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- Wednesday, April 13,1994 “Houston Times-Journal Page 6A Sports Veto F. L Roley I Sports editor I Area physicals set for May 21 at hospital Perry Hospital will be offering physicals for the 1994-95 sports season on May 21, 1994. Chip McCarty, athletic trainer for both Westfield and Perry, says that it is highly suggested that any one wanting to play any high school or middle school sport to make an effort to be at the hospital for the physicals that Saturday. The cost will be $5. The physi cal is mandated by state law. More information on the physicals will follow in this section as May 21 approaches. Region race heating up Make it a point to get out to ei ther the Panther Pit or to Westfield in the coming few days. While both the Hornets and Pan thers are battling problems caused by inexperience, Bert Brown and Rob Jones have gotten their teams into position to make a run for the region playoffs. The Hornets have had a difficult season, winning only two games. However, both of those wins have come in the region, and both have come on the road. On Monday, the Hornets were in a three-way tie for second, with six more games re maining in the region schedule. With four teams from the region going to the playoffs, it is not in conceivable that Westfield, as part of a five-team region, has already assured itself of a spot in the post season. The Hornets next play George Walton in Perry Thursday, starting at 4:30. As of Monday, the Panthers had a tougher road than the Hornets, still trying to find a ticket to the end-of-the season dance. However, the Panther’s fate was still in their own hands. Tuesday's game against Fitzger ald, played after the paper's deadline, is critical, especially after the Pan thers lost late to the Purple Hurri canes in Perry. A win in Fitzgerald sets up an interesting match Friday against Ware County, who has the best record in the region. Jones had said the Panthers should be able to force a playoff for the final playoff position if they win three of the final four games, providing they beat Jones County, Monday, April 18. The game will be played in Gray, starting at 6:30 p.m. A matter of respect Journalism got another black eye a few days ago, this time from ESPN2's Jim Rome. It is one thing to ask the tough questions, to demand the hard an swers; it is another to insult the person you interview. Rome repeat edly insulted Jim Everett by calling him "Chris Evert," even after Ev erett asked him to stop. Well, as you perhaps have heard by now, to put it simply, Rome continued to run his mouth and Ev erett shut him down, physically. An interviewer should always show the respect due to the person he is interviewing. Rome did not show that respect to Everett. And, Rome paid for it. Oh, to be like Mike For those on the Mike watch, Jordan finally got his first two hits of the season while playing for the AA Birmingham Barons. Having a player of Jordan’s stature is not unusual for the B inn ingham club, which has been called the best AA franchise in the United States. When Bo was rehabing his hip for the Chisox he spent a few days in a Barons' uniform. Birmingham has often been looked at as a stepping stone to the Major Leagues. Most of the current members of the Chicago White Sox have played in the Magic City, in cluding the Big Hurt, went from Birmingham to Chicago. Since Frank Thomas has arrived in the Windy City, he has proven that Jackson was not necessarily the best baseball player on the Auburn team, football or baseball. When Bill Veeck owned both the Barons and the Oakland A's, Birm ingham became the unofficial AAA team for the A's. Such future stars as Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fin gers first stopped by Rickwood Field before playing in the World Series. I hope Jordan makes it to the Pleasa see flo/ay, page 7A Hornets lose Heart Breaker to Athens By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Cliches sometimes prove them selves to be true. Baseball is called a game of inches. Against Athens Christian Friday night, that cliche came back to haunt the Hornets as the West field firstbaseman narrowly missed tagging Athens' Gamer in the sev enth. Gamer would come around a score the winning run as Athens would hand the Hornets their second region loss, 6-5. As it has been for much of the season, a late inning rally spelled doom for Westfield. After leading for most of the game, the Hornets allowed five runs in the bottom of the seventh, allowing Athens Christian to win the game. The loss puts the Hornets into a three-way tie for second in the re gion with six games remaining on the region schedule. However, Westfield coach Bert Brown said that his team was not concentrating on the region race. "We are concentrating on trying to get a win," said Brown. "I'm con- Hall of Fame Tourney set BY PETER SNIPES Special to the HTJ The deadline for nominations for the Houston County Golf Hall of Fame, housed at Houston Lake Country Club, is April 28, an nounced Peter Snipes, media direc tor for the Houston County Hall of Fame Golf Tournament. Nominees to the Hall will be evaluated on their long-time contri butions to the game in Houston County. Currently, there are five members of the Hall: Alan White, Brown McDonald Sr., Eddie Wig gins, Eddie Causey and Bobby Jones. Information on the nominating process can be obtained by contact ing the pro shop at any of the six member courses of the Houston County Golf Association. The member courses are Houston Lake Country Club, the Landings, Wa terford Golf Club, Pine Oaks Golf Please see Golf, page 7A Hornets improve to 6-0 By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Hornet golfers continued their march to an undefeated season Sat urday with a 305-313 defeat of Tat tnall at the Golf Course of Macon Monday afternoon. Golf coach Marvin Arrington said the scores were a little mislead ing since par on the Macon golf course was 70, instead of a normal 72. "I thought they would have shot better than they did," said Arring ton. "The course was in good shape and the weather was good." "Still, they were good scores." Eighth-grader Robert Harrison was the low medallist in the match, shooting a four-over-par 74. ”1 knew his potential," said Arrington. "He made all the cuts (to be on the Hornet five man team). He doesn't Ware Co. Gators blast Perry at Waycross vm* jar Efenf «c\ J 1 Hop-$Jr4S' llj I . - . ■ ■ ■' ' Derrick Oliver crosses the plate against Ware County In Waycross. Oliver, one of Perry’s young freshmen, has enjoyed a great season behind the plate, throwing out many baserunners this vear. cemed with the boys getting a win. We have lost two tough region ball games." Brown said that once his team got a win, they could then "look at the forest, instead of the trees." Even though the Hornets are looking for the win, Brown said Westfield was still very much in the region race, saying that the Hornets needed at least two more victories to be assured of a place in post-season play. "A couple of wins will put us back in the thick of things," said Brown. Last inning kills Hornet at FPD By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Westfield is still have trouble with the late innings. Saturday, the Hornets traveled to FPD in Macon to take on Alabama Independent School Association member Glenwood. The Gators would score six runs in their final at-bat to take the come-from-behind victory 10-6. After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Hornets would storm back with five runs in the top of the sec ond to take a 5-3 lead. Although the Gators would add one run in the bottom of the second to cut the Hornet lead to one, pitch ers Sheldon Shelton and Lon Talton would make the lead hold up through the middle innings, allow ing only two base runners before the sixth. The Gators would explode for their six runs off five hits and two Hornet errors. "We have to play seven full in nings," said Westfield coach Bert Brown. "Anything less is not going to do iL" Brown said that inexperience is hurting his team. Although the Hornets have six seniors in uni form, Brown can only count on two returning players, losing six posi tion players and his designated hit ter from last year's team. The Hornets scored their first run of the game against Glenwood without the benefit of a hit. With one out, Greg Adams, Jeff Dehem and Lee Talton walked, while Clay Smith was hit by a pitch to produce the first run. hit as long out the tee; but, he has a good short game." Three other Hornet duffers came within five strokes of Harrison's pace. Todd Rigdon and Ed Strick land were just two strokes behind Harrison, finishing the day with a pair 765. Scott Hill rounded out the four top scores with a 79. Keith Culley goes to UG By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Freshwoman Marina Culley took her first trip to the state girls championship Saturday at the Uni versity of Georgia, finishing 20 strokes off the winning pace with a 92. Perry High School golf coach Johnny Barton said that the Cul The Hornets jumped out to the immediate lead. With one out, Thad Hawk walked. Troy Nuss doubled to put runners at second and third. Lon Talton scored Hawk with a sac rifice fly to left. Nuss scored on Jake Walls' single to left, giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead. The Hornets would build on that lead in the top of the second. Again with one out, Westfield would start a rally. Greg Adams would get the ball rolling for the Hornets, collecting an infield single. Michael Davis doubled, putting runners on second (Si - &SBBI ' r ■ '* - - '* >.% 1 ■ -tIW y t ** -’* || WL |J , Thad Cook beats out a single late In the game against Glenwood. Although Glenwood was respon sible for the first run, Billy Kitchens was responsible for the next three, clearing the bases with a double to left Troy Nuss singled to left to bring Kitchens in, giving the Hornets the 5-3 lead. Westfield would come back to score one run in the seventh. With one out, Nuss tripled to center. Jake Walls would drive Nuss in with a solid single to left. Davis shot an 85 for the Hornets. Thursday the Hornets will travel to George Walton to look at the course where the region champi onship will be played. Arrington said it will be the first time a cou ple of his players have played the course. Please see Westfield, page 7A ley's "woods and iron play was very good." The course at the University of Georgia is covered with green bent grass, which was "very slick.” Bar ton said that Culley had trouble putting on the bent grass. In addition to Culley, Perry se nior Cindy Dawkins also played. Houston Times-Journal and third. A two-out walk to Hawk loaded the bases. Nuss, who has paced the Hornets all season, came through again with his second double of the night, scoring Adams and Davis. Athens Christian would not allow Nuss to do any more damage, walking him his last two trips to the plate. Athens would break the zero on the scoreboard with a single run in the third. However, the Hornets would take advantage of Athens Christian generosity to get the run back in the top of the fifth. Nuss, Lon Talton, and Walls The Hornets would have one other chance to score in the game, coming in the sixth inning. Lance Watson opened the sixth with a walk. Dehem followed with a sin gle. One out later, Thad Hawk beat out an infield single to load the bases. However, the inning ended when Matt Shepley grounded to second. Hawk was tagged out by the second Trojans rule Rozar courts By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer The Westfield netters played through a long day at Rozar Park Saturday, with Tattnall Square Academy beating the women’s team 5-4 and the men's team 8-1. In women's play, Cindy Dunaway and Katie Davidson won in singles play. Dunaway defeated Susan Stofer 9-7, while Davidson de feated Joanna Boone 84. Dunaway and Davidson combined in doubles play to defeat Boone and Stofer 8-5. The other victory for the women was turned in by Leslie Davis and Susanna Turner who defeated the Trojans double team of Katie Thompson and Emma Drexel 9-7. Marla Massey had the misfortune of meeting Alisha Witherall in singles play. Witherall, who Westfield tennis coach Jenny Crooms said played on the junior pro circuit, beat Massey 8-1. Tattnall's Kris Willis beat Liz Lane 8-0. "Those girls that we played Monday have improved a lot," said Crooms. "It was a battle to the end; but, we wound up on bottom." Crooms said the doubles team of Davis and Turner came back from Please see Tennis, page 7A By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer The Panthers got a glimpse at their future Friday night when they traveled to Waycross to battle the Ware County Gators. The Gators, many who have played for four years, reaped the benefits of experience, beating a young Perry team 14-5. The loss to the Gators drops the Panthers to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in the region. The Panthers have four games remaining on their 1994 tour, all in the region. Even with the five losses in the region, Panther coach Bob Jones says Perry controls its own fate in the playoff race. If the Panthers can win their remaining games, they will go to the region playoffs. The results of the Panther's game against Fitzgerald Tuesday night were unavailable at press time. A win against the Purple Hurricanes sets up key games against Ware County Friday after noon, Appling County Saturday afternoon and Jones County Mon day night. The Jones County and Appling games are on the road. "It's up to us," said Jones. "We started the fifth with consecutive walks to load the bases. One out later, Sheldon Shelton lifted a fly ball to centerfield, scoring Nuss. However, the Hornets were then caught by bad luck. On a sacrifice fly situation with the bases loaded, the pitcher is supposed to come be hind home to back up a throw home, while the firstbaseman comes to the mound to relay the throw in from the outfield. In the fifth inning, the Gamer forgot his job, staying a first. However, Athens pitcher Castro Please see Athena, page 7A baseman, who then threw to first to complete the double play. Nuss paced the Hornets at the plate collecting two hits including a triple and a RBI. He is also the leading Hornet batter on the season, hitting .371. Shepley is second on the Hornet batting charts, hitting .302. The loss to Glenwood drops the Hornet's record to 2-11 on the year. can go to the playofts as the num ber four team (in the region)." In order to win the region outright, the Panthers must win all four of their remaining region games, counting Fitzgerald. How ever, Jones said the Panthers could still lose one game on the season if the loss was not to Jones County. Should the Panthers lose at Ap pling, Fitzgerald or Ware, the battle for the fourth region slot will come down to a one-game playoff. If Jones County beats the Panthers in Gray April 18, then the Greyhounds will own the fourth slot since Jones beat the Panthers early in the year. "I really credit the kids who have hung in there as long as they have," said Jones. "It says a lot for them. Hopefully, we can win.” Against the Gators, Perry would lead early before giving way to Ware County. Travis Cantrell started the game with a single. Two outs later, Dallas Waldrip collected his fifth homer of the season to put Perry up early 2-6. However, the Gators would come back in the bottom half of the first to score three runs on three Please see Perry, page 7A