost 3-0 to Georgia State in it’s first game of the tournament Thursday morning, but came back to defeat Jacksonville State 4-2 in the afternoon loser’s bracket to stay alive in the double-elimination event.

Florida Atlantic, 16-2 in A-Sun play, beat Jax State in the first game on Thursday and are now in the driver’s seat.

Whether the Trojans win or lose this tournament, it has been a super year for the Troy State softball program. Now with a new facility to help recruit players, Coach Melanie Davis has her program in position to compete nationally. With a career record of 434-232-2, Davis has already established a winning program at TSU, including 40-plus wins, six out of the last seven years, and a 52-win season in 1995. The Trojans are not far away from competing day-in and day-out with the strongest programs in the country.

Troy State finished this season in second place in the A-Sun conference standings with a 13-5 record and was second in team batting with a .287 and first in fielding with a .970 fielding percentage.

Senior Kim Unkenholz finished this season as TSU’s all-time winning pitcher. The Hoover native’s career record going into this week is 60-34. She also struck out 424 and walked only 110 in 619 career innings pitched.

TSU freshman catcher Tamra Howren and senior third baseman Mindy Porep made first-team Atlantic Sun Conference this week. However Howren, a native of British Columbia, set new Troy State season records in home runs (eight) and RBIs with 53. Porep, a four-year-starter, led the Lady Trojans in hitting with a .343 average.

It is a great tournament! Let’s support it!

Troy State’s baseball team finishes its home slate this weekend with a big three-game series against Jacksonville University at Riddle-Pace Field this weekend. The Trojans, who are 24-26 this season, play at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night. They will also play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Charles Henderson High School released their 2002 schedule this week.

The Trojans of Coach Hugh Fountain open the season in Brundidge on Aug. 23 with a "Jamboree" against Pike County High School.

The regular season starts on Aug. 30 with Andalusia. On Sept. 6, the Trojans are at home again against Escambia County of Atmore, then play again Sept. 13 at Russell County High School in Seale. A road trip to Greenville will be on Sept. 20, and back home against Mike Dubose’s Northview Cougars of Dothan. On Oct. 4 the Trojans renew their rivalry with Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee in the Trojans’ homecoming game at Troy.

A trip to Eufaula will take place on Oct.10 for a Thursday night game. Oct. 18 the Trojans are back at home against powerful Wilcox-Central. Carroll High of Ozark comes to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 25 and the Trojans end the regular season on the road at Dadeville on Nov. 1.

CHHS finished the season 9-3 last year.

I am looking forward to football 2002!