Newspaper Page Text
June 11, 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
Fathers, sons
and sports:
perfect trio
T here have been numerous
books written by many
outstanding writers about
the relationship between fathers,
sons and sports and how the three
are closely connected.
Sports writers with much more
prestige than I carry have done as
much through the years. I realize
not all fathers and sons share the
bond of sports and some share it
more than others.
Like many youngsters growing
up in this great country, I enjoyed
the magic that sports presented
to a father and son. I was never
a great athlete by any means,
although I certainly gave it the
old college try once upon a time.
While I lacked in athletic skills,
I certainly always had an admi
ration for sports of all degrees
and continue to until this day. In
fact, I have such a fondness for
athletics and athletic competition
that I make a living at it, or least
attempt to.
My father, Paul Bridges, began
passing on the love of sports to
me when I was a true youngster.
I remember trying to stay awake
and watch Monday Night Football
with him back during the glory
days of the 1970s. I usually only
made it to halftime, but I always
gave it my best.
I remember watching Atlanta
Falcon games with him and have
sketchy memories of the 1978
season when they went to the
playoffs for the first time in fran
chise history under then coach
Leeman Bennett. I remember both
of us being excited two years later
when Atlanta won the old NFC
West and appeared to be a con
tender for the Super Bowl before
Tom Landry’s Cowboys crushed
those hopes.
The year 1980 was a good year
football wise in our household
as the University of Georgia won
it all in the collegiate ranks. The
memories of watching the Sugar
Bowl against Notre Dame with
the legendary Keith Jackson call
ing the action is something I viv
idly remember.
As far as playing sports, my
father coached my Little League
baseball team way back when.
Believe me when I say I was not
one of those kids you hear about
who got special treatment or was
made the star simply because he
was the coach’s son. I was treated
just like any other player on the
team, probably harsher.
My playing days continued
through high school and my father
(and mother) were always at my
games regardless of their work
schedules. Looking back now, I
realize how much of a burden that
must have been at times. Still,
they were there each time, even if
I only saw limited action.
I think I can safely say I am
more of a die-hard football fan
than my father is now. It does
seems since he retired, however,
he has gotten back into the habit
of watching more games in the
fall. When I go to visit in the fall
the television is usually tuned in
to some game so I know he is
keeping up with the action.
Yes, sporting events are a great
bridge which have always helped
bring fathers and sons closer. No
doubt they will continue to do so
in generations to come.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
High School Track
Banks' Moffett recognized as area track coach of year
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
In a relatively short amount of time,
Rob Moffett has made a lasting impact
on the Banks County High School track
program.
Taking the reins of a program which
struggled with numbers, cannot host a
home event and competing with numerous
other spring sports for athletes, Moffett has
found the right combination to get students
involved and involved at a winning level.
Moffett’s efforts have helped make him
the Area Coach of the Year as selected
recently by The Gainesville Times.
“It is a great honor and one that was
totally unexpected,” Moffett said. “The
track program is on the way up and it is
because of the dedication of the athletes.
They have helped recruit and have shown
great determination when things were not
going well and now they are beginning to
reap the rewards for their hard work.”
Moffett helped guide three athletes to
the Georgia High School Association state
boys track meet last month. Seniors Jamail
Jennings and Jay Ham qualified along with
junior Lyn Hester.
It was Moffett’s work with Ham which
helped earn him the Area Coach of the
Year honor. Harn was paralyzed in a hunt
ing accident in 2005 but battled back from
adversity to become a state champion
wheelchair track athlete.
This spring, Harn won state in two events
and was runner-up in another. In the past
two seasons, Harm won three gold medals
at state in Jefferson.
“I have been blessed with athletes who
want to work and in Jay Harn, an athlete
who inspires us all,” Moffett said. “It is a
joy to work with these athletes each and
every day.”
TRACK
LEADER
Banks County
High School's
Rob Moffett
was named area
coach of the year
for his work with
the Leopard pro
gram.
Photo by
Chris Bridges
Summer Baseball: Working For Next Season
SUMMER BASEBALL
Tyler McEntire and the Banks County High School summer baseball team continues
to play on this month. Coach Joe Lord is using the summer schedule as a jumpstart
to next spring for the Diamond Leopards. Photo by Randy Crump/Rudeseal Photo
BCHS battles
heat, opponents
this summer
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
In less than ideal conditions, the Banks
County High School summer baseball team
played on.
Traveling to Lumpkin County Saturday,
BCHS battled two opponents as well as tem
peratures which hovered near 100 degrees. The
Leopards, in addition to having to deal with the
blistering heat, had to battle quality Class AAA
programs.
Coach Joe Lord believes in the end it was
good experience for his team as well as a good
day to have stock in Gatorade.
“It was good for us to go up and play against
quality opponents like that,” Lord said. “We
were without several of our returning varsity
players who had other commitments. However,
it was a great opportunity for some other play
ers to get some time against good competition.”
BCHS fell to Lumpkin County 5-1 and
dropped a 6-2 decision to Franklin County.
However, despite the coaches and players’
always present competitive nature, the real goal
of summer play is to gain experience and to get
all players on the roster game time.
Lord said Justin Gibbs and Chris Porter both
swung the bats well against Lumpkin County
while Bill Redmon, Eli Autry and Wesley Angel
handled the pitching.
“Each of our pitchers did pretty well and
helped keep Lumpkin in check,” Lord said.
“They threw a lefty at us who went the dis
tance, which is kind of odd for summer base
ball. He was a good pitcher though and seeing
him will help us down the road.”
Against Franklin County, BCHS faced anoth
er strong pitcher for six innings. Zack Dale,
Redmon, Gibbs, Autry, Kyle Smith, Kasey
Hudgins and Jessy Hudgins paced the offense.
Redmon and Gibbs both scored runs.
Kasey Hudgins, Dale and Porter each pitched
in the second contest.
The BCHS summer team played a nine-inning
game against Elbert County Monday night and
fell 14-2.
“This game was good practice for both
squads,” Lord said. “Both teams had plenty
of offense, but Elbert was simply much better
at cashing in with runners on base. Elbert has
a good team and I am impressed with them.
They don’t have many power hitters, but they
have batters who make contact and have good
bunters and a ton of speed.”
Tyler McEntire, Autry, Porter and Jeff Smith
each saw time on the mound for BCHS.
“McEntire continues to do a good job of
throwing strikes and letting the defense work,”
Lord said.
At the plate, Porter, Autry, Dale, Jeff Smith,
Justin Bowen, McEntire, Angel, Andrew Berry
and Gibbs each provided a spark in Monday’s
contest.
“It’s hard not to want to be on the winning
side,” Lord said. “However, we know in the
summer we have to take a look at everyone.
These players are giving up their summer to be
a part of this team and we want to work them in
as much as possible. The kids have responded
well.”
The summer roster is comprised of players
who were on the varsity and junior varsity ros
ters this past spring.
BCHS Football
Helmet Club
formed for
leadership
building
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
In theory, high school athletics is
supposed to teach leadership skills.
Members of the Banks County
High School varsity football team
are taking that role to heart with the
formation of the new Helmet Club.
Varsity players had told coaches and
school officials they wanted to have
more leadership opportunities in the
community, especially when it came
to working with younger players.
Thus, the Helmet Club was born
when the senior players formed the
club to deliver that level of commu
nity leadership. The club is a mentor
program between the BCHS varsity
Leopards and young football players
between the ages of 7-12.
The program will “buddy up” a
BCHS football player with a young
er student who is interested in foot
ball. The players are matched up
based on personalities. The players
will participate in activities through
out the season such as pre-game
meals, cookouts, pep rallies, the
Banks County festival parade and
homecoming festivities.
The Helmet Club participants will
also be given a jersey with their
player number to wear at games.
The players will also meet to make
posters, signs and spirit items. To
this point, coaches and club officials
say the players, students, parents
and community have exhibited an
overwhelming level of support for
the newly formed Helmet Club.
Currently, there are more than 80
buddies, with every sophomore and
junior player assigned one and each
senior assigned two.
The first Helmet Club meeting
is set for Friday from 11 a.m. until
1 p.m. at the BCHS football field.
Players will meet for the first time
and enjoy a cookout.
“This is something that has real
ly exploded,” said BCHS football
coach Blair Armstrong. “We believe
it will be a positive thing for us.”
High School Softball
Lady Leopards see signs of improvement as summer continues
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The summer heat is truly on for the
Banks County High School softball
team.
Battling extreme temperatures as
well as their on-the-field opponents,
the Lady Leopards competed in two
additional summer league contests
last week. BCHS fell to Madison
County 5-1 but managed a 10-1 vic
tory against Jefferson, a team which
will be a member of Region 8-AA
this fall.
In the win against Jefferson, Jordan
Rogers and Taylor Purvis pitched for
BCHS and both did a great job throw
ing strikes and locating their pitches,
coach Josh Lord said.
“We were also able to play much
better in the field,” the coach said.
“We were able to take advantage of
some uncharacteristic mistakes and
walks by Jefferson. Everyone pretty
much looks at summer play as a time
to teach and find out who can do
what, so we still know that Jefferson
is, and will be, a very good team.”
Madison Franklin and Ashley
Denton continue to pace the team
offensively this summer. Lord also
noted Kim Thomas, Hayley Baird
and Laura Rose Pickens had quality
at bats against Jefferson.
“I was pleased with our base run-
ning as well,” Lord said. “We were
able to steal a few bases and we did a
good job of moving up on defensive
breakdowns and wild pitches.”
In the 5-1 setback against Madison
County, Lord said his team was able
to connect but didn’t have much to
show for it.
“Madison County is a very good
team,” the coach said. “They made all
of the plays in the field and we had a
few defensive mistakes that hurt us.”
Thomas had a solid effort pitch
ing for BCHS as Lord noted she
was able to keep the ball down and
forced Madison County into a ton of
grounders.
SUMMER
WORK
Banks County's
Kim Thomas
will be one of
the key return
ing players
this fall for the
Lady Leopards.
Thomas is
competing this
summer for
BCHS.
Photo by
Chris Bridges
