Contest B: Sports Writing

ASSIGNMENT

You have 32 hours to write a story about a sports event at Sunflower High School. The story should be approximately 300 words. With the aid of computers this year, we are able to enforce this. Please do not write longer than the word limit.

Please use the information provided below. The writer should determine which information is relevant and important to the story. Students may use dictionary, thesaurus and/or the Associated Press style manual. Only entries submitted online will be accepted. No exceptions will be made to this rule.

When you submit, you will simply be submitting plain text. Formatting such as italics, bold and underline will not transfer. Also, paragraph breaks will not transfer. To show the judge your intention to create a paragraph break, please use this double-backslash symbol: //  For instance, a passage with two paragraph breaks would look like this:

The school board reversed the policy with an 11-1 vote. // “I disagreed with the decision, but I lost this time,” said board president Yvonnes Nulton. // The policy will go into effect at the start of next school year.

TIMELINE

 

DIRECTIONS

This contest is meant to be completed individually. Please refrain from seeking help from others while completing this contest.

Failure to follow these directions may result in disqualification from the contest without refund. Please read and follow carefully. 

  1. Read over the prompt presented below. The writer should determine which information is relevant and important to the story.
  2. While writing, you may use resources like the AP Stylebook, an online style guide or a dictionary/thesaurus. 
  3. Use whatever technology works best for you while writing your draft. This could be pencil and paper, your cell phone, your computer, etc. Do whatever you’re most comfortable with.
  4. Do not include your name or your school’s name anywhere on your final draft.
  5. Type up the final version of your story and submit it here. 
  6. Please do not share your draft, notes or ideas about the prompt with others until the 32-hour competition window closes.

Here is a link to this contest’s judging rubric.

DESCRIPTION

You are a member of Sunflower High School’s journalism staff. Your editor has asked you to edit the following story and coverage.

SCHOOL INFO

  • Name: Sunflower High School
  • Location: Clinton, Kansas
  • Mascot: Mighty Buffalo
  • Enrollment: 800 (grades 9-12)
  • School colors: yellow and brown
  • Yearbook: The Sunflower
  • Newspaper: Sunflower News

Contest Info

  • This is an on-site contest. 
  • Do not put your name on the entry. If you do, your entry will be disqualified.
  • Students must not request help or advice from any person other than the KSPA Executive Director Eric Thomas at staff@kspaonline.org, and that advice must be requested before the start of the contest.
  • All work must be solely that of the contestant.

Prompts will be visible at 3 p.m. April 17.

Contest B

Where? 

  • Sunflower High School’s O’Malley Family Field

When? 

  • Thursday, April 30th, 2020 at 5:00 in the evening

What? 

  • Sunflower High vs. McKinley High varsity softball game
  • First game of doubleheader: SHS 6 to MHS 4
  • Second game of doubleheader: SHS 12 to MHS 1

Who? 

  • two teams from the Rolling Valley Conference (RVC)
  • Around 150 fans in attendance

Quotes

From senior shortstop Callie Robinson

  • “It’s a great feeling. I never imagined I’d break the state record. I’m really proud of myself.”
  • “I owe everything to my parents, my teammates and my coaches.”
  • “I’ve been playing softball since I was like, six years old. I obviously started with tee-ball, then little leagues, then competitive play. I’ve always really enjoyed it, ever since those tee-ball days.”
  • On her record-breaking home run: “I was down with a 1-2 count at the plate. But as soon as the pitch left her hand, I knew I’d send it over the fence. Sometimes you just get a feeling. Sometimes you just see a pitch and have almost a feeling of destiny.”
  • “Being the only senior on the team is fun. It feels special. It’s also helped me make a ton of friends that aren’t in my class, which is cool. I’m sad I’m leaving Sunflower High next year, but I know the team will be great. I’ll definitely come back to watch a few games.”
  • “As I was rounding the bases, I could hear all my teammates and coaches screaming and freaking out at home plate. I couldn’t stop smiling.”
  • Robinson broke the Kansas softball single-season home run record in the first game of a doubleheader against McKinley High. When she hit the home run, the score was 4-4 with a runner (Amanda Kellogg) on first. It was the fifth inning of a 7 inning game. The ball cleared the home run fence in left field. Robinson is a right handed batter. The fence is about 220 feet from home plate at that part of the field. Robinson bats third in the line-up.
  • Robinson broke the record of 38 by Brittany Finney of Bishop Carroll who played from 2012-2015
  • Robinson also homered in the second game of the double header. She homered in the first inning. 

From varsity head coach Tina Joseph

  • “Callie is a great player and a great hitter. She really zones in when she’s at the plate. She is a natural pull hitter and when she sees a pitch that she can pull, you might as well kiss that pitch good bye. I have seen it so many times.”
  • “Callie is our only senior this year. She’s an essential team leader and a lot of the younger girls look up to her. She really helps motivate the girls and get them pumped up.”
  • “We’ve got a good team this year and with only one senior, that means most of our starting lineup will be returning next year.”
  • “I’ve coached Callie all four years. She was a varsity clean-up hitter in her freshman year. Just shows how great she’s always been.”

From junior first baseman Amanda Kellogg

  • “[Callie]’s a great leader. I’ve always looked up to her. She’s an amazing shortstop and batter. It seems like nothing gets by her.”
  • “We both play volleyball together in the fall. She was the setter for the team. Callie is just an all-around great athlete.”
  • “It was so exciting when she got her record-breaking home run. The whole team freaked out. Since I was on base, I was like jumping and hopping all the way around the field. I was going more bonkers than she was. The team all sprinted out of the dugout and ran to home plate. We all jumped and screamed when she finally got to us. It was such a great moment.”
  • “I think it was nice that they paused the game and recognized her over the speakers at the field. I think that I saw her cry. She tried not to, but then she looked at her parents in the stands.”

From school activities director Martin Seymour

  • “Callie is a great athlete, and we’re proud to have her on the softball team and as a representative of Sunflower High.”
  • “We’re planning on celebrating her record at the next school pep rally. Everyone is very proud of her.”
  • “Our softball team hasn’t always been the best in the area, but since Callie has been on the team, they have greatly improved. She’s essential.”

Facts from your research

  • In the doubleheader against McKinley High, SHS won both games. The score of the first game was 6-4 and the score of the second game was 12-1. Callie hit the Kansas record-breaking home run in the first game.
  • Callie Robinson has a .585 batting average this season
  • The SHS softball team has a 19-4 record so far this season.
  • During the doubleheader against McKinley High, sophomore right fielder Ana Gonzalez also hit a home run during the second game.
  • Head coach Tina Joseph is a former Division I softball player. She played third-base at Oklahoma State University.
  • Callie Robinson was voted “Most Valuable Player” by her teammates in her junior softball season last year.
  • Callie Robinson is attending Michigan State University next year on a softball scholarship. She plans to study computer science.