*—MlKBOB-iuBllAU)—Tuesday, May S, 1*77 Of Umps, Coaches And Winners Short atoiiei from the world of eporta; Nnmber 1: CHUCK CLEMENTS la an umpire. In a recent game here between Klnga Mountain and Beaaemer City, he called a runner out at flrat who waa a good atep paat flrat baae when the flrat baaeman caught the throw. Youra truly waa atatloned by the flrat baae coachea’ box talcing plcturea and told Chuck we had a record of the play that would ahow he mlaaed It. When KMHS Coach Barry Olbeon ahowed Chuck the picture recently, Juat for fun, aure enough, there waa the rutmer croaalng flrat baae and the ball waa atlU In the air. Chuck, who had already admitted he could have been wrong, took It In atyle. "I’ve been In the bualneaa 46 yeara," aald the Oaatonla achool principal, "and I've mlaaed a lot of calla. Everybody mlaaea them. The thing la, moat umplrea wcn’t admit It.” Although Chuck mlaaed thla one, don’t think for a moment he’a not one of the beat umplrea around. Leon Harrington, Chuck'a umpiring partner, aaya he feela more comfortable with Chuck than any other ump he’a ever worked with. Barry Olbeon aaya. In a key game he’d rather have CStuck on the baaea than anybody elae he knowa, becai<*w him. GhRV 9T€WhRT cap. "Grab the ban,” Butch demonstrated, "puU the mask straight out and back over your head.” He did, and hla cap came oft. A second try .. . cap came off. A third... cap came off. "Well, thla la a new cap,” Butch tried to cry as the gym full of umpires roared ‘til they almost cried. -oOo- -oOo- •oOo- Number t: A STORY OF COURAGE. Ralph (Puddln) Broome of Belmont Is a baseball coach. For years, he’s been coaching youth teams In and around Gaston County, moat of the time for little or no pay. Broome had to have a leg amputated last winter because of a blood clot. But you can see him at every South Point High practice session and ballgame, assisting Red Raider head coach Phil Tate from hla lawn chair position In the dugout. The coaching profession could use a lot more Puddln Broomes. Number 6: ED GUY la a achool teacher and one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet. He’s also a tennis coach, handling both the boya and girls teams at the local high school. He didn’t go to college to be a coach. He coaches tennis because he loves the sport and he loves working with young men and women. Hla many yeara of efforts in bidding a successful program here is paying off as the Mountaineers are experiencing their greatest season ever. Guy gives adl the credit to his players, like any good coach will. But the players know, and the fans know, that Guy’s dedication and hard work hsus meant more than anything elae. Of KM’s two losses this year, one was to county rival Shelby and Guy and the Mountaineers feel they’re a better team than the Lions. The Mountles can show their appreciation to a swell "guy” by winning the upcoming Bl-Conference tournament on Shelby’s home court. But he led the Mountaineers to their best three-year record (lt-6-2) In over a decade. He was regarded as a dangerous passer but due to Interceptions and not the greatest receivers In the world, his record wasn’t that Impressive except during his junior year, when he led the league in touchdown passes. But he has the talent, and If anybody can bring It out It’s Homer Smith. But more than being a good passer, Bumgsu'ner’s a good leader. That, more than anything else, was the key to KM’s good three-year record. It’ll also be his greatest asset at West Point. Number 7; BUD BUMGARDNER Is a welding specialist, a school teacher and a volunteer assistant coach. Ho helps out wherever he canr. What he’s meant to Barry Gibson and the KMHS basebaU team can’t be erqrressed In a column Like Ed Guy, he coaches because he loves the game and the athletes, not for mixiey. He’s the typo person that would pay to get In the gate. He asks for no credit, but he deserves a lot. -oOo- -oOo- -oOo- Number S: ANOTHER STORY OF COURAGE. • Mike CabanisB Is a golfer from nearby Crest High School. He plays number two for the Chargers and usually shoots around bogey golf. That’s not a great accomplishment compared to some of the sub-par high school golfers of today. The only thing Is, Mike Cabaniss waa a polio victim as a child and walks every Inch of the Number 6: MIKE BUMGARNER Is a high school honor student, a football player, a nice young man ., . the Robbie Moore type. He recently received an ap- pdntmentto West Point. He’s already talked to football coach Homer Smith about the possibility of playing quarterback for the Cadets. Throughout his high school football career, Bumgarner was bothered with Injuries. Number 8: DEVOIL BUTCHER Is a high school and college umpire ... a former professional ump who probably could have made the big leagues. But one nlnght In a Western CaroUnas League game he decided life was too short to take some of the cursing some pro ballplayers can dish out, so he decked a Rock HIU player and waa suspended. After his suspension was lifted, he decided not to go back to the eame thing. Butcher also likes to have fUn, to play jokes, to laugh at other people. TTils story la about a laugh on him. At an unq>lre clinic recently. Butch waa demonstrating how a plate umpire can throw his mask off without losing his Number 9: 4)UITTEBS... AND WINNERS: By now, Ifs probably no secret that seven idayers quit the KMHS baseball team thla spring. TTie main reason given was they weren’t getting to play enough. TTils Ig one of the most discouraging things sd>out covering high school sports. I can Imagine how even more discouraging It is to coaches, who try as they may. And It hard to explain why It’s sometime necessary for players to wait their turn. Even though quitters make you feel bad. It’s a good feeling to think of the ones that dldn’tqult... that waited their turn. People like Jimmy Fitts. Several years ago, he was playing second string at first base behind a young man named David Lan caster, a slugger. Fitts didn’t quit. But when Lancaster broke his leg sliding Into second, Fitts took over the first base job, led the league In hitting, made All-Conference and won the most valuable player award.Larry Hinson didn’t quit either. As a youngster, he had polio In one hand, and It’s withered to this day. But his dedication to his golf game brought him a college education and a q>ot on the PGA tour, and three pro victories. Steve Lancaster didn’t quit either. A young man wdio has a lot of baseball talent, he’s played most of his career with a bad back. But he didn’t quit, even though most of his sophomore and junior years were spent on the bench. But this year he got his chance, he has a 8-0 pitching record and a batting average In the high .SCO’s. Tim Whitaker didn’t quit either. A catcher with a lot of talent, he’s spent most of this year warming up the pitchers In the bullpen whUe Scott Ellis works the ballgame. But last Tuesday night, EUls came to the gsime sick and Whitaker got his chance to play. He played a super defensive game and led the hlttog attack as the Mountaineers wrapped up a conference playoff spot. And several other players, who are still riding the bench, didn’t quit either. They’re sticking it out. And they’U get their chance. And they’U come through. Crest Potver-Hittinfr BaUclub KM Mountaineers Begin SWC Playoffs lOngs Mountain’s Moun taineers open their bid for their second Southwestern Conference baseball championship In three yeara today at 4 p. m. at Ckest Hgh School aaalnst a Chsurger team that fea tures power hitting, strong pitching md outstanding defense. The Mountsilneers, who lost their flrat six nan- conference games before settling down to flnlah sec ond In the Division One race against South Point, will go Into the playoffs against the team that they whipped to get their win ning ways going. In their final non- conference game at Lan caster Field In late MArch, the Mountaineers sur prised the Chargers 6-8 In one of their bettor efforts of the year. Ooaeh Bairy i. I \ 4* ..C, *' ♦ r>ig[ 1.■> AV-- t. ^ * rn Fhsto By Gory Btowart TAKES LEAD - KInp Mountain’s Stove Lanoastor flnlalied second In Dlvtoloa One, enter the 8WO playoffs ^s a lead oft first base In recent Soathwestora today at Ckest High SohooL The two teanu ratva bore Conference basebaU game. The MeuatalneerB, who Wednesday night. Gibson h(q>es his charges can play the same type of basebaU In the playoffs. Tlut loss was one of only three tor the Chargers, who copped their first divi sion basebaU crown since entering the Southwestern Conference. Crest’s only Division TNvo loss was to Chase (uid their only other non-conference defeat was to a strong Llncolnton team. The Chargers’ strong point this spring has been their hitting. ’Diey’re one of the highest-scoring high sdiool teams In the state, having scored over 10 runs In six dlfferoit baUgames. They scored 17 runs against R-S Central and 14 against both CherryvlUe and Shelby. Centerflelder Woody Lovetece and catcher BIU Daves have been the big Oest hitters and RBI men thla spring. Both have a home run swing and are bitting for high averages. Daves’ home run ac- counted tor both Oest runs In the loss to the Mbim- talneers. Other starters for the Chargers are first base man Tim Bowen, second baseman Chris Newton, shortstop Ivvle McFar land, third bassman Gary Dooms, leftflelder Dennis Russ and rlghtflelder Kbvln Patterson. Downs Is one of the team’s best clutch performers, Mc Farland Is pariuqis ths bsstahortstev In ths Imiu* and Russ is another power httter who has two gyand slam homers to his credit. ; e ii. j'.. i aui Is concerned, the Moun taineers also have a strong hltUng attack. Their pitch ing, also, can probably stack up but the Moun- telneers wUl have to make some improvement In their defensive gome. bns Coach Barry Gibson wlU probably open with right hander David Ray Robin son, who has lost only one conference game and that In reUef. His other three losses were all In non- league play when the Mountaineers were doing a lot of experimenting. Lefty Steve Lancaster, who Is 8-0, wlU probably get the starting nod We