On Tuesday afternoon, the News & Observer blogs will be moving to a new system and a new server. This change will make getting to our blogs quicker and easier. Most of the blogs will change their appearance, while blogs like Taking Stock and Under the Dome will remain the same.

This change requires nothing from the reader. There will be a link to the older posts, and you won't need to change your bookmarks. If you have trouble finding your favorite blog or you have a comment, please email feedback@newsobserver.com.

— Rachel Carter

Chris Coughlan became the second Carolina Mudcat in as many weeks to earn hitting honors in the Southern League today. He was named the Southern League's Hitter of the Week.

Coghlan tied for the league lead with nine RBIs and produced a .733 slugging percentage thanks to a league-best six extra-base hits. In the previous week, Cameron Maybin topped the circuit with a 1.000 slugging percentage en route to the weekly award.

Coghlan began the period with his second career multi-homer game, connecting twice against Jacksonville’s Marlon Arias on June 9. Three days later, the native of Tarpon Springs, Fla. ripped a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Carolina a 3-2 victory against Birmingham.

On Friday, Coghlan’s two-run triple completed a pivotal three-run, eighth-inning rally in a 5-2 triumph against the Barons.

Coghlan, who will turn 23 on June 18, had two hits Sunday to cap a 10-game homestand in which he batted .361 (13-for-36).

West Johnston quarterback Michael Adams was one of 60 players named to participate in the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game next month. Adams, a graduate of the class of 2008, has signed to play football at UNC Pembroke.

He helped lead the Wildcats to their best season ever in 2007, a second place finish in the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference.

Adams will be one of two Johnston County representatives on the East sideline. Smithfield-Selma High head coach Anthony Barbour is an assistant coach on the East staff as well.

The game will be played at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, at Greensboro Grimsley High School.

From a Track Press Release

Southern National Raceway Park regrets to announce that the race event scheduled for this Saturday Night, June 14th has to be canceled. Southern National's sewer systems have malfunctioned. The company has informed the track that the repairs will not be completed by the weekend. The track will look into a makeup date later in the season.

Southern National's next night of racing is scheduled for June 28.

If you’re like me, if you think 1980s, you’re only thinking one thing (well, a few things): white linen suits, Ferraris, a two-day beard, cigarette boats, etc. “Miami Vice” in other words.

The Carolina Mudcats are holding ’80s Night tonight (Thursday) at Five County Stadium. There’ll be a replica KITT Car from “Knight Rider” on hand. And any fans who dress in 1980s garb will receive a box seat for just $5.

It'll be the best reason to head out and see the Cats play tonight. Wednesday night's loss to Birmingham eliminated Carolina from contention for the first half Northern Division title.

There will also be a Mudcats Awesome 80s Fan crowned and a 80s-themed prize pack for the winner of the contest.

Game time is 7:15 p.m.

Jerry Sands accepted the contract offer of the Los Angeles Dodgers last night. You can read a report on his signing now at theherald-nc.com/sports by clicking on the item header 'Sands signs with Dodgers.'

Carolina downed Jacksonville 3-1 this afternoon at Five County Stadium and then moved within three days (or 2.5 games) of the Southern League Northern Division lead when West Tenn knocked off Huntsville 2-0 earlier tonight.

West Tenn and Huntsville are tied for the division lead and face each other again Monday and Tuesday, while the Mudcats have two more left with Jacksonville.

"Our first half chances are still kind of slim but it's good that we're giving ourselves every chance," said Carolina manager Matt Raleigh after Sunday's win. "We're starting to consistently play good baseball again, our batting's gotten a lot better and our pitching is coming back around to where it was earlier in the season."

We'll have more on the Mudcats' recent fortunes in the June 11 print edition of The Herald.

By the way, if you're a fan of game used sports items, there's another reason to head out to Five County Stadium on Monday night (in addition to the chance to see some good minor league baseball). The Mudcats will wear the throwback jerseys of the Rocky Mount Leafs. Then the jerseys the players will be auctioned off after the game to benefit charity. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.

Smithfield resident Neal Lancaster carded his second round of 69 of the weekend Sunday at the Rex Hospital Open, a Nationwide Tour event held at TPC Wakefield Plantation, and tied for 27th in the event. Lancaster finished at 5-under par for the event and pocketed $3,700.

On another local note, former Morrisville Green Hope High and University of Georgia star Brendon Todd also fared well in his hometown event. Todd finished tied for eighth at 8 under par, winning $14,000.

Former Smithfield-Selma High standout Jerry Sands was selected in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player by the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon. Sands, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound rising senior at Catawba, is the Indians' career leader in home runs with 64 in his three-year career. He was the 757th player taken overall.

It took a the pulling of a few teeth, but I've finally got together the Johnston County American Legion Baseball schedule for this summer. The complete schedule is listed here. We'll start publishing a weekly schedule in the print edition of The Herald beginning Wednesday.

Remember, these schedules are subject to change by man or Mother Nature.

Note: Benson home games are played at Bruce Coats Field at South Johnston High School; Post 71 home games are played at Smithfield-Selma High School; West Johnston games are played at West Johnston High School.

Thusday, June 5
Junior Legion
Oxford Webb at West Johnston, 7

Friday, June 6
Junior Legion
West Johnston at Leesville Road (DH), 5

Sunday, June 8
Senior Legion
Benson at Apex (DH), 4

Monday, June 9
Senior Legion
Benson at Wayne County (So. Wayne High), 7

Tuesday, June 10
Senior Legion
Post 71 at Kerr Lake (Louisburg College), 7
Junior Legion
Benson at West Johnston, 7

Wednesday, June 11
Junior Legion
Cary Colts at Benson, 7:30

Friday, June 13
Junior Legion
West Johnston at Benson, 7

Saturday, June 14
Senior Legion
Durham at Post 71, 7
Junior Legion
Benson at West Johnston (DH), 11 a.m.

Monday, June 16
Senior Legion
Apex at Benson, 7
Post 71 at North Raleigh (Millbrook High), 7

Tuesday, June 17
Senior Legion
Post 71 at Benson, 7
Junior Legion
West Johnston at Oxford Webb, 7

Wednesday, June 18
Junior Legion
Benson at Cary Colts (Green Hope High), 7:30

Thursday, June 19
Senior Legion
Wilson County at Benson, 7

Friday, June 20
Senior Legion
Post 71 at Garner, 7
Junior Legion
West Johnston at Benson, 7

Saturday, June 21
Senior Legion
Benson at Kerr Lake (Louisburg College), 7
Junior Legion
North Raleigh at Benson, 1

Sunday, June 22
Senior Legion
Benson at Cary (Green Hope High), 7
Kinston at Post 71, 7

Monday, June 23
Senior Legion
Post 71 at Durham (Riverside High), 7
Junior Legion
Benson at Leesville Road, 7

Tuesday, June 24
Junior Legion
Leesville Road at Benson, 7

Wednesday, June 25
Junior Legion
Benson at West Johnston, 7

Friday, June 27
Senior Legion
Cary at Benson, 7
Apex at Post 71, 7
Junior Legion
Leesville Road at West Johnston (DH), 5

Saturday, June 28
Senior Legion
Benson at Garner, 7
Kerr Lake at Post 71, 7
Junior Legion
Benson at North Raleigh, 1

Sunday, June 29
Senior Legion
Benson at Apex, 7
Durham at Post 71, 7

Monday, June 30
Junior Legion
Oxford at Benson (DH), 5

Tuesday, July 1
Senior Legion
Garner at Benson, 7

Wednesday, July 2
Senior Legion
North Raleigh at Post 71, 7
Junior Legion
Cary Colts at West Johnston, 7
Benson at Cary Bulls, 7:30

Saturday, July 5
Senior Legion
Benson at Wilson County (Fleming Stadium), 7
Post 71 at Wayne County (Southern Wayne High), 7

Sunday, July 6
Senior Legion
Post 71 at New Bern, 7

Tuesday, July 8
Junior Legion
West Johnston at Cary Colts (Green Hope High), 7

After moving within two and a half games of the Northern Division lead, the Carolina Mudcats stand four back of Huntsville now with 11 games to go in the first half. The Mudcats finish up a 10-game road trip tonight at Montgomery. They'll open a first-half ending 10-game homestand on Friday night.

If the Mudcats had Huntsville or West Tenn (the two teams they trail in the standings) their task would be a little easier. Yet, in another one of the Southern League's scheduling quirks, Carolina is hosting two Southern Division teams: Jacksonville and Birmingham to close the first half. So the Cats will need to turn around the current 3-7 streak they're on and probably get some help as well to be a factor in the first half race.

Remember, the two half winners from each division will advance to the Southern League playoffs in September. If the same team in one division wins both halves, the next team with the best overall record for the season earns the playoff bid.

Johnny Dutch is the subject of a feature in The State (S.C.) newspaper today previewing the NCAA Regional Track and Field Championships. Dutch, well-known for being among the fastest prep hurdlers in the world during his days at Clayton High, has the fourth fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the world this season.

You can read Joseph Peterson's story by clicking on the blog entry header above.

Brent Walston announced at Tuesday night's North Johnston High athletic banquet that he was stepping down from his duties as head varsity girls soccer coach. Walston will continue in his dual roles as the Panthers' athletic director and head boys' coach.

Stacey Tant, who coached the Panthers' junior varsity program to its first win this season, has been named the new girls' varsity head coach.

We'll have more on the move in an upcoming print edition of The Herald.

Southern National Raceway Park will hold Church Youth Group Night at the Races presented by U.S. Food Service this Saturday night.

All registered church youth groups will be admitted for $5 per person, with the preacher and youth minister free of charge. Group leaders must contact the track at 284-1114 to register.

The night’s event will feature twin 75-lap events for the Nascar Whelen All-American Series Late Models, as well as Bobby Murray Chevrolet GM Performance Parts Limited Late Models, Papa Jack’s Store and Grill Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders and UCARs. Grandstands open at 5 p.m., with the green flag for the night’s festivities flying at 7.

General admission is $12 for adults, $8 for kids 8-17, with children 7 and under free. All military personnel are $10 with a valid military ID. For more information, contact Southern National at 284-1114 or surf to www.southernnational.net.

My Memorial Day has officially now begun with another paper put to bed.

You can now read our full report on the Eastern Regional 1-A Baseball Championship Series at theherald-nc.com/sports. You can take a direct link there by clicking on the item header above.

I'm offering a thank you for a debt I could never pay back to our military personnel today, a nd a prayer for those in uniform protecting us.