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— www.MainStreetSports.com — September 4, 2008 The Banks County News Chris Bridges, Sports Editor 706-367-2745, direct line 706-367-9355, FAX chris@mainstreetnews.com Coaching duo an asset for BCHS sports T he obvious common link between Josh and Joe Lord is they are brothers. To be more precise, they are twins. They share a love of sports and a love of coaching. It makes them a strong team. When it comes to fast-pitch softball and baseball at Banks County High School, thev have become the faces of the sports and have helped build their respective a programs into winners. I remember three years ago meeting them for the first time. To chris bridges First & Ten be honest, I couldn’t tell them apart at the time and while I believe I can now, I still look twice to be sure I now which one I am talking to. (A quick look at a jersey number also helps). Josh coaches the Lady Leopard softball team with brother Joe as his assistant. Joe is the Diamond Leopard head coach with Josh serving as his top assistant coach. Now, my brother and I get along well but we live an hour apart. Who knows what the relationship would be if we had to work this closely on a daily basis? Watching the Lords in action is to see two young coaches who truly enjoy athletics and who enjoy teaching the fundamentals of their games to today’s student athletes. When sitting in the dug- out at a BCHS softball or base ball contest, you can see them talking strategy and figuring out what the best approach for the situation at hand might be. At a recent softball game. Josh, the head coach, remained in the dugout while the Lady Leopards were batting. Brother Joe stood at third base receiving the signals from his brother and then relaying them to the BCHS batters at the plate. They did it time and time again without missing a beat. The end result that day was another victory for the Lady Leopards. It was an impressive thing to watch unfold inning after inning. It has also been impressive to see how much both programs have grown and improved under each coach’s guidance and leadership. The baseball team advanced to the state playoffs this past spring posting impres sive numbers in several catego ries. This season’s softball team has already recorded a number of victories. BCHS is fortunate to have varsity coaches like Josh and Joe Lord. They give countless hours to their players and their programs. The work they put in during the summer months and off season often goes unnoticed by those outside of the softball and baseball programs but the long term dividends are being seen on the field. Successful programs are not made overnight. Anyone who knows about coaching can tell you that. I’ve seen first hand what the Lords have done for BCHS athletics. They work well together and the fact they coach as a team only benefits their respective programs and the school’s athletic program as a whole. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. E-mail comments about this column to chris @ mainstreetnews. com. FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL Lady Leopards fall in region opener to Jefferson PERFECT STRIKE Banks County High School pitcher Kim Thomas has performed well for the Lady Leopards during the early portion of the 2008 season. Photo by Lyn Sengupta BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School fast-pitch team softball team ushered in its Region 8-AA schedule Tuesday afternoon but could not overcome visiting Jefferson. The Lady Dragons emerged with a 7-2 win as they took advantage of a couple of big innings. Jefferson scored three runs in the top of the third and four in the top of the fifth to help secure the victory. “I was proud of the way we battle out of a few jams,” Lady Leopard coach Josh Lord said. “We came back to swing the bats better late in the game.” Offensively for BCHS, Hayley Baird con tinued her strong play with two hits and a run scored. Brittany Cook also delivered two hits and collected an RBI. Also contributing were Madison Franklin (hit, run) and Kim Thomas (hit, RBI.) Jordan Rogers got the start for the Lady Leopards Tuesday before giving way to Kim Thomas who worked the final 2.1 innings. Tuesday’s outing was the first time this season an opponent has scored more than three runs against BCHS. Prior to the Jefferson contest the Lady Leopards had a team earned run average of 1.53 with Rogers at 1.34 and Thomas at 1.87. At the plate, Baird led the team with a .351 mark followed by Denton at .343. Denton also led the team with eight RBI. The Lady Leopard coach expects the majority of the region contests this fall to be close. “We look for them to shape up like most of our other games so far — competetive contests,” Lord said. BCHS will travel to Rabun County today (Thursday) for a 5:55 p.m. contest. HOME DEBUT AWAITS The Banks County High School football team will make its home debut this week when the Leopards host Riverside Military Academy at 7:30 p.m. The contest is one of nine Region 8-AA contests for BCHS. Photo by Chris Bridges SIGNAL CALLER Senior quarterback Chris Porter will lead the Banks County High School football team into its home opener Friday against Riverside Military Academy. Photo by Chris Bridges BCHS set for 2008 home debut BY CHRIS BRIDGES After making the long trek to play Washington- Wilkes last Friday, the Banks County High School football team will be able to compete in the friendly confines of home this week. Riverside Military Academy is a program which also has a winning tradition. The Eagles, who are coming off a 21-20 victory over Class AAA Elbert County last Friday, also present a different kind of challenge for the Leopards and other mem bers of Region 8-AA. “They have kids from all over the country,” said BCHS coach Blair Armstrong. “When you look at their roster it’s like looking at a roster for a college team. I real ize not all of their kids go there to play college football, but some prob ably do.” The Leopard coaches watched Riverside during its preseason scrimmage and will have watched the Eagles on tape against Elbert. Armstrong said Riverside is not as big up front as Washington- Wilkes but runs a “good scheme.” “Their kids stay on campus and they have unlimited time with them,” The BCHS coach said. “I Coming up: believe What: BCHS hosts the y are Riverside Military going Academy to be When: Friday at one 7:30 p.m. of the top three or four teams in the region. We are going to have our work cut out for us. We are capable of winning, but we are going to have to play well.” Riverside runs a spread on offense, similar to Washington-Wilkes and will run a 4-4 defensive look. “Every game is impor tant from now on,” Armsrong said. “I believe the region race will go down to the last game of the regular season. It is going to be a battle for the four state playoff spots.” The Leopards remained a member of Region 8-AA this fall, but sev eral new schools moved in including Riverside. The Eagles have already proved in week one they are going to be a force to be dealt with by defeating Class AAA Elbert County. “We know this is going to be a tough game,” Armstrong said. JV FOOTBALL Schedule begins for Leopards BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School junior varsity foot ball team will begin its 2008 season this week playing the first of seven scheduled games. The JV Leopards are sched uled to travel to Oglethorpe County today (Thursday) for a 5 p.m. kickoff. The first three scheduled games for the BCHS JV are on the road this season. Following the opener this week, the team will travel to Riverside Sept. 11 (6:30 p.m.) and to Franklin County Sept. 18 (5:30 p.m.) An open week follows with the team then competing at home against Oglethorpe County Oct. 2. A home con test against Towns County is set for Oct. 9 before a road game agianst Jefferson Oct. 16 and a home game against Athens Academy Oct. 23. Fans should be reminded that scheduled JV games can be changed on a week- to-week basis depending on needs of the varsity squad. CROSS COUNTRY Teams set for new campaign BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School cross country teams are set to begin the 2008 sea son when they travel to East Jackson Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. meet. Veteran BCHS cross country coach Kelly McDuffie said her athletes have been dedicated in preparing for the upcoming year. “Things are going great,” the coach said. “Many of our run ners are making great strides. Our new home course (at the high school) is tougher than last year so many times prac tices are better than meets.” LOCAL RACING Pollard records win, Earnest takes scary ride at Peach State BY BRANDON REED Only one driver this year had recorded more than one victory on the Georgia Asphalt Series tour. Bubba Pollard, of Senoia, had twice visited victory lane. On Saturday night, he upped that number to three with a victory at Peach State Speedway. It wasn’t an easy one to win, either. Piloting the number 42 nor mally driven by Tony Clark, Pollard first had to chase down Commerce racer Taylor Satterfield. Then he had to duel longtime GAS series rival Paul Kelley, of Pendergrass, before pulling away for the win. “This was possibly the most fun I ever had racing,” said Pollard in victory lane. “Paul (Kelley) raced me clean and I’m thrilled to get Tony’s (Clark) car in victory lane." Kelley would finish second, despite a late spin off the fender of a lap car, and seemed equal ly as happy with his race against Pollard. “Wow, that was a blast racing with Bubba,” said Kelley. “I want to congratulate Bubba on his win.” See Racing on page 2B