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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