A big week in local sports - and I missed it!

Last week Travis David posed the question, "Where has the time gone?"

Indeed.

Seems like only yesterday I was in Clarksville covering the Linton-Stockton Miners in the baseball regional.

Then just a week later I was traipsing around the 7,000-yard grounds of Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, following Linton-Stockton's Zach Hall in the IHSAA golf State Finals.

The following week I was in Terre Haute detailing the exploits of six Linton Miners gridders in the 12th annual Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Classic.

Now we're less than two weeks from the official start of of fall sports practices. Which means the summer doldrums are nearly behind us.

And before you know it, Travis and I will be plunging headfirst into fall sports previews.

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I've just returned to my desk, rejuvenated after my vacation to the French Lick-West Baden Resort complex.

Hint: If you're looking for a luxurious, yet reasonably affordable "staycation destination" look no further than French Lick and West Baden. First-class accommodations and dining, championship golf, spa treatments, and casino gaming - if you're so inclined - all at your fingertips.

My dearly beloved Megan called it a "Haverkamp vacation." And we truly were living the Bushwood Country Club lifestyle, if only for a few days.

And sometimes I feel as old as Mr. Haverkamp...

Normally, mid-July is an ideal time for a sportswriter to take a few days off. Usually there's not a lot going on in the wide world of sports around here then.

This year was different.

We had Clayton French teeing it up with the big boys in the Indiana PGA Open.

Dylan Morris padded up with the state's best in the 50th annual Indiana Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game in Indianapolis.

And three area hoopsters - Linton-Stockton's Josh Dieball, Shakamak's Tanner Yeryar and Bloomfield's Felicity Graf - were invited to participate in the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association/IHSAA Underclassmen Showcase at Ben Davis High School.

It would've been neat to cover all three big events. But alas, the reservations were already booked.

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Clayton French acquitted himself rather nicely playing in the Indiana PGA Open at the Donald Ross Hill Course in French Lick, site of the 1924 PGA Championship.

After making his second cut in four Indiana Open starts, the current Marian University golfer and winner of consecutive Greene County Open championships finished tied for 46th in this year's State Open.

It's gratifying to see a young man who works as hard as Clayton does be rewarded with the success he's enjoyed.

Best of luck, Clayton as you prepare for your senior year at Marian!

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Speaking of hard work, I don't know of any high school football player who worked as hard as Linton-Stockton's Dylan Morris - on the gridiron, in the weight room and in the classroom.

Through his relentless motor on the field and his unwavering dedication in the weight room, Morris became one of the best - if not the best - two-way linemen in the storied history of the Miners football program.

And his efforts were justly rewarded.

The two-time All-State selection strapped on the pads one last time - for the South All-Stars in the annual North-South All-Star game at Indianapolis North Central.

The lineman became just the third Linton-Stockton player to earn a roster spot in the 50-year history of the prestigious All-Star Classic.

Morris started at right guard for the South All-Stars and played most of the game.

The final whistle Friday night brought an end to Dylan Morris' stellar football career.

Morris won't be playing college football.

The offers from bigger college football programs Morris hoped for never materialized. He had several Division III offers, but the schools didn't have his preferred major.

So Dylan will attend Vincennes University in the fall and enroll in the physical therapy assistant program.

His decision to forego his continued pursuit of his football career in favor of academics speaks to Dylan's maturity and wisdom beyond his years.

Although I'm still surprised Marian University didn't take a longer look at Morris. I honestly believe he could play at the NAIA level as a defensive end or a rush linebacker. And Marian would have offered his major of choice.

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I haven't heard how our locals fared in the IBCA/IHSAA Underclass Showcase at Ben Davis. But if the Showcase was anything like April's Top 60 Senior Senior Workout or the early June Junior All-Star Exhibition it would have given Tanner Yeryar and Josh Dieball a platform to excel.

In those two events, ball-dominant guards controlled the action. And I'd fully expect Yeryar and Dieball to get their fair share of touches.

I'll look forward to reading Travis David's recap of the Showcase.

With the summer's last big sporting events in the rearview mirror, it's almost time to begin looking ahead to yet another fall sports season.

I'll provide a "sneak preview" of the area's fall sports outlook in an upcoming column.

Terry Schwinghammer is a sports writer for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, ext. 27. He can also be reached via email at tschwing32@yahoo.com.