Newspapers / The pilot. / May 1, 1954, edition 2 / Page 9
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S P 0 R T S SPORTS DIGEST By MAC HILL New Rule Basketball will have a new look come the ’54-’55 campaign. After much controversy the one-and-one free throw rule has been rewritten. The reason is two-fold, first—to place a prem ium on accurate shooting; second—to make it tougher on the offender and reduce the amount of fouls committed. The new rule, adopted by the National Basketball Committee, gives a second free throw after each successful free shot on all common personal fouls during the first 37 minutes of the game. If the first toss is missed the ball is in play and no second shot is awarded as has been the custom for the past two seasons. The rule remains unchanged for the final three minutes of a game in that two shots will be given irregardless of the first attempt. Another change is that the games will be divided into two 20 minutes halves instead of four 10 minute quarters. Round Up FOOTBALL—The local eleven began the ’53 season rather in- auspicicusly, fighting Chowan to a scoreless draw and preceding to fall before Asheville-Biltmore, 14-0, and Lees McRae, 12-6. The Bulldogs took these games in their stride and slowly, but surely, rounded into a gridiron power. They plowed through Mars Hill 13-7, and 31-0, and Lees McRae, 14-6, before dropping a 13-6 decision to Asheville-Biltmore in the season’s finale. Scatback Ernie Byerly led the team in scoring and total of fense. He was assisted in rushing by Dean Upton, Norman Hardin, “Bunny” Price, Joe Saunders, and James Parker. The forward wall, constantly under the shadow of the backfleld in publicity, but nevertheless deserving of equal praise, was led by Richard Yearwood and Grady Thomas on the flanks, Edgar Teague and Ronald Burns at the tackles, and Gothard Overcash and Truman (T. G.) Phillips at the guard posts. Alfred Steppe anchored the center of the line at the pivot position. BASKETBALL—The hardwood forces appeared destined to a good season in their pre-season drills but failed to come up with a winning combination. The quint came out on the short end of the score 14 times in 22 outings. Although their regular sea son play was sometimes disappointing, especially their frequent one and two point defeats, the locals came to life in the state tournament at Campbell College. The Bulldogs met the sec ond-seeded Campbell club, and despite a previous 31 point lick ing and the fact that the Camels were the host team, the locals held a slim margin throughout the game until the final minutes. With four regulars lost via the foul route the Campbell team began to take advantage of the situation and when the final gun was sounded and the smoke had cleared the Bulldogs once again found themselves at the short end of the score, yet there was a moral victory for at last the fellows realized what they could do. The sad part is that it was much too late! Gail “Squirrel” Thomas, Bill Norris, Dean Upton, “Bunny” Price, and Bill Bovender were the mainstays of the team. Thomas was the leading scorer with a 17 point average. INTRAMURAL BASKETBALL—The 1st West team, led by Yearwood, Pearson, Leach & Co., swept through the opposition to capture the regular season championship but gave way to the 1st East club in the tournament. This quint, with such stars as Ernie Byerly, Grady Thomas, and John Isminger won only one game prior to the tourney but took the post-season event with flying colors. GIRLS BASKETBALL—Miss (Coachie) Morgan’s lassies won two games in five outings this winter. Dot Bridges and Shirley Reavis supplied a one-two scoring punch and Nancy Lattimore, Peggy Reavis, and Lib Moore were the defensive stalwarts for the sextet. BASEBALL—Still in progress, refer to PEARSON VIEWS SPORTS. INTRAMURAL SOFTBALL—Also in progress, but it appears to be a two team race including the basement and the 2nd West teams. MINOR SPORTS—Richard Yearwood, “Squirrel” Thomas, Richard Harrill, and Bill Norris starred in the recent track meet . . . Evaleen Wiggins and “Squirrel” Thomas champs in ping pong . . . Shirley Bell and Tommy Hill tops at badminton . . . The Reavis twins declared unofficial tennis champions— why not, w'ho can beat them? Farewell PEARSON VIEWS SPORTS Well, its that time of year again; everyone is thinking of summer vacation and work, and the sophomores, of “where will I find a school to replace dear ole G. W.” Before all thoughts of the school year have been put aside let’s give a glance to the local sports scene where a struggle is under-way. At the present time (May 5) the Bulldogs, after losing two in a row, are firmly anchored in fourth place with a record of six wins against five losses. They are suffering from a severe case of erratic fielding and untimely hitting. Don’t misunderstand though, the errors aren’t plentiful, they just come at the most inopportune time, and the hitting isn’t absent it just isn’t timely. Coach Harris is expecting a decided improvement as the locals start down the home stretch with five conference games remaining to be played. Now that we have gotten an internal view, let us hazard an external glimpse. The Bulldogs began the season with a bang, shelling Spartanburg 13-2 on 16 base hits. They continued their winning ways by dumping EMI and Pfieffer by Identical 3-2 scores. Next came Campbell, we lost 14-2. Following this defeat the Bulldogs got back on the victory train with a win over Spartanburg by a narrow 4-3 margin. Next came PJC to our “Baptist Hollow” and they were obliged with defeats on successive days by the score of 14-4 and 6-5. It was at this point in the season that things went awry. For the first time in two years the locals were held scoreless. This great feat was accomplished by Oak Ridge to an 8-0 tune. This was sweet revenge for the Cadets, whom the Bulldogs had beaten four straight games in two years, a feat that locked the two teams in a first place tie in 1952 and made the Bulldogs conference champs in 1953. This was followed with a 7-4 licking by Pfieffer whom the locals had beaten earlier in the season. Leading the Bulldog hit parade is fleet footed Ernie Byerly with a .375 average. He is followed by Gene Huss, currently in a nine game hitting streak, with a .351 percentage. Byerly is tied for top honors in runs scored with Huss, each having 8 and in stolen bases with Saunders at 3 apiece. Huss leads or is tied for the lead in four departments. Most base hits, 13; doubles, 4; triples, tied with Kiser, Dorman and Toney with one each; and runs batted in, 10. Howard Proctor, Grady Thomas and Joe Saunders have a homer apiece to lead in that department. “Lefty” Geddes Swofford and righthander Hal Pearson, Coach Harris’ workhorses, continue to dominate the pitching honors. Swofford has the edge over Pearson in the earned-run depart ment. The lefty is sporting a commendable 3.0 runs per game average. In the fielding end of the game Grady Thomas is tops among the regular glove men with a .956 average. The lean first sacker has accepted 89 chances while committing only 3 mis- cues. He has 77 putouts and 9 assists to his credit. That takes care of the sports for this year which hasn’t exactly been a banner one for Gardner-Webb in the won and lost column, but there have been other dividends realized from the school’s athletic program. Strong minds and hearts as well as strong bodies have been built. A much wider perspective can be obtained on a gridiron, a basketball court or a baseball diamond than could ever be arrived at in any classroom. Enough said about sports; now a thank-you note. This corner would like to express its deep appreciation for the co operation and patient consideration it has received from the student body this year. In this farewell column a wish for the success and happiness is extended to each and everyone. Batting Averages; Player; Hart Matthews _ Byerly Saunder Kiser Dorman Smith Swofford -- Thomas ___ Proctor ___ Pearson Carlton ___ Gamble - - - Bovender AB 1 RBI SB AVG. 0 0 1.000 (Continued on page 12.) Page 7
May 1, 1954, edition 2
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