Houston times-journal. (Perry, Ga.) 1994-1999, June 22, 1994, Image 7

Houston times-journal., June 22, 1994, Page Page 7A, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextSports m 51 Veto F. Roley Sports editor Major League Baseball gets greedy again It seems that Major League baseball has decided that it is time deadbeats, such as Ochlahatchee and the Perry Parks and Recreation Department, start paying their dues in licence fees for using Major League names, colors, and em blems. After all, everyone even re motely connected with youth sports knows that youth sports rake in bil lions and billions in profits every year, and the Majors are determined to cash in on those kids running the bases. I mean, if a youth league pays $lO-20 for a jersey that should cost them SSO-80 through an "official" outlet, then they must be making millions on the savings in jerseys alone. Of course, my only question in the entire matter is this—why is Major League baseball purposely trying to destroy a game that Amer icans have grown to love over the last century or so? Perhaps, before they go after the kids’ leagues, Major League execs should take a look around the stadi ums and wonder where their future customers come from. Ticket prices are already causing many families to flee from the stadiums, stadiums where fathers used to take their young sons to explain some of the mysteries of life as shown on the diamond. Unlike Major League baseball, most youth leagues operate on a shoestring basis. This is not a cut at the leagues, but a realization that most of the leagues charge just enough to provide recreation to the players, and break even so they can play next year. "But,” respond Major League ex ecs, "Little League Baseball and Dixie Youth Baseball and many other national organizations are do ing very well financially. They aren't' hurting for money, and we want a little bit of it.” But, we aren't talking about Lit tle League Baseball or Dixie Youth Baseball. We are talking here about the local leagues—leagues such as the Perry Parks and Recreation and Ochlahatchee. And, these leagues are not making money. If the leagues were so profitable, as big brother in the Majors seems to think, then why do they rely so heavily on volunteers. Many leagues are all volunteer efforts, with some leagues paying for such essential services as umpires and scorekeeping. The national organizations might be profitable, although most of them are non-profit organiza tjons]_but, the local leagues strug gle. That's why they are so happy when a local t-shirt or trophy com pany comes to them and tells them that they can give them a break on uniforms. And, I might add, that many of these local companies sell the uniform at cost or with mini mum profit, since many leagues struggle to afford even inexpensive uniforms. And, I just want to know what this business is about Major League baseball deciding that the team nicknames are off limits to organizations. I can understand the logos and, to a certain extent, the team colors. But, the nicknames? Does this mean that West Geor gia College will have to change their name? After all, are they not called the Braves? William and Mary might have to make college radicals happy, and go to another name. You know, those politically correct left wingers were never that happy with the Indians. And, it even goes to the highest levels of college play, not to men tion youth leagues. Could Auburn be forced to pay Detroit a royalty fee? Or, perhaps, Dennis Crum needs to look for a new name for Louisville. I can understand, even, the sin gular significance of such names as "Expos," "Astros,” or "Phillies." But, "Giants," "Orioles,” "Cubs," or "Cardinals?" Give me a break! Don't the Major Leagues realize that youth leagues promote a love for baseball? Many people in the stands got their first look at the sport by playing in a youth league somewhere. Long before they were Please see Roley, page 8A ■fc Is- Cr <*»**. •' - JKT M W W v '.m - -"W ■ \ Melissa Rodriguez Is thrown out at first, as Lindsey Williamson holds the ball In the Ochlahatchee junior girls all star game. Britsky takes over Perry Kelly Britsky will take over the Panther softball program, announced Perry High School Athletic Director John Stephens Tuesday afternoon. Britsky comes from LaGrange College, where she was a graduate assistant. During her tenure as coach, LaGrange College won a conference and N.A.I.A. national title. After playing for Warner Robins High School, Britsky attended A.8.A.C., during which time she was part of two state championship teams and a national championship team. She was named All-National Please see Britsky, page 8A Houston County coaches get raise from Board of Ed By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor Houston County football coaches, basketball coaches and softball coaches will get raises in their coaching supplements, the Houston County Board of Educa tion decided at its regular meeting Tuesday, June 14. All coaches will be covered in the raise, since every coach either coaches football, basketball or soft ball in addition to other positions at the schools. The athletic director's supple ment will be raised to SIO,OOO a year, up from $7,500 a year. Addi tionally, the AD will be required to teach three classes, down from the current four. A's no sale Merchants in DH By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor The Perry A’s ran their record to a perfect 6-0 on the season with a Sunday sweep of the Montezuma Merchants at Perry Middle School. The Merchants threatened to make run at the A's in the first game, getting two runs in the top of the third to cut Perry's lead to 6- 3. However, Larry Whitfield would shut the Merchants down for the rest of the game, as the A's would score four more runs to win easily 10-3. The second game was no contest as Perry coasted 17-2 over the Mer chants to complete the sweep. "We've done really good hitting the ball,” said Voy Heath, field manager of the A's, adding that pitching has been fair. "We need some improvement on defense." So far the A's have had easy games, said Heath, who said the """ 1 JJ "" ■ * • * ■fe. ; r I Oh. \J ft, s i- Wmg&Rm ! - J»l i jUPm B" .f IB’’ Bp: Baflf & Bwl iB jSMH mi -T( V A I' f YBy Jrjk J 1 jjsa iIP ! : W • ’L. • • W Future Panthers Perry High School head coach Carl Thomas welcomed 12 players to his Maroon and Gold Basketball camp last week. Participating were Rashard Winn, Jerome Knottlngham, Gene Irby, Jerry Drazny, Carlton Gilbert, Anthony Downing, John Erwin (not pltchered), Kris Ashbury, DeWayne Herd, Edwin Allen, Derrick Catlett and Dennorls Harvey. Also shown are coaches Thomas, Max Vickers, Darryl Albritton and Andy Gentry. Football coordinators will re ceive an extra SI,OOO a year, raising their supplement to $4,500. Foot ball assistant coaches will receive an increase of S7OO to $3,500. Football associates will receive a raise of SSOO to $2,700. The salary of the basketball coach will be raised SI,OOO to $4,000. The softball coach will re ceive a SSOO raise to $2,000. "We are at the bottom of the scale, even with these additions," said board chairman Zell Blackmon. "We are not as competitive as we should be." "If we want good people and if we want to retain good people, then we are going to have to be competi tive," said board member David Merchants were the toughest team the A’s have faced this year. In the first game, the A’s jumped out to a 5-0 lead, with Rodney Norwood providing the offense, col lecting a two run double. Nathan Tharpe followed Norwood with a two run single. With two outs in the third, Whitfield ran into trouble, allowing three consecutive hits as Mon tezuma pushed two runs across the plate to cut the A's lead in half. However, the A's responded with two in the bottom of the third, and one in each of the fourth and the fifth to take the win. Tobe Gilbert had a perfect day at the plate for the A's with three hits and a walk. Renard Soloman and Tharpe had two hits and two RBIs. Whitfield took the complete game win, scattering seven hits to the Merchants. He gave up two walks and one strike out Houston Times-Journot Blues come away with win in junior girls play win By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer The stars were out Saturday at Ochlahatchee Park, and if compared to those on the big screen for their performances, several local recreation players would be displaying Oscar Awards today. Combining for 37 runs in a seven-inning battle, the Blues downed the Reds 21-16 to claim this year’s annual junior league girl’s softball All Star showcase. Graffiti Hair Salon joined First Family Finance to comprise the Blue team, while Pennington 111 Plumbing hooked up with Family Footwear to field the Red squad. The Blues relied on some timely hitting and several key defensive plays to keep their oponcnts out of contention early on, but had to withstand a late-inning attack by the Reds to secure the win. Sellers is new Hornet coach Billy Sellers was hired Monday afternoon as the new Westfield softball and women's basketball coach, announced Dr. Michael Drake, headmaster at Westfield. Sellers is a graduate of Terrell Academy in Dawson, Ga. He at tended Georgia Southwestern, where he played basketball and soccer. He has eight years of coaching Davidson. "You are going to get what you pay for." Yet, not everyone was for the raises to the coach's supplements. "It will affect the morale of the teachers to reduce the time in the classroom," said board member Shirley Lowery. "It's bad policy on the school board's part, and I op pose it." "We shouldn't raise salary sup plements when teachers don't get similar raises," said board member Hubert Hutcherson. "The raise pro posed to teachers is not anywhere near the raise for athletics. It's not that I don't think the coaches de serve a raise, they do.” "We wanted to close the gap," said board member Skip Talbert, Corey Norwood was the story for the A's in the 17-2 romp in the second game of the double header. The leftfielder collected five RBIs on three hits, including two RBI doubles in the third and fourth, to pace the A’s offensive barrage. Every hitter in the A's lineup ei ther collected a hit or an RBI as Perry batters connected on 14 hits. William West also had a strong day at the plate for the A's, collect ing three hits, three RBIs and a walk from the leadoff position. Kurk Mager and Chris Hill had two hits each to pace the bottom of the order. Hill got the start on the mound, going four strong innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on just three hits. He also walked three bat ters and struck out three. Keith Ra gin finished the game, allowing just one walk, while striking out two, in one inning of work. Wednesday, June 22,1994 Houston Times-Journal After grabbing an early 2-1 lead, the Blues relied on a five-run second, a four-run third and a five run fourth, to hold what appeared to be a commanding 16-4 lead. It was in the third inning of play that the game’s biggest play may have surfaced. With two outs in the inning, Graffiti representatives Britney Simpson, Becca Roper and Lindsey Williamson each reached on singles. The trio’s regular season teammate, Katie Chapman, then came to the plate and smashed a grand slam. It was in the bottom of the fifth inning that the Reds started to gradually creep back into the game. Three runs in that frame, and four more marks in the team’s sixth at bat cut the score to 21-11. The Reds then shut the door on their counterparts in their next, and experience. Sellers comes from Hogansville High School, after stints at Miller County and Ran dolph-Southern Academy. At Hogansville High School, Sellers was named the GHSAA Re gion 5A Coach-of-the-Year and West Georgia baseball Coach-of the-Year in 1994. Sellers has six years of experi who was on the committee that made these recommendations. "We didn't want to match (other sys tems) because we feel the county has a lot to offer.” The proposal past, with Black mon breaking a 3-3 tie. Fletcher, Lowery and Hutcherson voted against the proposal, while David son, Talbert, McLure and Blackmon voted for it Other supplements remained the same. County baseball coaches are mm w m «• .■«•■< j±\ m -m %~**r Jy Larry Whitfield throws a pitch for the A's In the first game of a double header against Montezuma. PERRY PARK & RECREATION LEAGUE ADULT STANDING CHURCH Name Record Games Behind Hayneyville Baptist 10-2 PUMC 10-2 Ist Baptist Red 8-4 2 Ist Baptist Green 7-5 3 Kathleen Baptist 7-6 31/2 Ist Baptist Blue 5-7 5 Rehoboth Baptist 3-10 7 1/2 Houston Lake 0-13 10 1/2 OPEN LEAGUE Lanier Clothing 11*1 Sprit 10-3 1 1/2 Heat 8-4 3 Hardees 7-5 4 Comfort Inn 7-5 4 Camp (HCCI) 6-6 5 PPG 6-6 5 Crossroads 4-8 7 Kellwood 4-8 7 COPPS 2-11 91/2 Law & Order 2-11 9 1/2 L Page 7A final, at bat in hope of a last-inning rally. Five of the first six Reds batters, including offensive standout Elizabeth Rosner, managed to cross the plate in the Reds final offensive effort before the Blues made a strong defensive stand to close the door on the game. Rosner started off the inning with a bullet that found a hole in the infield. She then raced around the bases to chart a homerun before the defensive team could chase her down. Chapman sizzled at the plate to record four hits for the winning team. Teammates Katie Beth Yelton, Cassie Murman, Brooke Andrews, Simpson and Williamson collected three tallies. Jennifer Harris, Becca Roper, Please see Softball, page 8A ence of being in charge of women's basketball, serving as head coach for four years at Miller County High School and two years at Hogansville High School. His ca reer record was unknown as of press time. Sellers will be replacing Donna Campbell, who coached at West- Please see Sellers, page 8A paid $2,000 extra, track, soccer, as sistant basketball and middle school football and wrestling coaches $1,500 extra, golf, assistant base ball, assistant track, assistant soft ball, assistant soccer, assistant wrestling middle school basketball, middle school track, middle school baseball and softball and tennis coaches SI,OOO extra. The equip ment manager will also receive SI,OOO.