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Sports
Phil Clark
Ga. Dome to
be site of
North semis
The Georgia Dome promotional
people have tried in the past to get
the GHSA to hold all four state
championship football games at the
dome, with all four games on the
same day.
The proposal met with enough
opposition, particularly from the
four southern regions, that the move
was voted down. This year, there
was another proposal on the table.
And this year, it passed.
It passed because it had the sup
port of coaches and athletic direc
tors in the southern part of the state.
This year, all four semi-final games
hosted by schools in the northern
four regions will be played at the
dome.
It drew support from southern
representatives because it doesn’t
affect game sites in the southern
semi-finals. And the bracket
movement that would send one of
the two southern survivors to the
north anyway will now simply
mean that the southern team will
travel to the Georgia Dome instead
of the home of the north host team.
This does two things. It gives the
GHSA a chance to see how the
Dome concept will work, and it
keeps the southern schools happy in
that they will still host the semi-fi
nals.
There are some mighty strong
football teams in the southern four
regions, and the GHSA doesn't
want to take away their opportunity
to host games, at least not right
now. So in the meantime, they will
go along with the four northern
semi-finals at the Dome.
Financially, it will be a better
deal. For example, Mike Pack, who
coaches at Lamar County, said his
school, should it host a semi-final
game, would take in roughly $3,00
to $4,000. On the other hand, the
school could get $20,000 for it's
part under the Georgia Dome pro
posal.
Lamar County plays in region
SA, which is a North Georgia re
gion.
There are others who are taking
a 'let's look at it this year" attitude.
Robert Davis of Warner Robins,
’now a member of the Executive
Committee and on the broadcast
committee, will have his team in
the Dome this year anyhow. The
Demons join five other schools in a
triple-header that will kickoff the
1994-95 season.
The preseason game will give
Davis a look at the Dome, how the
crowd follows the team for such a
game, and how the team can adapt
to artificial surface.
Personally, I have no opinion on
whether all semi-finals, or finals,
should be played at the Dome. The
only negative is, of course, the in
convenience of local fans who sup
port the team all year long, and then
will not have the home game for the
state championship game.
Keep in mind now, this year's
experiment is only for the north
hosted semi finals. The GHSA con
stitution and by-laws would have to
be modified slightly to change the
part that says the host school can
determine the site in state playoffs.
That decision has already been
made.
Dan Pitts of Mary Persons, who
voted for the move to play the
semi-finals in the Dome, said
"under the old rules, a host school
could have chosen the Dome any
way. If it were our home game it
would be terrible to force us to the
Dome, but if it's an away game, I'd
just as soon play in the Dome."
That's the thinking of most
coaches in the south, who won't be
affected by the decision. If they are
in the bracket that moves north,
they were going to be on the road
anyway.
The part of the by-laws that dic
tates the bracket movement is also
designed to allow two schools from
the same region, and same town, to
play for a slate championship.
Such was the case in AAA last
year when Thomas County Central
and Thomasvillc, in the same re
gion, same town, met for the state
championship. It is such situations
that has the GHSA debating the
feasibility of playing the four state
championship games in the Georgia
Dome.
Trojans blow Hornets out in Macon
By VETO F. ROLEY
SUH Writer
For the first time this year, and
the first time in over three years,
Westfield lost a game in five in
nings.
The Tattnall Trojans used a
sandwiched single runs in the third
and fourth innings around a seven
run first and a five run fifth to run
Brian Staines dives back Into first against Tattnall. The freshman pitcher was the vic
tim of two first Inning errors that allowed seven runs to score.
Hornet golfers defeat Mount de Sales
By VETO F. ROLEY
Staff Writer
Westfield continues to play great
golf, wiping out Mount de Sales by
22 strokes Thursday, 309-331.
Ed Strickland set the pace for the
Hornets, blistering the Bowden
Golf Course of Macon with a 71.
Todd Rigdon was five strokes off
the Strickland's pace, shooting a
76. Scott Hill had a strong day for
Marvin Arrington, finishing the 18
holes in 77 strokes. Junior Keith
Davis, the oldest player on the
team, shot an 85 to round out the
Hornet's scoring. Robert Harris, an
eighth grader, finished the day with
an 89.
"We have reached our peak as a
team," said Arrington, although he
said that some individual players on
his team have not peaked yet. "We
are still capable of getting better.”
If the Hornets have reached their
PHS soccer team earning r-e-s-p-e-c-t
By VETO F. ROLEY
Staff Writer
It's a long way from doormat to
respectability. The Perry soccer
team is trying to make that trip in
one year.
Tuesday, against Columbus
High School the Panthers took an
other step, extending their non-los
ing streak to four with a 3-3 tie.
After going two years without a
win, the Panthers record on the sea
son stands at 4-5-1, including 3-0-1
in the last four games.
After regulation play had ended,
the game stood at 2-2 tie between
Columbus and Perry. Events started
looking bad for Perry when
Columbus scored in the first of two
extra 10 minute mini-halves.
However, the Panthers pulled
Perry karate team welcomes two new Black Belts
The Perry Athletic Karate Team
has two new Black Belts, Beau
Douglas and Dan Bray, and head
instructor Chad Lewis is excited
about both acquisitions.
"I've taught a lot of good
students over the years," Lewis
stated after the results were released,
"but Beau and Dan are definitely
among the best and most enjoyable
I've ever had the chance to work
with.”
Douglas, a freshman at Perry
High School, has been training in
the Martial Arts for two years at the
Kiwanis will hold golf tournament
The Kiwanis Club of Perry will
host their annual Kiwanis Scholar
ship Golf Tournament on Friday,
April 29, 1994, at the Houston
Lake Country Club.
The net proceeds will go towards
the Kiwanis Scholarship Fund.
This tax deductible fund gives a col
lege scholarship each year to a de
serving senior from Westfield
Schools and Perry High School.
The Kiwanis Club is seeking
the Hornets out of Macon, 14-4,
Tuesday night in region play.
While the Trojans hit Hornet
starter Brian Staines hard in the first
inning, it was Westfield’s defense
that opened the gate.
Staines got the first two Trojan
batters to hit grounders to the in
field. However, errors by the Hornet
infield allowed both runners to
peak, then it comes at a good time,
since the regular season, which
really doesn't count, is over. The
region tournament is Monday in
Monroe. The top four teams will
advance to the state playoffs.
"I feel fairly confident that we
are going to make a run at the
region championship," said
Arrington. "We will shoot our
average or better."
Even though four of the six
teams from Westfield's region will
make the state tournament, making
it fairly likely the Hornets will play
the tournament in Macon,
Arrington said the Hornet's goal
was not to merely qualify for the
state tournament
"We are going out there with the
expectations of finishing number
one in the region," said Arrington'
"We are not shooting for a berth in
the state championship. Westfield,
out a tie when Brian Mourning
took advantage of a penalty kick to
with four minutes remaining in
overtime to pull the game out.
W’field tennis team gets tough draw
By VETO F. ROLEY
Staff Writer
Westfield had a tough draw in the 2AAA region tennis tournament in
Macon.
In men's play, the Hornets finished in a tie for fourth with three points.
Tattnall won the men's title with a score of 22 points.
In women's play, Westfield finished third with seven points. George
Walton edged Tattnall for the women's region championship 19-18.
"We didn't get a good draw," said Westfield coach lenney Crooms. "All
of the kids played really well, but it was the luck of the draw."
Particularly damaging to the men’s team was the draw in the doubles
Please see Tennis, paae 9A
Perry school and says he enjoys the
comrodary among the members.
"The Instructors do such a good
job of creating a positive
atmosphere that it makes it
enjoyable," Douglas said. "Mr.
Lewis makes you feel proud about
yourself and makes you feel that
you're a part of something special."
Dan Bray, who briefly trained in
1974, started back in '92 under
Lewis and finally achieved his life
long goal.
"I've dreamed about this day
Please see Karate, oaae 9A
monetary donations, coupons or
gifts for prizes to be given to the
participants in the golf tournament.
Sponsorship of a team (four play
ers) is S2OO.
For more information, please
contact Paul Hicks at 988-5950,
Lanny English at 988-5440, John
Sundquist at 988-5200, Mike Jack
son at 987-1522 or Harry Small at
987-5277.
Houston Times-Journal
reach. Instead of getdng out of the
inning in with no runs scoring
when he got the Tattnall clean-up
batter to pop up to second, Staines
was charged with seven runs, all
unearned, on five hits as the Trojan
lineup zeroed in on his pitches.
"If the first two plays of the
game had been made,” said Hornet
coach Bert Brown, "it could have
in years past, has been a good
tournament team."
The Hornets will ride the clubs
of Rigdon and Strickland to the
state championship. Although the
supporting cast is good, Rigdon and
Strickland have led the Hornets all
year long, being ranked among
Middle Georgia high school golfers.
Rigdon enters the region
tournament with a stroke average of
77.3. Strickland is less than a
stroke behind his teammate,
coming into Monday's tournament
with an average of 78.1. Both of
the sophomore golfers have had
their best days against Mount de
Sales. Rigdon shot a 73 against the
Cavilers at Perry Country Club,
while Strickland has a 71 at
Bowden.
Perry coach Carl Thomas said
the game was a good victory since
the Panthers had to come back from
Please see Soccer, page 9A
'1 ! ' iL.
Perry Karate Instructor Chad Lewis (center) welcomes two new black belts to his
group. Beau Douglas (left) and Dan Bray (right) recently completed the require
ments for the black belt.
Page 6A
1 - Saturday, April 23,1994 "Houston Timos-Joumal
changed the entire complexion of
the ballgame."
Brown said that the pitchers on
his staff, anchored by Lon Talton
and Staines, were not hard throwers,
relying on their defense to make the
outs. "We don't expect our pitchers
to strike people out," he said.
"What we hope for is that they will
get ground ball outs."
If the Hornet defense did not
make the plays, Brown said the
flood gates would open. "Sooner or
later, they will get base hits.”
In addition to the defensive lapse
that opened the flood gates for the
Trojans in the first inning, Brown
said two mistakes in the late fifth
inning also hurt the Hornets.
With Staines tiring on the
mound, and facing the prospect of
losing in five innings due to the 10
run rule, Brown went to his
bullpen, calling in centerfielder
Troy Nuss.
"The first two batters he faced
hit fly balls that should have been
caught," said Brown. "But, neither
(fly ball) was (caught)."
The loss to Tattnall drops the
Hornets to 5-3 in region play, and
5-12 overall. The loss also means
that the best the Hornets can finish
in the region is second, with the
Trojans securing first
However, Westfield is assured of
a place in the playoffs, since they
can finish no lower than fourth.
The Hornets have two more re
gion games remaining, meaning
they can finish no worse than 5-5.
Mount de Sales, which is 3-5, also
can finish at 5-5. However, two of
the Cavalier's losses have come at
the hands of the Hornets, giving
Westfield the tie-breaker advantage.
The best George Walton can do
in the region is finish with a 4-6
Panther golf team gears
up for region’s play-offs
By VETO F. ROLEY
Staff Writer
The Panther golf team seems to
be peaking at the right time, just
before region playoffs Wednesday at
Houston Lake Country Club.
Against non-region foe Pike
County on Wednesday, the Perry
foursome shot a 157 at Houston
Lake Country Club, good enough
to withstand a 162 from the visi
tors. At the Landings Thursday, a
course that has given the Panther
team some trouble this year, Perry
beat region foe Dodge County by
20 strokes, coming into the club
house with a 148.
The Perry score at the Landings
Thursday, 148 over nine holes
(under 300 for 18) was impressive
considering that top Perry player,
Stan Gann, did not make the top
four cut, finishing the day with a
40.
Saying that everyone had an off
day, golf coach Johnny Barton said
that he was not overly concerned by
Gann's uncharacteristic finish
Thursday. "Gann will score (well)
in the region tournament," he said.
While Gann might have had a
cold round Thursday at the Land
ings, he burned up the Houston
Lake Country Club course Wednes
day, coming into the clubhouse
with a 33, three under par.
"It was his best performance of
the year by far, by far," said Barton.
record, one game behind the worst
record Westfield can finish with.
"I want our kids to play the last
three games (of the season) and fin
ish in good shape,” said Brown.
Brown noted that the last two
state finals have featured number
four seeds, with FPD winning the
state championship in 1992 and
Windsor finishing as state runnerup
in 1993. Windsor did not win a
single region game in 1993.
"With the single elimination
format, anything is possible," said
Brown.
The Hornets did sting the Tro
jans for four runs before Tattnall
ended the game.
Westfield responded to the Tro
jans seven run first by rallying with
a three run top of the second.
Clay Smith started the second
rapping a single to left. An error on
Thad Hawk's grounder and walk to
Sheldon Shelton loaded the bases.
Staines worked a walk, plating the
first Hornet run of the afternoon.
Matt Shepley then hit a
grounder to short. Tattnall tried to
go for the twin killing, getting
Staines at second. However, the
throw to first was high, allowing
Hawk and Shelton to score.
In the fourth, the Hornets would
rally to score a single run with two
outs. Staines walked to start the
rally. Shepley laced a double to put
runners at second and third. Billy
Kitchens walked to load the bases.
Staines scored when Nuss drew a
walk.
Entering the final week of regu
lar season play, the Hornets have
raised their combined batting aver
age 16 points over the last four
games, although they now only
have one hitter over .300.
Please see Hornets, page 9A
"His mind was totally on the game,
and he putted well.”
Paul Smith was second on the
Panther squad, finishing the after
noon with a 40. Marina Culley
shot a 42, while Jim Birdsong con
tributed a 43. William Sundquist
and Andrew Willard did not make
the four-person cut, with Sundquist
shooting a 44 and Willard shooting
a 46.
On Thursday, the Willard,
Smith, Culley and Birdsong picked
up Gann. Willard was the low
medallist for the Panthers, shooting
a 36 at the Landings. Smith and
Birdsong were just one stroke be
hind, finishing with 375. Culley
was also close, coming into the
clubhouse only two strokes behind
Willard's pace, with a 38.
"I'm really pleased with those
scores," said Barton of Thursday's
match.
The match at the Landings ended
the Panther's regular season sched
ule. "The region is our next event,"
said Barton. "Whether we play
anymore or not depends on what we
do in the region tournament"
Only the top two teams in the
region tournament go on to the
state tournament. The regular sea
son has no bearing on either the re
gion tournament or the state tour
nament.
Please see Perry, page 9A