In sports,

This week’s UIL Softball State Tournament in Austin will once again have East Texas flavor as both Van and Harleton will be vying for state championships.

 

Van is making its third state tournament appearance, will face Snyder at 9 a.m. Thursday from the University of Texas’ Red and Charline McCombs Field in one Class 3A semifinal. If Van wins Thursday, it will meet either La Grange or Huffman Hargrave at 10 a.m. Saturday in the state title game.

 

Harleton which is making its second appearance at state, will play Hubbard at 9 a.m. this morning in one Class A semifinal. If Harleton wins its semifinal, it will play either Petrolia or Weimar at 3 p.m. Thursday for the championship.

 

The Class 2A semi-finals are also being played today, as Hawley takes on East Bernard and Crawford goes up against Lone Oak. The 1A & 2A Finals set for Thursday afternoon.

 

Meanwhile, the boys are in region final action this week. In the Class 1A, Region 3 Final, it’s defending state champion Price Carlisle taking on No. 1 state-ranked Douglass. The best-of-three series will be played Thursday and Saturday. Game 1 is at 5 p.m. Thursday in Kilgore at Driller Park, with Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lufkin’s Morris Frank Park. Game 3 follow.

 

Class 2A region 3 final is Salado vs. Troy in Belton; and Class 3A has Silsbee vs. College Station at the University of Houston, both in a one-game winner takes all.

 

SFA men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood has a new multi-year contract with a hefty raise. Underwood has agreed to a new eight-year contract that will pay the coach a base of $225,000 per year, not the $400,000 that was reported by ESPN last week. Underwood made $175,000 in the first year of a five-year contract last season, and an extra $20 by reaching four incentives. The new deal is the longest and richest ever for a SFA coach. Underwood took the SFA basketball program to its most successful season in school history.

 

The 61^st annual Shelby County Sheriff’s Posse PRCA Rodeo is June 6 & 7 at 7:30 each night, sponsored by Wright Chrysler Dodge Jeep. Presale tickets are $5, and can be purchased at Boles Feed, Triple J Feed and Wright Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Center. Kids 6 and under get in free. There will be a calf scramble each night for kids 10 and under with cash prizes. On Saturday night only, anyone wearing a western hat will receive $1 off their admission ticket at the gate. Entertainment will be provided by three different East Texas Equestrian Drill Teams. The Rustlers, the 4-8 year olds; The Young Guns, the 8-14 year olds; and The Roughriders, age 15 & up.

 

The annual Preston Football Camp will be held Saturday, June 7 at Roughrider Stadium. The camp hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dwight Preston at 598-2470.

 

Sign-up is underway for the 22nd annual Darren Wilson Golf Classic to be held June 14th at Center Country Club. This annual tournament is held to raise funds that go to the Darren Wilson Scholarship Fund. Over $140,000.00 has been raised to benefit our area students. There will be a large silent auction during the day long event as part of the fundraiser. The format of the one day affair will be a six man scramble. There is a fee of $80 per player. This fee covers the green fee, eight iron shot off one of the par 5 holes. Lunch will be cooked and served by the Shelby County Cookers before the tournament kicks off. You're encouraged to sign up now to ensure a spot in the tournament. For more information please contact Larry Horn, Glen Cordray or Joe Whittlesey at the Center Country Club 936-598-7415 or 936-598-5515.