Bill Blanchard’s journey began on the sandlots of Iowa City.
The next stop for the 63-year-old longtime softball player and administrator is a hall of fame.
Blanchard will be one of three individuals inducted into the ASA Iowa 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame on Saturday during the 16-inch men’s slow pitch Major Open and A state tournaments this weekend at Tait Cummins Softball Complex. The ceremony will be held from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
“You can’t really put words to it,” Blanchard said about the honor. “I’m speechless on one hand and greatly …

Ryan Schlader from WMT Radio sent me their schedule of Football Games of the Week.
Here it is:
Fri., Aug. 21 – Janesville at Olin (Week Zero 8-man)
Thu., Aug. 27 – Cedar Rapids Xavier vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson (first game on Kingston turf)
Fri., Aug. 28 – Tipton at West Branch
Fri., Sept. 4 – Williamsburg at Center Point-Urbana
Thu., Sept. 10 – Cedar Rapids Prairie at Cedar Rapids Washington
Fri., Sept. 11 – Wilton at Solon
Fri., Sept. 18 – Alburnett at Maquoketa Valley
Fri., Sept. 25 –  DeWitt Central at Benton Community
Thu., Oct. 1 – Iowa …

“First, ask yourself this: What coach changed your life? If you’re like me, a name will immediately come to mind…”
Those are the words of Matt McCue. The coach to whom he’s referring is Bob Brown.
McCue, 26 and a former standout runner at Iowa City Regina, has written a book — “An Honorable Run” — about Brown, who died in 2007 of pancreatic cancer.
The book will launch over Labor Day weekend. McCue will have a book signing Sept. 4 at Running Wild in Cedar Rapids, another Sept. 5 at Running Wild …