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ON --i ~ a. k .. '>. v SMHBHHmMBSS HRHHHHf mMNRMHRMB bMWWMWWb * . HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL •I j!B| |^r _ K JB|r ■ •imiigi jVlfrw .£, § m, • J Vfl a |||p3s ■-■ ; . 5-' -?' IB ' April ■■■■—t i'lftll teißMUf A griV.OM ENT/Gary Hannon Houston County's Danielle Burkett preps to scoop a grounder in a recent Lady Bears game. Lost season Lady Bear Burkett making up for lost time By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer Danielle Burkett has every reason to feel bitter; to carry some sort of grudge and believe that two softball seasons in high school were taken away. However, this Houston County High School infielder understands that health con cerns come before any ball game, and she’s determined to make up for some lost time with a strong senior season. After playing as a freshman in the Lady Bear program, Burkett was diagnosed with a heart condition that prohib ited her from taking part in school sports. “I wasn’t able to pass the physical with my doctor,” she said. “So I didn’t play for two years. (Not playing) was really hard. I was a manager for those two years, and it was 0.K., but I’m really glad to play this year.” Burkett, who was diagnosed with a heart murmur as a child, explained that the con CALENDAR High school softball Today ■ Northside at Warrior Fast-pitch Classic at North Cobb, times and teams to be determined ■ Lowndes at Houston County, 11 a.m. Monday ■ John Milledge at Westfield, 4:30 p.m. ■ Perry at Rutland, 5 p.m. Tuesday ■ Coffee at Houston County, 5:30 p.m. ■ Tift County at Warner Robins, 5:45 p.m. ■ West Laurens at Perry, 6:30 p.m. High school cross country Today "But I found out this year I was misdiagnosed. I could have played." - Houston County softball player Danielle Burkett dition had to do with a thick ening of the heart muscle, and if she would exercise, it could get bigger and potentially cause a blockage of oxygen flow to her lungs. “But I found out this year I was misdiagnosed,” she said. “I could have, played.” And so Burkett is back on the playing field without any worries. She is a .400 hit ter in the leadoff spot for coach Angela Crawford, and Houston County is in conten tion for first place in Region ■ Westfield at Southland, time to be determined ■ Warner Robins at Jekyll Island Invitational, time to be determined High school volleyball Today ■ Morrow, Warner Robins, MLK at Houston County, 10 * a.m. Tuesday ■ Warner Robins, Americus at Northside, 5 p.m. High school football Today ■ Central Gwinnett at Warner Robins, 7:30 p.m. IN BRIEF PJL undergoing Fail registration Perry Junior League Fall Ball registration has begun 1-AAAAA at 6-1 after winning the league in 2006 and finish ing in the top eight in the state tournament. But there’s still the matter of those two missed seasons. Instead of any ill feelings, Burkett sees that proverbial silver lining. “I was upset, but it just made me realize how much I love playing,” she said. “It’s all good. “I wish I was hitting better. I still got to play travel ball those two years, so it wasn’t like I was not playing at all. I was out (practicing) with my dad those two years.” Burkett has played for the Georgia Heat, the South Georgia Longhorns and the Atlanta Travelers. She’s taken part in Rising Stars showcase tournament in Florida. This helped keep her in the eyes of college scouts, and she’s already had contact with some junior colleges, which she hopes will lead to a schol arship. See SEASON, page ioB Local man earns first in fishing tournament Howard best co-angler in Wal-Mart event By DON MONCRIEF Journal Managing Editor Some fishermen prefer the front of the boat. You can see where you’re going. Heck, you can determine - as the driver - where you’re going, subsequently dic tating where you fish. No doubt it has its perks. But then again, so does the back. If you don’t believe that, just ask Keith Howard. He’s found lots of reasons to like fishing in the rear - $5,059 to be exact. His latest earnings - included in the aforementioned totals - was $4,359. He earned $3,782 of that by finishing first in the Co-Angler Division of the Wal- Mart Bass Fishing League (part of FLW) - he competes overall in the Bulldog Division - tournament held on Lake Eufaula Sept. 8-9. The rest of the $4,359 came via $577 for earning the Big Fish award, and the rest of the total, the $5,059, came when he finished fourth at an earlier tournament this year. This is also only actually the first year of competition for the Warner Robins resident whose parents live in Perry and whose full-time job is as a welder for Midstate Steel in Macon. The idea he could do this, he said, actually came last year. “I was in a club in Griffin,” he *^WA.L»IWART W pm mi, r iffr ifSr Mm ■nw' JR? ''. iittw JP we •’ w jj w A ENI/Gary Harmon Keith Howard displays the awards he earned at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament held on Lake Eufaula Sept. 8-9. and will continue until Oct. 5. You can register on line at www.perryjuniorleaue.com or at the park under the pavil ion on these dates: Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fall ball fees are $45 and the organization is offering a special for Fall/Spring Combo for $125. For more information, Kelly Tucker at pjlpresident@windstream.net or via phone at 988-2618. PJL undergoing Fall registration The Landings is preparing for its Fall After School Program, a six-week program billed as “fun and fundamen tals." Ages 5-7 will attend Tuesdays; 8-10 Wednesdays and 11-up Thursdays. All classes will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The first session runs from Sept. 20, the second Sept. 25-Nov. 8. The cost is SIOO for non-members and S9O for members - with a $lO discount if signing up for both sessions. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 explained, adding he got his start - way back when - when fishing in jon boats, “fishing a lot of tournaments .:. Lake Juliette, High Falls, those kinds of plac es. I was their Angler of the Year - the club champion - won a good bit, so I thought ‘it’s time to step it up.’” “I wasn’t sure about it, but once I got that first top-five (and, he said he lost a 5-pounder that would have given him an even better finish at that tournament), I thought: ‘I belong.’ “Now, after this (his first-place finish) I know I can (be successful at it).” Success, he said, has come through “lots of reading” and, “being out on the water every weekend.” The only drawback he’s found so far in regard to competition is that he’s cur rently not eligible for the All-American event - prizes include a new boat, which he said he would very much like to have - to be held later. The top 40 in points automatically earn a bid to that, he explained. He is currently 79th. But, he still has an outside chance to get in via a “wildcard.” The wildcard, Howard explained, was for those fishermen who signed up/paid for all five tournaments - the total number for the Bulldog Division - but weren’t able to fish all five. See FISHING, page ioB dim iiatra ami dirty * For more information, contact PGA Professional Bill Goggin by phone at 923-5222, Ext. 4 or e-mail him at bill@goggingolf.com. Or visit the course’s website at www. goggingolf.com/. YMCA to start cheer program The Houston County YMCA, according to a release, is currently looking to start a program for competitive cheer leading. To that end, they need experienced cheerleader coaches. Contact Shannon Cobb, gymnastic coordinator the Houston County YMCA at 478-922-2566 or stop by their office. AAU basketball team gearing up Any girls interested in playing AAU basketball for a new Middle Georgia team is asked to contact Travis Hammock at 478-918-5593. The desired age group is 14-17. 1B