Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge will celebrate new eighth rowing lane on Friday, April 28

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Rowers are pictured above on the Oak Ridge rowing course in the spring of 2017. The area that needed work to recently add the eighth lane is pictured at center-right along Melton Lake Drive. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Rowers are pictured above on the Oak Ridge rowing course in the spring of 2017. The area that needed work to recently add the eighth lane is pictured at center-right along Melton Lake Drive. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Oak Ridge will celebrate the new eighth rowing lane with a special dedication ceremony on Friday, April 28, the city said in a press release.

The dedication, announced by the City of Oak Ridge, will be at 3 p.m. Friday, April 28. It is expected to include state and local leaders, and it will help kick off one of the biggest rowing weekends of the season, the press release said.

The eighth rowing lane, which is now complete, has been on the city’s wish list for many years. Officials have said that it could help attract even more and larger regattas (rowing races) and help maintain the Oak Ridge course as one of the top-ranked rowing venues in the United States.

Those who attend Friday’s dedication ceremony will gather in Melton Lake Park at the pavilion across from the Oak Ridge Rowing Association and then take a short walk on Melton Lake Greenway to the new overlook for the eighth rowing lane, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge will host NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships in 2020

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The Oak Ridge rowing course is pictured above during the 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The 2020 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships will be in Oak Ridge.

The selection was announced by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) on Tuesday, April 18. The NCAA said it has selected more than 600 host sites for preliminary rounds and finals of predetermined championships in Divisions I, II, and III to be held from 2017-18 through 2021-22. The selections for Division I are posted online at the NCAA website.

The hosts for the 2020 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships at the Oak Ridge rowing course are the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge Rowing Association.

The championships will be in Indianapolis in 2019 and in Sarasota, Florida, in 2021 and 2022.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Soccer: Wildcats play AC, Clinton, Gibbs possibly for last time—at least as district rivals

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Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ soccer team has played the Anderson County Mavericks, Clinton Dragons, and Gibbs Eagles for what could be the last time—at least as district rivals during the regular season.

It is possible, though, that the teams could meet as non-district foes in regular season games, such as in regular-season soccer tournaments.

The Anderson County, Clinton, Gibbs, and Central boys’ soccer teams will be in the smaller Class AA classification for the 2017-2021 seasons.

Teams that will still be in District 3 (Region 2) in Class AAA are Oak Ridge and Campbell County, Halls, Karns, and Powell.

The Wildcats beat Anderson County 7-3 on Tuesday, March 28. They defeated Clinton 5-0 on Friday, March 31. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Gibbs

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Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

In what could be their final meeting, the Oak Ridge boys’ soccer team beat Gibbs 5-0 in a district game on Tuesday, April 4. Here are photos by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Baseball: Wildcats win 3 of last 5 district games, play Clinton Monday

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Oak Ridge junior catcher Jacob Ownby (44) is pictured above during a 6-4 loss to Powell at Bobby Hopkins Field on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior catcher Jacob Ownby (44) is pictured above during a 6-4 loss to Powell at Bobby Hopkins Park on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats have won three of their last five district baseball games. They have three more district games this week, including one at home today (Monday, April 17) against Clinton and then another at Clinton on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (9-10, 3-4 District 3-AAA) will then travel to Halls on Thursday.

Today’s varsity game against Clinton (10-15, 1-6) is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Bobby Hopkins Park. The junior varsity game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Here are summaries of recent district games: [Read more…]

Baseball photos: Oak Ridge-Powell

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Oak Ridge junior Ian Campbell (24) pitches to Powell during a 6-4 loss to the Panthers at Bobby Hopkins Field on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge junior Ian Campbell (24) pitches to Powell during a 6-4 loss to the Panthers at Bobby Hopkins Park on Friday, March 31, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost to Powell 6-4 at the end of March. Here are photos from the game by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Baseball photos: Oak Ridge-Campbell County

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Oak Ridge senior Brice Mlekodaj (6) is pictured above at bat during a 9-4 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Field on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Brice Mlekodaj (6) is pictured above at bat during a 6-3 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Park on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat Campbell County 6-3 and 9-4 in two games at home this month. Here are photos from the first game by John Huotari. [Read more…]

SIRA Regatta in Oak Ridge this weekend

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The 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta is pictured in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association, or SIRA, Regatta is in Oak Ridge this weekend. The regatta started Friday, April 14, and it will end Saturday, April 15.

It’s hosted by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association. It’s the 49th annual SIRA Regatta in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“Few partnerships have stood the test of time like that of SIRA and Oak Ridge,” said the press release, which was from Explore Oak Ridge.

This year, the regatta will feature 59 teams from 12 states.

“This is the largest regatta in SIRA history for an Easter weekend,” said Sarah McAuliffe, Oak Ridge Rowing Association regatta director.  “We are looking forward to a great weekend of rowing.”

The race distance is 2,000 meters, or about 1.25 miles. You can view the start line from Calhoun’s restaurant on Melton Lake Drive. Teams cross the finish line downstream at the UT-Battelle Rowing Tower. Coaches and spectators can now view races from start to finish with no obstructions because of the recent completion of the eighth lane, the press release said. [Read more…]

Baseball: Oak Ridge beats Anderson County 11-1

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Oak Ridge Caldwell Pitch Anderson County Baseball April 10 2017 Web 2

Pitcher Seth Caldwell of Oak Ridge (0) threw a complete game, throwing 71 pitches during an 11-1 win over Anderson County on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Anderson County Mavericks 11-1 in five innings on Monday.

The game ended on the run rule, which finishes a game if a team is up by 10 runs or more after five innings.

Anderson County is a good opponent, and Oak Ridge doesn’t normally run rule them, Wildcats Coach Mark Garrison said. In fact, until Monday, Anderson County had won five of the last six games between the two teams, dating back to 2014. The Wildcats last beat the Mavericks twice in one season in 2013.

But Oak Ridge scored seven runs in the fourth inning against Anderson County at Bobby Hopkins Park on Monday. They had one run in the first inning, tying the game until the fourth inning, and three in the fifth. Oak Ridge shortstop Logan Williams hit a single that allowed center fielder Jaycen McGhee to score the winning run in the fifth inning, Garrison said.

With the win, the Wildcats are now 8-8 overall and 3-3 in District 3-AAA, right in the middle of the district standings. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Baseball Complex could be re-named in honor of volunteer

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The Oak Ridge Baseball Complex on Wilberforce Avenue could be re-named the Joe Mason Baseball Complex in honor of long-time community volunteer Joe Mason.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the re-naming during its Monday night meeting.

Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Jonathan Hetrick said administrators at Oak Ridge Schools and the Baseball Boosters Association have requested the re-naming.

“Mr. Mason is a 1958 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, where he lettered in baseball and football,” Hetrick said. “He has continued to support high school athletics in Oak Ridge, especially baseball, throughout his life. He spent many years coaching youth baseball in Oak Ridge. For over 30 years, he has led the maintenance efforts of the home field for the high school baseball team, Bobby Hopkins Field, along with the other ballfields at the complex. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Spring Wildflower Walk on Sunday

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Kris Light (Submitted photo)

Kris Light (Submitted photo)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a spring wildflower walk on Sunday, April 9.

The walk is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Haw Ridge Park on Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge. The parking lot is at the west end of the park. The walk is free and open to the public. Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said.

Participants may want to bring a camera to take pictures of the many wildflowers on the grounds, the press release said. If participants have a wildflower book, Light suggests bringing that as well. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge wins two games in softball tournament at home

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Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge lost a high-scoring 17-15 district softball game to Clinton at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won two games in the Oak Ridge Invitational last week.

The girls’ softball team (5-8-1, 1-5 District 3-AAA) lost a district game to Clinton, 17-15, in the first game of the tournament on Thursday.

But the next day, on Friday, the girls beat Concord Christian 8-1 and Greenback 8-2.

Oak Ridge tied White County, a team from Sparta, 4-4 on Saturday.

The last three games were all non-district games.

The Lady Wildcats also won two of three games in a softball tournament in Oneida the weekend before the Oak Ridge Invitational. [Read more…]