Newspaper Page Text
May 21, 2008
Section
b
The Banks County News
Sports Editor: Chris Bridges
Contact: 706-367-2745
www.mainstreetnews.com
chris@mainstreetnews.com
First
&
Ten
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Another athletic
school year
comes to close
I guess the old saying about
the time going by quicker
as you get older is true.
It seems like only last week we
were welcoming the start of the
2007-08 sports season at Banks
County High School. Now, it’s
all but over. It’s amazing how
time flies, not just because you
are older but because you have
enjoyed every minute of every
sport season.
I stopped by BCHS Monday
morning and visited briefly with
athletic director and head football
coach Blair Armstrong. My inten
tion was to pick up a copy of the
football team’s summer schedule,
which Armstrong has detailed
from start to finish. Armstrong
mentioned how unusual the
morning had been as the final
week of school kicked off.
Much was accomplish by the
Leopard and Lady Leopard teams
during the 2007-08 time frame.
The football team continued to
make marked improvements on
the gridiron and is primed for a
breakthrough season this upcom
ing fall. The BCHS boys cross
country team qualified for the
state meet under the quality lead
ership of coach Kelly McDuffie.
Coach Josh Lord and the Lady
Leopard softball team also had
many bright spots last fall and
will be able to make their debut
at their new facility this upcom
ing season. I know how much
they are looking forward to that.
When basketball rolled around,
it was a pleasure to watch veteran
Leopard coach Mike Ruth con
tinue to work with this program.
Ruth has shown an unmatched
level of loyalty to BCHS athlet
ics and I am looking forward to
his being back on the bench next
winter.
First-year Lady Leopard coach
Jerry King also made a positive
impression on me as his team
could be seen making big steps
forward as the season progressed.
With many returning lettermen,
look for King’s squad to be even
more of a force in 2008-09.
One of the great success stories
at BCHS the past three years
has been the work turned in
by Mat Leopard coach Kasey
Hanley. Using a successful for
mula (which includes a heavy
dose of hard work) he learned at
Jefferson High School, Hanley
has guided the BCHS program
to record after record. It’s mind
boggling to look at how much the
Leopard wrestlers have accom
plished since Hanley took over.
See First and Ten on page 3B
Spring Football
Leopards complete spring work, turn eyes to summer
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
When comparing his first spring practice
at Banks County High School to his second,
Leopard head coach Blair Armstrong said
there was a big difference.
The players were more accustomed to
Armstrong’s overall methods and what the
coaching staff expected from them. As a
result, things ran much smoother the second
time around.
“Offensively compared to last year we
were light years ahead,” the coach said
Sunday after breaking down the spring
scrimmage.
Chuck Hudson will be the new offensive
coordinator for BCHS, but he has worked
with Armstrong for several years and was
the offensive line coach for the Leopards
this past season.
“Our offense is going to change a little,
but our overall blocking schemes will be
the same,” Armstrong said. “We will have
a new quarterback and that is something we
will have to work on before the start of the
new season.”
Alex Banks, who was the starter for the
junior varsity in 2007, took plenty of snaps
in spring drills. Chris Porter and Brett
Armour only recently joined the football
team following the completion of base
ball season. Despite missing several of the
members of the baseball team for some
of spring practice, Armstrong said overall
things went well.
See Football on page 3B
PREPARING
FOR FALL
The BCHS
football team
wrapped up
spring work
last week with
its annual
spring scrim
mage. The
Leopards are
now set to
enter summer
conditioning.
Photo by
Chris Bridges
BCHS Baseball: An Impressive Spring
MAKING THE PLAY
Banks County High School's Aaron Wagoner makes another play from his second
base position. Wagoner is one of the players Leopard coach Joe Lord will have to
replace for next season. Photo by Lyn Sengupta
Statistics tell the
tale for Leopards
during 2008 season
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
In order to have a successful season on the
baseball field, a team must have standouts when
it comes to the statistical department.
Such was the case for the Banks County High
School Leopards in 2008. Coach Joe Lord’s
team posted an impressed 16 wins this spring
and the team advanced to the state tournament,
the first time in the program’s history since
2001.
Team statistics and individual statistics reflect
ed the overall increase in wins this season.
“We had seven players bat over .300,” Lord
said. “Our home run total also doubled. We
really worked hard and got in the weight room
to get stronger. We look for that to continue. We
also improved our ability to manufacture runs
by improving our ability to bunt and steal bases.
We like to swing the bats, but sometimes you
have to make the smart, fundamental play. We
were much improved in that area.”
Alex Gailey
was 14-of-15
in the stolen
base depart
ment while
BCHS was
33-of-37 as a
team. Overall,
the Leopards averaged 7.2 runs per game while
allowing 5.7.
Numerous players had big springs on the plate
including Gailey, Zack Dale, Justin Gibbs, Tyler
Hulsey, Chris Porter, Bill Redmon and Jeff
Smith.
Overall, BCHS had 160 singles in 2008 com
pared to 100 the previous season. The team also
doubled its homerun total from 14 to 28.
As a team, the RBI total increased from 93 to
162 and the number of triples went from one to
five.
“The numbers say a lot, but we still feel like
we have a lot of work to do,” Lord said. “We’re
ready to get back at it this summer and keep
getting better. Next spring will be here before
we know it, and we’ll be ready.”
Strong pitching also played a key role in the
team’s success this spring. The overall staff
earned run average was 3.99, which Lord said
was “pretty good” for a high school baseball
team. Hudgins had a 2.42 ERA.
“Our pitching was good, and we’ll look to
keep getting better,” the coach said. “We threw
more strikes this year and pitched to contact.
That allowed us to stay on our toes defensively
and make plays in the field. We feel like we can
win if our pitchers don’t give up more than four
runs a game.”
The 2008 campaign was a historic one for the
Leopards on many fronts. The team tied for first
in the regular season in Region 8-AA North and
was third overall in the region. BCHS lost only
three home games and only three defeats were
to teams which did not make the state tourna
ment.
A key five-game winning streak during the
heart of the subregion schedule helped keep the
Leopards’ postseason hopes alive.
“We are proud of our season and are ready to
get back to work preparing for 2009,” Lord said.
We’re ready to get back
at it this summer and
keep getting better...’
— Coach Joe Lord
High School Football
BCHS players
have busy
summer set
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Blair Armstrong has plenty of
pride in what he does.
The Banks County High School
football coach has pride in his pro
gram, pride in his players and pride
in the progress the Leopards made
last fall.
Therefore, it should come as no
suprise the BCHS summer foot
ball program is called “Pride of
Summer.” The detailed summer
schedule is outlined for players,
coaches and parents on a calendar
which begins next Tuesday and runs
all the way through the Aug. 22 pre
season scrimmage against Johnson
High School.
Detail is the name of the game in
building a high school football pro
gram today and Armstrong has every
detail covered.
“Work dur-
Countdown in g the sum-
to kickoff: mer is vital ,”
the coach
ioo DAYS said recently.
“We have to
work because
everyone else is working.”
Weight room sessions will mainly
be in the morning. Armstrong said
he has found that is the best time for
players.
“In the long run, it is best for them
to not sleep in,” the coach said. “By
lifting in the mornings it gives them
the rest of the day free to work or
concentrate on other sports. I believe
this is the best way to handle it.”
While the weight room will be
open in the afternoons (3:30-5:30)
on May 27 and May 29, the 8 a.m.
until noon time frame kicks in begin
ning June 2 as the official “Pride of
Summer” program begins.
BCHS will once again compete in
the Lineman Challenge at Gilmer
High School this summer. This
year’s event is set for Saturday,
June 21.
The official first day of preseason
practice is set for Aug. 4 from 3:45
until 6:30 p.m. The first day of
school is Friday, Aug. 8.