Patriots

Are you ready for some football? Well, ready or not, the 2012 high school football season is here, with the kickoff on Lincoln County High School's season Friday night in the annual PBK Bank Death Valley Bowl. The homestanding Patriots, led by coach Mike Settles, open their gridiron campaign in game one of the DVB doubleheader Friday, taking on Casey County. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The Death Valley Bowl will also feature Danville and Simon Kenton in head-to-head competition in the second game of the evening, with the kickoff for the nightcap set for around 8.  Friday's game between Lincoln and Casey will be the first meeting between the schools since the 2004 season when the Patriots handed the Rebels a 20-12 loss.

STANFORD - There may be better days ahead for the Lincoln County boys golf team, but Tuesday wasn't such a bad day. Sure, the scores could have been lower, and the Patriots believe they will be in time. But those scores were good enough to give the Patriots their first win of the young season, a nine-stroke victory over Boyle County at Dix River Country Club. “I think our best is still yet to come,” coach David Ledford said. “We'll feel like we're playing pretty good if we're down in the low 160s.

The Lincoln County High School Lady Patriot volleyball team was denied a victory Tuesday night as the host Lady Rockets of Rockcastle County shot down Lincoln 2-1. The Lady Patriots (1-1) took the first set 25-21, but the Lady Rockets (2-1) took flight in the second set and never looked back, rolling 25-11, 25-9.  “Rockcastle is a tough team - no shame. We were just really hoping to pull out the win, especially after that first set,” Lincoln coach Amanda Massey-Wiles said.  Lincoln never trailed in the opening set, keeping Rockcastle at a comfortable distance for most of the set. But Rockcastle would answer.

East Jessamine played spoiler in the Lincoln County's boys golf opener Monday, posting a five-stroke win over the host Patriots. Lincoln's Zach Johnson carded the day's low round at Dix River Golf Course Monday, with a 3-over-par 38, but 12 strokes separated the top four players, putting Lincoln at 178 and opening the door for the visiting Jaguars. And the Jaguars walked right in, led by Bruner and Walker with rounds of 41. Only eight strokes separated East's scoring players with Jackson shooting a 42 and Philpot  a 49 to give East Jessamine a 173. Taylor Edwards and Roland Taylor both shot 45 for Lincoln in the opening match and Shade Jacobs and Hunter Munford, shared the fourth scoring spot with rounds of 50. “I think we were a little nervous with it being our first match,” said Patriot coach David Ledford.

Music instructor Jacqueline Kohl believes there is nothing quite as fun as getting groups of people together to sing. For years, Kohl, who owns and operates Winchester's Cardinal Music Conservatory, has encouraged her students to share their music with the community, and not just through traditional recitals. Cardinal Music Conservatory students often perform concerts at Rose Mary C. Brooks Place, a local assisted living community, and activities director June Sparks noticed how much the residents seemed to enjoy the music.

STANFORD - No one at Lincoln County is saying that Zach Brown has become the Patriots' No. 1 pitcher, but it's certainly starting to look like it. Brown has been getting the ball in Lincoln's biggest games, and he has kept his team in those games almost without exception. Whether he will be the man on the mound Monday when the Patriots play their first-round game in the 12th Region Tournament remains to be seen, but it's clear that Brown wants the ball in big games and that Lincoln coach Brad McNew feels comfortable giving it to him. “He's become a kid that we just jump on his back and say, 'Let's go,'” McNew said.

Yeremiah Bell is ready for the next chapter of his professional career. The former George Rogers Clark High School and Eastern Kentucky defensive back is exploring options as he approaches his 10th season in the National Football League. Bell was released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this year and has been testing the free agency market since. The New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are among teams that have shown an interest in Bell since he was released by the Dophins.

East Jessamine senior Adam Wood signed with St. Catharine College on April 25. He is the second Jaguar to sign with the Patriots this spring. “I feel like St. Catharine is a good environment for me to develop my skills as a player and my academics,” Wood said. Wood is excited to continue playing with teammate Jacob Riekert, who signed with St. Catharine on Feb. 17. “Coach (Tom Morgan) played college soccer, and he knows what he's talking about; he's prepared me well,” Wood said of moving to the next level.

STANFORD - This is exactly what Chase Pemberton has been waiting for. Through three coaches and three losing seasons, Pemberton has wondered what it might be like to play for a winner. Now he knows, and he's enjoying every minute of Lincoln County's best season in ages. Lincoln County has a chance to post a winning record for the first time in at least a decade and is a factor in the 45th District race once again, and it's not a moment too soon for the senior second baseman. “I love baseball, and I'm glad we came out and improved this year,” Pemberton said.

STANFORD - Kellie Conley never misses a day of school, and these days she isn't missing so much after school, either. Conley's first priority is to maintain an unblemished attendance record that stretches all the way back to her preschool days, an achievement of which she is justifiably proud. She wasn't as proud of her performance at the plate for the Lincoln County softball team, but that has changed in her senior season as her strikeout total has plummeted. Conley has worked to improve her discipline at the plate, and Lincoln coach Kevin Bandura said both he and she have been thrilled with the results.