Issue4Page6 by Wingspan

6sports JV baseball off to a hot start

month into the spring sports season, the junior varsity baseball team stands undefeated at 11-0 (8-0 WACAC). The team members are looking to continue their winning streak and take the conference title this year. “The best part of the season has been right before games when Tyler Gaither will tell the team a famous story,” sophomore Lane Grant said. “To us it is one of the funniest things ever. For me personally and also for the team, our best game has been against A.C. Reynolds. Late in that game, when they tied it up, we pulled it together and acted more like a team and that really helped us pull through with the win.”

Freshmen boost JV women’s soccer

he women’s junior varsity soccer team has started out the season with an 8-3-1 (4-2 WACAC) record. “So far the season has gone very well,” sophomore Taylor Morrow said. “We got off to a good start, but then had a few games that were kind of rough. Other than that it has been really well. The freshmen have stepped up and added talent to the team. Our team’s goal for the season is to play well in all of our games and to win conference.”

JV softball team currently 7-1

ith only one loss so far, the JV women’s softball team looks to continue their early success. Thus far, the team is 7-1 (5-1 WACAC). The team has been winning by large margins, including a conference win over Brevard, 20-10. “At the game at Brevard, we did really well,” sophomore Bethany Garren said. “As a team, we had a bunch of good hits. Our team’s goal is to grow and be as successful as we can be. We just have to keep working hard and we will continue to get better.”

Next Up

Baseball team honors former assistant coach Michael Turlington Sports Editor

fter an emotional pregame ceremony in honor of former baseball coach Oscar “Poochie” Corn on March 4, West took a 9-0 lead against A.C. Reynolds. But by the final inning of the game, the Falcons were only up by one run, and Reynolds’ tying run was on third base with two outs. West fans held their breath as a solid hit headed for center field. Senior Dillon Baker dove for the ball to come up with the final out. “In the A.C. Reynolds game, we had a lot to play for. We were all playing for Coach Corn. It was also our first home game, so we wanted to win,” junior Garrett Lancaster said. “We were able to carry all of the emotions through the game and come up with the victory. Beating A.C. was a good way to begin the season.” Corn was tragically killed in 2009 when armed men broke into his home. He helped coach the baseball team from 1990 to 1996. During this time, the team won a state championship and six conference titles. Corn’s son and former West player, Jason Corn, threw out the first pitch in the pregame warm-ups. During the ceremony, a banner was unfurled on the center field wall with Corn’s baseball number. Joyce Corn, his wife, attended the ceremony in honor of her husband. “We at West have developed a family, and Corn was a part of getting that started,” Head Coach Brandon Ball said. “We appreciate the loyalty he showed to the program and hope to continue that and make him proud.” During the game, West scored nine runs it the first two innings and was able to hold on for the win, 11-10. First baseman Michael Peery had three hits and four RBIs, which included a two-run homer in the first inning to help the Falcons win their first home game. “We played a good game against Reynolds. We had lots of good hitting, especially in the first two innings,” Lancaster said. “Reynolds has a good baseball team, but we were able to hold on for the win.” The Falcons also beat conference rival North Henderson on March 8 by six runs. Pitcher Cameron Brogden gave up only four hits in five innings, and Baker struck out three North batters in the final two innings to close the game. “One of our goals for the season is to be first in conference. North is one of our toughest conference rivals, so it is always fun to beat them,” Lancaster said. “We were able to test the strength of our pitching staff against North, and we held them to only one run.” The baseball team currently has a 8-3 record (7-1 WNCAC). “We have been hitting and pitching well,” Lancaster said. “Our defense needs some work, though. In our first game, we had too many errors. If Record: we can cut down on the errors that we commit, our team will be in good shape.”

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Photo provided by Lifetouch

JV Briefs

wingspan • april 8, 2011

Honorable Mention

Before a baseball game against A.C. Reynolds in March, senior Cameron Brogden welcomes former West accountant Joyce Corn. The team honored the memory of her husband, Coach “Poochie” Corn, with a banner. Coach Corn, who was killed in 2009, worked with the team from 1990 to 1996.

Young softball team steps up Golfers playing for WNCAC title

Collin Armstrong Feature Writer

he Lady Falcon softball team has started out the season with only one loss, winning games against North Henderson, Smoky Mountain, Brevard and other conference opponents. The team is currently 9-1 (5-1 WNCAC). “The season has gone pretty well so far,” sophomore Selena McCall said. “We have done a lot of good things, and we have worked really hard with the young players on the varsity team.” The team has no seniors and only three juniors. Since there are no seniors, the juniors and sophomores have had to step up and work harder at practice to become the leaders of the team. Brianna Morris, the lone freshman, had pitched 14 innings and allowed only two runs after the game against North Henderson. In total, she has pitched in five games and won them all. “Our team’s goals are to improve on last year’s season,” McCall said. “We work on our basics, how to lead off on balls and

know what to do in certain situations. It helps us in games because we know what to read, and it keeps our mind on what we have to do every play.” The softball team is coached by Mike Matthews, who tries to keep his talented team from being too distracted. “Our team’s biggest struggle is staying focused. Our coach wants us to stay serious all the time and not let up when we are ahead,” McCall said. “I think being on varsity is no different than being on JV. Both teams need leaders. The only difference is that on varsity you are in the public eye. ” So far, the team has handled most of its opponents without many problems. They had never been behind at any point until they played Franklin, in which they lost, 12-0. The team has been very successful in the conference, besides that, placing second behind Franklin. “Softball, for me, is a really relaxed game,” McCall said. “I can just Record: relax and have fun and do well.”

9-1

he men’s golf team warmed up on the green practicing swings and preparing for a recent match against North Henderson, East Henderson and Tuscola. Stepping out onto the course, senior Chase Davis prepared for his first shot on the second hole. “I just tried to stay focused. Golf is such a mental sport, and as soon as I stepped onto the practice green, I tried to stop all the silliness because we joke around a lot,” Davis said. “I just tried to stop all that and focus on what I’m trying to accomplish and what I need to do.” Davis and the team went on to win the match on March 31 at Crooked Creek Golf Course with a score of 77, while North Henderson scored an 83, East Henderson shot an 86 and Tuscola ended with an 81. “It wasn’t too difficult of a course. It was pretty straightforward, and the greens were smooth,” Davis said.

April 12 Home against Brevard

April 13 Away at A.C. Reynolds

Soccer

April 12 Home against Brevard April 14 Home against Tuscola

Softball

April 11 Home against Brevard

Track & Field April 12 County meet at North Henderson

Photo provided by Lifetouch

April 12 Home against Brevard

Tennis

“Overall, we played all right. I was disappointed in my performance because I shot a 43, and that’s not what I expected to shoot.” The top six qualifying players for the match were Davis, senior Kevin Mundy, junior Jason Taylor and sophomores David Capps, Adrian Brinkley and Jordan Lyles. Of the nine players, senior Jastin Telles, Mundy, Davis, Brinkley, Capps and senior Bo Philips are returning from last year, and Lyles and sophomore Jordan Kitchen are new to the team this spring. “The only school I’m worried about is Tuscola. The other schools are not much of a problem for us because we are doing really well this season,” Telles said. “Chase, Adrian and David are our top players. If they do well throughout the season, we will dominate.” Last year, the team failed to make it past the conference tournament. “Compared to last season, we’re looking a lot better,” Telles said. Record: “We have more and better players.

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Soccer team eyes championship

Baseball

April 15 Home against Tuscola

Amy Taylor Asst. News Editor

Running Start With eyes on the ball, sophomore Erin McGraw runs down the field to return the ball into the offensive zone. The team went on to win the game against North Henderson, 4-0.

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Camen Royse Sports Editor

he Enka player came racing down the field with the ball, set on putting her team up 3-1 with an accurate kick. She sent the ball flying toward the top corner of the goal, making a block very difficult for Lady Falcon goalkeeper Maddi Havener. But with a diving effort, the sophomore deflected the ball and gave new motivaton to her team. Though the near-comeback still resulted in a 5-3 loss, Head Coach Craig Long was proud of his team’s effort. “At Enka, even though we lost it, I was still pleased with our performance because they are a very good team,” Long said. “They were up 2-1 at halftime, and then we came back and went ahead, 3-2. After that they came back and scored two goals in the last 15 minutes or so. We scored the first three goals on them that had been scored against them so far this spring.” Long came into this season with talented, experienced seniors, but he became very excited about the season when he realized the potential of the youth on his team. “I really like this group. We have a lot of skill and talent. We have great senior leadership, and the young players have mixed in well,” Long said. “After about the first week or two of practices, I really got excited about how this group will do. We have a lot of skill, a lot of speed, a lot of talent that all work well together. There is a lot of potential with this team, and I hope we can continue that to hopefully get a conference championship.” Senior Aubrey Masters is also excited about her team, particularly Havener, who won Times-News Player of the Week in March. “We have a lot more potential and talent than I originally thought we were going to,” Masters said. “I came into this season thinking that Record: we were going to be a young team, but I was wrong. Maddi has been doing really well; she has barely allowed any goals.”

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