Newspaper Page Text
May 7, 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
Countdown to
new season
begins for BCHS
T he Banks County High
School football team
will not play its first
game of 2008 for almost four
months.
Yet, early signs of work and
preparation for that first game
(officially set for Aug. 29 at
Washington-Wilkes) could be
seen last week behind the BCHS
fieldhouse. For it was there that
second-year Leopard head coach
Blair Armstrong and his coaches
were conducting spring practice
as all eyes begin looking toward
fall and the start of a new grid
iron campaign.
Excitement could be one word
to describe BCHS football at this
point. There is excitement about
the direction of this program.
Additional progress was made
during the 2007 season, which
continued what had been accom
plished in 2006 and 2005.
Last fall, in Armstrong’s first
season at BCHS, the Leopards
finished as the Region 8-AA
North runner-up, falling just short
of a subregion championship.
Since that time, many hours have
been spent in the weight room
getting stronger and there was a
sense of anticipation on the prac
tice field late last week.
While BCHS will have to
replace some key seniors who
will be lost to graduation, the
Leopards have several standouts
returning and that was evident
during the early portion of spring
practice. Some key players were
missing due to their commit
ments to the baseball and track
programs. Armstrong, however,
said that simply gives other play
ers a chance to step up and show
what they can do. Spring drills
are an important time to build
depth for the upcoming season
and many players are getting a
chance to shine during the prac
tice sessions.
The overall numbers in the
program continue to grow.
Armstrong said 38 eighth grad
ers took part in a practice session
earlier this spring. Approximately
60 upperclassmen are now
involved with the program.
“It’s good to see our numbers
going up,” Armstrong said as he
broke down the first two days of
spring drills. “It’s good to see the
players excited about being part
of the football program.”
The players did not practice
the first three days of this week
because of academic testing. The
Leopards will return to the field
Thursday and Friday before prac
ticing all of next week.
See First and Ten on page 3B
High School Track
Leopard trio
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Jamail Jennings, Lyn Hester and Jay
Harn are set to compete on the state’s big
gest track stage this week.
All three Banks County High School
athletes have qualified for the Class AA
state meet, which will be held Thursday,
Friday and Saturday at Jefferson High
School. Each qualified as a result of their
recent performances at the Region 8-AA
competitions.
“We are very proud of our three athletes
who have qualified,” said BCHS track
coach Rob Moffett.
Jennings is a senior who will compete in
the 400-meter dash. Moffett said Jennings,
who is a three-year letterman, has done an
excellent job of leading the younger run-
prepares for Class AA state competition
State Track
Banks County High School's
Jamail Jennings, Lyn Hester
and Jay Harn will compete at
the Class AA state track meet
this week in Jefferson.
ners for the Leopard program this spring.
“He is looking forward to the competi
tion he will face at state,” his coach said.
“Jamail will be graduating at the end of the
month and will be going into the Marines.
He has worked very hard this season.”
Hester will be competing at the state
meet for the first time as a junior. He quali
fied in the shot put by finishing second at
the 8-AA meet.
“Lyn is also looking forward to compet
ing at the next level,” Moffett said. “He
has done a great job of learning in his field
events and will only continue to improve.”
Hester was also a standout for the
Leopards this season in the discus and just
missed qualifying for state in that event.
Harn will be making a return trip to
Jefferson for the state meet to compete in
the state wheelchair competition. Harn,
who provides inspiration to all of his
BCHS teammates, will once again compete
in the shot put, 200-meter and 800-meter
events.
See Track on page 3B
TRACK
MENTOR
Rob Moffett
has helped
build the
number of
participants
in Banks
County High
School track
program dur
ing the past
two years.
Photo by
Chris Bridges
State Baseball Playoffs:
Leopards enter
state as No. 3
seed after region
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
B anks County High School’s baseball
program took another important step on
the road to establishing itself as one to
be dealt with at the Final Four of the region tour
nament last Thursday.
Coach Joe Lord’s team finished the Region
8-AA tournament as the No. 3 seed and will
advance to the Class AA state playoffs for the
first time since 2001. BCHS fell to eventual
region champion North Oconee 10-4 in the semi
finals of the region tournament before regroup
ing and defeating Washington-Wilkes 7-4 to gain
the No. 3 seed for state.
In the game against Washington-Wilkes, senior
Alex Gailey earned the win going all seven
innings recording six strikeouts while allow
ing three walks and scattering eight hits. Justin
Gibbs was 3-for-4 at the plate with a single, dou
ble, two runs scored and an RBI. Gailey helped
his own cause with two homers and three RBI.
“We showed some resiliency, like we’ve shown
all year,” said Lord, who will be coaching in his
first state tournament. “We’ve done a good job
of bouncing back when we really needed to and
it was good to get the win against Washington-
Wilkes. They have a good offensive team and
Alex did a good job of limiting their chances.
Our defense also played well behind him.”
BCHS was able to move in front 5-4 on some
clutch offense and hustle from Tyler Hulsey.
Lord also credited Gailey for a big day at the
plate.
“Alex had a great day at the plate,” the coach
said. “He led off the game with a homer and
gave us two big insurance runs to put us up 7-4.”
Bill Redmon finished the game 2-for-4 with a
double and RBI and continues his solid play of
late. Zack Dale added a single and Chris Porter
registered an RBI. Kyle Smith was 1-for-2 and
scored two runs. Ben Thacker also had a key
sacrifice bunt.
“We were disappointed not to be in the title
game, but we did a good job of bouncing back to
get another win under our belts,” Lord said. “To
have a 16-9 record is something we are proud of
and we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished to
this point. We’ll go back to work now and pre
pare for state.”
BCHS opened play last Thursday against North
Oconee putting three early runs on the board.
“We knew they had a good offensive team and
had the ability to come back and they did,” Lord
said. “We had a few plays that didn’t go our way
that hurt us, but we played North Oconee tough.
We had one bad inning in the fifth that took the
SENiOR LEADER
Banks County High School's Alex Gailey has been a key player for the Diamond
Leopards this spring both as a pitcher and at the plate.
Photo by Randy Crump/Rudeseal Photo
wind out of our sails. I was still proud of the
effort that was shown.”
Kasey Hudgins worked the first 4.2 innings
before giving way to Jeff Smith. Lord said both
pitched well and both gave the team a chance to
win.
Offensively, Porter was 2-for-3 with a single
and a double and drove in two runs. Porter also
scored twice. Husley and Redmon were both
1-for-3. Gibbs drew two walks and had a stolen
base.
“Chris Porter had a good day at the plate and
continued his hot bat,” Lord said. “He is doing a
great job of using the whole field.”
In the end, the BCHS coach said his team
came up a litle short but still had a good effort.
“Mistakes are going to happen, you just can’t
dwell on them,” Lord said. “You have to have a
short memory in order to bounce back.”
The Class AA playoffs begin Friday for the
Diamond Leopards as they travel to Atlanta to
face Holy Innocents’ High School. The teams
will meet twice Friday (2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)
and again Saturday, if necessary, beginning at
1 p.m. See related story in today’s edition for a
preview of the series.
Big challenge
awaits BCHS
in first round
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
It’s state playoff time for the
Banks County High School base
ball team.
Coach Joe Lord’s Diamond
Leopards will travel to the big
city to face Holy Innocents’ High
School in Atlanta. A doubleheader
is scheduled for Friday with games
set for 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. A
third game, if necessary, will be
Saturday at 1 p.m.
“They are an impressive team,”
Lord said earlier this week as he
began preparing for his team’s state
opponent. “Their top two pitchers
are lefties and have good command
of three pitches. They have a solid
lineup and they can really hit the
ball well.”
The BCHS Leopards are mak
ing a return to the state playoffs
for the first time since 2001 when
Michael Williams was directing the
program.
During that season, Williams’
team won the opening round of
state before having its season come
to an end.
Williams is now an assistant
principal at BCHS having turned
the program over to Lord back in
2005.
In the past four seasons, the
Leopards have gradually improved
and have posted 16 wins to this
point in 2008. The first round of
state will be a tall order, however,
as Holy Innocents is the defending
state champion and has lost just
four games this spring.
“They are good at making adjust
ments and going the other way if
they have to,” Lord said. “They
will be our biggest challenge yet.
We just have to play loose and with
confidence. We have worked hard
to get to this point and we’ll give
it our best. We can’t be overcome
with going to Atlanta or playing a
private school. We have no control
over that. All we can control is our
planning and preparation.”
See State on page 3B
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