Open Letter to Pirate Nation from Coach Hawkins

Football

PIRATE NATION,

I would like to thank Dr. Melin, GCCS School Board, Mr. Laughner, Mr. Gilbert and the hiring committee for giving me this opportunity. Being away last year made me realize how much I love Charlestown: the community, the schools, the kids, and most of all, the football program. Charlestown is the best football community in Southern Indiana and I think I took that for granted before. I realize relationships and trust will need to be restored. I look forward to the opportunity to meet and talk with all of you. I realized I have a lot of friends and people that care about me and my family in this small town and I plan on showing you how much I care. My daughter, Laney summed it up best a few weeks back, “a year ago today, you messed up my whole life.” She cried when I left and cried when I told her I was coming back. My number 1 fan is happy again (1st relationship restored).

I cannot believe that I get a 2nd chance to coach and teach at the best school and football program in Southern Indiana. Thanks again to everyone that made this dream a reality.
Happy to be back,

Jason Hawkins

Low Cost Sports Physicals Available June 8th

Athletic Department

Charlestown Primary Care has once again agreed to provide low cost Sports Physicals to Pirate Nation Athletes in preparation for the up-coming 2015-16 school year.  These Sports Physicals are for any Charlestown High School or Charlestown Middle School students (including incoming 6th graders) who are planning on trying out for or participating in any school sport for the upcoming school year.

All Sport Physicals will be performed at Charlestown High School, on the evening of Monday, June 8th, between the hours of 6 and 7 pm.  Each sports physical will be $20 cash (no exceptions), and each student must arrive with a completed IHSAA Physical Form, including parent and student signatures where required.  CLICK HERE to download and print the CHS Athlete Packet, including the correct IHSAA Physical Form.

You can also visit: www.piratepride.blue/athleticforms.

All Sports Physicals will be performed by doctors and nurses of Charlestown Primary Care, with all proceeds being donated back to the school athletic department.

Reminder no student is allowed to participate in athletics at Charlestown High school without the attached packet completed and on file in the CHS Athletic Office.  Thank you to Charlestown Primary Care for providing this service to Pirate Nation once again this year.

Webster Headed to D2 Carson-Newman to Play Softball

Softball

CNWebsterLady Pirate for Life and former Charlestown Softball standout Alli Webster, who just completed her second year at Wabash Valley Junior College, is now headed to NCAA Division II Softball powerhouse Carson-Newman University.  Carson-Newman has an enrollment of approximately 2000 and is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee; thirty minutes northeast of Knoxville.  The Softball program, over the past six years, has consistently averaged over thirty wins per season as well as a regular in the NCAA Southeast Regional.  While at Wabash Valley, Webster led her team to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament (7th out of 16 teams) in Utah, was named the 2015 Region 24 College Player of the year with a final season pitching record of 24-4, and recently named NJCAA 2015 D1 Softball All-American.  When Webster was asked what attracted her to Carson-Newman to continue her academic as well as softball athletic career she responed:  “Carson Newman was a very easy pick for me.  I am studying education and they have one of the best education programs in the country.  They are also a NCAA division 2 powerhouse in softball with a head coach that has won over 1000 games. She is needing a starting pitcher and I plan on filling that spot for her.  The campus is small and beautiful. The people were all so nice. I felt right at home there.”  Webster, who originally had committed to Purdue-Calumet; reconsidered after her softball performance this past season provoked additional offers to roll in.  Webster, who is  officially with Carson-Newman this past Wednesday with her parents.  Webster is a 2013 graduate of Charlestown High School, an Indiana All-Star, and the daughter of Jeff and Cindy Webster.  For more information about Carson-Newman Athletics, and to continue following Webster’s Softball progress, visit www.CNeagles.com.

Lady Pirates’ Season Comes to an End in Semi-Final

Softball

20150526_213144-1The Lady Pirates have nothing to regret, finishing Mid-Southern Conference Champs, one game out of another chance to defend their Sectional title; but it just wasn’t meant to be this season.  Charlestown Lady Pirate Softball finished the season with a 22-5 record and won 18 of their last 19 games; proving to me the hottest team entering Sectional play.  Top it all off, long time Head Coach Kevin Zollman announced his end of season retirement in mid-May, compiling a career record of 180-146.  Charlestown defeated North Harrison in their sectional opener 3-0, but it was the second match up of the season with Salem that didn’t go as it did during the regular season, a 4-3 win.  The Lady Pirates fell to Salem in the Sectional Semi-Final Tuesday evening in Salem; provoking lots of tears in the finale.  Pirate nation would be hard pressed to find a former player of Coach Zollman who didn’t share a special softball relationship while at Charlestown; this team was no different.  Junior Carly Price, Tuesday’s starting pitcher, ended her season 18-3 from the circle and was recognized as Player of the Game once again for her pure skills at the pitching position.  Charlestown didn’t manage to score a run and stranded eleven base-runners throughout; but through their departure from the field, held to their class act reputation, despite battling many injuries.   Sophomore Kendall Cline finished the game three for three from the plate while Price added a three singles during her four at bats.  Sophomore Taylor Glover added two singles during three trips to the plate.  Charlestown will miss its softball Seniors (Shelby Goedeker, Kaitlynn Henning & Alex Hutchinson) as well as Coach Zollman; that’s alot of what made the loss especially difficult to swallow.  Salem will go on to face Brownstown in Thursday’s Sectional Final; but rest assured, the Lady Pirates; while returning eight starters next season, will be back in the hunt again next season.  Pirate Nation is very proud of you Lady Pirates; especially you three Seniors and Coach Zollman….words can’t express what you have meant to Lady Pirate Softball.

Lady Pirate Defense to Much for Lady Kats

Softball

The Lady Pirate Softball team advanced to Tuesday night’s Class 3A Sectional #30 Semi-Final round by defeating North Harrison 3-0 Monday evening.  Junior Lady Pirate pitcher Carly Price didn’t record a single strike out, but kept the North Harrison batters guessing all night.  The Lady Kats ruled the Mid-Southern Conference statistics with 205 runs this season; but was shut out in Monday’s Sectional match-up with Charlestown.  The Lady Kats managed four hits off Price (15-2), however the Charlestown defense held and stranded them all on base.  After a scoreless first 2 1/2 innings, the Lady Pirates (home team) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Price reached on an error then scored on a RBI single by Junior Lexi Logsdon.  Pitchers continued to battle and defense matched until the bottom of the sixth; when the Lady Pirates added two runs to insure the win.  Junior Bethany Hall reached after being hit by pitch, Sophomore Kendall Cline singled, then Junior Sarah Willinger reached on a fielder’s choice to set up the hit of the game.  Junior Brooke Adams, with two outs, hit to the left field wall for a two RBI double that scored courtesy runner Taylor Glover and pinch runner Shirlee Hayes.  Afterwards, Adams was named the Coyle Chevy, GMC, Buick and Coyle Nissan Player of the Game by CPPSB.  The Lady Pirates’ win advances them to the second of two Semi-Final games against the host Salem Lady Lions, who beat Scottsburg 1-0 in the night cap.  The Lady Pirates and Lady Lions are scheduled for their first pitch Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm.  Brownstown defeated Silver Creek (8-1) and Corydon defeated Madison (2-0) to match up in the first semi-final game at Salem.  Complete Lady Pirate Softball coverage will be live on www.CPPSB.com.

Errors Cost Bulldogs, Pirates Prevail 6-4

Baseball

The Pirate Baseball team moved to 21-6 on the season and concluded regular season play with a 6-4 win over New Albany Monday afternoon.  The Bulldogs (15-14) scored two runs in the top of the first and two in the seventh; but not enough to out pace the host Pirates.  New Albany finished the game with ten hits and three errors; but only earned four runs in the loss.  The Pirates finished with six hits and no errors.  Pirate Austin Smith (7-1) got the win from the mound in 6 2/3 innings, walking three and striking three out.  “A great team win today.  Austin threw the ball well and we did a great job with the bats and played solid defense”, complimented Head Coach Ricky Romans.  Dewey Cardwell finished two for four from the plate, leading the Pirates; while Drew Reich and Zach Ramirez added doubles.  The Pirates will now begin Sectional play Wednesday evening at North Harrison, versus arch-rival Silver Creek, for a 7:30 pm first pitch.  Sectional games can be heard live via www.CPPSB.com.

Jones Breaks Record as Pirates Win Bison Invitational

Baseball

RyanJonesAllTimeHitsLeaderThe Pirates made the three hour trek to Oxford, Indiana Saturday to play in the annual Bison Invitational; then made it more than worth their time in topping Western and host Benton Central High School to win the Invitational in convincing style.  Benton Central High School is located just northwest of Lafayette, Indiana; and provided the venue for Senior Pirate Ryan Jones (shown left) to become Charlestown’s All Time Hits Leader.  Jones, who signed to play college ball at Owens Junior College after high school, broke baseball’s big record Saturday with a two run homer in the top of the 3rd inning against Western.  The home run gave Jones hit number 137 for his career; breaking the old record of 136 hits held by former Pirate Cameron Metzger.  Jones will continue to expand his record pace through the rest of the season; as coming into Saturday’s Invitational he sported a .522 batting average after 86 plate appearances this season.

Charlestown squared off with the Western Panthers in their first Bison Invitational match-up; a Class 3A school located east of Lafayette in north central Indiana.  The Pirates fell behind 4-0 early in the contest; however tied the game at four in the top of fourth with help from the Jones’ record breaking two run homer in the third.  The shootout was on for an inning and a half until the top of the seventh, when the Pirates had enough.  The Panthers (9-11) scored two runs in the bottom of four and three in five before being cut off by the Pirate defense.  The Panthers led 9-6 going to the top of the sixth; when the Pirates added three runs in the top of the sixth and six big runs in the top of seven to put Western away for the day.  Senior Dalton Brown (2-2) got the win in relief, pitching three innings, and striking out three.  Charlestown scored 15 runs off 13 hits and committed three errors; while Western scored 9 runs off 10 hits and also committed three errors.  Senior Ryan Jones, in addition to becoming Charlestown’s new All Time Hits Leader, finished 3 of 4 at the plate, including two home runs, five RBI’s and plated four times.  Junior Zach Ramirez finished 4 of 4 in his trips to the plate, scoring three times and batting in two more runs.

IMG_0637The 15-9 win over Western advanced the Pirates to meet the host Bison in the Invitational Championship game.  Colin Martin (3-2) got the mound call for the Pirates, pitching a complete seven inning game, striking out nine, allowing seven hits, one walk, and one earned run to pick up the Championship bout win versus Benton Central 5-1.  Benton Central’s (16-10) lone run came in the bottom of the third, as seven team hits produced one run behind Charlestown’s defense.  Charlestown scored five runs on five hits and committed one error; the Bison committed two in the same game.  Pirate Junior Dewey Cardwell led the winning team at the plate, finishing two for four with a double; while Junior Tanner Wesp finished 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBI’s.  “Today was a great day of baseball.  We showed a lot of heart in the first game and Colin pitched extremely well in the championship game.  Great team wins today”, summarized Pirate Skipper Ricky Romans.

The Pirates (20-6) will return home Sunday and host New Albany on Monday at 11:00 am; a game that will be broadcasted by CPPSB at www.CPPSB.com; then begin Sectional play Wednesday at North Harrison High School versus Silver Creek (5:30 pm first pitch).

 

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