Newspaper Page Text
Page 9
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Braves baseball fan gives play by play in stands
By Bobby Moore
Sports Editor
rmoore 7@my. west go. edu
All season long,
there is one baseball fan
who has been a faithful
follower of the West
Georgia Braves and has
gotten a lot of attention
because of his skills as a
play-by-play announcer.
The announcer whom
many opposing fans and
even professional radio
announcers have asked
about is Carrollton’s Herb
Denmark, Jr.
Denmark has become
a famliar face to fans who
attend games at Cole Field,
and he even made the trip
to watch the Braves play a
weekend series against the
Blazers in Valdosta.
Working with only his
notes, a microphone and
a tape recorder. Denmark
does an impressive job as
a baseball announcer.
The reason Denmark
sounds like a seasoned
professional is because
he has a long resume of
media experience.
Braves finish season,
freshman wins award
By Nicholas Kirby
Staff Writer
nkirbyl @my.westga.edu
The West Georgia
Brjiyjjs, mei^s, gplf team
finished off its first season
since 1995 last week in the
Gulf South Conference
Championship, which was
held in Hot Springs, AR.
Out of a field of 15
teams, the Braves finished
in seventh place with a
team score of 898.
All five players
the Braves had in the
tournament played well
over the two day event,
She didn’t end the with
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Asa student at the
University of Georgia, he
worked for WUOG for four
years as a sports reporter,
including one year as a
baseball announcer.
His professional
experience includes
stints with WRSG, the
Georgia News Network
and Carrollton's VlO3,
where he was the producer
of UWG alum Ryan
Cameron’s show on
Monday nights.
He also has 14 years
of newspaper experience,
during which he reported
about everything from
politics to sports.
The UWG athletic
deartment has noticed
Denmark’s work, and
the Sports Information
Office gave Denmark one
of the first copies of the
2005 West Georgia Braves
baseball media guide.
“It was quite an honor
and quite a surprise. It’s
got lots of information that
I have been able to use, so
I appreciate them fordoing
that,” said Denmark.
When asked why he
but it was Freshman
Brandon Bennett who
made the biggest splash
for the team.
Bennett played his
best golf all year shooting
75-72-73 over the three
rounds to finish with a final
score of four over par 220.
Aside from being the
Brave with the best finish
in the tournament, Bennett
was also named Freshman
Player of the Year in the
GSC and was named 2nd
Team All-GSC with his
13th place finish overall in
the tournament.
Senior John Hanson
announces the games from
in the stands, Denmark
said, “I do it because 1 enjoy
it, but I hope it does lead to
a job. I’m not here to take
anyone’s job; I just want to
make one for myself.”
Since earning his
Master of Science degree in
Rural Small Town Planning
from UWG two years ago,
Denmark had trouble
finding a job that relates to
his field of study.
Recently , Denmark has
been living in Carrollton,
working for UPS and
working on his Doctorate
at Auburn University.
Despite his search
for a job, Denmark is
taping his broadcasts
to give as keepsakes to
Braves players and even
players from opposing
teams whose parents have
requested a tape.
When asked if the
recent attention he has
gotten will lead to a job,
Denmark said, "Hopefully,
the Lord willing and the
creek won’t rise, things
will work out. Everything
always works out.”
and Junior Turner Faulkner
also played exceptionally
well, with both shooting 223
for the tournament, gtxxl
enough for 23rd place.
In the second round,
Faulkner shot a three under
par 69, the best round of
any West Georgia player.
North Alabama's
John Porter had the best
individual score overall,
shooting a six-under par
210, including a 67 in the
second round.
Delta State was the big
winner of the tournament,
as the team shot an even par
864 over three days.
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Photo by Bobh\ Moore
Herb Denmark, Jr., a former West Georgia student and a resident of Carrollton, has been
a vocal fan for the Braves since 1999.
Z-6ers win state title
By Steven Gilley
Staff Writer
Stevengilley] s@aol.com
The Z-6ers have
always played well when
it comes to intramural
sports at West Georgia.
Each year, they have
consistently competed in
Hag football, basketball
and a host of other sports.
Representing West
Georgia in the Men’s State
Softball Championship at
Valdosta State University,
the Z-6ers turned
their consistency into
supremacy, defeating the
Wig Poppers of Georgia
Southern 16-15 in the
championship game.
After going undefeated
in intramural softball
competition at West
Georgia last year, the Z-6ers
continued the trend at this
year’s State Championship.
Morris looks to make
a huge impact this fall
By Jennifer Woolcock
Contributing Writer
jwoolcol @my, westga.edu
With the beginning
of anew football season
comes new faces.
Linebacker Kelvin
Morris will be one of the
new kids on the block for
the West Georgia Braves
this fall.
Morris began playing
football at the young age
of eight.
Like most kids,
watching football on TV
and seeing others play is
what got him interested
in the game. As he grew
older, he progressed and
his ability and talent
shined through.
He played a variety
of positions in high school
including quarterback, free
safety and linebacker.
He even kicked the
game winning fieldgoal
Battling faculty
members as well as
students, they ousted
teams from Georgia
College and State
University, the University
of Georgia and Valdosta
State to reach the finals.
Early in the
championship game, the
Z-6ers were up 12-9 and
were hoping to secure a
win going into the top of
the seventh inning.
The Wig Poppers
responded, scoring six
unanswered runs.
Down 15-12 in the
bottom of the seventh, the
Z-6ers were determined
and motivated to win.
“We knew we could
get base hits, so we just
had to stay composed and
keep our heads up. Getting
on base and taking it one
hit at a time was our goal,”
said Sam Norman.
in his state championship
game in South Carolina.
He began his
college playing career at
Southwest Mississippi
Community College.
While attending class, he
continued playing football
and earned an associates
of arts degree.
From there he moved
on to Clemson University.
He was given a full
scholarship and began to
get playing time his very
first year there.
Unfortunately for
Morris, his senior year
was marred with injuries.
“I got hurt and ... it
was kinda like a set back
for me. ... I had to worry
about school, rehab and
. . . every thing kinda fell
down on me at one time,”
he said.
During his entire
football career, he had never
suffered injuries as extensive
HUest tfmirtjian
Reaching their goal
triumphantly, the Z-6ers
got consecutive base hits,
putting themselves in
position to win.
Stepping to the plate
with two outs and two
runners on base, Rob
Pressley hit a double to
score two runners and win
the game.
This win gave West
Georgia its first softball state
championship since 1987.
In addition, three
players were selected to
the All-Tournament Team.
Norman, Matt Kuehl and
Rob Pressley all shared the
honor.
The other members
of the championship team
include Brett Jones, Matt
Bowers, Kevin Bruce,Adam
Grey, Matt High, Zack
Romain, Austin McCurdy,
Brandon McPherson and
John Prahst.
as this. He had ACL tears in
both of his knees.
It was two months
before he was able to walk
on his own again, but he
did not let his injuries hold
him back.
Once he was fully
rehabilitated from his
injuries, he contacted the
coaching staff at UWG.
He was given a full
scholarship and began
attending classes here
this spring.
His new teammate
Emilio Vitulli looks
forward to playing with
Morris this season.
“[He] is a big threat
towards the opposition.
We’re glad to have him on
our side instead of playing
against him. He’s a big
playmaker, he can make
plays whenever he wants
to and he always works
hard. I’m glad to have him
on my side,” said Vitulli.