About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (May 28, 2008)
May 28, 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 Falcons undergo some necessary retooling, cleaning O wnership and manage ment of the Atlanta Falcons have had to pull some unusual duty in recent months. The overall image of the fran chise, which dates back to the 1960s, has received a rather ugly tarnishing. Like a hideous coat of paint which screams out at you after it has been applied, the entire name brand that is the Atlanta Falcons has had many fingers pointed at it for months now. Much has contributed to the current state of affairs, primar ily being the entire Michael Vick fiasco. Vick, who now sits in a jail cell (where he belongs), figuratively stabbed owner Arthur Blank in the back as well as the entire fan base of the city’s NFL team. Some might make the case Blank put too much stock into Vick and I certainly won’t argue with that. However, haven’t we all been burned at one time or another by putting too much faith in some one? Granted, for most of us it wasn’t an employee we paid mil lions of dollars to but I imagine most of us have been burned — and burned badly — by a friend or even a family member at one time or another. It’s human nature to have faith in someone we trust and unfortunately it’s also human nature for that person to some times betray us. The Falcons then also had to deal with former coach Bobby Petrino sneaking out the back door — literally - after only 13 games of the 2007 season. Petrino quickly learned, I think, that the pro game was not for him. Pro athletes often override the coach and while Petrino did have some limited NFL coach ing experience, he seemed over whelmed when he arrived in Atlanta. That brings us to the present as the Falcons, with a new head coach and new general manager on board, decided to draft Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan in this spring’s draft. Ryan was the third overall pick and is being groomed by Atlanta coaches as the QB of the future. This pick also puts to rest the ridiculous notion that maybe, just maybe, the Falcons would bring back Vick after his jail time is over. Give me a break on that one. Ryan seemingly has the squeaky clean image the Falcons need right now. He has already signed a contract so we don’t have to worry about any pre season holdouts with him. Yes, I believe the powers-that-be who are running the Falcons are mak ing every possible effort to get rid of the stench that had moved into the locker room from the Vick and Petrino eras, although they left aromas for different reasons. Yes, the offseason has been a time of some good, old fashioned cleaning for the Falcon higher ups. A little elbow grease, a little Mr. Clean and some sweat on the forehead was just what was needed. Hopefully, when the 2008 season arrives, Falcon fans can begin to forget the past. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at chris@mainstreetnews.com. Youth Activities Recreation Department offers host of summer camps BY CHRIS BRIDGES Summer is at hand and the Banks County Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunc- ton with local coaches, is offering a slew of youth athletic camps in coming weeks. The following camps will be offered through the Banks County Parks and Recreation Department. For additional information on any of these upcoming events, call 706-677-4407 or visit the recreation department office at 607 Thompson Street, Homer. •Tennis camp 1, June 2-6, 9 a.m. until noon, at Banks County Parks and Recreation Department tennis courts. This is a beginners camp costing $45. A camp t-shirt is included in the price of registration. The camp will be taught by Lisa Husley, tennis coach at BCHS. Checks should be made payable to her. She can be contacted at lhulsey@banks.k12.ga.us. •Tennis camp 2, July 21-25, 9 a.m. until noon, at Banks County Parks and Recreation tennis courts. This camp is geared toward those who are seeking to improve their game. The cost for the camp is $45 and will include a t-shirt. Lisa Hulsey will also be the instructor. •Softball camp, June 9-12, 9 a.m. until noon, Banks County Parks and Recreation Department Field 5, ages 7-14. Camp objec tives include improvement of fundamental skills, good sportsmanship, teamwork and having fun. The cost for each participant is $50 with families with more one child attend ing costing $40 per child. All participants should come dressed appropriately and bring a glove each day. A camp T-shirt is included in the price of registration. Participants will be grouped based on age and ability level. Checks should be made payable to Josh Lord. •Little Leopards Basketball Camp, June 2-5, 8 a.m. until noon, BCHS gym. Cost of the camp is $50 and checks should be made pay able to BCHS. The camp will teach offensive and defensive fundamentals and will be hosted by the BCHS varsity Lady Leopards and coaches. Daily scrimmages will be held. A camp awards presentation will be Thursday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m. •Junior Leopards Football Camp, July 29-31, 6-9 p.m., BCHS practice football field. This camp will be instructed by Leopard head coach Blair Armstrong and members of the varsity coaching staff. The cost is $50 per child. If a family has two children the total cost will be $80. Athletes should wear shorts, T-shirts, socks and cleats or tennis shoes. A camp T-shirt is included in the price of regis tration. Forms should be turned in by July 21 and checks made payable to BCHS. See Summer Camps on page 3B Diamond Leopards: Summer Work Begins WORK CONTINUES Chris Porter (top) and Bill Redmon (bottom) are two of the Banks County High School varsity players who will compete on the Leopard summer league team in June. Photos by Lyn Sengupta BCHS to continue work, building during summer BY CHRIS BRIDGES Joe Lord views summer baseball as a spring training of sorts. “Even though the summer season starts very soon after the spring season ends, we switch gears during the summer,” the BCHS coach said. “It is essentially our preseason for the next spring and not a post season. Our seniors have graduated and we’ll be looking to fill some big shoes left by their departure.” The Diamond Leopards will have to replace Alex Gailey and Aaron Wagoner who graduated from the 2008 state playoff squad. Lord will have a much larger senior class in 2009 including returning players Kasey Hudgins, Zack Dadle, Chris Porter, Jeff Smith, Justin Bowen, Ben Thacker, Justin Gibbs, Tyler Husley, Tyler McEntire and Wesley Angel. Each are set to compete on the summer league squad. Juniors Chase Armour, Brett Armour, Bill Redmon, Kyle Smith, Jason Sexton, Keiffer Hellmeister, Kris Hellmeister and Andrew Berry will also compete this summer along with sophomores Jessy Hudgins, Eli Autry, Seth McEntire and Brandon Ruark. See Summer Baseball on page 3B BCHS honors standouts from 2008 season BY CHRIS BRIDGES Alex Gailey put the finishing touches on his standout high school baseball career last week by receiv ing one final honor. The Diamond Leopard leader was awarded the 2008 Most Valulable Player recognition during the team’s banquet last Thursday evening. Gailey helped lead the team to the Class AA state playoffs this spring and will now continue his career at Piedmont College. Gailey was one of several BCHS baseball players honored last week as the coaches recognized what was the program’s best season since 2001. The Leopards finished third out of 12 teams in Region 8-AA by posting 16 wins in 2008. BCHS tied for first in Region 8-AA North and only lost three home games. “With a break here or there, we could have been first in the region,” coach Joe Lord said. Other varsity award winners included: •Leopard Pride: Tyler McEntire and Tyler Husley. •Best Defense: Jeff Smith. •Best Offense: Zack Dale and Justin Gibbs. •Best Pitcher: Kasey Hudgins. •Most Improved: Chris Porter. Lord noted his team improved its win total by seven in 2008. Coach Brent Howell also recog nized the BCHS junior varsity base ball team. Jason Sexton was named the team MVP with Jesse Hudgins earned the Best Offense award with a .407 batting average. Sexton also earning the Best Defense award for his play at second base and short stop. These awards were voted on by the players. The JV Leopard Pride award, voted on by the coaches, was presented to Andrew Berry. Howell also noted his team had a combined no-hitter this spring as Eli Autry and Seth McEntire combined to blank Elbert County. The JV Leopards recorded five wins during the 2008 campaign. Fast-Pitch Softball Lady Leopards begin countdown to fall season with summer work BY CHRIS BRIDGES There is a true sense of excit- ment in the air surrouding the Banks County High School fast-pitch soft ball program. The Lady Leopards are eager for the 2008 season which will allow them to compete at their new facil ity. In addition, a stability within the program should help give BCHS a chance to be successful on the field this fall. Many of the returning BCHS play ers will get an early start on the upcoming campaign by working in a summer program directed by coach Josh Lord in the coming weeks. Recently, Lord outlined what he would like to accomplish during the summer schedule: •start evaluating players to see who will help the team fill the gaps left by graduation. •build comraderie and team chem istry. “Competing in the summer league is greatly beneficial to us,” the coach said. “It gives us a jump start on the season by allowing us to see players in real game situations. It’s a fun time and the players gain confidence with the experience.” Lord said the upcoming fall season will be an exciting one for his team. “We hope to have a productive summer that will give us momen tum going into what will be a very competitive schedule,” he said. “Our non-region schedule includes Commerce, Habersham Central, East Hall and tournaments at Commerce and Lanier Point. I look for those games to prime us for the region.” The Lady Leopards will play a complete region schedule in 2008 which includes defending region champion East Jackson, former Class A power Jefferson and 2006 state champion North Oconee. “Our region will be tough,” Lord said. “However, our players and coaches believe we have the capa bility to play with all of them.” Overall, the coach sees the pro gram on solid ground. “It’s our fourth year as a coaching staff and that has provided valuable stability,” Lord said. “The players and coaches have been loyal to each other and that has helped us foster a productive, hard working, enoy- able atmosphere. The support and efforts of the community, parents and school administration have us set to play at our new complex this year. Everyone is extremely excited and proud about that. Our players are first class and represent us well on and off the field.” The first league game for BCHS is Thursday against North Oconee at 4:30 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. contest against Stephens County. Games are played at Diamond Hill Park on Hwy. 29.
