Ooltewah Lady Owls host Choo Choo Classic

Ooltewah is hosting the Lady Owls Choo Choo Classic softball tournament this weekend at the Tyner Recreation Center. Play begins today at 5 p.m. on five fields.

Action picks back up Saturday at 9 a.m. The top two finishers in each of the four pools will be placed in the Gold bracket for single-elimination play scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. The others will be placed in the Silver bracket. Both finals are scheduled to start at 6:30.

“There’s only 16 teams, but I think it’s 16 quality teams,” Ooltewah coach Norma Nelson said. “I don’t know that there’s a pushover in the bunch.”

Admissison is $6 today and $7 on Saturday. A tournament pass is $10.

Lady Owls Choo Choo Classic at Tyner

Friday’s pool-play schedule

Field 1—Soddy-Daisy vs. Grace Academy, 5; Madison, Ala., Bob Jones vs. Maryville Heritage, 6:30; Grace Academy vs. Bob Jones, 8.

Field 2—Central vs. Walker Valley, 5; Boyd-Buchanan vs. Walker Valley, 6:30; Central vs. Ezell-Harding, 8; Boyd-Buchanan vs. Ezell-Harding, 9:30.

Field 3—Ooltewah vs. Baylor, 5; Ooltewah vs. Gibbs, 6:30; Dickson County vs. Gibbs, 8.

Field 4—GPS vs. Bradley Central, 5; GPS vs. Powell, 6:30; Meigs County vs. Bradley Central, 8.

Field 5—Powell vs. Meigs County, 5; Baylor vs. Dickson County, 6:30; Soddy-Daisy vs. Heritage, 8.

Ringgold’s Romine signs

A.J. Romine signed an intent letter Thursday to continue his education and soccer career at NCAA Division III member Oglethorpe University. Romine, a senior sweeper at Ringgold, was a captain for the Tigers and scored two goals in 18 starts this season.

“A.J. is a dedicated, hard-working student-athlete who served as the cornerstone of our defense and as a leader on and off the field,” Ringgold coach Pete Thornton said.

Northwest’s Lambert resigns

Tammy Lambert has resigned as softball coach at Northwest Whitfield. The former East Ridge and Tennessee Tech standout has accepted a teaching position at Cedar Elementary School.

Lambert, who said she needed a break from coaching, is coming off a season in which the Lady Bruins rallied from a 2-11 start to make the Class AAAA playoffs. Northwest also reached the playoffs in 2006 and ’07 and went a combined 58-44-2 in the last three seasons.

LaFayette seeks boys’ coach

Rob Neal ended his three-year run as boys’ basketball coach at LaFayette this week by announcing his resignation. The Ramblers were 28-47 and did not make the playoffs under Neal, who was a standout player for the program.

Neal cited a need to spend more time with his growing family. He had not earned his teaching certification and was working on a temporary certificate. He is undecided as to whether he will pursue his teaching career.

LaFayette athletic director Jeff Suttle said the search has begun for Neal’s successor.