League steps up to bat for stricken coach
The Deerfield Beach Little League is stepping up to the plate in a big way to help a longtime coach with lung and throat cancer.
Chris Williams, the husband of league president Kathleen Williams and the father of five children, continues to mentor youths on the diamond at the Deerfield Beach Middle School Athletic Complex. His passion remains undaunted as he coaches the Yankees, one of 27 teams in the program.
The league is banding together today in support of a man who has volunteered for the last 10 years. A special fundraiser, “Let’s Strike Out Lung Cancer,” will take place from noon-4 p.m. at the complex, 501 SE Sixth Ave.
“We are very simple people who don’t want to be rich or famous, but just want to be able to watch our boys graduate from high school, go on to college and maybe play some college baseball. We are humbled by all this attention,” Kathleen Williams said. “Chris asked me why all these people would do this for him, and my answer to him was that he has touched their lives or their children’s lives along the way, so he can have peace of mind not worrying about bills and fighting the fight with a clear mind.”
Deerfield Beach High School Athletic Director Vince Tozzi has known the Williams family for many years and appreciates the impact they have had in the city.
“Chris is one of those guys who steps up to the plate whenever it’s necessary when it involves kids,” Tozzi said. “He is a blue-collar guy who is not afraid to get his hands dirty if it brings a smile to a kid’s face. He does for others like he does for his own family, and in return, people appreciate him.”
For more information or to help, visit www.medgift.com/HelpChrisFightCancer.
St. Anthony squad goes undefeated in flag football
The St. Anthony School flag football team in Fort Lauderdale recently went undefeated in the All-Broward Catholic Conference.
The squad of 14 seventh- and eighth-graders, who play their home games at Holiday Park, won all eight of their games en route to the conference crown.
“We had a really good team and scored 230 points during the season,” said first-year head coach Rusty Casteel. “We had a great group of athletes who play multiple sports.”
Casteel said Kieran Gilbert was
a disruptive defensive force, while Porter Brown contributed on both sides of the ball. Wide receivers Carter Haagenson, Cal Ziegler and Trey West were his dependable offensive weapons.
“Our toughest game was against Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, whom we defeated 38-33 with a goal-line defensive stand on fourth down,” said Casteel, whose son Curt quarterbacked the Hurricanes.
“The key to us winning was our offense was very good because we’ve been playing together for four years and know each other pretty well,” Curt Casteel said.
Ed Brown, the squad’s defensive coordinator, said Ziegler returned 10 interceptions for touchdowns.
“Everything he picked off he took to the house,” Casteel said. “Once he intercepted the ball, he couldn’t be caught. He is extremely fast.”
Upcoming walk/run to benefit the MADD For FISH cause
It
has
been
nearly
four
years since Michael Fish died of injuries he sustained after being hit by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle.
In his memory, wife Kathy Fish and children Jared and Hannah have put together a MADD For Fish 5K run/walk starting at 7:30 a.m. April 26 at Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale. Check-in will be from 6-7:30 p.m.
“One thing this horrible tragedy has done is galvanized my children and me, through (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), to share our (story) at colleges, high schools, detention centers and drunk driving classes for first- and second-time offenders,” Fish said. “Our prayer is that if even just one person is moved by Michael’s story, we have made a difference and hopefully spared family and friends the devastation of losing a loved one.”
All proceeds will go toward continuing programs and services to drunk driving victims and their families. Those unable to attend may sign up as a virtual walker or make a donation.
For further details, visit www.walklikemadd.org/index. cfm.
Dolphins clinic attracts youth, high school coaches
The opportunity to learn from the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff was too good to pass up for 1,400 youth and high school coaches who attended the inaugural Miami Dolphins Coaches Clinic.
The four-day clinic at Nova Southeastern University in Davie kicked off with Head Coach Joe Philbin addressing an attentive audience.
“There is a strong commitment to develop good, sound football players in South Florida, but you have to have balance, and at some point in time, it’s good for kids to play other sports like baseball, basketball, track or whatever,” Philbin said. “We all want people working with our kids to be qualified and competent.”
Coaches from the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University partnered with Dolphins’ coaches to preach fundamentals and safety through video presentations on offense and defense.
“There are … thousands of kids playing football in South Florida, and we can’t get in front of all these kids, but if we can impact the coaches who are teaching them, now we have a direct impact through those coaches,” said Twan Russell, the Dolphins’ senior director of community affairs. “We’re training the trainers.”
Archbishop McCarthy Head Coach Byron Walker was impressed. “When they offer a service like this, you have to take advantage of this, and most of our coaching staff has been here this week,” Walker said. Emmett Hall can be reached at futurevest@aol.com.