Newspaper Page Text
PAGE SIX
The SPORTING THING
By BUD LOVETT
Misuse of Bonus Clause Backfiring on Baseball. Whether they know
it or not, major league baseball clubs are going to realize, one of these
days, that the misuse of the bonus clause is hurting the player as well
as the game.
Bonuses of SIO,OOO and $50,000 are being tossed around in this atomic
age like rubber balls by major league scouts whose bosses have instruct
ed them to “go the limit” to get certain prominent young ball players.
Our guess is that only about one out of fifty bonus rookies will ever suc
seed in making a name for himself in baseball.
Not only are the extravagant bonuses hurting the clubs, but the
bonus player, as well. Regardless of how rich a club is, coughing up
50 G’s will be felt. With giving of bonuses having been turned into s
highly competitive racket, the amount awarded will have to be always
on the Increase. The young rookie is put on the spot because he must
immediately become a sensation or take an unmerciful razzing from
the public and press. On the other hand, it might give the kid an
independent attitude. He’s got a big bank account, so what if he
doesn’t make good? The club dares not sell him—he represents too big
an investment.
A bonus rookie Is often deprived of experience in a lower league
because of the threat of having him drafted by another club. For that
reason, the kids sometimes go up to the big show even though they
lack the proper seasoning.
The bonuses are all right, sure, if they’re on a sensible scale; but
sooner or later the other good players are going to protest because of
the unfairness to them and the bonus rookies.
Cold Shoulder Extended WGC Diamond Hopes. The chances of West
Georgia’s fielding a baseball team this spring are all but gone. The
school itself has frowned upon the idea because of the expense
involved, even though many of the boys agreed to furnish part of the
equipment.
Coach "Shag” Welch estimated that a sum of approximately $730
would be sufficient to field a tem.That amount would cover uniforms,
transportation, etc. The players would furnish their own gloves and
shoes.
Plight junior colleges have entered teams in the league, which begins
play April 1, and ends May 21. A total of fourteen games will be played
among the teams that have indicated they will play baseball. Those
teams are Middle Georgia, South, Georgia, Norman Park, GMC, Gordan,
ABAC, Georgia Southwestern, and GMA.
It Is our belief that the Class D professional leagues in this section
would possibly lend a helping hand to West Georgia College, because
they might be able to sign a number of promising ball players, who
could be observed during games here.
Perhaps if no other means can be found, the student body will con
tribute toward the effort, as they have faithfully done on other occasions.
Braves Showed Greatest Weakness in Final Minutes. Three of West
Georgia’s tournament games were illustrations of a decided final minute’s
weakness of the Braves. Against Gordon,whom they beat 34-33, the
Braves had to fight for dear life to hold the small lead they had gained
after breaking a 31-31 deadlock with five minutes to play. And against
Armstrong and Baldwin, the locals again folded up in the last three
minutes, after keeping the score close all the way.
Further investigtion revealed to us that the same last-few-minutes
weakness had been prevalent all season. After unsuccessfully attempt
ing to explain the reason for such a weaknessft we finally passe dit off
as a jinx of some kind, and suggested to Coach Welch that he arrange
to play 57-minute games.
Sophomore A’s Down Freshman A’s,
30-14, in Women’s Cage Tournament
The Sophomore A's took top honors in the recent Women’s Basket
ball Tournament with a decisive 30-14 win over a fighting Freshman
A team. Ballew and Davis led the winners with 14 and 10 points re
spectively.
A varsity team is to be chosen
soon from the outstanding players
in the tourney.
The following players were cho
sen previous to the tourney, from
teams in the different physical edu
vation classes:
Freshman A— Ruark, Jernigan,
Chastain, Nixon, Manning, and Fos
ter.
Freshman B—Garrett, Traylor,
White, Reeves, Barge and Pate.
Sophomore A—Ballew, Davis, Un
derwood, Copeland, Shell and Ste
phens.
Sophomore B—Hunt, Robertson.
Gentry, Tyson, Ewing, and Hinton.
Preceding the title game the
2:20 D's took a 28-6 win over the
11:26 A’s in the first tilt on Jan. 27.
Chastain tallied 14 points for the
winners, and Robertson was next
highest with 10 for that team. The
2:25 F’s added excitement to the
second game of the day when they
defeated the 11:45 Ds 27-16. Thomp
son and White each piled up 10
points for the winners, while O’Kel
lv scored an equal number for the
losers. Revenging a previous loss,
the 2:25 C team made a showing
against the 2:25 B, 47-17. Under
wood was high scorer with 26
points, and Traylor followed with
18 for the winners.
In games played Feb. 1, 2:25 E’s
20, 2:25 D’s, 13: 2:25 E’s 23, 11:45
C’s 19. Games on Feb. 8: 11:45 B’s
21, 2:25 E’s 17; 2:25 F’s 21, 2:25 C’s
20. Garrett’s 11:45 B team out
scored Hun’t A’s, 21-15, in the
final game of the class tournament.
The Freshman A’s defeated the
sophomore B's 41-12 in the Fresh
man-Sophomore Consolation Elim
ination Tournament, which began
Tuesday, Feb. 22. Ruark paced the
frosh team with 22 points, while
Hunt got 9 for the losers. Led by
Davis’ 20 points, the. Sophomore A’s
overpowered the Freshman B’s in
the second contest, 48-24. Garrett
tallied 16 for the frosh.
A Round Robin Tournament will
begin soon in the individual class
er, which will end this quarter’s
work.
All girls taking basketball are
getting experience in refereeing,
umpiring, timing, and scoring, dur
ing these tilts. Each girl will take
the refereeing test which will be a
sample of the National Basketball
rating.
From Here and There
So Joe Louis has retired again?
Maybe with the Bronx Bomber out
of the way there will be some hot
competition for the heavyweight
crown.
Joe MeKelvoy, the sharp-shooting
Duluth boy, has at last gotten a
chance to show his stuff. He will
be aboard the “Kentucky special’’
bound for the Southeastern JC
Tournament next week.
Sports fans will get a chance to
see the “battle of the ages” soon,
when the irresistible force, St.
Louis, meets the immovable object
Kentucky, in the National Invita
tional Tournament. The “Cats” ap
pear to be a fixture in the cage
world, and will certainly be re
membered as the best the South
has ever produced.
Before you put your tongue in
high gear, be sure your brain is
running.
THE WEST GEORGIAN
West Georgia Tripped by Titlist Baldwin, 61-49, in
State Semifinals; Start Play in S.E. Meet Monday
After advancing to the semi-final
round by victories over Gordon
Military college, 34-33, and Nor
man Junior College, 73-37, the West
Georgia Braves were overcome by
powerful Abraham Baldwin Col
lege, 61-49, in the state junior col
lege basketball tournament, Feb.
24-26. The tourney, held at Mercer
University’s Porter gymnasium, in
Macon, saw ABAC whip Brewton
Parker Institute, 61-46, in the finals,
and Armstrong Junior College take
third place with a 57-41 triumph
over West Georgia College in the
consolation game.
It was also announced by Coach
Welch that West Georgia will enter
the Southeastern Junior College
Tournament at Cumberland, Ky.,
next week. The Braves tangle with
St. Bernard, of Cullman, Ala., Mon
day in the opening round of the
tourney. The Saints hold a 68-52
victory over the Braves in their
only meeting this year.
. .A drive is now r being conducted
on the campus to raise the neces
sary funds for the trip.
West Georgia’s 34-33 decision
over an evenly matched Gordon
Braves, in 57-31 Loss to Berry,
Conclude Season With 7-9 Record
West Georgia College concluded its regular 1949 basketball season in
a 57-31 loss at the hands of Berry College, givin gthe Braves a won-lost
record of 7-9. Four other games, after the one with Berry, were cancelled
because the dates conflicted with the state junior college tournament
held in Macon, Feb. 24-25-26.
The smooth-woking Berry quin
tet built up a substantial lead early
in the game after overcoming a 5-2
West Georgia lead, and was never
headed from there on out. Berry’s
control of the boards kept the In
dians bottled up during the entire
game, while at the same time the
Rome boys were making their
points from close range. Berry led
at the half, 26-15.
Guard Green Williams, who was
playing against some former team
mates, was the only bright spot in
West Georgia’s effort, matching a
superb floor game with 16 points.
“Jago” Henderson, forward, trailed
Williams in the scoring, with 11
points, sinking five free thrown in
as many attempts.
For Berry, Howard Dorton, a fine
forward, took scoring honors with
11; center Lucas got 10.
West Georgia 31
Forwards: Garrett (3), Perry,
Henderson (11), Dailey (1).
Centers: Goebel (1), Brown (2).
Guards: Herrin, Massey, Wil
liams (16), Parrish.
Berry 57
Forwards: Dorton (11), Wilson
(6). Morris, Dean, Miller (2).
Centers: Lucas, Houston (2).
Guards: Bowen (1), Taylor (2),
Sammons (8), Seymour (4). ?
Bob Garrett, Carrollton, led in
individual scoring for the season
with 246 points, or an average oi
15.4 a game. He made 38 or 72 free
throws, or 53 percent. Second to
Garrett in scoring, Guy Henderson,
Logansville, tallied 192 points, or 12
points a game. Henderson made
good 47 out of 82 free throws, or
58 percent. Harold Herrin, Carroil
totn, placed third in scoring, with
6.9 points per game, 104 for the sea
son. He made 46 percent of his
charity shots (16-35).
Others in the individual scoring
were: Wales Goebel, Tallapoosa, 57;
Carroll Culberson, Rome, 48; James
Parrish, Roopville, 38; Green Wil
liams, Lindale, 35. Williams missed
more than half the season with a
President Ingram
Attends GEA Meeting
President I. S. Ingram attended
the annual business meeting of the
Georgia Education Association, held
in the State Capitol February 10.
11, 12. Mr. Ingram is a member of
the Resolutions Committee.^
The GEA, which endorsed Fed
eral aid to education, also en
dorsed the Minimum Foundation
Program, asking for passage of that
program, to become effective the
Fall of 1949.
squad proved to be a continuation
of the rivalry between the two
schools which began on the grid
iron last fall. The Bulldogs fought
savagely to revenge two previous
cage losses to the Braves, 57-56 and
44-39 in an overtime.
The local team jumped out front
early in the struggle, and retained
their small lead until the closing
minutes, when Gordon knotted the
count at 31-31. After regaining the
lead, the Indians froze the ball dur
ing the last three minutes. West
Georgia led, 19-14, at halftime.
Bob Garrett paced the WGC at
tack with 11, followed by Herrin
and Henderson with 10 and 9, re
spectively. Goebel took most of the
rebounds, and Williams turned in
a good floor game.
Welch’s subs were turned loose
against Norman Park in the quar
ter-finals, after the starters had
built up a 14-4 lead in the first six
minutes. Garrett again topped the
scorers with 12 points. Perry,
Massey and Brown tallied 10 each.
According to Coach Welch, the
reserves were better than at any
time all season. James Massey,
back injury, however, and Culber
son’s ankle injury kept him side
lined for the last four encounters.
The Braves as a team scored 79S
i-a- •-
Green Williams, freshman guard,
from Lindale, turned in an out
standing performance against Berry
College in the see-saw finale. Wil
liams topped WGC scorers with 16
points.
points (average of 50) as against
914 (57 average) for their oppon
ents. Listed below is the West
Geoi’gia College seasonal record for
1949:
WGC 52—Tech Institute 47
WGC 41—Armstrong 52
WGC 68—GMA 52
WGC 39—Georgia Frosh 60
WGC 60—GMC 48
WGC 62—GMA 38
WGC 57—Gordon 56
WGC 52—St. Bernard 68
WGC 37—Marion 61
WGC 44—Gordon 39
WGC 61—Tech Institute 50
WKC 56—ABAC 83
WGC 30—Berry 69
WGC 46—Armstrong 62
WGC 62—ABAC 81
WGC 31—Berry 57
1948 Record Year
At West Georgia
A total of 1,164 students will hace
been graduated from West Georgia
College in the institution’s fifteen
year history. An all-time high of
187 persons graduated in 1948.
A study of the number of West
Georgia graduated, year bv year,
reveals the following: In 1934 there
were 30 graduating students: 1935,
112; 1936, 61; 1937, 81; 1938, 73;
1939. 81; 1940, 95; 1941, 73; 1942, 62;
1943, 38; 1944, 39; 1945, 41; 1946, 70;
1947, 121; 1948, 187.
Thursday, March 3, 194a
diminutive guard, was the top per
former for WGC.
In the semi-final round, ABAC
outclassed the Braves, 62-48, in a
game that was close until the last
three minutes. Shortly before the
half, ABAC broke a 24-24 deadlock
and went ahead, 32-24, at halftime.
West Georgia trailed by six points-,
throughout the second half until a
strong ABAC finish saw the Braves’
defense fold under a barraage cf
shots in the waning moments. Gar
rett led the scoring with 17, with
Henderson getting 16.
After leading Armstrong 31-27 at
the half, the West Georgians were
unable to continue their torrid,
pace, giving way to the Cavannah
ians’ second half sharpshooting. Al
though WGC made a high percent
age of shots they could not match
Armstrong’s floorwork.
Garrett, in collecting 16 points,
played perhaps his best game of
the season, as did center Wales Goe
bel, ho scored 13 points and con
trolled the boards.
The loss dropped the Braves to
fourth place, where they had been
seeded.
Intramural Tourney
Begins Next Tuesday
The men’s intramural basketball
tourney will get under way next
Tuesday, it was announced yester
day by Grover Adams, who is in
charge of the league.
The opening round Tuesday aft
ernoon pits the Married Men
against the Day Students at 3:30,
and Rogers Hall against Log Cabin
at 4:30, in the upper bracket. Night
games will see Storms tangle with
Yates at 6:30, and Wright against
Pitts Panthers at 7:30, in lower
bracket contests.
Winners of the Married Men—
Day Students tilt, and the Rogars
Hall-Log Cabin game will meet
Wednesday in the semi-finals, as
will the Storms-Yates and Wright-
Panthers winners. A consolation
game between the losing teams in
the semi-finals will be played pre
ceding the championship tussle on
Thursday, at 6:30 p.m.
The Rogers Hall outfit is consid
ered the favorite to take the title
despite the loss of its star, Jumpin’
Joe McKelvey, who will accompany
the varsity to the Southeastern
Junior College tournament in Cum
berland, Ky., next week.
Pitts Panthers, the team which
ran neck and neck with the Rogers
boys all season, has been consid
erably weakened by the loss of
Richard Moncrief and James Mas
sey, and is not expected to be a
strong contender. Massey is now
playing with the varsity. Mon
crief was recently dismissed from
school.
Darkhorse in the meet is Storms
Barracks. The other teams are
fairly evenly matched.
Agnes Gordie, WGC
Alumna, Is Engaged
It has been learned that Agnes
Cordle, a former West Georgia Col
lege student, was married to Carl
(Buddy) Fowler, February 12. Both
are from Subligna, Georgia.
The couple now reside in Mem
phis, Tenn., where Carl is sta
tioned in the Navy Air Corps.
Gym Glasses Will
Play Volley Ball
Coach Welch announced that his
physical education classes will play
volley ball for the remainder of the
Winter quarter, and possibly in the
Spring quarter, during inclement
weather.
Stephens Chosen
Recorder by WAA
Maryneil Stephens, a sophomore
from Richland, was chosen record
er by the Women’s Athletic Asso
ciation, at a meeting Fer. 22. She
ciation at a meeting Feb. 22. She
not return to school this quarter.