WN
A dents and their families attracted
{ Field Day Held
f T District Schools, musical entertain-
I
1 Head Start staff and children
Clark
From Page 1B
the entire season, and that showed the kind of charac-
ter these players have."
Clark said his first season presented a lot of surpris-
es. The biggest surprises were the heavy hitters who
clubbed a school record 45 homeruns and kept the fans
excited all year long.
"But winning has not been a surprise," he said.
"Winning by such large margins has been a surprise,
but we knew we had talented players all along."
Although the long balls excite everyone, Clark said
he's been equally pleased with the performance of his
pitchers and defense.
"Pitching, for the most part, has been very much
overlooked due to our offensive performance,” he said.
"The kids who have carried us with their pitching have
responded well and gotten very little credit.
"Stuart Spires is 11-2, Todd McDaniel 9-4 with nine
saves, and Keith Allen is 2-1 with three saves,” he
said. "Obviously, that's good pitching. At the same
time, you have to say that the reason they've got those
records is that, for the most part, we've played very
solid defense, and that was our number one priority
- going into the season. We wanted to learn how to play
good defense."
i Clark said he spoke of only two goals to his team
early in the season. First, he wanted to see the program
turned around, and secondly, he wanted to qualify for
the state playoffs. The Mounties qualified for the state
by finishing in the top three in the conference.
"Then, we knew that when we got into the state,
anything could happen,” said Clark. "All of this has
been gravy, and now we just want to go out there this
week and play good, solid baseball and, hopefully, win
the state championship."
Clark credits much of the success of the team to its
senior leadership. "This is the best group of seniors
I've ever worked with," he said. "They show tremen-
dous leadership...not really vocal, but by example.
Toby Deaton, who hit .056 last year, is still leading off
and hitting .446, is second on the team in stolen bases
and has just had a super year. Dale Greene continues to
be Mr. Consistent at third base and with the bat, and
i Stuart Spires and Todd McDaniel have done an excel-
lent job on the mound. Ken Crook has been a
marathon guy behind the plate. Chris Morris has ac-
cepted his role as a backup catcher and pinch-hitter
and every time he's called upon, he does a great job.
The seniors have made the difference this year."
Of course, when Clark begins talking about his un-
derclassmen, he has to lead off with Brannon.
"He's just a phenomenal worker when it comes to
hitting the baseball," said Clark. "He works hard every
day, both in practice and on his own. He holds a state
high school homerun record and we hold one as a team
because of the fact that he's hit so many himself, and
all that's worth the extra time he's put in.
"Chris Henson may not be the finesse player that
you might look for in a second baseman, but he's a
hustler, and a competitor, and he very well may be the
toughest out that we have. He's been to bat 101 times
and has only struck out five times. He's a tremendous
; competitor at the plate and has 10 stolen bases. He's a
“Tittle big man.
"Chad and Chris Plonk are probably the two hardest
swingers in high school ball today,” Clark added.
"When they make contact they make things happen.
Chad's coming off an injury and seems to be well now.
Chris's homerun Saturday night may have been just
what he needed to really scorch in the state champi-
onship series.
"Chris Bullock has had a tremendous defensive year
Tennis Clinic
Slated At KMHS
Kathy James, Diane Dooley and
4 Brad Jones will sponsor a tennis
camp June 13-17 at the Kings
9 Mountain High courts. The camp
will run from 9 a.m. until noon and
i youngsters in the third grade and
i above are eligible to participate.
g The fee is $25.
Each participant will receive in-
struction in the basic fundamentals
of tennis. At the end of the week
there e will be a mini-tournament
bu and trophies will be awarded.
i For information, see Kathy
3 James at 900 North Ramseur Street
h or call Brad Jones at 739-7263.
The annual Field Day and
\ Family Picnic for Head Start stu-
i 300 to Shelby City Park recently.
The 140 children enjoyed stories
{ by Bill Hager, Community Schools
0 Coordinator with Kings Mountain
ment by Rogers Sisters and magi-
cal fun by Keith West, "The
Wizard."
Special guests included Mr.
Hager, Joey Hopper, principal of
i North School, Linda Hendricks,
i principal of Lattimore School,
A Tropzie McCluney, principal of
i Number Three school and Mayor
Arrie Ellis of Earl.
wore t-shirts printed with the Head
Start logo.
A picnic lunch was served at the
Jaycee Picnic area , courtesy of the
Fraternal Order of Police, One-
| Stop Stores, Cleveland County,
Shelby City and Kings Mountain
Schools. Beverage was provided
by MCDonald's of Kings Mountain
* and Gastonia. Door prize drawings
p ~ were sponsored by Carowinds. The
two winners each received two free
passes to Carowinds.
Head Start is only partially fund-
in leftfield," Clark went on. "He's also been very con-'
Johnny Gamble and Bo Ballard
won the championship A flight in
the fourth annual White Plains
Shrinettes Golf Tournament
Sunday at Kings Mountain d
Country Club. Hayne and Lee won he second fli
Neisler finished second. No
sistent as far as making contact with the ball and we
need him to continue to come through.
"Chip Cash is getting better every day. He got off to
a slow start because of some discipline problems and
an injury, but he has fought back and worked into the
starting lineup, and he's as big a homerun threat as
anybody on our team. Chip's arm has helped us a lot.
He's thrown a lot of people out on the bases. He and
Toby Deaton have the two best arms on our squad, and
they've made some pressure packed throws."
Clark also had high words of praise for his reserves,
who have contributed a lot both Quin the regular sea-
son and the playoffs.
"Jon Reid is the best glove man on the team,” he
said. "When he develops his hitting a little more, he's
going to be a big threat to our opposition.
"Kevin Whittington is definitely the shortstop of the
future. He's just a sophomore and is going to be a good
one.
"Shane Sessoms is one of the finest individuals I've
ever coached. He's an inspiration to our other players.
"Eric Peppard has great speed. He has had to fit
himself into a reserve role, but he's a good base stealer
and when his defense comes around he'll be a fine
ballplayer.
"Daniel Honeycutt is playing baseball for the first
time and started several games early in the year. He's
our number one guy off the bench and is getting better
every game.
"Bryan Dellinger is our team comedian. He keeps
everybody loose and has a good time at what he does.
He has tremendous speed for a guy his size.
Raymond Couch is only a ninth grader, but he's
probably the gutsiest fellow I've ever seen. He takes a
lot of hits behind the plate, but in a year, or 9 he's-go-
ing to give people up here a fit.
"Keith Allen has had just a great year. He had al2
strikeout, shutout game earlier in the year and has been
Mr. Consistent when it comes to throwing strikes. The
people call him Doctor K. We're looking for him to be
our ace next year, and maybe even sooner than that."
Clark said he appreciates the support shown by the
fans all year and urges them to come out in full force
for the state championship.
"We've had great community support, both from the
inspirational point of view and financial point of
view," Clark said. "I just can't say enough about what
people have done to get the field and facilities back to
where they should have been. Dr. Robert McRae and
Dr. Larry Allen have bent over backwards to help us
from an administrative point of view, and Coach
Denny Hicks keeps things lined up for us over there.
It's been a real smooth season.
"The community support for our players and for our
success has probably been more than we ever imag-
ined," he went on. "We told our kids that if they con-
tinued to win the crowds would get bigger, but we nev-
er thought they'd get over a thousand. We're looking
for ever bigger crowds starting Wednesday.
"But this is what Kings Mountain needed,” he went’
on. "The town was hungry for another winner. It's been
quite some time since we've had someone advance this
far. In 1985 and '86, when the tootball team was in the
state playoffs, we saw what community support would
do for a ball team. I think Kings Mountain is probably
the best small town for backing teams that I've ever
seen."
Clark praised. his assistant coaches for also putting
in a lot of time and effort to help turn the program
around. : 7
"It's taken a tremendous effort on their part,” he
said. "I don't tell them enough about the fine job
they've done. I appreciate it, the players appreciate it
and I'm sure the community appreciates it. A head
coach is only as good as his assistants, and Ronny
Funderburke, Rusty Bumgardner and Bud Bumgardner
have done an unbelievable job and put in a tremendous
amount of hours to make this season a success."
sons
GOLF CHAMPIONS - Bo Ballard, left, and John Gamble won
the championship A flight in the fourth annual Shrinettes. Golf
Tournament last weekend at Kings Mountain Country Club.
Proceeds benefit Shrine charities.
Jim fy nd
ed by federal funds and depends on
local volunteers and contributions
1 to make up 20% of program costs
required from the community.
Phil Russ and Darrell Austin Jr.
won the championship B flight and
Brady Goforth and David Neisler
and David Clary §
second.
Lib Gault and Dot Mobley won
the third flight and Rick Moore and
Arnold Bivins were second.
pe Fe am AP
Wediesday, June 7, 1989-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Page 3B
BASEBALL WEEK - Mayor Kyle Smith, right, has proclaimed
this week Baseball Week in Kings Mountain and is pictured present-
ving a copy of the presentation to KMHS Coach Bruce Clark. Clark's
Mountaineers host Rockingham County tonight, Thursday and
Friday in the state 3-A championship series.
LET THE STICKER
'89 Camry 4-Dr.
Automatic, Air, Stereo
Mayor
Proclaims
KMHS Week
Mayor Kyle Smith has pro-
claimed this week "Kings
Mountain High Baseball Week"
and urges city and area citizens to
support the Mountaineers in their
quest for the North Carolina High
School Athletic Association 3-A
championship Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday.
The Mountaineers will be bat-
tling Rockingham County High
Schoo! of Reidsville in a best of
three series. All games will be
played at KM's Lancaster Field.
Smith made a personal procla-
mation and presented it to KMHS
head coach Bruce Clark.
"I have been probably as enthu-
siastic supporter of Kings
Mountain High School athletics as
anybody in our city," Smith noted.
"I have witnessed football, basket-
ball and baseball games at their
finest since I have been a citizen of
this fine city.
"Kings Mountain's current base-
ball team is playing this week in
the state finals. I urge all of our cit-
izens to go out and support the
team Wednesday, and perhaps
Thursday will be the final night.
See Mayor, 4-B
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