Atlanta High School - Atalanta Yearbook (Atlanta, IL)

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llaseball (Sanies an it Scores Middletown .................. 7 Elkhart...................... 1 Reason ...................... 1 Latham....................... 4 New Holland.................. 2 Hartsburg ................... 2 Lyle Paulsen was a very reliable man and was noted for bis speed when running the bases. He was always running the opposing team dizzy and started the season by batting 1.000 for the first two games. He led the team for the season with an average of .611 and had the greatest number of stolen bases in the league. This is Lyle’s last year of competition in high school. Jack “Percy” Freeston was a good man wherever Mr. Price chose to use him, but was more at home on the mound than anywhere else and was noted for his fast ball. Jack was a good hitter and came through at the end of the season with a batting average of .555. Atlanta ......................13 Atlanta ....................... 6 Atlanta ....................... 4 Atlanta ......................16 Atlanta ....................... 9 Atlanta ....................... 3 He would have fitted in nicely in the championship game, but for scholastic troubles. This is Jack’s last year of competition. John “Hippy” Hubner had the luck to stick out four years of catching. He liked to worry his opponents at the home plate and also tried to keep the pace at batting set by Lyle and Jack, but fell a little behind at the end of the season with an average of .541. John led the team in hits for the season. It is also his last year of competition. Weldon “Pete” Frantz, our second baseman, didn’t play regularly until he was a I ttifior, but the last two years I 3 -i 18 -

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Athletics In the Atlanta Community High School three sports are sponsored: baseball, basketball and track. These activities serve a definite purpose in the modern school system. They provide the best possible medium for character education. Craig Ruby, coach of basketball at our State University, says, “When a coach has a winning team he is a great coach. When he has a losing team he is a character builder.” The statement was made half in fun hut no doubt contains more than a little truth. Baseball has supplanted football as a fall sport in our high school. Baseball is called the national game. Even-boy likes to play and what is more important every boy can play. No great amount of physical development is necessary to become at least a mediocre player. Great strength and stamina are helpful but not necessary. A good eye and a quick hand will serve one better in this game. Cooperation between team members is essential. Concerted effort toward a definite goal must be maintained by every member of the team. Thus a valuable lesson may be taught. Since the game is played outside, an unlimited number of players can be supervised. About 30 boys played baseball last fall although less than half of these took part in regularly scheduled games. Basketball is the major sport in most Central Illinois schools, especially the smaller ones. Unlike baseball, physical strength and stamina [day an important part in this game. Cooperation between team members is even more important and there is much less time to think the situation over, since the action is much faster. In basketball the spectators are very close to the players and difficulties sometime arise from this fact. A boy must have his emotions under iron control to become a successful basketball player. There is much personal contact in the game and the boys must learn to give and take without anger. They must also learn to uphold the rules of the game as interpreted by the official, although in many cases it maybe very difficult to do. Rigid training is necessary in order to be able to maintain the fast pace of the game for 32 minutes, and a decided advantage lies on the side of the team having the better physical condition. Abstinence and temperance are desirable traits to cultivate in the individual. Track is the aristocrat of the sport world. Individual performances of strength, speed, and stamina are the basis of the sport. In the track events proper courage is a necessary trait and it can be developed by this sport. Track is a wonderful body builder. Running is a national form of exercise. We were made to run. Every boy in school should take the opportunity to develop himself physically, no matter whether he thinks he can make the team or not. Many surprises occur in this respect. Many friendships are formed among track athletes. There is no physical contact in the sport which helps to keep relations among competing athletes on a more friendly basis. The opportunity f o r making friends is probably greater than in any other sport. The benefits to be gained from a well balanced athletic program are not confined to the boys who take part in the games. The entire student body is benefited. Who would question that a good basketball game is better entertainment for boys and girls of high school age than a dance or a questionable movie. It is cheaper than either. The pep meetings and other activities connected with athletics give us a zest for the school work which might sometimes become rather dull without them. A balanced athletic program is the leaven in the bread of education. Mr. Price. -17 Atalauta

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iUnschall lie made up for what he should have done the other two years. He wasn’t such a good hitter, but managed to come through when needed most. He was a good man to keep the team in the very l est of spirits. This is his last year of competition. Marvin “Lead” Hamilton was a greatly improved player from his Sophomore year. His easy-going, cool-headed playing brought us out of more than one “tough” spot. Marvin’s first year of competition wasn’t so “hot”, but through the summer, was taken in hand by Pat Harken of the Bloomington American Legion team and when “Lead” came back, he turned out some fine baseball. He finished fourth on the batting list with a .391 average for the season. He has one more year of competition, and will come through in great style, we feel sure. Newton Douglas played left field for our team this season and has one more year of competition. He didn’t get very many chances in the field, but he made up for that by getting a few hits when they were needed the most. Mitchy” Rich was a good man to have in the field, for when the infield had one of its hard luck streaks, “Mitchy” would always come through. I f any ball got by the infield and came his way, he would “snag” it. He wasn’t a very good hitter, but will im- prove with this three more years of competition. Richard Dick” Reinmiller was used at shortstop with the exception of the championship game at Hartsburg. He managed to stop some “hot” grounders. Dick was fast, so it didn’t do the opposing team any good to let him get on base, for he usually came through with a score. He wasn’t a very consistent hitter. Dick has one more year of competition. Harold Leach was a dandy center fielder, and the most consistent hitter on the team. He would surely have made good in his other three years of competition, if he had only stayed in school. Hardly ever did a fly ball get by him or a runner score when he got the ball in his possession. Scholastic troubles held him out of the last two games of the season. We surely could have used him in the championship game, for he was a sure bet to hit at the right time in any game he played. William “W. L. S” Spencer was a good man to help in the pinches if he could concentrate on the game and not on the sidelines. He usually came through when needed, though, and may fit in well in the team next year. He can keep the team’s spirit up, too. for he can always be heard urging them on. He should become a catcher for he has a voice that carries a mile. J. M. H„ ’34. Xcttcr jilctt L. Paulsen Frantz Reinmiller Freeston Hamilton Leach Hubner Douglas Spencer Rich