Headed home for a bit

It's the time of year again where I head home for a bit to see my family in Kentucky and then take a few weeks off to get ready for football. I never really like being away from work, because I really love my job, but time away is always good. Pet the dogs. Feed the horses. Pound some nails. And this time, I'm bringing Morgan home to meet my family for the first time.

I'll return to work on July 19 and post again that night.

City championships

Sam Lindsey celebrates after hitting the game-winning double in the sixth and final inning of the Dodgers’ 11-10 come-from-behind win over the Red Sox in the city championship game for Fayetteville Youth Baseball’s 9-year-old division at Walker Park.

Today is the day that Fayetteville Youth Baseball holds its city championships for all of its divisions of baseball. We try to cover all the games, but have to focus on only two since we have only two writers and one photographer available to be there. The other games, we wrap up by getting the book after the game.

This year, we chose the 9-year-old division and boy did we pick a great game.

Faucett pours it on

Chad Faucett hits out of the sand and onto the fifth green during the Paradise Valley Invitational Sunday at Paradise Valley Athletic Club.

Faucett led the event going into the final day by six strokes and at last count was cruising.

New lens

The ASGA is having an invitational at Paradise Valley Athletic Club, and former FHS golfer Anthony Delao was in the field on a hot hot day.

I got a new lens to go with my new camera in an effort to replace some of my worn-out equipment and to modernize a bit. It's a few years old and a little beat up since it was pool gear for some sort of outfit, but I got a good deal on it. I'm OK with fixing things up and making do with used things. I sort of enjoy it.

Where in the world is Cody Hammer?

Former Fayetteville and Northeastern State University signee Cody Hammer, right, reaches to tackle Arkansas signee Turell Williams of Helena-West Helena during the second half of the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game Friday at Bentonville High.

When covering the All-Star games, we concentrate on local players as they play their final game representing their school and Cody Hammer was the obvious choice this year for our focus. He pretty much won the 2007 state championship for FHS single-handedly. The problem was getting a photo of him making a tackle where you could actually see him. That's not always easy.

In the dark

Former Fayetteville point guard and Oklahoma State signee Fred Gulley drives past Sam Blazer of Arkansas Baptist during the first half of play Thursday in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game in Bud Walton Arena.

The officials with the AHSCA were apparently unwilling or unable to pay to have all of the lights on at Bud Walton Arena — and I can imagine that might be expensive — so shooting this in the dark was not fun.

Tschepikow and Lyons sign

Eric Edelstein, Naturals general manager, center, hands Kansas City Royals hats to former Fayetteville High and Arkansas infielder Ben Tschepikow, right, and former Arkansas infielder Scott Lyons as Lloyd Simmons, a scout for the Royals, right, smiles during a ceremony Monday at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.

Ben seemed very humbled by the notion of being able to continue his playing career and of playing for the Naturals in front of family and everyone who has watched him grow up and play baseball over the years.