Verticchio will guide Delta girls

Mark Verticchio recently stepped down as the Oak Ridge boys basketball coach to become the girls coach at Delta.

Although Verticchio has submitted a letter of resignation, it has not been accepted yet by the Oak Ridge board, which next meets Monday.

If and when the resignation is approved, he would become the new Bobcats coach as the Delta board has accepted his hiring, Delta superintendent Nathan Crowden said.

Verticchio said that he enjoyed his position at Oak Ridge, but the job at Delta was appealing for a couple of reasons.

"They offered the position and I accepted the position," Verticchio said. "I resigned, but they [Oak Ridge] haven't accepted my resignation yet. ... I'd coached girls for so long I just felt like the Delta spot was a chance for me to excel at the girls."

Verticchio added that his other main reason for accepting the Delta position was because he will be able to teach social studies, which he prefers. He works as a physical education teacher at Oak Ridge.

Verticchio posted an 8-13 record this past winter, improving on the three-win season Oak Ridge had in 2006-07 during the winter before he arrived.

"If he gets out of that contract, he'll be the girls coach here," Crowden said.

Before accepting his position at Oak Ridge, Verticchio coached the Mark Twain girls basketball program to a state quarterfinal playoff game.

"He's led some teams to the quarterfinals and out of districts and won some conference championships," Delta athletic director Jim Gloth said. "He was the best-qualified applicant. And we also needed someone certified in social studies."

Gloth added that Delta assistant coach Gary Poyner had applied for the head coaching position and will not return to the Bobcats as an assistant next winter.

"He's applied for some other jobs, too," Gloth said. "He's not going to stay on as an assistant. He's wanting a head job.

"It [Poyner[']s possible hiring] was brought to the board, but it died on the table."

Oak Ridge seeking coach

With Verticchio headed to Delta upon the acceptance of his resignation, Oak Ridge has launched its search for a new boys basketball coach.

"We're currently in the process of interviewing," Oak Ridge principal Allan Horrell said. "I don't really want to talk about it, but we've had a number of applicants."

Horrell said the school would like to decide on a new coach in the next few weeks.

Delta boys team

Crowden also confirmed that Delta boys coach Shawn Kinder recently submitted a letter of resignation from his position, but the board still has to approve it.

"I think he's looking to go to another school," Crowden said.

Kinder did not return a phone message left for him.

Signings

Central senior goalie Clayton Uptain has signed to play collegiate soccer at St. Louis Community College-Meramec in Kirkwood, Mo.

Central senior Tyler McNabb signed his national letter of intent to play soccer at Saint Louis University. He did not play soccer for the Tigers, instead choosing to play football.

SEMO baseball all-conference team

Central senior Garrett Stevens has been named the SEMO Conference co-player of the year along with Caleb Miller of Dexter.

The following is a list of the 2008 SEMO Baseball Conference all-conference team.

First team — Garrett Stevens, sr., Central, pitcher; Eric Windham, sr., Dexter, pitcher; Caleb Hosey jr., Jackson, pitcher; Mark Himmelberg, sr., Notre Dame, pitcher; Alex Shell, sr., Central, catcher; Chase Ferrell sr., Sikeston, catcher; Caleb Miller, jr., Dexter, infielder; Mason Noe, jr., Dexter, infielder; Dylan Drury, jr., Notre Dame, infielder; Andy Winkleblack, jr., Jackson; infielder; Scott Droddy, sr., Sikeston, infielder; Dylan Harris sr., NMCC, infielder; Levi Felter, jr., Kelly, outfielder; Brooks Osburn, sr., Central, outfielder; Matt Lang, sr., Jackson, outfielder; Cameron Pickard, sr., Poplar Bluff, outfielder; Shane Branum, sr., Kennett, utility; Todd Bullington, sr., Poplar Bluff.

Honorable Mention — Donnie Magruder, jr., Poplar Bluff; Garrett Limbaugh, sr., Sikeston; Kyle Marshall, sr., NMCC; Colton Young, so., Notre Dame; Zach Wilson jr., Central; Ben Mills, so., Dexter; Brennen Moore, jr., Poplar Bluff; Jacob Valleroy sr., Notre Dame; Blake Smith, jr., Central; Dustin Crowden, so., Kelly; Josh St. Mary, jr., NMCC; Matt Crader, so., Jackson; Ben Knuckles, jr., Poplar Bluff; Rusty Clark, sr., NMCC; David Hessling, sr., Dexter; Matt Banken, sr., Dexter; Dustin LeGrand, sr., Kelly; Vince Howard, jr., Sikeston; Blake Reiminger, sr., Jackson; Aaron Tomaszewski, jr., Notre Dame; Seth Baker, sr., Sikeston; Blake Gaddis, (sr., Notre Dame.

SEMO Conference Coach of the Year — Brian Becker, Dexter.