Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.