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Herald! Sports] i I By DICK WOODWARD Legion Program .. MuchTo Be Desired The 196-1 American Legion season is entering the home stretch in most states as the elimination playoffs reach the quartet and semi-final rounds. And, in a few short weeks the 1961 championship team will be crowned. But, actually, what does this distinction represent? Yes, the team which wins the national title will bo considered by most fans as the champions of the United States, but this could be challenged, and upon close ob servation, can be proved incorrect. First off, remember that not all of the fifty states, or rather, the lorty-eight participating ones, are represented. It is known for sure, for instance, that Pennsylvania does not participate in the American Legion national pro gram. The Quaker state terminates its activity with a state champion and goes no further. This one tact tends to weaken the prestige of any given team s being crowned “National Champion". And. it is sure that other states dr* not participate in the Legion program beyond the state level. Then, to further knock some of the glaze off the shin ing winners, the problem of player eligibility comes into play. Most every state is different in determining rules un der which the teams must comply. For instance, let's pose the question, Who is eligible to play American Legion baseball? Well, in this category, most states tend to follow closely a set maximum age. usually eighteen years. In Kings Mountain. an\ player born after September 1. 191.* was eligible to participate this year. Although it is not concretely known whether the remaining teams and states throughout the country adhere to this cut-off date, it is supposed that the age levels are closely paralleled. So. it is sale to surmise that most boys participating in the program this year are no older than eighteen years. This alleviates one major problem, but as we all know, there are always a few who slip by and play although in eligible. This brings us to the determination of a particular player's eligibility with a given team. Recruiting Areas Are Vastly Different Looking at the situation from the local level we can accurately say that Kings Mountain was among the few-: ei teams throughout the state which had a small recruit ing urea. Bessemer City is the only team in Area IV which had as small an area from which to choose as did Kings Mountain. The Shelby team had its choice of not only the highly talented high school players, (which won the conference championship), but also the greater part of Cleveland County. County areas such as Fallston. Waco, Boiling Springs, and a host ot others provided the Shelby juniors with talent trom which to pick. The Lincolnton-Cherryvllle entry speaks for itself.i Both towns produced some outstanding high school play ers, and. when combined, became a good baseball team. Remember. Lincolnton finished second in the Southwest Conference race and Cherryville completed the season in a four-way tie for the third spot. Kings Mountain was among those finishing in a knot for third. But, to make the situation more complex, the acquisi tion of players after the eliminating rounds of play are complete, is another thing. Although North Carolina does not, as a rule, "pick up players” as the eliminations are complete, this proce dure is followed by many of the states. That is. take for an example, the state of Tenneessee. A few years ago (19r>8-’.>9) the Memphis. Tenneessee team won the state title and advanced to the regional playoffs in Shelby with teams from Virginia and Kentucky rounding out the four-team playoffs. And included on the Memphis team were no less than four pitchers who had compiled season records of 10 wins or bettei. From a personal observation it was this writer’s curiosity which led to finding out the reason for this team’s having so many ten-game winners assembled on on« ball club. The rules which sanction play in Tenneessee allow a team to choose players from the team which they defeat ed in elimination play. This means that after Memphis had eliminated, say an area toe, in the elimination round, the Memphis team was allowed a certain number of play ers from the defeated team, and so on throughout the rounds ot elimination, and by the time the state finals were complete, the so-called Memphis team was composed of not just players from the city of Memphis, which itself has a population of over 100.000. but several plavers from eliminated teams. What To Do? Uniformity Is The Answer It is not the intention of this article to degrade Ten-i nessee’s rules tor participation, but solely to enlighten baseball fans to the realism that the different states differ widely with regard to eligibility of players. It is true that a few years ago that KM's Keith Lav ton. after being eliminated front play with KM. joined atid pitched for the Gastonia team, but this is the only inci dent that is known to have taken place in this area. Plus the fact that the progression of securing players did not advance throughout the state playoffs. It is a personal contention that there should be set rules established by the national American Legion com mander which would sanction the plaving of the game throughout the I'nited States. This could be accomplished along the same lines as Inc college NCAA organization, and would alleviate many of the problems which exist annually in the Legion ranks. A constitution could be drawn up and every team throughout the country would have to adhere to the set rules if they were to participate in the national plavoffs If certain states did not wish to participate on the nation al level, well and good, hut the ones which did participate would be playing under the same rules. And. you could bet on the North Carolina entries if this were the case. Because, in the past vears several teams, including Shelby in 1945. have copped the crown without the so-called “pick up” of additional players. If this procedure were inaugurated, then, after a team wins the national title, it will be on the merits of an in dividual team effort. One which hegan the season as one individual unit composed-of local talent, and finished in the same manner. Past Meets Future In 2-Game Legion Series Optimist 2-Game Streak Shuffles League Standings Box Mill Holds League Lead With 10-1 Maih Rain halted Tuesday’s action | in the Little league race, hut the Blir Mill lads made hay while the sun shined last week with an 11-1 victory oxer the hereto fore second place Lions to ex tend its season reeord •'* 10 wins againd only 1 loss. The Optimist team posted two straight wins to streak by the Lions and move into second place two and a half games be hind the league leaders. The Op timist lads won a decisive. U-3 victory over the Jayoee* last Thursday and blanked the Po lice Club. L-0 Monday afternoon Tin* Kiuati.ans won then third game ui the season on Monday with a .1-1 victory oxer last place Park Grace. BUR MILL - LIONS Bur Mill catcher Gary Oliver rapped out three hits, a single, double, and a triple to lead his team to an 11-1 romp over a highly regarded Lions team In a game which saxx txxo Lions hurlets give up six base hits and issue a determining factor eleven base on balls last Thurs day. The winner' wasted little time in getting to Lions starter Tippy Norris as the league-leaders ral lied for two runs in the first inn ing. added four in the second frame, after having put the game out o( reach xvith a Three run rally in the third stanza. The Lions' lone run xxas scor Spanglei Lads Cushion Pony . League Lead Spangler’s swept two names thlS past week Jo break a tie for first place and move out in front ot the pack by a game and a halt. Tlte league - leaders downed Foote Mineral. 8-4 Thursday afternoon to break the tie for first between the two. and blanked the Margrace lads. 8-0. Monday atternoon to cushion the lead. Second baseman Dennis Con nor was the big gun at the plate Thursday afternoon in the 9-4 victory over Foote as the little second sacker slammed a three1 run homer in the second inning and doubled in the sixth frame to send two more runs across the plate. The winners rapped three Foote Mineral pitchers for seven hits and were issued five bases on balls en route to the decisive win. The losers scored single runs in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings with Smith pacing the hitting atta» k with a single, double, and a triple in four times at bat Smith also was credited with the Foote loss and Daryl Putnam registered the win for Spangler's. Foot* Mineral 010 111 0 Spangler's 050 004 x MARGRACE • VFW Friday afternoon the Margrace Continued On Page S ed in the first inning on back to back singles by Norris and second baseman Warren Hern don Norris secured from third base on third baseman ficne' Alexander’s roller to the pitcher OmMIST . JAYCEES Tlte Optimist won the first of its two games on Thursday with an 11-3 victory over the Jayoees «rh Dana Sarvls and Steve Mr Needy scoring three runs each. Bobby Green tallied twice* for the winners. All eleven runs were scored in the first three innings with Sarvis, Bridges. Tommy Patterson and Chuck Ifoyle delivering run scoring blow.*. Th.* high scoring i-omest was marred with bases on balls as three Jayeee hurlers issued twelve fre*e passes. PARK GRAC*. • jAVCEES The* Jay«*ees got bae*k on the winning track Friday afternoon with an 8-0 blanking of cellar dwelling Park Cra.v. The win ners were held scoreless through the first two innings but rrplod e*d for six tallies in the fourth inning after registering two runs in the third frame. Mike Boheler and Pete Ware, le»d the* hitting attack for the winners with two hits each. Ware scored once and Boheler rounded the bases twice during the onesided victory. Pitcher Ware* limited the losers to only two hits and struck out eight in posting his first win of the* season. Howell suffered the loss for Park Grace. KIWANIS . PARK GRACE The Kiwanis lads handed Park Grace its second consecu tive loss of the week Monday afternoon bv a score of 3-1. The losers took the lead. 1-0 in the first inning on Gene Harris' owning game single* and nitebor H well's one base safety. But the Kiwanians knotted the scon* th(*-«e«'ond frame on hnck to back singles by Jack Bell and Roge*r Smith. The 1-1 tie was broken in the home half of the* third inning as Clyde Du Bose doubled with one out and raced home one out later as Bell col le*cted his second single of the game. Smith followed with a double to drive Bell home with the final run of the contest Park Grace threatened in the sixth inning as Stewart Cald well opened the inning with a base on balls and Howell follow ed with a double, but Putnam popped to the first baseman and pitcher Grahl ended the game h\ striking out Fredrick and Sel lers. OPTIMIST • POLICE CLUB The Optimist continued play ing winning hall Monday with a 2 0 win over the Police-sponsor ed lads Winning pitcher Bobby Green limited the losers to only two hits and struck out seven. for the fast moving Optimist i nine The winners scored both runs | in the third inning on two bases j on balls, a stolen base, and a j dcuhie bv Hoyle, who had a 1 j for 2 performance at the plate. STANDINGS Team Bur Mill Optimist Lions Jaycees Rescue Squad Polite Kiwanis Park Grace Won Lost Pet 10 1 .909 8 4 .667 7 4 .637 6 5 546 4 6 .400 4 7 .364 3 8 .273 1 10 .090 Bain Halted ladies Night" lace To Be Inn Saturday At Hickory Hickory Speedway, idled last week by rain, will return to ac tion Saturday night with a six taoe Ladies Night" stock cat racing program for NASCAR's late model sportsman and hobby cars. Speedway manager Grafton Burgess announced that last week's rainout resulted in the de cision to reschedule the "Ladies Night" program for this week, thus setting hack to Aug. 1 the annual 300-lap • team" race which was originally scheduled this week. Free admission of women fan* and the offer of chances on an antomobtlc to he given away at the team” race the following week are expected to lure a near capacity crowd of 6.<W0 or more to Saturday night's event. Ken Houston of Conover and Glenn Kill.an of Hickory will be resuming their sizyling battle far the track championship in the late model sportsman division, which features 19ft.) and 1961 mode! cars. Houston has a slend er eight point lead over former champion Killian in the point standings. Houston drives a 1961 Ford, and Killian pilots a 1961 Pontiac. Each lias taken lour feature wins this season on the four-tenths of a mile banked clay track. They an* the leaders in a battle between Ford and Pontiac for track supremacy. Pontiac has six wins and Ford has five in the 14 races staged here this season Chevrolet has claimed two. and Oldsmobile has one. Dennis Comhs of Hickory will shoot for his fourth straight vic tory in the hobby iamateur) divi sion. The sensational newcomer 1 has started five races, and has won four of them. He finished j fourth in the other. Comb's rise to stardom has overshadowed, at least temporari ly. the previous domination of the hobby division by Charles Trip ! lett of North Wilkeshoro. Trip le tt. who leads the hobbv track standings, won eight of the first 10 hobbv events this season. Ber.nv Kerley of Hiddenite has "'imbed into second place in hob bv standings, replacing Johnny Smart of Hilctchian who trails Kerlev bv two points. Saturday night's program, starting at 8:30 p m., trill include two 10-lap heats In each division.) a 50-lap sportsman main event,, and a 30-lap hobby feature. I Vets Vs. ramie Hopefuls Friday And Saturday Ttii' scheduled American Leg-j ion biiM'ball clink- ha* h<*en cur tailed due to wot ground*, hut Lou ion Athletk Dint-tor Carl Wilson Mid Wednesday that the two games which have boon scheduled against the ox-legion stars and the future players will he hold on Fri lay and Saturday nights as scheduled. "The clinic was set to begin Tut* day afternoon but had to bo eancellod and we are hoping to Indd prnctict sessions today < Wednesday t and Thursday,” Wilson rejHirtcd. An estimated fifteen now fan** showed up for the Tuesday ses sion with most of this year's players who have still another year of eligibility rounding out th« aggregation. Mon than fifteen ex-legion players have been holding daily' workouts for the past several days and Mearle Valentine, the spokesman for the group. n*ports that interest has been keen re ga ling the two-game slate and th.it the contests should provide area f ms with two nights of ex citing baseball. Players Nm as far hack as 1940 will be on hand to provide the future hopefuls with stiff competition during the two night stand. Charlie Mallard, who played in the early -10's will he in uniform for the veterans, along with many other more re cent participants. Pitchers Beattie Leonard, who i is a rising junior at the I'niver ' sity of .North Carolina, and Bar rv Gibson, a sophomore at Le noir Rhyne. arc both lefthand I ers who will see action on the mound for the vets, along with i Don Fisher, who can pitch or' nlav the outfield The catching department for. 'Vld timer*' will bo well heeled as Jerry Adams. Jerry Morris, and Bud Bumgardner are expect ed to see action behind the plate. The infield will be manned by players of three or four years back as Mike Ware is scheduled' to hold down the "hot corner" third base position and James Robbs handling the chores at shortstop. High school roach Bob Hussey ha-; boon working at the key stone corner and is expected to team with Robbs to form the first phase of the double play combination with Mearle Valen tine completing the threesome at first base. Roaming the outfield positions will be Ronnie Pearson in the short fenced left field slot, with Perry Champion expected to get! the starting call in the Xo. 9 right field position. Other out fielders who have been working with the stars include Bobby Wilson. Larry Pearson, and Rich-1 ard Shaney, who can pitch as. well as play the outfield. "At present we plan to go with the men who have shown the greatest amount of interest in the games and have been to all of the practice sessions." Valen tine said when asked to release a tentative starting lineup. Val- • entine further added that the starting pitcher for the veterans will probably be Gibson, with Leonard and others seeing ac tion as the game progresses. "We will go with a pitcher for three innings, if he lasts that i long." Valentine laughinglv add ed. The future hopefuls will field a team which consists for the most part of the 1964 play ers The bulk of the infield is set with third baseman Pat Mur phy. shortstop Richard Gold, and second baseman Mickey Bell ] heading the lineup with Roy: Medlin scheduled to handle the catching chores and Chip Bridges at first base. Catcher Louis Cook and first baseman Jim Leigh were lost to termination of eligi bility. The pitching staff will be headed by returning hurlers ceerley Lowery. Steve Goforth. Bill Multinax. and Mickey Ad kins, with the possibility of Bes semer City’s Mike Franklin see tng action on the hill. Shortstop I Buddy Varalli and catcher Jerry 1 NIi 1 wood, also from Bessemer! City, win be on hand for duty' to bolster the future Legion! squad. Ronnie Rhea is the only re- ' turning outfield starter and will! be in left field with utility play er Chip McGinnis scheduled to man cither center or right field A definite lineup cannot be I released at this time, but we Plan to field a well balanced team which will give the vet *rans a fit’." Wilson said. Game time for the two night’s games Is set for 8:00 at City Sta dium and the admission prices will be $1.00 donation for adults ar.d 5>' rents for children. All fans are urged to attend the game and back the local lads «ho will be the players of the future in Kings Mountain. AH .Pttfflr** trdm the «*me will go to-jm American Legion athletic; fund. | ’64 Mountaineer Football Team To Repeat ‘63 Slate '64 Mountaineer Football Sked SEPTEMBER Date Team Place 11 Stanley Away 18 Chenyville Home 25 Chase Homo OCTOBER 2 E. Rutherford Away 9 Bessemer City Away Iti Mooresville Homo 25 Shelby Away 3U Ruthertordton Home NOVEMBER 8 Belmont Away 13 Lincolnton Awav ’All games 7:30 P.M. Bain Halts Play In Negro Little League Schedule (iililw defeated Compact Fri day afternoon in a makeup game to move into a tie with Kings Mountain for the Negro Little League lead and the re maining games which were scheduled to be played were either called before completion or cancelled due to wet grounds After gaining a tie for the lead. Galilee and Kings Moun tain squared off Monday after noon in a crucial game, but the rains came and the game was halted with the score tied. 1-1. Compact and Grover starter! thcii game Monday afternoon but it too was cancelled with the score knotted. 4 4. The rain-out games have berm re-scheduled for Wednesday af ternoon at Grover. The first four teams will be meeting in the Wednesday make up games with Kings Mountain and Galilee playing for the No. 1 spot and third place Grover taking On fourth place Compact. Kings Mountain and Galilee stand 7-2 in league action with Grover in third place with a 5-2 record, followed by Compact, which sjtorts a season record of 4 wins against three losses. Ebenezer holds down the num ber 5 spot with a 3-5 record, and last place Hill Top has won only once in eight games. The current schedule of games will terminate on July 28 with Ebenezer playing Galilee, Com pact taking on Kings Mountain, and Grover going against Hill top in the season's finales. KM Tigers To Ploy Saturday Afternoon A double-neader baseball game will be held Saturday, July 25 at the Davidson School ball park. Participating in the opener will be the Kings Mountain Tig ers playing host to the Grover team and the second contest will pit the winner of the first game against the Shelby Red Sox. Game time Is sot for 2:30 p.m. By DICK WOODWARD The 1961 Kt:i»s Mom t;*in fool-' hall team .vii! pley 'lie same schedule as in 1963. \v:th four home* enn six on tin* road.. As is ahvaj the case. the- schc dole* v. ill V iiwd, tii.it is. the* teams which | l..yed her • last year will host tha .Venmtain'.us and th>> lo<-nis wilt |>lay host to last y«*ar's road '. a:- s. '*'h«* only iT.iiR«*nr*;it in the* schedule? o\ v last year is the* Stanley and Cuerry ville* games. The* Mourlaiiwrs o;jene*d at Oherryvillc ia<e ye*ar anil played i host to Sta:ne\ in the se -ond eon- j test. This year the* open *r will lx*1 a 7:30 affair with Stanley on Sep- j tern her 11, i.-ee the first home' same of the* **ason wid l.e* a gainst the. r'e -ryvllle Ironmcn at City Stad um on September is. Four horn * g;.rm*s will feature' Cherry ville, M oresvdle. Hut her ford ton and C!*r.se. with the* cru-1 rial onferenec* contests being plaveel on t.»e toad. ii pasi V..FOI1 s pr»"«‘ssion holds true in '61. the first big test for the Mo'i.'tj'mw* «ill be the Mooresvillc game here on Octo lx»r lfi. Lost year the locals were riding a fiv? fame winning streak as they travel.* I to Afooresville to I meet a hiRhiy regarded toe. The' Mountie* woo a decisive M-0 de- 1 cision and ga'-cd state-wide rec ognition as n if suit. The schedo e is definitely a "second halt" uhedule for KM as far as conference competition is concerned. »vi.h four of the last five games t»ein- rgain.~l rugged ; conference -.Tnnpetition. Following tut- 'toores -ille game at City Stadi: m on October 16. i the Mountaireeis h t the load for a showdown ,\‘th arch-iivalShel-; by on the „*". i and thirty senior performers wilt be making their final home appearance at City Stadium as Rutherfordton in-1 vades for a m» dieted "tough bat tle" a wee1; 1* .er. Improved R-lmnt will host our lads on November •> and the season's fin• will be staged at Lineolnton on the 13th. Sheibv and Lincolnton. as i.«; usually the tas-. will he the lead ing contenders foi the Mountain-, eers. who will be s|»orti.ig a vet-i eran ball cl'.«•«. althou rh seven starting players from last year's squad have aeosrted. Tin- '*>1 M< n; taineers will lx> sparked by the "Little f.i ncral". Pat Murphy, who will be in his third full sca»-cn at the throttle of the Mountaimei offensive ma chine. The a 10". 16* pound quar terbac’: is h i.tg counted upon heavily to lea-: KM to a success ful season. Other returning performers who will bolster the striking force will be ends Jimmy Cloninger and Jimmy ’A light, who both let tered last season. Louis Cook, the '63 starting offensive end. has been lost to rr.iduation. Highly r -raided tackle, l.yn Cheshire will tx lack at his left tackle position, but a replacement for Jimmy Owens. 220 pound right tackle, -s l*eing sought. Both guards. Fred Dixon and Jimmy Med) •*. have termini: >d their high ached play, and center Terry Leona*d's graduation leaves three vital ir;**tior li.ie positions to be filled. Cround-gautirg halfback Mike Huffstickler, who picked up over 1.000 yards in 10 ^ailes last sea sun. has ^t actuated, and •'Mr. Dependable* Waneti Goforth will tie Nnsv missed at the wing had: position. A boat ol returning lot tor men will Ik- vvin » foi tbs* sovon \acat (-si stalling p. s,lions with linomcu Hubert McG.’r.is, Chip Bridgc-s, (icorft PlsjsiK Stove G.'icg, mil Gerald Carrigan heading tlio list of likely ra.in'/Iates. The backl’old will l>e bolstered by returning lot ter men Murphy, fullbacks P.’te I uinont and Pat I lord, halfb.ii Ks Steve Baker and Ronnie Rhe*. and defensive spe cialist Richard Gold Tlio outlook for th? fil seas-7 h is an optimistic one. but. the I » p cals will have their work out out if last seaso '* 9-0-1 re • >rd is to be matched. Adult Swim Clam To Begin Monday Adult swimming classes will be hold at the Kings Mountain City swimming pool beginning July 27 and terminating July 31. The minimum age limit foi the five day class is 20 years and all local citizens are invited to attend, regardless of profi ciency in the water. The classes will be conducted by Don Crawford, local post of fice employee and Bob Hussey recreation assistant director. "We urge especially the non swimmers to participate in the classes,” Hussey said. “And an> other persons interested in par ticipating will be welcomed." he added. The classes are sponsored b> the local chapter of the Red Croas and by the Jaycees and there will be no charges for the instruction. The only charges in volved will be tite cost of udV mission to the pool, thirty-fiv# Registrations are being held at the Deal Street pool and at the Maple Springs pool. Engines Battle Set At York-Clever Oval Everyone enjoyed the race so much last Friday night at York Clover Speedway with the mod; ficds and late model VS over heads together that a return challenge has been sot for this Friday night. Richard Riley led for 38 laps driving a '4S Ford tut Larry Wallace finally edg ed by Riiey on the 39th lap fin ishing the 5n.|ap feature abou' four feet ahead of Riley. Lefty Bolton of flastonia driving a ‘5*5 Ford was third and was against the bumper of Riiey. These same drivers and main more will undertake another 50 lap feature paying $250 win again this Friday s.ight alon^ with the usual heats and full amateur program set for 8:15 at York-Clover Speedway. cents MM Pharm-assist ’C The Man Your Doctor Depends on In oar fefMtiaa of Pharmacist we spell the wcrd PharnvAS SIST. For we consider it our pro fessional purpose to ASSIST you and your doctor ui speedng ymr recovery from illness. We ASSIST with pron.pt, piotes rional prescription service ... nth complete stocks of the finest ;rup and sickroom aids... and with personal attention to. and interest in, yew health prob lem. When you need a Pharma- > cist — get our Phatm-AS SIST. # . I &' J/ ■j When It Comes To PRESCRIPTION SERRICE / GRIFFIN’S DRUG YOUR uou Rip i I ON lOOPF
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 23, 1964, edition 1
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