The Panola Panorama (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 9, Ed. 1 Monday, March 7, 1983 Page: 4 of 36
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Still Time For Ponies To Finish On Top
By PAUL KAUN
Looking at,the Panola Ponies’ baseball
record at this time, one might be a little
hesitant in claiming that one of their goals
this season is to be one of the top team’s in
tne nation.
But that is exactly the optimistic ap-
proach that Jaeke Davis is taking after his
hardball Ponies struggled out of the 1983
gate a little sluggish and through eleven
games stand at 2-9.
But that slow start has included several
very close decisions and has come about
on a team that has had very little good
practice time due to the inclimate weather
that has struck the East Texas area this
past month and a half.
“Considering the amount of outside
workout time that we have had, I am pret-
ty happy with the team thus far,” said
Davis.
“The guys have proven that they are ex-
tremely dedicated and have shown a great
deal of ability pitching, hitting and
fielding.
“If we can get just a few good days of
good weather, I think we are going to be in
good shape and be very competitive,” said
Davis.
“Our record just does not indicate the
kind of ball we have been playing.”
Two weekends ago, Panola participated
in the Alvin Junior College Tournament in
Alvin and were able to come away with but
one win, despite losing three games by a
total of six points.
In the opening game ofjhe tourney, Bob-
by Fuller went nine innings before sur-
rendering an unearned run in the bottom of
the ninth to fall to San Jacinto 2-1.
Ronnie Gideon and Cy Phillips led the
Pony hitters, as the sophomore pair each
went 2 for 4 in the’loss. The defeat dropped
Fuller’s season pitching record to 0-2.
In their second tournament contest, the
Ponies picked up another strong pitching
performance, this time from Brad Jolley
but another hitting lapse felled Panola
against Texas Southmost, 2-0.
Jolley, who also fell to 0-2, struck out
nine batters, but the Ponies could muster
only four hits and were never able to bring
a runner across home plate.
Against tournament host Alvin, the
Ponies finally picked up the hitting that
had eluded them in three previous games,
but this time it was the pitching depart-
ment that went on strike in a 7-4 loss.
Starter Phillips (0-1) was chased in the
third inning after yielding four first inning
runs and two more in the third frame, as
Alvin mounted a six run margin that
Panola never could overtake.
But that did not mean the Ponies did not
try to comeback. During the fifth inning,
Phillips, David Evans, Dwayne Cox. and
Wayne Gratingny all scored runs that pull-
ed Panola within two of Alvin.
That was all the scoring that the Ponies
picked up, as Alvin shut them down for the
rest of the afternoon.
Panola was not to be denied at least one
victory in the two day affair, and ac-
complished this by shutting out conference
foe Angelina, 4-0, behind the distance go-
ing pitching of Robert Lopez.
The victory marked the second of the
season for Ponies as well as the second for
Lopez this season.
A strong, two run, three hit third inning
was all the Ponies needed as they took a
lead they were to never relinquish. Evans
and Jeff Tousa both picked up runs during
the inning for Panola.
A home run by Gratingny in the fifth and
another run by James Bass in the sixth ad-
ded icing on the cake to The Ponies 4-0 win.
Tracey Huff led the Ponies in the hitting
department as the sophomore went 2 for 4
on the afternoon.
Panola opened their 1983 campaign in
Ranger, Texas the preceding weekend and
were humbled by their hosts, coming away
with but one victory in five outings.
Ranger downed the Ponies 6-0. 5-3. 12-2,
and 9-3, before finally succumbing in the
weekend finale, 16-2.
Through the first nine games of the
season, Ken Bigham is the leading Pony
batsman, hitting at .388 clip. Following
Bigham is Gideon with an average of .379.
Davis has been pleased thus far with the
play of his team, but expressed definite
praise for his pitching staff, defense, and
freshmen plavuers.
“We have gotten outstanding individual
performances out of our pitchers through
the first nine games,” said Davis.
“Bobby Fuller looked good going nine in-
nings against San Jacinto and Brad Jolley
has done well in his outings. Robert Lopez
is looking strong with two wins. Roger
Hornbeck is a big right-handed reliever
who is coming around and throwing hard. I
am pleased with him.”
Kurt Leger, James “B|
Halford,Shane Wilson, Jay Albrig
David Evans are among some oth<
Davis praised, along with Tracey 1|
Cy Phillips.
“Huff is again doing a fine job in
field along with Phillips',” said Dai
“Phillips is also pitching and
first base for us and looking goo;
three.”
“Leger, Wilson, and Evans area
doing a good job defensively, as isjj
in a relief role at third base.
Halford is hitting .333, but is out
lineup at this time with a slight \|
jury.”
Dwayne Cox is also on the injure
this time with Halford, but Davis in
that he is recovering from a fing|
rapidly.
“We are playing good ball, just m
win column like we want.” said
“But we are not far off.”
“We have got the talent to be sut
and are anxious to prove we-are on
nation’s best." said Davis.
“We have enough sophomore lc;i
and young talent that it we get it
weather, it will come around.”
“We’re just going to get out the
the gamut, and do it."
The Ponies are in the midst of a I
homestand. haviong already plave
double headers against Seminole';
Jacinto. The next contest for the
will be this Wednesday against E
followed by conference games
Paris on Friday and Navarro the If 1
Wednesday.
Fillies Finish Season in Conference Play-of
The Fillies finished a good season with a
disappointing loss in the first round of the
conference play-offs in Tyler February 24.
Coach Sandra Walker says that she is, of
course, disappointed with the loss, but she
is proud of her team and their season.
Coach Walker says that the Tyler team
finished off the Fillies’ season because
they are a really good team. She rates
them as the best that the conference has
produced since she entered the league.
“We lost to Tyler because Tyler played
a great game.” The Apaches hit 67 per
cent from the field in the second half and
shot a phenomenal 91 percent from the
free-throw line throughout the game.
“What do you do when you opponents hits
27 of 29 at the free-throw line?”
A real factor in the loss was the slow
start that the Fillies got. An aggressive
Tyler team broke to an 8-0 lead that
literally and psychologically hampered
the Fillies.
Of the slow start, Walker says, “We got
the shots but they would not go in. We just
got near the basket.”
Showing their mettle the Fillies did
come back, but real chances to take the
game were killed by three critical turn-
overs.
Walker likes Tyler’s chances in the play-
offs.
The second round of the conference
tournament saw them polish off first
place Henderson County and they have
since then taken San Jacinto North in the
first round of regionals in Houston.
All of this year is behind the coach and
her team, and both she and her team are
focusing on next season.
Walker says that she is excited by tier
recruiting prospects.
“We’ve got a strong nucleus for next
year. Our freshmen have really picked up
experience in the last part of the season.”
“We look for great things from the likes
of Fay Bryan, Gretchen Brown and
Carolyn Kyles.”
Walker says that she has been
especially impressed by the changes in
Kyles in the last six games. “She has
really gotten the hang of college ball.”
A good bit of Walker’s recruiting is
settled and coaches in the league are
looking at her with green eyes after
learning that Walker has picked up Tyler
Acre Bronwyn Wynn at mid-term. Wynn
had been at SFA in the fall and moved to
Carthage in January.
Having the tall, athletic Wynn active on
the squad next fall should strengthen the
Fillies.
Walker’s recruiting is geared to finding
a third post.
“I’m looking in Texas and in
Louisiana,” says Walker. Would a girl like
Carthage High’s Shelia Bryant be what
Walker has in mind? Walker says, “Yes,
Yes, Yes.”
“I am also on the track of two forwards
from anywhere who can hit the basket
everytime they shoot.
Will her program hurt because of the
loss of sophomores?
“Certainly, I will especial!
sophomores Nadine Gray, Maril]
Donna Hawley and Aundra Rhom
These girls were all amoi
statistical leaders for the year. Rh
Hill so impressed folks that both n
Texas Eastern Women’s All-Coi
Team.
For her play in the conferem
nament, Hill was one of five
named to the All-Zone team.
Statistics rolled up in the 20-1C
show some of the team’s strengtl
Hill was the team’s leading scoi
a total 532 points. She averaged 18,
per game and shot 52 per cent fi
field. She also hit 70 per cent from I
throw line.
Nadine Gray was the tean
rebounders with 270 for the season
the team in steals with 81.
Donna Hawley led the team in
with 132.
'
■i
1 # f W'*W
NADINE GRAY
MARILYN HILL
DONNA HAWLEY
AUNDRA RHONE
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Kaun, Paul. The Panola Panorama (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 9, Ed. 1 Monday, March 7, 1983, newspaper, March 7, 1983; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth508080/m1/4/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Panola College.