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Healing in the Hood presents the return of boxing July 22-25 (7/20/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor The return of the O.P.P.S Boxing is being presented by Healing in the Hood at 121 S. Second Street in Blytheville on July 22-25. Boys and girls, ages eight to 14, in Mississippi County are urged to join and dawn on the boxing gloves, but there is a limited number of participants...
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“Brawl in the Fall” (7/20/24)Brawl in the Fall wrestling event will be held at the Leachville community gymnasium, 211, 11th Street, on Saturday, Aug. 17. The live pro wrestling action will begin at 7 p.m. The doors will open at 6 p.m. OVW Wrestling stars Kal Herro and Tony Gunn, along with other favorites, will be wrestling...
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Gosnell Pirates hit the practice field (7/20/24)
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Blytheville Chicks prepare for winning season (7/20/24)
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Saturday basketball clinic changes locations (6/26/24)There is a change in the location of the basketball clinic on Saturday. The clinic was going to be held at ANC but has been moved to the city of Dell Arkansas gymnasium. “Duck” Sims, master of the backboard and Gaylor Nickerson, former NBA star and Osceola standout, will host the event for fifth, sixth and seventh grade youth. The cost of the clinic is $15...
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Ridge makes back-to-back all-star teams (6/26/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Katie Ridge, of Riverside, was selected for the Class 2A all-state softball for the second year in a row after helping lead the Lady Rebels to a 26-2 overall record and a return trip the Class 2A state championship gam. Riverside finished as conference, district and regional champions. The Lady Rebels lost to Mansfield 4-2 in the state finals...
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Basketball Action At Wildcat Gym (6/26/24)
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Addi Williams competes in finals (6/19/24)Harrisburg's Addi Williams is competing in the Breakaway Roping at the Bonus Race Finals in Shawnee Oklahoma. She won this buckle for her session and that win moved her into the final round. (Courtesy photo)
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Klaire Womack selected for second all-state softball team (6/19/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Riverside's Klaire Womack was honored with her second straight selection to the Class 2A all-state softball team after leading the Lady Rebels back to the state title game this past season. Riverside finished the season with a 26-2 overall record while going 12-0 in 2A-3 conference play. ...
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10U tournament (6/19/24)
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Chickasaws win 7-on-7 tournament in Tennessee (6/19/24)The Blytheville Chickasaws were a perfect 9-0 on the day Saturday in a 7-on-7 tournament hosted by the University of Tennessee-Martin. The winning Chickasaws were coached by Head Coach Jett Howard and new Chicks and former Osceola assistants, Bodie Stane and Mitchell Fryer...
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Six 3A State Champion Pirates sign to play at next level (6/15/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Sports Connection GOSNELL— With three more signings Wednesday afternoon from the 3A State Championship Gosnell Pirates team in Ryan Wrinkles, Kason Newsom and Blake Brothers brings the total number of student athletes from Gosnell to six, with five playing baseball and one playing basketball, to further their education and playing career at the collegiate level...
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Wrinkles signs letter of intent with ASU Mid-South (6/15/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— Wednesday afternoon Gosnell Pirates closer Ryan Wrinkles joined high school teammates Jake Reams and Trent Middleton at the collegiate level as he inked his national letter of intent to play college baseball at ASU Mid-South...
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Kason Newsom signs with CRC (6/15/24)By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— Gosnell Pirates first baseman Kason Newsom signed a national letter of intent to play collegiate baseball for the Crowley’s Ridge College Pioneers Wednesday afternoon. Newsom handled the first base position for head coach Aaron Coots during the Pirates run to the 3A State Championship...
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Blake Brothers signs intent with Pioneers (6/15/24)By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— Wednesday afternoon at the Gosnell High School gym a dream became a reality for Gosnell Pirates outfielder Blake Brothers as he inked with Crowley’s Ridge College to play collegiate baseball for the CRC Pioneers...
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Pirates state title makes Gosnell coach prophetic (6/15/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team Gosnell head coach Aaron Coots made no bones about his expectation for his senior led team back when the Sports Connection interviewed him prior to the 2024 season. Coots said, “ We expect to go undefeated at home and go to state....We want to go at least one round further than last year (semifinal loss).”...
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Gosnell Baseball Team Brings It Home! (6/15/24)
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Area teams scrimmage in Trumann Saturday (6/11/24)
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Mountain Dew softball tournament (6/11/24)Five area softball players were crowned champions of the 43rd Annual Mountain Dew youth softball tournament this past Sunday at Southside Softball Complex. Four players from Riverside bottom row: Klaire Womack (00) and Brooklynn Berry (6); back row: Annalee Qualls (second from left), Kaylee Cox (12) and one player from Gosnell, Leilah Prude (14). (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)...
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Seminoles win Gold Division (6/5/24)The Osceola Seminoles won the Gold Division of the Beast of the East 7 on 7 football tournament this past Saturday in Hoxie. The Seminoles won all eight games they played and defeated Jonesboro in the championship game.
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NEA Soccer MissCo to host skills academy (6/5/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team NEA Soccer MissCo will be offering a once per week Summer Skills Academy between June 11 and July 17. Sessions will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in Osceola and on Wednesdays in Blytheville. Cost for the camp is $50. Ages six - 14 are welcome to register. For more information, contact Ray Fulmer at EastArkSoccer@gmail.com...
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2024 Gosnell golf teams announced (6/5/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team The members of the 2024 Gosnell High School boys and girls golf teams have been announced by the school. Suiting up for the Pirates boys team will be three seniors, Christian Jackson, Landon Thomas and Conner Whitehead. Rounding out the four man team is freshman Brayden Holdaway...
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Manila Waterpark opens for summer (6/5/24)The Manila Waterpark/pool opened on Saturday with about 150 swimmers coming out to enjoy the afternoon. Sunday afternoon brought 230 plus swimmers of all ages. (Photos By Revis Blaylock)
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MissCo Soccer partners with NEA Soccer Club (6/5/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team Given the possibilities and challenges to growth of soccer in Mississippi County, MissCo soccer has partnered with the NEA Soccer Club of Jonesboro. “We have made a verbal agreement with NEA Soccer to become their Mississippi County branch,” said club organizer and coach Ray Fulmer. “ This will allow us to enter teams into state-level leagues and tournaments in upcoming seasons. It also allows our kids to access some of their training.”...
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Baker tabbed for Class 1A all-state softball team (6/5/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Marked Tree senior Gabby Baker was selected for the Class 1A all-state softball team this past season. Baker helped lead the Lady Indians to an overall record of 12-10 and a 7-1 record in the 1A-3 conference. Marked Tree were crowned conference champions and district champions...
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City Stars Soccer program attracts kids from across Missco (6/5/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team The MissCo City Stars soccer program had a successful second season. The program fields two teams, Under 10s and Under 12s, both of whom reached the semifinals of the Jonesboro City Stars soccer league. The Under 10s finished third overall, while the Under 12s reached the championship game, where they lost 5-4 finishing as the runnersup...
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McClure selected for Class 2A all-state baseball team (6/5/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Riverside's Zain McClure capped off his sophomore season with a selection to the Class 2A All-State baseball team. McClure helped lead the Rebels to a 27-6 overall record with a 12-0 record in the 2A-3 conference. ...
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School Board welcomes state champions (6/1/24)
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State champion Pirates sign autographs (6/1/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor GOSNELL— Thursday afternoon, the Gosnell School District, along with the baseball program, celebrated their Class 3A State Championship victory at the Pirates on campus stadium. They celebrated with hot dogs, hamburgers, autographs and a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives. ...
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Coach Pierce returns to Blytheville (6/1/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE - Mckenzie Pierce is coming “home.” Last Thursday night, the Blytheville School Board approved the hiring of the former Chickasaw head basketball coach to that position. In addition to those duties, Pierce will also serve as athletic director...
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Willwerth to cheer at APSU (5/29/24)Lexus Willwerth, of Rivercrest High School, a multi-year letter winner on the Colts cheer squad, has committed to cheer at the next level at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
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Brownlee commits to State Fair College (5/29/24)Rivercrest post-player Zakiyah Brownlee, who led the Lady Colts in blocked shots the last two seasons, has committed to play college basketball at State Fair Community College, a two-year school in Sedalia, Mo. The 6-5 Brownlee made her commitment official Wednesday during a signing ceremony at Rivercrest. (Look for photo(s) and more coverage of the signing in the June 6 edition of the Osceola Times)...
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Manila Catcher inks with Pioneers (5/29/24)Jaydon Goff of Manila High School joined CRC's baseball program with the slugger inking with the Pioneers on Friday, May 17, at Manila High School. The senior spent the bulk of his career behind the plate for the Lions and looks to keep the same game plan when he joins the Pioneers in the Fall. ...
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Mross garners 3A all-state softball honors (5/29/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Lady Hornet Hannah Mross was selected to the Class 3A all-state softball team this past season. Mross saw time at catcher, short stop and center field for Harrisburg. She helped lead the Lady Hornets to a 10-10 overall record and a 6-4 3A-3 conference record. Harrisburg advanced to the 3A-2 regional tournament where they lost to Melbourne 10-0 in the opening round...
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Jackson selected for 2A all-state softball team (5/29/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Claire Jackson of BIC was selected to the Class 2A All-State after helping lead the Lady Mustangs to a 13-11 overall record and a 9-3 record in the 2A-3 conference. “Since I didn’t start playing softball until the 9th grade, I can honestly say that being chosen for all-state is both incredible and unexpected! I love this game so much and playing softball has been the biggest gift. ...
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All-State baseball and softball named (5/29/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas Activities Association has released the names of those players named All-State and All-State Tournament in both baseball and softball. The baseball All-State squad players from our coverage area include, in Class 3A State champions Gosnell had two players named in senior Trent Middleton and junior Chad Stewart and Rivercrest standouts, senior Conner Vaughn and junior Joe Louis Ralph...
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Colts Morris inks with U-of-A Rich Mountain (5/29/24)By STEVE KNOX Times Sports Editor WILSON - Rivercrest Colts standout outfielder Kevin Morris signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball next season at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, a 2-year school located in Mena, Ark., during a signing ceremony in the Rivercrest High School Library...
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Klaire Womack overcomes adversity to return to finals (5/22/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Klaire Womack and Riverside Lady Rebels matched up again with Mansfield this past Saturday for the Class 2A state softball title. After a 1-0 win last year for their first state title, Mansfield scored three runs in extra innings to win 4-2 this year...
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Trumann Middle School student ranks first in trap shooting (5/22/24)Foxx Thompson, a sixth-grade student at Trumann Middle School, ranked first in the state of Arkansas for his trap shooting in January and February and fifth in the United States for his division. (Courtesy photo)
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Fox Forrester named Most Valuable Player (5/22/24)Fox Forrester, of Whitton, a member of the Sticks USSSA 12U Gilbertson baseball team, was named the most valuable player of the 2024 Tournament of Champions competed over the weekend at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex in Jackson, Tennessee. Forrester and his teammates also won gold rings as the Sticks won the tournament in their division...
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Green tabbed all-state in basketball (5/22/24)Harrisburg's Elisabeth 'Liz' Green was selected to the Class 3A all-state basketball team for the 2023-2024 basketball season. This is Green's first all-state selection. In 28 games this past season, Green scored 462 points for an average of 16.5 points per game. She also added 71 assists (2.5 apg), 177 rebounds (6.3 rpg), and 109 steals (3.9 spg). Green shot 42 % behind the three-point line for the year while shooting 52% on two-point baskets. She also made 68% of her free throws...
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– State Softball Runners-Up – (5/22/24)Lady Rebels fall to Mansfield in state title rematchBy COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team CONWAY – In a rematch of last year's Class 2A softball state championship game, Mansfield (24-1) used a three run eighth inning to take a 4-2 win over Riverside (27-2). Riverside beat the Lady Tigers 1-0 last year in winning their first state title...
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State Champions (5/22/24)Gosnell beats CAC for 3A state baseball titleBy COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team CONWAY – Trent Middleton and Ryan Wrinkles combined to only allow two runs in a 6-2 win as Gosnell (26-8) beat Central Arkansas Christian (18-6) this past Saturday to win the Class 3A state baseball title for the second time in school history. The Pirates also won the state title in 1990...
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Lady Rebels punch ticket for return trip to state finals (5/15/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team PALESTINE – Klaire Womack put on a dominant show Saturday in leading Riverside (27-1), the 2A North Regional champions, to a 5-0 win over Woodlawn (21-10), the two seed from the 2A South Regional. The victory sends the Lady Rebels back to the Class 2A state softball championship game. ...
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Riverside host sports auction/dinner (5/15/24)Riverside hosted the 2024 sports auction and scholarship dinner on Tuesday, May 7. Rebel basketball coach Buster Campbell served as the auctioneer thanking everyone for their support. Athletic Director Jason Durham also thanked the Booster Club, coaches, athletes and fans for a great year...
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Rivercrest defeats Manila for Jr. High title (5/15/24)The Rivercrest Jr. High Colts defeated Manila 5-1 Wednesday, May 8 to secure the 2024 Jr. High baseball championship. Ashton Harris and Payton McCormick combined to allow only four hits and one run to the Junior Lions. Lexx Latham and Kayden Schwantz had two hits each, while Harris had two RBI going 1-for-4 at the dish. Rivercrest stole eight bases in the game, six by Latham. Rivercrest improved to 21-4 overall this season while going undefeated in conference and tournament play...
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Rebels lose heart breaker in state quarter-finals (5/15/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team PALESTINE - Riverside (27-6), the third seed from the 2A North Regional, was held to one hit on the day in a 1-0 loss to defending state champion Woodlawn (33-1) Friday. Woodlawn, who are the one seed from the 2A South Regional, beat the Rebels by the same score back in March...
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Armorel falls 7-2 in Class 1A Elite Eight (5/15/24)By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team GREERS FERRY - The Armorel Tigers season came to an end Friday as they were defeated 7-2 in their Class 1A State Tournament elite eight matchup against the St. Joseph Bulldogs in the 1A State Playoffs. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning and knocked Tigers junior southpaw Jackson Welch out of the game after one and one-third innings. ...
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Williams wins state in 400m for second year (5/15/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Sports team QUITMAN— Armorel Tigers sophomore runner Braylen Williams defended his 2023 state title in the 400 meters Tuesday morning and finished the race in first place for the second straight year while also placing second in the long jump and triple jump events; and fifth in 100 meters...
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Lady Warriors tumble in state tournament opener (5/15/24)By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team FORREST CITY – EPC (17-10), the third seed from the 2A North Regional, were held to no runs and four hits in their opening round loss to Central Arkansas Christian (CAC), the first seed from the 2A Central Regional, Thursday in the Class 2A state tournament hosted by Palestine-Wheatley...