Just happened to be driving through my old hometown of Ludlow Sunday and could not help but stop by and check out the nearly-renovated Lemker Field – or its about-to-be-new name of Lemker Field at St. Elizabeth Ball Park.
There was still some work to do on finishing the sod in the outfield but the artificial turf infield, new dugouts, bullpens, stands and fencing look great.
The only thing you need now is a bunch of kids playing baseball there or doing any of a whole bunch of things they used to do next door all day in the playground with its basketball court and all sorts of recreation equipment before cellphones and social media.
But there was no one here. And sure, it was Easter Sunday and the sun didn’t come out until later in the day. But the hope here has to be that a great facility like this one will get kids back to the park and the playground doing all the things kids are meant to do around here starting in the springtime.
Thanks to the weather we’ve been having, they’re now planning to get it off to a great start with the dedication set for Thursday, May 5 – rescheduled from Tuesday. As Ludlow High AD Dan Sullivan notes, “We are going to have a “Community Opening Day . . . at the newly renovated Lemker Field at St. Elizabeth Ball Park.”
Details are still being worked out but the festivities will include shoutouts to all the people who have helped the Ludlow baseball program over the years from coaches, players, and administrators to community members “who have contributed to the baseball program . . . past and present,” Sullivan says. “It is a blessing to be able to have such an incredible facility for the youth in our community . . .”
It is indeed. Stop by May 5 if you’re one of the thousands upon thousands who have played or watched a game here in the last 75 years or so . . . Just Sayin’.
*** MAYER BROTHERS TALKING – AND COACHING — FOOTBALL: They’re calling it the Michael and AJ Mayer ProCamp but it’s actually going to be put on by a pair of college football players out of Covington Catholic High School and aimed at grade schoolers. Michael Mayer, third-year tight end at Notre Dame where he’s the best at his position in the nation, and older brother AJ, who quarterbacked Miami of Ohio the last three years before entering the transfer portal as a graduate, are the two who will be running things for the day at Covington Catholic. The date is Saturday, April 30, from 1-4 p.m., with the camp aimed at grades 1-8. Cost is $99. Here’s the link for those interested: Michael & AJ Mayer – ProCamps | Experience Your Ultimate Sports Camp with Your Favorite Professional Athlete. Great intro to football here . . . Just Sayin’.
*** IT’S STATE TOURNAMENT TIME FOR . . . ARCHERS: In the first of the KHSAA spring state championships Tuesday at Bowling Green’s Ephraim White Gymnasium, Northern Kentucky is sending two teams to the Girls Archery State Tournament and two teams to the Boys as well as three individuals in each. The Northern Kentucky athletes, representing Dixie Heights and Simon Kenton in the Girls and Ryle and Simon Kenton in the Boys will start competition at 12:30 p.m. for the Boys and 1:30 for the Girls.
Dixie Heights is led by Carly McGee who scored a 288 in the regionals while Simon Kenton is led by Lauren Westermeyer who scored 289. Individuals qualifying are Ryle’s Peyton Scott (287), Conner’s Alexis Hunt (289), and Highlands’ Madison Opitz (289).
For the Boys, Jacob Klette leads Ryle with a 287 regional score while Simon Kenton’s Reuben Hinsdale topped the Pioneers with 279. Individuals competing are Cooper’s Thane Hudleston (285), Covington Latin’s Ethan Wong (284), and Highlands’ Ashton Willis (286). Good shooting, guys and girls . . . Just Sayin’.
*** ALL “A” CLASSIC: Have to admit in noting the Villa Madonna girls softball team’s lone defeat this season here last week, we failed to note the 9-1 Vikings’ season-long excellence as when they beat Newport Central Catholic 8-6 to open the All “A” Classic with senior Joslyn Thornberry striking out 16 and then in a 13-2 win over Holy Cross the same day, seventh-grader Cam Kratzer came on to strike out 11. Kratzer then came back to strike out six more in four innings the next day in a 15-8 championship game win over Beechwood in a game that was eventually called because of rain. That sends Villa to the next stage of the state’s All “A” Classic April 30 in Owensboro for three games of pool play on Saturday with eight of the 16 teams advancing to one-and-out play the next day. More info when we get it but nice job by the Vikings who are on Spring Break this week . . . Just Sayin’.
