Newspaper Page Text
August 6,2008
Section
B
The Banks County News
Sports Editor: Chris Bridges
Contact: 706-367-2745
www.mainstreetnewssports.com
First
&
Ten
★ ★ ★
chris@mainstreetnews.com
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Trying to find
logic in most
difficult of times
“Football is a part of life, not
life itself.”
— Penn State football
coach Joe Paterno
• ••
What words can one offer in
times of tragedy that really make
a difference? Are there any words
that can really ease the type
of pain felt by those in Banks
County Saturday night when the
news was delivered that a son,
grandson, brother, family member
was no longer with us.
I'm not one who can begin to
offer any words of encouragement
during times like this. I’ve always
felt the job is best left to those of
faith or leaders in our schools or
those who have some experience
when it comes to counseling or
crisis matters.
All I know is that a young per
son who had so much potential,
so much to offer, so much support
from the community is no longer
with us. In addition, two of his
friends and football teammates
were injured in the accident. We
are indeed fortunate they weren’t
taken from us although the pain
we all feel today is still cut
ting because a funeral was held
Monday morning when it was the
last thing we expected.
From all indications, Cody
Gowder, who died late Saturday
evening following a traffic acci
dent, was primed for a standout
season on the gridiron this fall.
Gowder had been a key partici
pant in offseason workouts and
conditioning. His name was men
tioned numerous times in articles
I had written in recent weeks as
the players and coaches worked
numerous hours to take the BCHS
program to another level.
Gowder’s teammates Bill
Redmon and Kane Duncan suf
fered injuries in the accident but
by all reports will recover. All
of Banks County is thankful for
that today as we try to go about
our lives with what feels like an
anvil on our backs. Redmon and
Duncan are two student-athletes
I have come to know quite well
during recent years covering the
Leopard sports beat. Duncan is a
key player for the basketball team
while Redmon helped lead the
Diamond Leopards to the state
playoffs this past spring.
One thing I was reminded of
when the news of the accident
reached me this weekend is
how athletics should always be
kept in its proper perspective.
While football can certainly help
teach important lessons in life,
sometimes we, myself included,
become too wrapped up in the
whole process.
It’s easy to
develop a one-track mind and not
focus on what really matters.
The truly important things like
family and friends are what we
need to focus on each day. They
should never take a back seat to
anything. I can say that’s some
thing that the BCHS football
coaches teach their players. It’s a
family atmosphere. The important
lessons are taught. It’s a refresh
ing thing to see, almost spiritual
in nature.
Today, however, the family is
hurting. Fortunately, the family
will have each other to lean on
each other during this crisis.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris @ mainstreetnews. com.
Fast Pitch Softball
Lady Leopards return several key players for new season
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
When the Banks County High School fast-
pitch softball team takes the field for the 2008
season, coach Josh Lord will have several
players with plenty of game experience.
Four full-time starters, all juniors, will help
lead the Lady Leopards this fall. Lord will
look to juniors Ashley Denton, Kim Thomas,
Hayley Baird and Lauran Taylor as BCHS
begins its new season Aug. 15-16 at the Lanier
Point Tournament in Gainesville.
Denton is the team's top returning offensive
player having compiled a .400 plus batting
average last season with 25 RBI. Denton is
slated to bat third and will be counted on to
drive in runs this season, Lord said.
Thomas has been a starting pitcher since
her freshman season. She will be looked upon
to lead the pitching staff in 2008. When not
pitching, she is also a key player at first base.
Lord describes her as a “team leader.”
Baird is a three-year starter behind the plate
at catcher.
“She is also a team leader with a good arm
and is very athletic,” Lord said. “She can bat
for power.”
Taylor, who played shortstop last season,
will move to center field this fall. Her coach
describes her as “fundamentally sound.” Taylor
batted over .300 a year ago.
Senior outfielders Samm Kennedy and Kathy
Davidson also return this season along with
junior outfielders Brittany Cook and Breanna
Langston.
Several players from last season’s junior
varsity will compete for playing time on var
sity this fall including sophomores Kellany
Merck (third base), Laura Rose Pickens (first
base), Catlyn Free (second base) and Ashley
O'Kelley (outfield). Freshmen who earned JV
experience last year include Madison Franklin,
Madison Porter, Ashley Morris and Jordan
Rogers.
Newcomers include junior Ashley Wilson
(shortstop), sophomore Courtney Entrekin
(catcher/second base) freshmen Taylor Purvis
(pitcher/outfielder) and Cassie Marton (out
field).
Back to Work: Leopards Return to Practice Field
After months of offseason workouts and
conditioning the Banks County High School
football team, along with players from
across the state, held their first official fall
practice last Friday. The Leopards, led by
second-year head coach Blair Armstrong,
held an early morning practice as the
countdown continues to the Aug. 29 sea
son opener at Washington Wilkes. BCHS
will begin practice in full pads this Friday.
The Leopards will scrimmage Johnson High
school Aug. 15.
Photos by Lyn Sengupta
Football Notes
BCHS to begin
full contact
work Friday
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
After easing into practice in shorts
and helmets, the Banks County
High School Leopards will enter
full scale contact work Friday.
Banks County High School head
football coach Blair Armstrong
said earlier this week the Leopards
are scheduled to work in full gear
beginning Friday afternoon, weath
er permitting.
Friday is the first day of class for
the 2008-09 school year although
practice sessions this week have
been after school with teachers and
coaches taking part in pre-plan
ning.
“We have to get accustomed to
the heat anyway,” Armstrong said.
“That’s why are looking at after
noon practices from now on.”
Monday’s practice was cancelled
so players and coaches could attend
the funeral of teammate Cody
Gowder (see related story). Practice
resumed on Tuesday to help the
players return to some level of a
normal schedule.
A year ago, the summer heat
played a big role in the practice
schedule at this time. The Leopards
were unable to practice in full gear
for several weeks because of the
heat index. Armstrong said coaches
will keep a close gauge on the tem
peratures again this year.
The BCHS coaches also take
numerous water breaks during all
practices and make a point to keep
all players hydrated at all times.
Armstrong also stressed that his
players have healthy diets to pre
vent problems during practice.
BCHS football players, coaches,
cheerleaders, managers and band
members will take part in picture
day Saturday at 9 a.m. at the foot
ball field. The Leopards will host
Johnson High School, a program
Armstrong formerly coached, on
Aug. 15 for a preseason scrimmage.
Practice will then continue until
the Aug. 29 season opener against
Washington-Wilkes.
Up Next:
Aug. 9: Picture Day, 9 a.m.
Aug 15: Hosts Scrimmage against
Johnson High School, 7 p.m.
Aug. 29: Season Opener @
Wash.-Wilkes, 7:30 p.m.
Local Racing
Victory lane proves to be final destination for several area racers
BY BRANDON REED
Several area racers found their way into
victory lane at area racetracks over the
weekend.
Paul Kelley of Pendergrass and Braselton’s
Shane Sawyer put on a late-race duel at
Lanier National Speedway Saturday, swap
ping the lead three times in the last five laps
before Kelley took the lead for good.
Sawyer made a late charge, but Kelley
was able to just stay ahead at the finish line
for the win in the 100-lap Pro Late model
event.
Sawyer also competed in Lanier’s Super
Late Model event that night, finishing third
while Jefferson’s Joey Senter finished fourth.
Jason Hogan of Cleveland won.
Maysville’s Joey Love picked up win
number 13 on the season in the Open Wheel
Modified division at Lanier.
Commerce racer Ty Lowe won the Crate
Late Model division at Lavonia Speedway
Friday night.
Bobby Hill of Jefferson grabbed the win
in the Hobby stock division at Toccoa
Speedway Saturday night. Jefferson’s
Nicholas Baxter finished seventh in the
Stock 4 Cylinder class that same night.
Lilburn’s Ken Butler III took home sev
enth-place honors over the weekend in the
Pennsylvania ARCA 200 at Pocono, PA, on
Saturday. John Wes Townley of Watkins ville
finished ninth, and Suwanee driver Michael
Phelps finished 14th. Justin Allgaier was the
winner.
Lawrenceville’s David Odell took home
a strong second-place finish in Saturday’s
ASA Late Model Renegade 125 at Orange
County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C.
Odell is contending for Rookie of the Year
honors on the tour this year. Jimmy Lang
picked up the win.
Dacula’s Andy Lally, along with co-driver
Tim George Jr. finished sixth in class and
23rd overall in the Grand Am sports car
event at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in
Montreal, Quebec on Saturday.
See Racing on page 3B