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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 Handgun Instructions Rudy Adams (478) 244-0190 wwvK.ea9leseyesbootin9.com 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 FOOT & ANKLE CENTER 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. DR. SARVEPALLI D. JOKHAI Podiatric Physician and Surgeon, Board Qualified BALL STREET MINI STORAGE P j nil a N*^Srl New patients are welcome by appointment We accept most private insurance plans Ilffijiß diMillap §mQsJ) I 1 1 WtekAbim Long-Term Discounts | I 00035843 "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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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.