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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- L j** mi, j v ) ; LI ' 44m ** ■+ |9KL 'VHh HjpP J* wR J? j ’' j I Kg * WFW I J gSSSr < K \\ Mkfc wrf i aßt ir.M- rai v ' I 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 fV • \ - r ■“'“fit L-* At ' * 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 ] WrF' ■ j§* ™ 1 S fe» I — t 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