Hampton graduated from the university in May and was hired in January by a campus ministry organization called Campus Outreach. He has plans to pioneer a campus ministry somewhere in Texas with his soon-to-be wife Megan Biggio (niece of former Houston Astro baseball player Craig Biggio). The couple is set to wed in September.
Hampton doesn’t yet know what part of Texas he’ll be – either Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M or Sam Houston State – but he’s grateful for the opportunity presented before him.
“We’re just going to go out to Texas and be around college students, try to pioneer a ministry and try to get kids to really investigate Christ,” Hampton said. “We want to see them impact the world in a positive way for Christ. We believe the college campuses have the next lawyers, the next educators, the next doctors, presidents and senators. We want to see the gospel of Christ impact the next generation and lead our country in that way.”
Hampton has been back home in the Cherokee County area since January and will remain until June, when he heads to the beach to lead the Summer Beach Project.
“About 150 college students are coming down, and hopefully they’ll all grow in their walks with God,” Hampton said.
Hampton’s athletic career had its ups and downs. He suffered a serious knee injury in 2008 in which he never fully recovered. Hampton says the one thing he’s learned throughout his college years is “to live life without regret.”
“I trust that God really has a plan for my life,” he said. “I’m just really thankful for everything that happened at Troy. I’m thankful for my playing experiences, all of my teachers, and everything that Troy entailed. I’m just glad I’m can sail off into the sunset athletically and be done with my athletic career, and just go on into ministry. It doesn’t matter what I do. I want to do it for the glory of God. I’m excited.”
Hampton is also thankful for all the Cherokee County community has done for him.
“I’m so glad for the people in this community,” he said. “I greatly appreciate all they’ve done for me and I thank them from my heart.”
******
It’s not everyday a baseball team gets to play in one of the oldest ballparks in the nation, but that’s exactly where the Cedar Bluff Tigers played on Saturday.
The Tigers picked up a pair of wins Saturday at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, knocking off Ramsay 15-2 before needing a walk-off in the nightcap to beat Fairfield 11-10.
“It’s pretty magical for our guys,” Cedar Bluff coach Taylor Talbot said. “You don’t get these opportunities a whole lot. To take that field with the people who have been there – the Babe Ruths, the Satchel Paiges, the Jackie Robinsons – that’s something pretty special for our kids. It’s been a goal as a coaching staff to try and get our kids a game there, and Ramsay was good enough to oblige us with that. It’s something special.”
Against Ramsay, Devante Dixon was a home run short of the cycle and recorded five RBI. Lance Estes had three hits and three RBI, Rihied Harris notched two hits and two RBI, while C.J. Gilreath and Lot Maxwell both had a hit and two RBI. Levi Mintz added a single and an RBI.
The Tigers (19-8) trailed Fairfield 10-8 going into the bottom of the seventh in the second game before clutch hits by Curtis Abernathy and Gilreath. Abernathy’s two-RBI double scored Estes and Kaleb Clark to tie it, and Gilreath sent Abernathy home on an RBI single to win it. Gilreath went 2 for 2, Harris went 3 for 3 and Dixon finished 2 for 4.
******
Two area athletes were honored Monday at the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Awards Banquet in Birmingham.
Among the honorees were Cherokee County High School’s Richard Barton and Spring Garden High School’s Jessica Smith.
Barton won the Class 4A, Region 5 achievement scholarship, while Smith earned the Class 1A, Region 7 achievement scholarship.
In all, 96 regional winners were honored Monday. The scholarships are given to those student athletes who have achieved a level of excellence through their ability and effort, both academically and athletically.
The program, created in 1986, presents over $800,000 in scholarship money to deserving student athletes.
******
Here’s a little information on a few upcoming running events.
The “Smoke Your Buns 5K Trail Run” will be held this Saturday at Noccalula Falls in conjunction with their annual Smoke on the Falls cookoff. The race will start at 8 a.m. For more information contact Kevin Payne at 256-549-4663 or 256-393-0972. You can also send questions by e-mail at kpayne20@comcast.net.
There is still time to enter the Tri-County Adventure race that will take place on April 28. The 10K run, 1.5-mile paddle and 33.8-mile bike incorporates the beauty of Northeast Alabama’s Calhoun, Cherokee and Cleburne counties.
Team and individual entries are welcomed for the challenging event. To find out more about the race go to http://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com.
Piedmont will be the site of a 5K on May 12. All proceeds will benefit the Piedmont Benevolence Center, a non-profit charitable organization that assist the needy with food, clothing, and crisis assistance for the 36272 zip code. The run will start at 8 a.m. at Piedmont High School’s Field of Champions.
For more information contact Heather Lamey at 256.447.2220 or e-mail heatherpbc@hotmail.com.
Post a Comment