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The 1975 Westfield Hornets baseball team is
pictured above. Left to right, bottom row, are:
Snyder Chapman, Eddie Wilson, Greg Gentry,
Phil Gentry, Tom Malone and Coach Percy
Hardy. Middle row, left to right, are: Wade Bell,
■♦Potent Gators Explode
Gentry Blast Bright Spot
In 14-2 Hornet Setback
A power-laden team of
Gators from River North last
Friday put the bite on the
young Westfield Hornets
baseball team, clubbing the
H'vnets 14-2 in a game played
aP Westfield. Dart-throwing
righthanders Charlie Dye and
Pierce Abel, both seniors,
whiffed 16 of the 25 Hornet
batters and permitted only
three hits.
Bright spots for Coach
Percy Hardy’s very young
(only one senior) Hornets
were three in number. Junior
standout catcher Phil Gentry
was one for two, with a
tremendous homer to dead
center field in the sixth frame.
Gentry scored behind junior
shortstop David Bryant who
had singled for his second hit
of the contest. In the opening
inning Gentry chased the
Gator center flychaser to the
wall with another clout.
T.& lone senior on Hardy’s
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Tom Malone
. . . Hornets Righthander
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Westfield Hornet catcher Phil Gentry (60) is greeted at homeplate by
teammates seconds after he crashed a tremendous two run home run over the
centerfield fence last Friday afternoon in Westfield’s loss to the River North
Gators. The junior slugger narrowly missed another round-tripper in the first
inning when his long clout to dead center was hauled in by a Gator at the fence.
squad, righty Tom Malone,
pitched good ball for three and
a third innings, permitting
only two earned runs until
victimized by a roundtripper
by RN’s Mike Thornton.
Malone had Westfield’s other
hit, a single in the second
stanza, but was stranded,
Malone showed good stuff in
striking out six of the Gators
in his stint on the mound.
The Gators, a favorite to
take the SEAIS AA state
crown, featured seven seniors
in the starting lineup. Coach
Bobby Hendley (the former
New York Met and Milwaukee
Brave flamethrower in the
50’s and 60’s) saw his crew
take a 1-0 lead in the opening
frame on two singles. Three
more runs plated in the second
inning (only one earned), but
Malone stopped River North
from scoring in the third,
despite having the umpire
negate a flyout to cenler by
Jim O’Neal, Jon Pierce, Johnny Tucker, and Paul
Middlebrooks. Top row, left to right, are: Edwin
Ellis, David Bryant, George Richerson, Wayne
Roughton, and Johnny Knight. Pitcher-outfielder
Malone is the lone senior on the team.
rival moundsman Charlie
Dye. (The ump ruled Malone
threw an illegal pitch and
Dye walked.)
In the fourth frame, the
Gators exploded for four
tallies, three on a homer to left
center by Mike Thornton.
Sophomore George Richerson
replaced Malone on the hill,
and pitched 2 and 2/3 innings,
giving up three runs and five
hits. Junior David Bryant
pitched the final stanza and
showed fortitude by working
himself out of a jam, although
surrendering three unearned
runs, caused by a Westfield
Panthers In Lem
Clark Tournament
This Thursday, March 27,
Coach Dave Crockett and his
Perry High baseball Panthers
journey to Luther Williams
Park in Macon to participate
in the annual Lem Clark
Baseball Tournament.
The Panthers will take on
Bibb Tech’s Wolverines in the
Thursday first round at 4:30
P.M.
Should the Panthers knock
off Bibb Tech they will ad
vance to the semifinals Friday
Home Journal
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PAGE 11-A
R
VS
THCRS., MAR. 27, 1075^
error.
The Gators pounded out
fifteen hits to only four for the
Hornets, A pair of errors,
along with a wild pitch, proved
costly to the effort of West
field.
Playing for Westfield were:
David Bryant, Edwin Ellis,
Phil Gentry, George
Richerson, Johnny Tucker,
Tom Malone, Wayne
Roughton, Jon Pierce, Johnny
Knight, Eddie Wilson, Paul
Middlebrooks, Wade Bell,
Greg Gentry, and Snyder
Chapman.
afternoon at 3:30 against the
winner of the Baldwin-Griffin
contest.
The finals are set for
Saturday at 3:00 P.M.
PHii n
BYRD IS
KOMI JOIWMAL //M -/ f
SPORTS EDITOR '
V
Spring football practice came to a close last
Friday night when the Perry Panthers par
ticipated in the Peach County High grid jamboree.
Since we’re on the subject of football, for the last
time until August, we thought this would be a good
time to reminisce on some of the Perry players
and teams of the past.
...Remember Virgil Peavy? Well, he played on
one of Perry High’s best all-time teams. The
Panthers chalked up an 8-2 record that 1955 fall
(both losses coming at the hands of Warner
Robins, 13-7 and 14-12) and set several PHS
records that still stand; for the most points scored
(263) and least points surrendered (34). Coach
Herb St. John’s Panthers recorded seven snutouts
with all-state tackle Virgil Peavy, a 210 pounder,
leading the way.
...The 1956 Panthers made their mark by being
the first PHS team to play in post-season com
petition. The Cats won the region 2-B west title,
but lost 16-6 to the Lyons Bulldogs in the region
title game. Perry’s Gene Ford raced 99 yards for a
TD against Wilcox Central that season and that
run still stands in the Panther record book.
...The 1957 Panthers were led by a stocky
fullback named Stewart Bloodworth, who rushed
for 155 yards in one game (a record up to that
time) and helped Perry register an 8-2 campaign.
The Panthers were ranked number one in the
state for several weeks during the year.
...A young man by the name of Pierce Staples
led the Panthers to an 8-3-1 slate in 1959. With
Staples running over opponents, Perry captured
the region 2-B title with a 28-27 win over Emanuel
County. The Panther all-stater rushed for 200
yards against Hawkinsville, and was honored by
the Atlanta Touchdown Club after the Panthers
smacked Warner Robins, 26-7.
...Another record was established in 1961 when
St. John’s Panthers put on their running shoes and
piled up 461 yards rushing in a 42-14 romp over
Mary Persons. Big fullback Alton Ellis led the
charge.
With Central In Lidlifter
Behrends Shutout
Gives Perry Split
Classy lefthander John
Behrends surrendered only
six scattered singles while
Keith Lockerman scored
twice to lift the Perry Pan
thers to a 3-0 win over the
Central Chargers in the first
game of a twin-bill, last
Saturday afternoon at the
Orange Grove in Macon.
The AAA Chargers used a
prodigious homer from Mack
Guest to capture the second
tilt, 3-2, as Perry’s Tracy
Bramlett lost a heart
breaking three-hitter.
Threatening clouds floated
overhead as the first contest of
the season for the Panthers
commenced. Central’s Guest
and Perry’s Behrends were
locked up in a pitchers duel for
the first two frames before the
Panthers came to life. First
sacker Keith Lockerman
received a base on balls and
took second on a single by Jess
Wright. Bob Brown then
walked to load the sacks with
two out. Third baseman
Randy Murphy followed with
a hot shot to the infield that
was booted by the Central
shortstop, allowing Locker
man and Wright, to score.
After three, Perry was on top
2-0.
The Panthers’ final run of
the initial contest came in the
fifth inning when the Central
catcher tried to pick Bob
Brown off first base. Taylor’s
errant toss went down the first
base line allowing Locker
man, who had walked earlier,
to cross the pay station.
Central’s only scoring
chances came in the first and
sixth innings, when they
loaded the sacks but could not
dent the plate. Good defense
got Behrends out of the first
frame jam and a fine, running
catch by rightfielder Jaru Ash
saved the day in the sixth.
Perry mustered only three
hits off big Guest, together
with five walks, but took
advantage of the two Central
miscues to register the win.
Behrends, in his first high
school start, went the route in
getting the shutout. The junk
throwing lefty fanned eight
Chargers, walked three, and
had batters swinging off stride
all afternoon.
Jess Wright, Lloyd Turner
and Johnny McCarty recorded
singles for the victorious
Panthers.
PERRY 002 010 0 3-3-2
CENT. 000 000 0-O-6-2
WP-Behrends (1-0)
LP-Guest (1-2)
Central’s Mack Guest, who
fanned three limes in the first
game, turned into a hero in the
second game by smashing an
awesome 400-foot to propel
Central to a 3-2 come-from
behind win over the Panthers
in the second game.
Perry jumped in front 2-1 in
the third inning on a single by
McCarty and walks by Porter
and Turner, followed by a two
run single by Eddie Harmon.
Central regained the ad
vantage, 3-2, in the bottom of
the fourth when Guest poled a
hanging curve ball over the
left field fence to chase home
two runs. The blast held up the
rest of the day to give Central
a split of the doubleheader.
Perry senior righthander
Tracy Bramlett gave up only
three hits, fanned five and
walked two, in absorbing the
loss.
Coach Dave Crockett said
he was pleased with the
Panthers’ initial showing of
the season and cited Kent
Fleming and McCarty for
their fielding exploits in the
second game.
PERRY 002 000 0-2-2-2
CENT. 100 200 0-3-3-0
WP- Lee
LP- Bramlett (0-1)
HR- Guest (Cent.)
Teams Sought
For Tourney
The Houston County
Recreation Department and
Bonaire-Kathleen Boosters
Club will sponsor the Second
Annual Men Slow Softball
Tournament. The tournament
will be held at Moody Road
Park during the week of April
14 through the 20th.
The tournament will be
limited to the first 20 teams to
pay the $50.00 entrance fee.
Team rosters will be limited to
18, this including coaches.
Each team must furnish one
new Dudley A.S.A. softball for
each game they play.
Trophies will be given to Ist
place with (18) individuals,
2nd and 3rd place teams.
To enter the tournament you
must mail or bring your fees
to Moody Road Park. All
checks should be made out to
the Bonaire Booster Club and
mailed to this address:
Houston County Recreation
Department, P.O. Box 1866,
Warner Robins, Georgia
31093. For more information
call Bill Smith or Tommy
Slalnaker at the Houston
County Recreation Dept.
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Coach Glover Gibson and his strong finishing Perry Junior High Ninth
Grade Panthers are shown above after the 1975 season. Front row (L-R) Steve
Johnson, Fernandez Toomer, Roy Hill, Chris Mitchell. Second row - Mark
Montgomery, Dwayne Grant, Sammy Watkins. Donnie Cockrel, mgr. Curtis
Layfield. Back row - Coach Glover Gibson, Alvin Boone, Donnie Harrell, Tony
Lowe, Jimmy Brown, Kenny West.
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Tracy Bramlett
. . . Lost Heartbreaker 3-2
"Long Ball" Wright
Perry High leftfielder Jess Wright (shown
above) led the Panthers to an 8-3 win over the
Dublin Irish Tuesday afternoon in Dublin. Wright,
a right-hand-hitting senior, smashed two long
home runs in the region encounter to help the
Panthers hike their season slate to 2-1.
Milton “Smash" Walker went all the way on the
mound for the Panthers in his first assignment of
the season.