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COLUMNS
May 1979
Columns
Sports
Sports Close-Up
By Ronnie Lawrence
Elditor
Hurricane Baseball:
Canes Need Strong Pitching
The only thing getting better than
the weather this spring is the
Hurricane baseball team. They
currently hold a 16-6 overall record
and a 3-1 record in conference action.
Pitching has been the main
weakness on this year's squad,
especially early in the season. As of
April 10, left hander John Foster was
the brightest spot with a 4-0 record
and 40 strike outs to his credit. Coach
Frazier said the pitching has been
"spKDtty", and not as good as he
would like. Pitchers Greg Bartly, Mike
Warren, Mike Lloyd, Danny Napier,
an'd Wilson . Pearce have steadily
improved and should peak around
tournament time, Frazier added. Hard
throwing right hander George Hall
has the potential to be one of the best
pitchers on the team, but has been
unable to this season.
The strongest part of the team thus
far has been hitting, which surprised
Frazier. As of April 10 Bobby Hinson
led the batting attack with a
whopping .445 average; Linwood
"Tweedy" Thorbs was not far behind
at .435; Mark Valesquez was batting
just below .400 at .389; and John
Millholland was at .344. Ottis Nixon,
with his fine fielding, has proven time
and time again this season why he
was selected by the California Angels
in the first round of the winter draft;
"but he really hasn't broken out as far
as hitting", Frazier said.
Louisburg has an abundance of
speed and coach Frazier utilizes it for
the better of the team. On numerous
occasions this season Frazier has
substituted base runners on first
base, and it has paid off because the
Hurricanes are averaging about 5
stolen bases per game.
Frazier hopes that by the time the
conference tournament rolls around
that he can couple his great hitting
with some improved pitching to
capture the Eastern Tarheel
Conference crown.
Freshman Star
Wins Award
Sam Jones, a freshman from Mt.
Olive, N. C., received first team
All-American recognition for her
outstanding performance this past
season and especially her playing in
the nationals.
When Jones was asked if she
would answer a few questions about
her award, she claimed to be shy. The
only reason Jones acted shy was
because her basketball has done most
of her talking for the last few years.
During Jones' three years at
Southern Wayne High School she
averaged 23 points per game and 10
assists. During the regular season this
year Jones led the team with a 19.6
scoring average, 9.4 rebounds and 5
assists, shot 50.5 percent from the
floor and 74.3 percent from the foul
line.
When Jones was asked about.
Coach Sanderford she replied, "he is
the best coach I ever had, because he
knows his stuff". Jones learned to
build confidence within herself under
Sanderford. Jones said Sanderford
would tell her "you can do it", and
that she has done things which
surprised herself.
Jones came to Louisburg because
she wanted to be at a small school,
with a winning basketball team. One
year ago the Hurricanes record ended
at 19-3, with a loss in the finals of the
Regionals. Sanderford promised
Jones that if she would come to
Louisburg that his team would go to
the nationals, and that was one
promise never broken.
Jones received offers from Central
Missouri State and South Carolina to
play basketball next year, but she said
she will return to Louisburg. For
those fans who remember thatj
patented left hand jump shot of Sam
Jones, they know she is worthy of
her All-American recognition, and
look forward to seeing her next year.
Sam Jones
CMMMVMa IlMn
Ann Lawrence, sophomore sensation from LC, has signed a grant in aki with
the University of North Carolina, to play basketball. This past season Lawrence
averaged 17.6 points and 17.8 rebound per game. Lawrence was selected to
the first team All Region X for the secorid consecutive year, and was on the
All-Tournament Team in the natbnals. Lawrence was selected to play in the
East-West All Star Game where she helped lead the East to vrctory by scoring
six points, pulling down 11 rebound, and blocking six shots.
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