Newspaper Page Text
April 16, 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
Football now
year-around
sport to follow
A s an admitted die-hard
football junkie, I used
to wonder if I was the
only one who longed for gridiron
action in April.
Was I the only one who began
counting down the days to the
new season as soon as the last
one ended? Was I the only one
who watched games from the
previous season on tape, (now on
DVD) several times during the
offseason.
Was I one of the few who
bought the preseason magazines
when they began showing up on
the newsstand at your local gro
cery store four months before the
season’s first game was played?
Was I the only one who would
go to said grocery store and leave
in disappointment when no pre
season magazine had arrived yet?
(As of this writing, I have yet to
find one waiting for me on the
shelf.)
It seems as if the answer to my
questions is, “No.” I am not the
only one who is going through
withdrawals right now that would
make a recovering alcohol proud.
It seems there are others, thou
sands upon thousands even, who
feel this way.
Just this past weekend right
smack in the middle of the
world’s most famous and pres
tigious golf tournament, ESPN
was televising the spring football
game of the Florida Gators. Yes,
hours of television coverage from
the world wide leader in sports
was dedicated to a spring football
game.
I realize Florida is expected to
challenge for an SEC title and
possibly more this fall. I know
many college football experts
are already saying “mark your
calendar” when the Gators meet
the Georgia Bulldogs in a game
which could have an effect on
more that just the conference
race. However, for ESPN to air a
spring football game shows just
how much interest there is in the
collegiate gridiron world, even in
the middle of the offseason.
In case you are wondering,
I watched some of the Gators’
spring game. I was able to catch
Heisman Trophy quarterback
Tim Tebow at work and I must
say UGA better be prepared for
him this upcoming season. (I still
say had Tebow not been injured
this past fall, Florida would have
defeated UGA).
In addition to the Florida spring
game on ESPN, my cable televi
sion provider has also been airing
several spring games from across
the South. Also, several spring
football media guides have also
been arriving at my desk in recent
weeks and I have busy breaking
each one down.
Yes, I know the new season
is still months away. I know
most people are in a full football
mindset yet. However, for the die-
hards like myself, it’s never too
early to start thinking about next
season. The great thing is, I now
know I am not alone in my long
ing for gridiron action.
Die-hard fans like myself have
to stick together. We’ll cue up
week two of the 2007 season at
our next meeting.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Banks County Recreation
New season off to smooth start for Banks recreation
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The 2008 campaign is off and
running for baseball and softball
teams at the Banks County Parks
and Recreation Department.
Director Philip Cronic said Monday
the first week of games were played
during the week of April 7 with
teams taking the following week off
since local schools were on spring
break. Games were scheduled to
resume this week, weather permit
ting.
“The first week went well,” Cronic
said. “Everyone was ready to get the
season started.”
Local softball and baseball rec
reation teams can be seen com
peting as many as five days per
week. Games are held on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays.
This spring sees a total of 34 teams
competing under the Banks County
Parks and Recreation Department
banner.
Baseball and softball teams in the
9-12-year-old divisions compete
with teams from Commerce and
Jackson County. In addition, the
13-14-year-old
baseball teams
from Banks
County com
bined to form
a league with
squads from
Commerce, Jackson County and
Winder.
The opening day parade for the
‘The first week went
well. Everyone was
ready to get the
season started.'
— Philip Cronic
2008 season was held last month
although the preseason ceremonies
were cut short because of rain.
Cronic said in addition to softball
and baseball season, his department
is preparing for several summer
camps which will be held in coming
weeks. Several coaches from local
schools will conduct camps as has
become tradition each summer.
BCHS Baseball: Going For First Place
Subregion race
going down
to final week
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
At this point in the season, every
game, every out even, is getting
important.
The Banks County High School
baseball team held a half game lead
in the Region 8-AA North stand
ings going into the final week of the
regular season with a 9-4 mark. The
Leopards were just ahead of Dawson
County (8-4) and Fannin County
(8-5) in the standings.
Union County (6-7), Rabun
County (4-9) and East Jackson (3-9)
are further back in the standings.
“It’s going down to the wire just
like we knew it would,” said BCHS
coach Joe Lord. “Anything can hap
pen and anybody can and has beat
anybody. It’s come down to who
makes the least amount of mistakes.
The goals that we set for ourselves
at the beginning of the season are
still all very much within reach with
two games left in the regular season.
We have put ourselves in good posi
tion and we look to finish strong.”
BCHS earned two key subregion
wins last Thursday by sweeping
Union County in a doubleheader
played in Homer. The Leopards took
the first game 12-4 and then earned
a victory in the nightcap 11-3.
“We swung the bats well and I’m
proud of how we came out ready
to play,” Lord said of the game
one victory. “We were focused and
played well against a good Union
County team.”
Jeff Smith earned the win work
ing 5.2 innings with four strikeouts.
Tyler McEntire pitched the final 1.2
innings and both drew their coach’s
praise for their efforts in the key
contest.
At the plate, Alex Gailey was
3-for-4 with three RBI, two stolen
bases and a run scored. Justin Gibbs
continued his solid 2008 campaign
with a 2-for-4 effort with a run and
a walk. Kyle Smith finished 2-for-3
with four RBI while Chris Porter
was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Jeff
Smith also went 2-for-3 at the plate
and Chase Armour was 1-for-2 with
three runs scored.
Wesley Angel and Brett Armour
also scored runs in the first game
against Union County.
See Baseball on page 3B
SHINING ON
THE DIAMOND
(Top) Alex Gailey
earned a win
against Union
County last
week. The Banks
County High
School senior,
who has signed
with Piedmont
College, has been
a standout on the
mound this spring.
(Left) Chris Porter
and Bill Redmon
have helped shore
up the defensive
effort for the
Leopards in 2008.
Photos by
Randy Crump and
Lyn Sengupta
High School Soccer
Leopards fall
during area
to Spartans
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County High School and
Athens Academy met on the soccer
field Monday with a trip to the state
playoffs on the line.
When 80 minutes of competition
was over, the Spartans had emerged
with a 2-0 win although not without
some controversy. In fact, BCHS
coach Chris Cooley said a copy of
the game tape is being sent to the
Georgia High School Association.
“We can’t change the decisions
made, but the calls were very one
sided which was incredibly frus
trating,” Cooley said. “There’s not
much we can do about it now, but
it’s a bitter way to end the season.
We had several good chances disal
lowed from very questionable calls
which I hate to see happen to our
players. It really changed the course
of the game.”
The Leopards were set to meet
Oglethorpe County Tuesday night in
a match for third place in the region
although neither team will advance
to state. It will be the final official-
match of the 2008 campaign.
BCHS will also play a “grudge
match” Wednesday (today)
where Leopard team mem
bers will divide up and
starting at 5:30 p.m.
Football
Local players
recognized
Two former Banks County High
School football players were hon
ored for their performances as mem
bers of the Georgia Pride this past
season.
John Payne and Jeremy Angel were
recognized during the team’s awards
banquet held Saturday. Payne was
named one of the team’s “Field
Generals” while Angel earned the
“Outstanding Offensive” award.
Awards were voted on by the play
ers.
The Georgia Pride is a semi
professional football team based in
Monroe.
High School Tennis
BCHS Leopards once again advance to region tournament
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School varsity boys
tennis team is preparing for some early morn
ing competition Thursday.
The Leopards will begin play in the Region
8-AA tournament at 8:30 a.m. Thursday against
either Morgan County or North Oconee.
Fortunately for coach Mike Ruth’s team, the
trip won’t be a long as they will make the short
journey on Hwy. 441 to East Jackson High
School for this year’s region event.
BCHS defeated Dawson County Tuesday to
qualify for the region tournament. This season
marks the sixth consecutive year the Leopards
have qualified for region.
“We are excited about competing,” Ruth said
Tuesday night after his team locked up a spot
at the 8-AA tournament. “Making it for the
sixth year in a row is something to be proud
of.”
A victory in the first round would guarantee
the Leopards another trip to the Class AA state
tennis tournament.
Against Dawson County Tuesday on the
road, Kyle Walker posted a 6-4, 6-4 win at No.
1 singles while Trey Martin earned a 6-4, 6-1
win at No. 2 singles.
Jacob Westmoreland and Nathan Ward won
6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles while the BCHS
team of Viet Pham and Chase Minish took a
6-1, 7-6 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Fannin County is the No. 1 seed from Region
8-AA North followed by Rabun County and
Banks County.
The BCHS Lady Leopards just missed quali
fying for the region tournament after falling to
Dawson County Tuesday. The BCHS girls fell
4-1 in their final match of the 2008 season.
Lauran Taylor and Taylor Seabolt posted
Up Next:
•Region 8-AA tennis
tournament, Thursday
@ East Jackson,
8:30 a.m.
the lone win at No. 2
doubles 6-0, 6-0.
“Each of the girls
played a tough match
and played with
heart,” said coach
Lisa Hulsey. “This
has been a very
rewarding season for the players and for me
as a coach.”
The Lady Leopards tennis team posted wins
in six of their 10 matches during the 2008
season.