Year one is already done
Jeremy Heath

Jeremy Heath is the Dispatch Record's sports editor. He can be contacted via e-mail at jheath@lampasas.com.

Where did the year go?

It seems like yesterday I was sanding and staining the floor and painting the walls of the nursery in preparation for a new family member.

On Monday, my wife and I watched that little family member turn 1. We spent the entire afternoon with the little guy and put him to bed. When he went to sleep, we stood over his crib and talked about all the unforgettable moments we had with him during the last year, all the mistakes and successes, and the lessons we'd learned from both.

There was so much to talk about, so many milestones and highlights. It really put into perspective how much a strong couple can accomplish and experience in a year.

I thank God for every second we've been able to share with Landry. Each of those seconds is a blessing.

I just wish they didn't have to go by so fast.

Happy Birthday, son. I love you.

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It's not too late to sign up for the Lampasas High School football and volleyball summer camps.

LHS head football coach Ryan Bailey and head volleyball coach Tracey Myers both said plenty of spots are available for the camps, scheduled to start next week.

The volleyball camp, which will run Monday through Thursday, costs $40. Fourth- through sixth-graders will work out from 8:30-11:30 a.m., and sevenththrough ninth-graders will work out from 1-4 p.m.

The football camp, which is for second- through sixth-graders, is scheduled to run Tuesday through Thursday. Cost is $45, and athletes will work out from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

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The LHS junior varsity and varsity 7-on-7 football teams both went 3-0 in Cedar Park Tuesday night.

The JV contingent topped Cedar Park, Lago Vista and Austin Westlake to improve to 5-1 on the summer. The varsity beat Marble Falls, Cedar Park Vista Ridge and Lago Vista to up its summer record to 9-4.

"Our kids are learning how to compete," LHS head coach Ryan Bailey said. "When I look at them, I see a different kind of kid (from last year). They go into the games expecting to win. They get along great, and they're picking up on the team concept."

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Former Badger Dakota Smith certainly did his part, but the McMurry baseball team fell in the NCAA West Regional Tournament last month.

McMurray lost 5-3 in 12 innings to top-ranked Chapman, despite a spectacular effort by Smith. He tossed eight innings, allowing just three runs (two earned) to register a no-decision. And it's not like Smith and company lost to a bunch of slouches.

Chapman, which advanced to the DIII national finals, captured its fourth straight regional title with the win.

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Another former Badger athlete, Keith Null, keeps racking up the honors.

Those of you who read Tuesday's edition know the West Texas A&M quarterback was named preseason First-Team All-America by Consensus Draft Services.

Add two more honors to the list. Null was named to Lindy's Football Magazine preseason All- America Second Team and was highlighted by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine in the Lone Star Conference preview.

From Troy Shockley's story: "Among the veteran cast in Canyon is one of the LSC's best, senior quarterback Keith Null. He led the conference in passing yards per game and total offense in 2007 and, playing with an ankle injury during most of WT's win over ACU (Abilene Christian), proved he's also got heart."

That's not bad praise, considering the writer works for the Abilene Reporter-News, the hometown paper of one of WT's most intense football rivals.

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Finally, a couple of recently graduated Badger athletes got some encouraging news this week.

Kyle Landry and Cody Bailey were standouts on the Badger baseball team and recently signed to play for Guy Simmons at Frank Phillips College in Borger. Simmons, who's work I became familiar with during my five years at the Amarillo Globe-News, has a strong track record of furthering his players' baseball careers beyond his program.

That track record got stronger this week, when Frank Phillips player Brad Propst signed with Oklahoma State.

Propst, whose older sister Jesse was one of my wife's star journalism students at Canyon Randall High School, is obviously an excellent athlete or OSU wouldn't have taken him. But I watched Propst play several times in high school, and I can tell you without blinking that Landry and Bailey have comparable talent.

I also happen to know Propst is one of the hardest-working ball players you're going to find. That's why he'll be a Cowboy next year.

But it goes to show, there are no limitations on Bailey's or Landry's futures.

If they put in the work, they'll get their opportunity.