The Russellville Alumni Association will be hosting and organizing the 2nd Annual Kelly Russell Classic this weekend at RJSHS. The Classic will be played Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at Kelly Russell Field at Russellville Junior/Senior High School. The Classic honors the memory of RJSHS baseball player, Kelly Russell, a member of the RHS Class of 1974, and supports his scholarship fund. The Panthers will host Grayson County and Madisonville North Hopkins. On Friday, April 17 - RHS versus Grayson County at 6pm. Kelly’s sister, Mrs. JoAnne Russell Bennett, RHS Class of 1963, will throw out the first pitch. The tentative schedule: On Saturday, April 18 - Lunch for teams/coaches at 11 a.m. in RMS gym; Public invited for special presentation at 11am; T-shirts -$15 for sale - Proceeds go to the scholarship fund; Concessions will be available; Grayson County versus Madisonville NH – noon; RHS versus Madisonville NH around 3 p.m.; Former RHS baseball players, scholarship winners, classmates of JoAnne and Kelly, and baseball fans are encouraged to support the Kelly Russell Classic! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the story of Kelly Russell, his sister, JoAnne Bennett, says, “Kelly was a RHS senior who lost his life due to a head injury sustained while pursuing the sport he loved most, baseball. Despite having a slight build, what he lacked in size he made up for in determination, courage, dedication, and pure will. Those qualities sparked him to give his best efforts to the sports in which he participated. Kelly believed in clean living and cared for his body as every good athlete is expected to do. In four years of football at RHS, he never missed practice. He was a leader. He was co-captain and best defensive player of the 1974 Panther Baseball Team. Maybe most important is how he treated others. Rarely would you find a better role model or friend. May this scholarship aid other deserving young people pursuing their goals, and may his memory be kept alive through this scholarship program.“ Kelly was struck by a baseball while the Panther Baseball team was preparing for a regional game in May, 1974. The alumni association, along with his sister will spend this weekend sharing his story and raising money for the Kelly Russell Scholarship which will be awarded to one of our senior students during our commencement service this year. If you would like to donate or contribute to the scholarship fund, please contact Mrs. Jean Reynolds for more information. If you would like to know more of the Kelly Russell story, Mr. Jim Turner of the Logan Journal wrote a very informative and moving piece regarding the day the tragic event occurred. Please visit http://www.theloganjournal.com/ to read the story of Kelly Russell.