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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 jlangerTown Centre L Value Shopping at its Best! 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