Rec Sports

Youth league starts season on ‘its’ own fields | Sports

Published

5 months ago

August 7, 2025

SHEPHERDSVILLE – The Greater Bullitt County Youth Football League, the largest youth sports program in the county, will start its 55th year on Saturday with a full slate of games on the facility on Joe B. Hall Avenue in Shepherdsville.

The main news for the league in the off-season was the group acquiring the property from the Bullitt County Board of Education. There is still some paperwork to finish, but the league is close to becoming owner of the land on which its two fields and parking lot sit.

The president of the GBCYFL is Grant Knox. He took over midway through last season when there was a little rough water. Knox got the group through last season and spearheaded the land acquisition that should put the league on a smoother path in the coming years.

However, this season, there has been some contraction as the league has lost one program and another was put on hold for at least a year. That means that the league will host just 12 games each Saturday this fall instead of the 16 it has played over the past several seasons.

As of last week, Knox reported that there were 915 players, cheerleaders and dance tea members under the league’s banner.

The program that left the league was the one from Fairdale. The outside of Bullitt County program had been a part of the GBCYFL for the past few years with few problems, but they opted to return to a league in Jefferson County.

Also on the sidelines for at least this season is the Shepherdsville program. That group will have no teams in any of the four age groups this fall. Knox attributed part of that to the flooding issues at the Shepherdsville City Park where the program practiced. There are also issues with open borders that allow players to play for any of the teams in the league no matter where they live.

The open border situation has existed for several years. Knox is hoping to develop a plan to end that issue, but it had to be put on the back burner for this season.

In addition, the Brooks Saints just did not have enough players to field either a flag league team or a Little Bullitts squad. That left just six teams in those two age groups. There will be seven teams in both the PeeWee and Junior Divisions. Hence, just three games in each age Division each Saturday, so a dozen games total.

The seven teams making up the league this season are the Cedar Grove Vikings, the Lebanon Junction Jaguars, the Maryville Patriots, the Overdale Chiefs, the Brooks Saints (two age groups), the Pleasant Grove Dolphins and the Mount Washington Colts.

There have been questions and worries as the league has worked through some trying situations. Knox says that the GBCYFL will continue to be a part of the community.

“I think everybody has had questions about if we are going to make it,” he said. “We’ve done this for 55 years. We’re going to be here as the original youth sports program in Bullitt County. We’ll be here a long time and we will get better.

“This piece of land has so much history,” Knox added. “This area has withstood floods and the parents and grandparents of so many of our players now played here. The history here is so strong.”

Games will start at 9 a.m. each Saturday. Unless there are delays caused by heat or injuries, there will be no need for any games to be played under the lights. However, the league is planning some ‘after games’ events on Saturday nights that could utilize the lights.

Another issue in the off-season was the flooding along the Salt River. The good news was that Knox and some league officers rented a truck and removed most of the valuable items from the offices and concession stand and got those items to storage on higher ground.

Knox said that in places at the facility that the water could be measured in feet. The two playing surfaces did take some abuse, but there is nothing that should affect play starting this week.

“It was deep,” Knox noted. “I could not see the top of the bleachers or the fences. But the mess just needed some scrubbing and cleaning.

“There was nothing major,” he added. “We got lucky with as much water as there was out here.”

Despite the loss of some programs and teams, the season will continue to involve ten regular season weekends. The season starts on August 9 and then will take off the Labor Day weekend. The post-season will start on Oct. 25 with Championship Saturday set for Nov. 8.

Another off-season change is that the GBCYFL no longer has any ties to the middle school programs that now are running under the high school programs. The only exception to that is that because of some scheduling issues, the Cougar middle school program will play a handful of games on the league’s main field on Thursday nights.

Outside of football, all seven of the league’s programs have cheerleading teams in place. The only dance team is part of the Mount Washington Colts.

The league is not officially a part of USA Football this year. However, the coaches are still being asked to follow that group’s program. The team’s do have to follow the guidelines laid out by the KHSAA when it comes to heat guidelines. There were times in July when practices had to be cancelled.

The ticket prices are unchanged this season. The league was selling season passes up through last week. Regular Saturday admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ‘valued citizens’ (seniors, first responders, etc.) Those under-5 are free.

There are no major rules changes for any of the age groups this season. The league will again have their own group of game officials and Knox said that for this season there is no shortage of officials.

As has been the case for the past 40 years, The Pioneer News will run the weekly results from the Greater Bullitt County Youth Football League in each Thursday edition during the season. Coaches are reminded to turn in their scoring and stat sheets each Saturday by the end of play that day.

Link

Rec Sports

Trump administration terminates lease for DC’s public golf courses, threatening renovations and youth programs

Published

1 hour ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The Trump administration has terminated the federal government’s lease with National Links Trust, throwing the future of municipal golf in the District into question

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior issued the termination letter Tuesday, severing ties with the nonprofit that has operated Langston Golf Course, Rock Creek Park Golf and East Potomac Golf Links — all on federal land — since 2020.

The move marks the latest effort by President Donald Trump to reshape the District, following mass federal layoffs, a law enforcement surge in the city and the recent Kennedy Center board vote to rename the cultural institution.

In the termination letter, Interior officials said the decision was based on National Links Trust’s alleged failure to complete required capital improvements and to provide a satisfactory plan to address defaults under the lease. The department also accused the nonprofit of owing millions in unpaid rent.

National Links Trust officials say they are “fundamentally in disagreement with the administration’s characterization” and “devastated” by the decision.

“We have always had a productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service and have worked hand in hand on all aspects of our golf course operations and development projects,” the organization said in a statement Wednesday.

National Links Trust Executive Director Damian Cosby called the termination “heartbreaking.”

“NLT has spent a massive amount of dollars and time and effort into this DC golfing community and the broader community as a whole, because we truly believe, at the municipal level, these facilities are community assets and community centers,” Cosby said in an interview with WUSA9. “It’s heartbreaking to see that a lot of those efforts could potentially be halted.”

Dispute over lease compliance

National Links Trust maintains it has consistently complied with all lease obligations and disputes the Interior Department’s allegations.

The nonprofit says it has invested more than $8.5 million in capital improvements at the three courses, including critical short-term upgrades that have more than doubled rounds and revenues while keeping green fees well below the market average for area public courses.

National Links Trust also says the lease allows rent payments to be offset by course improvements and that those offsets were approved by the National Park Service. The organization says “the first we heard about any rent issue was in the last few weeks” and that it has “asked for more information about the issue and have received little detail.”

Cosby said the October notice of default from the Park Service was vague — just two sentences with few specifics about what National Links Trust allegedly did wrong.

“We feel like we’ve been good partners. We feel like we’ve been great stewards of these facilities, and would continue to be great stewards of the facilities if we were allowed,” Cosby said.

The Interior Department did not respond to questions about National Links Trust’s claim that rent offsets were approved by the Park Service.

Rich history on federal land

Public golf in DC has deep historical roots. Langston Golf Course in Northeast, established in 1939, was the first public course built for Black golfers in the segregated District. Rock Creek Park Golf Course is one of the country’s oldest public courses and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. East Potomac Golf Links offers sweeping views of the Washington Monument and the Potomac River.

All three courses sit on federal land managed by the National Park Service.

National Links Trust, founded by Washington natives and golf course designers Michael McCartin and Will Smith, signed a 50-year lease agreement with the Park Service in October 2020 with a mission to refurbish the city’s three public courses while preserving affordable access for everyday golfers.

Major projects halted

Since taking over the lease in 2020, NLT has focused on making major renovations to the District’s three municipal golf courses.

The lease termination has forced National Links Trust to halt its most ambitious renovation project. Last month, the nonprofit closed Rock Creek Park Golf Course to begin a major overhaul that included a new maintenance facility, modern clubhouse, driving range, putting course and a Gil Hanse-designed nine-hole golf course.

“At our in-progress Rock Creek Park rehabilitation project, construction has been stopped and our general contractor is in the process of demobilizing,” National Links Trust said in its statement. “After five years spent navigating the complex federal permitting processes, this development is extremely disappointing for all who have supported the project.”

RELATED: Here’s a first look at the renderings for the $25-$35 million renovation of Rock Creek Golf Course in DC

RELATED: DC’s National Mall golf course changes name to East Potomac Golf Links amid upgrades for District’s public courses

Also on hold: a reversible golf course designed by Tom Doak at East Potomac’s Blue Course.

“It’s not just the renovation projects, but everything we’ve done in the community,” Cosby said. “All of that stops.”

Jobs and youth programs at risk

Cosby said more than 100 employees are now in limbo — a number that swells to nearly 300 workers during the summer season.

“We’ve got 100+ employees that we are concerned about, their financial well-being and whether they’re gonna have jobs or not,” Cosby said.

The termination also threatens youth programming, including the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program at Langston, which has provided summer employment to nearly 200 DC high school students, teaching the business of golf and providing essential job and life skills.

The program offers pathways to college scholarships. National Links Trust also runs a junior caddie program that provides opportunities for Evans Scholarships, along with Free Lesson Fridays that introduce the sport to the community.

“We’re concerned about our junior caddies and their potential to receive Evans scholarships in the summer,” Cosby said. “All of our community engagement that we’ve done in the community, whether it’s volunteerism, I mentioned the Jack Vardaman Workforce Development Program, I mentioned our free lesson Fridays, all of that stops.”

Concerns about Trump’s plans

The termination has intensified concerns among golfers and local residents about what Trump — who operates 16 high-end golf properties — has planned for D.C.’s public courses.

Trump has expressed particular interest in East Potomac Golf Links, which hugs the Potomac River just south of the Tidal Basin. His golf properties typically cater to a high-end clientele with premium pricing and amenities more commonly associated with private country clubs than municipal facilities.

Those concerns grew throughout 2025 when dirt from the White House East Wing demolition was dumped in the middle of East Potomac Golf Course, which the president regularly flies over. Large piles now sit alongside the ninth hole of the White Course.

When asked if he was worried Trump might implement plans that make golf less accessible to the public, Cosby said he would be concerned about any organization that would price out the community.

“I would be worried about anyone that would do that. My passion, NLT’s passion is around municipal golf, which means affordable and accessible,” Cosby said. “Municipal golf is the on-ramp for that. We are the stewards of growing the game. You’re not gonna grow the game, unfortunately, at high-end private golf courses. It’s just not gonna happen. Municipal golf is where that happens.”

Uncertain future

National Links Trust has agreed to continue operating the courses in the short term, though Cosby said he doesn’t know how long that will last.

“We are still there, we’re still operating, we’re still welcoming the community to the facilities, and we’ll continue to do so as long as we’re allowed,” Cosby said.

The organization says it hopes to find a way forward and will continue seeking dialogue with the Trump administration.

“While this termination is a major setback, we remain stubbornly hopeful that a path forward can be found that preserves affordable and accessible public golf in the nation’s capital for generations to come,” National Links Trust said in its statement.

Looking back on five years of work now in jeopardy, Cosby reflected on what the nonprofit accomplished.

“We set forward some ambitious goals, and we’ve met all of them. We said we wanted it to be affordable and accessible. We are absolutely affordable and accessible. We said we wanted to be stewards of the environment. We’ve worked really diligently on that,” Cosby said. “We’ve engaged the broader community through education efforts, through workforce development. We’ve done everything we’ve set out to do. Unfortunately, that all could come to a halt. It is very unfortunate.”

The White House and National Park Service did not respond to requests for comment about the administration’s plans for D.C.’s public golf courses.

Link

Rec Sports

Local facility offers training for young ballplayers | Patterson Irrigator

Published

3 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The next sports season is right around the corner. Little League signups will come to a close on January 9, and baseball players and softball players will soon be swarming over the diamonds scattered throughout Patterson. For a number of years, it has been a struggle for Patterson baseball and softball players to find a good place for batting practice with families driving to Turlock, Modesto, and Tracy to find batting cages. Many players and parents are not aware of a hidden gem in the community that opened up its doors in 2025. Chris Lasaca opened the School of Hard’nocks early in the year with an eye towards strengthening the skills of young ball players right in Patterson. Lasaca has thirty years of experience as a player and a coach. He played college baseball for Mission Junior College in Santa Clara and for San Jose State University in San Jose. Immediately after college, he went on the coaching staff at Mission Junior College. He went on to coach baseball at five colleges, including a 3-year stint at San Jose State University that featured a berth in the College World Series in 1991. Lasaca’s life has been baseball and he is eager to share that knowledge with the young people of Patterson. He has a philosophy that says, “Make them happy to play!” He feels that sometimes parents and coaches put a lot of pressure on players and take the fun out of the game. Lasaca said, “Get the kids in here and get them some information and confidence.” He told the Irrigator, “I’m for the underdog.”

Not only does he have the baseball skills and knowledge to help local young people, but he has also established an impressive smalltown facility located right off of Highway 33. Players will find an entire array of indoor batting cages, pitching machines, and equipment that is designed to improve performance. Additional apparatus sits outside for other drills and exercises. Coach Lasaca has the knowledge to help each player put everything to use in a way that will benefit the player specifically. Lasaca offers a balanced approach of pushing the players to excel, but with an uplifting and encouraging spirit.

The School of Hard’nocks is billed as a “baseball and softball indoor training facility” and it offers a variety of ways for coaches and players to interact with the facility. Lasaca offers one-on-one coaching for individual players. Parents can purchase one session or a whole package of sessions. Coaches can also bring in the whole team for a batting practice session.

The location of the School of Hard’nocks is easy to find, but also easy to drive right past. It is located at 205 S. “D” Street right off of Highway 33. You will need to walk or drive down the alley to find the entrance gate. The front units on “D” Street house Mechanics Express and Imports along with Hydroponics. You will find the indoor training facility down the alley right behind these two businesses.

With baseball and softball season approaching rapidly, this would be a perfect time to take your Little League player or high school player down to the School of Hard’nocks and let Coach Lasaca take them to the next level of performance. You can reach Coach Lasaca at (805)588-1144 or at hardnocksbb@msn.com for more information.

To reach Timothy Benefield at the Irrigator call (209)892-6187 or email timothy@pattersonirrigator.com.

Link

Rec Sports

Celebrate Texas Tech’s season for the ages with our commemorative book

Published

3 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 1, 2026, 2:40 p.m. CT

Twelve victories for the first time. An outright conference championship for the first time in 70 years. A berth in the College Football Playoff for the first time ever.

A season for the ages for Texas Tech football fans.

Despite a disappointing defeat in the CFP quarterfinals, the Red Raiders provided memories to last a lifetime. And the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal will publish a hardcover collector’s book to commemorate Tech’s championship season. The book is titled “RED REIGN: The Inside Story of Texas Tech’s First Big 12 Football Championship.”

Following Texas Tech's Big 12 championship, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal has revised the cover for its commemorative hardcover book titled "RED REIGN." It now features linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, winner of the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, during the Red Raiders' 34-7 rout of BYU in the title game.

Buy our Texas Tech championship book now!

“RED REIGN” will chronicle how Tech dominated the Big 12, won 12 games by at least three touchdowns, whipped BYU twice in showdowns and claimed its first outright conference title since 1955 in the old Border Conference. And it will highlight the historic season by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, winner of the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and a transformative figure in a new era of Wreck ’Em football.

“RED REIGN” will be packed with the Avalanche-Journal’s exclusive photography, behind-the-scenes access and game-by-game coverage. It will include Rodriguez’s interception and recovery of a backward pass in November’s 29-7 victory over BYU, the 49-0 shellacking of West Virginia in the regular-season finale and linebacker Ben Roberts’ two interceptions in December’s Big 12 title game. “RED REIGN” will feature all the players (and personalities) who made it happen: David Bailey, Behren Morton, Cameron Dickey, J’Koby Williams, Caleb Douglas, Stone Harrington, Romello Height, Lee Hunter, Brice Pollock, Bryce Ramirez, A.J. Holmes Jr., Howard Sampson, Sheridan Wilson and their close-knit teammates.

“RED REIGN!” retails for $39.95 but order now for a 10% discount. (That’s $35.95, plus tax and shipping.)

Whether you’ve been a Red Raiders fan for decades or just arrived for the greatest season in program history, this book belongs on your coffee table. Or give that glory as the perfect gift for a birthday or Father’s Day or Mother’s Day or graduation. Go to TT.ChampsBook.com for more details.

Buy our Texas Tech championship book now!

Celebrate the Big 12 championship

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal has produced a commemorative page print to celebrate the Red Raiders’ first Big 12 title. The page print features the big headline CHAMPS! and a stunning photo of Roberts celebrating after the title game with the most outstanding player trophy and the championship belt.

The full-page CHAMPS! prints start at $27 (plus tax and shipping) and come in a variety of sizes and formats through the USA TODAY Store. Go to usatodaystore.com and search “Texas Tech” for more details.

Buy our Red Raiders championship page print now!

Contact Gene Myers at gmyers@usatodayco.com. Check out books and page prints from theUSA TODAY Network— including a kid’s guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics, Coach Steve’s youth sports survival guide and 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry.

Link

Rec Sports

OBITUARY: Judith Lee (Goodwin) O’Leary

Published

5 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Judith Lee (Goodwin) O’Leary passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family on Dec. 24, 2025. Judy leaves behind her daughter, Tara O’Leary MacCarthy and her husband, Kenny; her grandchildren, Dr. Keira (O’Donovan) Martinez and her wife, Dr. Jennifer Martinez, Connor O’Leary and his wife Katherine. Judy is also survived by her two beloved great-granddaughters, Eve Martinez and Saoirse O’Leary, and her loving extended family and dear, life-long friends. Judy was predeceased by many loved ones, including her husband, Capt. Douglas M. O’Leary, son, Captain Brendan M. O’Leary, grandson, Seamus M. O’Leary, parents, Webster and Betty Goodwin, and her brother, Capt. Steven W. Goodwin.

Devoted to the town she loved, Judy worked in the town offices for over 25 years in both the Light Department and the Tax Collector office and took great pride in being a multi-generational Marbleheader. A clever and skilled artist with impeccable taste, Judy poured her love and creative talents into decorating her home, designing and crafting handmade quilts to welcome new babies, and knitting beautiful items that will be cherished by those she has left behind for many years to come. Judy’s quick wit and kindness were among her many qualities that drew others to her and her loving nature, curious spirit and resilience will be remembered always.

Services for Judy will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, at Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, including visiting hours 9-11 a.m., a memorial service at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a memorial luncheon. For more information and online guestbook, please call the Murphy Funeral Home at 978-744-0497 or visit murphyfuneralhome.com.

Link

Rec Sports

Real Madrid’s seven-year transfer strategy: building the future through youth

Published

6 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

It’s been more than six and a half years since Madrid signed a player over 25 years old as an established star for a significant transfer fee. Players like Antonio Rüdiger (2022), David Alaba (2021), Kylian Mbappé (2024), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (2025) arrived either on free transfers or, in Trent’s case, for a fee paid to Liverpool to secure his early participation in the Club World Cup. Joselu also joined in 2023 for €2 million in a low-cost deal, but it wasn’t considered a major market move.

Season after season since 2019, Real Madrid has focused on youth. The idea is simple: invest in young talent and give the club a decade to mold the squad, while amortizing transfer costs over time. Signing fully developed stars has become rare. In the 2019-2020 season, Hazard, Mendy, and Jovic arrived. Jovic, though young, failed to live up to the early promise.

The player profile Real Madrid are chasing

Players like Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Bellingham, Güler, Endrick, Huijsen, and Carreras all fit the club’s ideal profile, and Dutch midfielder Kees Smit is no exception. He turns 20 on January 20, with his entire career ahead of him. Madrid’s potential move for the AZ Alkmaar starlet would fall far short of the triple-digit fees seen for players like Vitinha or Alexis McAllister, yet he offers the creativity the club believes is crucial for the future.

The strategy at Valdebebas hasn’t changed: stability on and off the field comes from signing young players who can wear the Real Madrid jersey for a decade. Three La Liga titles since 2019, two Champions League trophies, a Copa del Rey, multiple Spanish and European Super Cups, and Club World Cups all reinforce the wisdom of this approach.

LaLiga giants favor youth over experience

Still, Real Madrid faces a challenge heading into next season: reclaiming the midfield spark that has been fading over time. The plan remains to bring in young talent, though there is ongoing debate about whether experience and proven quality should play a role. For now, youth wins, and Kees Smit is at the top of the list.

Real Madrid’s seven-year transfer strategy: building the future through youth — Former Real Madrid academy player Chema Andrés has excelled with Stuttgart in Germany and has been tipped to return.DeFodi Images

Madrid look to the academy

The same philosophy applies to the center-back position. Recent signings have either come from the academy or arrived on free transfers. Homegrown players like Jacobo Ramón at Como, Joan Martínez in Castilla training with the first team, and others such as Victor Valdepeñas – who has already debuted as a left-back – Diego Aguado, and Mario Rivas are being closely monitored.

Chema Andrés is another example, excelling in an accelerated development program in Stuttgart. Gonzalo García’s progress also suggests a path for non-defender academy players to join the first team exists. The door is open for the next generation.

Cypress captures division crown at Torrey Pines Tourney, Ryan Gov named MVP –

Published

6 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Cypress players and coaches after winning the tournament championship Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Cypress basketball).

Cypress High School’s boys basketball team won the Governor’s Division at the Torrey Pines Tournament defeating Poway 83-73 Tuesday night.

The Centurions’ Ryan Gov earned MVP honors scoring 32 points and hitting three 3-pointers in the final. Gavin Kroll had 17 points and three 3-pointers. Ethan Mai played tough defense and finished with 10 points, according to Coach Derek Mitchell.

“I’m proud of the way our team competed on the defensive end all tournament,” Mitchell said. “We had a lot of guys step up and make positive contributions throughout.”

The Centurions begin league play on Friday at Crean Lutheran.

For best view, click on the photo: