McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Sports

June 18, 2009

Medal Day

Future baseball stars have planned to depart McAlester today after the conclusion of their last Junior Sunbelt Classic baseball game played at Eastern Oklahoma State College and Mike Deak Field.

Day five of the 2009 Junior Sunbelt Classic is underway. Ten baseball teams will award players at the Medal Ceremony today at Mike Deak Field.

Many athletes are leaving families they met some have grown to love. Many athletes will travel great distances on bus, plane or personal vehicles, also leaving behind great ball players who have become supportive teammates. Some players will just leave it all on the field.

Talented young stars and coaches showcased five days of baseball. Each team played 10 baseball games in heat and humidity one game after another.

Athletes have played two games a day through blood, sweat, and tears. Moms and Dads have become sideline doctors, bandaging up players before the next game. Coaches have been designated counselers for players who have had bad days. Strangers have become friends and friends have become family.

In five days, players have endured environments they have never been in, slept in beds they have never seen and have played baseball with some of the most talented players from all around North America.

Contact Porky Falcon at pfalcon@mcalesternews.com

Text Only
Sports
Seasonal Content
Poll

A recent study of southern tornadoes has found that storm shelters did not protect them. Where do you take shelter when tornadoes threaten?

A basement or cellar
A storm shelter
A hallway or closet
Bathtub
Other
I don't take shelter
     View Results
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
NDN Video
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump Dog runs alonside cyclists for 1,100 miles Lady Gaga Cancels Indonesian Show After Threats Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery Long Story Short: Beyonce back on stage Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7 Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges Has Snooki Named Her Baby? Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend Beyonce Entertains the First Family Inspiration for the class of 2012 Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3" 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini Sliders on the Grill Cruise ship crunch Backstage With Beyonce
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.