> SOUTHERN INDIANA — >>COLLEGE BASEBALL

Three area players heading to next level

Three Clark County natives recently signed scholarships to play college baseball.

Charlestown graduates Tyler Rhodes and Devan Thorstad are going to play in the junior college ranks at Ancilla College in northern Indiana. Ancilla posted a 12-31 record last season.

Silver Creek graduate Matt Hawn will play at Bryan College, an NAIA school in Dayton, Tenn. The Lions went 41-18 last year.



>>MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Bats to open four-game homestand tonight

The Louisville Bats will start their final four-game homestand of the season with a four-game series against the Columbus Clippers tonight.

Here are the following events during the homestand:

• Tonight, 6:05: Big Kahuna Backyard Bash on Overlook Grill and Patio with $3 cheeseburgers and $3 Land Shark and Bud Light Lime until the end of the seventh inning; Buddy Bat autograph signing from 5-5:30 p.m.; face painting from 5-6 p.m.; karaoke with 102.3 The MAX FM from 6-8 p.m.

• Sunday, 2:05 p.m.: 2012 Bats pre-game autograph session with players and coaches from 12:50-1:30 p.m. on the field; Kids Inflatable FunZone in the Hall of Fame Pavilion from 1-4 p.m.; postgame kids run the bases.

• Monday, 7:05 p.m.: Meijer/Pepsi Baseball Bingo on Meijer Monday, $2 off field reserved ticket with Meijer register receipt.

• Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.:  $1 hot dogs and Pepsi products.



>>BASKETBALL

Sports Reach Auction/Dinner

The 2012 Sports Reach Auction/Dinner will be Thursday, Sept. 13 at Christ Church United Methodist, 4614 Brownsboro Road, Louisville.

Celebrities expect to attend are the following: Gene Walter, former major league pitcher; Tom Leach, University of Kentucky play-by-play announcer; Wayne Chapman, former college coach; Tom Eades, NCAA referee; Rob Bromley, television sports announcer; Tony Cruise, radio host; Scott Davenport, Bellarmine University men’s basketball coach; Keith Madison, former University of Kentucky baseball coach; Matt Layo, former University of Kentucky football player; Bob Valvano, ESPN; Pat Day, Hall of Fame jockey; Mike Pratt, University of Kentucky color announcer and former Kentucky basketball player; Keith Adkins, Campbellsville University basketball coach; Jack Givens, former University of Kentucky basketball player; Austin Newton, Eastern Kentucky University assistant basketball coach; Ray Harper, Western Kentucky University men’s basketball coach; Phil Cunningham, Western Kentucky assistant coach; Larry Pursiful, former University of Kentucky basketball player; Wiley Brown, former University of Louisville basketball player and current IU Southeast men’s basketball coach; Boo Brewer, former University of Louisville basketball player; Mike Phillips, former University of Kentucky basketball player.

For more information about the auction/dinner, visit Sports Reach’s website at sportsreach.org or contact Sports Reach director Robby Speer at robby@sportsreach.org.



>>H.S. BASEBALL

Clarksville man named District Umpire of the Year

Clarksville resident Brandon Lawson has been named the District Umpire of the Year by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association. Lawson was chosen for the award by the umpires within his district.

The award is given to an umpire who has knowledge of the rules of the game and their interpretation, decorum with the players and coaches, professional appearance and game management.

Lawson has been umpiring for eight seasons. He is a 2010 graduate of the Harry Wendelstedt Professional Umpire School in Daytona Beach, Fla.



>>GOLF

Bixler Memorial Scramble

The ninth annual Coach Mark Bixler Memorial Golf Scramble will be held on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Elks Club Golf Course in Jeffersonville.

Bales Motor Company will be giving away a new car for a hole-in-one on a specified hole.

Check-in will begin at noon on Sept. 22, followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

The fees are as follows: team entry, $320; individual entry, $80; hole sponsorship, $100. Registration includes green fees, golf cart and a chicken dinner following the scramble.

All proceeds from the scramble go toward the Mark Bixler Memorial Scholarship fund.

For registration and information, contact one of the following: Kyle Bixler at 502-417-2238, Brad Bixler at 812-207-5637 or brad.bixler@us.icapenergy.com or Ryan Bixler at 502-553-7297.



>>ADULT SOFTBALL

Jeff Parks fall leagues

The Jeffersonville Parks Department is currently registering for its 2012 adult fall softball leagues.

The leagues are the following: coed competitive league, Monday nights; men’s E league, Tuesday nights; men’s 50-and-over league, Wednesday nights; coed recreation league, Thursday nights; men’s E league, Friday nights.

All leagues will begin the week of Aug. 27. Each team will be guaranteed seven league games. A single-elimination tournament will follow the regular season.

All league fees are $300 per team. The fee must be paid in full no later than Friday, Aug. 24. The first eight teams in each league to fill our their registration form and pay the entry fee will be guaranteed a spot in the leagues.

If any questions or concerns, call Jeff Parks assistant superintendent of sports and athletics Ricky Romans at 812-280-3242 or 812-725-3645.