LADY CATS TO HOST RAYMOND TURNER MEMORIAL SATURDAY

The inaugural Raymond Turner Memorial Tournament is scheduled for Saturday at the Billy Kiersey Baseball/Softball Complex.

Lady Bearcat head coach Ronnie Denton said the impetus for the tournament is to remember the efforts of the namesake. Last season the Lady Bearcat jersey had an "RT" on their sleeve.

“With the impact that he had on Booneville softball and the character and joy he brought to it, we wanted to carry on his legacy and remember him,” said Denton.

Denton also wanted to hold the tournament while Brooke Turner (shown) is still in uniform. Turner, the daughter of Raymond Turner, is a senior third baseman/pitcher.

“We want to show her how much she means to us and how much her dad meant to us,” Denton said.

Turner is appreciative of the naming of the event for her father.

“I think he deserved it. It’s nice to know people still think of him,” said Turner.

Raymond Turner coached not only his daughter, but several current players including Leigh Swint and Layla Byrum on the summer travel circuit.

Besides dealing with the passing of her mentor, Turner was relegated to a flex role part of last season.

“Sometimes are harder than others, “ she said. “And I had a health so I couldn’t really play. I could hit but I couldn’t run so they had to sub me in and out because I wasn’t allowed to slide.”

The struggle that came with losing a parent may never be gone but the injury is and Brooke Turner is having quite a season for the Lady Cats. She is leading the club in both batting average (.500) and on base percentage (.700).

“She’s had a lot of walks and some really good at bats this year,” said Denton. “She’s stepping up and being that senior leader.”

The tournament was originally planned for March 11 and 12 but was postponed due to snow.

Then there was a nine team field, but the new date conflicts with other school’s prom as well as Saturday being an ACT testing date so the number of teams participating is five.

The tournament is a double elimination and includes Booneville, Jessieville, Mansfield, Paris and Lavaca. The first game will pit the hosts against Jessieville at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Before then, the Lady Bearcats will travel to Lamar today and to Waldron on Friday for a 3A-4 South conference game.