2 • JULY 29, 2022 bransonglobe.com
Local Cal Ripken team heads to regionals – again
A prayer march participant carries a cross during a previous march. (Special to Branson Globe)
Branson Prayer March planned for October 15 By CINDY THOMAS, Staff Writer It’s time to mark your calendar for the Branson Prayer March on Saturday, October 15. This annual gathering of the Body of Christ in Branson and the surrounding area is held the third Saturday of October annually, as an opportunity to unite and pray that God will turn this nation back to him. Organizers want to remind the community that this march is NOT
a protest; it is a time of focused prayer for our families, our communities, our state, and our nation. This is the most critical time for America that most of us can remember, so bring your family and invite your friends to call upon God in unity with others. Marchers will gather at Walmart, 2206 W. 76 Country Blvd., for a 1 p.m. start and then proceed eastSEE PRAYER MARCH, PAGE 10
By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer A local baseball team has been named state champions for the second year in a row. The Central Ozarks team got its start last year as a group of 10-year-old boys who would represent the upstart Cal Ripken League at Ballparks of America. Under the direction of Coach Scott Miller, the team quickly hit their stride and won the 2021 Missouri State Cal Ripken Championship. A few weeks later, they traveled to North Dakota, where they were named regional champs, which they won in the Midwest Plains Championships. Fast forward one year, and the same group of now 11-year-old
boys were victorious in the Missouri State Cal Ripken Championship. They will be traveling to Denver, Colorado, to defend their regional championship title. “I am really proud of what these kids have accomplished,” said Head Coach Scott Miller. “To do it once is special, but twice is uncommon. Our pitchers have been very efficient. We’ve had timely hitting, and our defense is steady, for the most part. This group is very resilient. We were down 15-4 to Booneville in pool play, but we kept extending the game and chipping away at their lead. Two hours later, Ethan Johnson hits a single to win the game.” Coach Miller shared his
By K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer Branson is mourning the loss of a respected and active member of the community with the passing of Cox Medical Center Branson’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, David Strong. In a message to the Cox Medical Center employees, President and CEO Max Buetow said, in part, “I am saddened to share that our dear friend and colleague David Strong passed away this weekend at his home. Those who knew David always appreciated his sense of humor and his largerthan-life personality. David was part of our family and will live
on in the many fond memories we enjoyed with him.” In the same message, Buetow quoted Cox Medical Center Branson’s President, William Mahoney, as saying, “He was my first hire after I became CEO at Skaggs Hospital. He was also heavily involved in our successful affiliation with CoxHealth. David had a deep knowledge of the revenue cycle and was extremely respected in our field.” Strong was an active member of the community, having served on the boards of both the Skaggs Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club. He was an avid golf-
thoughts about the upcoming regional competition. “Going to Denver is going to be really tough, as we will see every team’s best pitcher and playing up in the altitude will be an adjustment,” said Miller. “If we win it in Denver, we will get to play in our backyard at Ballparks of America in the 12-yearold World Series next year, in front of a lot of family and friends. Hopefully, we get that opportunity.” The Central Ozarks team begins pool play on Saturday, July 30, against the host team and Colorado State Champions, Southeast Denver. You can follow the team’s progress on the Central Ozarks Cal Ripken page on Facebook.
Cox Health mourns the loss of VP David Strong
David Strong (FILE) er and outdoorsman and had an unshakeable love of God and his family. Strong’s obituary, posted on the website of Snapp-Bearden FuSEE STRONG, PAGE 44
