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Sports BP Jimmy m “r n Coaching youth sports can be a rewarding time One of the most rewarding experiences a person can have as an adult is being able to contribute to a young person’s life in some small way. I found this to be most memorable earlier this year when I took the reigns of a youth girl’s softball team. Despite some small problems that had to be ironed out early in the season, the good far outweighed the bad... One of the hardest things in the world for me, though, after just one week was trying to find something to do in my spare time. For more than three months, my life revolved around softball. I slept it, ate it, and talked about it all the time. My sponsor, Graffiti Hair Salon, was the best sponsor I’ve ever worked with. But then again, maybe it’s supposed to be that way when the sponsor is also the coach’s wife. Thanks, Davida. 1 also had the opportunity to work with the best group of parents I’ve ever been associated with in any way, shape or form. I can’t name them all, but would like to give a heartfelt thanks to all of you who made my job a lot easier... And last, but not least, the contributors of our league’s Ist Annual Awards Banquet. I can’t thank Middle Georgia businesses enough for their contributions. Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, Colonial Baking Company, Coca Cola Bottling Company and Frito Lay were more than “lifesavers” when it came to helping us with a pretty small budget. To Nancy and David at Hilderbrands for their last-minute efforts when I would rush in and want something changed at the very last possible moment. And a big “Thank You!” for the towering trophy that today is displayed at Graffiti’s as a result of the League Championship we won. And to fellow coaches Diane and James Pennington of Pennington 111 Plumbing, Jeannie Sexton and Steve Gray of Family Footwear, and Tim McWhorter of First Family Finance: thanks for the endless hours you contributed to your respective teams. To my “team mother”, Richilynn Chapman. You’re the greatest! I never knew that a team mother could do so much... To our faithful scorekeeper Joey Wrye, assistant coaches Jody Andrews and Cindy Harris, and our faithful umpiring crew. Anne Maurer, you’re the first “ump” we ever got along with... (Just kidding!) Let us not forget McDonalds. For eight weeks we all made Micky D’s our second home. We, coaches and players, must have eaten at least a thousand burgers and consumed about that many liters of Coca Cola. Thanks, management and staff! But most memorable were the 14 young ladies myself and fellow assistant Buddy Roper had the opportunity to work with. One of those players was a daughter before the season started. Thirteen others seemed to have virtually become my adopted siblings before the year was out... You always hear about the problems parents have trying to raise their respective sons or daughters in today’s “cruel world.” While there are “problem children,” I am going to be one to challenge the bum rap that all kids get as a result of that consensus. I would graciously, and with open arms, accept any one of these girls that I had the opportunity to coach and welcome them into my family. Their respect, attitude and determination only confirmed that youths in today’s world deserve more respect than they get credit for. Oftentimes, kids are said to be a reflection of their parents. But I think a lot of parents, more importantly, were a reflection of their kids this time around. Each player that took the field taught us that the game wasn’t about “life or death”; It wasn’t the “end of the world” if you didn’t win; And it didn’t mean you were any less of a person if things didn’t go exactly the way others around Please see Simpson, page 8A Vickers takes advantage of a full summer % Bp jHBP Perry High School women's basketball coach works on proper shooting form with one of his players. Hornets find depth in camp By VETO F. ROLEY Sport* Editor The Westfield Hornets entered the summer looking for some depth after losing seven seniors to graduation, including most of their bench. At the Georgia College basketball camp, Bob Massey might have found the depth for which he was looking. "I would say that we are a little further along than I expected us to be," said Massey, after the conclusion of the basketball camp. Westfield took 13 players to the basketball camp. "Everyone played a role to get us a victory," said Massey. "Every player we had in camp made a big basket for us. "I don't believe that we will be a s deep as we were last year," said Massey. However, he said that the Hornets would be able to bring a player off the bench without worrying about whether or not the player can contribute. "If we can go eight deep, maybe nine deep, we'll be ok," said Massey. Massey said that there were no real surprises for the Hornets this Please see Westfield, page 8A Waldrip signs four year baseball scholarship with Liberty By VETO F. ROLE> Sports Editor Dallas Waldrip will play next year for Liberty University in Vir ginia, signing a four year scholar ship offer from the NCAA Division I school. Waldrip decided to attend Liberty over a variety of other schools, in cluding Samford University, ABAC and Gordon College. "Most of the other schools were junior colleges," said Waldrip, "and I would rather go to a four year school." Liberty will be losing several outfielders and their firstbaseman to graduation this year, giving Waldrip a chance to play his freshman year. "Basically, that is the reason I'm going there," said Waldrip. "I want to play.” Although Waldrip was one of the Panthers three top pitchers in the '94 season, and he pitches for Macon's American Legion Post 3 team, he will play in the outfield and at firstbase for Liberty. "No pitching," he said. Waldrip said that he brought to Liberty the skills of a good hitter, noting that he practiced hitting off the tee anywhere from 100-200 a day. "That's what I like to do the most," he said of his hitting. "I'm going to work the hardest and do the best I car. to help the team," said Waldrip. He will major in business at Liberty. "I'm well pleased," said Harold Waldrip, Dallas' father. "It is some thing that we have worked for for a PAK welcomes five new blackbelts Perry Atmetic Karate Head Instructor Chad Lewis isn’t quite sure what to be most proud of. After all, in one promotional testing, he has produced five new Black Belts, which is a new record, and he also honored Vivian Siu as the first-ever female Black Belt in Perry history. “It’s definitely a nice dilema to decide which milestone is more impressive,” Lewis stated Thursday night as he released the results from the June 18th Promotional Testing in Warner Robins. “Of course I’m proud to have been part of these events, but it was my students who did what it look to make it to this level. They deserve the credit. The five new Black Belts in Perry arc: Jeremy Gray, Gary long time." Harold said Dallas worked on his baseball skills "almost daily, con stantly, all the time." "(Liberty) is a good school, (offering) a good education," said Harold Waldrip. "They have a good athletic team, and have a good baseball team." "I don't think it could've hap pened to a nicer guy," said Panther baseball coach Bob Jones. Jones said that Dallas Waldrip's hard work had paid off in the form of the scholarship offer. "His being dedicated and committed to what he wanted to accomplish got him to the next level. "He (Waldrip) comes out early and stays late," said Jones. "He con tinually works on his fielding, works on conditioning. He takes batting tees and hit right machines home. He takes extra swings. "(Dallas) leads by example. He is not real boisterous. He's quiet; but, he works hard to get the job done." Waldrip was the only senior on the Panther baseball team this year. He hit .410, with five homers and 30 RBIs as the Panthers fell just short of making the region play offs, losing out in the final game of the season. "He (Waldrip) was a very key participant in our program," said Jones. "He was the only senior we had. It would have been extremely difficult to have gone as far as we Virden, Vivian Siu, John Shane Padgett and Sean Siu. Two other milestones were also accomplished Thursday night as well. It marked the first time in Perry history that a brother and sister became Black Belts on the same day with, courtesy of Sean and Vivian Siu. The other highlight was that it was the first father-on combination as Jeremy Gray’s father received his Black Belt in April of this year. “As Black Belts, they’ll be expected to learn how to teach and share what they’ve learned.” Perry Black Belt Beau Douglas explained. “With the rank comes more respect, authority and privileges, but you also have more responsibilities.” Please see Karate, page 8A Houston Times-Journal By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor Perry High School women's basketball coach Max Vickers is getting a good start on the 1994 season with summer basketball camp. Last year, Vickers stepped- in as head coach after three games after Tim Simmons resigned after an 0-3 start. Vickers won 11 of the next 23 games to finish the year at 11-15. Taking over last season in the middle of the year limited the amount of new options Vickers could install, with the team having to prepare for the next opponent. "It's a lot easier (than last year)," said Vickers. "We finally get a chance to work on some things we couldn't work on during the regular season." "A majority of the girls are out," said Vickers. "Most of them are getting a good bit of work in." So far this summer, the Vickers' summer team has played in two games, recording a win against a group from Wilkerson, and a loss against Baldwin County. "Summer games don't count," said Vickers. "We can Redsox edge Perry A's, ending streak By VETO F. ROLEY Sports Editor The Perry A's staged a late in ning comeback in Jeffersonville, scoring seven runs over the final two frames of the game; but, it was not enough as the Jeffersonville Redsox edged the A's 11-10. The loss to Jeffersonville was the first loss of the season for the Perry A's, dropping them to 6-1 on the year. The Redsox are the defend ing Middle Georgia Adult League Baseball champions, gaining the ti tle by defeating the A's in the championship series last year. "We had a little over-confi dence,” said Perry field manager Voy Heath. "We couldn't get up for the game. "They (his players) came up against somebody who could play as good as they could play," said Heath. "They were kind of shocked when they found out they had to play ball." x iditfißk Dallas Waldrlp (center-right) poses In front of the 1991 AA state championship sign, a championship he helped win. Shown with him are Brltany Waldrlp, sister, Bob Jones, coach of the Perry High School baseball team, and his father Harold Waldrlp. Dallas Waldrlp signed to play college baseball with Liberty University. did without him." Jones said that Waldrip would add athletic ability, especially in the outfield, to Liberty. "He will make Liberty a better team by being there," said Jones. "He will be a very positive influ ence on the team. ft If! New black belt winners at the Perry Athletic Karate group Include (front row, l-r) Jeremy Gray, Vivian Slu, Sean Slu, John Shane Padgett, Beau Douglas, Gary Vlr den, Chad Lewis (head Instructor), Mary Joues, Melissa Stuckey and Jeb Stewart (Assistant Instructor). Page 6A Wednesday, June 29,1994 "Houston Times-Journal MIDDLE GEORGIA ADULT LEAGUE American League W L Pet. GB Perry Athletics 6 X 357 W.R. White Sox 5 2 ..714 1 W.R. Pirates 4 2 .666 1 1/2 Montezuma 3 4 .429 3 Forsyth Marlins 2 4 333 31/2 W.R. Braves 0 6 .000 51/2 National League W L Pet. GB Jeffersonville 6 0 1.000 Milledgeville 6 1 .857 1/2 DBK Mudhens 4 3 .571 21/2 Macon Angels 1 4 .200 41/2 Macon Bludjays 0 6 .000 6 W.R. Smokies 0 6 .000 6 Even though the A's lost the game, Heath said that there were some bright spots. "It proved to me that we can come back," he said. "I think it will help get rid of some of the cockiness." "It's been a great opportunity for me to coach an athlete of his cal iber," said Jones. "That's what you stay in the game for. He is a fine young kid and a good athlete.” Liberty University has several graduates in the Major Leagues, in cluding Sid Bream, who was an in- make mistakes and learn from them without them hurting the win-loss record." Vickers said the most important items on the Perry agenda were looking to get better in the fundamentals. "We need to learn some things so we won't have to do them in the regular season," he said, noting that a good summer could reduce the number of things the team had to do during the winter from 30 to 15. "It's (the summer) a free chance to work on the basic things," said Vickers. "We are getting a lot of things done." Most of the Lady Panthers will return for the 1994- 95 season. However, Vickers will be looking to replace Angela Leggett, who scored 15 points per game for Vickers last year, and Rickevia Jackson, who provided some needed minutes and defense as a back-up point guard last year. "They are going to be very hard to replace," said Vickers. "We have to have seniors step up and show leadership. "We will be better than what we were last year. The team will be better." Behind the play of Gray, the Redsox scored single runs in the first, third and fourth innings before putting three across in each of the fifth and sixth, taking a 10-3 lead. Please see A's, page 8A tegral part of the Atlanta Braves for several years and who is currently playing for the Astros. "I would like to think coach Jones for all the help he gave me through high school," said Waldrip, "and my dad, too."