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Sports
Phil Clark
Waldrip Sets
Example For
Volunteers
Ponder this question for a few
minutes. How many volunteer
hours go into producing the many
activities we enjoy every day?
Every project must have volun
teers, the most obvious being recre
ation. Coaches, groundskeepers,
chaperones...they're all volunteers.
And, it takes hundreds during the
course of a year just in little league
sports. Ben Hamrick at the Perry
Recreation Department would be
quick to tell you he’d have to close
up shop without volunteers. And
that's just one of many areas in
which volunteers play such a vital
role. Another is the Dogwood Fes
tival.
Let me tell you about one of
those volunteers. And first let me
say that it was tough to get this
man to talk enough about his many
contributions to gather the informa
tion for this article.
Harold Waldrip came to Perry in
1980 when his family opened
Harold’s Amoco convenience center
out near 1-75 on Sam Nunn Boule
vard. Harold was an outstanding
player in his own right, participat
ing in the Cordele recreation and
high school programs, despite a bad
back that kept him sidelined for his
sophomore and junior years.
But, his athletic exploits are not
the subject of this story. It's his
many volunteer activities.
For starters, take a look some
time at the Perry High School
baseball field. You’ll see one of the
most envied fields in this area.
Many teams coming to Perry to
play are impressed by the beauty
and the condition of the playing
field.
Harold Waldrip is responsible.
It's one of his pet projects, and not
many days go by without an ap
pearance at the field, cutting the in
field grass, manicuring the pitchers
mound or batters box, or just gen
erally sprucing up the place. His
hard work has paid tremendous divi
dends.
But this is not the first time
Harold Waldrip has undertaken such
a project. He did the same out at
Ocklahatchee Park, keeping the lit
tie league field in top condition for
many years. And it was Waldrip
along with his friends Lamar De-
Loach and Kim Mullins who actu
ally built the field for 13 & 14 year
old boys and the little girls' softball
field.
Waldrip did all of this while
running a couple of businesses in
Perry and coaching a little league
team. As I said, Waldrip is reluctant
to talk about his volunteer activi
ties, taking it almost as something
he is compelled to do. Quite obvi
ously, the man loves to be in
volved.
The Waldrip family is close
knit, each supporting the other in
their various activities. Son Dallas
is a mainstay on the Perry High
baseball team. Daughter Brittany
can be seen at Perry games working
in the press box. Eight-year-old
Dustin is playing little league
baseball, and that has Harold back
on the sidelines for his second stint
as a coach. Then there's young
Tyler, just two years old and sure to
be involved in sports. Harold's wife
Laura is the matriarch of the clan,
keeping an eye on all of them.
If you haven't already done so,
take in a Perry High baseball game
soon. Admire the baseball field as
others do. Ask Coach Bob Jones if
he could put his team on such a
well-manicured field without the
help of Harold Waldrip. He'll tell
you in a flash it would be impossi
ble.
How does Waldrip run two busi
nesses and still devote countless
hours to his volunteer work?
For starters, you can often find
him at the baseball field at the crack
of dawn. Or after dark. And Waldrip
told me "I am fortunate to have ex
cellent people working at my busi
nesses. This allows me to leave if I
need to."
The businesses are Harold’s
Amoco convenience center and Pre
cision Auto and Tire Service.
Sports Fun Day Set For Sunday
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Sunday will be a celebration of
individual, and team, athleticism as
the Perry Chamber of Commerce
hosts Family Fun Day at Rozar
Park.
Included in the festivities will be
several team and individual athletic
events. Family Fun Day will start
at 1 p.m. with coed softball and
tennis tournaments.
Melodie Burrus, who is coordi
nating Family Fun Day for the
Chamber, said that six teams had
signed up for the tournament so far.
She said she was hoping for at least
10 teams to make up the tourna
ment bracket.
The tennis tournament will fea
ture five age groups, 12 and under,
14 and under, 16 and under, 35 and
under, and 36 and up, in three cate
gories, girls and boys, men and
women, and singles and doubles.
Burrus said that registration for
the tennis tournament was slow,
but there were a lot of registration
forms for the tournament out. She
said around 40 players should be in
the tournament.
At 2 p.m. the Perry Exchange
Panthers
Split
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
The Perry High School tennis
team traveled to Warner Robins
Tuesday afternoon to take on future
region rival Houston County.
After losing their first two
matches, the women's team contin
ued on to get stronger on the year,
taking the Bears 4-1, running their
record to 3-2.
However, the men's team saw
their long season get longer, losing
ail five matches to the Bears, drop
ping to 0-5 on the year.
In women's singles play, Tara
Powers returned from a pulled mus
cle to beat Cindy Phin 8-0. Kather
ine Blount defeated Ada Montalvo
8-4.
The only win for the Bears in
singles play was Amber Bucannan's
win over Hilary Smith, 8-3 in the
number 2 singles match.
The Panthers took both doubles
matches. Amber Findley combined
with Jessica Brewer to defeat Sabe
rina Yancy and Allison Smiley 8-1.
Tiffany Hoover and Alexis
Nikiopolous defeated Sharia Palmer
and Heather Longbow 8-6.
"I thought we played pretty
well," said tennis coach Luke
Smith. "Anytime you win, you
have got to be reasonable pleased."
Please see Track, page 9A
Westfield Defeated By Knights 9-2 For Sixth Loss
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Windsor has started the 1994
GISA baseball season by making
short work of its opponents, ending
seven of its 10 games after five in
nings because of the 10 run
"mercy” rule.
Even though the Hornets fell to
Westfield Tuesday afternoon, 9-2,
the Hornets forced the Knights to
play the full seven innings. The
Hornets, 1-6, have forced the
Knights to play the full regulation
Perrv Thinclads Begin 94 Season
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sport* Editor
The Perry Panther track team
placed second in a quad meet Tues
day to start the season off.
However, if it wasn't for a dis
qualification in the mile relay, the
Panther thin clads would have won,
as they finished just six points be
hind Houston County, 107-101.
D.F. Douglas with 15 points and
Hawkinsville with 11 points
brought up the rear.
A mental mistake in the 300
meter race cost the Panthers other
points. A Panther runner, compet
ing in his first match, missed a
Georgia To Hold Hunting Public Hearings
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources Division will hold three additional
public hearings to solicit input on proposed changes to
the hunting regulations.
Following the hearings, the Board of Natural
Resources will consider the proposed rules and any
comments received in the hearing process at their
meeting on Friday, May 20 at 9 a.m. in the Kingsland
Club will feature a Kids Run for
Fun. Registration for the half-mile
event is $5, $6 the day of the race.
Also at 2 p.m., there will be a
horseshoe fun pitch. Participants
can sign up for the contest until the
time of the tournament. The tour
nament is free. There will be tro
phies and ribbons given out in adult
and junior divisions.
Starting at 2:15 p.m. will be
Kid's Games. Games will included
sack races, egg races, tug-O-war,
water balloon toss, etc.
Burrus said that there was a $1
entry fee for the Kid's Games. She
added the entry fee allowed the child
to participate in all'of the day's of
ferings. Registration will be the day
of the games.
There will be some games, such
as a three-legged sack race, that will
include parents. Burrus said that
parents could participate for free.
"It's one (event) where parents
need to have their cameras," said
Burrus of Kid's Games. "There are
some really good silly shots."
At 3:30 p.m., there will be a
basketball shooting contest for
Please see Fun Day, page 9A
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The rains came, wiping out a full day of sports for
Westfield and Perry. Westfield postponed a baseball
game against Stratford, which has not be
rescheduled, tennis match and golf; while Perry
postponed a baseball game against Jones County,
made up Friday, and a track meet.
game in both their meetings this
year.
The game was over early,
although Westfield would have sev
eral chances throughout the game to
get back in, collecting nine hits on
the afternoon to the Knights' 10
hits.
After retiring the Hornets in the
top of the first, the Knights put
their first four batters across the
plate to take the early 4-0 lead.
With two more runs in the second,
the Knights looked like they were
step. Instead of running over the
hurdle, he pulled up.
Vickers said that Houston
County scored 24-28 points in the
final few events to take home the
trophy.
Kieth Wimberly was the top
point man for the Panthers, scoring
15 points. Boris King contributed
14 points.
Vickers said there were several
surprises Tuesday afternoon, includ
ing John Martin's 4:59 mile.
Oziras Ezell, Wimberly, Stacy
Francis and Antonio Jones took
first in the 400 meter relay, which
Vickers called a surprise.
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Family Fun Day, March 27, and Carroll Street day, April 2, will give area residents a
good time to watch sports like this Perry Karate Club demonstration or participat
going to run away with the game,
leading 6-0.
However, Westfield would settle
down, with starter Sheldon Shelton
and reliever Brian Staines allowing
only three more runs in the final
five innings of play. Westfield
would crack the scoreboard in the
third and fourth innings of play.
However, the story of the game
was Windsor taking advantage of its
scoring opportunities, while the
Hornets left men at second and
third.
The Panthers took several other
first place finishes. Travis Felton
took first place honors with a 2:14
800 meter finish.
King had his second best throw
of a discuss, getting 150 feet. King
also took second in the high jump
and triple jump competitions.
Felton, Wimberley, Kiwaukee
Thomas and Carlton Felder took
first place honors in the mile relay.
In addition to being on the 400
meter and mile relay teams, Wim
berly took first place honors in the
100 and 200 meter dashes, beating
teammate Stacy Francis in both
races.
City Hall, in Kingsland.
The first public hearing will take place on Tuesday,
May 3, at 7 p.m. at the Fembank Museum of Natural
History, 767 Clifton Road, in Atlanta. Another hearing
will also be held on Tuesday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at the
Savannah Science Museum, 4405 Paulsen Street, in
Savannah. The third public hearing will be held on
Please see Hunting, page 9A
Houston Times-Journal
Saturday, March 26,1994 “Houston Times-Journa! -
Lady Hornets Take
Macon Schools
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sport* Editor
For the first time in Donna
Campbell’s career as women's track
coach at Westfield, the Lady Hor
nets beat the Macon schools at
track.
Participating in a quad meet in
Macon Wednesday afternoon, the
Lady Hornets defeated Tattnall and
FPD, which tied, 82-72. George
Walton brought up the rear, getting
four points.
"It really was (close)," said
Campbell. "We were down by two
points after the field events. We
won the 400 meter relay and took
the lead and held on for the rest of
the event."
Jenifer Smith and Stephanie Barr
were the leaders for the Hornets.
Smith collected 16.5 points, while
Barr collected 15.5 points.
"We always expect big things
out there (from Smith) and she de
livered," said Campbell. She added
that she was somewhat surprised by
Barr's performance. Barr is an
eighth grader.
Smith won the long jump; was
a member of the winning 400 meter
relay with Barr, Windy Biggers and
Jenifer Lane, which also finished
second in the 800 meter event; fin
ished second in the 100 meter dash
In the third, Staines scored on a
passed ball to break the zero on the
scoreboard for the Hornets. How-
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Westfield met Windsor for the second time this year,
losing both the GISA power.
Page 6A
and 200 meter dash.
Barr won the triple jump, was a
member of the 400 meter and 800
meter relays, and finished second in
the 400 meter dash.
Other winners were Audra
Calvin in the 3,200 meter race and
Mary Katherine Walker in the 1600
meter, metric mile, race.
Margaret Dudley finished second
in the high jump. Laurie Thomp
son finished second in the 100 me
ter high hurdles.
The men's division was easily
won by Tattnall, 94-58 over West
field. FPD finished third with 43
points, while George Walton came
up in last with seven points.
Brad Walton won the pole vault
with a vault of 10 feet. Matt Shep
ley took the 100 meter dash with a
time of 11.23 seconds, while Lon
Talton took the 800 meter run with
a time of 2:16.50.
The 400 meter relay team of
Shepley, Michael Wilkins, Travis
Watson and Nathan Greer took sec
ond with a time of 47.84 seconds.
Tom Newberry was second in die
800 meter run with a time of
2:24.7, while Greer finished second
in the 200 meters with a time of
25.36 seconds.
ever, the inning ended with a Hor
net batter standing on every base.
Please see Westfield, page 9A
