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2B
♦ FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006
STANDINGS, MORE
CURTAIN CALL
American League
EAST
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO
NY Yankees 67 43 .609 - 36-19 31-24 613 516 Won 1 7-3
Boston 65 47 .580 3 35-17 30-30 614 558 Lost 4 3-7
Toronto 60 54 .526 9 38-24 22-30 597 560 Won 1 3-7
Baltimore 51 64 .443 18.5 30-31 21-33 551 640 Lost 1 4-6
Tampa Bay 47 68 .409 22.5 29-26 18-42 504 617 Lost 3 4-6
CENTRAL
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO
Detroit 76 38 .667 - 37-19 39-19 594 447 Lost 2 6-4
Minnesota 67 46 .593 8.5 39-15 28-31 585 512 Won 2 7-3
Chicago Sox 66 46 .589 9 35-21 31 -25 637 549 Lost 1 5-5
Cleveland 48 64 .429 27 27-30 21-34 602 570 Won 1 3-7
Kansas City 40 73 .354 35.5 25-33 15-40 517 680 Won 2 3-7
WEST
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO
Oakland . 62 52 .544 - 30-26 32-26 511 515 Lost 1 8-2
LA Angels 59 55 .518 3 27-28 32-27 557 527 Lost 1 5-5
Texas 57 58 .496 5.5 26-30 31-28 591 570 Won 1 5-5
Seattle 56 57 .496 5.5 31-29 25-28 528 519 Won 3 6-4
National League
EAST
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO
NY Mets 68 44 .607 - 34-22 34-22 600 504 Won 4 7-3
Philadelphia 55 58 .487 13.5 27-31 28-27 583 589 Won 1 6-4
Atlanta 52 61 .460 16.5 23-30 29-31 586 583 Lost 1 4-6
Florida 52 61 .460 16.5 27-28 25-33 520 545 Lost 1 4-6
Washington 50 63 .442 18.5 27-25 23-38 520 580 Won 1 4-6
CENTRAL
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LIO
St. Louis 61 52 .540 - 33-23 28-29 561 550 Lost 2 3-7
Cincinnati 59 55 .518 2.5 31-30 28-25 564 591 Won 2 4-6
Houston 55 58 .487 6 32-26 23-32 523 526 Won 2 7-3
Milwaukee 53 60 .469 8 33-24 20-36 512 596 Won 1 5-5
Chicago Cubs 48 65 .425 13 25-31 23-34 474 577 Lost 1 6-4
Pittsburgh 42 72 .368 19.5 28-28 14-44 504 585 Lost 4 4-6
WEST
W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA STRK LlO
San Diego 58 55 .513 - 28-31 30-24 509 505 Lost 2 4-6
LA Dodgers 58 56 .509 .5 33-25 25-31 577 527 Lost 1 9-1
Arizona 58 56 .509 .5 29-29 29-27 572 574 Won 2 5-5
Colorado 55 58 .487 3 28-26 27-32 511 497 Won 1 6-4
San Francisco 54 60 .474 4.5 31-28 23-32 525 533 Lost 2 3-7
Editor’s Note:
Wednesday’s preview article
on Westfield’s softball team
was not published in its
entirety - a good portion of
the text got trapped under
the photo. It is reprinted
here in its entirety and we
do sincerely apologize for
the inconvenience.
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
Rodney Culverhouse,
when he looked over
the players who
showed up to be a part of
the 2006 Westfield softball
team, may have looked over
the bunch and thought, “Oh
good, one senior.”
And not in a worried or
pessimistic manner.
When Westfield won the
first GISA AAA state cham
pionship for fastpitch soft
ball, Culverhouse only had
one senior that season. Not
that he wouldn’t mind hav
ing a roster like in 2005
when two of the Hornet
players had the scouting eye
of a few NCAA Division I
colleges.
As the 2006 campaign
draws closer with this
weekend’s Freedom Park
tournament in Macon,
Culverhouse is presented
with the problem of replac
ing not just catcher Anna
Johnson (South Carolina)
and pitcher Lana Mackey
(Furman), but a senior class
that numbered five total.
Then again, the youth at
Westfield might know a bet
ter way how to pave a path
to success.
“They’re young, but
they’ve got good experi
ence,” said Culverhouse,
referring not only to high
school experience, but the
traveling scene as well. “It’s
just a matter of them doing
what they know how to do.
“I have one senior, three
juniors and nine sopho
mores. My second baseman,
a sophomore, was All-State
last year. My (other) pitcher
Kelsey (Gilliam) was All-
Region. Had she played for
any team other than us or
John Milledge, she’d have
been the No. 1 pitcher and
probably All-State.”
Gilliam won six games as
a Hornet with a microscopic
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Rudy Adams
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earned-run average. Two
of the wins came against
strong clubs from Tiftarea
and Southland. She does
have that No. 1 role this
season for Westfield, which
will be a mere continua
tion from her summer play
with the two-time nation
al-championship winning
Georgia Heat team.
“She plays ball probably
nine or 10 months out of
the year,” said Culverhouse.
“Four of our girls play on
the (Heat), and she’s their
No. 1 pitcher. She’s been
working quite a bit ... been
throwing the ball for the last
seven months. She ought to
be ready to go.
“She’s got a lot of pitch
es. She’s not throwing the
ball down the middle. She
will move it around, change
speeds, lots of variations.”
On the offensive side,
Culverhouse expects his
lineup to put the ball in
play and make things hap
pen with good team speed.
One of the main catalysts
of 2005 was Johnson, who
even though she played the
receiver position never saw
a base she couldn’t steal.
Westfield has two catch
ers this year, sophomore
Jennifer Wrye being the one
with some starting varsity
experience during a time
when Johnson was out sick.
Culverhouse can also use
Wrye at third base, saying
that she will play somewhere
with her strong offensive
and defensive skills.
In terms of team speed,
the coach also expects that
trait to help make the
Hornets a strong defensive
team.
“This is probably one of
the quickest outfields I’ve
ever had,” said Culverhouse.
“If not the quickest out
field. I’ve got a sophomore
in right field and left field
and a junior in center. They
all get down the line pretty
quick.”
Sydney Smith is the new
starting centerfielder for
the graduating Heather
Tucker. Hannah Jones is
now the full-time shortstop
after Rachel Wrye’s depar
ture.
Darryl Ann Thompson is
back as the sure starter in
right field, while left field
f NRA Safety & Marksmanship Classes
Defensive Pistol Tactics Class
Beginner & Advanced
coiild go to a number of dif
ferent players according to
the set.
The set, as Culverhouse
explained, depends on the
pitcher and the catcher.
“They’re ready,” said
Culverhouse. “A lot of them
would have played more last
year, but with five seniors,
it’fe hard to move them out
of the way.
“When we won state, I
only had one senior and
a lot of sophomores and
juhiors. So I’m hoping the
excitement and eagerness
to get out there and play
will transform into a lot of
wins.”
Many other teams in
thfe GISA lose top softball
sehiors. John Milledge has
had a stranglehold on the
state tournament with
a top quality pitcher the
last few years. Culverhouse
still expects them to be the
team to beat, saying that
one player doesn’t score all
the runs.
“George Walton should
be a competitive team,” he
said. “Any of the Macon
schools. They have so many
athletes you never know
what they’re going to have
out there. I don’t know if
there’s one single favorite,
but there are eight or 10
teams that wouldn’t sur
prise me if any of them were
in the final four.”
Westfield does want to
maintain a little strangle
hold of its own in Region 3-
AAA. Southland has had its
share of fastpitch success
while Deerfield-Windsor is
coming around after some
doininant seasons as a slow
pitch team.
<l I know Sherwood got a
lot more competitive last
year,” said Culverhouse.
“Southland always has a lot
of hthletes. It’s going to be a
mdtter of who comes to play
that day.”
The first Hornet home
gaJne is Aug. 23 against
First Presbyterian Day.
Westfield also gets home
at-home looks at George
Whlton and John Milledge.
WALK AWAY WORRY-FREE
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1040 Morningside Dr. • Perry, GA 31069
478-988-4676
00036372
SPORTS
' ~... ...... r
ENI/Gary Harmon
Bionna Brown returns a serve as Chastity Roberson flinches during the Lady
Panthers’ practice Wednesday at the school.
SUCCESS
From page iB
Plus, playing in the fall,
he is competing with soft
ball, cross country, cheer
leading and the marching
band for student-athletes.
“It’s kind of hard to get
a real winning successful
program going if you just
play 9 through 12 (grades),”
said Hardy. “We have to get
some community interest
involved to get where we
want to be.”
What should help draw
some school interest is
that, unlike in the inaugu
ral season, Perry is play
ing some matches at home.
The schedule shows the
Panthers playing Jackson
and Americus-Sumter
County on Aug. 31 and Ola
and Eagle’s Landing on
Sept. 5, all at home.
The county champion
ships are Sept. 16 at Warner
Robins High. That’s the first
major prize the Panthers
can aim for.
Then there are those
more experienced programs
in places like LaGrange and
Henry County.
“We’re way behind the
teams that we’ll play,” said
Hardy about the level of
skills and fundamentals.
SERSEY
From page iB
make up for size once the
big guys get hold of you,
and Lowndes, Tift and
Valdosta are always quick
as well as big.
Still, I expect the Demons
to do well in their new divi
sion home. Just as Warner
Robins hasn’t played the
likes of Lowndes and its ilk,
those teams haven’t battled
Demons either.
I don’t expect Warner
Robins to be as physically
big as some of their new
opponents, but I know
from watching area foot
ball the past few years that
few teams are as mental
ly tough, and to be blunt,
as downright mean as the
The Original
Solunar Tables
By Mrs. Richard Alden Knight
Release week of Aug. 6-13, 2006
AM PM
Date Day Minor Major Minor Major
8/6 Su 3:10 9:25 3:35 9:55
8/7 M 4:10 10:20 4:30 10:55
8/8 T 5:05 11:20 5:30 11:50
8/9 W 6:00 0 6:25 12:15
8/10 Th 6:55 12:40 7:20 1:10
8/11 F 7:55 1:45 8:25 2:10
8/12 S 8:50 2:40 9:20 3:05
8/13 Su 9:45 3:30 10:10 3:55
C 2006 by King Features Syndicate. Inc.
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"Wfe have to get
some community
interest involved
to get where we
want to be."
- Perry head volleyball coach
Brett Hardy
“I try to teach some strat
egy and points of the game
we will have to know. We
could spend 90 minutes
just bumping the ball and
it would do us a lot of good.
We’re just not that good at
it right now.
“But we’re better than
we were. The nice thing
about coaching these girls
is they’re willing to learn.
When they don’t do what
I want them to do, I’ll run
them, make them pay. They
don’t ever cry about it. The
ones we have are commit
ted and want to learn.”
The setback, though,
Hardy had coming into this
season is that only four out
of seven possible returning
players are back for 2006.
Lindsey Tucker dem
onstrates a strong ser
vice game, and Chasity
Warner Robins Demons.
Northside, meanwhile,
gets to dally with the likes of
Baldwin, Eagle’s Landing,
Jones County, Upson-Lee,
Westside and Stockbridge.
Although Eagle’s Landing
and Stockbridge reside
in the land of Parkview,
Parkview they are not.
Baldwin has really come
on the past two years and
Westside is always strong,
but neither is a match for
the Eagles at this junc
ture.
Jones County is the new
dog in the fight, but they
may not have the teeth for
Northside. The Greyhounds
fielded good teams in their
old classification but until
they play Northside, I’ll
wait to be impressed.
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THE HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Robertson is Perry’s top
setter, according to Hardy.
He also has Ashley West,
a top basketball player for
the Panthers, and Brianna
Brown to round out the
returning core.
Of those who didn’t come
back, one graduated and
two moved.
As for volleyball terms,
Hardy said they know what
a ‘kill’ is, because that
means somebody scored a
point. They also know what
a ‘dig’ is, though no one has
gotten down the knack of
diving for a ball.
“In the next few years, I
would hope that we would
make it to the state tourna
ment,” said Hardy about
the long-term outlook for
Panther volleyball.
“Until we start a middle
school program and get
some club volleyball in the
community, it’s going to be
hard to have those oppor
tunities.
“I want to start a youth
volleyball camp during the
summer and during our fall
break.
“If you start them then,
even if they don’t play mid
dle school, they’ll have a
basic knowledge of what’s
going on and will want to
play in high school.”
This season looks to be an
exciting one. The Northside-
Warner Robins matchup
won’t have the same mean
ing when it comes to stand
ings but city bragging rights
are on the line.
Northside wins and for a
year, the Eagles can point
at the Demons and say they
beat the bigger school. The
Demons have more to lose.
When it comes to ties for
playoff berths, a loss to a
team in a lower classifica
tion could cost them a trip
to the dome.
I pity the fools who have
to play Northside.
Until Houston County
shows me they replaced
Brandon King, I’m sorry.
But then, a lot folks tell
me I’m sorry.