Update on Book 📖 #6 out of 7, we have our cover Photo 📸 and the title ! It will be called, ” You can’t write the seventh one until you finish the sixth one !” Subtitle – 50 years of Diamond 💎 stories.

The photo is one I took at the Appalachian League championship game a few years back.

The title comes from the brain 🧠 of Joe Walsh back in 1983. Before he joined the Eagles, Walsh released an album titled, ” You bought it, You name it,” and it stuck with me. Pretty clever marketing is one of my favorite things in life.

The goal for the past twenty years has been to create a set of books 📚, seven in number per the days of the week. The seventh and final one will break from the routine of sports and focus on faith.

Nancy Sorrells is returning for the third time to take the point on producing the book 📖 and hopefully, she will be there for the seventh and final one.

One introduction chapter is to be followed by 13 more with some artwork mixed in. The locations involved will focus on Beckley, West Virginia, Carroll County, Virginia, Page County, Virginia, the San Juan Islands 🏝 and the greater St. Louis area.

Stories about the amazing people you will meet and things you will see 👀 when one spends 50 years around various levels of Ball Diamonds 💎.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute material for the book over the past 12 months. While it could have used a few more, here and there, I feel pretty good about what we have.

100% positive stories pieced together in hopes of telling a good story !

Page County Softball completes the week sweep by taking care of visiting Rappahannock County…

Page County won three of three softball games this week by three different means. The victories were over Strasburg 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel, 14 – 11 over East Rock 🪨 in a back and forth offensive explosion, and finally, one that landed somewhere in between.

After dropping two games against defending State Champs 🏆, Broadway and one to neighboring East Rock, the team is now back at .500 with a 3-3 mark.

April 15th at Madison County is the next time the Lady Panthers will take to the Diamond 💎.

Five Good Minutes with Alan Knight and his Lady Panthers Softball program, after a wild one versus East Rock 🪨 on Thursday afternoon

The first time around for Coach Knight and Company against neighboring East Rock created the question of how many times in 45 years has PCHS been on the wrong end of a run rule shortened game ?

East Rock 🪨 scored early and often on its way to a lopsided 17-2 victory at Alan Knight Field just a few weeks ago. Yesterday proved to be a different story as the Lady Panthers jumped out to a big lead and held on for a thrilling 14-11 road victory.

The home team trimmed the lead to 12-11 with a big rally in the bottom of the sixth before Page County answered with two insurance runs 🏃‍♀️ in the seventh to secure its second victory of the week.

No rest, though, as Rappahannock High is the opponent today as Page County looks for a three game sweep of the week !

Earlier in the week, PCHS won a pitchers duel against Strasburg 1-0. The Lady Panthers only scratched out two hits against the Rams 🐏 but fortunately, one of them cleared the fence for the games only run !

Stay tuned !

People wonder about why knowing Spotswood High School Girls 👧 Basketball Coach is so relevant to me….

This post 📫 is #1 on any list of reasons!

Yes, Coach Dodson wins Basketball games at an alarming rate. Yes, Dodson is currently tied with Page County Softball Coach and close friend of mine, Alan Knight, with seven State Championships.

Yes, Dodson is a Page County High School Alum so that gives the Duo of Panthers grads a combined 14 VHSL titles.

Yes, Dodson is so cool that he gets to hang out with people like Dennis ” Preacherman ” Zimmerman.

Yes, Dodson took the time to write ✍ the Book 📖 Foreword for our book about Carroll County Girls Basketball, immediately following our dismantling his Trailblazers.

All of that makes me Proud to know him but it all takes a back seat 💺 to the fact that the Man has dedicated his ENTIRE adult life to those who face challenges!!!

Chris Dodson is the Northern version of our Vickey Ritchie, every day and all day. Except Chris is as tall as Vickey Ritchie is small. A picture of those two side by side would be PRICELESS.

The World 🌎 needs more people like Vickey Ritchie and Chris Dodson and know that I feel blessed to now both of them !

March 9, 2024 fits into the time-line for Diamonds 💎 are a Girls Best Friend as we made a trip up to Dugspur!

Meeting with Tiffanie Moore and her family 👪 last year was quite the experience for both Linda and I as we were able to sit and visit just before Tiff was set to enter Duke University for the health battle of a Lifetime.

Tracy and Tiffanie took turns telling adventouress stories about the bond the Father and Daughter created over the past 20 years. Tiff did ask that her story not be about her illness but about her life and that was easy enough to make happen.

Tiff and her story came to light to me as she was voted into the Carroll County High School Hall of Fame in the 2024 Ceremony. Coach Nester was giving me the rundown on the list of accomplishments that Moore had to her name by the time she reached her Mid-20’s.

Dugspur to The Hill and then one year in Greensboro before heading over to nearby Ferrum College to finish up both her education and Softball career. While the trail leading up to Graduation 🎓 at College was truly impressive, Moore continued to find ways to challenge herself to live life at a level that few could ever dream about.

Moore started in the outfield at Ferrum for 99 of 106 games over her final three seasons while working on a degree in Criminal Justice. The Secret Service would be the next great adventure in a remarkable life and some of her colleagues were with her on Hall of Fame Night.

The battle for her life that lasted for a solid year and shows the strength 💪 and the drive that only a select few ever harness. Moore as a Lady 👩 Cavalier, in her Senior season, helped the School capture the initial State Championship.

The journey is just beginning for Miss Moore and if the first 25 years is any indication, there’s no limit to the heights that might be reached.