FanSpeak 4/3/05

Field report

IT IS so obvious why the women's softball team can play when the men's baseball game gets canceled because of weather, I'm amazed anyone had to ask. Although it is nice, Capaha Park is ancient. The softball field is one of the newest and most modern in the nation. It has better drainage.

Where's the complex?

THE STORY "Fitness, tennis center breaks ground" was a good article (in the March 27 edition), but would have been even better if it had included the location of the new facility.

(A map was published with the story in the print edition.)

Poor sportsmanship

I WOULD like to comment on the poor sportsmanship that was shown at a youth wrestling tournament this past weekend. This is the second year my son has wrestled, and he's on a team who is known for winning. The other teams and parents actually boo our team and applaud when we don't win. What kind of example is this for all of these young kids? It's hard to explain to my son why the crowd is booing our team. Grow up, people. This is supposed to be fun for these kids.

Recruit locally

I ENJOYED your article about Seth Hudson, Central's standout player who is now playing for Southeast's rival, Murray State. I have to wonder how come so many outstanding players in this area are completely ignored by Southeast coach Mark Hogan. Why do we have to go to California and Michigan and so on to recruit just to get good players when we have students right in this area with just as good numbers or better than the kids he's recruiting? Maybe we're getting tired of being ignored except when you've got your hand out for money. Maybe you need to pay attention to us at other times, like in recruiting.

Same state, wrong school

THE MICHIGAN Wolverines wish they were in St. Louis for the Final Four. But Michigan State coach Tom Izzo might have a gripe with your front page headline (March 28). Life is too short. Don't let news people write sports headlines.

Neglected hall

I SAW in FanSpeak someone called in and asked why there haven't been any inductees to Central's athletic hall of fame, and our athletic director responded it's because we moved into a new building. I don't know what moving into a new building has to do with having a ceremony. Other things went on as normal. Besides, that's been three years. I think there needs to be more checking into this.

We stand corrected

IN RESPONSE to the story, "Central picks up win before end of trip," the team's name is South Panola, not South Penola.

Geography lesson

I CONTINUE to be amazed by your ridiculously restrictive concept of Southeast Missouri. Charleston, which plays in the SEMO Conference, obviously is in Southeast Missouri. And you are not going to get much more Southeast Missouri than Portageville. But Ashton Farmer and Willie Hassell were omitted from your All-Southeast Missourian article, even though you included Alex Armbruster from St. Vincent. Perryville is in Southeast Missouri and Portageville is not? I've got to see the map you're using. For future reference, Poplar Bluff, the champion of the SEMO Conference, proudly considers itself to be in Southeast Missouri.

(The All-Southeast Missourian team is chosen from the schools in the newspaper's circulation area, which includes Perryville but does not include Charleston and Portageville, which are covered by our media partners in those areas. The SEMO Conference also picks an all-conference team, and an all-region team is chosen by the Southeast Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.)

More to the story

THE REPORT on the Oran girls softball victory against Leopold was extremely vague in your March 31 edition. Credit was not given to the pitcher, Hanna Seyer, who had 10 strikeouts and also hit a double. It's bad enough that people don't come to support the girls at any sport, but it'd be really nice if the article in the paper was the same for softball as it is for baseball. Then again, if we were from Jackson or Cape, the story would probably had been front cover.

(Coaches are reminded to report their information to the Southeast Missourian for inclusion in the high school roundup.)