t
Lady Patriots Advance
To Championship Games
By BILL STUDENC
Editor
The Madison High School Lady
Patriots survived a last-inning scare
Thursday to down Piedmont High
School and advance to the state 2-A
Softball championship games this
week.
The Lady Patriots, after winning
last week's western regional
semifinal game by a score of 9-7, now
find themselves in a best-of-three
series with Clayton High School.
That series, to be played at
Clayton, is scheduled to get under
way at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (after
press time) The second game will be
held at 6 p.m. today (Thursday), and
the third game, if necessary, is set for
8 p.m. today.
The Lady Patriots reached the
state championship series by virtue
of last week's 9-7 win over the
previously undefeated Lady Panthers
of Piedmont.
Madison held a 9-5 lead going into
the final inning, but Piedmont, helped
by a couple Lady Patriot errors, gave
Madison's home crowd a few anxious
moments as the Lady Panthers clos
ed the gap to 9-7 before an easy infield
fly ball brought the game to a close.
"I've never been so thankful for a
fly ball," said Madison Assistant
Coach Jeff Treadway.
Madison got on the scoreboard first
when Sonia Gahagan slapped a two
out double in the bottom of the first in
ning. April Brooks pounded a single
to bring Gahagan home and give
Madison a 1-0 lead.
Piedmont, sporting a 24-0 record
going in to the game at Madison,
answered with a run of its own in the
second inning on a Lady Patriot error
to knot the score at 1-1.
The Lady Patriots went up by a run
in the bottom of the second when a
double by Melinda Roberts knocked
home Monica Cameron, who reached
base on a double of her own. That
gave Madison a 2-1 edge, only to have
Piedmont pull even at 2-2 after the top
of the third inning.
In bottom of the third inning, it ap
peared the score would remain tied
when Gahagan, with two outs, reach
ed first base on a single. Brooks then
powered a shot over the fence for a
two-run homer to give Madison a 4-2
advantage. Melanie Ramsey, who
was also the winning pitcher for the
Lady Patriots, slapped a single but
eventually wound up at home plate on
two throwing errors by the Lady Pan
thers to up the lead to 5-2.
Neither team scored in the fourth
inning, but Piedmont came back with
a vengeance in the fifth inning, scor
ing three runs to even the score at
5-all.
But the Lady Patriots pulled back
in front, exploding for four runs in the
bottom of the fifth inning. With the
bases loaded, Nikki Wallin swatted a
sacrifice fly to bring home Gahagan
and make it 6-5.
Cameron singled to reload the
bases for Madison, and a single by
Cheryl Franklin up the third-base Une
brought home Brooks and gave
Madison a 7-5 lead.
Roberts then smashed a one
bagger up the middle to knock in
Ramsey and Cameron and boost the
Lady Patriots to a 9-5 lead.
After a scoreless sixth inning,
Madison appeared to have the game
well in hand when Piedmont scored
two seventh-inning runs to give the
Lady Patriots a scare. But Madison
held on for the win - and the chance
to compete for the state champion
ship this week.
Brooks was Madison's big gun, get
ting two hits in two at-bats, including
a homerun, and driving in three runs.
Piedmont also intentionally walked
Brooks three times - after her
homerun.
Roberts collected two hits in three
trips to the plate and knocked in three
runs while Franklin was two-for
three and accounted for two RBIs.
For the Lady Panthers, Laura
Brantly tagged a three-run triple,
getting three hits and four RBIs in
four at-bats.
Lady Patriot players and coaches swarm
out onto the ballfield after a 9-7 win over
Piedmont placed Madison into the state 2-A
BILL STUDENC PHOTO ? ?!
softball championship games. The best-of
three series gets underway this week at
Clayton High School.
Madison Honors Top Athletes At Annual Awards Banquet '
Madison High School took time out
last week to honor its top athletes for
the 1967-38 school year.
But school officials have delayed
presentation of the most-coveted
award - "Athlete of the Year" - until
after the end of the school year.
MAiison's Lady Patriots are in the
hunt for a state 2-A softball cham
pionships, and when the athletic
awards were handed out last Monday
the Patriots were still in the running
for a state baseball championship.
Members of those two teams may
be in the running for "Athlete of the
Year" honors, and school officials
say they want to gauge performances
in the softball and baseball playoffs.
But there were still a number of
awards handed out at the banquet,
held at Madison High School. Here's a
look at the winners.
CONFERENCE TROPHIES
Madison teams finished first in
three sports in the Western Highlands
2-A Athletic Conference. Co-captains
April Brooks and Sonia Gahagan ac
cepted the championship trophy for
girls basketball, and Ricky McDevitt
recieved conference coach of the year
honors. The girls track team took the
conference trophy "hands down."
Carla James received the trophy, and
coach Martha Ledford was named
coach of the year. Accepting the con
ference trophy for varsity baseball
were Tim Ballard, Brian Ball, Ken
neth Anderson and Kevin Honeycutt.
Jack Brown was named baseball
coach of the year in the conference.
Madison High School also received
the conference's "Best Sportsman
ship" trophy.
ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE
Assistant Principal Doyle Amnions
presented the academic all
conference awards to student
athletes who maintained an average
of n or better.
Madison athletes receiving
academic all-conference honors
were: Kenneth Anderson, Todd
Capps, Susan Eatmon, Allen Fisher,
Cheryl Franklin, Christy Grigg, Scott
Haynie, Susan Humerickhouse, Carta
James, Michelle Johnson, Allen
Lamberson, April Phillips, Joy
Ponder, Jessica Raper, Jeff Robin
son, Eddie Shelton, Vanessa Slagle,
Michelle Tipton, Chris TomberHn,
Shannon Van Etten, Susan Waldrop,
Georgina Wilson, Elke Worley and
Jane Wyatt.
VOLLEYBALL
Paula Crowe and April Brooks
were named all-conference in
volleyball. Brooks was also named
most valuable player. Wendy Fox
and April Phillips were named best
servers. Seniors Brooks, Metanie
Ramsey and Elke Worley were also
recognized.
SOFTBALL
Because the Lady Patriots are still
involved in post-season play, in
dividual awards for Softball were not
presented at the athletic banquet.
Senior players were recognized -
Elke Worley, April Brooks, Metanie
Ramsey and Sonia Gahagan.
Manager Tim Peek was also
recognized.
CHEERLEADING
Kris tine W ha ley received the cap
tain's award and Tammie Boone
received the co-captain award.
Seniors Carta James, Anique Secord
and Susan Humerickhouse were also
recognized. Boone received cer
tificates for dedication and con
geniality. Susan Eatmon was named
most improved; Humerickhouse was
named loudest cheerer; James was
named best jumper and was
recognized for most spirit; Kim Mills
was moat improved in climbing;
Secord was best jumper and climber;
Lisa Shelton was most improved in
dancing; Nicole Taylor was most im
proved in jumping; and Whaiely was
recognized for three years of
cheer-leading and dedication.
FOOTBALL
After recognizing the junior varsity
(or a "terrific year," Madison senior
football players were honored. They
are: Tim Ballard, Kevin Boone, Dee
Etherton, Steve Goforth, Scott
Haynie, Shannon Honey cutt, Gary
Mace, Greg Powell, Michael Robin
son, Chris Grain and Jeff Robinson.
Coach Woody Amnions paid tribute
to Patriot player Gary Mace, who
was seriously injured when he made
a bone-Jarring tackle in a game
against Avery. Mace fell unconscious
and remained in a coma for several
days before regaining consciousness.
Brian Godfrey received the
"CharlM Tolley Award." Tim
Ballard received the
"player-that's-most-like-Gary"
award. Godfrey, Ballard and Steve
Goforth were also recognized for be
ing named all-conference. The
players then gave an award to Coach
Amnions as "one of the greatest
coaches in the world."
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Lady Patriots finished as con
ference tournament champions and
advanced to play in the state tourna
ment.
Eight Lady Patriots were named to
the "1,000 Point Lady Patriot Club
They are: Melanie Ramsey (1,099);
Chris Tomberlin (1,335); Christy
Grigg (1,536); Paula Crowe (1,596);
Monica Cameron (2,016); April
Brooks (2,458); Charlene Bailey
(2,499); and Sonia Gahagan (2,916).
Charlene Bailey was named the
most improved player. Melanie
Ramsey and Elke Worley received
the coaches award. April Brooks and
Sonia Gahagan shared most valuable
player honors.
BOYMMKETBALL
The PatriouKriqhed in the "Super
7" for the thin! year and made the
state basketbalTftoyoffs for the se
cond year.
Jeff Robinson received the "guts
award." Chris Maney received the
coaches award and was named to the
all-conference team. Brian Ball was
named "Mr. Defense," was named to
the all-tournament team and was con
ference honorable mention. Kenneth
"Iceman" Anderson was named
"Mr. Offense," and was also named
all-conference and all-tournament.
Scott Haynie took the most valuable
player award and was also selected
all-conference and all-tournament.
Anderson and Haynie were also WNC
honorable mentions.
Seniors were also recognized:
Kevin Boone, Kenneth Anderson,
Randy Robinson, Jeff Robinson, Scott
Haynie, Chris Maney, Brian Ball and
Jackie Shelton.
WOMENS TRACK
Paula Crowe finished seventh in the
state meet in the discus event. Crowe
also received a trophy for most
valuable In field events in the ,
Western Highlands 2-A conference. .
Susan Waldrop was most valuable in i
track events in the conference. : i ?>
In school awards, Crowe was nam- c>;
ed most valuable in field events and - ?,/
Anique Secord was best runoer. Carla m
James received the captain's award.
MENS TRACK ,
Billy Bailey was named Madison's ,?j
most valuable performer in field w-,
events. Brian Godfrey was the best
runner. Jackie Shelton received the *;t1
captain's award.
BASEBALL
Individual awards for Madison's .,lfl
baseball player will be handed out at
a later date. 9>it
CAPP8 SCHOLARSHIP j,,t
Bobby and Lou Capps pre->*<
sented the Capps Scholarship ini
memory of Madison athlete Rob- c/1
bie Capps who died in an automo- 94
bile accident at the age of 16. -,n~.
Chris Maney received this year's
scholarship.
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