By By Bruce Hixon – Sports Editor
Four T.R. Miller High School athletes and one W.S. Neal athlete have landed spots on the 2004-05 Class 3A All-State Academic Team, which is sponsored by the Birmingham News.
T.R. Miller's All-State Academic selections included junior tennis player Catherine Stokes, junior golfers Tripp Owens and Clay Parker and senior track participant James McCracken.
W.S. Neal was represented by senior baseball and football participant Daniel Hodge.
Speaking of Tripp Owens, the T.R. Miller standout golfer has been selected to the Class 3A All-State Team for the third year in a row.
Owens finished third at this spring's state meet for the second year in a row.
T.R. Miller Lady Tigers junior leftfielder Haley Rilling received Honorable Mention on the Mobile Register All-Area Team for the 2005 season.
Rilling shared the team lead in hits with Terri Lynne Peacock with 44, a figure that is believed to be the school record. Rilling had earlier received Honorable Mention on the Class 3A All-State Team.
The Jefferson Davis Community College softball program will be having player tryouts Saturday at 11 a.m. at the JDCC Field. Any female JDCC students who wish to try out may do so.
The seventh and eighth players to leave the Jefferson Davis Community College Warhawks baseball program have become official.
Sophomore-to-be catcher Brett Burkett has hooked on with Alabama Southern. Burkett, a Pensacola (Fla.) native, hit .391 with four homers, 30 RBIs and a .577 slugging percentage this past spring.
Freshman recruit Matt Brown from Rummell High School in New Orleans has also pulled out.
Pitcher Nick Porter (Calhoun), infielder Clay Mather (Pensacola Junior College), pitcher Ben Jackson (Faulkner State), catcher Jordan Ball (Alabama Southern), pitcher Patrick Sorrells (Alabama Southern) and outfielder Kyle McPherson (Faulkner State) are the other players who have made their departures official.
T.R. Miller High School cheerleaders are currently in the process of selling program ads through July 14.
To place an ad in the 2005 program, contact Jackie Evans at 867-2222, Don Lucas at 363-4373, Terece Shehan at 867-9868 or Marilyn Raines at 867-2500.
A limited number of T.R. Miller stadium seats remain. To purchase, contact Don Lucas at 363-4373.
The T.R. Miller Quarterback Club will hold its next meeting July 12 at 6 p.m. at the field house.