The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • 12

TOVVNTXLK LAGNIAPPE B4 Friday, October 12, 2007 La. Tech legend Patterson shoots The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from the Arbor House, located on U.S. Highway 80 est of Ruston, at 7:14 Thursday morning as the first shots rang out. While deputies were en route, Patterson then turned the gun on himself. "Unless you've really seen Al-zheimers, you can't really grasp what it becomes," Caldwell-Bayles said.

"The ones it really hurts are the ones who have to watch their loved ones slip away. He was grieving." At Tech, Patterson recorded 18 winning seasons in 23 years and posted five 40-win campaigns. He retired in 1990 with the all-time record for career wins in Louisiana college baseball. "In my eyes, 'Gravy' is Louisiana Tech baseball," current baseball coach Wade Simoneaux said. "Anytime anybody mentions Louisiana Tech baseball his name comes up.

He set the bar so high it isn't even obtainable to do what he accomplished here. He was an idol to me." Patterson led Tech's baseball team to seven NCAA tournament appearances, with the last coming in 1987. In 1974, Patterson guided Tech to one of its best seasons ever, bringing the Bulldogs to within one game of the College World Series. "When I came (to Tech) in1 1974, he was the first coach I was really involved with," long- 'i -i '-r- wife, self time Tech radio broadcaster Dave Nitz said. "He took me in and was always like a father figure to me.

He was Tech through and through. Nobody loved Louisiana Tech more than he did." Patterson, a 1958 Louisiana Tech graduate, was a decorated letterman in both football and baseball. After coaching at Ouachita Parish and Byrd high schools, Patterson joined Tech's athletic department as an assistant football coach in 1967, a role he'd hold until 1978. In 1979, Patterson oversaw one more football game as interim coach, a 13-10 win over rival Northeast Louisiana, now known as Louisiana-Monroe. He worked as Tech's associate athletics director following his retirement from coaching baseball, focusing on athlete eligibility and NCAA compliance.

On three occasions, Patterson also stepped in as the university's interim athletics director. "The entire Tech athletic family mourns the loss of coach Patterson and his wife, Glenda," Tech athletics director Jim Oakes said. "We all grieve the loss of such a special man and outstanding coach. This loss is very hard because coach Patterson was beloved by everyone who knew him." halnSaws RackHoes to Former Louisiana Tech baseball coach James "Pat" Patterson killed his wife and himself on Thursday. The former Tech great coached in Ruston from 1968-90, compiling a record of 741-462.

Kingsville Baptist to sponsor 3-on-3 tourney on Saturday Dentil Rentals, Sales Ssrvlca Weekend Project? Weekday Jobsite? By T. Scott Boatrigfct Louisiana Gannett News RUSTON Former longtime Louisiana Tech baseball coach James "Pat" Patterson, overcome with grief for a wife stricken with Alzheimer's, shot her and then himself on Thursday, Lincoln Parish authorities say. Patterson, 73, known by friends and family as "Gravy," coached at Tech from 1968-90, compiling a record of 741-462. Patterson's wife, Glenda, 71, had recently moved into the Arbor House, an assisted-care facility near Ruston, a few weeks' ago. There, both of their lives tragically ended in a murder-suicide.

"This is something we've never dealt with," Arbor House owner Joanne Caldwell-Bayles said. "You hear of it happening sometimes, but never around here." No one else was injured, according to a sheriff's department release. "It's a real sad day in Lincoln Parish," said Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone. "The Louisiana Tech family has lost two wonderful people," school president Dan Reneau said. "Coach Patterson was a great friend and mentor to countless Tech students over the years, and he and Glenda will be missed by all of us." Throwback Continued from Bl Miles said Hester made some key runs against the Gators, and not just the short fourth-down conversions, but also some lengthy runs.

Hester ran over a defensive back, much like Taylor used to, on a 19-yard jaunt on that last drive for a first down at the Gators' 16. LSU had no one fooled with its play calling. On both the fourth-down conversions and on the third-down touchdown, Florida players knew Hester was getting it and where he was taking it, but they couldn't stop it. "They were even calling out the play both times on fourth down," Hester said. "They were calling the gaps, too.

That made me nervous a little bit. I was just saying, 'I hope our guy gets the "We go down to the goal line, we give him the ball," Miles said. Blocking or no blocking, Hester expects to get it. "If you can't get a yard in the SEC, you don't deserve to be in the SEC as a running back," he said. 442-9300 (gUGAR SPIEg UKNt-f WM HtN Mon.

-Fit 7pm- 2am Sol. 8pm -2um Wealth Continued from Bl ica White, Quianna Chaney and RaShonta LeBlanc and forward Ashley Thomas. There are also four other seniors and Allison Hightower, who was an All-Southeastern Conference freshman last season. "Everywhere I go, people say, 'Are you going to win the national" championship? Are you going to the Final Four? Are you going to break the But we don't think about that all the time," Chancellor said. "We're saying, 'Let's just play the best we We have not mentioned the high expectations." Having nine seniors is great until you have to replace them.

"I thought I'd been involved in a lot of things in my coaching career," Chancellor said. "But I've never heard of having nine seniors." Chancellor believes in building up his players, even though they might not always understand his Louisville, accent. "He's very positive," Fowles said. "I introduce (Chaney) as the bester shooter in the nation," he said. "I used to introduce her as the best shooter in the SEC.

Visualizing success is very important think about winning a national championship, think about making shots. The secret to coaching is loading the bus with good players and loving them." The bus was loaded before Chancellor was given the keys, and he sounds like he just got his license. "This is an exciting time," he said. "I don't know of any better time to be coaching women's basketball at LSU than right now." Shifting Continued from Bl us can shoot. All of us can run the floor.

I think there'll be a lot more movement than what they've had in the past." LSU, which fell to a disappointing 17-15 season last year with a 5-11 record in the Southeastern Conference after lofty predictions, scored in just the 50s or 60s in nine of its losses to SEC teams last season. The other newcomers expected to make major impacts are 6-4 shooting guard Marcus Thornton of Kilgore Junior College in Kilgore, Texas and point guard Bo Spencer of Glen Oaks. "He's just a scorer," junior guard Garrett Temple said of Thornton. "A lot of people compare him to Darrel Mitchell (LSU's Final Four point guard), except he's fhree-and-a-half inches taller. He's going to be a real big spark for us." Returning junior Tasmin Mitchell will play more power forward after playing mostly small forward last season.

Also returning is 6-11 forwardcenter Chris Johnson and guards Terry Martin and Dameon Mason. Quintin Thornton, a 6-8 forward from Odessa College in Orlando, will also compete for playing time. LSU will not have as clear positions this season. Many of the players can be used interchangeably. "We may substitute more freely," Brady said.

"We are going to have to use our length and the ability to run the floor and make threes. Offensively, we have been a high powered team. This year we will run more of a motion type combination with screening and cutting." Air Compressors tO wehavaMwdghtaqulpmantferyeur projact or Job, Sav tint and monay. The RENTAL COMPANY way! 820 Dallas Avenua Alexandria, LA 71302 (318)449-1011 www.therentalcompany.net By Bret H. McCormick bmccormickthetowntalk.com (318)487-6352 PINEVILLE Kingsville Baptist Church and Tudor, Inc.

of Pineville are the sponsors for the Cenla Connect 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Zone, which will be held Saturday at Kings Country Shopping Center's old Wal-Mart Parking Lot. The 3-on-3 tournament consists of teams of 3-4 players competing in 10 age divisions junior high boys and girls, high school boys and girls, and men and women in three age groups (18-23, 24-34 and 35-plus). Registration will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, and the cost is $60 per team. Each team will play two or three pool games beginning at 8:30 a.m.

with bracket play resuming at 12:30 p.m. Championship games are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Scott Cochran, the local organizer of the event, said there have been about 15 or 20 teams register for the 3-on-3 tournament this week, and he hopes to have as many as 40 or 45 sign up by Saturday. "Just this week, every team has registered this week so far," Cochran said. "I think we had six teams sign up (Thursday).

The closer we get to the event, the more teams register." In addition to the tournament, there will be a $10,000 Hot Shot Competition that will begin at It's '07 Clearance Time All '07 Escalades $10,000 'AlT07DTSr Louisiana Tech 12:15 p.m. Cochran said five players from the tournament will be selected at random to compete for the prize. They will have to hit four shots from different spots on the court, and there will be a time limit. The Cenla Connect tournament is one of five tournaments being held in the South. There was one held in April in Leesville, with plans being made for a return trip next year, as well as events in Guntersville, Hoover, and Cool Springs, Term.

While the 3-on-3 tournament is the featured attraction, the day isn't all about basketball. The Family Fun Zone, which is free and open to all ages from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed to give children a play area during the 3-on-3 tournament. Activities include face painting, inflatables, carnival games and stage performances. "This is an outreach opportunity to go out in the community and reach people," Cochran said.

"We just want to put on an event for the whole community to enjoy. It's not just about basketball, but the whole family because of the Family Fun Zone." "It's a little out of the box for what a church does, but it's an opportunity to take ministry to the community, outside the walls of the church," said Rich Dupree, a member at Kingsville. has more man doubled in participation since last year. "Last year we had less than 20 teams," Calvit said. "We made the mistake of scheduling the tournament during the high school dead period, so we could only invite teams in divisions younger than high school age.

This year, we'll have all the divisions." Teams from as far north as Shreveport, as far south as Lake Charles, as far east as Mississippi, and all points in between will be represented in the tournament. The tournament will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday with the last games of the night starting at 7 p.m. Action will resume at 9 a.m. on Sunday with championship games being played until approximately 7 p.m.

A full schedule of games can be accessed by visiting www.cross-roads-soccer.com and clicking the 'Tournaments" link. 7.500 oft L. SRX fimi coliseum All '07 $5,000 Crossroads to host soccer tourney Town Talk staff the Swamp," first hosted in 2006, V-- 445-4521 www.southernchevrolet.com t' Giff Edgerton iexanana Campaign It may be the height of football season, but for one weekend the Johnny Downs Sports complex will become futbol central when 54 soccer teams from across the state travel to Louisiana for the Crossroads Soccer Association's two-day tournament, "Sweep the Swamp." "Johnny Downs probably has the best fields in the state," tournament director Brad Calvit said. "You take that and the cool front coming through and it should be perfect conditions for soccer." Among the held of 54 will be 16 local teams, all representing Crossroads, including the defending state champs in the boys 15 and under division. "Last year was the first in which Crossroads fielded a full slate of teams in every age group (under 10-under 19)," Calvit said.

"A lot of our teams did really well in their tournaments, so now we have some really good teams from across the state who are coming here to play those teams." According to Calvit, "Sweep Elect Bill Robinson Rapides Parish Sheriff A Proven Leader Honesty Integrity Experience Let Bill's 3 1 Years of Law Enforcement Fight the Drug Problems Bring Back Services to the Citizens of Rapides Parish Solve the Over-Crowded Jail Problems Vir Stop the Waste of YOUR Tax Dollars i Paid PoMicai Advertising Paid tor by tne bul fioDinsori.