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Sports BBS Roley |||il||j|f Sports editor I After not really leaving, I'm back A funny thing happened on my way to Birmingham a couple Fridays bade. When companies get sold and combined with others companies, some employees lose. The newspa per business is not immune to that phenomena. So, as the last person hired by the Home Journal in Ocl, 1993,1 was not caught off-guard when I was told that I would not have a position with the Times-Joumal. So. I said my goodbyes and made my plans to return to Birmingham, where my mom lives, and lode for a new job or, perhaps, even return to school. However, just before I left for Al abama's Magic City, sports editor Bill Overton decided to take a posi tion with the Daily Sun. Luckily, I was able to get the position when he left Although I have some experience with Perry spots, helping Bill out from time to time, I realize that I am the new kid on the block. I have a vague understanding of sports in Perry, dimly seeing the rivalries that give sports their life, hearing whis pers of past Perry state champi onships. I will need your help if I am to cover Perry adequately. School spots arc easy to get to, I have the schedules and phone numbers to call the coaches. However, I want to cover more than the events that hap pen at the three schools—Perry Mid dle, Perry High and Westfield. I would like to cover Perry's recreational sports. A town the size of Perry must have competitive golfers, runners, racers, etc. If some one wins a race, wins a fishing tour nament, wins a golf tournament, wins a tennis tournament, etc., I would like to know about it. As 1 said, covering school sports is easy. All I have to do is get to the game or call the coach afterwards. But, I need to your help covering the individual sports. I would also like to start a "sports calender” on these pages. A newspa per is supposed to inform its readers about the meetings, events and other happenings in a community. The sports page should be no different, serving its readership by providing information about events in the fu ture. However, I don't run, play golf or tennis, ex’ spend a great deal of time talking about fishing tournaments. Again, I need your help. If you are planning a softball tournament, let me know. If your club or group is planning a golf tournament, drop me a line I'm looking for fishing tournaments, 10 Ks and marathons, bowling leagues, and almost anything else that hap pens in "hobby" sports. I would like to publicize what is happening in Perry. But, I can't tell about what I don't know. I really need your help, drop me a line. One quick note about my philos ophy on sports. I realize that most of what I cover will be played by amateurs. The love of the game is far more important than who wins or loses. Rarely, if ever, will you find criticism of a player or coach on my pages. While I certainly do not wish to whitewash what happens, I am not going to set myself up as a coach or player. Just because I disagree with a play called by a coach or with a substitution by a coach, I do not have the right, or obligation, to crit icize, even when a team is losing. I try to make sure that I do not use my sports pages to make up for a coaching career that I will not have, nor even want. I will also try to put the efforts of the athlete performing in the best light. Occasionally, I might have to record on these pages where someone missed a catch, free-throw or tackle. However, most of the time you will hear only of a missed free throw by the Panthers, a defensive miss by the Hornets or an error by the second baseman. Before I go, a note about the final four. Seems that Georgia Tech was disappointed in not being invited to the field of 64, and will have to con tent itself with the NIT. Yes, the Yellow Jackets did have some great victories; but, they also had some outstanding losses. One day they Plmhm Roby, pags 7A '94 Panther Baseball Team Young By VETO F. ROLEY Sport* Editor Most coaches in Bob Jones' shoes would be looking to the future. Jones, the head coach of the Panther baseball program, will send out more freshmen in any given game than seniors. Of his three seniors, only Dallas Waldrip plays everyday. Waldrip, a three-year starter, is also the only senior who saw significant playing experience for the Panthers in last season's campaign. At least four freshman and three sophomores will see significant playing time, said Jones. In addition to having a dearth of senior players, Jones said the team only had three juniors. "Inexperience is going to be the biggest obstacle that faces us,” said Jones. "As a team, we just don't have people who have varsity expe rience." Yet, instead of looking entirely to the future, Jones keeps one eye on the present. "The way things are set up," he said, ”we can go into this thing and win it (the region championship). A lot of things have to take place and a lot of things have to go our way.” Jones said that baseball was not a predictable game, adding that a team that you beat 14-0 one day could turn around and beat you 1-0 the next day. H mk Bjk. 9k 9b m " K-. Wr mt l Sr m 9K Wr ME « B W Juki IB H m I m m % “ jSjte ft BIBhL Sheldon Shelton uncorks a pitch against John Mllledge Saturday afternoon In Macon. Hornets Lose Heartbreaker By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor Westfield was so close to its first win of the season. After tying John Milledge in the top of the seventh, the Hornets saw their chances at beating John Milledge fade into the Macon after noon with a two-out hit by Brad Sappe, giving Milledge the 6-5 win. Under the ground rules of the Tattnall tournament, the first in ning would have determined the winner if the game ended in a tie after the time limit had expired. The Hornets had led after one, 2-0. "That’s one we shouldn't have let get away from us," said Bert Brown, head coach of the Hornets. "We had three or four crucial errors late in the game that allowed them to get back in (the game). We would have won it if we had fin ished in a tie (because of the ground rules)." The Hornets stung Milledge early. The first batter of the game, Matt Shepley, reached first on an error by the shortstop. Brian Staines drew a walk to place run ners on first and second. One out later, Jake Walls singled to left to load the bases. Lon Talton grounded to short, scoring Shepley. Staines came in when the shortstop went to third for the out, over throwing the bag. Milledge scored once in the third. In the fourth, Milledge took advantage of three hits and two Hornet errors to put three runs across to take a 4-2 lead. The Hornets roared back in the top of the fifth. Shepley reached with one-out on an infield single to third. One out later, Troy Nuss parked a Milledge pitch over the left-center field fence to tie the score at four. "We've got some good young ball players," said Jones. "They are playing well as a unit. We are going to beat some folks that maybe we shouldn't beat. "They (the young players) go out and play," he said. "They don't know that this team is supposed to do this." However, before the Panthers can make their reservations for the state playoffs, they must first win the region. Jones said several teams would be standing, in the way of Perry. First would be Ware County, who won the region last year. "Ware County has a tremendous program," said Jones. He added tha: Ware County only lost around three players from last year's nine. Jones said that Wayne County and Fitzgerald could also make some noise in the region, since they also lost very few players to graduation. Jones County could also make noise with a new coach, but an experienced team. "Those four teams are going to be really strong," said Jones. "Pitching is something that really concerns me," said Jones, who added that he only had three good pitchers. "When you play three games a week and you only have three pitchers, you don't have much leeway as far as the bullpen is con- Please see Perry, page 7A In the fifth, however, Milledge would come back to take a 5-4 lead. With one out, Spencer Bass singled off Hornet starter Sheldon Shelton. He later stole second and scored on Jason Young’s single to center. Young was thrown out for the sec ond out of the inning trying to go to second on the throw to the plate. Jay Grimes reached on an error to continue the Milledge rally. A walk to Bard Sappe put runners on first and second. With Sheldon tiring and the game slowly slipping from reach, Brown brought his ace, Lon Talton, in from shortstop, putting him on the hill. Talton was able to end the Milledge rally with a strike-out. At the end of five, Milledge had the 5- 4 advantage. With one out in the top of the seventh, Westfield lead off man Shepley again sparked a rally, reaching on a second infield single to third. Shepley went to third when the Milledge pitcher threw Michael Davis' swinging bunt away at first. Davis would later steal second to put runners at first and second for the Hornets, with Nuss at the plate. Faced with an 0-2 count, Nuss went for his second homer of the afternoon. However, the ball fell just short of the left-center field fence with the Milledge centerfielder hauling in the long fly ball for the second out. Nuss was able, how ever, to get the ball deep enough to allow Shepley to trot in with the tying run. Bass led off the Milledge half of the seventh with a single to left. He advanced to second with a stolen base. However, Nuss, who had taken Pleas* sea Hoartbraakar, page 7A Hornets Lose To Vikings By VETO F. ROLEY Sport* Editor The Westfield defense allowed 10 errors, two passed balls and eight unearned runs as FPD handed the Hornets their fourth loss, 9-2, Monday afternoon. Westfield errors were the name of the game Monday afternoon, as Hornet hurlers Troy Nuss and Michael % Davis allowed only four hits and four walks to Viking bat ters. The Hornet offense was kept at Netters Split With Tattnall By VETO F. ROLEY Sport* Editor Westfield netters split Monday afternoon with Tattnall in Macon, with the women's team winning 5- 4 and the men's team losing 6-3. Perry tennis coach Jenny Crooms said the men's team was hampered by having only five play ers, forcing a forfeit in one of the singles matches and one of the dou bles matches. Liz Lane and Cindy Dunaway led the women over Tattnall Square. Lane won her singles match, defeat ing Emma Drexel 8-4. She later Golf Team Starts With Win By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor The Homet golf team got off to a great start on the 1994 season, beating Tattnall Square Academy Monday afternoon 314/-342 at Perry Country Club. The Westfield duffers had four players to crack 80. Homet Ed Stricklin was named the match Lady Hornet Softball Clinic The Lady Homet softball clinic will be held this Saturday, March 19, at Westfield schools, said West field softball coach Donna Camp bell. Campbell said the clinic was open to the public. There is a fee of S2O. Participants can register the day of the clinic, or register at Westfield. «.s . ilfw • jpnfS '-V 'VS*. i • “ f L£-M.iQ x w M. T' •' M |§||||g§ Perry 100 Inning Baseball Game ——T Thad Cook (*2, running) boat* out a single in the Perry Panther 100 Inning baseball game Saturday. Flrstbaaeman Tim Allen (023) wait* tor the throw a* Cook run* by. Houston Times-Journal « JllJ*'' Perry Panther Baseball Membws of the Perry Panther baseball team Include Travis Cantrell Thad Cantrell, Joey Pope, Nathan Long, Billy McDaniels, Jay Breaux Derrick Oliver, Jason Brett, Terry Yawn, Paul Loremano, Joaquin Gonzalez Jama/ Reynolds, Jamie Walker, Jonathan Edes, Randy Snow, Troy Davis’ Adam Lancaster, Dallas Waldrip, Tim Allen and Ben Hutbert. The Panthers thl ??? Brown ' PorTy /ws rebounded since being beat 10-0 In Wwff/sf game of the season, and are currently 3-2 overall, 1-0 In the re- bay all afternoon by Bivins and Walker. The two Viking pitchers combined on a two-hitter, giving up six walks. The FPD defense was solid behind their pitchers, giving up only three errors. After giving up a run in the top of the second, the Hornets came back in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Walks to Jeff Dehem and Sheldon Shelton and a single by Clay Smith loaded the bases. Lon Talton put the first Hornet run across the plate with a fielder's combined with Marla Massey to de feat Kimberly Faulkner and Jennifer Wnsch in doubles. Dunaway defeated Susan Stouffer in singles play 8-4. She combined with Katie Davidson to beat the Tattnall team of Stouffer and Kim berly Langley, 9-7. Leslie Davis and Susanna Turner took the other match for the Hor nets, defeating Katy Thompson and Drexel 8-6. "I think they played great," said Crooms. She explained that the Hornets were delayed in getting to Tattnall because of a wreck on In medalist with a low score of 77. However, he faced stiff competition from his teammates, Todd Rigdon, Robert Harrison and Brian Nash, who shot 79s on the day. Westfield golf coach Marvin Arrington said that the entire team played Monday. Scott Hill, with an 81, and Larry Thompson, with an 82, were just off the pace set by the The clinic is open to girls, age 6- 13. Campbell said they should bring gloves, tennis shoes or cleats and a sack lunch. She said a drink will be provided at the clinic, and bringing a bat was optional. The clinic will start at 9:30 a.m., lasting until 2 p.m. Campbell's teammates on the Macon, Ga„ Blaze Wednesday, March 16,1994 Page 6A choice to short. Despite defensive troubles, the Hornets hung tough, giving up a single run in the third and two runs in the fifth. Talton started the bottom half of the fifth with a walk. Billy Kitchens walked to put runners at first and second. One out later, Brian Staines reached on an error by the third baseman, loading the bases. Talton scored on a wild pitch to bring Westfield to within two at Plmm see Weotflold, page 7A terstate 75 North. "I don’t think they got close to warming up like they should have,” she said. The men's team had only one winner in the singles competition as Jeff Dortch defeated Dennis Rus sell 8-6. Travis Watson and John Shipley combined to beat Josh Gilstran and Michael Kil 8-6. Dortch combined with Lawton Pearson to beat the Tattnall pair of Brook Calvert and Tony Farmer 8- 6. "As the season goes alone," said Crooms, "we will be ok. I thought they did a good job." four top Westfield golfers. "After one match, it's hard to tell (where the golf team is)," said Arrington. "We are a young team. "Shooting 314 is respectable," said Arrington. "Having four (golfers) in the 70s is good. I would expect (scores) to get lower as the season progresses.” women's softball team will instruct at the camp. The Blaze won the 1993 Georgia Class "A" softball ti tle. Campbell said anyone with any questions could contact her at West field, 987-0547. The clinic is the seventh annual softball clinic that Campbell has held at Westfield.