6 387-5277 newcastlepacer.com SPORTSThursday, July 9, 2015

By Darla WelchelManaging Editor

The Newcastle Racer summer baseball has completed its season with a 10-10 record losing its last game to Bridge Creek on June 29.

And although it was a tough season with eight games getting rained out, the summer head coach feels like the boys did well.

“All the players improved

in one way or the other, we mainly worked on defense and the short game. Bunting, hit and run to advance the runners into scoring position,” said head coach Mark Berglan.

Two upcoming Racer seniors, Dillion Lantus and Shelby Strangefi eld led their team this summer by demonstrating good leadership and work ethics, he said. And Hunter Schimdt led the team in batting.

Berglan, the brother of Newcastle Athletic Director, Dale Berglan and father to Racer pitcher, Brett Thomas, said he really enjoyed fi lling in as the head coach for the summer ball.

“I personally had a great time this season teaching the game of baseball to all the young men,” he said.

With the summer schedule fi nished, the Racers won’t be back on the diamond until next January.

Summer season over for Racers

Darla Welchel/The Newcastle Pacer

Junior Hunter Schimdt didn’t fall for the lowball during the last game of the summer ball season against the Bobcats. Summer rains causes delays and missed games throughout the summer.

Darla Welchel/The Newcastle Pacer

Junior Brett Thomas pitched a good game in the Racer’s last doubleheader against Bridge Creek on June 29, 2015. Unfortunately, the Racers lost leaving them with a 10-10 summer record.

By Eric Walters

This week in bowling saw cooler temperatures inside The Alley as our friends at KcKenna Heat & Air continue to add ductwork to our HVAC system in an effort to keep our customers more comfortable. Even though the work is only half complete, we can already feel the difference.

Competition is heating up in the Wednesday Mixers league. Team Crispy Critters had a great week and won 13 of the 16 points, lifting them to fi rst place atop the standings, 5.5 points ahead of team Kingwood who won only 5 of their 16 points.

Team The Alley moved up a spot into 3rd place over team Stop, Drop & Bowl who are in 4th place.

Match point leaders are; Men- Justin Smith with 10 points and Sterling Reeves with 9; Women - Barbara Bennett with 9 points, Dana Musselman with 8 and Julie Sluder with 8. Highest scores for the Men: Dave Watson, 246 and Gardner Lockwood, 243; Women: Dana Musselman, 201 and Evva King, 197.

Catching up on the Men’s Trio league, we fi nd team Woodpeckers still on top with 33 team points won. Dave’s Finish Line Bar is in 2nd place with 30 points and team Knuckle Shuffl e rolled out a great week winning 11 of

the 13 points rocketing them from 7th place to 3rd just a half point behind Dave’s FLB.

Match point leaders are Scott Musselman with nine 9 points and Sterling Reeves with 8.5. Highest scores were posted by Dennis Graham with a 253, Roger McNees with a 253 and Scott Musselman with a 242.

In Pinball news, we’ll be starting a Sunday Pinball league. If you love vintage pinball,

come on down Sunday afternoons at 5pm. We’ll have meetings every

Sunday until we gather enough players for a

league. Sadly, this was

the last week for our 1974 Bally “Flicker” pinball, as well as our 1976 Gottleib “300” pinball. They have been sold and are headed back

into a private collection. I have

a 1964 Williams “Heat Wave” pinball

in the shop and hope to get it fi nished and at

the bowl by the end of the month. I’m also hoping to make

a road trip to Topeka, Kansas to pick up another classic bowling themed pinball for us to play.

The Alley has Oklahoma’s only vintage pinball machine collection open to public play. I’m always looking for old pinball machines, working or not, to add to our fl eet. Give us a call if you know where one is hiding.

This week in bowling

The Alley in Blanchard will be starting a Sunday Pinball league. If you love vintage pinball, come on down Sunday afternoons at 5 p.m. They will have meetings every Sunday until they gather enough players for a league. The Alley has Oklahoma’s only vintage pinball machine collection open to public play.

already feel the difference.Competition is heating up in the

Wednesday Mixers league. Team Crispy Critters had a great week and won 13 of the 16 points, lifting them to fi rst place atop the standings, 5.5 points ahead of team Kingwood who won only 5 of their

Team The Alley moved up a spot into 3rd place over team Stop, Drop & Bowl who are in 4th

Match point leaders are; Men- Justin Smith with 10 points and Sterling Reeves with 9; Women - Barbara Bennett with 9 points, Dana Musselman with 8 and Julie Sluder with 8.

Pinball league. If you love vintage pinball, come on down Sunday afternoons at

5pm. We’ll have meetings every Sunday until we gather

enough players for a league.

Sadly, this was the last week for our 1974 Bally “Flicker” pinball, as well as our 1976 Gottleib “300” pinball. They have been sold and are headed back

into a private collection. I have

a 1964 Williams “Heat Wave” pinball

in the shop and hope to get it fi nished and at

the bowl by the end of the month. I’m also hoping to make

a road trip to Topeka, Kansas to pick up

2014press

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Newcastle PacerNewcastle PacerNewcastle PacerNewcastle PacerNewcastle PacerThe

Newcastle eyes new district

Newcastle eyes Newcastle eyes

Racers move up to 4A

Bridge Creek

vs.Racing

into historyA profi le of the

Racer Car

Take an inside look at the competition

Meet the teams

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24

By Max TerrellThe Newcastle Pacer

Breaking in a new head coach and learn-ing new systems on both offense and

defense in 2013 added up to a 1-8 season re-cord.

Greg Wallis assumed the helm of the Bob-cats taking over for his father.

But that was last year.Wallis said he sees improvement not only

on the fi eld over last year but with the brother-hoods that have bonded in the locker room.

O� ense: ShotgunThis season the Bobcats will line up in a

multi-back shotgun formation. Bridge Creek will spread the fi eld with receivers and utilize various running backs to tote the mail.

With a year’s experience under their belts, coach Wallis hopes the offense will be a lot smoother.

His goal this season is to change the pass-ing and running ratios to around 60-40.

QuarterbackSenior Jimmy Wynne returns under center

for the Bobcats. He was 61-147 through the air last season for 861 yards.

“His ability to make reads and decisions quickly is what helps our offense in its pro-duction,” Wallis said.

Running backSeniors Mason Trevino and Christian Sa-

linas will share duties carrying the pigskin from the backfi eld.

“The two backs have their own unique skill-sets with Trevino’s speed and Salinas taking the role of more of a power back for tough in-side plays,” Wallis said.

ReceiversWynne’s primary target this season will be

Jacob Watkins. The sticky fi ngered 6’ wide out is hoping to replicate last year’s success when he averaged 29.4 yards per reception. Watkins may also have a hand in the Bobcats’ running game. Junior Christian Longan is an-other down fi eld threat that will see extended playing time.

O� ensive lineThis could be one of the strengths of the

2014 edition of Bobcat football.This group returns with a ton of experience

and will be anchored by two-year starter Joe Morris. He is joined by Gio Pantoja, Victor Esparza, Ryan Genter and Brett Hodges. The Bobcats will be big up front with all but one lineman tipping the scales at 240 or better.

DefenseThe Bobcats will operate out of the 3-3

stack. Coaches report they are emphasizing utilizing extra secondary players. With only three down linemen and three linebackers on the fi eld, the front six is expected to play a tough and precise style of football to control the line of scrimmage.

The defense will have an assortment of blitz packages and coverages, which coaches will have at their disposal.

Wallis said the style of defense will be suit-ed to the opposing offensive formations and strengths.

Defensive lineSophomore Junior Aguilar will be the hub

of the defense manning the nose guard slot. Morris and Hodges will also see some reps there. Cade Mitchell and Pantoja will handle the defensive end chores.

Coaches this year are expecting the line to

Bobcats counting on experience to win

Photo by Bridget Watkins

Photo by Bridget Watkins Photo by Bridget Watkins

30

Bridge Creek Bobcats

ESPARZAvictor

GOFFlandon

GENTNERryan

CHANEYdylin

COOKaustin

CHASEbailey

BOOTONlantz

DANIELSbrock

GOLDENryan

CHASEkaleb

AGUILARjunior

SophomoreRB/DL

44Sophomore

RB/LB

14

GUFFYdrake

SophomoreWR/DB

81

FreshmanOL/DL

65

FreshmanOL/DL

54Sophomore

OL/DL

56

FreshmanOL/LB

49

SeniorOL/DL

68

JuniorOL/DL

67

SophomoreOL/DL

31Sophomore

RB/LB

34Sophomore

OL/DL

7722

Racing into history By Max Terrell and Darla Welchel

The Newcastle PacerThe Newcastle Racer Car has a long history in the Newcastle

community. It has been the mascot for the school for forty years.

The car has seen different drivers, cheering fans, the celebra-

tion of team wins and the heartbreak after a tough loss. The car

represents the strength of this small community with the roar of

the engine symbolizing its force and power, but the car and the

namesake “Racers” have not always been around.

The car that has become synonymous with Newcastle almost

never came to be. In the beginning, the teams were named the

Blue Devils and then briefl y the Crickets before they became

the Blue Racers. Red was briefl y added in the late 1970s into

the school colors until the blue and white that people are now

familiar with became the offi cial colors. The Racer name,

w h i c h Newcastle adopted in 1947, is credited

to Gerald

Burkett. According to the story the

Newcastle basketball team needed a

team name. Burkett, who played on

the team, looked at the uniforms and

dubbed the team the Blue Racers. This

was the beginning for the Racers.

Before the car came to be, New-

castle football and band programs had been suspended. After

the death of a student the football program ended in 1929. The

band program had to be cut after a tornado hit the school and de-

stroyed the band facilities in 1945. Years later, in 1972 and 1974,

both the football team and band were reformed. Along with the

return of the teams came something new, the original Racer

Car. The car was originally a small-motorized car, which paled

in size compared to the current vehicle. The car was often driven

in parades and the fi rst driver was principal Joe Cox. The little

racer was then used as the mascot for many years, until the new

car replaced it as mascot. The small car came around at a time

of change and hope; it represents more than just a mascot for a

team. Driver Jeff Kinney realizes this. Kinney has driven the

car for three years now and loves it, he said. Kinney became the

new driver of the car, by what he calls the luck of the draw. He

asked Jimmy Ogle one day why he wasn’t driving the car, and the

conversation led to Kinney being offered the new drivers spot.

When asked, his only response was “absolutely,” he said.

Kinney described the experience of driving the car very sim-

ply-“Excitement.” “The roar of the engine is so cool,” he said.

“We have had camera crews tape it, people take pictures and

the crowd loves it.” The Racer Car truly is a unique mascot and

symbol for the town and community of Newcastle.

the outside in 2013 after fi nishing the year

with 360 yards receiving. Receivers Brady

Davis, C.J. Hill and Glenn Cerney will all be

looking to contribute to the offense this year.

Parker Bolles will play a hybrid role in the of-

fense playing in the tight end position while

lining out into the slot.

“We are so deep at wide receiver this year,”

Bolles said. “We feel like we can go four wide

and rotate people to keep everyone fresh at

all times.”

DefenseThe Racers will have a new defense this

year switching from a 4-3 front to a 3-4 de-

fense. The change will see the outside line-

backers coming off the edge in the pass rush

with the defensive line creating havoc at the

line of scrimmage, Bolles said. Newcastle

looks to bring more pressure from the 3-4

and meet opposing players in the backfi eld.

“We felt the 3-4 fi t our personnel a lot bet-

ter this year,” said defensive coordinator Ed-

die Miller.

LinebackersColton Scott, Bolles and Bergt make their

return for the 2014 season. Bolles and Bergt

will be moving to the outside in the new 3-

4 defense looking to protect the outside and

rush the passer. Ty Smith will also be work-

ing as one of the inside linebackers. This

linebacker core will be expected to bring

pressure.

“I like to bring pressure,” Miller said. “I

think you have to in a 3-4. Our whole scheme

is to bring pressure, and our coverages will

go off of what pressures we will bring.”

Defensive Line

At nose guard, Newcastle will have Bridg-

es plugging up the middle of the offensive

line; Dillon Davis will also work at the nose

guard. Both defensive ends will be returning

for this season with Robertson and Dakota

Norman starting, with White also fi nding

himself at the edge of the defensive line. The

coaches are planning to rotate several play-

ers on the defensive line.

“We are four or fi ve deep there. Even at the

camps, we started our rotation,” Bolles said.

“We want to make sure to get people off the

fi eld especially early in the season when it is

so hot and guys are getting worn out.”

SecondaryFreeman will look to add to his intercep-

tion total at free safety after his nine inter-

ceptions in the 2013 season, but will be re-

lied on less this year in the secondary with

players like Hill and Shane Martin looking

to blanket receivers.

“Our staff feels like we can put a lot of dif-

ferent people out there and not have a drop

off,” Bolles said. “I know our young guys

have had a great spring, and we are just look-

ing for them to get into the groove of the

game; especially the freshman who are get-

ting adjusted to the speed of the game.”

Newcastle Racers

Familiarity brings offensive threat

The three player o� ensive combination of seniors Casey

Freeman, Zach Bergt and Ben Persall had success in 2013.

The teammates accounted for over 2,600 yards and

30 touchdowns during the 2013 season.

2013

2012

2011

20102009

4

4

5

48

8

4

6

6

7The Last Five Seasons

WinsLosses

Photo by Jennifer Lewis

Call Peggy at 387-5277 or Clint at 905-8335