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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Wednesday, June 14, 2000 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS LOCALHonoring Old Glory Honoring Old GloryBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Staff Writer Patriotism comes in many forms. All across America men, women and youths march to different drummers, but on Flag Day, all pay tribute to the same banner — the emblem of American freedom. Jeff Smith, owner of John’s Apparel at 205 East Cleveland, observes today’s memorial by flying three stars and striped banners on the sidewalk in front of his store. “I have good reasons for flying three flags — my grandfather, father and uncle,” Smith explained. “My grandfather, Herman ‘Smitty’ Smith, was a veteran of World War I, World War II and the Korean Conflict. In fact, when grandfather was mayor of Ponca City, he was called back to active duty in Korea.” Jeff’s father, the late John Smith for whom John’s Apparel is named, served in the United States Air Force as an air sea rescue pilot for four years. Later, he was in the active Air Force Reserves and became the Air Force Academy liaison and public information officer for the state of Oklahoma, a post he held for 22 years. The third is for Truman Smith, World War II flying ace and author. All three of Jeff’s ancestors retired as Air Force lieutenant colonels. Jeff hasn’t seen active military duty, but proves the point you don’t have to serve in the Armed Forces to be loyal to America. As he says, “We’re very patriotic.” Other businesses in the downtown area flying the standard of freedom are Carla’s Hallmark, the Emporium, Merle Norman, Tis the Season, the Gift Shoppe, Pro Auto Parts, American National Bank, Home National Bank, The Ponca City News and A&A Printing. Conoco also displays the American flag at the complex at the south edge of town. Along North Fourteenth, there are a number of financial institutions and businesses that fly the flag daily, not just on Flag Day. A number of private residences show respect and loyalty by displaying the flag every day as well as holidays. Often, Americans take Old Glory for granted. We pass public and private places where the flag is displayed on a daily basis and seldom think anything about it unless it stands at half staff. The U.S. Post Office, city of Ponca City, American Legion Huff-Minor Post, Post and VFW Post 1201, have been flying another flag along with Old Glory for some time. It is a black flag in honor of Prisoners of War and others Missing in Action. It is a project of the Vietnam Veterans Association and reminds Americans not to forget those who served their country under the stars and stripes. A special public flag ceremony is set this evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, 3612 Lake Road. Following the ceremonies, there will be free hot dogs and sodas. PTC Postpones Top Job ChoiceBy KRISTI HAYES News Education Editor There is not a new su-perintendent at Pioneer Technology Center ... at least not yet. Board members took no action on hiring a superintendent during their regular Tuesday night session. Interim superintendent Bruce DeMuth said the board was just not ready to make the decision yet. “This will be a major decision on the part of the board members. They feel they need more time before their decision is set in stone,” he explained. DeMuth said a special meeting is set for June 26. “Hopefully, the board will appoint someone then,” he said. Even though DeMuth had been hopeful the board would hire someone last night, he said he’s not upset with the lack of action. “We have a good pool of applicants. [The board] just want to take their time and make the right decision,” he said. President Larry Buck agreed with DeMuth. “We are still in the interview process. We are making progress, but we’re just not ready to make the final decision,” he said. Buck also said the board must be careful. “This is a tough decision. We want to make sure it’s the right match for Pioneer Technology Center and the community,” he said. DeMuth said the board closed the application deadline for the vacancy. “At this time, the board has chosen not to reopen the application process. That could change if the board desires,” DeMuth said. The board narrowed its search to five candidates, one of whom is local. The other four are state educators. All five have extensive technology school experience, according to DeMuth. The new superintendent will replace Dr. Sally Downey, who resigned in late April. DeMuth is not an applicant. In other action, the board appointed Mary Field as school treasurer and minute clerk, Stacy Rush as deputy treasurer and deputy minute clerk, Brenda Green as custodian of the School Activity Fund, and Susan Ramirez as receptionist for the remainder of the year. All short-term and temporary contracts were approved along with several other part-time contracts. Resignations were accepted from Aaron McKinley and Kathey Farmer. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for July 11. Ground Breaking Set For 54 Unit ComplexBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor A solution to some of Ponca City’s housing shortages is expected to be addressed with the construction of the 54-unit Copper Ridge apartment complex at Highland and Waverly. The developers, Zimmerman Investments of Springfield, Mo., have slated a ground breaking at 10 a.m. Thursday at the building site. “This will be a real first step towards providing affordable housing on the west side of town,” said Larry Buck, who early on headed the housing committee for the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB). Buck did much of the research on housing projects. “This should be another positive thing in housing as far as the community is concerned,” said Jan Jarrett, CEO of Economic Development for Ponca City, Housing has been a concern of the EDAB for the last few years. In making the announcement of the ground breaking at the EDAB meeting Tuesday, Jarrett said this is one of two projects by the Missouri firm. Announcement of the other housing project for Ponca City is expected from Zimmerman Investments at the ground breaking ceremony. Word has been received that one more project has been approved by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. In regard to the Copper Ridge apartment complex, Jarrett saluted Buck for his work on the housing committee. “I really believe that it would not have happened if it had not been for Larry Buck,” Jarrett said. “He has been a tenacious leader for this thing. It has not been easy, but he just kept digging, digging and digging until he finally found a company that could do it right.” With the carbon fibers plant to be built south of Ponca City by Conoco, the possible location of the gas-to-liquids project here and the possibility of the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training facility coming to town, housing could become critical in several levels of the real estate market. Another EDAB housing project headed by David Myers is in the process of constructing homes in the northeast part of town. Two other subdivisions in the northeast are on the drawing board. US Flag Day Meaningful Also to Memory of RAF CadetsBy LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Staff Writer Today is Flag Day in the U.S., and though we honor Old Glory there are other flags and other nations that have been meaningful for Ponca Citians over the years. One of these flags has been the Royal Air Force ensign on the British Union Jack that has for years flown over the graves of the seven young Brits who were killed here during flight training at the No. 6 British Flying Training School prior to World War II. The RAF cadets trained here at the Darr School of Aeronautics in the area now known as Darr Industrial Park in northwest Ponca City. More than 1,200 British pilots and some American pilots were trained at Darr from 1941-1944. On Memorial Day this year the late Jack Barrington was honored with a marker at site of the graves. For many years Barrington saw to it that the Union Jack Flag flew on Memorial Day over the graves of the cadets. Barrington came here to train as an RAF pilot and later became an instructor. While station in Ponca City he met E. Dee Dutton, his future bride. After the war they moved here in 1948. The following account appeared in the No. 6 BFTS (Ponca City Association) newsletter written by Rick Brown of Dallas Texas: “Jack Barrington made it his responsibility to ensure that the Royal Air Force ensign flew over our former colleagues’ graves on Memorial Day in Ponca City. Lillian Taylor of Ponca City is the Association president. “This entailed for many years storing the flagpole at his home and transporting it to the cemetery. Concerned at the amount of work involved in this Jack’s family decided to buy a new flagpole and have it installed permanently by the graves. And very fine it looks. Now that he is no longer around to argue the toss about it as undoubtedly he would Sarah and Chuck have made a memorial stone in memory of Jack and his unstinting work for the Association.” The news letter continued “Not having contributed to the cost of the new flagpole we insisted upon sharing the $250 cost of the marker and we have sent the family $160 or about 100 pounds. “The marker looks very good we hear. It is 10 inches high and 18 inches long. It is set on a piece of beveled gray granite — to match our colleagues’ headstones — that is 20 inches square. The RAF wings are engraved on the granite just above the bronze inscription, It is set on he south side of the flagpole out of the way of traffic.” (At Odd Fellows Cemetery). The marker itself reads: “This mast is dedicated to the memory of John S. “Jack” Barrington who, from 1949 through the year of his death in 1999, remained unselfishly committed to the raising of the Royal Air Force ensign in an annual tribute to his comrades who, like himself, came to Ponca City from the United Kingdom that they might prepare to defend their homeland. “While the ultimate sacrifice of those who are interred on either side of this mast came not in battle but in its preparation, his dedication serves as a reminder that their sacrifice was no less heroic, and this small lot of prairie ground they learned to fly above and now rest beneath is no less hallowed.” Family members on hand for the Memorial Day ceremony included Barrington’s daughter Sarah and her husband Chuck, and sons Andrew and Patrick. DEATHSRick D. Vernon Sr. Rick D. Vernon Sr.WICHITA, Kan. — Rick D. Vernon Sr., former resident of Ponca City, died Sunday, June 11, 2000, in Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. He was 38. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Resthaven Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be in Resthaven Garden of Memory under the direction of Resthaven Mortuary. Rick D. Vernon Sr. was born Nov. 2, 1961, in Ponca City, the son of Dwaine E. and Verna R. Vernon. He was employed as a warehouse supervisor with Universal Products in Wichita. Survivors include his wife Bennie of the home in Wichita; three sons, Ricky Dwaine Vernon Jr, James J. Ivey and Billy Edwards, all of the home; two daughters, Jennifer M. Ivey and Kimberly A. Ivey, both of the home; his parents; two brothers, Todd Vernon of Kingman, Kan., and Jason Vernon of Mulvane, Kan.; and a grandmother, Frances Rhoades of Marland. Ouida ReedLAWTON — Ouida Reed, resident of Lawton, died Tuesday, June 13, 2000, in Friendswood, Texas. She was 77. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 15, 2000, in Highland Cemetery in Lawton with the Rev. Jim Antwine of Carriage Hills Christian Church officiating. Burial is under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home. Ouida Reed was born July 1, 1922, in Greenville, Texas. She attended school in Greenville and later attended Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. She married Joe R. Reed Jr. May 18, 1951, in Dallas, Texas; he preceded her in death June 12, 1971. They moved to Lawton in 1952. She was a homemaker and a member of the PEO and numerous bridge clubs. Survivors include a son, Rusty Reed of Ponca City; two daughters, Beth Speigel of Sachse, Texas, and Sandra Baldridge of Seabrook, Texas; and eight grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Hospice of Ponca City, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Okla. 74601. ObituariesRobert J. Dainty Jr.Robert J. Dainty Jr., former Ponca City resident, died Monday, June 12, 2000, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Tulsa. He was 51. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 15, 2000, in the Odd Fellows Cemetery with Tom Martinez officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Flag folding will be presented by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1201. Robert J. Dainty Jr. was born Sept. 11, 1948, in Charleroi, Pa., the son of Robert Sr. and Agatha (DiGrino) Dainty. He grew up in Elizabeth, Pa., and received his education there. He was a graduate of the Elizabeth Forward High School. Robert went on to graduate with honors from the Gemological Institute of America as a graduate gemologist working with precious stones. He served four years in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972 aboard the USS Dewey. Mr. Dainty was involved in several partnerships and businesses while in Ponca City. During the Christmas season, Robert astonished many in the Ponca City area with his light display on Roadrunner. He always made sure Santa was there to greet the little ones with a candy cane. Surviving are his wife, Linda of Tulsa; two sons, Michael Dainty and Scott Dainty, both of State College, Pa.; one daughter, Katrina Dainty of State College, Pa.; one stepson, Mark Baugh of Atoka; one stepdaughter, Shawn Trepton of Ponca City; his mother, Agatha Dainty of Rostraver Township, Pa.; four brothers, Eddie Dainty of Reading, Pa., Kenny Dainty of Oakmont, Pa., Ronnie Dainty of Rostraver Township, Pa., and Peter Dainty of Salinas, Calif.; one sister, Toni Smith of Elizabeth, Pa.; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and 10 nieces and six nephews. He was preceded in death by his father. Casket bearers will be Jim Moriarty, Brent Trepton, Michael Joseph Dainty, Don McVay, Jason Martinez and Tommy Martinez Jr. The family will be at 301 North Birch. paid obituary Services PendingEvelyn ZaitshikEvelyn Zaitshik, resident of Ponca City, died Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel. William BallTONKAWA — William Ball, resident of Tonkawa, died Wednesday morning, June 14, 2000, at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Ponca City. He was 54. Services are pending with McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home of Tonkawa. NEWS BRIEFS-- Humpty Reunion 2000 — There will be a reunion of all past employees of Humpty Dumpty at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Shelterhouse 3 at Lake Ponca Park. Food, games, drawings. Bring a donated item. Cost is $5 for adults, $2 for kids 6-12, younger free. Contact Kaye Harkins (Furber), 765-9742, Terri Buell (Taylor), 765-8929, or Phil Hunter, 765-5510, for reservations or further information. Court Allen Construction. Brick, flagstone, concrete, walkway’s, patios and planters. Call 765-2720. adv. Citian Joins U.S. Army — Phillip D. Barnard has joined the U.S. Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year. He will have the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty. Barnard, a 2000 graduate of Ponca City High School, will report for basic training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga., June 14. He is the son of Carol S. Barnard of 717 North Oak, and stepson of Calvin D. Barnard of 401 South Washington, Ponca City. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from Hastings, 2900 North Fourteenth Street, that a 15-year-old boy had been taken into custody at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday for shoplifting. Burglary — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department in the 600 block of West Otoe Drive reported at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday that a residence had been broken into. A report was taken. Stormescape Shelters, perfect for garage, under vehicle, installation. $1,695. 765-2633. adv. Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported that in the intersection of South Eighth Street and East Houston Avenue at 1:01 p.m. Tuesday that a 22-year-old man had been taken into custody for driving under suspension after a traffic stop. The vehicle was released to the passenger. Concealed Handgun class, June 24, 8:00 am, great Father’s Day gift. More information call Dianne or Grady Rickman, 765-6589. adv. Burglary — A caller in the 400 block of North Peachtree Street reported to Ponca City police at 2:09 p.m. Tuesday a residence was found broken into. Resident said the home was burglarized while the family was away on vacation, and mainly jewelry was taken. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Disturbance — A woman in the 3000 block of North Union Street reported to Ponca City police at 11:19 p.m. Tuesday. While the woman was placing the call, the second that night, police were just outside her apartment. The 31-year-old woman was taken into custody for obstructing an officer and filing a false report. Burglary — A caller in the 500 block of South Tenth Street reported to Ponca City police at 6:33 p.m. Tuesday that someone had broken into a residence through a window and some money had been taken. An officer was assigned and a petit larceny report was taken. Weather Lab’s 24hr. weather-line, 762-9999. adv. Office Furniture for sale. 762-7558 or 762-7980. Nice desks in good condition. adv. Jim Bowen Construction Custom homes, room additions and remodeling. Call 762-3077. adv. Burge Serving in Mediterranean — Navy Airman Terry L. Burge, son of Keith Burge of 1713 North Osage, is halfway through a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, home ported in Norfolk, Va. Burge’s ship has participated in multi-national exercises Invitex and Juniper Stallion, focused on developing friendship, trust and teamwork between coalition nations. He visited several ports of call including Croatia, Greece, Israel, Italy and Turkey, and the crew also participated in community relations projects. Burge, a 1997 graduate of Ponca City High School, joined the Navy in August 1997. Windshield Chips repaired professionally. Guaranteed and insurance approved. Ponca Glass, 300 W. Highland and Pine. 762-6522. adv. Head Country, One half bar-b-que chicken with choice of vegetables, $4.25, Thursday, 11 am until gone. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv. www.HeartandHealth.com -Buy or sell Rexall natural health products online. adv. Mel’s Clothing & shoes. Buy any one item get the 2nd item for half price. adv. Central Air From Sears/ Kenmore. Be comfortable! Lower summer energy bill. 1-877-266-1550. adv. Closed For vacation. June 19-23. Lewis Auto Service. 112 East Oklahoma. adv. Great Father’s Day Gift! Pictorial History books still available at The Ponca City News. Filled with pictures and history from 1893 to 1960. $34.95 plus tax. Available at the News Business Office, 300 North Third. A gift Dad will treasure for a lifetime! adv. -- LIFESTYLESAuthor of Blood Rose Suspense Novel Has Ties to Ponca City Author of Blood Rose Suspense Novel Has Ties to Ponca CityPat Haley, winner of numerous short story contests, acclaimed by the Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc., and a finalist for an Eppie Award, has written a new book titled Blood Rose. Oklahoma is where Haley was born and reared so it is a fitting setting for her story. She is married to former Ponca Citian, Jack Haley Jr., and the couple currently resides in Burleson, Texas. The author has family residing in Ponca City and Stillwater, and will be at the Hastings store Friday at 5 p.m. to sign her latest book, Blood Rose. “Pat Haley’s writing makes you turn the pages when you’d rather hide. The characters come to such life, that they scare you to death and make you want to burrow between the bed covers,” says Robyn Conley-Weaver, author of John Grisham (Lucent Books). An an introduction to the book, the following gives a taste of the intrigue yet to come. “When Laurel Foxe comes to town, she cuts one man from the herd and uses another as bush beater. Mike Kimbell is the perfect trophy. Except he doesn’t respond to Laurel’s bait. A good hunter adjusts. Laurel claims Mike is stalking her, and Travis Chambers, who tires to be a good cop and determined to protect his town from any threat, listens to the tearful blonde. All that’s left is to make the kill. Not everyone accepts Laurel’s perfect story. Like a stinging bush fly, Sara Matthews buzzes with questions, ones Laurel doesn’t want asked, let alone answered. The trap is set, the prey isolated.” Haley describes “Blood Rose” as, “a lot of fun for me. I love getting inside people’s heads, which is a lot easier when I create the people, and can twist the circumstances so that what is expected is not what occurs.” Little NewsRuss and Tracy Didlake of Ponca City announce the birth of a daughter at 9:14 a.m. May 9, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Morgan Elizabeth Didlake weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 20 1/2 inches long. She has a brother, Jake, 6, and a sister, Blair, 3. Maternal grandparents are Fred and Joanne Horinek of Newkirk, and paternal grandparents are Carole and Downing Johnson of Ponca City, and the late Jim Didlake. Great-grandparents are Margaret Horinek of Newkirk, Lelah and Howard Morgan of Perry, Blanche Lambert of Ponca City, and the late Bernard Horinek. Shalynn Faith Cloud is the name chosen by Shane and Toni Cloud, 1903 Turner Road, for their daughter born at 1:52 a.m. June 8, 2000, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 19 1/2 inches long. She has three brothers, Dalton, 6, Payden, 4, and Brenon, 2. Maternal grandparents are Billy and Kathi Bussey and Jeff Williams, all of Ponca City. Paternal grandparents are Mark and Kitty Russell of Ponca City and Merrill and Rose Cloud of Grand Junction, Colo. Lions Hear about Festival of AngelsWhen the Noon Lions met June 7, Linda Sparks gave a program about the Festival of Angels. Sparks, who has been a member of the Ponca City community since 1980, is active in volunteer capacities. She is well known as the founder of Land of Country Craft show and The McCord Country Craft Show. She also organized the Park Place Fourth of July parade and picnic. Sparks introduced Cindy Bays, the designer for Festival of Angels. Bays previewed several new displays planned for next year. She draws up the concepts and the Holiday Lighting Specialists of Tonkawa do the production work. Among the new displays is an angel fish, clowns with bouncing balls (in an arch), furniture around the fireplace, a rocking horse in a train car and Santa’s workshop. Kathy Adams, who held the first meeting in the library basement, started the festival in 1994. A roomful of volunteers and supporters showed up, and that first year 27 pieces were displayed on the Marland Mansion Grounds. Due to difficulties in turning tour buses on the mansion grounds the majority of the display was moved to Lake Ponca Park in 1997. Currently, 121 pieces are displayed and this past season more than 28,000 visitors were attracted to the displays; 2200 of these were motorcoach visitors who usually eat at least one meal and sometimes spend the night, therefore adding tourism dollars to the local economy. The Angel Central gift shop is operated during the holiday season with proceeds going to the festival. Corporate sponsors have aided growth and the addition of new displays. Sparks commended the Noon Lion’s Club for being one of the corporate sponsors. Dick Balfanz, Tailtwister, gave special recognition and appreciation to the WWI veterans on the anniversary of D-day. Guests were Cindy Bays and John Bohannon’s son, Richard. A report was given on the first meeting of the Visually Impaired Support group. Twenty individuals attended and decided to meet the first Monday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. Rose Green of Stillwater helped the group and it was decided to have election of officers at the next meeting. For more information call Brice Chism, 765-3519, or Kathy Turner, 765-3321. Brice announced that another magni-cam had been placed in a home, and due to increased demand for this vision aid, Dick Balfanz and Lynn Gawel, 762-3805, will be assisting him. The Ponca City Noon Lions Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the American Legion on South Avenue. The members are businessmen and women in the community who have a desire to help and serve others. The motto is “we serve.” The worldwide focus of Lions International is prevention of blindness and providing eyeglasses and other vision aids for needy individuals and promoting diabetes awareness. SPORTSPC Junior Tennis Tourney Winds Down PC Junior Tennis Tourney Winds DownBy FRED HILTON News Sports Editor Talk about your good timing! Today was set aside as a rain day for the Ponca City Bank of Oklahoma Junior Tennis Tournament. So it rained. Actually, today was supposed to be a make-up day in case rain delayed any of the matches Monday or Tuesday. But Tournament Diector Mike Landauer, taking advantage of the good weather those two days, had the age bracket portion of the tournament completed Tuesday afternoon. On Thursday, the novice players — those who don’t normally play tournaments — will take to the courts at the Wally Smnith Tennis Center. That will be a one-day, round-robin format. In the all-Ponca City finals of the boys 14-and-under singes, Derek Viljoen held off Nathan Mai, 6-3, 6-4, Tuesday morning. Later in the day, the 12-and-under finals were held. Cameron Terrell of Bartlesville won the boys’ title, defeating Matthew Larimer of Ponca City, 7-6, 6-2. The girls’ championship trophy went to Mary Caitlin Frates of Tulsa in a 6-0, 6-2 win of Ponca City’s Heather Mai. In the doubles finals, Thomas Holcomb of Tulsa and Eddie Coats of Seminole won the boys’ 14 title, edging Bryan Gamble of Ponca City and Terrance Larimer of Stillwater, 6-3, 7-5. Michael Grismore and Preston Birk of Bartlesville won the 16 trophy, outlasting Trevor and Derek Voljoen, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. In the girls 14 doubles finals, Ponca City’s Audrey Donovan and Darriel Schteiner defeated andother Ponca City pair, Kim Young and Janna Leach, 6-1, 6-1. “We had some very good matches,” Mike Larimer said of the tournament, “and we had some Ponca City kids win some trophies.” PC Legion Splits Pair In LeaguePUTNAM CITY — Ponca City’s American Legion baseballers avenged Monday’s loss to Putnam City Brassfield with a 6-5 win Tuesday, but couldn’t repeat against S&J Tire. losing a 4-2 decision. The doubleheader was in Metro League play. The Poncans are slated to play in Blackwell today. That twinbill is slated to start at 6. After a day off, the local Legionnaires take part in the Ark City Tournament Friday through Sunday. Ponca City plays El Dorado, Kan., at 2 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, the Poncans take on Coffeyville at 11:30 a.m. and Chanute at 5:30 . On Monday, Brassfield edged out Ponca City 6-3 in a nip-and-tuck game that was decided in the last inning. Tuesday’s game changed sites, but not the format. Leading 4-3 entering the final frame, Ponca City scored twice with two outs. Matt Wilks collected a single, Wes Day reached on an error and B.J. Hays walked to load the bases. Casey Rowe’s grounder to short was misplayed, scoring Wilks. Jerrod Spears followed with a single to bring Day home. The Ponca Citians need those runs as Brassfield rallied for two runs in the home half of the seventh on two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly, before Ponca City reliever J. Michael Sharon struck out the final batter with the tying and winning runs on base. Spears paced Ponca City’s 10-hit attack with two hits, two runs batted in and scored twice. Bryan Coppock was 2-for-4 with one RBI. In the nightcap, S&J scored single runs in the first and second innings before Ponca City halved the lead with a run in the fourth. Jimmo Ozment and Jeremy DeNoya both reached base on errors and Ozment scored on Day’s ground out. Putnam City answered with a run in the fifth to push its lead to 3-1. Ponca City again got to within one with a run in the sixth as Ozment was hit by a pitch with one out. He stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball. But again S&J padded the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth and this time, the Royals couldn’t answer. Ponca City managed three hits, singles by Sharon, DeNoya and Spears. Spears was the losing pitcher despite throwing a four-hitter.
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