OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Looking ahead to another year
with Russell Payne

It is hard to imagine, but I actually am celebrating some weird kind of one year anniversary as it relates to my time in Diboll this week. For those of you that have known me it was a year ago today that I first arrived at the Free Press, and I of course have since left and come back again. Yet none the less I did arrive originally one year ago.

Well now that I have come to my somewhat not so full one year anniversary here in Diboll it is time to look at some of the great things coming up in the very near future. This Friday and Saturday sounds like a fantastic place to start.

The Diboll Lumberjacks are marching into the postseason for the first time since the 1997 season and they are heading in on an impressive four game winning streak. Under Coach Johnson the team has made some very impressive strides this season and should be able to fair very well against the Blackcats of Mexia this weekend. Come on out to Jacksonville the best of three series gets started at 7:30p.m. this Friday night.

It is about time for another Jack Backer Booster Club meeting up at the Lumberjack Stadium Fieldhouse. Make sure to mark your calendars and be there this coming Monday night at 6:00p.m. and help support our local Diboll Athletes in all that they do. There are some big leadership opportunities coming up and I know that any support the Jack Backers can get would be greatly appreciated. Again that is coming this Monday night.

Oh let me see, let me see what else is there, well another great event coming up locally is this Thursday evening and it should be a fun one. The Diboll PTSA will be hosting a "Womanless Pageant" at the Diboll Civic Center. This should be a fun one and with Coach Gary Martel on the hosting duties there is no denying the wit will be spilling over.

The pageant is for a terrific cause and is certain to be a great fundraiser for the Project Graduation this year. The ticket prices are $4 for the adults and $2 for students. There will be refreshments available at the event. So come on out and see "the ladies of the evening!"

Go ahead and mark your calendars for a couple of other Lumberjack related events coming this Spring and Summer. There is the big Spring Fling on the horizon and with that comes the excitement of the Girl's Powder Puff Football game. It should be an exciting war between the ladies of Diboll, and if last season was any indication some scary men in cheerleader outfits will be on hand. Funny it seems like there are a lot of guys in Diboll that are willing to put on skirts and make-up.

That big event will kick off on May 19 at Lumberjack Stadium and the festivities will kick off at 6p.m. The event will honor all participants that competed in Spring sports at Diboll this season. The powder puff game is set for a 7:15p.m. start time.

The Jackbackers will also be on hand selling concessions and preordering spirit items for next season. There will also be advertising available for the football programs this upcoming season. So make sure to come out and help celebrate the accomplishments of our young athletes.

Finally the 7-on-7 Season is just around the corner and the Lumberjacks will be hosting a huge tournament right here in Diboll. Last Summer the Jacks sent a squad all the way to the State Tournament at Texas A&M and this year everyone needs to come on out and root the newest version of the 7-on- 7 squad on. Look to the Free Press for all of the league and tournament dates and times.

Well that is it for me this week and I look forward to getting back to a more routine pattern with my column. Anyway there is plenty to do in Diboll the next few weeks and it sure seems like it will be loads of fun.

Until next time I will be running around somewhere out in left field!