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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