Newspaper Page Text
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.