Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / May 25, 1954, edition 1 / Page 7
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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1954 THE BLACKBIRD, ROCKY MOUNT SENIOR HlOltt SCltOOL PAGE : Sports Review by Gerry Gardner High-Flying Blackbirds As this is the last issue of the paper, the column is dedicated to as review of the Blackbird’ rec ord-breaking ‘53-‘54 year in sports. The football team won 7 of 10 games and stood third in the con ference stanc.ings. Pullback John Warren, end 8mokey Lancaster and quarterback Bobby Patterson were consistently good perfoi-mers. Basketball Highlights of Year Basketball proved the highlight of the year as the Blackbirds won the Eastern AAA title and boast ed a season of 16-2. Yet ip com piling this marvelous record the Birds had definitely burned them selves out. In the state tourna ment they were stopped cold, beaten by Raleigh and Greens boro. The Blackbirds were led by Smokey Lancaster and Dave Barnes. Both were named all eastern and Smokey was named all-state. Baseball had a poor standing, as usual, but the Birds played well and finished second in conference standings. The excellent pitching of Harold Gilbert and the hard hitting of catcher Fred Harris sparked the Blackbird nine. Tennis Team Undefeated Dwight Hinton and George Bur ton Sparked a razzle-dazzle tennis team through an unbeaten season. Their most spectacular victory was in stopping Goldsboro, 7-2. It was the first loss in 66 matches for the Quakes and the first vic tory over them by Rocky Mount since 1947. Look above. It will be hard to find a team who can match these accomplishments—Not below third ^in conference standings in any SCl^crt-——won Eastern AAA bas ketball title, champions of con ference! unbeaten in tennis! This was simply our year. Who knows? Maybe next year, too! Consistency, performance and good sportsmanship proved valuable to Fred Harris, Smokey Lancas ter, and Johnny Warren. Thesi three athletes vrere selected as the most valuable players of 1954 by The Blackbird sports editors, Fred Harris boasted the highest hitting average on the baseball team and saw action in every con test. Smokey Lancaster, who starred in three sports, was most outstanding In basketball. He was the team’s highest scorer and was chosen all-eastern and all-state. Johnny Warren was chosen for his splendid effort in football. He was all-eastern and the leading ground gainer. Birds Defeat Caps, Plac Second ROYAL CLOTHING CO. 118 S. Washington St. Peerless Cleaners Phone 6-7094 206 Rose St. Eastern Carolina’s Most Complete Stock Of TOYS SPORTING GOODS JOYNERS’ Sportsmen’s Headquarters Rocky Mount, N. C. By* overcoming the Raleigh Caps 6-2 and losing to Goldsboro by a score of 9-7, the Birds moved Into second place with only one game left in the season. In the Raleigh game, Bobby Patterson started on the mound for the Birds ^ut was releived by Harold Gilbert in the bottom of the eight inning, at which time the score was tied 2-2. After tak ing over he retired the side, which set the scene for Rocky Mount’s big inning—the ninth. In the ninth inning Bobby Pat terson led off with a walk, Deans sing'led, Harold Gilbert sacrificed them to second and third, and Highsmith then flied out to left field scoring Patterson. Gordon Waters then walked and scored, along with Deans, on a deep fly to centerfield and a single by Bunny Bell. Caps Threaten In their half of the ninth the Caps threatened but couldn’t score and the game ended with Raleigh holding the short end of a 6-2 score. The winning pitcher was Gil bert for Rocky Mount. The Birds EDGEMONT SODA SHOP Records-Musical Instruments Pianos & Rttdlos Reids—whenever you think of music. reezer-Fresh // Delidous Open Year Round YOUTH SHOP Rocky Mount’s Only Teen Shop 211 S. Main St. Phone 6-7274 top hitter was Bell, who got 3 for 4. Meeting Goldsboro in their I last game of the year, the Birds lost 9^7 in a battle of errors and blunders. Pitching for Rocky Mount was Bobby Patterson 5-2 in their game at Goldsboro ear lier in the season. Best Mark In Years ■ All in all, however, it was a successful season. The Blackbirds made their best marks in five years as they finished in second place in conference play. With quite a few lettermen still eligible for one or two more years of playing, the baseball team looks a cinch to even better this year’s highly successful season. Coach Cleetwood feels that all the boys played especially good ball and looks forward to good playing next year. WALKER-ROSS Printing Co. “Where Quality Printing: Is A I Habit” Rocky Mount, N. C. NEWELL’S JEWELERS - 700 Btunoh St. "Your Auttxorized Elfin Watch Dealer” James M. Fox W. L. Watson JAMES M. FOX JEWELER 126 S. Main Street ROCKY MOUNT. N. C. Harris Conservatory Of Music 'Z69 Tarboro St. Phone 6-5667 Piano • Voice - Orran Private or Class Beeinner or Advanced Full 2 year college course Free Scholarship Tennis Team Tops, State HS Champs After Six Years After defeating their own team mates in the finals, Dwight Hin ton aaii ‘Smokey” Joe Lancaster rolled to victory in the state ten nis tournament to become North Carolina’s higli school doiibles chan:pijns. I-ancaster and Hinton wasted no time in ra; king up victories '.n High Pomt. Charlotte and liam. The LancaUsr-Hinton duo went o?i to whip ohe Quakes of Gold..:joro in the semi-finals U-2, 6-0. In th;? first three rounds, Fred Ruben anci Bobby Wimberly took v.’ins 0 er Ruleigh, Goldsboro and Kinston. In the semi-finals Meyers Park of Charlotte, the ‘>‘am that upset a top-rated Whir- lit‘ team, clashed with the Birds. Charlotte’s finest came out sec ond best a" Ruben and Wimberly licked them, 6-2, 6-3. Team Mate Against Team Mate It was team mate against team mate in the final round of the toi.rnament. Ruben and Wimber ly won the first set, 7-5. The pare was gruelling as one Blackbird pair met another. The second set .‘;aw Lancaster and Hinton as win ners in a close but decisive con test. The last leg of the tourna ment had come. Lancaster, Hinton Win Both teams wanted to win, both wanted to bring the doubles crown home, and both teams were good. They were experts in their field and the finest high school tennis players in the state. Dwight and “Smokey” were the winners when the final return was placed. For the first time since 194.^, Rocky Mount had won a tennis championship. The victories nn the State College courts were a fitting end for an undefeated sea son. ■' George Burton was the only local entry in the singles. Al though George put up a fine fight, he was eliminated from tourney play when a Southern Pines boy beat him, 7-5, 6-0. It is likely that the Blackbirds would have copped singles honor too, but contestant.*) were not allowed to enter in both the singles and doubles divisions. DECORATIVE FABRICS Phone 6-5920 Mary A. Proctor Lelia D. Steadman Interior Decorators 701 North Church Street Rocky Mount, N. C. UNDERWOOD RADIO HOSPITAL TELEVISION 144 South Washington St. Phone 2-2972 Walker & Carter For Dependable Dry Cleaning Certified Cold Storage for Furs and “out-of-season” garments 235 S. Main Street Frank Walker Don Carter GEHMAN’S Jewelers 139 S. Main Street Dial 6-6722 PENNEY'S Saves You Money On Style I And Quality CARRYING CASI IWCIUDIP Ike MSt mw (Iltfn og tin! SiisatiMii UM tutnns (ir spiidi*c bosinss grsctofastie ktmweik ... New stnailiud kuiti... Awziilil in picMl all Uodvwood Portabtu oft Carolina Office ) Equipment Co. TJRMS; just A WEEK!
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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May 25, 1954, edition 1
7
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