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Perry Panther baseball teams
honored by PHS Dugout Club
Br ALLEGE KENT
second year in a row,
David Coffey was named Best Offensive
player arid Kent Franklin was named
Best Defensive player at the Perry High
baseball bahqiiet hosted by the Dugout
Chib. , V
Phillip Gentry was awarded the Most
Improved player award fox the second
year in a row.
IYesident of the Dugout Club Randy
Franklin presided over the banquet dur
ing whidh every JV and varsity player was
recognized and praised for his accom
plishments during the 1999 season.
The banquet was held in the Perry
High School cafeteria decorated with the
balloons and tablecloths in the school
colors.
JV Coach Andy Gentry and Coach
Robbie McCuffie presented certificates to
the JV players and lauded their individ
ual performance during the season.
The dugout club presented plaques to
the graduating seniors, Coffey. David
Coach Gentry remarked to the group
that their leadership had been invalu
able to the team.
Panther head Coach Lee Whatley
thanked the parents and the Dugout
dub for their participation in the base -
ball program. He also thanked Lee
Spiers, who does the play by play for
Perry, calling him “the voice of Panther
Baseball" for being at every PHS event.
The four managers of the team were
also recognized By Whatley; Summer
Saunders, Amanda
McCloud, Erin McCoy,
and Dana Collins.
Whatley continued
by recognizing his
seniors and one fresh
man, Caleb White,
who according to his
coach, “never played
like a freshman. He
has skills and compo
sure beyond his
years/
Whatley also
applauded the efforts
of coaches Gentry and
McDuffie calling them
“the' fmit "aaiistant
coachea In Georgia/
Franklin was pre
sented the trophy as
Atlanta Braves slip and slide, but stay on top of NL
The Braves have skidded a bit
in the past week or two, due
mostly to their inability to beat
Chicago, but they still cling to
the lead in the National League
east race.
The problem has been, ironi
cally, an inconsistent starting
pitching staff. Tom Glavine
seems to have righted himself,
Kevin Millwood has turned in a
couple of good outings in his last
two starts, and John Smoltz,
before going on the DL, was his
usual dominant self.
Rookie Odalis Perez has strug
gled. and Bruce Chen, brought
up to take Smoltz’ place in the
rotation, gave up four runs in his
first inning back in the bit
leagues, but settled down to
pitch OK.
The bullpen has been out
standing, thanks to folks like
Kevin McClinchy, Rudy Seanez,
Justin Speier, and Macon native
John Rocker.
The offense has failed, too. dur-
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Itonored
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Phil
Clark
Home
Journal
Sports
ing the past couple of weeks. Still,
Atlanta appears to have on of the
best teams in the National
League, and if fact, all of baseball.
While pondering the Braves’
problems, 1 picked up a copy of
an old press guide which con
tains a section on “Braves His
torical Highlights". I though
readers might find some of them
interesting, as we wait for “our
team" to pull out of their present
mild slump.
In 1935, Babe Ruth finished
his remarkable baseball career in
a Braves’ uniform. Ruth home-
Best Defensive Player for the team.
Franklin played both centerfteld and
pitched for the Panthers during the sea
son while maintaining an A average.
Whatley referred to Franklin as the
best center fielder in the Middle Georgia
area and said that he had worked hard
on improving his skills In the four years
he had started for the Panthers.
the Best Offensive player of the year"
went to David Coffey, who batted .56?
this season and has ,540 lifetime hatting
average and 22 home runs in his four
.years at Perry. '~~
Whatley called Coffey a leader on the
team who always gave more than 100
percent and who motivated other players
to do their best. Coffey will be attending
the University of Georgia on a baseball
scholarship.
The Hustler award was given to David
Talley, who was moved from 3rd to
shortstop this year and the Coaches
Award was presented to Jeb Stuart for
his continual school spirit.
Whatley concluded his address by com
menting that it had been his goal to instill
into the young men a love of basebaU.
Randy Franklin presented a gift to
each of the coaches and then received a
standing ovation from the sizable crowd
gathered. Franklin will be stepping down
after serving as President of the club for
three years.
Whatley will not be returning to coach
the Panthers and will be succeeded by
Coach Gentry. Gentry said after the ban
quet that he was excited about the
opportunity and that it had been his goal
ever since he got into coaching to be a
head coach.
Page 6A
rMfeijtin f*Tfrifftiff*i r
and Jeb Stuart.
% ' i - mm
red in his first National League
at-bat, but after hitting just .181
with eight homers, Ruth called it
quits in June of that year, with
714 major league home runs.
Johnny Sain and Warren
Spahn each won 21 games for
the 1947 Braves, which finished
third in the standings. The team
did exceed one million in atten
dance for the first time in histo
ry, though, and Bob Elliot, the
Braves third baseman, won the
league MVP award.
With Spahn and Sain combin
ing to win 39 games the following
season, 1948, the phrase “Spahn
and Sain and two days rain" was
coined. Sain won 24 regular sea
son games for the Braves, who
went on to lose to Cleveland in
the World Series. Alvin Dark hit
.322 to win the Rookie of the
Year award.
A year later, center fielder Sam
Jethroe gave the Braves back-to
back Rookie of the Year award
winners. Yet another rookie,
-Wed.. May 26, 1999
Football already?
Westfield coaches view prospects
during spring jamboree game
Bt Phil Class
Home Joiikwai Sports
The Westfield Hornets
engaged First Presbyterian
and Windsor in the annual
spring football jamboree at
the Hornets' Nest May 20
Hornet Coach Ronnie
Jones and his staff are
looking to fill nine positions
left void by graduation. The
games, in which each par
ticipant played both the
others, but no score was
kept, provided an opportu
nity for all three coaches to
do a little experimenting
looking toward next football
season.
Jones will look to replace
three starters in the offen
sive backfield, including
quarterback Trevor Jones,
fullback Jared Shell and
running back Tate Parker.
Along the line, the Hornets
lost Robbie Heaton, Ron
Marshall. Chad Ekey,
Matthew Lee and Josh
Giles.
Replacing several all
stars on the offensive line
won’t be easy. Jones told a
gathering of players, par
ents and fans after the
game “Well have a bunch of
new kids next year. We’ve
got a long way to go, but I
promise you we’ll get there.
We looked good against
FPD, but Windsor was more
physical, and we had a little
trouble with them."
Bo Hart, Ernest Greene
and Mitch Greer took the
snaps at quarterback as
Jones and his staff seek a
replacement for three-year
starter Trevor Jones. Gone,
too, is all-state fullback
Jared Shell, who rushed for
nearly 1,400 yards a year
ago.
Running back Tate Park
Georgia High School Rodeo Association
bringing finals to Georgia National Fairgrounds
State rodeo finals expected to draw large crowd to Perry arena
Swoai. to th» Home Jwkkm.
Two hundred Georgia
high school students will
compete at the 21st annual
Georgia High School Rodeo
finals in the Reaves Arena
at the Georgia National
Fairgrounds June 11, at 8
p.m., June 12 and June 13.
starting at 2 p.m. both
days.
The event will fill more
than 300 stalls at the fair
grounds and 400 hotel
rooms in Perry, according
to rodeo planners.
Teens from across Geor
gia will be completing in
barrel racing, pole bending,
calf roping, goat tying,
breakaway roping, team
roping, bull and bronc rid
Houston Home Journal
er was also lost to gradua
tion, and the Hornets will
be hard pressed to find a
runner with Parker’s speed
and determination.
Back, though, is Jacob
Walker at a running back
position. Walker will be
among the top players in
the Georgia Independent
Schools Association with
outstanding speed, balance
and strength
Chance Jones figures to
move into Shell’s fullback
position. Jones is a power
ful runner who hits the hole
with authority.
Matthew Hulbert looked
extremely quick in the
spring Jamboree, and
should step in and replace
Parker. Hulbert is also
extremely fast.
John Curtis Gibbs
appears set to replace
speedy Gary Virden at split
end.
It is along the line that
Westfield will be inexperi
enced, with new faces in
every starting offensive line
position. Ben Brannen
returns from last ye&r's
team, but he has been
moved from center to tack
le. He will apparently team
with another rising junior,
Michael Giles, at the tackle
positions. Giles gained con
siderable experience a year
ago.
Joel Stephens appears
ready to move into the
starting position at center.
Stephens is another rising
junior. Matthew Eve and
Golden Goss opened the
jamboree as the guards,
but several other Hornets
got long looks from the
coaching staff, and the line
positions appear to be
open.
ing.
One highlight is the
selection of the Georgia
High School Rodeo Queen
and Court for the year
2000.
A special recognition cer
emony will be held for Rep.
Henry Reaves, who is a
strong supporter of the high
school rodeo and the Geor
gia National Fairgrounds
and Agricenter.
The top 20 contestants in
each rodeo event will be
competing to participate in
the national High School
Rodeo finals, to be held in
Gillette, Wyo., in July.
Kathleen O’Neill, rodeo
chairperson, said that stu
dents from kindergarten
Eddie Mathews, hit three home
runs on Sept. 27, 1952, becom
ing the first rookie to hit three
homers in a game.
By 1953, the Braves were in Mil
waukee, attracting what was then a
National League record 1,826,297
fans. Mathews led the league with
47 home runs, and Spahn led the
league with 23 victories.
In 1954, Bobby Thomson
broke an ankle in spring train
ing, forcing the Braves to convert
a young second baseman named
Hank Aaron into an outfielder.
Aaron hit .281 with 13 home
runs as the Braves finished third
in the league.
The year 1957 was a great year
for the Braves. After losing the
1956 pennant to the Dodgers on
the final day of the season, the
Braves came back in 1957 to
take the National League title,
then beat the New York Yankees
in the World Series behind a
spectacular pitching perfor
mance by Lew Burdette.
Daniel Weir returns at
tight end and will also con
tinue at the Hornets’
punter. Place kicker Nathan
Skinner is also back
Cole Carter, R.G. Lamar,
Patrick Harris, Stephen
Baxter and Cody Mont
gomery are others who will
be looked to for help along
the line.
Don Walker returns at
defensive end and provides
good speed at the position.
Walker will open at safety,
with Will Sexton returning
at a corner back. Kyle
Harold returns at one line
backer position, with Jones
set to move into Shell’s spot
as linebacker.
Hart was a starter at
safety last year, but just
how much he plays on
defense will depend on his
role at the quarterback
position. Same with
Greene. Kory Kitchens off
last year’s team will get a
lot of playing time at a cor
nerback spot.
Will Holt was unable to
participate in spring drills,
recovering following shoul
der surgery, but the versa
tile rising junior should be
a factor at both running
back and linebacker.
Jones has lost defensive
coordinator Rennie Atkin
son and line coach Jeff
Dehem from the coaching
staff, although Dehem was
on hand to help with spring
.drills. Duane Hunter has
joined the coaching staff,
from Fullington Academy.
Westfield opens at
Fullington on Aug. 27. The
home opener will be against
Tiftarea on Sept. 10, follow
ing a road game at Tattnall
Square Sept. 3
The rodeo is June Il
ls at the Agricenter.
through high school will be
offered a special admission
rate of $3 to the evening
event on June 11.
Admission for adults is
$8 per day. Children ages
6-12 will be admitted on
June 12 for $5, and chil
dren 5 and under will be
admitted free.
“Everyone is invited to
put on hats and boots and
head out to the Agricenter/
O’Neill said.
For more information,
call 800-987-3247 or 912-
825-8338.
Aaron led the league in
homers and runs batted in, and
won the Most Valuable Player
award, but it was a couple of late
season call-ups, Wes Covington
and Bob “Hurricane" Hazle, who
sparked the Braves.
Covington hit 21 home runs,
and Hazel batted .403 down the
stretch for the Braves.
Burdette won three games and
Aaron batted .393 as the Braves
beat the Yankees in the World Series.
Spahn won the Cy Young award.
Then, 1958 was the year the
Dodgers and the Giants moved
west, but the National League
pennant stayed where it was. in
Milwaukee. This time, though,
the Yankees won the World
Series, four games to three.
Mathews and Aaron combined to
hit 61 home runs, Spahn and
Burdette won a total of 42
games.
In 1963, Aaron just missed the
triple crown, hitting 44 home
runs and driving in 130.