Softball coaching legend Clifford Kirk collapses during Region 3-A title game

photo Clifford Kirk -- Coach
Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Sale Creek softball coach Clifford Kirk collapsed along the third-base line during the seventh inning of Wednesday night's Region 3-A high school championship game against Whitwell.

As Kirk stepped from the third-base coach's box to motion toward a runner on second base, he stumbled and fell onto the field. Several fans rushed onto the field to roll him over onto his back and begin chest compressions while they awaited paramedics.

Paramedics arrived within minutes and continued to administer to him. He was taken by ambulance from the field to a local hospital.

"These girls look at him like a father figure," Sale Creek principal Tobin Davidson said. "They love him. This is unbelievable. We're not sure if it was a heart attack; that's speculation, but all we can do now is pray for Clifford."

Kirk was hired to take over at Sale Creek last October, just four months after retiring as Soddy-Daisy's coach. During his legendary 26-year career with the Lady Trojans, Kirk has never had a losing record. He won eight Class AAA state championships at Soddy-Daisy, including last season, and finished runner-up three times. Before coaching at Soddy-Daisy, he won two state titles at Hixson and has more than 925 career wins.

Wednesday's game against Whitwell was suspended with the score 1-1 in the seventh inning.

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