Former South Side standout and current Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Friday’s 7 p.m. TinCaps game against the Clinton LumberKings at Parkview Field.
Also, Pollard will be at Meadowbrook Elementary in New Haven from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday as part of his Helping Hands charity.
Pollard and his wife, Meghan, developed Pollard’s Helping Hands. One of the tasks of the charity is to feed families and kids who need it most.
Meghan Pollard’s sister works at Meadowbrook Elementary in New Haven and told the Pollards of the issues some kids face – sometimes, the only meals they have are the ones guaranteed at school. With summer break under way, they wanted to make sure the children and families still have food on the table.
A monetary donation to the charity will go toward supplying the families of Meadowbrook Elementary with a voucher that can be used at the Community Harvest Food Bank during the 10 weeks of summer break, ending Aug. 15.
Before the summer began, Meghan Pollard said they were hoping to provide at least 50 families with a voucher to receive 50 pounds of food a week. The estimated cost is about $475 a week.
Mail donations to Pollard’s Helping Hands, P.O. Box 23701, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283, or donate online at www.gkccf.org. For more information on the charity, e-mail pollardshelpinghands@hotmail.com.
AUTO RACING
Columbia City driver finishes 2nd
Columbia City’s Bill Bennett finished second in the Modified NHRA division at the “Pinks All Out” drag-racing televised event this past weekend at the 131 Dragway in Martin, Mich. Bennett drove his 1968 Chevy Nova in the 32-car field and lost 2-1 in the best-of-three finals. The taped event will be shown Sept. 24 on Speed Channel.
Truex gets docked NASCAR points
Martin Truex Jr. has been penalized by NASCAR for a rules violation during Saturday’s race at Chicagoland Speedway. NASCAR announced that Truex was docked 25 points in the Sprint Cup Series driver standings because his right rear quarter panel was found to be too high at the post-race inspection.
BASEBALL
Strasburg wins Golden Spike
San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been voted the Golden Spikes Award, presented each year to the top amateur player in the United States by USA Baseball. Strasburg, with a fastball that’s been clocked at 102 mph, was 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA. He was selected by the Washington Nationals with the top pick in the amateur draft. Other finalists were Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Mike Leake (Arizona State), Kent Matthes (Alabama), and A.J. Morris (Kansas State).
BASKETBALL
Taurasi faces extreme DWI
Mercury star Diana Taurasi faces three drunken-driving-related charges, including extreme DWI, for a July 2 incident in which she also was cited for speeding. A Phoenix police report shows Taurasi’s blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent, more than twice the Arizona legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Tarkanian set for spinal surgery
Spinal surgery for former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian has been delayed. The operation had been scheduled for Tuesday in California. The Las Vegas Sun reports that Tarkanian’s son, Danny Tarkanian, says his father’s blood is too thin for surgery. Doctors will remove a bone spur pressing on the spinal cord of the 79-year-old.
FOOTBALL
TV network picks Cougars’ Carter
Saint Francis senior running back Daniel Carter was named to the College Fanz Sports Network Super Six in its NAIA preview. The Super Six picks the best players in NAIA. Carter led NAIA in all-purpose yards last year with 2,025.
Gophers lose pair of players
Minnesota lost two key players for next season when coach Tim Brewster announced that safety Tramaine Brock and star recruit Hasan Lipscomb will not play for the Gophers. Brock, who started all 13 games last season, left school for academic reasons in January. Lipscomb, a highly regarded running back from Houston, will spend next season at a junior college because of academic issues.
GOLF
Fishers woman leads State Am
Brittany Kelly of Fishers leads the IWGA Women’s State Amateur at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus after two rounds, shooting a 5-under par 67 on Tuesday to lead the tournament at even-par. Sarah Prascsak, from Fort Wayne, sits in 12th place at 11-over par after a 77 on Tuesday.
HORSE RACING
Lawyer Ron euthanized
Lawyer Ron was among the Kentucky Derby favorites in 2006 and a champion older horse in 2007. When he was retired from racing last year, he had earned nearly $2.8 million. The 6-year-old horse was euthanized Friday night because of complications from colic surgery, Stonewall Farm Stallions announced.
