Page 8 March 25 — 31, 2015 | The Trussville Tribune

June MathewsSomewhere in the

Middle...

Elizabeth Pridgen will never forget the week of Jan. 19, 2009, though the Clay resident spent much of those few days in a haze of shock and grief. That Monday, her sister, Erika, was in the hospital, dealing with complications follow-ing a bone marrow trans-plant, when word came that Erika’s husband had died unexpectedly.

“She called me at work screaming and crying,” Pridgen said. “She was devastated.”

Two days later, arrange-ments were made for Er-ika to be temporarily dis-charged so she could attend her husband’s funeral the following morning. That night, the sisters stayed up late crying, laughing and reminiscing.

“I finally tucked her into bed, gave her a kiss and a hug, and asked her to please get a good night’s sleep,” Pridgen said. “Lit-tle did I know that would be our last conversation. She went to heaven in the early morning hours of Jan. 22. I found her ‘sleep-ing’ around 6:20 a.m.”

Though she had lost other family members and friends to cancer and seen others survive, Prid-gen was deeply affected by the loss of her younger sister to issues associated with treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In her grief, Pridgen be-came determined to make Erika’s battle with cancer count, and in the ensuing months, she began casting around for a way to do that. Then she attended her first American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.

“I was still emotionally numb, still broken, still hurting and frankly very angry that my sister, my best friend and confidant was not in the here and now to grow old with me, the way we’d planned,” she said. “She was a fight-er, she had endured years of chemo and radiation and surgeries and two bone marrow transplants, yet she was gone.”

But Pridgen’s trip to a Relay For Life event in Moody with her aunt (a breast cancer survivor), a cousin and her aunt’s friend proved to be a rev-elation.

“We had never heard of Relay For Life,” she said. “We arrived, and at first I thought it was silly. A carnival or festival atmo-sphere for cancer? Are you kidding me? But before we knew it, we were having a great time.”

Then came the inspir-ing luminaria ceremony, a part of every Relay For Life event, a time set aside for honoring those fighting cancer and remembering those who have lost their battles with cancer.

“I was humbled as I cried and remembered my sister, and I knew that hundreds of other individuals lost to cancer were being re-membered and that those fighting cancer were not forgotten,” Pridgen said. “And I knew I could take my pain, my anger and my resentment, and I could make a difference in the lives of those touched by

cancer. So I contacted the local East Jefferson Relay For Life, and I have not

looked back. I’ve been on a team every year since and on the local Volunteer Steering Committee for the past three years. I am bound and determined for others in our community to know what Relay For Life is about.”

In a poignant twist, Prid-gen learned that one of the research drugs that had ex-tended her sister’s life for two-and-a-half years was funded by an American Cancer Society research grant, meaning Relayers like herself had afforded her some precious time with her sister that she might not have had other-wise.

“Relay is a time when

we all gather in hopes of finding a cure, support sur-vivors and remember our loved ones,” Pridgen said. “I Relay for those who no longer can. I Relay so maybe one day no one will have to Relay because we will have a cure.”

Relay For Life of East Jefferson will take place on The Mall in Trussville on May 16 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The event is free to the public and will feature entertainment, kids’ activi-ties, vendor tents and on-site fundraisers.

For more information, visit www.RelayForLife.org or the Relay For Life of East Jefferson’s Face-book page.

Remembering ErikaLocal woman seeks to make difference in fight against cancer in memory of sister

submitted photo

Elizabeth Pridgen, left, and her sister Erika shortly after Erika was first diagnosed with cancer

by June Mathews

For The Tribune

From staff reports

The Trussville Public Library will have its “In Our Own Words” program April 12 at 2 p.m. in the library’s meeting room.

Co-sponsored by the library and Friends of the Library, the program gives writers and authors an opportunity to read excerpts from their works in a public setting.

“We heard the works of about a dozen local writers at January’s meeting,” said Mary Lynne Robbins, coordinator for the Friends. “We have

been encouraged to continue sponsoring these readings because of feedback from both writers and audience members.”

At this time, participation in “In Our Own Words” is limited to writers who are high school students or older. Other guidelines established for participants include:• Readers must pre-register for

the program.• In most cases, writers must

read their own works, although surrogates may be used if approved.

• At least six writers must register

in order for the program to be held.

• Estimated reading time, including introductions, should be less than eight minutes per participant.

• Material read should be in good taste.

• Long works, such as novels or biographies, must be excerpted to meet time limits.If time permits, there will be an

opportunity for audience questions or comments. The library will provide light refreshments.

To register or for more information, call 205-655-7694.

‘In Our Own Words’ at Trussville library April 12

HERE’S HOW TO KEEP IN YOUR NEWS FEED…

3125 Independence Drive, Suite 300B // Birmingham, AL 35209 // 205.879.7501 183 Main Street, Suite D // Trussville, AL 35173 // 205.655.1009

LifestyLe

March has not been kind to the Mathews

household. No, it has nothing to do with one of our favorite teams being eliminated in the third round, even though we were awfully proud of them for advancing that far (Go, Blazers!).

Our troubles began when I ended February and began March with a king-size case of the winter crud, an account of which I inflicted upon readers in my last column and don’t intend to rehash here. But just as I was really beginning to feel better, I sprained my ankle during a graceless slip-

and-fall incident at a local restaurant.

Right after it happened, I was able to get back up and walk fairly normally for the time being, but while we were eating stiffness set in, and I limped to the car. Fortunately, elevation and an ice pack on the aching ankle for the rest of the evening arrested further harm, and though it still feels a bit sore in the mornings and after I’m on my feet for a while, it’s slowly healing.

On a side note, Jimmie later chastised me for hauling myself up off the floor too quickly.

“If you’d stayed down long enough for the

manager to notice, we could have gotten a free meal,” he whined.

“Well, excuse me,” I retorted. “I’ll try to do a better job of injuring myself next time for the sake of a tenderloin sandwich on the house.”

But my relatively minor ailments pale in comparison to Jimmie’s latest health issue. When he came home from work one night last week complaining of minor pain and swelling in his right leg, I suspected a visit to the emergency room was in the offing. He’d had similar symptoms last spring, and blood clots were the cause.

I was desperately hoping, however, that this latest leg issue was simply the result of him limping around on a messed-up toe that an upcoming appointment with a podiatrist was supposed to fix. But the next morning,

the leg was worse. Then when he mentioned he’d been experiencing some shortness of breath, I figured a sore toe was the least of his problems. We hightailed it to the ER.

Turns out Jimmie had not only another huge clot in his leg but multiple small clots in his lungs, and had we waited to seek medical help, this story could be ending on a much more somber note. As it is, one eight-hour ER visit, a whole lot of blood thinner and three days of monitoring in intensive care later, we’re both back on our normal routines and feeling much better, physically and

emotionally.I have to say, though,

until the last few days of March are over I’ll be on pins and needles, wondering what the rest of the month might bring. And if it ends for us as badly as it started, I’m marking March off the calendar for 2016. I figure that’s the surest way to avoid another month of madness like we’ve been experiencing this year. Winter crud, sprained ankles and blood clots are the kind of fun and games I can do without.

Email June Mathews at jmathews120@charter.net.

Take my word for it: This is the kind of March madness you can do without

file photo by Gary Lloyd

The Trussville Public Library

March 25 — 31, 2015 | The Trussville Tribune Page 9

From staff reports

On Saturday, March 7, the Hewitt-Trussville Middle School Etiquette Club visited The Club atop Red Mountain for a luncheon.

Etiquette Club members enjoyed lunch in The Highlands Stateroom and toured the facility. Students took pictures inside and outside The Club as memorabilia to share with friends and family.

HTMS Etiquette Club sponsor Kathy Troncale, an eighth grade teacher at HTMS, said the Etiquette Club is designed to teach students the basic rules of etiquette, and the luncheon serves as a culminating

event allowing students authentic practice.

The next luncheon will be scheduled for May with

a new group of students who are learning how to behave in the real world outside of school.

submitted photo

From left are Hali Blackburn, Cameron Ramsay, Haley McCormick, Morgan Smith, Marjayla Wilson, Lauryn Tarver, Natalie Gagliano, Sydney Vickers, Carley Hood, Susanne Bouler, Anna Katherine Summers, Quyen Vo, Chloe Benson and Chloe Kid.

HTMS etiquette club visits The Club

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w w w . a l h e a r t v a s c u l a r . c o m Dr. Timothy C. Lee // Dr. Anabela Simon-Lee // Dr. Jimmie Dotson

The city of Trussville has announced that the inscriptions of names for the Veterans Memorial Monument are being redone.

The city was not pleased with the original inscriptions.

The last day to add a name prior to the new plaques being installed is May 1. After that date, the city will look at the number of applications received annually to see what needs to be added, City Clerk Lynn Porter said.

Applications are available at Trussville City Hall or by calling 205-655-7478. Inscriptions cost $100.

Porter said if all the work is completed, the city is hoping to hold a dedication ceremony of the monument on Memorial Day, May 25.

The first phase of work includes finishing the parking lot and landscaping around the Veterans Memorial Monument on the Civitan Park side of the Cahaba River. This work was let for bid May 30, 2014, and Walker Patton Contracting was the low bidder, coming in with a

bid of $388,248.22. Work on the phase began in August 2014.

Part of Civitan Park is included in Phase 2 of the project, which includes the rest of the site, including linking the greenway from Civitan Park to the Trussville Sports Complex along the Cahaba River.

Trussville Mayor Gene Melton has said he’s trying to push the Alabama Department of Transportation for the Phase 2 plans so that the job can be let for bid near the end of spring or beginning of summer.

The Civitan Park greenway project was

divided into two jobs in November 2013.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

Trussville Veterans Memorial Monument inscriptions being redoneby Gary Lloyd

Editor

photo by Gary Lloyd

The Veterans Memorial Monument at Civitan Park

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to watch a video of the progress that’s been made at the Veterans Memorial Monument in Trussville.

From staff reports

Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club members read with their Paine Primary School class each Wednesday during the school year.

In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday March 2, readers presented their reading buddy classes with their own personal Dr. Seuss book as well as a copy for the classroom library.

The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club meets for breakfast on Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Trussville.

The April 1 featured speaker will be Mandy Waid from Children’s Hospital. On April 8, Miss

Trussville Shea Summerlin will speak, and on April 15 Homes for Our Troops’ Steve Ray will speak. On April 29, Trussville City Schools Superintendent

Pattie Neill will be the speaker.

For more information, visit www.trussvillerotaryclub.org.

Rotarians read Dr. Seuss with Paine Primary students

photo courtesy of Diane Poole

Trussville Daybreak Rotary Club members and Paine Primary School students

Page 10 March 25 — 31, 2015 | The Trussville Tribune

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I thought I would take a break this week from the usual eye and heath

care column to talk about something else I really enjoy.

You may not know this, but I’m a basketball junkie. My father and grandfather were high school and college basketball coaches, so it’s in my blood. And as you could probably imagine, it’s my time of year. March Madness is like Christmas to me. There are so many exciting games in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. We all got to see the UAB Blazers upset a very good Iowa State team last Thursday as just one of the upsets of the crazy weekend.

The success of UAB (and former Hewitt-Trussville great Jarvis Calhoun) this season makes me yearn for all our major college programs in the state to return to the days when you could count on Alabama,

Auburn and UAB making it to the Big Dance. Auburn took a step in the right direction after last season by hiring the charismatic Bruce Pearl as coach. In my opinion, Alabama did the right thing by parting ways with Anthony Grant as well. The Tide and Tigers have had stagnant basketball programs for quite a while, and it’s high time we saw these two teams get back to winning consistently.

Speaking of coaching changes, one of the all-around good guys decided to hang up his clipboard last week. I got to know coach Mike Dutton while doing the public address for Hewitt-Trussville basketball this past season. If you weren’t aware, Dutton has been a standout coach for nearly 30 years, with most of his tenure at Pinson Valley, and the last couple years at Hewitt. The day after Dutton resigned from coaching to spend more time with his

grandchildren, he stopped by the office to personally thank me for helping out. I was thoroughly amazed that he would take the time to come by and thank me. Not only that, we spent about 20 minutes talking basketball, which is one of my favorite things to sit around and chat about. Coach Dutton is a class act, and if you see him around, you should thank him for what he’s done in shaping the lives of young men in our area for more than a quarter century.

Hewitt now begins the search for a new coach. And in my humble opinion, they

should do nothing more than look right down the bench to coach Jeremiah Millington.

Millington was the starting point guard during some of the best seasons in the history of Hewitt basketball under former head coach Bo Coln. It should be mentioned that he was a heck of a quarterback, too. Since his college basketball career ended, he has dedicated his time to Hewitt athletics as a basketball and football coach. Talking basketball with him is one

of my favorite things to do because he’s a prodigy as far as knowledge of the game. I believe he’s the right person to make the basketball program at Hewitt-Trussville a winner again, much like Bucky McMillan has done at Mountain Brook, where the powers that be decided to take a chance on a young, unproven coach who played there. All McMillan has done with Mountain Brook is lead his team to two state championships and three straight appearances in the

state title game. I sincerely believe that Hewitt could do the same thing with Millington at the helm.

I promise next time to regale you with stories about eye care. Until then, enjoy March Madness and your busted bracket.

Dr. Zack Steele is a 2003 graduate of the UAB School of Optometry. His practice, Trussville Vision Care, is located on Chalkville Mountain Road in downtown Trussville.

Alabama may be in the lower tier of the country in some

categories but not when it comes to providing health insurance for children. In that one category we excel.

Brian Lyman with the Montgomery Advertiser provided an excellent study revealing that Alabama leads the South in taking care of its young people when it comes to giving them health coverage. A recent Georgetown University study showed that Alabama leads the South when it comes to health care for children. Remarkably, we’re ranked in the top 10 states in America.

The reason for this outstanding record is the state’s excellent Children’s Health Insurance Program. We refer to it in Alabama as the “All Kids” program.

Children can be enrolled in Alabama’s CHIP

program even if their family income is up to $71,500 per year. The study said that Alabama did better than most states in the nation and all the states in the South in making it easy for kids to be enrolled in the program. All Kids partners with the Alabama Medicaid agency and stresses outreach and cutting down on red tape barriers. More than 88,000 children in Alabama participate in All Kids.

Only 4.3 percent of Alabama children are uninsured. According to the study, Virginia was the closest Southern state to us at 5.4 percent. Georgia has 9.6 percent and Florida has 11 percent of uninsured children.

Another survey done by the State Retirement Systems revealed some other remarkable facts about the economic impact of state pensions in

Alabama. In 2012, more than 115,000 Alabamians received a total of $2.9 billion in pension benefits from state and local pension plans. The recipients range from retired teachers, state employees, public safety and city retirees throughout the state. The average pension benefit received was $2,114 per month, or $25,367 per year.

The Retirement System boasted that retirees’ expenditures stemming from state and local

pensions supported 36,000 jobs that paid $1.4 billion in wages and salaries. The total economic impact of the state is $4.8 billion. The industries that benefit the most from the state retirement dollars are food services, real estate, physicians, dentists, public and private hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and retail stores.

Yet another study done by the personal finance social network WalletHub ranked all 50 states on the most and least fair tax systems. The states varied widely because some have high property taxes, some states don’t even have a state sales tax and some don’t have an income tax. Some of WalletHub’s findings and statistics show that the poor are most overtaxed in Washington, Illinois and Florida. The wealthy are most undertaxed in

Wyoming, Alaska and South Dakota.

According to their study, most Americans think a fair state and local tax system taxes higher income households at a higher rate than lower income households. WalletHub says the five states with the worst fair tax systems are Washington, Hawaii, Arkansas, Illinois and Florida. The states with the most fair tax systems are Montana, Oregon, Delaware, Idaho and Virginia. Alabama ranks about in the middle of the pack at 35th in fairness.

Speaking of taxes, Gov. Robert Bentley has come forward with a package of revenue enhancement measures designed to shore up the beleaguered general fund. The lynchpin proposal offered by the governor is to increase the cigarette tax from 42 cents per back to 82 cents

per pack. It remains to be seen how our reactionary legislature will dispose of his proposals.

According to WalletHub, Alabamians are among the nation’s most generous givers. We are the 13th-most charitable state when it comes to opening our personal purse strings. The ranking was based on a number of statistical categories, including percentage of donated income, volunteer rate, growth in giving, and median contribution to charity. Alabamians were third in the nation for percentage of donated income.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column on Alabama politics appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

How Alabama ranks in child health care, taxes

Enjoying the season known as March Madness

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Inside the Statehouse

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Georgiana Davis Masonic Lodge meetings

Georgiana Davis Masonic Lodge No. 338 in Trussville meetings are at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday each month. Practice nights are on the first and third Monday. Family nights are on the fifth Monday of the month. The lodge is at 190 Beechnut St. in Trussville. For more information, call Bryan Stover at 205-706-5220.

Springville Military Order of the Purple Heart meetings

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2213, Springville, meets at the Smokin Grill at 85 Purple Heart Boulevard on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

2015 Trussville City Council meetings

The 2015 Trussville City Council meetings will be April 14, April 28, May 12, May 26, June 9, June 23, July 14, July 28, Aug. 11, Aug. 25, Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 13, Oct. 27, Nov. 10, Nov. 19, Dec. 8 and Dec. 17. All meetings are at 6 p.m. at Trussville City Hall on Main Street.

2015 Clay City Council meetingsThe 2015 Clay City Council meetings

are scheduled for April 6, April 20, May 4, May 18, June 1, June 15, July 6, July 20, Aug. 3, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, Sept. 21, Oct. 5, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, Nov. 16, Dec. 7 and Dec. 21. All meetings are at 6:30 p.m. at Clay City Hall on Old Springville Road.

Republican Women of Trussville meetings

Republican Women of Trussville meetings are at Sherry’s Cafe on Valley Road near Trussville the first Thursday of each month. Meet and greet is at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting follows at 6 p.m. The April 2 speaker is Terry Richmond, who will speak on the convention of states. The

May 7 speaker is Alabama Republican Party National Committee Woman Vicky Diamond. For more information, visit www.rwot.net or email cherylamathews@gmail.com.

2015 Trussville City BOE meetings

The remaining Trussville City Board of Education meetings for the first half of 2015 will be April 20, May 11 and June 15. All meetings are at 6 p.m. at the Central Office with work sessions at 4:30 p.m.

2015 Pinson City Council meetings

The Pinson City Council typically meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are at Pinson City Hall, located at 4410 Main St. in Pinson.

Trussville spring carnival March 27-April 4

Trussville’s annual spring carnival will be at Magnolia Park Friday, March 27 through Saturday, April 4. Hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Wristbands for all the rides are $14 each. For more information, call 205-655-7535 or visit www.trussvillechamber.com.

Clay Days set for April 1-4The 2015 Clay Days Festival is

scheduled April 1-4 at the city’s baseball fields. The carnival is open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 1-2, 6 p.m. to midnight April 3 and 10 a.m .to 10 p.m. April 4. The event features carnival rides, food, crafts and more.

Georgiana Davis Lodge pancake breakfast April 4

Georgiana Davis Lodge will be hosting its annual charity pancake breakfast April 4 at Applebee’s in Trussville from 7 a.m.

to 9 a.m. All proceeds will go to support charitable events in the Trussville area. Tickets are $5 per person and will pay for all you can eat pancakes and sausage plus orange juice and coffee. Tickets will be available at the door and can also be purchased from a brother of the lodge.

Japan International Karate Do Academy events

Japan International Karate Do Academy in Trussville has a couple upcoming events. A self-defense class is April 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Those who attend should bring a partner and dress comfortably. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Karate Kamp is June 1-5 from 9 a.m. to noon each day for ages 6 to 12. For more information on both, call 205-661-3656.

Yard sale at Faith Lutheran April 10-11

Faith Lutheran Church on Deerfoot Parkway will hold a yard sale Friday, April 10 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, April 11 from 7 a.m. to noon. There will be household items, baby items, clothes, furniture, attic treasures, toys, books, games, crafts, refreshments, a bake sale and more.

Trussville City Fest set for May 2Trussville City Fest is set for Saturday,

May 2 at The Mall in downtown Trussville. More information about the event will be released as the date nears.

Cougar Band Jammin’ Jaunt’s 5K April 18

The Cougar Band Jammin’ Jaunt’s inaugural 5K and Fun Run will be Saturday, April 18. The moderately challenging run goes through Clay and benefits the band programs at Clay-Chalkville Middle and Clay-Chalkville High schools. Participants who register before March 22 will be guaranteed a Cougar Band

Jammin’ Jaunt technical T-shirt. Register at active.com. Registration is $25 or $30 two weeks from race day, and $35 on race day. It will start at 8 a.m.

Bargain Carousel in Hoover April 26-27

The Junior League of Birmingham’s Bargain Carousel, a 1,000-family garage sale, will be April 25-26 at 2467 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover. The sale will be located in the old Princeton-Hoover location. For more information and ticket prices, visit www.bargaincarousel.net or call 205-879-9861.

5th annual Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon May 3

The fifth annual Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, and will continue around the clock until 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7. People of all ages will read the Bible (Genesis to Revelation) without commentary. It will take place on the front steps of Southside Baptist Church, located at 1016 19th St. S. on the south side of downtown Birmingham. For more information, visit www.libertypark.org/biblemarathon.

Have events you want to share? Email them to news@trussvilletribune.com.

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to see all these calendar items and more at www.trussvilletribune.com.

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Page 12 March 25 — 31, 2015 | The Trussville Tribune

spOrts

Clay-Chalkville junior Thomas Johns has returned to the lineup for the first time in 2015.

Johns, an Auburn verbal commitment, missed the first month of the season while he recovered from an injury. His offensive power comes as a welcome sight for head coach Bubba Roberts, who’s in the midst of his Class 6A, Area 12 schedule.

“It stinks missing that many games, never done that before,” Johns said. “It feels good being back out there and competing against everybody.”

The Cougars’ pitching staff, which is spearheaded by UAB signee Matthew Calvert, sees the junior as a run producer that can make life easier on their arms.

“He can bring offensive production that none of us really

have,” Calvert said. “He has unlimited power, he’s a big-time bat, SEC-type player, so having him back in the lineup helps a lot.”

That feeling was validated by the sight of Johns lifting a home run into the pines behind the right field fence at Pinson Valley High School in his first game back last Tuesday.

“I was on deck behind him and after those first two at-bats, I was talking to him,” Calvert said. “I was like, ‘You haven’t seen live pitching in three months, so it’s going to happen. (Johns) was like, ‘I’ll get him next at-bat.’”

And he did when Indians’ righty Brett Jordan made a mistake on Johns’ third trip to the plate, serving up a letter-high changeup that won’t soon be found. Jordan struck out Johns on his first two trips.

Johns credits his first two at-bats to typical opening day jitters he had to shake.

“You’re going to get nervous, it’s my first game and nothing

really to do with the injury or anything, it’s just normal first game jitters and getting those out and getting back to business,” Johns said.

He also spoke about how his timing has to come back around.

“Of course, the timing was an issue,” Johns said. “I was late on the first one, made an adjustment and was earlier on the second one, so I felt like I made adjustments at the plate, which makes me proud because it makes me feel more like a mature hitter doing that.”

After seeing a few pitches, Johns believes that he’s got his rhythm back.

“Really it’s just timing,” he said. “It’s just getting that live pitching, because I haven’t seen live pitching since this fall, so really just getting live pitching and I got that in the last at-bat so I think I’m back in business and ready to help the team.”

Clay-Chalkville’s Johns returns to field

file photo by Ron Burkett

Clay-Chalkville junior Thomas Johns hits a home run at Hewitt-Trussville last season.

by Erik Harris

Sports Editor

H e w i t t - T r u s s v i l l e continues to claim its spot at the top of the Class 7A rankings across multiple sports.

This week, the girls’ soccer team threw its hat into the ring along with the top-ranked Husky

baseball and softball teams, topping the polls for the first time in school history. Last week’s No. 3 ranking for the Lady Huskies was a program best.

“This is simply a reward for our players and all the work they’ve put in throughout the season,” head coach Justin Pino said. “I’m very proud of

the team and it’s a huge sign of respect from the other coaches and voters to rank us No. 1.”

EurosportScoreboard.com rates the top 10 teams in each classification, releasing the second poll of the season Sunday. Behind Hewitt-Trussville are Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Oak Mountain, Auburn, Thompson,

McGill-Toolen Catholic, Hoover, Huntsville and Spain Park.

Last week, the Lady Huskies played in one contest, knocking off Gadsden City 2-0. Pino doesn’t want the team’s ranking to affect play on the field.

“It’s extremely important we don’t get too caught up with rankings at

this point in the season,” he said. “We must remain focused at all times and understand that this is something that can change at any moment.”

The Lady Huskies were off to a 12-3 start to the season at press time, before Tuesday’s game against Vestavia Hills. The girls play Spain Park on Friday. The focus remains

on improvement every game.

“All I ask of my players is to concentrate on getting better and continue to work hard,” Pino said. “It’s imperative we try to improve every week so each game we are better than our last.”

Lady Huskies’ soccer team tops rankings for first timeby Kyle Parmley

For The Tribune

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Both Hewitt-Trussville lacrosse teams notched big wins over Vestavia Hills last Wednesday. According to Hewitt-Trussville coach Kris Knisely, Vestavia Hills is the lacrosse mecca in Birmingham.

The Lady Huskies finished things up with an 11-10 win over No. 3 Vestavia Hills in a game that came down to the final second.

“This win is a monumental win for our program,” said Hewitt-Trussville coach Tom McCormick. “To beat a team with a highly respected and established program is proof of all the hard work our girls have put in.”

H e w i t t - T r u s s v i l l e managed to build a three-

goal lead going into the break, but the Lady Rebels struck back to take an 8-7 lead in the second half.

Despite a 4-0 Vestavia Hills’ run, McCormick’s girls didn’t retreat. Instead, they swung back to even the score at 8 before freshman Hailey Wilcox delivered the go-ahead goal with fewer than 60 seconds remaining.

Still, goalie Alyssa Newman had to fight off three Vestavia Hills’ shots

from close range in the closing seconds.

“To have the girls follow up right behind us and beat their girls’ team, (who is) third in the state, was also a fantastic accomplishment,” Knisely said. “All the credit goes to the kids.”

Things weren’t as tense in the guys’ game, as the Huskies controlled a 12-4 contest. The victory improved their season record to 3-2.

Mitchell Peterson and

Trevor McBride combined to net half of the team’s 12 goals. Both guys worked their way to clean shot attempts and capitalized with hat tricks. Also contributing to Hewitt-Trussville’s scoring total was Ben Wedlund, Daniel Rhodes and Carter McAlpin.

“At first we had a big burst, but after that, everybody wanted some,” McBride said. “They saw everybody get hyped and

they just wanted to get in on it. Everybody was sharing the ball.”

On the defensive end, goalie John Clayton had what coach Jamey Curlee called a “fantastic game.” His 15 blocked shots helped the Huskies secure their third win of the season, which surpasses their total from 2014.

“Our team was just locking it down, they made sure they didn’t get any really good shots on

us,” Clayton said. “It was mostly the defense getting in their sticks, making sure it wasn’t a really good shot.”

Hewitt-Trussville now looks likely to reach the postseason and is a few more wins away from home field advantage in the playoffs.

“I think we can go all the way if we just keep pushing, just keep trying and don’t let up,” Peterson said.

Lacrosse: Hewitt-Trussville downs Vestavia Hills for first time

photo by Erik Harris

The Hewitt-Trussville boys’ lacrosse team

by Erik Harris

Sports Editor

The Clay-Chalkville basketball program has landed two players on the 2015 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A All-State team.

Representing the Lady Cougars as a first-team All-State selection is senior point guard Kristian Hudson. Boys’ point guard Hasan Abdullah was selected to the Class 6A second team.

Both players reported to Montgomery last Wednesday to represent their state in the 25th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, but Abdullah sustained an injury that prevented him from playing in the boys’

game Friday.The Class 6A girls’ All-

State first team is made up of Hudson, Dothan guard Shatoria Jackson, Leflore forward Japonica James, Blount guard Cierra Johnson and Austin guard Tyra Johnson. Their coach of the year is Homewood’s JoVanka Ward.

Joining Abdullah on the boys’ second team is Homewood guard Malik Cook-Stroupe, Bessemer City guard Micah Fuller, Athens forward Trey Potts and Woodlawn guard Javien Williams. Cullman’s Bobby Meyer was voted the Class 6A boys’ coach of the year.

Clay-Chalkville’s Hudson, Abdullah earn All-State honors

file photo by Ron Burkett

Hasan Abdullah

file photo by Ron Burkett

Kristian Hudson

by Erik Harris

Sports Editor

Clay-Chalkville senior point guard Kristian Hudson said on March 6 that she liked Alabama’s chances to take back the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game series.

Two weeks later, she stood at half court on Alabama State University’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome floor holding the game’s

MVP award. Her 23 points, five assists and three steals helped Alabama to a 93-87 win, which gave it a 13-12 edge in the overall series.

Free-throw shooting played a big role in the victory, and Hudson certainly did her part from the stripe, going 7-for-8 on Friday night. As a team, Alabama shot 22-of-28 from the foul line.

Alabama, coached by Red Bay’s Donnie Roberts and Jeff Davis’ Lakenya

Knight, also held a firm advantage on the boards. They cleared 54 rebounds to Mississippi’s 43.

Hudson got plenty of help from her teammates on the scoreboard. Three of them finished with double-digit scoring totals. Hoover’s Jada Smith and Huntsville’s Shaquera Wade both contributed 15 points while Salina Virola of Lee-Huntsville chipped in with 14.

Hudson garners MVP honors in All-Star gameby Erik Harris

Sports Editor

Page 14 March 25 — 31, 2015 | The Trussville Tribune

Trussville City Schools is searching for a new varsity boys head basketball coach.

Mike Dutton submitted his resignation last Thursday and he informed his team of the coaching change during fourth period.

In a meeting with Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill, Dutton, 70, discussed his blessings of family and a new granddaughter born recently among reasons for his departure as head coach. He added that he has always loved the game and would like to continue to assist in

area basketball programs. “I have utmost respect for

the career that Mike Dutton has had in basketball and for the decision that he has made,” Neill said. “I wish him the best of luck in this new chapter of his life.”

Dutton spent two seasons as the head coach, compiling a 22-33 record.

Neill, Hewitt-Trussville High School Principal Tim Salem and Athletics Director Karen Johns will embark on an immediate search for a new head basketball coach for the boys varsity program.

Letters of interest in this coaching position may be sent to Sandra.Vernon@trussvillecityschools.com.

Jeremiah Millington last Monday was approved by the Trussville City Board of Education as an assistant coach for the varsity boys, replacing Bobby Johns, who retired.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

The second installment of the 2015 Alabama Sports Writers Association baseball and softball rankings were released last week, and Hewitt-Trussville remains on top of both Class 7A polls.

For the baseball team, a 4-0 work week was good enough to keep the Huskies atop the ladder. The Lady Huskies posted a 1-1 mark for the week, losing to Class 6A Chelsea and beating Class 4A No. 3 Cordova.

Head coach Jeff Mauldin and the boys (11-1 at the time of the rankings) sit ahead of No. 2 Thompson,

No. 3 Mountain Brook, No. 4 Theodore, No. 5 Hoover, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Spain Park, No. 8 Central-Phenix City, No. 9 Grissom and No. 10 Baker.

The Lady Huskies (20-3 at the time of the rankings) remain ahead of No. 2 Sparkman, No. 3 Spain Park, No. 4 Baker, No. 5 Central-Phenix City, No. 6 Huntsville, No. 7 Buckhorn, No. 8 Vestavia Hills, No. 9 Thompson and No. 10 Mary Montgomery.

On the softball side, Hewitt-Trussville currently has at least seven more wins than any other ranked Class 7A team. No. 5 Central-Phenix City holds a record of 13-5-2.

The baseball team got

its brutal Class 7A, Area 6 schedule started Tuesday at Vestavia Hills, who is receiving votes to enter the Class 7A poll.

No. 3 Mountain Brook and No. 7 Spain Park are the Huskies’ other two area opponents.

Hewitt-Trussville head football coach Josh Floyd has found a new defensive line coach.

Wes Murphy, who played for Houston Nutt at Arkansas from 2002 to 2006, logged his first day of work with the Huskies last Wednesday.

After a one-year run playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007, Murphy made the move to coaching. He served as offensive line coach at

Virginia Union University last season.

Before that, he worked

under Gus Malzahn at Arkansas State and Auburn. Murphy was the assistant tight ends coach in Malzahn’s one year with the Red Wolves and later joined him at Auburn as the assistant director of player development for the Tigers’ 2013 Southeastern Conference Championship team.

Murphy attended Shiloh Christian High School in Springdale, Ark., where Floyd coached from 2004 to 2013. Murphy’s senior season ended with a state championship.

The area high school baseball teams put together a perfect 6-0 record in weekend action.

Class 7A top-ranked Hewitt-Trussville (14-1) increased its winning streak to 10 games with a sweep of visiting Briarwood Christian on Saturday. The Huskies won 10-9 in extra

innings and 5-0.Clay-Chalkville (6-10)

picked up a couple wins in Etowah, knocking off the host school and Cleburne County. The Cougars beat Etowah 2-1 and Cleburne County 7-4.

Pinson Valley (11-10) also participated in a three-team rotation of games Saturday and won both its matchups with host Bob Jones and Cordova. The Indians handled Bob Jones

8-2 and beat Cordova 9-2.

Hewitt-Trussville basketball coach Mike Dutton resigns

Second ASWA poll keeps Huskies No. 1

Wes Murphy named DL coach at Hewitt-Trussville

Area baseball teams put together perfect weekend

file photo by Ron Burkett

Mike Dutton

photo courtesy of Josh Floyd

Wes Murphy

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by Gary Lloyd

Editor

by Erik Harris

Sports Editor

by Erik Harris

Sports Editor

by Kyle Parmley

For The Tribune

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to watch Tribune Sports Live’s Pat Smith talk with sports editor Erik Harris about Hewitt-Trussville baseball and softball.

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to read the full roundup of the perfect weekend for area baseball teams.