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rnm • Bl JDk jj=[ I BA^K fy LL "^' s '* @e ' ? ' i ’’ . -t. . . ;- a ;/iA <Wp ' HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL \ . Jw\ r JIP jjr \ Journal/Don Moncrief Northside’s Sarah Purvis delivers to the plate in the Lady Eagles’ region champion ship win over Jones County Thursday in Milledgeville. Lady Eagles win region By DON MONCRIEF Journal Managing Editor Moonpies and RC Cola. Such was the case for Northside’s fast-pitch soft ball team as it beat Jones County 5-0 Thursday at Georgia College in Milledgeville to win its first- ever region title. At first it didn’t reg ister for the girls - or their head coach - as the assis tant coach es /1 ea m NORTHSIDE LADY EAGLES Northside 5, Jones County 0 mom passed around plastic cups and began filling them with RC Cola. “Hey, where’s the cham pagne,” one Lady Eagle quipped. Eventually some body asked the question: ■r sj i /i. N 1 uL ; s ft B j|t V •Journal lion Moncrief North side's seniors accept on behalf of the squad, then pose with the region tro phy. On the web M ■ From Tuesday - Northside blasts North Clayton, edges Dutchtown in region openers ■ From Wednesday - Lady Eagles edge Jones County for region finals berth “Why are we having RC Cola.” After a pause for effect - and to ensure he had everyone’s attention - the coach answered: “Region Championship.” Ah! Suddenly it all made sense, just like the Lady Eagles’ season. The win over the Lady Greyhounds marked the team’s 26th against only six losses. After finishing the region schedule undefeated - 12- 0 - Northside then swept through the region tour- nament. Thursday also marked the fourth time this year the Lady Eagles have beaten Jones County, a squad Head Coach Mitch Horton, called “a very good team.” “I have a lot of respect for them,” he said, adding he didn’t feel safe even after Northside had put those five runs on the board. “I’m just glad the girls (the Lady Eagles) were able to finish it off (win the region).” That’s where the moon pies come in - sweet satisfac tion, at any rate. Northside put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second. The first of those came via Sarah Purvis who reached on an error. She was sac rificed over to second by Brooke Red. Cady Mcßight then ripped a single to See REGION, page 2B Qlory days ... Valdosta retupns to them; now sets sights on Demons By i»L4 TTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer They’re back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If there ever was a year to beat Valdosta High School on the foot ball field, 2006 was that year. In fact, nine schools did that in 10 M. Valdosta at Warner Robins, Saturday, 7:30 pm. games last season, sending the Wildcats to the worst season ever (1-9) for the pro gram that is up their among the nation’s winningest. Gayton wins world title Special to the Journal Warner Robins ophthalmologist, Dr. Johnny Gayton, won his first world titles Oct. 6. Per a release, it was a lifelong dream come true for Gayton, who had dreamed of becom ing a world-class weightlifter, since he was a child. This meet, sponsored by the SPF, was held at the Ramada Convention Center in ' i I'' t 1 '-r*-»Wi8t*«».«ry»"? ~ -;- :- •—«-»■• —. i#?H * tH * "" w- *?**. Senior Night HC beats Alewton; enters Area tourney as No. 1 seed By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer Even with an adverse turn of events that threatened to throw a proverbial “mon key wrench” into the plans for the postseason, Houston County High volleyball surged to a No. 1 seed for the first time ever going into the Area tournament cham pionships. Senior Night, held Thursday at the Bear Den, provided a reminder of the The web fills the gap, more on stat keeping (Dear readers: The following is Part 2 of a two-part series as Houston Home Journal sports writer/columnist Matthew Brown commemorates 15 years in sports journalism. No, it is not a retrospective look at all the top moments and stories of his writing career. It’s just a few com ments that built up over all those years on topics he wants to talk about. And, no, it isn’t true there’s a Matthew Brown Journal Sport.s Writer new blog on the horizon ... or is there?) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2007 ♦ ’1 don't know it they ever len. They've probably won more games than anybody hi the history of high school football. They're feeHng confident, and they're a good team." - Warner Robins Head Football Coach Bryan Way But now, it’s 2007. Rick Tomberlin is in his second season as Valdosta head coach, and the results from the Wildcats are much more typical. Valdosta in fact improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 1-AAAAA Gatlinburg, Tenn. Gayton swept the 12 events he entered, setting numerous records in the process. He wore a Warner Robins Little League World Championship T-shirt, he said to help moti vate him to do his best. “That group of kids became a motivating force to me,” Gayton said. “Seeing them See GAYTON,pagejB Bears about what is miss ing on the court. Catherine “Cat” Goodman, a menacing presence as a middle hit ter and blocker, remains out for the season with a bro ken ankle suffered during a practice two weeks ago. “One of the girls came to the net, and I landed on her foot,” said Goodman about the injury. “I can’t put pres sure on it for four weeks, and after that I’m not silre.” Not only is high school volleyball over for Goodman, Thomas Edison. Sir Isaac Newton. I now know how it must have been for these great thinkers. World changing ideas simply hit you like one of Benjamin Franklin’s lightning bolts. It all starts with a burning question about a frightening dilemma. How can we con tinue to provide the Home Journal reader ship the best service we do and not be like we are just now reporting the sinking of the Titanic or the discovery of the wheel? It’s football season in Houston County, and the epic struggles that occur on our fields week after week must be reported. See BROWN, page iB with last week’s 27-26 win over then No. 8-ranked Tift County High. But there are those who would argue that the 2006 version of the Wildcats only had a 1-9 record See DEMONS, page 4B Houston County senior Adrienne Pate slams a ball pasta Newton player in the Lady Bears’ Senior Night match Thursday at home. ENI/Gary Harmon she’s had to consider the ramifications towards any future plans in the sport. She said she’s stopped talk ing to one college in particu lar since no one will be able to see her in action. “I’m still going to be here for my team,” said Goodman on the upcoming playoffs. “I love them to death. It’s'just one of those steps in life you have to take.” The good news for the Bears is that they did See AREA, page 2B 1B