Former Hazelwood West standout pitcher Devin Williams signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday and will begin his professional baseball career immediately. Just days after being selected with the No. 54 pick in the Major League Baseball Draft, Williams signed with the Brewers and received a hefty signing bonus of $1.35 million. Williams left for Phoenix last Monday to begin his pro career with the Brewers’ Rookie League affiliate.
Gold in Uruguay
Chaminade College Prep’s Jayson Tatum helped team USA’s 16U team
to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Tournament in Uruguay. Tatum averaged 10 points a game in the USA’s five victories. He scored 14 points in the 94-48 victory over Argentina in the gold medal game. Tatum also scored 17 points in the USA’s 121-52 victory over The Bahamas during pool play.
Surge surges to 4-0
The St. Louis Surge improved to 4-0 with a 133-38 victory over the Louisville Fillies in Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League action at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It was “Paint it Pink” night at UMSL as the Surge partnered with the American Cancer Society to bring out cancer awareness. As a special treat, Surge assistant coach Petra Jackson came out of retirement to play in the game. Jackson was a former star player at University City and a Hall of Famer at Southern Illinois University. She scored 15 points and had nine assists. Jackson, the Surge and several other people donated $10 for every point and assist she had in the game to the American Cancer Society. The Surge will play at home again on Saturday, June 29 against the Kansas Nuggets at UMSL on Public Service Night.
Game changers
The Missouri History Museum, along with Major Game, will host the Change the Game Series. The panel discussions will be held on Saturdays, August 3, 10 and 17 from 2-4 p.m. Based on the successful book by Angela Lewis, The Game Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success, the series will feature panelists who are St. Louis natives who are educators and former collegiate athletes. Lewis, a former standout basketball player at Saint Louis University, will be the moderator of each panel discussion. The August 3 discussion will center on football and track. On August 10, men’s basketball will be the topic while women’s basketball will be featured on August 17.
STL Football U 7 on 7
STL Football U will be hosting a 7 on 7 high school tournament on Saturday at University City High, beginning at 9 a.m. The eight teams entered are Hazelwood East, Vashon, Gateway Tech, Maplewood, University City, Christian-O’Fallon, Jennings and Cardinal Ritter. STL Football U is an organization that offers training to young players. They hold sessions every Saturday at the Rivers Edge Sports Complex (5105 North Highway 67 in Florissant).
New coaches on the scene
University City High has tabbed Cary Lewis as its new boys basketball coach. Lewis spent the past season as the assistant coach for Lutheran North, who finished third in the Class 3 state tournament. Lewis was the head coach at Hazelwood West in 2011, where he led the Wildcats to 19 victories and a berth in the Class 4 district championship game.
Hazelwood East has filled two head coaching vacancies. Aaron Whittington was hired as the Spartans new football coach while Lawndale Thomas is the new boys basketball coach. Whittington was a former standout player at East and UCLA.
City vs. County
The Fourth Annual City vs. County High School Alumni Basketball Shootout will be held on Saturday, June 29 at Vashon High (3035 Cass). The event will feature four games with players from 1986 to the 2000s, including a women’s game. The games will be held at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are the door are $5. Come out and see some of the old greats from the City and County re-live their glory days on the hardwood.
