Memphis University School - Owl Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Throwing smoke, Dean Underwood contributed strongly to the team ' s success. The highlight of Underwood ' s season was a no-hit performance against ECS during summer American Legion baseball. To the crowd ' s delight, David Caldwell slides headfirst into home plate, capping off his grand-slam home run during the 7-6 playoff victory over Harding. 1 979 VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM: (first row) Jeff Harris, Dean Underwood, Keith Johnson, David McGowan, David Caldwell, Robert Ashley, Glenn Durham, Ken Johnson; (back row) Brooke Rodriguez, Paul Edwards, Kendall Crawford, Rush Waller, Bill Landsden, Robert Shockley, Chip Landsden, Bud Thrasher, Kevin Coleman, John Ogle, Coach Johnny Duke. BASEBALL BASEBALL 27

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Slugging Owls Hit .500 Mark in Rugged District After Only One Season of Play Driving in 33 Runs, Baseball Team Goes 5-1 at Home With one agonizing year of experience behind them, the much- improved baseball team performed well, pleased the spectators, and placed fourth in the district. Although the squad finished with a .500 season, it was an even better team than its record indicated; senior leadership, solid defense, and a home field were instrumental in the team ' s success. This year ' s campaign opened with two decisive losses, but the Buzzards came back to defeat SBEC, 3-1 . The Owls then played their first home game ever; the opponent was Bishop Byrne, a semi- finalist in the state playoffs, and MUS destroyed them, 1 1 -0. Two pickoffs by David Caldwell in the seventh inning of the next game squelched a Harding rally and gave the team a 2-1 decision. A mid- season slump plagued the sluggers, and they dropped two of their next three games. Rain forced the Owls to play several doubleheaders late in the season; however, the pitching staff held up well enough for the team to post a winning record in the district. MUS entered the District tournament with a home playoff game against Harding. A grand slam home run by David Caldwell and Kendall Crawford ' s two RBI ' s led to a 7-6 triumph over the Lions. Unfortunately, the Buzzards ' clutch hitting deserted them; leaving 25 men on base in two games resulted in losses to Bishop Byrne and Memphis Prep and the team ' s elimination from the tournament. Rush Waller, who made the all-SAC team, led the team with nine RBI ' s. Waller broke the MUS record for stolen bases with seventeen and tied the record for home runs with three round- trippers. Bill Landsden ' s .367 average led the Owls ' hitting attack; Keith Johnson ' s 2.16 earned run average and Dean Underwood ' s 22 strikeouts were crucial to the success of the Buzzard pitching staff. With the experience gained by competing against tough opposition during the regular season and during American Legion baseball, next season looks promising for the baseball team. As Paul Edwards rounds third in the District playoffs against Harding, Coach John Duke ecstatically waves him home. Timely hitting and solid defense by shortstop Robert Ashley helped the team all season; Ashley singles to help beat Catholic, 7-2. 79 BASEBALL (7-8-1) Bishop Byrne 6 4 Catholic 8 3 SBEC 1 11 Bishop Byrne 2 Harding 1 CBHS 10 7 Harding 7 Memphis Prep 4 7 Catholic 2 3 Memphis Prep 4 3 Collierville 6 7 Collierville 6 3 SBEC District Tournament 1 7 Harding 6 3 Bishop Byrne 7 1 Memphis Prep 2 Not In District 26 EVENTS

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Directed by Mr. Anthony Williams, The MUS-Hutchison choir presented their annual Spring Music Concert at Hutchison ' s Wiener Theater. The choir sang quite well in performing a widely varied program, ranging from classical to popular music. The Lower School had an intramural soccer league during the spring; at the conclusion of the season the Lower School All-Stars played a game against a team made up of the faculty and the Varsity soccer players. Two goals by Coach Schmidt led to a 3-1 defeat of the Lower Schoolers. Shown infiltrating the lower school team ' s defense, Coach Schmidt dribbles past Shawn Snipes as teammates Greg Parker and Mr. Pinkney Herbert look on. To pass the time in a Washington, D.C. hotel, Jon Scharff and Hampton Sides argue the merits of deregulating gasoline prices; Alan Pritchard is astounded by the astute observations while Curtis Cowan feverishly takes notes. These and other members of the Junior Class participated in the Close-Up seminar, a program designed to familiarize students with the inner workings of the federal government. 28 EVENTS