Newspaper Page Text
PAGE SEVENTEEN
TIIF.
WEST (ilXilUil.W
SPORTS
Dan Minish Sports Editor
Number 600!
A number of West Georgia students were in attendance at Atlanta
Stadium 1 uesda\ night in hopes of seeing baseball history made
They weren t disappointed.
In the third inning of the Braves-Giants clash, Atlanta’s all-time
great Hank Aaron blasted the 600th home run of his illustrious
career, becoming only the third player in baseball’s long history to
accomplish such a feat. As newsmen from ail over the nation
captured the event with pen and film, thousands cheered long after
Aaron had entered the dugout and then really let loose when he
returned to his right field position and acknowledged the crowd’s
ovation.
Ironically, the last man to hit 600 homers was also at the park, in
the person of one centerfielder, Willie Mays. However, to use an old
cliche, Aaron may have won the battle, but Mays won the war on
this night. The aging Giant slugger, who many experts say will soon
be passed by Hammerin’ Hank in the race for the Babe’s time
honored career mark of 714 home runs, went fourforfive against the
Braves and drove in the winning run in the tenth inning.
None the less, the thousands who were at Atlanta Stadium
Tuesday night, including our West Georgia representatives didn’t go
away disappointed. After the game, a number of the students I knew
asked to have their names placed among those in attendance if I
should mention the game in this week’s column. To name the ones I
saw and knew: Boyd Steele, Skeet Crigler, Tommy Akers, Steve
Bradley, Jerry Stinchcomb, Mike Atchley, David Smith, and Terry
Shaw. Yes, they were there and someday they will be telling their
grandchildren that they saw number 600!
AT LAST
In MIA softball action last week there was one game, which I
believe warrants mention. The Cota Monday's, an intramural team
formed at the beginning of winter quarter, won a softball game.
However, it wasn’t just an ordinary victory. After four months, 14
basketball games, and four softball matches, the Cota’s were finally
able to leave the playing site with the taste of victory. Their first win
couldn’t have come in a better way either. An upset over the Red
League co-leader Batracks broke the Cota Monday’s 17 game losing
skein.
The Cota Monday’s are to be congratulated for their first victory,
but something else should be mentioned.
The Men’s Intramural Association was formed to provide a means
of recreation and athletic enjoyment for the male students on
campus. Losing 17 games in two sports over a period of some four
months could get pretty discouraging. Nonetheless, the Cota’s
always showed up and gave it all they had. They simply enjoyed to
play the game and took advantage of their privileges to participate.
This, in part, is what an intramural athletic program is all about.
| ; * jfp: Ml
BRAVES BASEBALL COACH ARCHIE WHITE
CONGRATOLATES BOBBY CANADA as the left fielder rounds
third after smacking his third home run of the season. Canada s
blow came against Georgia Southwestern in a recent game.
THE WEST GEORGIAN
Rhubarb Sparks Rebel Clash,'
Braves Split With Valdosta
By JOHN TRAVIS
What it was supposed to be was
baseball; what it turned out to be
was some sort of disheartening
rhubarb for the West Georgia
baseball team. The Braves
certainly played well enough to
win. but the umpires seemed to
have other ideas. As it turned out
the Braves only split a
doubleheader with Valdosta
College on Saturday in Valdosta.
West Georgia had jumped off to
a 2-0 advantage in the first inning
of the first game before “the
hand of fate’’ intervened. In the
third inning, Valdosta's Larry
Fields singled and got to second
on an error. The pitcher batted
next and bunted down the third
base line. Fields’ tried to score
from second and West Georgia’s
pitcher John Travis threw to
catcher Bobby Canada at the
plate. Canada dove to tag Fields
who dodged Canada by running
out of the base line. Canada
dropped the ball in the diving tag,
but the runner was called out for
being out of the base line. But
wait, there’s more.
ARGUMENT
The Valdosta coach argued
that his runner was*not out of the
base line, so the plate umpire
asked the other ump for some
help on the call. After discussing
the decision for at least five
minutes again the plate umpire
called the Valdosta runner out.
However, the Valdosta coach
persisted in arguing and after
further discussion the plate
umpire ruled the runner safe
after he had called him out twice.
The dismayed Braves were led
off the field because of this and
several other controversial calls.
But the West Georgia players
voted whether to put up with the
situation and decided to go ahead
and play because they would
have to forfeit both games if they
left.
Due to a 20 minute delay and
improper time to warm up (10
pitches) starting pitcher Travis
was touched for two more runs in
the inning, giving the Rebels a 3-2
lead.
CONTROVERSEY
After an uneventful fourth,
controversy arose again in the
fifth frame when with one out
West Georgia’s Terry Lindsey
walked and advanced to second
on Bobby Canada’s base hit. Mike
Mosely than singled to right field
and Lindsey slid into home with
what appeared to almost
everyone to be the Braves third
run. However, the umpire called
him out, thus again halting the
WG momentum.
Lindsey arose in disbelief from
the call and bitterly disputed the
umpire’s decision. An intense
argument arose when Coach
Golf Team
At Callaway
West Georgia’s varsity golf
team will be playing on the
Callaway Gardens course in Pine
Mountain this week, as it par
ticipates in the GIAC-NAIA
tournament.
Coach Jan Bennett’s linksmen,
who are now 8-1 on the season,
are the defending conference
champions. This year their
strongest competition will come
from Shorter College, a team
which defeated the Braves by one
stroke earlier this season.
Archie White and manager
statistician A1 Volk rushed to the
scene vehemently arguing the
(unbelievable) call. Asa result
the plate umpire threw Lindsey,
Volk, and Coach White com
pletely out of the ball park.
Valdosta scored another run
via Lindsey’s replacement who
errored on a ground ball in the
sixth inning. Without the
directing of a coach the Braves
could not overcome Valdosta and
“lost” 4-2.
APOLOGIZED
After the game, several of the
Valdosta players apologized for
the poor officiating and felt that
the Braves would have won had it
not been for the controversial
officiating.
In the second game, the Braves
took a 1-0 first inning lead on
George Bradfield’s double
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APRIL 30, 1971
followed by Terry Lindsey’s
single.
West Georgia’s starting pitcher
Jef Breshears was touched for
two runs on two hits and a West
Georgia error in the bottom of the
second inning.
The score remained 2-1 in
of Valdosta until the sixth inning
when West Georgia’s Keith
Meyers (who had replaced an
injured Bradfield) walked. Then
Lindsey followed with a single,
moving Meyer to third. Then
after two outs, West Georgia
relief pitcher Frank Smrekar
singled up the middle scoring
Meyers and tying the game at 2-2.
PATE GETS KEY HIT
Then West Georgia’s Richard
Horn was intentionally walked
loading the bases in order to pitch
continued on page 19