Newspapers / State Port Pilot (Southport, … / June 2, 1993, edition 1 / Page 19
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The State Port Pilot SPORTS \ George r Cox Sports editor \ ' . Trojans’ athletics have Lemon flavor Like a fine wine, West Brunswick principal Ed Lemon gets better with age. At least, that’s die way Trojan athletics appear to be headed these days. And Lemon, the captain of the ship, is still the same guy who’s in his sec ond stint of shaping the way. When he took over the West Brunswick principalship in the late 1970s Lemon faced a rebuilding job in the atMetic department after the departure of Gary Taylor, who built a state basketball dynasty at the Shallotte school. And now he's in the midst of doing it again as the school faces an even brighter future than it did back then. Trojan football has thrived since Lemon’s second coming. But when football coach Marshall Seay decided to resign a year ago, Lemon made the sport even better - bringing in one of the top football minds in North Carolina, Jim Brett, to spearhead the program. Brett prompdy took the program up another notch, leading the Trojans to the state 2A championship after they finished second the previous year un der Seay. Doing that in his first year was one of those rare major ac complishments. It isn’t often that a coach succeeds a successful one, in stalls a n.'.w system, and does even better. Searching for new basketball coach Now Lemon is looking for a new basketball coach to restore the round ball sport to respectability. He remembers how it was when he took over the principalship the first time. Taylor had won a state title in 1975 after finishing runner-up the previous year, and put together a string of 54 straight home victories. In fact, when Lemon arrived the Trojans had lost just two games on their home floor since the school’s inceptionin 1972. Contrary to what one might think, Lemon has never been a "win at all cost" administrator, although his competitive spirit has always been a part of his psyche. As an athlete at Wilmington New Hanover, he played baseball and football under the very best: coaches Leon Brogden and Buck Hardee - legends of the sport around the state. And at Wilmington College Lemon played on a national championship baseball squad under another legend: coach Bill Brooks, a recent inductee into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Brogden, who coached New Hanover to 55 championships in football, baseball and basketball, "was the most unique individual I’ll ever meet," Lemon once said. "There are no doubters who play for him." As for Hardee, Lemon’s comparison was interesting. "He was like Brogden, but he’d jump on you a little quicker for some thing. But you knew you deserved it" He was at Goose Creek for a while After a stint in minor league baseball, Lemon opted for a career in educa tion. Starting at Chestnut Junior High in Wilmington, he then moved to Charleston, S. C., to work in physical education, distributive education and guidance at Goose Creek High School before moving to Wilmington Hog gard as an assistant principal. Then he went on to Wilmington Laney as an assistant before taking the West Brunswick principalship in the spring of 1979. When he took the job back then, his attention to athletics had a definite focus and balance. "Athletics is one of the integral parts of the school," he said. "It’s one of the outlets and needs. If you would take sports out of the high schools, you would take away much of the pride from the schools." Lemon is always looking for new and innovative ways to do things. He hired the school system’s first female "athletic director" for girls sports. And he’s had the philosophy that athletic directors don’t always have to be coaches of major sports teams. His first athletic director, Jimmy Marshall, who eventually became the head football coach, was elevated to that slot because he had experience in a variety of sports. Lemon once slept in the office Like a fine wine that gets better with age, Lemon is also an example of a person who mellows as the years pass by. During his first stint as West Brunswick principal, he would sometimes spend the night in his office on a cot he brought from home. Now that’s dedication. He probably wouldn’t do that today, but the fact See Cox column, next page i ;v \f {il Basketball game will benefit Hope Harbor Craig Thomas and Mike Farrell of WONI radio am} the Shalk>t« Police Department me sponsoring a benefit basketball game to aasisiif Hope Harbor Home, Brunswick County’* response so domestic viorif lence. .1* Also participating on the Media Airballs team are John Evans wl|| John Randelman of WWAY-TV3, Jim Whitraeyer of SURF 107, Dan^ tfewy of WECT*TV6*CMs Wright of toe Wtimht&o* If The basketball game will be played &tturdayJutKs5»at3T3dp.». ijW MiW St^y Elementary Sdtoolon Highway 17 just north of toe NIH Wally A us ley, former "Voice of the Woltpack", wiB emcee the , game. The Northwest senior citizen cheerleaders and ^N HI lijtttwe.;. Brunswick High School cheerleaders will lead cheers. No admission will be charged. All donations rweived*|i|p 0>eaelhH£»eHart><»HB«iie^. m ' i liii § iii -I Pilot-Beacon all-county McGee, Coward head squad By George Cox Sports Editor North Brunswick inflelder-pitcher Jared McGee and head coach Wes Coward, selected by The State Port Pilot-Brunswick Beacon newspapers as this season’s county baseball player and coach of the year, head a 1993 dream squad loaded with talent. Six players from North Bruns wick, four from West Brunswick and three from South Brunswick comprise this season’s all-county squad. McGee, a senior, ended regular season play with a .467 batting aver age. The Leland standout, who struck out just five times, led the team in hits with 28 in 60 times at bat (six doubles, one triple and six home runs), scored 16 runs and pro duced the most RBI on the club with 23. As a pitcher, McGee was equally impressive with a 2.05 earned run average, a 3-3 record, plus one save. A strong righthander who chal lenges the hitters, he hurled 41 in nings, yielding just 12 earned runs, 36 hits (four doubles, no triples, two home runs), walked 11 batters and struck out 37. Coward, who took over the reins for North Brunswick head mentor Photo by Ed Harper Spikers and blockers had at it in impromptu Day weekend. Weather was excellent for a variety games on the Oak Island strand over the Memorial of seaside and water sports. Keith Moore, who’s in graduate school at Western Carolina, did a re markable job in keeping North Brunswick playing .500 ball overall and in the thick of the Waccamaw 2A Conference race, especially when the Scorps’ two top pitchers — McGee and sophomore Casey McBride - were injured early in the campaign. The Scorpions won the county championship this season for their rookie mentor, beating West Bruns wick twice and South Brunswick once. Before the injuries Coward’s team made it to the finals of the Seashell Invitational Baseball Tournament in Wilmington, losing to nationally ranked Wilmington New Hanover, 8-3. The son of former Triple A per former and Brunswick County Post 68 coach Sterling Coward, the North Brunswick coach loves baseball and knows the game after a background under former New Hanover Wildcat coach Buck Hardee. Joining McGee in the infield is South Brunswick catcher Mike (Hardrock) Clewis, who hit around the .400 level. Nobody in the area plays harder than the Cougar catcher and he’s destined for more success at the collegiate level - probably Western Carolina University. West Brunswick catcher Brian Fleming, who signed a grant-in-aid recently to play at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is also a member of the all-county squad on the infield. Fleming, also a football standout, hit above the .300 level, hit five home runs and drove See All-county, next page Brunswick Baptist Association Coed Softball League Scores and standings through Saturday, May 29,1993 Division I ' Games played May 29, Sappty Jennies Branch 14, Sofdier Bay 11 Cateary 9, Supply 8 Gospel Center-Brunswick Islands 20, Shell Point 12 Division II Games played May 29, Smithvjlle Park Town Creek 18, Oak Island-Bethel 6 Mi, Olive 19, Southport "A" S Faith 16, Southport nB" 14 Endsitmi , JSd i,Calvary . 5-2 Gospel Center-Br, Isles. 5-2 Shell Point 4-2 Jennies Branch 3-6 Supply 34 Soldier Bay 14 Division II Mt. Olive U Faith 5-2 TownCreek 4-3 Oak Island-Bethel 34 Southport "8n 14 Southport "A" 14 South Brunswick athletes^ of_ the year Brown, Frazier are honored Jodie Brown, an all-confcrence player in basketball and softball, and Craig Frazier, the wrestling MVP and standout football player, were honored Friday as female and male athletes of the year at South Brunswick High School. Brown, who also was a volleyball starter, and Frazier, a runner and jumper in track and designated runner on the baseball team, received their special awards from athletic director Bill Hewett at the end of an evening in which all Cougar athletes were honored for the year. Guest speaker was Kay Yow, women’s basketball coach at N. C. State University and former U. S. Olympic gold medal coach. Nearly 300 students and parents attended the awards presentation in which coaches named student athletes for special recognition. Coach Gene Doane chose to present the most-valuable award to his entire five-member golf squad - Pat Jones, Brandon Vannoy, Daniel Kopp, AiAy Broadwell and Jeff Howard ~ which won the state 1A-2A championship in Chapel Hill three weeks ago. Doane selected Kevin McGee for the coach’s award. Most valuable cheerleader was Amanda Burnside, and the coach’s award went to Jennifer Davis. Mike Clewis was football’s most valuable lineman, Terry Galloway was the most valuable defender, Corey Brown was most valuable offensive player, and Frazier received the coach’s award. Goalie John Midgett was soccer’s most valuable player, Forrest Whitesides was most improved, and Damon Jones received the coach’s award. Leslie King was most valuable girls tennis player, and Ginger Hegler received the coach’s award. Stacy Isenberg, last year’s top female athlete, was most valuable vol leyball player, and Amy Sawyer received the coach’s award. Jenny Fullwood was chosen most valuable on coach Mike Isenberg’s conference champion girls basketball squad, Tameka Davis was judged most improved and Jamila Eagles received the coach’s award. Standout point guard Josh White was chosen most valuable player on coach Doane’s conference champion boys basketball team, Lewis Vaught was judged most improved and Antoine Johnson received the coach’s award. Frazier was selected most valuable on the wrestling squad, Justin Rohde was most improved and Phillip Craven received the coach’s award. Jason Folding was most valuable boys tennis player and Mike Williams received the coach’s award. Brown was most valuable player on the softball team, Jayda Grant was selected as most improved and Brooke Rudd was honored as best defender. Mike Clewis was most valuable player on the baseball squad, Brett Tabor was most improved and Lewis Vaught received the hustle award. Robin Shaw was selected as most valuable on the girls track squad, Alicia Isenberg was most improved and Cynthia Shatteriy received the coach’s award. Thomas Jones was boys track most valuable athlete, Shawn Stone was See South sports, next page
State Port Pilot (Southport, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 2, 1993, edition 1
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