Hopes Grow With Three To Go!!

The Allen Baseball team has done what they’ve had to do all season long and the Regional Tournament was no exception. The Mustangs posted a three game sweep in the tournament to claim a spot in the State Tournament. The only thing standing between the Mustangs and the State Championship is a three game tournament beginning today (Thursday, May 2 ^nd ) at 2:30 p.m.

Sunday afternoon after a rain-postponed Regional Final, Allen topped Welch 7-0 to secure a berth in this week’s State Tournament.

“Getting back to the State Tournament has been a goal for this team all season long, we really believe we’ve got a great chance to bring home the gold ball,” says Coach Ead Simon.

Simon has taken his team to the State Tournament three of the four years he has been coaching the Mustang baseball program.

Allen will meet a familiar foe on Thursday, the Roff Tigers. The Mustangs and Tigers have split in their two meetings this year.

“I believe we have the advantage of a strong pitching staff, we’ve got five guys that can win a game for you on the mound. We’re hitting the ball better, and we know what we have to do,” Simon added. “Our guys know better than to overlook anyone, we’ve got to go out and take care of our own business and let everything else work itself out.”

The Mustangs entered the tournament with a #2 seed and 28-4 record. Other teams ae: Rattan (26-9); Sentinel (30-9); Silo (33-9); Rock Creek (27-2); Roff (27-6); and Turner (2-7). The games will be played at Dolese Park.

Allen 10, Welch 0

Allen scored ten runs on eleven hits in this runrule-shortened game. Adam Burris got the win pitching a one-hit shutout. Jared Johnson picked up 4 RBI on his two home runs. Melvin Muck went 3 for 3 in the game and Justin Colbert and Cody Frederick each went 2 for 2.

Allen 7, Welch 7

The Mustangs returned to Depew for the Championship game on Saturday. The Mustang bats were a little slower warming up and held a 2-0 advantage until the bottom of the sixth when they scored 5 runs. Dave Barnhart was the winning pitcher for Allen with Jared Johnson coming in relief. Justin Colbert had a 2 for 3 game with a home run. Caleb Baber also had a two hit outing with a double. Jared Johnson also added a double in the game. The Mustangs scored seven runs on eight hits.

Iker Receives Masters

James Iker, son of Ira L. Iker Jr, and grandson of Lucile Iker recently graduated with a Master’s of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Wharton School has been named the number one business school in the United States for the last eight consecutive years by Business Week magazine and the number one business school in the world by the Financial Times in 2000 and 2001.

James graduated from Allen High School as the co-valedictorian of the Class of 1990 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in California before moving to Philadelphia to pursue his master’s degree.

James graduated from Wharton with honors and a double major in Finance and Real Estate. He was named the recipient of The Wharton Grant, an academic scholarship of $20,000 and was given the William Zucker Award of Achievement, an award of $2,500, chosen by the faculty of the school each year.

After graduating, James plans to spend two months traveling around the world, making stops in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Easter Island, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and London, before returning to Washington DC on July 1 ^st where he will begin work with a real estate development and private equity firm.

Gerty Site News

Sylvia Smith, our Outreach Worker, was here on Monday, April 22 ^nd . She went to visit with Arthur and Dona Harden. She also signed up Betty Clay as a new homebound participant.

Volunteer Week was April 21 ^st thru April 27^th. We want our volunteers to know how much we appreciate all of them and they really help a lot.

Our birthdays for this month were celebrated Wednesday, April 17 ^th . Colena Huffstutlar and Millard Wainscott were present. Jerry Tollett was unable to be here.

Charles Long is still in the hospital. We hope he get to feeling better real soon.

Denver and Flora Sells had their son and family to visit last weekend.

Velma Rathgeb came to eat lunch with us on April 22 nd . She is begging to look much better after her surgery.

Shirley Powell brought her dad, Amp Davis, to eat lunch one day while she was staying with him. He always seems to enjoy coming and visiting with everyone.

We were glad to have Clarence and Mae Dean Raney for lunch two days last week.

Delores Chisum and Thelma Bond attended the brunch at Non on Saturday, April 27 ^th . They said they had a real good crowd to attend.

Millard and Ailene Wainscott are finally getting moved into their new home.

LeRoy Cook has his daughter and family visiting with him this week.

Non Free Will Baptist

We enjoyed hosting the Annual Women’s Brunch for the ladies of our community and surrounding communities. Ida served as MC and gave a timely devotion based on one of the Psalms. Debbie T. and Rhonda did a beautiful job of decorating the fellowship room with spring flowers and accessories. Interesting and delicious brunch dishes were served. It was a good time of fellowship, sharing, singing, and eating. We look forward to next year.

Those attending were Jan Luna, Ruth Tipton, Wandine Russell, Kathleen Raney, Deloris Chisum, Thelma Bond, Ivon Harrison, Arlene Lawson, Ruby Wellington, Rhonda Abney, Debbie Tipton, Ashlan Wilson, Evelyn Sanford, Pat Dodson, Sue Abney and Zelma Keeton.

On Sunday afternoon, several from our church went to the Mary Hurley Care Center in Coalgate to visit and sing with Lessie. Other residents gathered to hear the singing and Bro. Gary’s devotional. Those attending were Gary and Pat, Norma and Doug, Buddy and Arlene, LoEva, Sue, Ruby, Jim and Zelma. Sis England was visiting Travis. She and Marilyn joined us for part of the service.

Emily led “Jesus Loves Me” to begin Sunday School. Arlene introduced the lesson “To Build A House”, a study of 2 Samuel 7”1-29. Lesson objectives were as follows:

- To investigate David’s desire to build a sanctuary for the Lord in Jerusalem.

- To rejoice over the marvelous promises God made to David.

- To express praise to God for His goodness and greatness.

Tim led the choir/ congregation in singing “He Lives”, “Joy Unspeakable”, and “Heaven’s Jubilee” to begin morning worship.

“Nothing But The Blood” was sung for offertory. This hymn emphasized the theme of Bro. Gary’s message taken from Hebrews 9:22. The belief in threatening blood of Jesus Christ is one of the fundamental of our faith.

Other special music was “Had It Not Benn” (Ruby, Sue and Zelma) and “Paid In Full” (Sue and Zelma).

Trivia: What is the longest epistle in the New Testament? (the sixth book in the NT). What was the punishment for not observing the Sabbath? (Numbers 15:32-36) Hummmmmm!

Don’t forget the Non Volunteer Fire Department fund raiser scheduled for Saturday evening, May 4^th – chicken dinner and music!

You are always welcome to worship with us at the Non Free Will Baptist Church.