Sports FOCUS
Alexandria Aces Join Texas Collegiate League

As the newest member of the Texas Collegiate League (TCL), the Alexandria Aces have announced their 2010 TCL schedule. The Aces’ initial season in the TCL will start on Thursday, June 3rd, against the defending TCL champions, the North Texas Copperheads, at Historic Bringhurst Field. The Copperheads have captured three of the six championships in the TCL’s history.

The Aces will host 28 games during the summer against the Copperheads and the other TCL members; Brazos Valley Bombers, East Texas Pump Jacks, McKinney Marshals, Texas Tomcats, and the Victoria Generals. The last home game for the Aces will be Monday, August 9th against the same Copperheads, ending the second-half and concluding the regular season. The first-half and second-half winners and the next two teams with the best overall record in the TCL will meet in the TCL Playoffs, scheduled from August 10th through August 16th. The two first round winners will meet in the TCL Championship Series.

The Victoria Generals will host the TCL All-Star Game on Monday, July 5th, which will mark the end of the first-half season. The All-Star Game brings together the league’s best players, is an eagerly anticipated by fans and major league scouts alike.

The TCL had19 current and alumni players drafted in last year’s Major League Baseball’s Amateur and Free Agent Draft. In its six-year history, the TCL has had 237 total players signed with professional organizations, and produced 12 major leaguers including Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox and Hunter Pence of the Astros.

“The great fans of the Alexandria Aces are going to enjoy the purity of the Texas Collegiate League. The fans will truly be able to see future Major League players not only playing for the Aces, but competing against them as well. I know that given the chance, the community will embrace the TCL concept,” said Eric Moran, Aces President and CEO. “I believe Bringhurst Field will see larger crowds on average because of these up-and-coming players. The pure talent level on the field will be greater than what has been seen since the first few years in the Texas-Louisiana League.”

The Aces are the first team outside of Texas to join the Texas Collegiate League and in the coming weeks will announce a Head Coach and will start to announce the players for the 2010 season as they are signed.

The Aces are selling season tickets for just $100/seat for reserve seats and general admission seats for the 2010 season, as well as its continuing advertising and marketing opportunities. The Aces and its local ownership group are looking forward to continuing to provide great, family-friendly entertainment to the Central Louisiana community.

For more information on the Aces, call (318) 473-ACES (2237), or visit the team’s website at www.myacesbaseball.com.

OakWing Golf Club

By Craig L. Campo

David Toms has called OakWing “the best golf course in Central Louisiana”. The centerpiece of a major redevelopment project at England Air Force Base, OakWing is one of those hidden jewels that everyone falls in love with the first time they play it, and is truly a course for all skill levels.

Designed by Jim Lipe, the par 72 golf course, measuring 7,043 yards from the professional tees, blends the natural beauty of Louisiana bayous, lakes and towering tree-lined fairways with rolling hills and undulated greens.

OakWing offers all of the amenities you expect in a first-class facility. Full practice facilities including a 40,000 square foot grass hitting area, two full size practice bunkers, chipping green and large putting green. All of OakWing’s golf carts feature state-of-the-art Global Positioning Systems and our first rate clubhouse offers a full-service grill and men’s and women’s locker rooms.

Open to the public, 7 days a week, tee times are available for reservation up to 30 days in advance and group rates are available for groups of 24 or more. For more information on how to play, contact the pro-shop at (318) 561-0260 or visit our website at www.oakwinggolf.com.