[BellCoBobcat]

Al Merrick, Second-Team AP All-State Placekicker from Pineville High School signed his National Letter of Intent yesterday to be a Patriot this fall. According to the Pineville Sun, Merrick had seven field goals and 90% touchback ratio on kickoffs. Merrick had offers from Union and Pikeville as well. Merrick was WYMT All-Mountain First Team Kicker; District 7-First Team Kicker; and SEKC Kicker of the Year (1A-2A) for third straight year. He is the younger brother of former Bell County Bobcat D-1 Kicker Monte Merrick of Western Kentucky University. Congratulations Al, we sports fans here in Bell County will miss having a Merrick kick for first time in last five years! Best wishes to you both on Saturdays next fall!