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Sports
Cindy Morley
On the Sidelines
Congratulations
Coach, no one
deserves it more
If better is possible, good isn’t
enough for Rodney Walker.
He doesn’t talk about it much.
But if you know him, or work •
with him, you know it.
It shows in his determination,
his dedication, his commitment.
Rodney Walker doesn’t ask for
thank-you’s.
Not that he doesn’t deserve
them.
The hours are long, the work
is hard.
But the Peach County High
School head football coach and
athletic director doesn’t ask for
anything in return.
He seems to believe what a
great Spanish priest once said,
In doing what we ought we
deserve no praise, because it is
our duty. 44
But whether he wants it or not,
after 29 years , Rodney Walker is
receiving some praise.
Monday morning, the Georgia
Athletic Director’s Association
named Rodney Walker Class
AAA Athletic Director of the
Year.
Only a few weeks earlier, he
was named AD for Region 2
AAA.
No one deserves the award
more.
It’s not just his winning record
on the football field that puts
Rodney Walker at the top of the
pack.
It’s so much more than that.
It’s his constant desire to
improve.
It’s his concern for the
student-athletes.
And it’s his commitment to his
job.
Many coaches love their work.
Few care about the kids as much
as Rodney Walker.
And his concern goes far
beyond the football field, the
basketball court, or the track.
Rodney Walker cares about the
individual. One need only spend
a day with Rodney Walker to see
this.
The hours spent helping a child
improve his work in the
classroom.
The time spent working with
a child as makes plans for the
future, and working to make sure
that child will have every
opportunity he can possibly have
to further his education and
continue his goal of playing his
sport on the next level..
In a little more than three
years, Rodney Walker has made
a major impact at Peach County
High School.
He has initiated a new cross
country program - one that
produced a region champion this
fall.
He has improved the girls track
program - one that only two
years in existence could win a
region title this year.
He has added coaches to
programs that were in need of
help.
He s brought college attention
to so many athletes deserving of
a chance to prove themselves.
He’s brought so much
recognition and respect to Peach
County High School.
Thank goodness, the Board of
Education has allowed Rodney
Walker to concentrate his time
and efforts on the work of an
athletic director.
Sportswriters meet coaches
every day.
We work with them, talk with
them, argue with them, and laugh
with them.
But seldom do we meet one
that earns the of respect and
admiration that Rodney Walker
has.
Vince Lombardi once said that
‘The quality of a person’s life is
in direct proportion to their
commitment of excellence,
regardless of their chosen field of
endeavor.”
Rodney Walker, anyone who
knows you, knows your
commitment.
And that alone speaks of your
quality.
Congratulations Coach.
No one deserves this any more
than you...
COMING TO A CLOSE. • ••
Trojans regular baseball season draws n ear an end
By cindy Morley
The Leader-Tribune
Peach County’s baseball season
is coming to a close.
The Trojans are slated to bring
the regular season to an end this
week with games today
(Wednesday) against West Laurens,
Friday at Dublin and Saturday at
Worth County.
And Trojans’ head coach Derrick
Davis would like his team to end
the regular season the same way
they ended action before spring
break last week -- with a win.
After several disappointing losses
last week, the Trojans went into
their Easter holidays on a winning
note ~ defeating Houston County,
6-5, last Tuesday night on the
Bears’ home field. The win was a
Region 2-AAA victory for the
Trojans.
“It was good for us to go into
spring break with a win,” said
Davis. “Now I just hope the guys
can pick up where they left off and
win the last ones of the regular
■
season.
The Trojans were hot at the plate
in their win over Houston County -
slapping out 11 hits.
Jacob Poole led the way for the
Peach County squad at the plate
with four hits in four at-bats.
Harvey Hammock and Allen
Thomas had two hits each in four
at-bats for the Trojans. Lee
Arrowsmith ended the day with a
hit.
The Trojans have also been
struggling with errors in the field,
but committed only three against
the Bears in picking up the win.
Jeff Hall handled pitching duties
and picked up the win on the hill for
the Trojans.
The Trojans went into that game
off a disappointing 5-4 loss to
Worth County.
We had several opportunities to
win this game,” said Davis. “We
failed to capftatore-amPwe came up
short. We got ahead early, but we
couldn't shut the door. We made
mistakes and let them back in the
game.”
The Trojans managed eight hits
in the game. Harvey Hammock, the
Trojans’ sophomore catcher, led the
way for the squad with three hits in
four appearances at the plate. Lee
Arrowsmith and Allen “Smoke”
Thomas each followed with two
hits in four trips to the plate.
Mike Carter took the loss on the
hill for Peach County.
The Trojans were slated to take
on Pike County Monday.
They will return home today
(Wednesday) for their final home
game of the regular season. The
Trojans will host West Laurens in a
6:30 p.m. battle at Peach County
High School’s field.
Peach County will then travel to
Dublin Friday for a 6 p.m. battle
with the Fighting Irish in Region 2
AAA action. They will then out the
regular season Saturday at 4:30
p.m. in Worth County.
Peach County
teams swing
back in action
By Cindy Morley
The Leader-Tribune
Spring break is over and it’s time
for Peach County’s spring teams to
get back in action.
The Peach County Track Team
will be back running against
opposition Saturday when they
travel to Tifton to take part in the
Tift County Relays.
Both the Trojans and the Lady
Trojans will be in action
Wednesday, April 16, when Peach
County hosts a tri-meet with Macon
County and Mary Persons. The tri¬
meet is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
behind the high school.
Both teams will compete in the
Valdosta Wildcat Relays, Saturday,
April 19.
The Peach County golf team will
be back on course today (April 9)
when they travel to Cordele to face
Region 2-AAA opponent Crisp
County. The Trojans were
scheduled to face Harris County
Monday afternoon at Callaway
Gardens, before hosting Mary
Persons Tuesday at Pine Needles
Country Club.
The Peach County tennis teams
will be home Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
for a meeting with Perry. They will
travel to Dublin April 15 and host
Crisp County April 17.
The Leader-Tribune Wednesday, April 9,1997 Paee IB
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The Trojans will be counting on pitching as theyclose out the regular t®5«B«lRSgfe5niriis week. (Photo
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The Trojans meet with Coach Derrick Davis and talk things over on the mound during a recent game.
(Photo by Cindy Moray)
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Peach County’s Stephen Hammock chips up during the Trojans’ win
Over MaCOn County. (Photo by Cindy Mortoy)
Roast, toast and tribute
will honor Porter
Retiring athletic director and head
football coach Douglas T. “Doug 44
Porter will be honored with a roast,
toast and tribute at Fort Valley State
University on April 26.
The event will be held in
Woodward Gymnasium and will
begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. with
reception.
Dinner will be served at 7 pm.
The guest speaker will be former
Fort valley State University Wildcat
and present Pittsburgh Steeler All
Pro linebacker Greg Lloyd.
As head football coach of the
Wildcats, Porter amassed a record
of 112-66-3, the most wins of any
football coach at Fort Valley State
University.
He also won six Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
football titles, and has been named
SIAC Coach of the Year’’.
Under Porter’s guidance, the
Wildcats appeared in the NCAA
Division II playoffs twice, and
achieved their highest ranking ever
(#2 in the nation) during the 1985
season.
His record as athletic director is
Date change for basketball banquet
The date of the 1997 Peach However, because of a conflict
County High School basketball in scheduling, the banquet has
banquet has been changed. been changed to Thursday, April
The banquet was originally 17, at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.
slated for Thursday, April 10. Tickets are $5 each at the door.
B Section
Schoolfield
era begins
at FVSU
in Atlanta
It’s time for a new era to
begin at Fort Valley State
University.
And it will.
On September 6 to be exact,
The Fort Valley State
University football team will
usher in the 1997 season in
Atlanta when the Wildcats visit
the Maroon Tigers of
Morehouse College,
Kickoff time for the game
will be Sept. 6 at I pm. in B.T.
Harvey Stadium located on the
campus of Morehouse.
This will be the first contest
for die Wildcats under new
head coach Kent Schoolfield,
who will make his collegiate
debut as a head football coach.
Schoolfield joins the Wildcats
from James Madison.
Fort Valley will play five
games in Wildcat Stadium this
upcoming season, three of them
under the lights. Valdosta
State, which returns to the
schedule after a two year
hiatus, will be the ’Cats
opponent in Fort Valley’s first
home game of the season (Sept.
13.) Other home games will be
Morris Brown (Sept. 20), dark
Atlanta (Oct. 4), and Miles
College (Oct. 11).
Homecoming November will be celebrated
on l when the
Wildcats host the Tigers of
Savannah State University.
Fort Valley will close the
regular season in Columbus,.
Ga. against Albany State at the
annual Fountain City Classic.
This will be the eighth edition
of one of the SIAC’s more
intense gridiron battles to be
played in that city.
Fort Valley State finished the
1996 season with a 6-5 record,
and claimed second place in the
STAC football race.
C ats' 97 Schedule
Sept 6 at Morehouse
Sept. 13 Valdosta State
Sept 20 Morris Brown
Sept 27 at Kentucy St
Oct 4 Clark Atlanta
Oct. 11 Miles
Oct 18 at Ala. A&M
Oct 25 at Tuskegee
Nov, 1 Savannah State
(Homecoming)
Nov. 8 OPEN
Nov. IS Albany State
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PORTER
just as impressive. Porter
spearheaded Fort Valley’s
successful transition from Division
III to Division II status.
A very active committees and
subcommittees. He was chairman
of the Division II Football
committee, and sat on the NCAA
Council.
Tickets can be purchased at the
Fort Valley State ticket office.
General admission is $30 and
student tickets are $20.