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1999 – 2001 Articles during David’s High School Years (EXAMINER)

Click on the links below to go to the relevant article. For ease of reading I havehighlighted the parts relating to David.

(December 29 1999) Real preparation, mock trial (EXAMINER) ......................................2(February 10 2000) Sharks, Jets rumble at Blue Springs South (EXAMINER) .............. ...5

(February 17 2000) Cheers for debaters (EXAMINER) ......................................................7

(April 21 2000) Strike up the Gator band (EXAMINER) ...................................................8(June 8 2000) Scholarships trophy goal of South debate students (EXAMINER) ............10

(April 04 2001) Pitcher has Jags Cook-ing (EXAMINER) ..............................................12

(April 19 2001) South sending six to nationals (EXAMINER) .........................................13

(April 28 2001) Teens drive home a gruesome point (EXAMINER) ................................16(May 2, 2001) South team wins state in debate (EXAMINER) ........................................18

(June 21 2001) A national success (EXAMINER) ............................................................20

(July 12 2001) Following in big footsteps (EXAMINER) ................................................22

(July 14 2001) Rainouts, rescheduling create nightmare for Moran (EXAMINER) .........23(July 25 2001) Fike’s Cook fine in finale (EXAMINER) ..................................................24

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(December 29 1999) Real preparation, mock trial(EXAMINER)

Source 

December 29, 1999Section: Feature

Real preparation, mock trial 

Traci Menke The Examiner  

It's nearly January and only midway through the season for high school debate and forensicteams.

Tournaments started in the fall and go through the spring.

"The season runs the second week of October to the state tournament in April," Blue SpringsSouth Coach Georgia Brady said.

And there is a one week season in June for those who make it to the national level. South hashad students qualify almost every year.

"Our best showing so far was at Lee's Summit, where we got first and second in championshipdebate," Brady said. 'We're usually in the top three (at tournaments)."

The first tournament of the season is usually the one co-sponsored by both Blue Springs highschools.

Georgia Brady coaches the debate and forensic teams at Blue Springs South High School.

The debate squad includes 14 varsity (experienced) teams of two, 25 novice (beginning) teams of two and 10 Lincoln-Douglas debaters. Lincoln-Douglas is individual debate.

Students also compete in mock trial, which starts in January. There also are dozens of studentswho compete individually in forensics.

"Almost all the varsity do more than one (event)," said Coach Georgia Brady. "They are requiredto do individual as part of the curriculum."

The cross examination debate topic this year is on education. Students are debating whether thefederal government needs to establish a system that significantly increases academicachievement in secondary schools.

"I like the debate topic. It's very timely and relevant," Brady said. "I would really like to have achance for the public to hear the kids on this topic."

Bryan Schwappach, a debater, agreed.

"I like the topic. It's good because it is a broad topic and something we (students) can relate to,"he said.

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Ryan Hays agreed.

"I thing it's a good topic. I like it," Hays said.

But, like true debaters, not everyone agrees.

"I think it is too general and too broad. Debate is better when it's not on a personal level," saidJoanni Luteran.

Edward Tompkins said he is warming up to the topic.

"At first I thought it was too broad. I'm starting to enjoy it more," he said.

Schwappach said the topic makes it easy for the affirmative side, the group that wants to changethe status quo. He said there is a lot of support for changing things. The affirmative team isrequired to develop a plan that changes things for the better.

One of the points of his team's plan is to start the day later for high school students. He saidresearch has shown older students are more alert later in the day.

"So kids can get more sleep in the morning and they aren't sleeping in class," he said.Hays said one of the points of their plan to increase academic achievement is to have universalpreschools.

The Lincoln-Douglas debate issue is whether economic sanctions are moral.

Ben Williams competes on the forensics side for South.

So far he has competed in humorous interpretation, duo interpretation, prose, dramaticinterpretation, storytelling and improvisation.

"You name it and I do it," he joked.

"I like forensics because I've always enjoyed acting. I like to win. I don't like to lose," Williamssaid.

And the students have nothing but accolades for their coach.

"Mrs. Brady has a really tough job," Williams said. "And even though we frustrate her some times,she never loses her cool. She is always happy about her students successes."

David Cook agreed.

"Mrs. Brady would give her right arm and leg to see one of her students succeed," Cook said.

Hays said," Mrs. Brady is wonderful. She is the most dedicated teacher I've ever meet."

Schwappach agreed.

"She's the best teacher I've ever had," he said.

Williams and Cook agreed that debate and forensics brings people together because they spendso many of their weekends during the school year with each other.

Traci Menke can be reached at tmenke@examiner.net or 224-7217.

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Audrey Truschke, left, and Lindsay Wegener, Blue Springs South debate students, look over theMissouri Mock Trial information during Georgia Brady's debate class just before Christmas break.The mock trial competition begins in January and is part of the school's debate program.

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(February 10 2000) Sharks, Jets rumble at Blue SpringsSouth (EXAMINER)

Source 

February 10, 2000Section: Feature

Sharks, Jets rumble at Blue Springs South Traci Menke 

The Examiner  

For Andrea D. Smith the chance to play Anita was a role she waited for what seems like forever.

"I love it. She (Anita) loves to sing and dance. It's like a triple threat. I love her spark and her character. I've always wanted to play it," she said.

The Blue Springs South High School drama department is presenting the musical "West SideStory" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Barbara Landes Performing Arts Center,1200 Taylor Road. There is a matinee performance at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Kati Flowers, a junior, has her first lead role in the drama as the innocent Maria.

"It's my first major role. I love it. It is my favorite musical. I think it has really come together,"Flowers said.

Flowers said the story allows her to show a wide range of emotions. Smith likes her role becauseshe has the chance to do a lot of dancing.

David Cook plays Riff, the head of The Jets.

"The show is great. It's about 40 people coming together to make it look good," Cook said.

Bobby Kerr, who plays one of the lead roles as Tony, also likes the musical.

"It is one of the best musicals ever written," Kerr said.

"I've had a great time. It's been a lot of hard work."

Bernardo, one of the other lead characters, is played by Matt Brown.

"I think it will come off nicely," Brown said.

This is the first musical for Brown, who said he likes the character.

"He gets the bigger picture," Brown said.

"West Side Story" has sometimes been controversial because it is about racism. Several studentsin the play said they think the issue is something people should examine.

"I think it's a good musical because it shows how we do have racism and how it can affect our world. People can learn from it," Flowers said.

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Smith said, "It should be shown because it opens eyes more. They (those in the play) only lookedon the outside instead of the inside."

Cook said the musical may reflect on racism but says the cast and audience are mature enoughto handle the material.

"It shows the way things really were and are in real life. It shows real emotions," Kerr said.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

To reach Traci Menke, send e-mail to tmenke@examiner.net or call her at 224-7217.

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(February 17 2000) Cheers for debaters (EXAMINER)

Source 

February 17, 2000Section: Kids

Cheers for debaters 

The Blue Springs South Debate and Forensics conference team includes: Ed Tompkins,

Aaron Hankel, John Wirtz, Ben Williams, and Scott Lichtenauer, (back row); Jim Hoeper,

Ryan Mark Nick Ruble (third row); Katie Heflin, Ashley Morehead, Lindsay Wegener,Andrea Hay, Pam Sullivan, Jessi Baxter, Audrey Truschke, Stephanie Crisafulli (second

row); Linsey Morehead, Emily Robb, Ryan Hays, Clint Johnson, Matt Brown and Emily

Leonard.

Kyle Nanos and David Cook, members of the Blue Springs South High School debate

and forensics team, display the plaques they received the suburban conference champion.

Patricia Camp bell, a member of the Blue Springs South High School debate and forensic

team displays her award for suburban conference champion.

Submitted Photo

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(April 21 2000) Strike up the Gator band (EXAMINER)

Source 

April 21, 2000

Section: OpEd

Strike up the Gator band 

Thumbs up to the members of the Delta Woods Middle School Gator Jazz band, whosounded much beyond their years at the Blue Springs Adopt-A-School breakfast

Thursday. The band was good enough to take its show on the road and is an example of 

some of the exceptional young talent we have in our local school districts, and to the

teachers who help develop those talents. ... Thumbs up, too, to the local businesses thatget involved in the Adopt-A-School program at Blue Springs and other area districts.

Giving back to the community through our schools shows those businesses really do careabout the community, not just about profits. ... Thumbs down, across the state line, for the

eminent closing of the Glenwood Theatres, which are giving way for another strip mall.

These new theaters with dozens of screens are just fine, but they can't hold a candle to a

 place like the Glenwood, which has been the place to go for a major movie experience.We're losing something unique in the Kansas City area. ... Thumbs up to the students who

excel in competition representing their schools. Among them are those have earned the

right to represent their schools and communities at the national debate and forensicstournament in June in Portland, Ore. This is the payoff for a ton of hard work. Those

going to nationals from this area are:

* Micah McKay, Fort Osage High School, in Lincoln-Douglas debate, a one-on-one

debate in which students clash over values.

* John Whitteck, Truman High School, in student congress, which is similar of a mock 

congress.

* Stefanie Bell, Truman High School, in original oratory, an event in which a studentresearches a topic of contemporary interest, writes a speech and memorizes it, calling for 

a mix of logic and passion.

* Dusty Hoye and Matt Schmidli, both students at Truman, each in humorous

interpretation, in which a contestant memorizes a portion of a play or other literary work,

 bringing all the characters to life.

* Ryan Hays and Matt Brown, Blue Springs South High School, in extemporaneous

speaking, in which a student draws three questions on current events, selects one, and has

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half an hour to come up with a concise and informative speech to address the question.

Hays is in the category of foreign affairs topics, and Brown is in U.S. topics.

* David Cook and Ben Williams, Blue Springs South High School, are in duo

interpretation, in which two students act out a brief part of a play.

* Kruti Tripathi and Mary Westfall, Blue Springs High School, team debate, in which

teams of two go at it over a matter of public policy, complete with cross-examination and

rebuttals.

And there's another student who gets a thumbs up. Rori Gray, a Lincoln-douglas debater 

at Fort Osage, tied her teammate, Micah McKay, in the qualifying event and steppped

aside so her friend, a senior, could go to nationals. That's good sportsmanship.

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(June 8 2000) Scholarships trophy goal of South debatestudents (EXAMINER)

Source 

June 8, 2000Section: News

Scholarships, trophy goal of South debate students Traci Menke 

The Examiner  

Students representing Blue Springs South High School have a few days to perfect their 

speaking skills before taking on other students in national competition.

Ryan Hays, Matt Brown, David Cook and Ben Williams leave for Portland, Ore., thisweek for the National Debate and Forensics Tournament. The tournament is Monday

through Friday next week.

Hays and Brown competed in nationals last year. Brown is a recent graduate, and Hays is

a senior.

Hays is competing in foreign extemporaneous speaking, and Brown is competing in U.S.

extemporaneous speaking. Last year, Brown competed in student congress, and Hays

competed in debate. In extemporaneous speaking, a contestant draws three topics aboutcurrent events, selects one, and has 30 minutes to prepare a speech.

Cook and Williams are competing in duo interpretation. Their piece is called

"Philadelphia." They each play a different character, but by the time it is finished, thecharacters have switched personalities.

"It makes me stretch as an actor. You're forced to perform and feed off each other," Cook said.

Williams said: "I think it is fun. I have had a good time with it. It will be interesting to seehow far we go."

This is their first trip to nationals.

Cook said he would like to take first place because of the scholarships available.

"And the trophy is about three feet tall," he said.

Coach Georgia Brady said Brown was a surprise in the extemporaneous category.

He was entered in the event at the district tournament because there was a slot open.

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"But we knew Matt could do OK," Brady said. "It surprised a few people."

"Including me," Brown said.

To make final preparations for the tournament, Brown is watching the late news ontelevision or picking up what he can on the Internet.

Hays has been competing in foreign extemporaneous all year and would like to take atleast third or fourth place at the tournament.

Brown said he hopes to have the chance to talk about technology-related topics.

Hays said he likes any topic dealing with Russia or nuclear weapons.

They planned to take their good luck charms with them, including Doctor Woo, a

cardboard cut out that was passed down a 1995 graduate. They'll also take a picture

Brown found at a previous tournament.

"It's some kid's school picture," Brown said.

Williams is taking a picture of his girlfriend for good luck, and Cook is taking clothing

featuring frogs. They also are taking T-shirts bought for them at a store than sells

overruns. The shirts have "Moore Family Reunion," printed on them.

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(April 04 2001) Pitcher has Jags Cook-ing (EXAMINER)

Source 

April 18, 2001Section: Sports

Pitcher has Jags Cook-ing The Examiner staff  

LIBERTY. Mo. -- Blue Springs South is finally getting some strong pitching to go along

with its potent offense.

The Jaguars handed starter David Cook an eight-run first inning and he made it stand,

giving up two runs on five hits while striking out 11 in six innings Tuesday in a 13-2 winover Excelsior Springs in the Northland Tournament.

Cook improved to 3-0 overall and moved South to 7-5 going into today's 4:30 p.m. battlewith Liberty.

The win also was the Jaguars' 100th in school history.

Mike Mendenhall helped pace the offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs to up his season

average to .533 (24-of-45) with 21 RBIs. JD Lawrence added three hits and two RBIs.

"Scott Johnson threw well for us (Monday) and David was just mowing them down(Tuesday)," South coach Richard Wood said. "We've been hitting real well, but we'll get a

 big test from Liberty."

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(April 19 2001) South sending six to nationals(EXAMINER)

Source 

April 19, 2001Section: Feature

South sending six to nationals Traci Menke 

The Examiner  

Editor's note. This is the third in a series of four stories about Blue Springs and BlueSprings South high school students who are going to the National Debate and Forensics

Tournament June 10-15, in Norman, Okla.

Blue Springs South has five chances to get a win in the national forensics tournament in

 Norman, Okla.

Six students have qualified in four individual events. Two of the individual qualifiers,

Ryan Hays and Corey Owens, also qualified in team debate. David Cook and Ben

Williams qualified in duo interpretation, Hays qualified in foreign extemporaneous,

Lindsey Morehead qualified in dramatic interpretation, and Owens and John Wirtzqualified in oratory. Hays, Wirtz, Williams and Cook are seniors. Morehead and Owens

are juniors.

This is a return trip to nationals for Cook, Williams and Hays. It is the first time for 

Owens, Morehead and Wirtz.

"It was somewhat unexpected," Wirtz said.

Wirtz and Owens agreed one of the secrets in doing well in oratory is a good topic.

"You need to pick something you feel passionate about ... You have also have to be

eloquent in your delivery," Wirtz said.

Owens agreed.

"I echo John. It's a lot in the delivery. A good delivery can overcome content," Owenssaid.

Wirtz's topic deals with something that is close to his heart, teen-agers and their lives. Hesaid many adults say teen-agers don't live in the "real world."

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Both have competed in forensics for four years.

This is Hays' third trip to nationals. He has gone in debate and foreign extemporaneous

 before and this year he goes in both.

Hays said he likes foreign extemporaneous because it gives him a chance to educate the

 judges about issues. He said it is important to be up on foreign affairs to compete in the

event.

In this category, participants draw questions and then are given time to prepare their 

 piece. Hays was happy that the question he got in the final rounds of districts was

something he had studied, the international monetary fund.

Hays said one of the important things to remember in preparing an extemporaneous piece

is that events don't happen in isolation.

"You have to know what is going on in the world," Hays said.

His goal is to first win, but he would settle for doing better than the Top 30.

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(April 28 2001) Teens drive home a gruesome point(EXAMINER)

Source 

April 28, 2001Section: News

Teens drive home a gruesome point 

 Kelly Evenson 

The Examiner  

Tyler Parsons said he was the lucky one. He did not have to deal with the suffering of the

events after the car accident - the accident that ended his life.

Parsons, a senior at Blue Springs South High School, portrayed one of the victims in a

dramatic presentation sponsored by the Youth Outreach Unit in front of the high school

Friday morning. The drama, presented to juniors and seniors, showed the sequence of events that happens after an accident is caused by drinking and driving on prom night.

Blue Springs South's prom is tonight.

"Even though I died early on in the presentation, I heard all the screaming," Parsons said.

"I could feel my parents pulling at my body and screaming because I was dead. I didn't

have to feel any pain. I was the lucky one."

Matt Shull, school resource officer at Blue Springs South, said the purpose of the dramawas to demonstrate to students the effects of drinking and driving. He said by seeing

 people they know inside the cars injured, it might have more of an impact and change baddecisions into the right ones.

Anne Loughran plays a victim in a mock accident presentation for the Blue Springs Southstudents as a firefighter helps her onto a backboard Friday.

"What we are trying to do is have an impact on these kids," Shull said. "We hope thatthey will see what is going on, and it will change their perspective about drinking and

driving before, during or after the prom."

The docudrama showed two vehicles, one driven by a suspected drunken driver, crashedinto each other. Parsons died in the accident while the others were taken from the

vehicles, placed on back boards and taken away in ambulances.

The drama simulated the actual events that would take place at an accident scene

involving those from the Blue Springs Police Department, Central Jackson County Fire

Protection District, emergency medical technicians, Hickman Tow and a funeral home.

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David Cook, senior and the suspected drunken driver, said if he had known what was

going to happen, he would never have taken a drink.

"This could happen to anyone here," Cook said. "This happens every day across the

nation because of people like me. Don't drink and drive - that's the bottom line."

Shull said the program, which has been going on for the past six years, took about five

weeks to organize. He said he believes programs such as the one in front of Blue Springs

South helps deter teen-agers from drinking and driving.

"I think it has made somewhat of an impact on these young people," Shull said. "They see

their friends in there and realize that participating in this type of practice is dangerous and

has its consequences."

David Beck, senior at Blue Springs South, said he thought the presentation was well done

and brought to life the tragedy that happens when people make unwise decisions.

"I hope that this will prevent kids from making bad choices at prom," Beck said. "I think 

students saw what could happen when they make foolish choices, and it could encouragethem to make the right choices and have fun."

Kelly Evenson can be reached at kevenson@examiner.net or at 229-9161.

Emergency personnel respond to a mock accident scene Friday at Blue Springs South

High School. The girl on the back board is Anne Loughran, vice president of the Students

Against Destructive Decisions chapter at the school. The South prom is Saturday eveningand the mock accident was staged to remind students to drive responsibly.

Paul Beaver/The Examiner 

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(May 2, 2001) South team wins state in debate(EXAMINER)

Source 

Section: Feature

South team wins state in debate  Kelly Evenson 

The Examiner  

Two Blue Springs South High School students have brought home the school's first statechampionship in debate. Now, the duo has its sights set on a bigger prize.

Ryan Hays, senior, and Corey Owens, junior, took first place in the Missouri State Debateand Forensics Tournament in cross-examination debate. The tournament was April 20-21

at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Hays said it felt great winning state in his last tournament before graduation.

"I went to state last year with a different partner, and we lost to a Lee's Summit team in

the quarterfinals," Hays said. "This year, we met the same team in the semi-final roundand beat them. It was a sweet win."

Owens said since this was the first time he'd gone to state, he was not sure they wouldwin anything. He said since they had already qualified for the national tournament, state

was more relaxing, but as they got closer to the final round, he said he became more

nervous.

"We were sitting in the final round, and I looked back on the rest of the tournament and

couldn't believe we had made it this far," Owens said. "It just felt so good that we wereable to do this for Ms. Brady. She has done so much for us and we did it for her."

Georgia Brady, debate and forensics team coach, said the championship is the school's

first in debate. She said she was both relieved and excited when it was announced Hays

and Owens had taken the championship because she knew it had been a good round.

"It is a wonderful feeling that they would want to do this for me and not for themselves,"Brady said. "They are all wonderful kids and they work really hard. It is easy to let down

at the end of the year, but they continue to practice and research."

Other students that placed in the state tournament from Blue Springs South included:

David Cook and Ben Williams, both seniors, placing third in duet acting; and Lindsey

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Morehead, junior, placing third in dramatic interpretation. All of the students have

qualified for the national debate and forensics tournament in June in Norman, Okla.

"We were actually surprised we made the cut into the final round because we have only

 practiced our piece once or twice together," Cook said. "Once in finals, it is a completely

different monster to tame. We were glad we made it, but were kind of disappointed weonly placed third."

Owens said now that they have won state, their next goal is to bring a nationalchampionship to Blue Springs South in debate.

"We had a team a couple of years ago place 13th overall, but they never won," Owens

said. "My goal for next year is to try to live up to this year. I want to be the second teamin the state to win back-to-back state championships. I want to do something that hasn't

 been done for Ms. Brady."

Kelly Evenson can be reached at kevenson@examiner.net or at 229-9161.

Corey Owens, left, and Ryan Hays, won first place in team debate in state competition inColumbia.

Paul Beaver/The Examiner 

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(June 21 2001) A national success (EXAMINER)Source

 June 21, 2001

Section: Feature

A national success Kelly Evenson The Examiner  

It was a topic on terrorism while in Oklahoma that placed Blue Springs Southdebater Ryan Hays third in the nation - and he wasn't the only one from BlueSprings who came home a winner.

Mary Westfall and Rachel McRae, Blue Springs High School, and Hays, David

Cook and Ben Williams, Blue Springs South, returned home last weekend withseveral honors from the National Debate and Forensics Tourn ament in Norman,Okla.

Hays placed third in extemporaneous commentary while Westfall and McRaeplaced in the top 40 in team debate. Westfall also placed 32nd in domesticextemporaneous. Cook and Williams placed in the top 30 in duo interpretation.

Hays said he actually qualified in two other events, foreign extemporaneous andteam debate, however did not manage to break the top 60. Instead, he said hewent on to his supplementary events, which are considered consolation rounds.

In extemporaneous commentary, Hays had to draw topics from a hat in eachround and then prepare a five-minute speech. He said he had topics rangingfrom Bill Clinton to sex and then terrorism in the final round. Hays said once hewas focused on what he was supposed to be doing, the speeches becameeasier.

"Senior year is really busy, and I didn't do a whole lot of preparation for debatebefore nationals. I kind of neglected major developments in the world," Hayssaid. "Once I was eliminated from the main rounds and started concentrating onthe supplementary, I was surprised I advanced beyond the first rounds. I was

looking to do better in the competition, but it was a lot of fun."

To qualify for nationals, students had to make the final round and then place firstor second in the district tournament earlier this year. McRae, who has not been tonationals before, said the experience was fun, but not as much pressure as sheexpected.

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"I think going into the competition, I thought there would be more competitionfrom the other schools," McRae said. "But placing the top 40 was a great way toend it. Four years of hard work paid off great."

Westfall said she and McRae did not really prepare much going into nationals.

She said she knew they would be up against tough competition, but the questionwas how much did the other teams prepare.

"We did a lot of preparation for district like looking up articles and becomingupdated on current events," Westfall said. "But senior year gets busy. We didn'teven open our crates after we qualified. We were a little surprised we did so wellbecause there was some impressive competition, but it was the best way to endthe year."

Cook said last year, he and Williams were just happy to qualify for nationals, butthis year they were more determined to do well. He said the whole experience

was kind of bittersweet because competing with his friends is over.

"We did well, our school did well, but nationals is finished," Cook said. "I don't getto do this with these guys anymore. Four years of work and competition is done."

Williams said he was a little disappointed with nationals because a person goesinto any competition to win. He said, however, he has learned a lot fromparticipating on the team throughout high school.

"I have definitely learned how to talk more since participating in debate andforensics," Williams said. "Doing something like this for four years and you wouldlearn how to talk a lot."

Next year, the five students will be headed in different directions as they beginpursuing college education. Westfall plans to attend the University of Kansasmajoring in pre-medicine. McRae is going to Creighton University majoring ininternational business and law. Hays is attending the University of Minnesotamajoring in business while Cook and Williams will stay in Missouri.

Cook is attending Central Missouri State University majoring in broadcasting andfilm communications and Williams is attending Truman State University with anundecided major.Only Hays and Williams have definite plans to continue in debate and forensicsin some way during college. Cook is still considering the idea while McRae andWestfall said they are going to spend time concentrating on something else for awhile.

"Debate is a pretty big time commitment," Westfall said. "There is a tournamentevery weekend and you are researching all the time. I think it is time to dosomething else for awhile."

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(July 12 2001) Following in big footsteps (EXAMINER)

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37&p_theme=gatehouse&s_site=EIMB&p_product=EIMB

July 12, 2001

Section: Sports

Following in big footsteps

BILL ALTHAUS

The Examiner 

/snip/

"This is just a great tournament," Fike pitcher David Cook said. "One of the big reasonsI'm playing Legion ball is to play in this tournament.

"It's on the lips of everyone associated with Legion ball and it's special to be a part of itand even more special to be a part of Fike's first win."

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(July 14 2001) Rainouts, rescheduling create nightmarefor Moran (EXAMINER)

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July 14, 2001

Section: Sports

Rainouts, rescheduling create nightmare for Moran

Bill Althaus

The Examiner 

/snip/

Despite the rain, rescheduling and headaches that go with being tournament director of the 13th annual Wood Bat Invitational, Jim Moran has managed to keep his sense of 

humor.

"I don't think I'll ever talk on the phone again after the tournament is over," Moran said,grinning.

Three telephones and his pager were seemingly ringing in unison.

Along with being the tourney director, Moran led his Blue Springs Post 499/Fike team to

a 2-1 tourney start.

"We want to win this tournament for Jim," Fike pitcher David Cook said. "It's such a

great tournament and to win it for Jim would be unbelievable."

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(July 25 2001) Fike’s Cook fine in finale (EXAMINER)

Source 

July 25, 2001Section: Sports

Fike's Cook fine in finale Lorenzo Butler  The Examiner  

In the postseason, the old adage is to play every game as if it's your last. For Blue Springs Post 499 Fike pitcher David Cook, it was indeed his last game.

And the 18-year-old who wears No. 1 played like it as he tossed a complete-

game, five-hit shutout, helping his Fike squad to an 11-0 rout of IndependencePost 21 in the opening round of the Fifth District Tournament at Santa Fe TrailPark.

"It's a good way to go out," said Cook, who has vacation commitments that willprohibit him from playing the remainder of Fike's season. "It's nice to go out thatway. You treat every pitch like it's your last pitch."

Tuesday was no different for Cook as he gave up only one hit through the firstthree innings.

Ross Williams, Fike #4, slides safely back into second base in an pickoff attempt in the bottom of the second inning by Daniel Logston, Post 21 #17, Tuesday.Paul Beaver/The Examiner 

And while Cook set the table on the mound, teammate Brent Kreisler providedthe goods from the plate.

"I've kind of been struggling at the plate," Kreisler said.

That ended Tuesday as he went 3-for-4 with a single, a double and a triple andfive runs batted in.

"I just hit the ball at the right place at the right time," Kreisler said.

David Cook , Fike #1, pitches against Post 21 Tuesday.Paul Beaver/The Examiner