Three Rebels Named to AISA All-Star Team

From The Daily Home:

Just a few weeks after winning the AISA Class A state championship, three members of the Coosa Valley Academy baseball team received another honor.

Seniors Zac Taylor, Chase Ward and Michael Klinner were all named to the AISA All-Star baseball team. In addition to the award, Taylor and Ward were both chosen to play in an AISA All-Star game on June 11.

“It’s a huge honor for them,” Coosa Valley coach Kevin Oakes said. “Zac and Chase have shown over the last several years that they can play at any level of competition. They’ll fit right in down there. They deserve it and they’ve earned it.”

[Read more]

Vestula Thompson Obituary

From the Shelby County Reporter:

Vestula V. Thompson, 85, of Vincent passed away on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, at a local hospital.

The funeral service was held Sunday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. at Vincent Baptist Church. Dr. Lindy Martin presided. She was buried at Vincent City Cemetery. Visitation was held Saturday, May 26 from 6-8 p.m. at Bolton-Letlow funeral home.

Thompson was born on July 28, 1922, in Millerville. She was preceded in death by John M. “Johnnie” Thompson.

She is survived by a daughter, Penny Thompson; a son, Sonny Thompson; and four grandchildren, Scott Thompson, Leigh Dunkin, Shane Gallups and Andrew Cox.

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Oakes, Taylor Gather Postseason Honors

CVA baseball coach Kevin Oakes (‘92) was recently named AISA baseball Coach of the Year by the Shelby County Reporter:

For baseball, Coosa Valley Academy’s Kevin Oakes returned to his alma mater last season and has since brought home a 52-24 record, a state runner-up trophy and now a state title.

Zac Taylor (‘07) earns the Reporter’s AISA Baseball Player of the Year award:

Coosa Valley Academy’s Zac Taylor earns this year’s Shelby County Reporter AISA Player of the Year honor for his dominance on the mound down the stretch and mastering the strike zone in the playoffs, on the way to CVA’s first-ever baseball state title.

Taylor, a Wallace State Community College signee, posted a 10-1 record on the season, including three wins over rival Shelby Academy. He posed a 0.55 earned run average and struck out 128. His contributions to his team did not just sit on the mound, but came from the plate also. He led the team with a .630 batting average, collecting 24 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBIs.

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BBJ Report on Private School Economic Impact

From the Birmingham Business Journal:

With the emerging global economy and an increased emphasis on education, local leaders say having a strong network of private schools – in addition to and as an alternative to public education – can only bolster the Birmingham area’s reputation and its ability to successfully recruit new business.

Jim Searcy, vice president of the Metropolitan Development Board, said having a strong array of education offerings is essential to development.

“The more educational options you have, the more appealing your community is,” he said.

That includes having a diverse range of options, such as parochial, secular private and public institutions.

[Read more]

Vestula Thompson funeral arrangements

I received these details yesterday concerning the funeral arrangements for Vestula Thompson:

Visitation:    Saturday, May 26, 2007 at Bolton-Brown Funeral Home in Columbiana

Funeral:        Sunday, May 27, 2007 at First Baptist Church in Vincent

One e-mail I received also indicated that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the CVA Library Fund.  I haven’t confirmed that requests with family members, but I think it sounds like something Mrs. Vestula would like.

Donations can be sent to:

Coosa Valley Academy
P.O. Box 250
Harpersville, Alabama 35078
Attention: Library Fund

Vestula Thompson passes

Mrs. Vestula Thompson passed away last night after suffering a stroke a few days ago.

I will try to find out and post the funeral arrangements sometime today.

CVA Baseball Title: Sweep of Shelby

From the Shelby County Reporter:

Coosa’s dominating fashion began last Tuesday at Huntingdon College, where Klinner shut out the Shelby Raiders 8-0 to take a one-game lead in the series. Klinner came close to allowing a run only once, but his relay throw to home plate with one out in the first inning Tuesday, eliminated the run and the Raiders’ chances.

“It builds confidence after you do something like that, and after that we just kind of ran with it,” Klinner said.

Run with it they did, as Klinner went on to strikeout five straight and a total of 12 in the game. The Rebels’ Chase Ward broke out of the gate in game one with a 3-for-4 day, including a 3-RBI double in the sixth inning to help break the game open.

Ward, [pictured here]who was later named tournament MVP, performed in a similar manner on Wednesday, also going 3-for-4.

[Read more.]

CVA Baseball: 2007 State Champions

Congratulations to head coach Kevin Oakes and the team.

The Rebels (26-11) got the win thanks to a strong pitching effort from senior Zac Taylor in his last outing. Taylor (10-1) gave up only three hits and kept the Raiders from scoring an earned run while striking out nine and walking none. The Rebels lost only once to Shelby Academy with Taylor starting on the mound in his four seasons at Coosa Valley.

[Read more.]