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Sports
Overton I
Sports editor
Saying So Long
To Some Good
Memories
It seems like just yesterday when
I was writing my first column for
The Houston Home Journal back
on September 25,1993.
The first week was like a dream.
I didn't know anybody, but I was
treated like I was somebody. Most
people seemed excited about my
position and that, in return, made
me excited.
I really thought that I'd be at the
Journal for at least a year, maybe
even two. And I've got to say that
after nearly six months, I'm just
now getting to a comfort level, at
least with the people of the sports
community.
But sometimes you have to do
things that you think will be in
your best interest. And that's why
I'm moving on up the road to
Warner Robins starting Monday.
On one hand, I'm ecstatic. It's a
daily paper and that's a step in
the right direction. Conversely, I'm
disappointed that I won't get a
chance to spend the summer at the
Journal. Believe me, at this point,
nothing thrills me more than the
prospect of baseball and I was
looking forward to covering the
Perry and Westfield teams.
But I do get a chance to write
this final column filled with a little
retrospect. I guess it's a little
highlight reel of the time I've spent
in Perry.
September, 1993
Nothing like moving to
Georgia. I moved in on a 95-degree
Sunday afternoon, with my step dad
and my mom helping. I'll never
forget that night because I got
about an hour of sleep thanks to the
heat. It took a little adjusting on
my part.
The first paper I was in charge of
was a Saturday edition. Perry was
playing Jordan that evening and I
wrote the story about 11 p.m. and
by the time I finished laying it out,
it was about 1 a.m. That wasn't too
bad according to Brian Lawson, the
former sports editor who helped me
out that week.
After I dropped the paper off in
Warner Robins to be printed, I hit
the highway for seven-and-a-half
hours on my way to the N.C.
State-North Carolina football game.
Only my love for the Wolfpack
would make me do such a thing. Or
was it stupidity?
I arrived in Raleigh at about nine
in the morning. Talk about a first
weekend
October, 1993
A couple of things stick out in
my mind. The first is the Westfield
softball team going to the GISA
final four in Tifton when I thought
the Hornets would be lucky just to
be in the playoffs.
The other, more controversial
action came after a column I wrote
after Perry beat heavily-favored
Ware County to break a three-game
losing streak. Here's what I wrote:
'lt's amazing the difference a
week can make for Perry head
Coach John Stephens.
Stephens, who was baffled by
his team's play in a 26-7 loss to
Wayne County two weeks ago
couldn't figure out what was wrong
with his team.
Was it the effort? Was it the
coaching? Was it the mental
mistakes? Was it the execution?'
Boy, did I get some dirty looks
about that How dare I question the
coaching ? A few people were pretty
nasty to me.
I talked with Stephens after the
Fitzgerald win and told him that if I
slandered him in any way, I was
sorry. He smiled and it didn't seem
to bother him. He said that coaches
can't expect to live in 'glass
houses.'
But I think I had made my first
enemies, at least among the public.
November, 1993
The other enemies I made were
from the Woods n' Water page,
although I think many of them
have not come forward.
Honestly, I really don't know
anything about hunting, fishing,
etc. I guess I'm a wimp.
I'll never forget going to Forsyth
for a "Hunters for the Hungry"
press conference at the Rum Creek
Wildlife Management Area along
with about 10 other "experienced"
Pleaso see OVERTON, page 8A
Campbell To Resign
After School Year
By BILL OVERTON
Sports Editor
Citing the desire to move on to
the next level, Donna Campbell, a
nine-year teacher and coach at
Westfield Schools, announced her
resignation Thursday.
Campbell said that she hopes to
coach at the collegiate level and that
further schooling would be
necessary for her to coach. She
currently holds a bachelor's degree
from Georgia College.
"It's basically a career move,"
Campbell said. "It's something I've
been toying around with for a
while."
Campbell, 31, will finish out
the 1994 school year, performing
her duties as a physical education
instructor and track and field coach.
She plans to enroll in Georgia
College's health and physical
education graduate program this
summer.
In her nine years as head softball
coach at Westfield and seven years
as head girls basketball coach,
Campbell's teams have experienced
a wealth of success in the playing
r mk m
Lon Talton Urea away In Westfield's loss to Windsor.
Awards Dominated
By Smith, Talton
By BILL OVERTON
Sport* Editor
Sophomore Jennifer Smith
and senior Lon Talton seemed to
always be able to lend an extra
hand to their respective Westfield
teams during the 1993-94
basketball season.
But Tuesday night. Smith and
Talton were the ones who needed
an extra hand to help carry all
the hardware the picked up at the
annual basketball awards banquet
held at Westfield.
Smith was named girls’ most
valuable player. Talton was
named most valuable player for
the boys. Smith was named
Houston Times-Joumal player of
the year for girls. Talton was
honored with the award for boys.
im pp 9 smßk
Lon Tilton and Jannlfar Smith ware raapactlva wlnnara
of tha Houaton Tlmaa-Journal Player of the Year.
arena. In addition to coaching four
GISA region softball champions,
Campbell had two teams to win the
state softball championship in 1986
and 'B7. She holds a career record of
165-79.
Campbell's basketball teams
have won the region championship
once (1991) and went to the final
four once (1992). Her career record
is 87-78 sifter an 11-15 season in
1993-94.
But Campbell's guidance will be
missed more in the classroom,
according to Westfield Headmaster
Dr. Michael Drake.
"You never like to lose anybody
the caliber of a Donna Campbell,"
Drake said. "She's not only a good
coach; she's as good as P.E.
instructor as I've ever seen."
Campbell broke the news to her
players Wednesday, and the reaction
was one of shock more than
anything.
"I think it was very unexpected
(for the players)," Campbell said.
"It surprised most of them. I know
some of them are taking it hard.
But I think the girls will be just
Smith made all-region and all
state. So did Talton.
It was that kind of night for
the duo. "Anything you can do, I
can do better," must have been
the rallying cry.
Smith, in only her second
year at the varsity level, averaged
a team-high 17 points a game
from her center position. She
had nine boards a game and shot
46 percent from the field.
Talton was equally
impressive, averaging 14 points
a game along with four rebounds
and two steals. He shot 45
percent from the field and 71
percent from the line.
However, there were other
awards given out on the evening.
The complete list of winners is
on page BA.
fine in time."
"She's been my coach for four
years," said senior Jeanna Bishop,
who has played softball and
basketball under Campbell. "I know
it's going to be tough on the
younger kids now that there's a new
coach. It's going to be difficult for
them to adjust to somebody else."
Despite the suddenness of
Campbell's decision, most feel that
the move was imminent
"If she wants to better herself, I
don't blame her," said first-year
teacher and coach Jenny Crooms.
"She's been here nine years. There's
no doubt in my mind that Donna
should be coaching in college. I feel
like she's that good of a coach."
Drake, Principal Marvin
Arrington and the Westfield
Athletic. Committee will now begin
an immediate search for someone to
fill the vacancy.
"We will start right away
collecting resumes," Drake said.
"Depending on the quality of the
applicants, we hope to have
someone in place as soon as
possible."
Knights Pound Hornets
By VETO F. ROLEY
Staff Wrltar
Windsor provided the power and
pitching as the Knights spoiled
Westfield's season opener Tuesday
afternoon, 10-1.
Alossius Evan kept the West
field bats silent all afternoon, pitch
ing the first six innings of the
game, giving up only two hits and
four walks while striking out 11
Hornets. Three Knight batters sent
Hornet pitches out of the park to
spark the Windsor offense, includ
ing a solo shot by Evan in the sec
ond inning.
Even with the loss, Westfield
coach Bert Brown saw several
things that made him happy.
"The outfielders, with the excep
tion of one time when they threw
the ball to the wrong base, played
pretty well," said Brown. "I thought
a couple of infielders, particularly
Clay Smith (who started at second),
had a couple of good plays. I'm
happy with the way Troy Nuss hit
the ball."
Nuss had two of the Hornets'
three hits, including both hits off
Waldrip
Celebrates
In Style
By VETO F. HOLEY
Staff Wrltar
Dallas Waldrip threw a birthday
party Thursday afternoon, inviting
as his honored guests the members
of the Perry baseball team.
Celebrating his 18th birthday,
the Perry lefthander struck out 11
Dodge County batters and con
tributed a first inning grand slam,
leading the Perry Panthers to a 15-1
route of the Indians.
With the win, the Panthers in
creased their season mark to 3-2.
The game was also the region
opener for the Panthers. Waldrip
was on the mound for all three of
Perry's wins.
"Dallas Waldrip came out and
took charge," said Perry head coach
Bob Jones.
The game was never in doubt
from the first inning. Travis ~
Cantrell and Terry Yawn started the
Perry half of the first with singes.
A walk to Derrick Oliver loaded the
bases and set the stage for Waldrip.
Indian hurler Jon Peacock
worked the count against Waldrip
full. Trying to avoid throwing a
ball which would result in the first
PAK Travels To Championships
By BILL OVERTON
Sports Editor
The Hae San Martial Arts
Association will hold its 1994
regional championships today in
Warner Robins.
Over 350 martial artists from all
over the southeast and six rings of
action will highlight today's
showdown at Houston County
High School. Included in the
tournament will be the 50-60
member contingent of the Perry
Athletic Karate club.
The PAK should be stronger
Houston Times-Journal
Page 6A
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Donna Campbell will laava Waatflald Schoola following the
1903-94 aehool year. She haa won 165 gamea In nine yeara
of coaching aoftball and 87 gamea In seven yeara of
baaketball.
Evan.
Brown said that his major con
cern was not winning or losing the
ballgame, but getting playing time
for his players and pitchers. "We
were not concerned with wining,"
he said. "It was not a region ball
game." The Hornets saw 15 players
enter the game.
"We hung around," said Brown,
who noted the Knights were up
only 5-1 after five innings. How
ever, the Knights scored five runs
in the final two innings, four in the
final inning. "That's what you get
when you switch folks around," he
said.
"li's early in the season," said
Brown. "We are doing a lot of shuf
fling around. We are trying to get
ready for the region."
Perry took the early lead. With
two outs in the bottom of the first,
Sheldon Shelton walked, advancing
to second on a wild pitch. Nuss put
him across the plate for the Hor
nets' first run of the season with a
single to right
However, the Knights would
quickly take over die game from the
' ' .. ; yv:.... -.• »*
§ ? :
Dallas Waldrlp connects on his grand alam In the first Inning.
Perry run of the game being walked
across the plate. Peacock went for a
strike. Waldrip deposited the errant
, pitch across the left-center pitch for
the slam.
Perry would score an additional
six runs in the inning, to take a 10-
0 lead into the second.
4 The Panthers would add one in
the second and two in both the third
and fifth innings. Dodge County
than ever, taking five Black Belts
into competition. But Perry Head
Instructor Chad Lewis expects all of
the classifications to do well.
"While I like the looks of our
lower ranks to do well," Lewis said,
"it's the advanced ranks that I'm
looking to bring home the
hardware.”
Perry hopes to continue its
strong performance of the fall
regional championship, where it
had a winning percentage of 119
percent in Wrightsville, Ga.
-Saturday, March. 121994 “ Houston Times-Journal
Hornets. Billy Morstead and Evan
led off the second with back-to-back
solo shots to give Windsor the lead.
The Knights would add two runs
in the fourth, one in the fifth and
sixth, and four in the seventh.
Eight of the nine Knight starters
collected hits against Hornet bat
ters, with Evan and Matt Griffiths
getting two hits each.
For the Hornets, Nuss got two
hits, and the only RBI, to lead the
Westfield attack. Jake Walls singled
in two trips to the plate for only
other Hornet hiL
Lon Talton started on the mound
for the Hornets and took the loss,
going three innings iuid giving up
two runs, earned, on two hits. Both
hits were solo homeruns in the sec
ond. He also struck out three
Knight batters.
"(Talton) only allowed two hits
and didn't walk anyone," Brown
said, who said the senior pitcher is
the ace of the Homet staff. "We
seem to play a little better defense
when he is on the hill."
Brian Staines relieved Talton in
Please see KNIGHTS, page 8A
would avoid the shutout, getting
one run in the third off three hits.
The Perry Panthers have come a
long way since opening day when
they were no-hit by Jackson, losing
10-0. "It was among die worst days
I can remember us ever having,"
said Jones.
"It's a slow moving process,"
said Jones of turning his inexperi-
Please see WALDRIP, page 8A
There will be form and sparring
events beginning at 10 a.m.
General admission is $6.
"I'm extremely excited about this
tournament and I expect us to do
well," Lewis said. "We've got a lot
more, experience this year than ever
before and a lot of new faces that
should do well.
"While I want to see us do well,
the ultimate goal of this
tournament is to pull together as a
team and have a good time working
together."