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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.