Newspaper Page Text
April 2, 2008
Section
b
The Banks County News
Sports Editor: Chris Bridges
Contact: 706-367-2745
www.mainstreetnews.com
First
&
Ten
★ ★ ★
chris@mainstreetnews.com
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Passion for
running shines
through in Parks
A trip to a local high
school track last week
gave me the opportuni
ty to witness Banks County High
School senior Chris Parks excel at
his craft.
I suppose it’s only fitting Parks
competes for the Leopards, a
member of the cat family known
for its agility and quickness.
Watching Parks run around
the track while BCHS was
competing at Jackson County
Comprehensive High School was
in many ways like watching foot
age of a Leopard on the prowl in
the wild. It was both impressive
and breathtaking.
Parks began the 3,200-meter
run with a group of runners at the
starting line, but it didn’t take the
senior long to establish himself in
this race. In fact, he was in a class
by himself although there were
certainly other talented runners
on the track this sunny March
afternoon.
Within a short amount of time,
it was evident Parks was going to
win the race. I snapped pictures
of him as he continued to run at a
rapid pace lap after lap. It seemed
as if the senior was gaining speed
as the race went on.
As more of the race was com
pleted, Parks began lapping the
field and looked none the worse
for wear. In fact, he looked as if
he hadn’t even broken a sweat
and didn’t even appear to be
struggling for breath in the least
bit.
“Amazing,” I thought to myself
as Parks continuing running,
faster and faster as the eight-lap
event went on. Once upon a time,
many moons ago, I was actually
somewhat of a runner myself. I
know, you wouldn’t know it by
looking at me now, but I actually
could get from point A to point
B without having paramedics on
standby.
Even then, however, on my
best day I would have been no
match for Parks and his ability
to run away from the field. Parks
is obviously serious about the
sport of running. His hard work
and dedication have paid off in a
scholarship to Truett McConnell
where he will run cross country,
perhaps one of the most grueling
and demanding sports.
Going back to last Thursday, the
performance turned in by Parks
was not lost on his teammates
either. Late in the race, some
of his fellow track performers
who had been competing in field
events, began looking around
wondering where Parks was.
“He’s already finished,” one
BCHS track member said.
“Of course he is,” another mem
ber responded, sounding surprised
he had even wondered about
Parks’ status in the race. “Chris
has finished the race, gone and
bought a lemonade and is sitting
in a lounge chair waiting on the
others to finish!”
Laughter from the group erupts.
It’s just another day at the office
for Chris Parks. His office, how
ever, includes a track or cross
country course.
What he does on the job is
something everyone can surely
admire.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
High School Baseball
Subregion race likely to go down to wire
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A look at the subregion standings
shows just how competitive things
have been this spring and how likely
things will be the remainder of the
way.
As of Monday, Dawson County
and Fannin County were both 6-2 in
subregion play holding a half game
lead over Banks County, who stood
at 5-2. Union County was 2.5 games
back with a 3-4 mark. Rabun County
(2-6) and East Jackson (1-7) are fur
ther off the pace and are likely out of
the battle for first.
“I have said from the beginning
that our subregion is very even,” said
third-year Diamond Leopard head
coach Joe Lord. “Anybody can beat
anybody on any given day so you
have to come focused on each game
and not look past anyone.”
The BCHS coach said all of the
programs in the subregion are pretty
competitive from top to bottom.
“Each team is improving and it’s
going to be a dogfight the whole
way,” Lord said. “It will go down to
the wire, probably to the very last
day. That makes every game very
meaningful and it gives us a lot to
play for. Each game is the biggest
game of the year. It’ll make for an
interesting and exciting next few
weeks.”
Only an upset loss to Rabun County
prevents BCHS from being in first
place at the moment. The Leopards’
other loss came to Fannin County on
the road, but the Leopards avenged
that defeat when the teams met in
Homer.
“We are playing pretty well overall
right now, but we realize there is still
a very long way to go,” Lord said.
“I have been pleased with the way
we’ve been swinging the bats, and
hopefully we’ll keep seeing it pretty
well at the plate. I look for us to see
a few more off speed pitches the sec
ond half of the subregion schedule.”
In fact, the BCHS coach predicts
teams will likely pitch the Leopards
“away for the most part and come in
to keep us honest.”
See Subregion on page 4B
AND THE
PITCH...
Jeff Smith has
been one of the
standout pitch
ers for the Banks
County High School
baseball team
this spring. The
Diamond Leopards
are in the chase for
first in the subre
gion.
Photo by
Brandon
Reed
BCHS Spring Sports: Track Time
RUNNING, JUMPING SUCCESS
(Top) Dee Dee Cannon competes against Jackson County Comprehensive High School last week. The Banks County High School
track teams have enjoyed more success this spring with increased numbers in both programs under the direction of coach Rob
Moffett. Gabriele Foster (bottom) has also been a standout for the Lady Leopards in several events.
Photos by Chris Bridges and Randy Crump
BCHS teams hold their own in
meets against larger schools
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Competing against larger schools can have ben
efits and drawbacks.
The Banks County High School track teams are
finding the experience gained from competing
against schools in higher classifications is mak
ing them better and should help prepare them for
the region meets down to the road.
In fact, the BCHS boys defeated Class AAAA
Jackson County High School in Jefferson last
week 78-51. The Lady Leopards were also com
petitive in a 77-43 second-place showing.
“We continue to improve as we set many per
sonal records during the week,” said BCHS track
coach Rob Moffett. “We are looking forward to
the regionals at the end of the month.”
The meet at Jackson County was a showcase
of sorts for Banks County junior Justin Beasley.
The standout took first in the 100-meter (11.09),
200-meter (22.60), long jump (20-10.5), high
jump (6-0) and triple jump (38-2).
Senior Jamail Jennings was first in the 400-meter
run in 54.2 and second in the long jump with a
mark of 18-3. Jennings was also third in the
200-meter in 24.0.
Chris Parks was the class of the distance events
winning the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter.
See Track on page 4B
Subregion Baseball
Leopards
record
additional
victories
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The subregion wins continue to
pile up for the Banks County High
School varsity baseball team.
Coach Joe Lord’s squad now stands
at 5-2 in subregion play following an
11-0 win against Fannin County and
a 13-3 thumping of Union County
last week. With the wins, BCHS
remains in contention for first place
in subregion play.
The victory against Fannin County
helped erase the memory of a bad
performance earlier in the season
against the Rebels on the road in
which the Leopards were defeated.
Alex Gailey, who recently signed
with Piedmont College, recorded
the win working all five innings with
three strikeouts.
“It was good to have another
solid performance,” Lord said. “We
played about as bad as you could
play at Fannin, so we were looking
to even the score a little bit. Alex set
the tone on the mound. He located
his pitches and the defense played
error-free baseball behind him.”
Gailey helped his own cause with
a leadoff homerun in the bottom of
the first which helped set the tone
along with two-out hits from Chase
Armour and Kyle Smith.
By the time the first inning was
over, the Leopards were in front
8-0.
“We play Fannin again (April
9),” Lord said. “I am looking for a
close, competitive game. I’m just
glad they have to come back down
to Homer.”
Zack Dale, Jeff Smith, Tyler Hulsey
and Bill Redmon also helped lead
the BCHS offense. Wesley Angel
and Justin Gibbs both scored runs.
See Baseball on page 4B
On Deck:
•BCHS hosts East Jackson, Thursday
5:30 p.m.
•BCHS @ Dawson County, Monday
5:30 p.m.
High School Basketball
BCHS athletes honored during annual awards banquet
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School basketball
coaches paid one final tribute to their student-
athletes for the 2007-08 season during an
awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.
First-year Lady Leopards head coach Jerry
King recognized members of his squad who
made numerous improvements as the season
progressed. Those receiving awards Sunday
afternoon included:
•Allison White: Captain’s Award.
•Randi Seabolt: Captain’s Award.
•Andrea Hunter: Captain’s Award, 8-AA
North All-subregion team, All-Area team hon
orable mention.
•Lauren Kennedy: Captain’s Award, 8-AA
North All-subregion team honorable mention,
All-Area team honorable mention.
•Lacy Saxon: Captain’s Award, 8-AA North
All-subregion team honorable mention, Purple
Heart Award.
•Brittany Cook: Academic Award.
Veteran BCHS Leopard basketball coach
Mike Ruth also recognized his student-ath
letes for their efforts and accomplishments
during this past season.
Those honored included:
•Dustin Worley: Best Offense.
•Chase Armour: Best Defense.
•Justin Beasley: Best Defense.
•Ryan Griffin: Bomb’s Away Award.
•Kane Duncan: Assist Award.
•Brett Armour: Hustle Award.
•Chris McDuffie: Taking the Charge Award.
•Kevin Daniel: Newcomer Award.
•Heath Jones: Academic Award.