I know you’re wondering what on earth I’m writing about a week after rec basketball season is over.

After all, the County tournament was last week and this is the is the first Saturday in MONTHS that I wasn’t courtside or on the football field watching one of my boys play basketball or football.

For those of us who live and breathe basketball no time is better spent than watching those we love most playing the sport we love – it’s truly the best of both worlds. This year we’ve caught a bit of a break and everyone who is a part of it – myself included – is beyond excited about it.

The Fayetteville Seminoles is a 10-11 year old AAU/USB league that has combined some of the most talented Lake Rim/EE Miller players and come up with something explosive.

Combine the players of the week listed on every article in this blog and get them together on the court. These kids recognize each other and better yet they respect each other’s game. Give them a couple of coaches who not only love the game and the kids, but know how to break down drills to improve fundamentals and teach them to kids who want to be the best.

These players realize that they are in the process of breaking new ground; they are the only 10-11 year old team in the area so the tournaments that they’re playing in will all be away. But we parents get the importance of this league and this team especially. We share the belief that our son just might have something that – if nurtured correctly – could change their lives.

So who are the Seminoles so far? Let’s start with the league’s leaders in points, Lake Rim Spurs’ point guards Demetrius Jones and Montez Surles and the league leader in blocks, Spurs center Cameron Watts. Add the crossover king from the Magic (Cavs) Jeremiah Dixon and their ambidextrous shooting guard Rontrell Felton and bring their big man Taj Chisolm.

Now add the three point king from the Lake Rim Blue Devils Nygel Knowlin and bring hustler Kevin Atkins from the ever ready Knicks you’ve got a very strong foundation.

I’ve seen all of these kids play for years, most of them have been on one team or another together at some point before but trust me when I say that watching them all play basketball TOGETHER is a whole new experience.

There are still a few spots open. Has your 10 year old mastered the fundamentals and has the passion for basketball? Can he compete with the best and be the epitome of the student athlete? Now is the time to step up and join the elite. Practice is Thursday and Friday at 8 at Lake Rim Rec.

Right now the kids are in the process of raising money for their first tournament which is tentatively set for April 16. Keep an eye and an ear out for them. I guarantee this won’t be the last you hear of the Fayetteville Seminoles.

See you courtside!

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (March 23, 2010) – The children in Fayetteville will all be playing their youth baseball and softball under the Little League Baseball and Softball umbrella following a recent decision by the local parks and recreation organization.

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department made the decision to charter seven leagues with Little League Baseball and Softball in the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. The new leagues will bring approximately 250 baseball and softball teams to the Little League family.

“Our Advisory Board was in favor of the change after seeing some things that they liked about Little League,” James Parker, Baseball Coordinator for the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department, said. “Things like the background checks and the publicity were two of the main reasons for the change.”

With the leagues serving a population of approximately 312,000, the Parks and Recreation Department leagues will sponsor teams in all eight divisions of play in baseball and softball starting with Tee Ball, for children ages 4-7, through Big League Baseball and Softball for boys and girls, ages 16-18.

The seven new leagues join the West Fayetteville Little League (WFLL), which has been a chartered Little League program since 1971. The WFLL had been the only Little League in the area until the recent decision to bring the entire city under the same youth baseball and softball organization. The WFLL will operate independently of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department having had their organization in place for many years.

Little League’s volunteer staff in North Carolina District 6, was also instrumental, along with members of the Little League Baseball and Softball staff, in convincing the decision-makers in Fayetteville to make the switch to the Little League program.

“We are very happy to have children in Fayetteville and Cumberland County now playing their youth baseball with Little League,” Sam Ranck, League Development Manager for Little League Baseball and Softball, said. “They are one of the largest Park and Recreation Department’s we have and the Little League mission is a good fit with the mission of their organization.”

The first games of 2010 in the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department Little Leagues are scheduled to be played on April 17.

In 2009, there were 34,080 players on Little League teams in the baseball and softball divisions in North Carolina, comprising 2,272 teams.

For more information on Little League Baseball and Softball, please visit the Little League web site at www.LittleLeague.org.

Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.6 million players and 1 million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.

Another fantastic weekend for the Rhinos; Jared represented at the Wounded Warrior Project charity tournament in Cameron, placing third place in a bracket filled with state champions, state placers, and state qualifiers. The Wounded Warrior Project charity tournament donated over $4000 for the cause.

We appreciate the efforts of the Union Pines High School wrestling team and Coach Ragsdale for hosting this event for a phenomenal cause. Coach Ragsdale intends to host the event twice a year, September and March. The Rhinos will continue to try and support this worthwhile event.

While Jared was in Cameron, the rest of the Herd was at the Greenville Open in, Greenville, of course. Here are the detailed results from the Herd’s efforts in the Greco and Freestyle Divisions. Three Rhinos wrestled up an age group to increase their level of competition: Sam, Alex, and Mason.

Greenville Freestyle Open Results for Rhino Wrestling
Novice-80 – Jakob Kirk’s place is 3rd.
Match #1 Jackson Sisk (Greenville Wrestling Club) over Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) Dec 3-1,4-0
Match #2 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Carlito Green (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:55
Match #3 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) received a bye.
Match #4 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Aaron Bancroft (Backyard) Fall 0:57

Schoolboy-105 – Samuel Bartram’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Samuel Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Tyler Brown (Backyard) Fall 0:45
Match #2 Samuel Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Tyler Brown (Backyard) Fall 7-0,1:05

Cadet-105 – Sammy Bartram’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Sammy Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Jamad Cradle (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 3-2,2-8,0:47
Match #2 Sammy Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) received a bye.
Match #3 Sammy Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Greyson Millis (Croatan) TF 7-0,9-2

Cadet-171 – Alex Simmons’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) over Edgar Romero (Greenville Wrestling Club) Dec 1-0,2-0
Match #2 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) over Mohammad Abas (Greenville Wrestling Club) Dec 5-2,6-1
Match #3 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) over Keyaad Coley (Backyard) Dec 4-3,5-0
Match #4 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) over Keyaad Coley (Backyard) Dec 4-3,5-0

Junior-215 – Mason Naphy’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Mason Naphy (Rhino Wrestling) over Anthony Samperisi (independent) FF
Match #2 Mason Naphy (Rhino Wrestling) over Anthony Samperisi (independent) FF

Greenville Greco Open Results for Rhino Wrestling
Novice-80 – Jakob Kirk’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) received a bye.
Match #2 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Jackson Sisk (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:55
Match #3 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Marco Najar (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:44
Match #4 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Carlito Green (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:21
Match #5 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Cameron Lester (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:44
Match #6 Jakob Kirk (Rhino Wrestling) over Jackson Sisk (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 0:55

Schoolboy-105 – Samuel Bartram’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Samuel Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Tyler Browan (Backyard) TF 6-0,6-0
Match #2 Samuel Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Tyler Browan (Backyard) Fall 6-0,0:55

Cadet-105 – Sammy Bartram’s place is 1st.
Match #1 Sammy Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Jamad Cradle (Greenville Wrestling Club) Dec 6-1,5-1
Match #2 Sammy Bartram (Rhino Wrestling) over Jamad Cradle (Greenville Wrestling Club) Dec 6-6,1-1

Cadet-171 – Alex Simmons’s place is 2nd.
Match #1 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) over Mohammad Abas (Greenville Wrestling Club) Fall 10-5,1:16
Match #2 Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) received a bye.
Match #3 Keyadd Coley (Backyard) over Alex Simmons (Rhino Wrestling) Fall 4-7,0:58

Junior-215 – Mason Naphy’s place is 2nd.
Match #1 Anthony Samperisi (Independent) over Mason Naphy (Rhino Wrestling) Fall 0:40
Match #2 Anthony Samperisi (Independent) over Mason Naphy (Rhino Wrestling) TF 6-0,7-0

You can see them here

I’ve been asked how folks can buy her photos. Zip me an e-mail at cappsr@fayobserver.com and I’ll put you in touch with her.

Here are the results:

9-10 Boys: Westover Heat 34, Myers Sonics 13

9-10 Girls: Smith/Myers Blue Jays 21, Westover Flames 12

11-12 Boys: Stoney Point Heat 44, Kiwanis Tar Heels 39

11-12 Girls: College Lakes Wildcats 17, Lake Rim Cavaliers 16

13-14 Boys: Fort Bragg Blue Devils 40, Smith/Myers Seminoles 36

15-17 Boys: Myers Sonics 53, Westover Ballers 41

Tournament 9-10 Girls

Tournament 9-10 Boys A

Tournament 9-10 Boys B

Tournament 11-12 Girls

Tournament 11-12 Boys B

Tournament 11-12 Boys A

Tournament 13-14 Boys A

Tournament 13-14 Boys B

Tournament 15-17 Boys A

Tournament 15-17 Boys B

Tournament 9-10 Boys A

Tournament 9-10 Boys B

Tournament 9-10 Girls

Tournament 11-12 Boys A

Tournament 11-12 Boys B

Tournament 11-12 Girls

Tournament 13-14 Boys A

Tournament 13-14 Boys B

Tournament 15-17 Boys A

Tournament 15-17 Boys B

2010 FCPR Youth Basketball Championship Itinerary

Tournament 15-17 Boys A

Tournament 15-17 Boys B

Tournament 13-14 Boys A

Tournament 13-14 Boys B

Tournament 11-12 Boys A

Tournament 11-12 Boys B

Tournament 11-12 Girls

Tournament 9-10 Girls

Tournament 9-10 Boys A

Tournament 9-10 Boys B

The Cape Fear Youth Hockey Association’s Jr. FireAntz Bantam team won five straight games to win the Congressional Spring Classic tournament in Washington D.C. last weekend.

The team, with players ranging in age from 13-15 from Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Lumberton and Pinehurst, outscored its opponents 22-3 in the event.

Assistant captain Nick Morris was named the Spring Classic MVP for coach Rob McNeely’s team.

For more information about the Cape Fear Youth Hockey Association, log on to www.cfyha.org.

Team roster

Rob McNeely – Head Coach

#30 Mitch McNeely  - Goalie

#33 Michael Donnelly – Goalie

 #15 Aubrey Bly- Forward – Co -Captain

#19 Josh Cogswell – Defense – Co-Captain

# 3 Nick Morris – Forward – Asst Captain

# 1   Brian Duffy – Defense – Asst Captain

#18 Conrad Black – Defense

#77 Nick Bussius – Forward

#24 Wyatt Chance-Defense

#66 Nick Diamantopoulos – Forward

# 8 Luigi Luongo – Forward

#67 Sean McDonald – Forward

#1 Alex Serrao – Forward

#21 Nick Walker – Forward