Heritage High School senior Cole Wilcox made a strong Team USA debut Wednesday in the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Canada.
The right-hander started and pitched seven scoreless innings in an 8-1 win over Cuba as the United States completed pool play in the World Baseball Softball Confederation event with a 5-0 record. Wilcox allowed two hits, struck out five and walked three, earning high praise from Team USA manager Andy Stankiewicz.
"Phenomenal job," Stankiewicz said in a news release. "He's just a competitor who attacks the zone and is a big, strong young man. He trusts his stuff, especially his fastball, and attacks with it. He works off the fastball, and that just makes his off-speed stuff that much better. He just did a great job of attacking the zone and going after hitters today."
Team USA will begin competition in the super round today.
Region 6-AAA softball competition heats up
Calhoun has been the dominant Region 6-AAA softball program in recent years, earning three state championships and a state runner-up finish.
Entering Wednesday, the Lady Yellow Jackets were still atop the region standings nearing the halfway point in the regular season, but they weren't alone. Joining Calhoun at 5-2 against 6-AAA competition is Sonoraville - which recently defeated the Lady Jackets 4-0 - Bremen and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.
Just behind that group were Coahulla Creek and Ringgold at 3-3. North Murray, which also beat Calhoun this season, is 3-5.
"We knew this region is always good," said Calhoun coach Diane Smith, whose team replaced the majority of its starters from last year. "It's going to be tight to the end."
Pioneers Hall of Fame honorees for 2017 set
East Ridge High School will honor its 2017 Hall of Fame inductees Oct. 5 at the school's Neely Gymnasium. This will be the fourth induction class, and each of the 13 new members, including former state championship players and coaches, will be introduced Oct. 6 at halftime of the Pioneers' home football game against Central.
The honorees: Beth Alexander Edgar (basketball, softball, volleyball); Paige Cochrane Pickett (basketball, softball, volleyball); Beverly Garner Grubbs (basketball, softball, volleyball); Donny Garner (baseball, basketball, football, track); Danny Gilbert (wrestling, team handball); April Miller Raschke (basketball, softball, volleyball); Dawn Newton Zimmerman (basketball, track, volleyball); Doug Parham (baseball, basketball, football, team handball, track); Mike Parker (baseball, football, wrestling); Dana Reed Mull (basketball, softball, volleyball); Alicia Scott Moore (basketball, softball, track, volleyball); Holly Speiser Collett (basketball, softball, volleyball); Tom Watson (baseball, football, track).