Belmont Abbey College - Spire Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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CRUSADERS - - THEIR PICTORIAL REVIEW ( SSC£. John Yacobi - Robert Yacobi - Porter Gibson - Hu h Sh - - ■ m Te Zl Gaeaa Kdly ' Phi ' De ™ ' - ABSENT: Frank Souza, Frank Rozelle.

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CRUSADERS Crusader Basketball and Baseball Review BY THE CONTACT SPORTS STAFF Usually when i school hai i ream thit wins only five out of 19 contests, people sort wondering what u wrong. There u my number of factors that can be considered in the case of this years Crusader five Looking for the different weaknesses, we see that among the prominent are: missing free throws (the Crimson and White lost five close ones due to their inaccuracy from the 15 foot marker), early season inexperience, and poor fan support. When Coach Wheelers original five took to the floor last November, they were De Turk, a freshman from Upper Darby, Pa., with no experience, at center; Kelly, last seasons big star and the captain, and Shine, a four-year player from Goldsboro High School, as forwards; Gibson, another returnee, and Yacobi of Hampton High School, at guards. Throughout the games, this starting lineup varied somewhat but the boys rounded into a fine smooth -working squad that looked like a good club during their last seven games. So now the 1951 season is finished. It was one which all who really followed the squad will remember; for, although the record isn ' t one to be envied, it was complete with thrills and some fine playing. However, on the good side of the ledger, we find that four of the boys who provided most of the seasons punch will be rerurning. Center De Turk, who amassed a total of (327) markers. Shine (149), Yacobi (95), and Raftery, all will be back in the crimson uniforms if khaki uniforms aren ' t substi- tuted. Peterson, a Winston-Salem freshman who missed most of the season with a broken arm, RozzeUe, Creery, and Kennedy will make the nucleus for a good team. With next seasons outcome a secret of the future, we want to say goodbye and wish luck to Captain Bob Kelly who easily was the most outstanding player on both defense and offense with a 184 total; also, gratitude to Frank Gragnani and Hoot Gibson and to reserves John Yacobi and Frank Souza, who possessed the kind of team spirit that we hope will be instilled for the next BASEBALL BEVIEW With a five won and two lost record at this writing, the 195 1 edition of the Belmont Abbey baseball team stands a fine chance of coming out on the top of the heap, come May 20. Gene Hanna is the main reason for the Abbeymen ' s third place posi- tion. Sam Rhyne, who has been doubling as short-stop pitcher dropped two heartbreakers. Tommy Davis has one win— that a 17 run slugfest in which he showed fine form. Bias and Dudley round out the Abbey mound staff. Captain Dick Bain has been doing fine work behind the plate. First base is being ably handled by BiU Frain. Frank Gragnani is a mainstay at second. Otis Helms and Erskine Rhodes, respectively, have been dividing third base chores. Sam Rhyne at short completes the infield. In Rhyne and Gragnani, Coach Wheeler possesses a better than average double-play duo. Jim Ros, a Prep speedster, is in left field and Tom Melvin is proving to be a terrific asset in center. Hanna and Bob Kelly have been sharing right field duties. Frank Creery and Jerry Leeper are being used as utility in fielders. Graduates on the ' 51 roster include Sam Rhyne. Frank Gragnani, Bob Kelly. Tom Melvin. Captain Dick Bain, Erskine Rhodes and Otis Helms. Conact will have to complete this history as we go to press before the baseball season ends.

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THE RAMBLERS THE GREEN AND WHITE When the call was issued for the Rimbler Basketball candidates, about forty boys tried out. In some schools this wouldn ' t be anything out of the ordinary, but when you realize that there are only about seventy boys in the entire Prep Department, it is quite an example of school spirit All Abbeymen are justly proud of the small Green and White squad. Fighting tooth and nail, the Ramblers asked no quartet »nd gave none. The season record is not impressive, bur they lost only three games by more than four points. A fourteen game schedule was split in even numbers lostwon With a new coach. Father Thomas. O.S.B.. at the helm, the team displayed fight and gameness in all their play. At the end of the regular season, the Ramblers journeyed to Asheville to participate in the first annual Knight of Columbus Basketball Tournament. This was an invitational tourney for the Catholic High schools of North Carolina The Ramblers defeated Catholic 66-17 in the first round and Cathedral Latin of Raleigh 46-32 to take the championship. A permanent trophy was brought home and the boys have one leg on the beautiful K. of C Rowing Trophy. Two more successive wins are necessary for permanent ownership. The Rambler spirit is a wholesome picture of what is meant by the Abbey spirit. Their zest to win is only overshadowed by their sportsmanship They are true representatives of the Abbey THE PREP INTRAMURAL PROGRAM King Football had gone from us by official decree. What now? What was there left to occupy the lively spirits of seventy odd Prepsters? In the minds of all, only bleakness and despair reigned. But. our fretting was to no avail. Coach Wheeler and Father Kevin. OSB.. had a full intramural program mapped out for us to participate in and enjoy. We were to have baseball football, tennis, handball, volleyball, basketball, ad infinitum. Four captains were chosen from the entire group, who in turn, from a hat, picked their teams. With such a beginning, any- thing could happen— and did Never was a sport in any field so hotly contested. The participants became scrappers with a never- say-die spirit. The seasons progressed and we found Captain Bill Frains YANKEES supreme in Baseball and Football and Captain George Stuarts GLOBETROTTERS, giants of the hardwood, win the championship in Basketball It ■ springtime again, and we find the young men busy on the courts of tennis, handball, horseshoes, and the diamond. At this writing two new champs have been crowned-Tom Quigley in Tennis and Jose Ysern ,n Handball. The program is far from bei ng complete but as the printer is calling for copy , we stop and refer you to final results which will appear in CONTACT