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Monstcm dßmly djmmtal FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2006 The Home Journal’s SANDLOT ON DECK Major League Baseball Today ■ Atlanta at Philadelphia. 7:05 p.m., TBS High school Softball Today ■ Warner Robins at Colquitt County, 5:45 p.m. Saturday ■ Valdosta at Houston County, 11 a.m. High school Volleyball Saturday ■ Warner Robins at Mundy’s Mill (against it, Luella and Union Grove), noon High school Cross country Saturday ■ Warner Robins at Valdosta Invite, 10 a.m. High school Football Today ■ Perry at Hawkinsville, 8 p.m. ■ Northside at Houston County, 7:30 p.m. ■ Westfield at John Milledge, 7:30 p.m. Saturday ■ Warner Robins versus Parkview, in Georgia Dome, 2:45 p.m. BRAVES CORNER ATLANTA - Give Adam Laßoche his due. Maybe it’s just a hot streak. Maybe it's a breakout year. Maybe it’s the medication he’s taking to blunt the effects of attention deficit disorder. Whatever the first baseman has been doing since the All- Star break, it’s working. Laßoche smacked four extra-base hits, driving in three runs and scoring another as the Braves beat the Giants 5-3 Wednesday in front of 24,952 fans. Chuck James picked up his seventh win of the year, scat tering six hits and two runs over seven innings. Brad Hennessey took the loss after surrendering five runs in 5.1 innings. Despite a shaky inning, Bob Wickman picked up his tenth save in as many tries since coming to Atlanta on July 20. It wasn't a bad night for James, who struck out five while walking two. He hit Barry Bonds, who singled in his only official at-bat after the bean and two walks. It marked the fourth straight win at home for Atlanta during a season that has seen the Braves struggle at home. And it kept Atlanta (63-68) four games behind the San Diego Padres, also winners Wednesday, in the free-for-all that is the National League wild card race. IN BRIEF The Robins AFB Bowling Center will be holding regis tration for youth bowlers ages 5 - 21 Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The cost is s2l which, according to a release, includes a bowling shirt. Registration is open to any youth that have access to Robins AFB. Bowling will begin Sept. 16. Call Marge Corzine, youth coordinator at Robins, at 923- 5618 for more information. Warner Robins chamber to hold Playday Classic The Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce will hold the Playday Classic 2006 Sept. 14, at The Landings Golf Club. Registration deadline is Sept. 7. Tee times available at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The registration fee of SBS includes greens fees, a cart, breakfast or lunch and admis sion to the Celebration & Food Festival. Prizes include a set of tires, a Nissan truck from Jeff Smith Nissan, a SIO,OOO CD from Sun Mark Bank and a Rolex watch from Satterfield & Dempsey Jewelers. For informa tion, call 328-7745. Bears, Eagles start with a bang By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer A little momentum can go a long way. That’s what the coaches in an opening night rival ry football contest tak ing place at McConnell- Talbert Stadium hope to gain as they guide their respective clubs into the 2006 campaign. J4t Northside at Houston County, today 7:30 p.m. WO> It’s Northside High School, with its sights set on another run to the Class AAAA state championship game, against Houston County High, a team hoping to crash the party this year in the tradi tion-rich Region 1-AAAAA. Bragging rights may be the prize for those filling the Mac stands, but Conrad Nix of the Eagles and Doug Johnson of the Bears are more interested in seeing how their respective players have progressed since the I I V I 1 ■ j ENI/Gary Harmon The Panthers work on special teams during practice at the school Tuesday. They will travel and play Hawkinsville today. Remember when... In regard to Hawkinsville, Perry can hardly forget By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer It was three years ago, the last time Perry High School hooked up with Hawkinsville High on a football field. Andy Scott was the defen sive coordinator and witnessed one of the more heartbreaking losses in school his tory. The Panthers were trailing 12-7, but stood & Perry at Hawkinsville, today, 8 p.m. on the verge of snatching it away from the Red Devils with just four second left. It wasn’t to be though as Perry lost a fumble just shy of the goal line. Scott, three years later now the head coach of this Panther program, said there’s no doubt that was a devastat ing loss to take on that night. Two things he added, however: One, it was only the first of a few other nailbiters early in that season, and two, the Panthers were able to rebound and get into the playoffs. With the postseason appearing to be a regular thing for Perry High football, it stands to reason that Scott would want to test this club against the best Middle Georgia has to offer. So Sports Tm sure they are going to do some wrinkles, some different stuff. We'll probably do a couple of things they haven't seen before." - Northside head football coach Conrad Nix 2005 season ended. And who really needs a detailed scouting report when you’re talking about teams that play year after year with players who may have known each other since childhood? Well, this is week No. 1, so other than watch ing one preseason scrim mage, these staffs really only have past experience to draw on. “Coach Nix and they do a super job,” said Johnson. “Their kids do a good job. It’s a good rival game, a good start-up game. It’s one of those games where hope- "Practice can only get you so far. You need to put it all together on Friday night." - Perry headfootball coach Andy Scott after a scrimmage contest with a Class AAAA contender from Northside High, the Panthers are set to charge into the regular season against that same Hawkinsville Red Devil team, ranked No. 2 in Class A. “They have great players,” said Scott. “They have probably more Division I players out there than any other pro gram in the state. They play all over the Southeast.” The first one to come to mind is Charles Johnson, a defensive end at the University of Georgia. Then there’s Trey Dunmon, a center at Georgia Tech who played on two state cham pionship teams, the most recent being the co-title season in 2004. But you don’t play against a school’s alumni squad. For Perry, this year’s Red Devil team has two Division I prospects, one of whom has already * jr |*L . mMhBBMMBBI, ENI/Gary Harmon The Bears bring down a Jones County runner during their recent scrimmage. The next task at hand: Bring down the Eagles. fully both of us will get a lot done and learn a lot, then in the second week with what ever you have, you can make yourself better.” “The only thing we can do right now is speculate a bit,” said Nix. “The scrimmage they had was so controlled, it was hard to get a real good committed to Auburn. Daquan Bembry is primarily a defensive back who will see spot time on offense and make plays as a kick returner. The other is Sacoby Carter, a 220- pound defensive end/linebacker. Scott said the Red Devils, with this kind of talent on defense, runs a pro style 4-3 set. He said the linemen surge off the ball well and the inside linebackers are good tacklers. “On offense, they like to establish the run, then beat you with the pass,” said Scott. “The quarterback is a good thrower, and they have a stable corps of receivers.” Scott does have his concerns going into this game, particularly with his young, rebuilt offensive line going against the Red Devil defensive front. In fact, the coach said there isn’t a part of the game he’s completely comfort able with judging just from practices and the one scrimmage. “You never know until you get into a game situation,” said Scott. “Practice can only get you so far. You need to put it all together on Friday night.” The Panthers didn’t score in the Northside scrimmage, which was played more like a real game than See REMEMBER, page iB SECTION B indication of what they’re going to do. I’m sure they are going to do some wrin kles, some different stuff. See BANG, page iB Peppy's Hamrick finishes second in turkey shoot Special to the Journal Mike Hamrick of Perry placed second at the Second National Wild Turkey Federation’s 13th annual Turkey Shoot held Aug. 18 to Aug. 20 in Forsyth. Hamrick broke 126 clay targets while competing in the NSCA Main Event and Concurrents, E class at The Meadows National Gun Club in Forsyth He was one of 600 shoot ers that competed at one of the premier sporting clays tournaments in the country. Shooters were separated into two divisions - the National Sporting Clays Association Division for competitive and profes sional shooters and the Hunters Division for rec reational shooters - in the 200-target Sporting Clays Championship, the 50-bird Briley Sub-Gauge competi tion and the Charles Daly Side by Side. “The Turkey Shoot is a very competitive event that brings shooters from all across the country to see See HAMRICK, page iB Falcons still won't win a Super Bowl The Falcons are already on the hot seat. Sports report ers are already counting preseason wins. Just think. One more exhi bition vic tory and the Falcons will have a winning record. That’s the most Joe Sersey Journal Correspondent excited I’m going to get this season. Professional football’s pre season isn’t something to get excited about. It’s some thing to ignore. The Falcons beat a depleted Titans team 20-6 this past Saturday night. Whoopdeedo. Who do the Tennessee See SERSEY, page iB