Give some people an occasional hot dog at a ball game or backyard cookout, and they're not particularly wowed. But for those who truly appreciate a frank pillowed in bread, this is news worth relishing:

Spring sprang, and now summer has set in.

A “Celebration of Life” service to honor respected educator and leader among state high school sports circles Art Wagner is scheduled for Monday night at 6 p.m. at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert.

Here is the Chandler all-district baseball team, as voted on by the district’s schools’ coaches:

Here is the 2013 Chandler all-district softball team as voted on by the district’s schools’ coaches:

Here is the 2013 Chandler all-district boys volleyball team as voted on by the district’s schools’ volleyball coaches:

Here is a collection of thoughts and stories from those who've crossed paths (personally or professionally) with former Higley district athletic director Art Wagner, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on May 15.

A quick breakdown of Monday night's Division I softball state championship matchup between No. 14 Chaparral and No. 6 Red Mountain:

In this dugout is the three-time defending state champions of softball, with a significant portion of the 2012 title team playing prominent roles again. Red Mountain is a No. 6 seed oozing with confidence, has gotten lights-out pitching from junior ace Bre Macha, went through the winner's bracket for a second consecutive year and outscored its opponents 30-4 in this tournament, including a win over its next opponent.

Among the not-so-favorite memories from high school, standing in front of the class to deliver a presentation ranks right up there. Remember, the clammy palms, racing heart, dry throat and jumbled nerves?

It’s Red Mountain and Mountain View in a Division I state tournament semifinal on Wednesday night, which means there’s not much left to say other than “Let’s play.”

With an estimated 24,000 blood donations by the end of the school year, teens have retained their status as United Blood Services largest statewide donor group for the ninth consecutive year. The D-backs honored the accomplishments of students in the 2012-13 High School Blood Drive Challenge by donating 1,000 tickets to 83 award-winning schools for their May 1 game against the San Francisco Giants. Championship banners were presented on-field during pregame ceremonies to the nine schools earning the highest honors. The team invited the top two high schools, Gilbert's Highland (most total donors) and Williams (highest percentage participation) to share a party suite at the game.

Keep it simple. Easy, right?

Corona del Sol lost a baseball game on Thursday in a most peculiar way.

On Thursday, the Division I and II baseball state tournaments will move to Spring Training stadiums across the Valley.

What a difference a year makes.

Tom Horyza has been chosen as the new boys basketball coach at Notre Dame Prep, athletic director Monica Barrett said in an email.

Devon Ryan had the game winning infield hit in the top of the 12th inning as No. 17 Perry beat No. 16 Corona del Sol in the first round of the Division I state softball tournament.

Nick Guaragna still thinks there might have been a mistake.

Wait, these guys again?