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Sports
SUNDAY, JUNE 10,1990
I (Mike
Webber U M
Atlanta Braves:
A real hard sell
The Braves are now in the midst of
their 24th season in Atlanta-Fulton Coun
ty Stadium and things don’t look much
brighter than they did in the beginning.
It used to be Milwaukee hated Atlanta
for stealing their beloved Braves, a team
led by standard-bearers like Hank
Aaaron and Eddie Matthews. Today they
march to the beat of a new breed of drum
mers. Jim Presley, Jeff Treadway and
Ron Gant aren’t hardly old enough to
shave but have been nominated as
leaders.
After Thursday’s 7-5 giveaway to the
Dodgers the Braves stood 20-30. Maybe
you can stand being 10 games under .500
before the all-star break but being 14
back of division-leading Cincinnati is al
most more than a soul can bear.
The Braves are fourth of five teams in
the National League West Houston at 15
1/2 is the only team with worse
credentials.
There is another way of looking at it
This deals with wondering whether the
glass is half empty or half full. San Diego
(28-24) is second, seven games back of the
Reds. The’Dodgers (27-27) are nine offthe
pace while San Francisco (25-29) is 11
back.
All that means is that Atlanta, with any
measure of luck, could still make a move
and come out smelling like a rose.
At the current pace Atlanta is set to
finish more than 20 games under .500.
They could conceivably finish fourth, or
maybe third, in the division. Of course
that probably would mean that Los Ange
les and the Giants would hit the skids
after the all-star break.
It’s also a little like selling damaged
goods, moist pop com and cold hot dogs
- all of which are trademarks of Atlanta-
Fulton County Stadium.
A look into the past still has a fresh
look.
That was a time when Cap’n Eddie
(Matthews) was an all-star at third and
Aaron was the same in right
They’re currently in the midst of their
umpteenth rebuilding stage, one they
wrecked that first year.
Just 24 years ago the Braves had what
might have been baseball’s best outfield
of Aaron, Rico Carty (left) and Mack (The
Knife) Jones in center. Aaron and Carty
possessed bats so good they were among
the best around. Hammerin’ Hank won
home run titles while Carty collected the
National League’s batting crown.
Today the only outfielder still worth
his weight in trade is Dale Murphy, but
he’s getting older every day.
First baseman Felipe Alou, one of
three brothers to play the game, wasn’t
far from the best at first Dennis Menke,
before he became the starter at third for
the heydays of the Big Red Machine (Cin
cinnati), as Atlanta’s second baseman.
Menke was good enough at third until a
fellow named Rose decided to take over
at the hot comer.
Atlanta’s starter at second was a fellow
named Woody Woodward. After Wood
ward hung up the cleats he surfaced as
head baseball coach at Florida State Uni
versity, one of the best college programs
college can offer.
The catcher’s name was Joe Torre, a
player who became an all-star at his posi
tion. Following his playing days Torre
surfaced as manager of the Braves, one of
15 that have held the position in Atlanta.
Back then baseball was fun even
though the Braves finished fifth.
This year and last it was a struggle with
million dollar players like Nick Esasky
on the injured list
Back then you played with injuries.
Back then fifth place was still like a
Cadillac. On today’s market it wouldn’t
buy you a Edsel or a Hudson.
Last year’s team dropped 97. The 1990
edition will surely be better.
In 1990 the organization continues to
make a hard sell. Only I’m not buying.
-W
Outfielder Dale Murphy
Opponents face 4 Big Creek’ when trying to cross
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
John Harrison’s Big Creek Blue girls 12-
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Big Creek Blue
The 1990 edition of the Big Creek Blue girls 12-under
softball team is currently undefeated and leading its divi
sion. Members who have made a big difference are, front
row from left, Deborah Hydrick, Melissa Farmer, Tina
Harrison, Tracy Craddock, Heather Kirby and Julie
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Early concentration
Shanna Kelly appears to be in mid-season form as
she warms up prior to Wednesday’s game at Coal
Mountain Park. Kelly, the starting second baseman
Central’s Hall named to all-star team
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
Buck Hall’s Forsyth Central High School baseball career
may be over but the left-handed hurler is still making waves.
Hall, who will pitch for Middle Georgia College next year,
was recently selected as a member of a Georgia all-star base
ball team that will play in Orlando, Fla., on June 18.
“I’m excited about the chance to go down there (Florida)
and play for an all-star team,” said Hall. “My arm feels real
good and I’m ready to go.”
Following the high school season Hall was named to the
West team for the annual Georgia High School all-star team.
He was scheduled to pitch but rain forced cancellation of that
game.
Hall finished his four-year pitchnig career at Forsyth Cen
Forsyth County News
under girls softball team is currently unde
feated (1(M)) and within two games of com
pleting a perfect season.
Such a mark would put the team in the
for the Midway 18-under girls softball team, is also a
starting guard on the Forsyth Central girls varsity
basketball team.
tral with some impressive statistics. His 5-4 record wasn’t
indicative of his marks. In 58 2/3 innings Hall allowed 27 hits
while striking out 112. He ended his high school career with
307 strikeouts, a school record. {
The high water mark of Hall’s senior season at Forsyth
Central came on April 2 when he hurled a no-hit, 1-0, gem over
Norcross. Hall finished that game by striking out 19 of the 21
hitters he faced.
“I had a good senior season,” said Hall. “We had a pretty
good team and that helped.”
Hall opened his high school career in a strong way four
years ago, striking out out a then-school record 104 batters.
That mark was replaced by this year’s 112.
“He’s a strong pitcher,” said Forsyth Central baseball coach
Byron Orr. “He’s ti>£ kind of player you want for an all-s, - ir
team.”
favorite’s role in the upcoming double
elimination Forsyth County-wide softball
tournament set for June 22-23 at Midway
Park.
Wright. Back row team members are, from left, Amber
Davis, Lisa Croy, Ronie Farmer (assistant coach), Betha
ny Boling, Kristy Kivett, Sarah Ballard, John Harrison
(head coach), Kelly Mathis and Becky Quinn.
Staff photo - Mike Webber
The top two teams will advance to the
finals to be held June 30 at Cumming City
Park
“I feel real good about this team,” said
coach John Harrison. “At this point I feel
we have a real chance to go undefeated.
The main thing is I’m real proud of what
these girls have accomplished this season.”
The team has been nothing short of im
pressive in their first 10 games this season,
outscoring its opponents an average of 18-2
per game. For the season the Blues have
scored 184 runs while limiting the opposi
tion to 22 runs. Half their victories have
been via shutouts.
“We’ve just had some things go our way
this year,” said Harrison. “I guess you could
say we’ve been fortunate.”
The opposition by the same token has
been mostly unfortunate. A perfect exam
ple came in Big Creek’s first five games of
the season as the Blues outscored those op
ponents 91-5.
“These girls have to set their goals high,”
said Harrison. “Before the season began we
talked about shooting high. By the same
token I’m not counting the eggs before they
hatch.”
It hasn’t all been easy.
A perfect example came on May 26 when
the Blues narrowly escaped Cumming Red.
winning as 12-11 decision in the late
innings.
Big Creek trailed 11-9 after three innings
but rallied in the fourth to score the tying
and eventual winning runs. The big hit
came compliments of pitcher Tina Harri
son. whose two-run homer brought the
game even at 11-11.
Amber Davis led off the Blue’s fourth
with a single and one out later Harrison
produced the tying run.
Please see BLUES. Page 3B
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Jennifer Cox prepares for competition
Cumming skaters
‘roll’ on to victory
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
On June 22 approximately 30 skaters from the Cumming
Skate Center’s 88 Skate Team will be in Pensecola, Fla., com
peting in the Southern Regionals with a chance to qualify for
the Nationals. The Nationals will also be held in Pensecola on
Aug. 4-9.
Qualifying for the nationals won’t be an easy task as Cum
ming will be going up against skaters representing six other
states. Top skaters from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee. North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Alabama will be com
peting for a chance to grab roller skating’s proverbial golden
ring.
The top three skaters in each age division will qualify for a
trip to the nationals in August
This team has a real opportunity to do something this year,”
said coach David Downing. “Overall I’d say we’re in real good
shape going to southern regionals. I feel we should do well.”
Leading the team is Derrick Downing. Last October the youn
ger Downing, invited to work out at the U. S. Olympic Training
Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., placed 13th out of 200
skaters.
“We’re real proud of him but on the overall scale I'm looking
at maybe 25 to 30 skaters qualifying for nationals.”
Downing feels he has several talented skaters capable of
matching blades with the best Among them are Casey Hunting
ton, Ryan Cox, Jennifer Cox, Cody Burnett, Michael Thomas
and Teresa Adams. Cox, who competes in the under-6 division,
is the team’s youngest individual. Adams, who qualified for last
year’s nationals, skates in the junior women’s division.
The team isn’t just for youngsters. Currently there are two
individuals, Dan Lobo and Jackie Martin, who skate in the 30-
above age group.
The team in currently in their fifth year. The first year they
sent only one skater to the nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. That
figure pales by comparison to the 19 skaters that qualified for
the 1989 nationals.
“Every year we’ve been building,” said coach Downing. “We
feel we’ve taken proper steps to establish ourselves as a roller
skating team,” said Downing. “We don’t consider ourselves a
novice team any more.”
Please see SKATE, page 2B
1B