*—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<*<! he ataya right on top of the action.
golf courae hi bracea. In thla day when aome athletea
refuae to compete, tt’a gpod to aee people of thla
character.
-oOo-
Number 4: ROBBIE MOORE la a preacher, atudent
and athlete ... the type of young mam any father would
like to aee hla aon grow up to be. Now, Robble’a taking
on a new chadlenge, that of coach of the Poat 156
American Legion Junlora. It’a no aecret the American
Legion baae ball program la on ahaky groimd, not only In
this area but In many others. The Kings Mountain
legion program can’t be anything but better off because
of Robbie Moore. The young men who play for him this
summer, win or lose, will be thank^ they had the
opportunity to ktx>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-
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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<biesday night when the
two teams come to Lan
caster Field tor the second
game of tiie three-game
series. TTie third game. If
needed, wUl be played
Friday afternoon at Crest.
Lancaster, InddentaUy,
went the distance to defeat
the Chargers back In
March and got the Moun-
telneers In the winning
column for the first time.
He probably made the best
showing of any pitcher to
face the Chargers sluggers
this spring.
Raiders Blank KM 24)
iOngs Mountain High’s
bassballers closed out
regular season play Friday
night at Davis Park In Bel
mont, losing a tough 8-0
daclslon to unbsaton South
Paint.
Ths vlctoiy gave South
Point a final KM) SouUi-
wsBtsrn Confsrsnee
Division One mark and ths
top seeding going Into the
SWC playoffs against
Bums. The Rad Raiders
ars 18-0-1 overaU.
llM loss dropped KMHS
to 7-8 In the dlvlalon and 8-8
ovei-aU heading Into this
afternoon’s opening round
playoff gome at Crest.
JaluTConnor, ths right
hander who savsd South
Point’s oarllor 4-3 victory
over the Mountaineers,
went ths dlstanos Friday
with a flvs-hlttsr. He
walked only otto and struck
out nine.
David Ray Robinson and
Ronnie Wilson of the (Please lUro To Page 4)
Cbach W. E. Halyburton
feels he has two of ths
league’s top pltchsra In
righthanders Mike Green
and Britt Mills. Mills’ 6-1
record Is one of the best in
ths SWC. Both players
have a lot of oxpsrtonee In
both high achool and legion
play.
The Mountaineers have
sbe players hitting over the
.800 mark with Andy Loftln
and Bryan White leading
the way with .417 and .410
figures, respectively.
Others over .800 Include
Robinson .879, Lancaster
.S71, Scott ElUs .888 and
Jimmy Hall .837. Danny
Bolin’s not for behind with
a .397 figure.
MlKBBCMOARraR
IVfike Bumgarner
KM Honor Athlete
’Ihe Mountaineers have
hit only three home runs
thla year (one each by
Hall, Lancaster and Bruce
Valentine) but they do get
a lot of Kngles and doubles
and they have the ability to
run the basq)aths.
Mouitslneers held the Rod
Raiders to just tour hits.
Robinson worksd the ftrot
four Innings and was
tagged with the loss. Wil
son come on In ths bottom
of the fifth and retired ths
lost six Raiders In order.
If the Chsrgsrs have a
weakness. It’s tholr lack of
speed. But, with thslr hit
ting, It doesn’t affect them
too much.
Although they probably
esm’t match up with Crest
os far as hitting home runs
The winner of the KM-
crest series will advance
to the SWC finals against
the winner of the South
Point-Bums best of three
series. The finals series
will also be a beet of three,
OS will the bl-conference
and association cham-
pkmshlps.
Mike BumganMr was
named Kings Mountain
High School’s honor
athlsto at Thursday night’s
annual Shslby Chamber of
Commerce HaU of Fame
sports banquet at Gardner-
Webb OoUege.
The honor athlates from
the four Cleveland County
high schools ars chosen on
the basis of their ex
cellence In the classroom
and ths athlstlc field.
A senior at KMHS,
Bumgarner was a three-
year starter at quar
terback and led the Moun
taineers to thslr bast rec
ord (19-9-8) In ovar a
decade.
He led ths Southwastem
Oonfersnea In touchdown
passss thrown (nine)
during his junior season
and flnlshsd iscond In ths
overall passing ofesnse.
His passing statistics
slacked off during hie
senior year but hla leader
ship ability hslped lead the
Mountalnsers to an 8-1
record, thslr bast hi IS
yeara.
(Please 11201 To Page 8A)
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