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Sports
Women have
the right to play
sports also
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Commentary
Perry High School recently un
derwent an on-campus investigation
for Title IX compliance.
According to Roger Murphy of
the U.S. Department of Education,
the investigation is still open, with
the investigative team completing
its analysis of the documentation
from Perry High School and the in
terviews done at Perry High. A full
report should be issued by mid-
June.
If asked the question of whether
or not Perry High School
"discriminates" against women's
athletics, I would probably have to
say a qualified, "Yes."
As I look at sports in general,
and high school sports in specific, I
see very much a "men's" world.
Women's athletics have always
been short-changed in sports. The
three major professional sports, for
instance, football, basketball and
baseball, are exclusive male do
mains.
Golf and tennis have women's
tours. But, in golf, my perception
is that the men's regular and senior
lours rank in prestige above the
women's tour. In tennis, men play
five sets, women three. Also,
again, we find the men's tourna
ment generally held in greater es
teem than the women's tournament.
In high school sports, we find
the prestigious sports to be domi
nated by men. Football and baseball
arc almost entirely played by male
athletes. And, on those occasions
the men's basketball team and the
women's basketball team play at
the same place on the same night,
the men's team always gets the
matinee.
Does Perry High School dis
criminate against women in sports.
Yes. But, rare is the coed school
that doesn't.
The Panthers are a lot better than
many of the schools that I've seen.
Women can participate in no less
than six sports, seven if you count
cheerleading. At some schools I've
seen, the only sports offered for
women were basketball and track.
Perry does very well for women
in what it offers, although I would
like to see the school offer more.
I would like to see volleyball of
fered. Volleyball could be offered as
team sport in the fall, moving soft
ball to the spring, to be played
alongside baseball.
I would also like to see a
women's soccer team. However, I
realize that there would be two ma
jor obstacles. Not only would there
be a question of participants for one
team, but also a question of other
schools being able to field teams.
There also must be better oppor
tunities for cheerleaders to compete
if the activity is truly to become a
sport.
With all due apologies to cheer
leaders, their parents, coaches and
sponsors, the mere fact that they
sweat during practice and in perfor
mance does not make what they do
a sport, anymore than making dance
a sport or farming a sport or any
other activity where sweat and a cer
tain amount of athletic ability
helps.
What makes a sport a sport is
the opportunity to compete,
whether against yourself and the
elements, or against others and the
elements. Cheerleaders have very
limited chances to compete, mostly
at cheerleading camps.
Cheerleading is a nascent sport,
incorporating many of the elements
of level six and higher gymnastics.
Increasingly, a knowledge and train
ing in gymnastics is fundamental to
cheerleading.
However, for cheerleading to
gain greater acceptance, cheerleaders
must have more chances at compe
tition.
Perhaps each squad could be
graded on its performance at foot
ball and basketball games by quali
fied judges, with regional and state
championships on the line. Perhaps
it could be‘done like golf, where an
end of the season tournament de
termines region winners, who then
qualify for the state championship.
At any rate, schools must be on
their guard in calling chcerlcading a
sport. Many times calling cheer
leading a sport couid be akin to
calling ketchup a vegetable.
Cheerleading should be made a
full sport, complete with rules,
scoring systems and competition.
Panthers hit with Title IX investigation
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
The Perry High School Athletic
Department is under investigation
for Title IX violations, officials at
the U.S. Department of Education,
Perry High School and the Houston
County Board of Education said.
Roger Murphy, spokesman for
the Department of Education, said
the investigation was still open,
with a final ruling expected in mid-
June.
Perry High School principal
Phil Smith said the school received
a letter from the Department of Ed
ucation notifying the county of the
investigation in late December,
early January, during the Christmas
break. The letter indicates that Perry
High School was chosen for the in
vestigation as part of a regular ran
dom audit done yearly by the De
partment of Education.
However, Smith also indicated
that Rosa Elzey told him that the
Department of Education had a
complaint about the "way that we
treat female athletics at Perry High
School."
Houston County School Super
intendent Tony Hinnant said the
complaint stemmed from parents of
Cubs win thriller over Yanks in Park and Rec play
Cubs 12 Yankees 11
The Cubs scored a single run in
the bottom of the sixth to take a
close 12-11 win in Perry Parks and
Recreation Mite Boys action May
21.
Cody Williams started the sixth
inning rally with a single to center.
After an out, T.J. Hutchins reached
on an infield single to short. Ben
Erwin tapped back to the mound for
the second out of the inning. How
ever, he moved the both runners
into scoring position.
The Cubs were able to push
across the game winning run when
the Yankee shortstop misplayed
Edward Rosner's grounder.
After falling back early 9-6, the
Cubs needed a strong five run fifth
to make the sixth inning win.
A 1 Thorton paced the clubs at the
plate with three hits. Hutchens had
two hits. Rosner reached first all
four times he came to the plate, all
on Yankee errors.
Tony Hudgens paced the Yankees
with three hits. William Harden and
Brian Cook collected two hits each.
Marlins win first senior game
By RANDY FRANKLIN
Special to the HTJ
Marlins 15 White Sox 5
The Ochlahatchee senior boys
baseball league opened its 1994
season Monday night with the Mar
lins recording a 15-5 win over the
White Sox.
The Marlins were led at the plate
by Brent Owens and Ben Hulbert.
Owens had three hits, while Hulbert
had two hits, including a homer.
Joey Pope took the complete game
win, scattering seven hits.
David Coffey and Dustin Pearce
had two hits each to pace the White
Sox. Kent Franklin added a solo
homer.
Cardinals 18 Braves 2
Jerry Horton scattered three hits as
the Cardinals beat the Braves 18-2.
Horton also scored big at the
plate, getting two hits and a homer.
Josh Powell also had a strong night
Graffiti remains undefeated
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
It may have been tagged as a softball game, but Thursday’s junior
league girl’s action at Ochlahatchee Field resembled more of a boxing
match.
Posting almost identical scores in consecutive bouts, First Family Fi
nance and Graffiti Hair Salon held the advantage on the scorecards at the
conclusion of their battles.
First Family managed to shake off Pennington 111 Plumbing by an 18-
14 score. Graffiti withstood a late barrage of punches by Family Footwear
to win 17-14.
All four teams were in a position to overtake the other when heading
into their respective final at bats on the afternoon.
Pennington 111, down by an 18-6 score in their final attempt at a vic
tory, plated eight runs before relinquishing their hopes for a win.
Family Footwear watched Graffiti’s 17-9 margin shrink in their final at
bat when the former team pushed across five runs.
With the win, Graffiti reached double digits in the win column with an
11-0 mark. Family Footwear continues to hold onto second with a 5-6
slate. Pennington 111 and First Family Finance are in the third place slot
tied with identical 3-8 records.
In Tuesday action, Graffiti narrowly edged Pennington 111 by a 10-5
score, while Family Footwear chalked up a 11-10 win over First Family.
In a match-up that was halted 10 days earlier due to a time restriction,
and both teams locked in a tic. Family Footwear downed First Family in a
special one-inning slugfcst by a score of 8-3.
athletes on the Perry softball team.
"Some parents were apparently dis
satisfied with the softball program
in terms of facilities, equipment and
so forth versus other sports and
lodged a complaint," he said.
Murphy said a team of investiga
tors visited Perry High School from
Feb. 28 through March 4, 1994, to
collect data and interview officials
and students.
"They looked at all aspects of
the athletic program," said Smith.
"We showed them the different fa
cilities we used."
Perry High School baseball,
football, soccer and track teams
play their home matches at facili
ties on campus. The tennis, golf,
cross-country and softball teams
play at facilities off campus. The
softball team plays on Perry Parks
and Recreation owned fields at
Rozar Park.
"We use the facilities we've
got," said Smith. "Softball facili
ties are different than baseball facili
ties. We're not set up for softball.
"The city has facilities that are
more than adequate. They are as
good as the ones on campus. They
keep them and maintain them."
Smith added that the city facili
Rockies 15 Pirates 3
The Rockies jumped out to an
early 5-0 lead before coasting to a
15-3 victory over the Pirates in Mid
Boys action. Willie Simon and Bill
Sandefur connected on fourth inning
homers for the Rockies.
Darius Howard paced the Rockie
offense with two hits, and reached
on an error. John Erwin reached
base three times on walks.
Erwin scattered three hits in the
complete game win. He walked
eight batters, while striking out 10.
Dave Nables paced the Pirate at
tack with two hits, including a sec
ond inning triple. Ron Collier had
the only other Pirate hit.
Tigers 9 Giants 5
The Tigers took advantage of a
five run third inning to beat the
Giants 9-5 in Mite boys play. Ben
jamin Mishra got the big hit in the
inning, driving in two runs with
one out.
Mishra and Alexis Roberts had
two hits each to pace the Tigers.
The Giants managed just three
hits in the game, all coming in the
at the plate, collecting three hits.
Brandon Coleman, Jeremy Smith
and Ron Marshall had solo hits for
the Braves.
White Sox 12 Yankees 10
The White Sox overcame a
Mathew Watson homer, and held on
in the late innings to secure a 12-10
win over the Yankees.
Dustin Pearce paced the White
Sox with four hits, while J.R.
Moore had three hits. Todd got
credit for the win on the mound.
Trevor Jones and David Talley
had three hits each for the Yankees.
Cardinals 12 A's 2
The Cardinals remained in a tie
for first with the White Sox, record
ing a 12-2 win over the A's.
Josh Adams paced the Cardinal
hit attack with two hits, while Kas
Asbury took the win. Simmons had
two hits at the plate for the A's.
Houston Times-Journal
ties at Rozar Park might be better
than the baseball facilities on cam
pus since Rozar Park had lights, al
lowing for night baseball, and on
site restrooms.
"I'm thankful that we’ve got a
recreation department that allows us
to (use their facilities)," said Smith.
Athletic Director John Stephens,
Smith and Hinnant said the school
was not discriminating against fe
male athletics.
"We are not doing anything
wrong," said Smith. "We've added
sports for girls over the last couple
of years." He said over the last nine
years, the school has added ”B"
team softball, women's cross coun
try, women's golf and women's
track.
"I want as many opportunities as
I can provide for our kids to succeed
in organized activities," said Smith.
"This keeps them active and in
volved.
"If they are active and involved
in school, it is going to keep them
out of trouble," said Smith, adding
that students involved in other ac
tivities often had better grades and
put forth better effort in school than
those who were not involved.
first inning, when they scored three
runs. Michael Wright, Roderick
Scott and Blake Bohannon had the
first inning knocks.
Rangers 26 Redsox 12
In Mighty Boys action, the
Rangers used an 11 run third to
blow the Redsox out 26-12.
Bernard Askew, Jai Bowens and
Quennton Thomas had four hits
each for the Rangers.
Kevin Griffin, Josh Cutaiq,
Corey Jones and Thomas Lawson
had three hits each for the Redsox.
A's 14 Padres 11
In a close game throughout, the
A’s outlasted the Padres 14-11 in
Mighty Boys action.
The A's scored five runs in the
first and second inning, and four
runs in the third; while the Padres
answered with four in the first,
three in the second and four more in
the third.
Jeremy Barr, Dexter Ragin and
R.E. Shepard had three hits each for
the A's. Kennen Eddins had three
hits for the Padres.
Phillies 7 Redsox 6
The Phillies used a four run sec
ond to pull ahead of the Redsox 7-6
in Mighty Girls action.
Amber Davenport, Heather Mor
rill, Monica Hernandez, Enica
Wright and Danielle Cocoran had
two hits each for the Phillies. Can
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HTJ Photo by Jimmy Simpson -
A Family Finance runner gets a head start off first In a game between Graffiti and
First Family at Ochlahatchee.
- Saturday, May 28,1994 "Houston Times-Journal
Page 6A
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A complaint by a parent of an athlete participating In
softball at Perry High School contributed to the Title IX
Investigation at the school.
dace Hopkins, Chakenya Morris and
Hayley Cole had two hits each for
the Red Sox.
Lakers 19 Tigers 6
The Lakers took an first inning
6-0 lead, and then coasted to a 19-6
Nikitopoulos leaves rec dept.
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
The familiar voice heard answer
ing the phone at the Perry Parks
and Recreation Department will no
longer be heard after Friday, May
27.
Karen Nikitopoulos will leave
the position of administrative assis
tant to Parks and Recreation director
Ben Hamrick to take a similar posi
tion with the Georgia Cotton
Commission, which is locating on
Ball Street.
”1 wasn't looking to leave,” said
Nikitopoulos of her decision to join
the cotton commission. "I stumbled
onto an opportunity, and had to
look at it. It sounded like an area I
could grow."
Nikitopoulos joined the recre
ation department three years ago as
its first administrative assistant.
win in Mile Girls action.
Lauree Thurmond, Dee Felder
and April Kelly paced the Lakers
with three hits each, while Ashley
Ott and Erica Pope had three hits
each for the Tigers.
"There has been tremendous growth
and progress," she said, looking at
her time with the department.
Nikitopoulos said this was the
first year the recreation department
could offer women's church league
or a 17-18 year old youth softball
team. She also noted that she has
been able to watch the community
center take form ever since the
recreation department offices were
moved to Rozar Park.
Nikitopoulos said her job
brought her into contact with a lot
of the public. "People want the best
for their child," she said.
"I've grown very attached to the
people I work with daily," said
Nikitopoulos, adding that many
weeks it seemed that she spent
more time at the recreation depart
ment than at home. "I’m looking
forward to entering a completely
new field," she said.