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Sports
McNeil out as
Perry coach
"It was not my choice"
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sport* Editor
Joy McNeil will not be return
ing as head softball coach for the
Perry Panthers in 1994.
"It was not my choice," said
McNeil of the decision for her not
to return.
McNeil leaves the Lady Panthers
after serving as head coach for seven
years. Twice in her tenure as coach,
her teams finished second in the re
gion. However, recent years have
not been kind to the Lady Panthers,
as they have struggled to post wins.
Perry High School athletic direc
tor John Stephens said that the fir
ing of McNeil has nothing to do
with a Title IX compliance review
by the United States Department of
Education. "It has no bearing on
that what-so-ever."
The Education Department con
ducted a routine Title IX compli
ance review of Houston County
schools in late February. Perry was
chosen for the review due to com
plaints of some parents, many of
whom had children on the softball
team.
AgN’jJ gr r *~'&-u.' )»i^'^^&^i!gjßHljHW|^^
Jason Sikes releases a pitch during his sophomore year
with the Panthers.
Indians squeak by in Perry Parks and Rec action
Special to the HTJ
Indians 10 Angels 9
The Indians scored seven runs in
the bottom of the third to beat the
Angels 10-9 in Mid-Girls softball
action in Parks and Recreation De
partment play.
Maggie Attaway had three hits
to pace the Indians, while Tiffani
Harris, Jessica Short and Ebony
Rice had two hits each for the win
ning squad.
Rockets 18 Blitz 8
The Rockets used a balanced hit
ting attack to overcome the Blitz in
girls junior action at Huckaby field
in the Perry Parks and Recreation
Department action.
Five players had five hits each to
pace the Rockets. Brook Liristag,
Melisha Alford, Tiffany Sark. Jes
Graffiti remains undefeated at 13-0
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
Two teams rolled the number
“9” in their bids for victory
Thursday in junior softball action at
Ochlahatchee Park, but the lucky
dice belonged to Graffiti Hair Salon
and Pennington 111 Plumbing.
Graffiti “trimmed” Family
Footwear 17-9 in die opening clash
on the afternoon, while Pennington
111 “repaired” its bats after the first
two frames to manage a 21-9 win
over First Family Finance.
Graffiti, still in search of a
perfect record with just two games
remaining on a 15-game schedule,
stands at 13-0 on the season.
Pennington improves to 5-8 to
Skiing, from 5A -
Get used to the skis
Get used to having skis on your
feet
Have the skier learn to put his
skis on in the water before you
leave the dock, and then swim
around with them on. This mav
McNeil's firing marks the second
coach at Perry High School to leave
as head of a major women's sport.
On Dec. 13, Tim Simmons re
signed as head coach of the
women's basketball team after a 0-3
start.
McNeil said that she was told of
the decision March 23, and was not
given a reason for the move at that
time. "They do not have to tell
you," she said.
Although McNeil was given no
tice of the decision March 23,
Stephens said that decision would
not be final until next week. "We
are working towards making those
changes," he said.
Although she will not be return
ing for the 1994 season as a coach,
McNeil said she would stay at Perry
High School as a teacher. "It was
an enjoyable time," she said of her
time as coach of the Lady Panthers.
McNeil said she hoped that her
players took away more from the
game than good softball skills; but,
that they learned some lessons that
will help them later in life.
sica Dickson and Shorda Battle
powered the Rockets at the plate.
Pam Keen paced the Blitz with
two hits.
Cubs 14, Tigers 1
The Cubs pounded the Tigers
14-1, with Edward Rosner leading
the hit attack with three base
knocks for the Cubs.
T.J. Hutchens, Alford Thornton,
Patrick Soderberg, and Brian Ren
eman had two hits each for the
Cubs. The Tigers managed just four
hits in the game. Benjamin Mishra,
Ezzard Lowe, Centred Harrell and
Daniel Lamb connected for the
Tigers.
Yankees 16, Giants 6
The Yankees used a five run first
and seven run fifth to shorten the
Giants 16-6, May 28.
move into a tie with Family
Footwear. First Family falls to 3-
10.
In the nightcap, First Family
came out with bats blazing early on
before Pennington jumped on the
“bat bandwagon” with several
clutch hits of its own to hold a
comfortable edge after three innings
of play.
In earlier action, Tuesday,
Graffiti improved its record with a
21-12 win over First Family.
Pennington 111 saw a defensive war
with Family Footwear finally end
to its advantage when hitting the
double digit mark and grabbing a
13-9 victory.
sound silly, but skis tend to float
your legs in ways they don't want
to go. It also helps not to have the
pressure of trying to learn to put on
and handle your skis at the same
time you're learning to ski.
W— . "
Joy McNeil talks to her players at the start of the 1992
softball season.
Dublin race for Sat.
441 Speedway in Dublin will
host the fourth race in the National
Late Model Sportsman Challenge
Series Saturday, June 3.
This year, the series has turned
into a Georgia-Florida rivalry, with
the top 10 drivers evenly divided be
tween the two states.
The race will pay a purse of
SIB,OOO, with the winner collecting
Sikes drafted by Philly
By VETO F. ROLEY
Sports Editor
Former Perry High School
player Jason Sikes was drafted by
the Philadelphia Phillies in the
fourth round Thursday June 2.
Sikes played for the Panthers for
three years before transferring to
Warner Robins High School for his
senior season. He was a member of
the 1991 team, which won the state
championship.
This year playing for the
Demons, Sikes compiled an 8-1
record, with a 1.01 ERA. He struck
out 80 batters in 55 innings, a ratio
of 10.18 batters per game.
Although Sikes was drafted for
his skills on the mound, he was
also a big contributor at the plate
for the Demons, where he hit .477
with seven dingers and 43 RBIs.
"It means a lot to me to be
drafted, especially in the fourth
round," said Sikes. ”1 never thought
I would go this high (in the draft).
I’m glad that they thought of me
being one of the best 100 (amateur)
Tony Hudgens, Cameron
Draughome, William Harden and
Brian Crook had three hits each to
pace the Yanks.
Timothy Moss and Stepheen
Scott had two hits each to pace the
Giants.
Cubs 10, Pirates 1
The Cubs grew up a little May
27, rising up to sink the Pirates 10-
1 in Parks and Rec play.
The Cubs broke open a tie game
in the third, sending 13 runners to
the plate, scoring nine runs. Jamie
Walker provided the big hit with a
homer.
Tony Garrett paced the Cub at
tack with three hits. Keith Howard
and Jason Dickson had two hits
each, while Brian Hatcher drew
three walks
Powell retires three with one play
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
It’s been done only a couple of
times in the history of professional
ball, maybe once in amateur play,
but believed to have never happened
in junior league softball action at
Ochlahatchee Park.
So when Alicia Powell found
herself holding a pop fly in her
glove Tuesday, surrounded by
cheering teammates and coaches,
she did the most astounding thing
that most players can only dream
about- turn an unassisted triple
play.
“I was so happy,” Alicia said, a
trace of excitement still in her
voice.
The play came about after
Alicia, who plays shorlshop along
her sister, Jessica, fielded the fly
ball. When both runners, on first
and second base at the time,
advanced to the next base, the
Houston Times-Journal
$5,000. Several Middle Georgia
drivers will be in the field including
Mitchell Meeks, Paul Purvis, Tracy
Mimbs, Roger Jones, Brad Comer,
Lark Haskins, Scotty Nipper and
Big Harold Etheridge.
Over 50 drivers are entered in the
late model division, and 70 other
drivers are entered in other events.
The green flag drops at 7:30 p.m.
players in the world this year."
Sikes earlier signed a letter of in
tent to play with Gordon College.
However, he said that he would
probably sign with the Phillies. "I
want to get started on a career that I
wanted to do all my life."
Gloria Sikes, Jason’s mother,
said that they were planning on
signing if they "could come to
terms" with the Phillies. However,
she said the person from the
Phillies, who will meet with Jason
Sunday, was talking six figures.
If Sikes signs with the Phillies,
then he would go immediately to a
Phillies Rookie League team, prob
ably in Martinsville, Va. Rookie
League is a step below Class A
baseball, which the Macon Braves
play.
Jason is the second member of
the Sikes clan to be drafted by a
Major League team. Older brother
Ken Sikes signed with the Los An
geles Dodgers in 1993, also as a
pitcher.
In addition to his homer, Walker
was also strong on the mound, tak
ing a no-hitter into the sixth in
ning. Rashad Styles broke up the
no hitter with a single. Walker
recorded 12 strikeouts, while walk
ing six. The only Pirate run was
unearned.
Padres 26, Twins 21
The Padres and Twins engaged in
a slugfest in T-Ball action, combin
ing for 67 hits. The game went into
the final inning, with the Padres
scoring five runs in the fourth to
win the 26-21 game.
A's 18, Red Sox 9
The A's scored 10 runs in the
first to take control of the game,
and hold on to win 18-9 in Perry
Parks and Recreation T-Ball action.
opportunity to help her team was
staring Alicia right in the face.
“When I caught the ball, I
thought there was already one out
(in the inning), so I ran as fast as I
could to get the runner going to
third (base).”
Alicia said that it was at that
moment that she thought there may
not have been no one out in the
inning.
“So, when I saw the other girl
going back to first, I chased her and
tagged her to be sure that she was
out, too.”
Following a well-deserved
celebration between innings with
mom. Rose, Alicia’s father,
Darrell, arrived just moments later
to learn of the tale.
When asked if she would try to
repeat the same feat for her father to
see next time around, Alicia just
laughed.
“It wouldn’t bother me at all,”
she said.
Page 6A
-Saturday, Juno 4,1994 "Houston Times-Journal
A conversation
with a softball
parent
Had an interesting conversation
with a parent from the Perry High
School women's softball team
Wednesday afternoon.
The person, who I will call
Steve, since he asked me to keep
his name quiet, told me that the ar
ticle about the Title IX review at
Perry High School took him and
other parents by surprise.
Steve said that his group did not
want their actions to become pub
lic. And, my information, which
started me digging, did not come
from Steve or from any member of
the group which he said he repre
sented.
The concerns of the group of
parents, said Steve, went far beyond
the softball program, although that
was the impetus behind the group.
He also said that the group was not
concerned with equal funding of
male and female athletics, just equal
opportunity.
For instance, Steve said there
was a lack of coaching throughout
the women's program. He added that
the group did not have anything
against Coach Joy McNeil, who
will be leaving the softball program
at the end of the year.
Rather, said Steve, it was the
number of coaches given to
women's sports that was a major
concern. For most of last year, said
Steve, McNeil was solely responsi
ble for the softball team, coaching
the varsity and "B" team alone.
Steve noted that she was respon
sible for over 30 players. He said
that one player got hit in the face
with a bat, and that McNeil was
unable to take the player to the
hospital because she had no one to
leave the other players with.
"She did all that she could do,"
said Steve of McNeil. Steve did say
that after the accident, the Panthers
did make a point of having other
coaches at the field with McNeil.
Steve said equal opportunity
meant at least equal numbers of
qualified coaches for similar teams,
like softball and baseball. Baseball,
he said, had three coaches where
softball had only one.
Not only did the softball team
have problems with coaching, said
Steve, but the basketball team had
problems, with the women's bas
ketball coach having to devote
much of his time to the football
coach. And, where the men’s team
had the benefit of a weight pro
gram, Steve said the women's team
had no such benefit
Not only did the softball team
have to do with fewer coaches, but
they also had to deal with less and
inferior equipment, said Steve. For
instance, he said the Lady Panthers
routinely went on the field with
only four batting helmets, meaning
that if the bases were loaded, no one
could be in the on-deck circle.
The Lady Panthers, he said, had
to raise money one year to purchase
uniform tops, and the next to pur
chase uniform bottoms. The ath
letic department, alleged Steve, paid
one-half the price of men's cleats,
while not offering any towards the
purchase of women's teams until
midway through the season. The
catcher's protection for softball, said
Steve, was made for men’s baseball.
* v / *
Courtney Grimm seems to be enjoying the sunflower
J seeds as much as her game. The Pennington 111 player
Is also Little Miss Dogwood. (Photo by Jimmy Simpson)
Steve added that the athletic de
partment routinely bought special
equipment needed for men, while
not providing special equipment for
women. "It's little things like that,”
he said that made the parents get
involved.
The parents, said Steve, have
been bringing their complaints to
Perry High principal Phil Smith
and athletic director John Stephens
for three years. However, the re
quests seemed to fall on deaf ears,
he said.
The administration had done a
lot for the school, and Steve said
the parent group respected them for
what they had done. "But, more
work needs to be done to make sure
that we do what we know is right,"
he said.
"We don't want to trash these
people," said Steve. "We think they
make a good contribution to our
community."
That's why the parents group
went to the Federal Department of
Education in Atlanta. Steve said
that three parents went Atlanta.
Steve said the parents did not
want to bring a discrimination
complaint against the school, risk
ing public embarrassment. "We
asked what could we do to bring
compliance without embarrassing
the school or county," he said.
Officials at the Education De
partment told the group that the
best way was to wait for a compli
ance review, which was due for
Houston County this year. It was
because of this complaint that Perry
High School was targeted for the
review.
However, Steve said the parent’s
group was prepared to go further.
"If they (PHS) do not make the ap
propriate changes, or if there are
any reprisals, a discrimination
complaint will be filed," said Steve.
Steve said the parent's group was
willing to work with the adminis
tration to improve the state of
women's sports. "Let us know what
we can do to bring our girls back
where they should be," he said.
"What we propose is a group of
parents working with the coaches as
a support group to help in the sup
port of female athletics," said
Steve.
*****
Some other interesting news
from my meeting with Steve. Perry
High School, a AAA school, re
ceives just over $85,000 for sports,
making it the third "richest" high
school in the county.
Warner Robins High School, a
AAAA school, receives a tad over
$166,000 making it the richest
school in the county. Rival North
side High School, also a AAAA
school, has to get by on $71,000
less—just over $95,000.
Now, I can understand, some
what, the difference between Perry
and Warner Robins since Perry is
smaller than Warner Robins, but
the difference is huge. But, between
Northside and Warner Robins, very
interesting—but, that is not Perry.
By the way, Houston County
High School, a AA school received
just over $46,000 —$39,000 less
than Perry, and just under $120,000
less than Warner Robins.
I just found these numbers inter
esting.