Roger White of Troutville is the front man for the summer baseball clinics scheduled to be held by Botetourt County Parks and Recreation in June. White is a volunteer assistant with the James River High School baseball team, but is more. He is a scout for the Atlanta Braves organization. Said White, "I have been in baseball over forty years, since I was a kid, and it is part of my life." White played college baseball at Lynchburg College, coached at Cave Spring High School, coached several years at the Commonwealth Games and is now a professional scout.

The whole idea behind the clinic is to build skills in baseball in Botetourt County. White knows from experience the better trained in skills players become at an early age, ultimately the higher the programs in high school can reach. "Rec League baseball can go a step higher when players participate in such clinics," he stated. He also noted that kids who know how to play the game enjoy it more and are likely to enjoy it as a life long experience.

Area coaches and high school players will help at the clinics and focus on things like fielding, hitting, pitching, running, drills, etc in stations set around the field. There will be guest speakers and group discussions on playing baseball and team play as well. With the focus on skills, players should receive the needed instruction to continue to hone their playing ability.

The clinics are set for June 16-18 for ages 8-12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a healthy snack will be provided during the time. That clinic will be held at the Botetourt Sports Complex. Older players ages 13 and up will have camp the following week June 23 to 25 at the same time schedule, but at Lord Botetourt High School field. The cost for either clinic is $135 per player.

White said the Rec Department is sending home notices through the schools and registration can be completed online. For more information or to register go to www.botetourt.org/recreation or call 473-8326.

Two from LBHS named Wendy's Heisman winners

Mackenzie Tyree and Zach Santolla, both seniors at Lord Botetourt High School, were honored as Wendy's High School Heisman winners at the Virginia Tech Spring football game on Saturday, April 25, in Lane Stadium.

Tyree played volleyball and basketball on District champion and regional and state candidate finals teams. She has inked a scholarship with Carson Newman to play volleyball. Santolla played football and wrestled and placed third in the state 2A wrestling finals this year. He is still undecided about his college choice.

Each year Wendy's recognizes the nations' most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in academics, athletics and community/school involvement.

As seen on the cover, James River's boys and girls track teams won the Region C Championship on Saturday, May 23. First, though, they won the Pioneer District championships, and those pictures are here. For more photos, visit The Notebook on botetourtview.com.

Kallie Cox, Abbie Rexrode accept softball awards

Kallie Cox and Abbie Rexrode came back on the field of James River on Wednesday, May 13, to accept their All-Region C awards and All-State awards. Kallie made 1st team All-Region and 2nd team All-State, while Abbie was Region C Player of the Year and 1st Team All-State. Both girls represented James River in the VHSCA All-Star Softball game in Hampton in July 2008.

Future Cavs basketball camp coming up

Here are the particulars for the 9th annual Future Cavs Camp to be held:

n June 22-25

n 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

n Boys and Girls, rising grades 3-8

n Cost: $85 per Camper

"Basketball camp is for rising grades 3-8 boys and girls. Outstanding age-appropriate fundamentals, exciting contests, and fun-filled games will highlight this enthusiastic full-day session! Outstanding guest speakers from the college and professional ranks as well as invited high school coaches bring their motivational messages and expertise to reinforce superb daily instruction."

Camp staff is composed of the Lord Botetourt High School basketball coaches Jon Cook and Chuck Pound and players which were LBHS Boys and Girls 2007-2009 Blue Ridge District Tournament Champs and the girls went all the way to the state semi finals.

This is a Co-Ed camp. Boys and girls will compete with and against each other in every aspect. There will be no lunch served this year -- please provide a drink for your child.

"A great opportunity to fall in love with the game of basketball," said Coach Jon Cook. Contact Cook at Jcook@bcps.k12.va.us or at 992-1261 for registration information.

LBHS basketball award winners as determined by the Kiwanis. Trent Mathias, MacKenzie Tyree, Rick Alderman, Grace Blaylock and Chuck Pound. -- Cathy Benson, The Botetourt View

Kiwanis Unsung Hero Banquet

The Kiwanis Unsung Hero banquet was held at the Salem Civic Center for the 13 local metro basketball teams. Lord Botetourt winners were:

Boys' Basketball:

Trent Matthias: LB's Unsung Hero

Rick Alderman: named to the Kiwanis All-Star Team

Girls' Basketball:

MacKenzie Tyree: LB's Unsung Hero

Grace Blaylock: named to Kiwanis All-Star Team and named Player of the Year

Chuck Pound: Co-Coach of the Year (with Randy Bush of Hidden Valley)

LB Girls: Awarded Kiwanis Sportsmanship Award as voted on by the officials

Submitted by Chuck Pound, athletic director

Valley AFC U15 Boys Revolution in soccer finals

The Valley AFC U15 Boys Revolution Travel Soccer team went to the "Beat The Heat" Soccer Tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C., on April 25 and 26 and made it all the way through to the finals. The team ended up losing in the final round to CASL Crew from Raleigh-Durham, NC. Team member Jared Hundley is from Botetourt.

Submitted by Kathy Innacelli