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2B ♦ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2007 Perry’s softball year ends By MA TTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer The 2007 softball season was more like a glimpse into the immediate future for Perry High and coach Jeff Sans. With several freshmen breaking into the starting lineup, one more 9th grad er had a chance to shine. Even though Perry lost for the second time to Eagle’s Landing - 4-0 Wednesday at Southern Pines Complex in Dublin - in the Region 4-AAA tournament, Sans liked what he saw in the pitcher’s circle. Alexis Ricks pitched seven %■ * ft i* I i Hr S i Hpi|jg|jv M BUT w * ik * VMS Journal/Don Moncrief Lady Eagle Becky Studstill closes her eyes in disbelief after taking a called third strike. Whereas her efforts on the night weren’t to her liking - 0-3 - her contributions during the year did not go unrewarded as Head Coach Mitch Horton gave her the game ball following the win. REGION From page iB left that reached the fielder too fast for Purvis to score. Up stepped Elissa Lee one of Northside’s five seniors (countingits “male” ground skeeper). She has only seen part-time action this year - didn’t get into the game on the recent Senior Night - but when she got the call, she didn’t waste it. She hit a double just inside the fine in right to score both of the runners. Jones County threat ened to answer in the top half of the third. The Lady Greyhounds recorded two of their three total hits off Purvis, who not only worked all seven innings Thursday mm® ssLstk jbpb \ ' jKnHKHH'I- i- JS PSaaffr SHfltt BBS j TB I m EWHr Bp. mSr*- * s Wm M IP ■ H i-M. J • ,'** ittspr-h -a -gg£g£gg~r 3^W ENI/Gary Harmon Lady Bears Devon Preston and Adrienne Pate go up for a block. AREA From page iB play all nine area games on the schedule before Goodman’s injury, which occurred just days before a major tournament Houston County played in Conyers. And the wins kept on coming afterwards, including a dou bleheader sweep on Senior Night against Newton High that raised the team’s record to 33-10. “We’ve played several matches and we’ve won,” said head coach Tony Jones. “The sophomore we pulled up from JV Sarah Rogers, has been very effective for us. Of course (Goodman’s) presence is missed, but she has found a different role, a second assistant. She’s help ing with coaching and there supporting the girls.” strong innings in what was the season finale for the Panthers. Against Eagle’s Landing, she did not walk a batter, struck out six, allowed five hits and only two earned runs out of the four. “She will be a good one,” said Sans. But Ricks didn’t receive any offensive support for her pitching efforts. Sans said the Panther bats made good contact and had five hits, but couldn’t get run ners home from scoring position in four different innings. Perry went into the but did likewise the night before, during that inning. But with one out on the books, Purvis, who had plen ty of help from the defense - 12 of the game’s outs were recorded by the infield and another two by Taelor Bousman in left - coaxed a popup and a grounder to get out of the trouble. “She’s just outstanding,” Horton said of his No. 1 starter. “She hit her spots again tonight.” Northside hit a few more in the bottom half of the inning to put three more runs on the board and get the coaches/team mom checking the temps - the chill - on those RC Cola bottles. All three of those runs came after there were two Houston beat Newton in the first match 2-0 (25-20, 25-10). The Bears never trailed in the second match, though mistakes never allowed the home team to pull away any sizable margin. With the score 16-all, Morgan Hollars, senior setter, scored from the outside to get her serve going and carry Houston to the lead for good. Junior Athina Smick, on the out side, scored with a soft attack, and Devon Preston was on serve to close out the game 25-18. Hollars began Game 2 with a pair of aces and a 3-0 lead, and then assisted on kills for Justin and Preston (10- 7). Another senior, Adrienne Pate, served a winner while Hollars put back a ball set up to her by Newton (13-8). But there were more errors on the Houston side, region tournament as the No. 2 seed from the 4-AAA south sub-region and drew Eagle’s Landing, No. 3 from the north sub-region after a late 1-0 loss to Ola High, in the first round held Tuesday in Dublin. The Panthers lost the first meeting 13-0, but then came back to knock out Southwest-Macon 6-3. Considering the average age of his roster, Sans said he considers the 2007 sea son a successful one. “Being real young, we showed we will do some damage in the future,” he said. outs. Heather Langston hit an infield single and Purvis walked before Brooke Red hit a hard liner to third. The third baseman field ed it and sent a bullet to first. But, the first baseman either had trouble with the lighting or took her eye off it for just a split-second, as it blazed right past her outstretched glove. That left Red standing on second with two runs in. Mcßight then singled to bring home the next. From there it was defense and more defense, along with RC Cola all around. Next up for the Lady Eagles is the Sectionals. They are slated to play Starr’s Mill in the first round Friday at 6 p.m. in Lovejoy. and Newton stayed within two to three points before eventually tying things up at 21-21. Jones had some younger players on the court, like Rogers, and they worked together to score a long kill. One other senior, Brittany Zuniga as the libe ro, saved the day on a late rally by charging the net. Houston hung on to win 25-23. Jones said the area tour nament begins this com ing Friday at Luella High; but as No. 1 seed the Bears don’t play until Saturday morning. “We did a great job throughout the regular sea son,” he said. “We need four more wins to get 100 wins for the senior class. We want to win the area and get a nice draw for the state play offs. We have our sights set on winning it all.” SPORTS SOLD CUP BOWLMO RUSSELL PARKWAY Starlighters High Scores: Robert Meadows 245-583; Mike Mauro 223; Jay Taylor; Celena Wilson 214-587; Maria Branch 193-532 Kibble* A Bit* High Scores: Ron Papizan 245-606; Dennis Craig 235-347; Irma Houpt 169; Melanie Aubin 162; JoAnn Kovarovic 448; Joyce Bishop 162-410; Zac Pferrer 199- 546; Jeffery Craig 185-495; Summer Garcia 144-377; Morgan Griffin 108-264 Senior Mixed High Scores: Henry Owens 210-564; Lloyd Britt 203; Joe Gootee 544; Arlene Todd 191-528; Nina Smith 189-504 Mew Kid* In the Alley High Scores: Deric Morris 278-682; Conal Jackson 257; William Johnson 257-699; Debria Nelson 231; Marves Anderson 223; Wilma Reeves 600; Amita West 578 G old Cup’* Bowling Finest High Scores: Eva Erlich 238-595; Arlene todd 206- 522 flock A Roller* High Scores: Michael Handley 226-593; Jimmy Mauro 220-604; Jennie Lackey 215-572; Amy Handley 190- 528; Joann Kovarovic 190 Morning Glory High Scores: Rita Kelly 195-549; Toni Majka 191; Joann Kovarovic 523 Ladle* Church High Scores: Sandy Setinsek 181-420; Sue Moon 161; Cindy Crowley 440 King and Queen* High Scores: Bob Odom 235-652; Jason Dimuzio 229- 641; Lisa Kilinski 210-528; Kim Maloney 189; Devona Zodun 544 Tuesday Men’* Handicap High Scores: Ron Papizan 278-723; Brandon Jones 235; Kevin Dimuzio 648 Mooaettes High Scores: Trish Ellis 187-527; Ann Vandenburg 148-416 Mixed Misfits High Scores: David Caldwell 238-657; Bobby Morgan 234; David Seeger 595; Gale Parrish 233-550; Lori Sato 197; Leeann Steinmetz 516 Parkway Senior* Wonder* High Scores: Kenneth Carley 204-563; Walt McCarty 204-573; Norman Ott 203; Maria Branch 225-590; Arlene Todd 215-583 Town and Country High Scores: Jim McCarley 290-728; Greg Jarres 244- 656; Maria Branch 202-574; Mandy Reilly 200; Michelle Todd 200; Claire Hough 523 BROWN From page iB The answer arrived in the form of three little letters ... actually, one little letter repeated three times over: www. While ancient civili zations had their beautiful muses for inspiration, mine unfortunately won’t be appearing on any Picasso. Len Pasquarelli, a writer of the NFL for ESPN.com, at one time in my business in Atlanta once told a gather ing of sports writers (includ ing yours truly, don’t ask how I got in) that we in the print game don’t neces sarily have to concede the major scoops to the broad cast media. Sure, television and radio can go on the air at any time with a break ing story while the news papers have strict printing and distribution schedules. But the previous decade has provided us a way to even the scales. In Pasquarelli’s words, when you put your hands on something hot, but press time is still hours away, “Put it on your website.” And so, with Friday night (and even Saturday night) football in Houston County, we have a way to fill the gap. It’s called www.hhjnews.com. Let’s face it; not doing high school football game stories at all just was not an accept able option, not for this 15- year veteran. You might as well tell the people at Wendy’s they won’t be able to do the Old- Fashioned Hamburgers any more (what, they make peo ple fat or something?). So just what is it like, you may wonder, to do a football game story? Must be one of the best jobs in the world? In Part I of this series I went over how I go about keep ing my own statistics. Doing that means charting each and every play. There is no one correct way to do it. You just have to come up with a system that works for you. I have my own, one I have followed for the past 15 years, and how I came up with it I do not remember at all. I will give you a couple of samples. Here, I am about to see a play that is lst-and-10 at the offensive team’s 33- yard-line: 34 to 35 2-8 That would be a running play, with the ball carrier being No. 34 (by the way, we love it when a player is wearing a jersey number that appears nowhere on the roster, said in all due sar casm). The run went to the Warner Rodins bowling results Through week ending Oct. 7 35-yard-line with the result being 2nd-and-8. My next example is about both pass plays and when the result goes from one side of the 50 to the other. This play starts at the offensive team’s 30: 14p6 to P 46 1-10 The thrower (usually the quarterback) is No. 14. The little p stands for pass, and P 46 means it went to the other side of the 50 at the defensive team’s 46 (yes, the P stands for Perry). For penalties, I just write out the name of the foul, where it put the ball and the resulting down and dis tance. Incomplete passes are denoted as Inc and intercep tions Int. I will also on occasion note what kind of play it was (i.e. option pitch) or something special like a sack with the defender’s number. People do look at my notes with a confused stare, and I completely understand that. Besides, there is only one person who has to be able to interpret these notes: me. To be honest, football game stories do tend to lean heavily towards the offensive high lights, and by that I mean the accomplishments of the quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. Defenders do get their opportunity at the spotlight when such big things happen as intercep tions or quarterback sacks. Anyone who has covered high school football for a newspaper probably heard this kind of statement at least once: “I don’t think the linemen get enough atten tion or recognition.” There is absolutely no way to get in every block and every tackle made in a foot ball game in a game story. The same can be said about reporting basketball, where not every basket, rebound or assist will be printed. We reporters don’t want to ignore the football linemen, those who do all the dirty WALKAWAY WORRY-FREE FOOT & ANKLE CENTER 1040 Morningside Dr. • Perry, GA 31069 478-988-4676 HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Harris and Lynn Trophies High Scores: Bill Haberin 246-666; Harry Wampler 245-616; Jan Daniell 204-565; Michele Wharton 190; Linna Nielsen 488 Men’* Commercial High Scorres: Phil Bosarge 269; Walt Egyed 266; Cliff Barnes 706; Carey Carter 678 Junior Senior Youth High Scores: Terry Shofner 170-477; Josh Margraff 167; Matt Scott 432; Jennifer Cooley 153-382; Ailisa Davis 147-413 Sllte Junior League High Scores: J.C. McAlister 215; Dustin Andrews 212; Chris Kreager 565; Brad Egyed 563; Laura Hough 196- SI 6; Courtney Mane 166-462 Bantam Prep Youth High Scores: Tyler Harvey 167-454; Brian Meadows 137-358; Keeley Smith 157-306; Katherine Hoffman 131-326 Pee wee* High Scores: Patrick Odom 108-190; Cason Vail 87-168; Cheyenne Johnson 87-171; Sarah Ingram 72-120 • ROBINS AIR FORCE RASE Charity High Scores: Scott Elliott 230; Donnelle Butler 214- 607; Bill Haberin 602; Jeannie Circle 176-424; Juli Sumner 174; Kathy McKenna 437 Women's Lib High Scores: Ed Galloway 243-591; Sam Akin 189- 493; Lynn Radle 205-533; Mama Lou Bush 192; Kris Fiveash 519 osc High Scores: Sandy McTier 226-579; Nan Luna 109- 533 Tuesday Peterson Point High Scores: Mike Stockwell 269; Bill Haberin 268; Jim Fee 718; Jim Davis 712 AFRC Mixed High Scores: Bob Walker 267-741; Jeff Martin 237; Scott Hastings 605; Willa Martin 212-521; Cariren Danson 198-514 Early Friday Mixed High Scores: Joey Stella 255-690; Dan Bueno 235- 648; Laurie McAlister 212; Teresa Hurt 561; April Mitchell 207; Angie Stella 555 RYA Junior-Senior High Scores: Sonny Puryear 234-596; Walter Shutter 233-668; Stephanie Chan 213-587; Cady Mcßight 200-544 RYA Bantam/Prep High Scores: Jackson Vowell 171; Eddie Langdon 158; Michael Jackson 466; Tyler Stella 326; Victoria Gonzales 133; Kayla Preston 124; Angelica Valdez 336; Cara Stasel 329 work but only get something like a touchdown through pure luck. It’s just hard to see what everyone does with 22 people involved in every football play, and we have to at the very least make sure we know where that ball is. I make it a point to watch out for those big blocks and who made them. But even then it’s hard to make out an exact jersey number. If I say the back got a great hole or the quarterback had lots of time to throw, you should read that as a compliment to the line as a group, because it takes all of them for the team to succeed. It’s amazed me how much the number of people cover ing high school football has increased over the last 15 years. All I ask for when I go to a stadium is just a little space to fit a legal pad and maybe my binoculars if I remember to bring them (yes, I have sat in the stands on a couple of occasions). In the beginning, I only had to make sure I didn’t get in the spotter’s chair. No public address announcer can work without a spotter; otherwise they would have to think on the spot. True story. The PA guy, whose day job title was certi fied public accountant, says this on a lst-and-10 play: “The run gains nine yards, brings up 2nd and ... 2.” Nowadays, the sidelines are littered with camera people, not all of them representing a newspaper or TV station. The filming equipment up in the box is getting more sophisticated, not to mention more space consuming. And everyone is looking for that Internet connection. Since I brought the dis cussion back to the Net, let me add that in addition to our football stories appearing online, we have also started putting other school sports results on hhjnews.com in a more timely fashion as soon as we can. DR. SARVEPALLI D. JOKHAI Podiatric Physician and Surgeon, Board Qualified Specializing in surgery of ingrown toenails, heel spurs, hammer toes, bunions, also diabetic foot care. New patients are welcome by appointment We accept most private insurance plans. 54080