2014 The Messenger All-Area Baseball Player of the Year: Chandler Avant

Please join me in congratulating Chandler Avant on being named the 2014 Player of the Year by The Messenger.  Chandler is a two-time Messenger Player of the Year, having picked up the honor as a sophomore (2012). Chandler made  the All-Area team in each of his four seasons with the varsity. He was also named Messenger Player of the Year for this past basketball season.

Patriots Joining Chandler on the All Area Baseball Team are: Rush Hixon, Miles Loving and Brian Adams.  Connor Vowell was listed as honorable mention. 

For more information please click: http://www.troymessenger.com/2014/05/30/2014-the-messenger-all-area-baseball-team/?fb_action_ids=10100936111816878&fb_action_types=og.likes

2014 The Messenger All-Area Softball Player of the Year: Kayla Benton

Please join me in congratulating PLAS' Kayla Benton for receiving The Troy Messenger All-Area Player of the Year. Read the full article from the Messenger here.

Also congratulations to these Pike Softball players for making the 2014 All-Area Softball Team:

• Amberlyn Baker
• Ellie Barron
• Kailee Taylor 

Summer Workout Information

Please see the summer workout schedule links below. 

Summer Workout Parent/Student-Athlete Letter

June Workouts

July Workouts

August Workouts

2014 Summer Workout Schedule

• Boys and Girls (grades 8-12) must make 18 work out dates in order to participate in sports for the 2014-2015 school year. 

*If you need to make up workouts, get with your coach and set up days and times.  

*Athletes that are going to camps will get credit for the days that they attend, but they must let their coach know before the camp occurs.  You must give us a copy of the camp brochure showing the days.

*There will be a couple of basketball play days—Your coach will let you know the dates and times.  These days will count as work outs for the ones participating.  

**7 on 7 dates are as follows: (others may be added and dates may change).  These will count as work outs for the ones participating.

July 11^th  Hooper    TBA

July 18^th  Morgan    TBA

***Gym will be open on Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 until 4:00 for basketball players to shoot.  This is not required and does not count as a workout.

To: Parents/Guardians of Student-Athletes

Re: Summer Workouts 2014-2015

In order for your child to be able to participate in athletics at Pike next year, he/she must attend a minimum of 18 workouts this summer.  

The summer workout schedule is attached to this letter, so you may look at it.  

If your child attends a sports camp, play date, or anything else school related, that was approved by their coach or the athletic director, they will get these days counted as workout days.

Your child may also schedule make up workouts with their coach.  

It is the responsibility of the athlete to make sure that they have the minimum number of days to participate.

Please sign and return this letter so that we may know that you are aware of the requirements to participate.  Thank you and we are looking forward to a great year of Pike athletics.

_____________________________                   _____________________________

           Parent signature                                                      Athlete signature

J.O. "Tip" Colley Award

The 23rd Annual J O "Tip" Colley Award was presented last night at a banquet held at the Troy Rec Center. This award is presented annually by the Troy Exchange Club and honors outstanding Christian, scholar-student athletes. Of the 22 nominees for this year's award, 11 were from Pike Liberal Arts. They are:

• Ellie Barron 
• Mackenzie Johnson
• Chandler Cox                                    
• Sara Sanford
• Sara Saunders
• Taylor Saunders
• Katie Ward
• Caleb Gray                            
• John Stephen Grice           
• Joel Kervin                          
• Trip Roberts

At the conclusion of the banquet, Sara Saunders was named winner of the 2014 J O "Tip" Colley Award. In addition, Mackenzie Johnson and John Stephen Grice were named as runner up in both male and female divisions. Please join me in congratulating all nominees for this great award.

Work Day: Saturday May 17

The Booster Club set this Saturday (May 17th) as a work day to clean the stadium grounds in anticipation of next week's graduation ceremony. We will begin at 8:00 am.  We need to weed-eat around the fence and under the bleachers. We also need to cut  the hill on the practice field and on the Wal-Mart sides of the stadium.

PLAS Names Allen Ponder as New Head Baseball Coach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Pike Liberal Arts School Names Allen Ponder 

As New Head Baseball Coach 

TROY – Pike Liberal Arts is very proud to announce the hiring of Coach Allen Ponder as its new head baseball coach, taking over for the retiring, Butch Austin who leaves Pike after a twenty year career in which he won 422 games and the 2012 state championship. 

Upon the announcement of his hiring, Coach Ponder said, "It is such an honor to take over a program with such great tradition. The fact that Pike is in the mix for a state title year in and year out is a testament to the outstanding job that Coach Butch Austin has done over the years. It will be impossible to fill his shoes, but I look forward to the opportunity to coach the same great group of young men that had the privilege of learning from a legend. We will work hard to ensure that the success of Pike's baseball program continues.” 

Coach Ponder has been employed by The Lakeside School since 2012. Coach Ponder is a graduate of Lee Scott Academy in Auburn. While at LSA, Coach Ponder was named Mr. Baseball in 2002 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Alabama. Coach Ponder played baseball at The University of Alabama and AUM where he was a pitcher and first baseman. Following his colligate career, he played professional baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

In addition to serving as head baseball coach, Coach Ponder will serve as head strength and conditioning coach, assist with the junior varsity baseball team, serve on the varsity football staff and assist with the school’s basketball program. Athletics Director, Gene Allen says, “We are proud to have Coach Ponder join our staff. He will be a big asset to the strength and conditioning of all of our student athletes and has a lot of baseball knowledge, taking over for a legend.” Becky Baggett, newly named headmaster, added “As Pike begins a new era in baseball we are very fortunate that Allen Ponder, a very successful and energetic coach has joined our team. I look forward to working with Coach Ponder and anticipate great things to continue in our baseball program and beyond.” 

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Spring Sports Banquet: Monday May 12- 6:00 PM

The spring sports banquet is set for Monday, May 12, 2014 at 6:00 pm in the school's cafeteria. This banquet will honor all student athletes that participated in all JV and Varsity sports during the winter and spring sport seasons. 

Students Attending Baseball State Championship Wednesday

The Pike Liberal Arts Baseball team will play Glenwood at 10 am on Wednesday, May 7, for the state championship.  Students who wish to attend the game must bring a note on Tuesday, May 6, to the school office.  Those going to the game will not have to attend school.  All students will check in with Mrs. Sikes at the game.  The game will be played at Paterson Field on Madison Avenue across from Cramton Bowl. We would love to see students at the game supporting our Patriots! Go PIKE!