Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / Feb. 26, 1976, edition 1 / Page 11
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Grier Looks To Season riH NIWS JOl'RNAl RAtFORD.NORTH THURSDAY. IT BRl ARV :<>. I'>7<> J.V. Baseball Team Is 'Future Strength' Hoke High Baseball Coach Terry Grier cited the development of Hoke High Junior Varsity Baseball as being a definite strength in the future for the Bucks. "We can see nine freshman starters on the J.V. team and they are the future of baseball in Hoke County," he said. The J.V. program is a vital part of the overall program. We hope to make it something people can relate to and be happy with," he said. "We're going to have a good program," said Grier. "Right now we're trying to get ready for the upcoming season," he said. Grier said 64 boys had turned out for baseball so far (varsity and J.V.) this season. He said that was not quite as large as last year, but he said he still had some starters playing basketball and wrestling. "We're pleased with the turnout. I think some boys didn't come out because they knew we had so many back from last year's team," he said. He said he looked to the competition this year as being tough, "We're playing in the kind of league where anyone can beat anyone else, even with everybody's strength," said Grier. . "You'd have to pick Richmond County to win the title since they have eight of nine starters returning from last year and they were 23-1 then and lost only in the state finals," he said. Grier cited Sanford as another team to beat. "They were third in the nation in legion ball last year and have five starters returning from that team in addition to a very good pitcher that transferred from Scotland Coun ty," Grier said. "I don't know if you could pick us to win the conference, but don't count us out." he added. Grier cited David McNeill as being the pitching ace for Hoke High this season along with Eddie Ramsey, an all - conference player from last year and Allen Thomas. He also pointed to Eddie Jack son. a freshman, as a good pitching prospect if he "develops". "It can be as good a pitching staff as there is in high school ball." he said. , Grier said McNeill is suffering from an injury and is still a question mark for the season. He said everyone has been hitting the ball really well in practice and that he looks to Allen Thomas and Noah Hendrix to lead the Bucks in hitting. "We have four or five good hitters." he added. Grier said the final varsity roster will include 17 players and the J.V. team will have 20 players with 15 dressing for games. Grier said there have been various changes in the program this year. He said the building of a new practice field and the addition of a new backstop have helped things along. He said that batgirls would be used for the first time at home games. Grier noted that season tickets would be sold this vear also. He said the new facilities were made possible through the help of Hoke High Athletic Director John Pecora, Allen Edwards. Don Steed, Ernie Sutton, and Hoke School Superintendent G. Raz Autry. "The players have been great also," he noted. Grier said Hoke will play state 4-A runner ? up Rocky Mount in the first round of the invitational tournament the Bucks will take part in at Richmond Senior High around Easter. Grier also pointed to the hard work of assistant coach Mike Lassiter. "He is a hard worker and does a good job," said Grier. He said John McMillan was also helping with the players on a part - time basis. Grier concluded by saying. "Our key to the season is that the kids believe in ourselves and know that we can win with their ability and maybe some good 'ole fashion luck." H ighlights **"""* The Student in Action for Edu cation Club (SAE) held its weekly meeing this past Wednesday for the discussion of the club's plans for March. Hope Williams, club presi dent, and Mrs. Marilyn Semones, club advisors, are making plans to go with several other members to the SAE state convention on March 13. The convention is to be at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and schools from all over the state will send delegates from their club. Also in March, twenty - four eighth grade student council members from Upchurch School will accompany SAE mem bers to their classes and around Hoke High for a day to become familiar with our school. The National Honor Society held a meeting on Tuesday, February 23 to set a definite date for the clean ? up day. March 6 was decided on and set aside for this purpose. The NHS state convention will also be held in March, and at this time most of the members are planning to go. The convention will be for an entire weekend and the cost is forty dollars. Two weeks ago, Janet Morgan was admitted as a new member of the NHS in a short ceremony, and after saying her pledge before other NHS members, Janet was given her certificate. The Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) held 'Dressup Day' for all club members in which they dressed as to be prepared for a job interview, this past Friday, February 13. A cook - out was held for the faculty during lunch inside the Hoke High Stadium. Mr. Averitte, club advi sor. was the chef for the cook-out and everyone said the food was great. Everyone is very proud of Kathy McMillan here at Hoke High as she won the most coveted amateur athlete's award in North Carolina, the Teague Award. Kathy, who won the award on Tuesday of last week, went to Charlotte. Saturday, February 21, with her parents, Mr. Edwards and several friends and family to accept the award. UIANDAVE1U-J capture second place In last week's Invitational track meet in Greensboro. STRIKE - This Hoke High batter didn't seem to even see the ball go bv as he looks as though he is still looking for the ball. PITCHING ACK ?? David McNeill shows his pitching form to Coach Terry Grier in a practice session earlier this week. Tar Heel Spotlight Battle At Bridge A three minute battle in early 1776 saved North Carolina from invasion, delayed British appear ance in the state and gave patriots encouragement to go on to inde pendence! Two hundred years ago this week, before dawn on Feb. 27, 1776, a band of patriots gathered 20 miles above Wilmington at Widow Moore's Creek Bridge to fend off an attack by Loyalists who had marched from Cross Creek (Fayetteville). An obscure poem recently un earthed in a South Carolina schoolteacher's notebook retells the defeat of the Scotsmen and extols the victory by the patriots. The encounter, which has been labeled "The Lexington and Con cord of the South," began with a grand British plan, formulated by Royal Governor Josiah Martin. A large British force was to meet the Loyalists on the coast of North Carolina, march through and divide the state, and thereby effectively fend the rebel threat in North Carolina by cutting off the supply lines. However, the plan failed when the 1,500 volunteer Loyalists met the patriots at the bridge in present-day Pender County. During the early evening hours of Feb. 26, the patriots abandoned their campfires on the south side of the creek and spent the long night removing the boards from the bridge and greasing the supports. They then waited on the opposite side for the attack they knew would come from the Scotsmen, who were led by Capt. Alexander McLeod and Flora MacDonald's husband. Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald. Just at dawn the Loyalists came upon the abandoned campfires and knew the patriots could not be far ahead. They attacked across the bridge, slipping and sliding into the icy water of the creek. Some used the points of swords as balance as they managed to keep their footing across the greasy bridge, only to be met by musket and artillery fire of the patriots in ambush on the other side. The final score: for the Loyalists, more than 50 dead, including their leader, McLeod, and the rest taken prisoner, including MacDonald; for the patriots: two wounded, one of whom later died; for indepen dence: a great victory -- enough to discourage the British from their plan of invasion of North Carolina, and to turn their sights toward Charleston. The battle had lasted three Fayettevillc historian David S. Clark recently discovered an ob scure poem describing the patriot victory at Moore's Creek. A member of the Cumberland County Bicentennial Commission, Clark accidentally came across the verses in the Library of Congress as he was studying county histories for his project of indexing colonial era maps. The poem carries the comment by Samuel Noblit "This Song Wrote by Me." Tne notebook entry is dated May 10, 1780, but Clark believes that so many more exciting events had taken p)ace by 1780, that more than likely the poem was penned just after the Tory defeat. The poem was included in the Spartan burg County History written in 1940 under a federal writers pro gram grant. Location of the origi nal peom is unknown to Clark, who explained some of the terminology: original poem is unknown to Clark, who explained some of the termi nology: "The General Cloud to whom Noblit refers was Col. Donald McLeod, commander of the High landers. stha_ was_kilkd M the bridge; 'Caswell' was Col. Richard ANNIVERSARY- On Feb. 27, / 776, patriots and loyalists clashed at Moon C Ycek H ridge in of the early stage oj the American Revolution. The patriot victory has been culled "The l.cxi C. . ? . # >? I . ? mm ?<? I .(.>f. > i i ? i> r . > . i, ??tim.iiit. if.ir.i r I ? . ? i ?. ? ? i f i 4 i>. <ii. i. / ? i/. t / /i .tit ^7 J - ? r I f >. ' /// *>//<? of the decisive actions , .... ... , .exington and Concord of The South ", and a special celebration to commemorate the event is scheduled Icb. J7-JV *// Moorcs Creek National Military Park at Currie, 20 miles northwest of Wilmington I'avctteville will also joui in the celebration I cb. 26, with a parade of Colonial regiments and historic floats. Caswell, the patriot leader who afterwards became governor of North Carolina; and'Colnl Thax ton' was Col. James Thackston." Clark explained that the unusual rhymes in Noblit's verse -? "relate" with "defeat" and "wound" may have been intended for readers with a Scotch brogue. The poem by Noblit follows: You Carolinans all Draw near Attention give & you Shall hear The Truth to you 1 will Relate It is of General Clouds Defeat The Hilanders Came marching Down Thinking to get into Willmington Then Caswells Soldiers stop'd them by the way A marching down in Battle Hay Then general Cloud came march ing Down With his men that Did to him Belong March on March on Brave Boys Said he For we Shurely Shall gain the Victory Then general Cloud came march ing Down With Sword in hand he cries aloud Fight on Fight on was all his Tone For I make no Doubt but the Days our own Then general Cloud came march ing Down Within Reach of Rifles & Great guns Until a Rifle Bullet give him a wound Which Brought his Body to ye ground Then general Cloud Presum'd to Rise Fight on Fight on Dear Boys he Cnes Fight on Fight on Dear Boys said he For amerieans near shall have Liberty Then Caswells Soldiers being Such Valient men They Cock't their Rifles once again They Drew their Sights on him so neat Which Caused general Clouds Defeat When the Highlanders turn'd tail to Run Thinking to Recover home Then Caswells Soldiers Stopcd them by the way Which caused them to Lenient the Dav I hen Colonel Thaxton met from iheirThinking they had Run from the War He took their Waggons & five hundred men I he privates he sent home again Well since the Battle is ore & Done Praises to god we will Return he has Cleared us of our Miserye And Still Maintains our Liberty GOOD FORM - A Hoke High cinderman practices his hurdling form Monday afternoon in efforts to get ready for next week 's meet. Welcome God to America's bicentennial... practice what you pray.
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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Feb. 26, 1976, edition 1
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