DATE: Sunday, August 17, 1997               TAG: 9708150284

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

CHURCHLAND SHARPSHOOTER IS ON TARGET IN COLORADO CHAMPIONSHIP

Churchland rising senior Don Truax solidified his reputation as one of the top air-rifle shooters in the country last week, when he placed second overall in the sporter division at the 1997 American Legion Junior Position Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Truax, who ranked among the nation's best all season as a member of the Truckers' Marine Corps ROTC air rifle team, captured a gold medal in the kneeling position, a silver medal in prone and the pewter medal (4th place) in the standing position.

``Wanna know how tough the competition was?'' asked Maj. Karl Kusky, the Truckers' coach who traveled with Truax. ``Don scored 776 out of 800 in the prone. That was a new record. And he wound up with the silver medal.''

Kusky added that the Truckers could post an even stronger showing at the nationals next season.

``I have about four young fellows that could possibly qualify next year,'' he said. ``I have that kind of talent on the team.''

OLIVE BRANCH LITTLE LEAGUE: The annual meeting to elect the board of the Olive Branch Little League will be held Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. All letters of intent must be turned in by Aug. 31. For more information, call Cheryl Renfrow at 465-3925.

Sign-ups for fall ball will be held Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for all ages. For more information, call Jack Reardon at 488-8758.

CHURCHLAND SOFTBALL: Registration for the Churchland fall softball league for girls 10-18 will be held Aug. 25-29 from 7-9 p.m. and Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the concession stand at Churchland Park. Cost is $25 per child and $20 for each additional child in the family. The league is open to all youth in South Hampton Roads, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Holland, Hampton and Newport News. For information, call Fred Sayers at 488-9576 or Bill Fleming at 484-4022.

CRADOCK SOCCER: Registration for the fall season of the Cradock Soccer Association will be held Saturdays in August at Ray's Pizza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday and Aug. 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. for ages 4-18. Cost is $30 for one child, $40 for two or $50 for three or more. Players new to the organization must provide a copy of a birth certificate and a social security number. For more information, call 487-0699.

WESTERN BRANCH GIRLS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL: Registration will be held at the Western Branch Little League fields Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Aug. 19 and 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For further information, call Wendy Mathias at 483-1608 or Mike Newton at 484-0438.

CHEERLEADING CAMP: The Woodrow Wilson varsity and jv cheerleaders will hold a camp Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilson gym. Cost is $15, which includes snack and a drink. Bring bag lunch. For more information, call Glenda Jarman at 399-6273 or Carolyn Wyatt at 399-3754. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Don Truax, right, and his coach, Karl Kusky, traveled to Colorado

Springs, Colo. for the American Legion Junior Position National air

rifle championship. Truax placed second overall in the competition.

He won a gold medal in the kneeling position and placed second and

fourth in the prone and standing positions respectively.

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