Through Thursday 14

Sports today has become specialized—too specialized. Because of the popularity of select sports, kids are forced to quit sports they are proficient in so they can make that fifth select hockey, soccer or basketball practice of the week. That's why stories like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders don't happen much anymore. In high school, it's tough to be really good at two sports. In college, the two-sport athlete is almost non-existent.

January

2013 Charitable Events & Fundraisers

After putting together one of the most dominant seasons ever recorded in Missouri, the defending Class 2 soccer champion Priory Rebels will look much different this fall. Much different.

Jayson Tatum has a target on his back that’s bigger than his size 14 shoes. A soon-to-be freshman at Chaminade, Tatum has a name people recognize and a basketball game few have seen in someone so young.

Newly published author, 13- year-old MATTHEW PEARLMAN, is doing plenty of name-dropping in the pages of his first book, That’s Great Advice! Advice from Pro Athletes for Kids, Written by a Kid. Matthew, a soon-to-be freshman at Valley Park H.S., turns to marquee players like the St. Louis Rams’ STEVEN JACKSON, basketball’s KEVIN DURANT and baseball’s CHIPPER JONES for positive character lessons. The young author has a July 19 book-signing scheduled at Lester’s Sports Bar & Grill in Ladue, from 4 to 7 p.m. When he’s not hobnobbing with the pros, Matthew volunteers as a math and reading tutor at Valley Park Elementary School. Proud parents are DR. BRYAN and LENA PEARLMAN.

SATURDAY, MAY 12

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

For a guy with one hand, Zac Vogt is an excellent juggler. Born with just a thumb on his right hand, Vogt is a three-sport dynamo, who is carrying a 4.633 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. His outstanding grades in his advanced placement courses are why he’s, literally, off the chart academically. For these reasons, Vogt is CBC’s 2012 Scholar Athlete.

The landscape of St. Louis high school sports will have a new look in the fall. For reasons that are coincidental, cosmic or both, there will be a slew of new faces in athletics director (AD) positions throughout West County. Among those schools that have announced changes are CBC, De Smet, Vianney, Kirkwood, Priory and Bishop DuBourg.

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

T. Mark and Denise Elliott of Oronogo, Mo., are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Hillary Ann Elliott, to Nicholas Grant Frey, son of Pamela Moore and Steven Frey of Des Peres.

Come Monday, many of the area’s top prep golfers will take their shot at the biggest tournament of the spring, the Webster Cup. Now in its 15th year, the Webster Cup will tee off at 9 a.m. at Crescent Farms Golf Club with a field of 22 teams all chasing the regular season’s top prize.

Thomas Place lives to make goalies miserable. His perfect day involves a blue sky, a perfectly manicured lacrosse field, a never-ending supply of scoring chances and a goalie with more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30

Matt Brown has hands that could crush granite. They’re so big, instead of gloves, he has to wear oven mitts. They’re so big, he has a hard time reaching into his pockets to fish out change. But those hands do serve a purpose. Brown uses them to crush baseballs—lots and lots of baseballs. A junior third baseman for the Vianney baseball team, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Brown enters his third season of varsity action as one of the area’s (pardon the pun) heavy hitters.

Eddie Condon knew it. From the moment he watched the middle school kid holding his own with the bigger boys, he could tell he was special.

Paul McRoberts dove onto Norm Stewart Court on the floor of Mizzou Arena and erupted into a cheering, screaming, hugging mess. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound McRoberts’ greatest wish had just been granted, and he was letting it out. He let out all his frustration of coming so close the last two years. He let out his anger at being doubted. But, mostly, he let out his joy of finally reaching the mountaintop.

Anthony Virdure knows no fear on the court. Whether attacking the teeth of a defense or taking the last shot with the game on the line, Virdure, a junior guard for the Lutheran North boys’ basketball team, will do whatever it takes to win.

Shane Matzen stood surrounded by 300 of his closest friends. The Marquette boys’ basketball coach was inundated by hugs, handshakes, well wishes, thanks-yous and attaboys. Matzen’s back was raw from all the slaps it took. While he worked his way around the crowd, those who couldn’t be there shared their joy and appreciation by blowing up his phone with text messages, emails, Tweets and calls. His pocket was vibrating so much it looked like his hip had a twitch.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9