Newspaper Page Text
April 30, 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
Baseball team
continues to
move forward
O n a perfect April day to
be at the local ballfield,
the Banks County High
School baseball team continued
its impressive season last Friday.
With spring in full ses
sion locally, coach Joe Lord’s
Diamond Leopards took care of
business in the opening round
of the Region 8-AA tournament
sending Oglethorpe County home
with a doubleheader loss. BCHS
took the opening contest 7-6, in a
game which honestly could have
gone either way, and then — to
borrow a line from the legendary
Larry Munson — “crushed their
face” in the second game 16-4.
The wins guaranteed the BCHS
team a trip to the upcoming Class
AA state tournament. However,
there remains some unfinished
business in the Region 8-AA
tournament before thoughts turn
completely to the next level.
The 2008 campaign has been
memorable on so many levels for
Lord and his Diamond Leopards.
Only four seasons ago, BCHS
recorded just two victories.
However, from that 2005 season
came a foundation which had led
directly to this point in 2008.
It’s important to point out that
successful athletic programs — at
any level — are not made over
night. You simply don’t show up
and have an undefeated season.
Some fans actually think it hap
pens that way but anyone with
even an ounce of real knowledge
about sports knows that is not
reality.
Friday’s first game was a
classic postseason contest.
Oglethorpe County came ready
to compete and the host Banks
County squad was there to match
the visiting Patriots step-for-step.
Whenever one team seemed to
have an advantage, the other
would find a way to rally and
turn the tables. It was back-and-
forth the entire way and a game
where one team was not guaran
teed the win until that precious
final out was signaled by the
umpire.
By the time the second game
began Friday afternoon, it
seemed BCHS was ready to take
its level of play to another plane.
The Leopards set the tone early
and then had an 11-run inning
to close the door on Oglethorpe
County’s season. The Patriots
seemed to know there wasn’t
going to be much they could do
to cool off the Leopard bats in
this one as BCHS took the 16-4
victory.
The 2008 season has seen so
much already from the Leopard
baseball program. It has seen
great performances by seniors
Alex Gailey and Aaron Wagoner.
It has seen key contributions
from throughout the lineup.
Coach Lord has emerged as a
true and tested leader for the pro
gram. In fact, the entire BCHS
coaching staff deserves kudos
for what has taken place to this
point.
The best part is, we aren’t fn-
ished yet. The season is still very
much alive. Who knows just how
much this team will accomplish
when it’s all said and done?
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Local Racing
Forces face off in historic
BY BRANDON REED
It was deja vu all over again.
Last year, John and Ashley Force made rac
ing history at the Atlanta Dragway by becom
ing the first father and daughter to race each
other in eliminations in NHRA drag racing
history, with the younger Force coming out
on top.
There was a big difference this year, howev
er. While the Force duo again faced each other
in eliminations on the Commerce quarter-mile,
this time it was in the final round, for the win.
For Ashley Force, the result was the same.
She beat her father with a run of 4.837 seconds
at 320.26 miles an hour, racing into the history
books as the first woman to win a national
event in the Funny Car category.
“I’m just happy to win an event. That was
the main thing. Being a female, that’s exciting
for the record books and everything, but my
team, we just wanted to get our first win. To
finally get it done here in Atlanta, we’re just a
little bit relieved but excited as well.”
Either way the race went it would have been
historic. John Force, the iconic 14-time champ,
was looking for his 1000th career round win,
as his daughter sought her first victory.
John had fought his way past teammate Mike
Neff, number one qualifier Tim Wilkerson,
and fellow Ford pilot Bob Tasca III to get
the finals. Ashley knocked off number six
qualifier Del Worsham, veteran Jim Head, and
three-time Atlanta runner-up Ron Capps to put
herself into position.
The drivers had raced between the raindrops
all day, enduring five delays that afternoon.
See Atlanta Dragway on page 4B
Southern National finals
HISTORIC VICTORY
Ashley Force raced into the history books at the Atlanta Dragway, becoming the
first woman to win a national event in the Nitro Funny Car category in NHRA
history. Force defeated her father, John, to grab the win. Photo by Brandon Reed
Region 8-AA Baseball Tournament:
Leopards record
sweep in opening
round of region
STRONG DEFENSE
Banks County High School's Aaron Wagoner, one of two Diamond Leopard seniors,
makes a play from his second base position against Oglethorpe County last Friday.
Photo by Lyn Sengupta
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
When the day’s work was done, the Banks
County High School varsity baseball team con
tinued to make positive strides this season and as
a program last Friday.
Coach Joe Lord’s squad swept visiting
Oglethorpe County in the opening round of the
Region 8-AA tournament and is now guaranteed
a spot in the upcoming state playoffs. BCHS
will return to region tournament play Thursday
against North Oconee (see related story) as seed-
ings are determined for state play.
In the opener against the Patriots, the No. 3
seed from 8-AA South, last week, BCHS held on
for a 7-6 win. That victory seemed to energize
the team who then cruised to a 16-4 win in the
nightcap to close out the best-of-three series.
Kasey Hudgins earned the win in relief in
game one. Lord credited Hudgins’ effort on the
pitcher’s mound as well as that of starter Alex
Gailey.
“The game was a back and forth battle the
whole way,” the coach said. “Both teams were
swinging the bat well. It was a fun game to be a
part of, especially since we were able to pull it
out.”
The Diamond Leopards had five home runs in
the contest and would end up needing every one
of them. Gailey (two), Zack Dale, Chris Porter
and Kyle Smith each went yard in the win.
Jeff Smith was 3-for-4 in the first game with a
run scored. Justin Gibbs went 1-for-3 at the plate
with a walk and run scored. Hudgins and Chase
Armour both added singles as did Tyler Hulsey.
“We continue to produce up and down the line
up,” Lord said. “That is huge for us. Our defense
was also solid, highlighted by great work from
Chris Porter at third base. It was huge for us to
be able to get the first win because it allowed us
to play loose in the second game.”
The Diamond Leopards took control early in
the second game as Oglethorpe County seemed
to be deflated somewhat by the close loss in
the previous contest. Jeff Smith earned the win
working all five innings of the shortened contest.
“We were loose and ready for game two by
virtue of our clutch win in the first game,” Lord
said. “Their starting pitcher was throwing pretty
hard, but we were able to time his fastball and
get a couple of hits early. We were then able to
play relaxed and with a lead.”
The coach said Jeff Smith pitched well against
a strong offensive team.
“Our defense also played well behind him,”
Lord said.
As expected with the big run total, several
players stood out at the plate. Dale was 2-for-4
with another homer with three RBI and two runs
scored. Gibbs was 2-for-4 with a single and a
double, three runs scored, an RBI and stolen
base.
Porter was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run
scored while Hulsey was 2-for-3 with two RBI
and a run scored. Chase Armour was 1-for-2
with a single, sacrifice bunt, two RBI and a run.
Also contributing were Gailey (double, two
walks, three runs, two RBI, stolen base), Brett
Armour (run) and Kyle Smith (1-for-2, two
runs).
“We had more clutch hitting from top to bot
tom in the lineup,” Lord said. “When everyone
is connecting, it makes it hard to pitch around
any one batter. We are doing a great job of pull
ing for each other and picking each other up.
We’re playing well and playing as a team. I am
proud of what we were able to accomplish in the
series.”
North Oconee
up next for
BCHS team
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School
baseball team knows it will be going
to the state playoffs.
Now the question is what seed
will the Leopards be.
All teams want to enter state with
as high a seed as possible and
such is the case with the Diamond
Leopards who resume play in the
Region 8-AA tournament Thursday
against North Oconee High School.
The game will be 2 p.m. at Dawson
County High School.
Fannin County will meet
Washington-Wilkes at 11 a.m. in
the state qualifiers seeding round.
The losers of the first two games
will then meet at 5 p.m. to deter
mine the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.
The winners will meet at 8 p.m. for
the region championship and the
coveted No. 1 seed for state.
“North Oconee has a great team,”
said BCHS coach Joe Lord. “They
went 15-0 in subregion play during
the regular season and you don’t do
that by accident. They have a lefty
and a righty who are both excellent
starting pitchers. They hit the ball
extremely well and have put up a lot
of runs. They will be tough.”
North Oconee did have to use
all three games to eliminate Union
County, the No. 4 seed from Region
8-AA North, last week.
“They know they are not invincible
and they will be ready,” Lord said.
“I feel like we will be well prepared
and well rested. We’re ready to give
them a battle and see who comes
out on top. They are the defending
region champs and they beat us 8-4
last year in the region tournament. I
feel like we have improved a lot and
they have too. It will be our biggest
test yet. However, you have to beat
the best to be the best. We’ll be up
the challenge.”
See Region on page 2B
High School Football
Gridiron Leopards return to field for year two of Armstrong era
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The first regular season contest is
still almost four months away, but
the Banks County High School foot
ball team will return to the practice
field Thursday for the start of spring
drills.
Coach Blair Armstrong is entering
his second season at BCHS and he
and his coaching staff will look to
get plenty of work accomplishments
in coming days. Several players will
miss at least the beginning spring
work because of commitments with
the baseball and track teams.
“That will give us a chance to work
with some of our younger players,”
Armstrong said Sunday night. “The
coaches will also be able to get more
time with the guys who are going to
be valuable because they will give us
needed depth. We won’t have some
of our starters but that will mean
more work for other players.”
Practice will be held Thursday
and Friday of this week before the
Leopards take off some next week
because of academic testing. The
players will return to work later in
the week. The spring scrimmage is
set for Saturday, May 17.
“We are going to try and get as
much equipment passed out early
in the week,” Armstrong said. “We
probably will still have to finish
up on Thursday so it will likely be
around 4:15 before we get on the
field for our first practice.”
The coach is hoping to be able
to get more
work accom
plished this
spring since
the players
are accus
tomed to his
system and
methods. A
large number of lettermen return
for 2008.
Armstrong said he has been pleased
with the offseason workout program
to this point as the veteran coach
places a high level of importance in
that area.
Players will begin working in full
gear from day one this week.
The Leopards will continue to
compete in Region 8-AA during the
upcoming 2008 season. BCHS will
open the new campaign Aug. 29 on
the road against Washington-Wilkes.
The Leopards and Tigers met twice
in the 2007 season, once in the
region playoffs.
Up Next:
•Spring scrimmage,
May 17, 7 p.m.
•Season opener, Aug
29 @ Washington-
Wilkes, 7:30 p.m.