Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / March 30, 1978, edition 1 / Page 5
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Thimday, March 80, WS-MIRROR-HERALD-Page 6A I 5 - 80-9:80 wardi, lilt be Age. A fee U mpt by I yeari a of 15 Id ter a k claai I the er of flnt « elaii At the itlng. A ir ter A lan Its further lueited Pech At ehours p. m., Friday. ill KM^s Mark Baker Looking Forward To Playing Tennis Just For Fun ByOAKY STEWABT Mirror-Herald Sperts Editor Kings Mountain’s Mark Eaker, senior captain of the Western Caro lina tennis team, has been playing competitive tennis ter six years. He says he’s looking forward to the time when he can play Just for the ten of It Home the first of this week for EaMer break, Eaker paused from a match at the Kings Mountoln High courts to talk about his college career with the young but Improving catamounts. "I hope to soon get back Into social tennis,” he said. "The people that make It In competitive tennis after college have to be really good. I admit I’m not good enough so I’m looking forward to getting away from It.” Baker Is the first graduate of the young KMHStennls program to ptey on the college level. One other KMH8 graduate, Joe Crocker, Idayed tennis at Western but he never picked a racquet while In high school. "Joe was a big Influence on my decision to go to Western,” recalled Baker. "Western doesn’t give sdiolarihhMi for tennis, but the coiudies there talked to me and Joe’s the main reason I went there.” Baker, who Is starting ter his teurth straight year, is paying number four singles and number two doubles. He hss won his only Southern Conference matches to date over. VMI. "It’s going to be tough playing a tell Southern Conference schedule,” he says. "Schools like UT- Chattanooga and Furman are big tennis schoote. ’Ihey give scholar ships and Western doesn’t. Before Western becomes a contender In tennis, they’re going to have to start giving some money.” Bhren though the CaUmounts as a team probably won’t win the con ference, Baker Is hoping he csui contend for the number four slngtes crown. "hi our tournament,” he says, "you pay only against other payers In the same position. I payed number three my sophomore and Junior years so that should help me In number four thte year.” Baker’s best year with the Cata mounts was his freteiman season when he posted a 8-7 record playing the fifth position. ’Ihat was the best marie of any payer on die squad. He says the key to being a good tennis payer Is hard wrork and he averages tour hours per day on the tennis courts. Another big key, he says. Is playing against players with more talent. "I look forward to coming home a lot,” he says, "because that gives me the opportunity to pay agalnet ’Tim Riddle. He’s helped my game more than any other payer. He’s so ChSV ^TeWNiT Junior High Golf RebnildB ROBBm MOORE Moore And Gillespie To Coach Legion Nine Robbie Moore cmd Richard OlUespa, two young Oardner-Webb studenU who worited wonders with the Post 16D American Legion baseball team last summer have agreed to lead the team In Area Four action again this year. They’re counting on several returnees, phis newcomers from Kings Mountain, Cherry^e, North Qaston and Clover to Improve the toun’s record In ’78.... Reports are that the University of North Carolina la enjoying cne of the beat football New Coach Dick Crum will be looking for a berth in a major bowl within the next few yesuw. Some of the re cruits who are probably known to area fans In clude A1 Burris of Shelby, Rocky White of Charlotte Olympic, Jeff Hayes of Elkin, and Darrell Nicholson of Winston-Salem, the man Kings Mountain’s Chuck Gordon defeated for the state wrestling title . . . North Gaston’s Larry Penley helped lesul Clemson’s golf team to the championship of the Furman Invitational last week, firing a 186 to help the ‘ngers to a 6M team total, which 'bested Georgia Southern (601) by eight strokes. North Carolina and N. C. State tied for sixth at 609 and Wake Forest at 616 . . . Clemson’s tennis team came up with a big victory last week when It downed LSU 6-4 on the Bengal Tigers’ home court. It was only the second loss tor the nattonally-ranked Bengals and their first at home. Clenuon’s number two singles player Is freshman Pender Murphy of Caiarlotte Latin, the only player to beat Kings Mountain’s Thn Riddle last year . . . Clemsfm University, which has most of Its Idayers returning from last year’s Gator Bowl squad, has recruited two area Shrine Bowlers, 9B0-pound tackle Lanny Ford of West Lincoln and 196-poundrunnlngback Jamie Pope of Malden ... Gastonia’s James "Peanut" Parks, who hurled Don Seine's Hunter Hues Huskies to the state 4-A finals last year. Is off to a quick start as a fresh man with the University of North Carolina. He currently sports a perfect 8-0 nuuic, having beaten Duke 10-8 for his third win last Thursday... Gardner-Webb's Bulldogs have lost their second football coach thte year. Ovkl Jaynes, the head man, resigned Nveral weeks ago to take an assistant’s Job at the University of Wyoming. Defensive coordinator Ken Sanford resigned last week to take the head Job at R-S Central High School .... Shelby High basketball coach Dick McCleney has been named head coach of the West team for the Bast-West All-Star game to be played In Greensboro In July... Little League baseball has announced plans tor Its Uth annual Summer Camp In St. Petersburg, Fla., three different sasalons beginning on June 8, July 8 and July 18. If you’re Interested contact your local little league president or write P. O. Box 18886, St. Petersburg, Fla. 88788 ... North Carolina’s Phil Ford flnlshsd his career with four school records. Marks Included most points, 8890, carssr assists, 768, career field goals, 80B, and most games plasred, 188.... Shelby’s Lloyd UtUe, Harold C. Bullard of Charlotte and Arden F. Ray of Concord will be Inducted Into the Lsnolr Rhyne College Sports HaD of Fams at a oersmony on April 4. Speaker ’’ will be Joe Thelsmann, quarterback of the Washington Redskins . . . Ktaigs Mountain Junior Hlgh’a goiters are re building but still hope to compete ter the Western Junior High Athletic Aaioclatlan title. The Patriots are playing ter the first time In the new league, which also Includes Shelby, Burns, Crest, East McDowell, West McDowell and College Park. The KMJH squad, which Is practicing at Kings Moiaitaln Country Club, opens April 8 here with a nine-hole match agalnet West McDoweU. Ooach JOe Speignt has only two starters back from Istetyearia 6-3 te«sn, which finished second In the old Foothills Con ference. Those players In clude Lee Nelsler and David Rhea. Most of the other golfers are new to the qicrt, but Ooach Speight says he has been pleased with the progress they’ve shown. Others on the roster Include ninth graders Jamie Humphries, Scott Bowen, Dexter Tate, Jack Jsuskson, Carl Plonk and Robert Lute, eighth gfader Tim Rosa and seventh graders Ouy Blckley, Mark Clonlnger, Rodney Sellers and David Peeler. THE SCHBIDULE APRIL 8 - W. McDoweU 17 - at Crest 84-■ MAT 1 — at E. McDoweU 8 - OoUege Park 18 — at Shelby 38 — Oonf. Tourn. steady he can get another player’s game back bi shape. "There has always been good competltlan In Kings Mountain,” he aulded, "But tennis Is Just now getting support here.” WhUe at KMHS, Baker played two years and his senior season made All-Southwestern Conference. He and Bkldle Mauney formed the top doubles team In the conference suid the two players that eliminated them from the Western Association tournament, Johnny and Sammy Post of SaUstxiry, went on to win the association title. "I started playing tennis when I was In the eighth grade,” he recaUed. "I took some lessons from RuaseU Talley, a pro In Oastonla, and he helped my game a lot But I didn’t start playing competitive tennis until the Uth grade, when I went out tor the high school tesun. "I think tennis Is cne of the biggest steps ever taken at Kings Mountain High,” he went on. "Coach Ed Ouy has put a lot of time Into buUdlng the program. It i^ed to be when you thought of high schobl toinls you thought of places like Lexington and Shelby. But now Kings Mountedn ranks right up there with them. Tim Riddle helped bring a lot of recognition to Kings Mountain. He’s by far the best player to ever come out of here. And the fact that Kings Mountain won the association last year helped bring the town suid sriiool a lot of recognition too.” Coach Guy, who Is In his sixth year as head coach of the Mountaineers, credits Eaker, Mauney and Joey Wells with getting him Into the coaching ranks. "I used to come over here to the courts to play some,” Ouy noted, "and Mark and the others suggested that I might coach the team. When I first came they knew more than I did. "They were a real good bunch of guys and Mark was one at the best. I thlite of him more as a friend than a former team memIteP' I: filtek 4he ' big thing about Mark la that he’s a hard worker. He’s not the most talented tennis player In the world, but what he lacks In talent he makes up for with hard work.” m t IX- Photos By Gaijr Steteart PLATINO FOB fVN - Mark Baker waa playing tennis Jost tor fan ahmi these photos were made at the KMHS oonrts. The Western OaroUna senior, a graduate at KMHS, says he’s hwUag forward to the end of hla ooUege career, when he can friay tennis socially Instead of competitively. Baseball Team Hosts Shelby Today Kings Mountain area sports teams swing back Into action this week after taking a couple of days off tor Btester. The KMHS baseball team plays the first of two big regular season games with county rival Shelby at 4 p. m. today at Lancaster Field. The game waa originally scheduled for BHday. Tlie Mountaineers, 3-1 In the Southwestern Con ference and 4-1 overall heading Into a game yesterday atNorth Gaston, and Shelby, also 3-1 In the swe, are regarded an two of the three teams to beat In the Eastern Division of the apUt SWC. The other favorite. South Point, Is 8- 0. lOngs Mountain thus far has lost only to Chase and Shelby to Crest Ironically, both losses were by 8-7 scores with both the Moun taineers and Lions turned back on comeback at tempts In the last Inning. Shelby, with a young club, la trying to return to the SWC playoff picture after an absence of two years. The Llmis haven’t made the playoffs since 1975 when they lost to the Mountaineers hi a bestof- Booster’s dub Meeting Monday AB KIngx Mountain High athletic supporters are urged to attend a meeting Monday at 7 p. m. at the high school. Purpose of the meeting la to discuss the possibility of a booster’s club. This Is not an organlaatlanal meeting but solely one to determine whether or not enough tans are Interested In organising one. If you’re Interested, It’s Important that you attend Monday’s meeting. K-.-- ■■‘-A ■ GOIOVBR CHAMPS - Here’s the fifth grads baakstball team which won ths ohamplandilp tai Grover School’s annual Intramural tournament last week Players Include, front row, left to right. Keith Bell, Travis Camp, Lavar Qirry and Farris Turner. Back row, Sam Pruitt, David Dockery, Kim Lockhart and David Dingus. three series tor the league mie. The Mountaineers have a veteran ballclub which finlahed second to South Point last spring. The baseball game Is the only activity slated for today. The Mountaineer tennis team, pre-season favorite In the SWC, entertains 4-A North Mecklmburg Friday at 8 p. m. The Moun taineers were scheduled to host Watauga In a makeup match yesterday. Ooach Ed Guy’s charges have romped over six op ponents thus far with their only tough test coming A’8 Play Pair Here The Kings Mountain A’s host a pair at South Caro lina teams In exhlbltton games this weekend. Oak Ridge challenges the KM club Saturday at 3:80 p. m. at Davidson Park and Bowling Green comes here for a Sunday 3:80 game. Last week’s scheduled games with Bowling Green and West Charlotte were rained out. Winner of the A’s draw ing for a C8 radio was Nathan Davis. Three Days To Register Youngsters aps eight through 13 who plan to play city baseball this sununar have only three mors days to raglatar. You may rsglstar Monday, Tuesday and Wsikiaaday from 6 p. m. until 9 p. m. at the com munity cantor. from 4-A Bast Mecklen-. burg. The Mountles whipped the Eagles 7-2 In a match that was closer than the final score Indicated. The sports schedule gets back Into higk gaar next week with both the senior and Junior highs having a teU slate. The Junior high golfers, hoping to return to the top after finishing a rare second last year, open Western Conference play Monday at Kings Mountain Country Club against West McDowell. Coach Joe Speight has a young team but the Patriots are talented. Tuesday’s schedule has the Mountaineer base- ballers at home against Etest Rutherford In their first night gkvaa and the tennis team at Watauga for a return bout. The Wednesday schedule has the Junior high tracksters (^lenlng their season at Shelby. Next Thursday, the Junior high baseballers, 3- 0, travel to Hickory to face Grandview while the Junior high girls softball team goes for Its third straight win against Grandview at Lancaster Field. Next Friday, tne Mountaineer netters open their conference season here against Bast Rutherford, the baseball team travels to South Point ' tor what could be a major battle and the Mountaineer track team goes to Bums. KM LEAmR - David Ray Robtessa, loadtag hHSsr tor the KMHS Moaatalaeors last spring, wUl bs a key fRure la tbs Msunttos’ drive tor the BWO tMs this year. RoMassaalteraateshls playing Hms betwsoa shMtstop sad the pitcher’s moand. KM hosts Shelby today at 4 p. m. la a big Bast DIvtoloa battle.
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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March 30, 1978, edition 1
5
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