Burns High School - Blazes Yearbook (Lawndale, NC)

Page 48 text:

A See-Saw Season Great expectations — heartbreaking loss. Who knows the meaning of See these words better than Coach Tommy Pruett and the varsity baseball team? With hopes of contend- ing for a playoff bid, the Bulldogs started off be- hind other conference teams because of three weeks lost practice time due to Coach Pruett’s girl's basketball coaching duties. However, the team re- fused to let this dampen their aspirations. Hard work, long practice ses- sions, and determination to win got the Bulldogs ready for the season open- er, a 3-2 win over North Gaston. Spirits soared high and everyone felt the team would be a definite con- tender. These hopes were dashed at the hands of King's Mountain who served up a disappointing 6-2 loss for the Dogs. After this loss, only a few bright spots highlighted the rest of the season. Wins over county-rival Crest, R-S Central, and Chase; a grand-slam home run by Marion Crowe and a no-hitter pitched by senior Al Floyd helped to lighten the disappointment. With the season drawing toaclose the team had one last opportunity to gain a playoff bid. A victory over East Rutherford would have placed them in a posi- tion to enter the playoffs. Once again hopes were dashed as East Rutherford triumphed with a 5-4 vic- tory that removed all hope of the Bulldogs going to the playoffs. LNGRLOSSSLOmeas. Rutherford was a dis- appointing one. Howev- er, | feel we should have clinched a playoff spot before that game,” com- mented senior Clint Shu- ford. Jerry Fitch shows his style of pitching in the game against Kings Mountain. It's a close call as senior Ken- neth Byrd just beats the ball to first, and flies by his Kings Mountain opponent.

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Cross Country Cross Country running is the most strenuous type of running man has ever encountered. This is because of the terrain that must be covered from the start to the fin- ish of the race. It takes a special breed of man to run in a Cross Country race. Coach Bob Cabiness has been the Cross Coun- try coach at Burns for three years. He thought that his team would have done much better but three of his top five run- ners failed to finish the confernece meet be- Cause of injuries. The conference meet deter- mines the team’s posi- tion in the conference standings, therefore; Burns finished eighth in the conference. Coach Cabiness com- mented, ‘'R.S. Central Was Our toughest com- During this part of the race, Harry Sloan used the woods to his advantage over his oppo- nent. Ross, David Banks, Calvin Ross, rish, Michael Camp, Clarence Ray Jackson, Bill Vaca, Stoney : | TRACK: BOTTOM ROW: Keith Par- | Whitworth, James Littlejohn, Maddox. | Fred Byers. TOP ROW: Frank | | t Lack of man power petitor but South Point Was number one in the confernece.’’ Dis- appointed with their sea- son, COach Cabiness hopes injury won't Plague next year’s team as it did this year. TRACK With only seventeen ona team meant for 30, Coach Eddie Greene feels his track team did well. “I was well pleased with the sea- son although we could have done better with more people.’’ he com- mented. several new records were set, such as Joe Camp's 100 meter sprint, Clarence Whitworth’s long jump, and Darren Brown’s triple jump. In the 400 meter relay and also the 200 meter sprint, the members of the team advanced into the sectionals and on to the re- gionals. Exhausted after a tough race, Webb Powell catches his breath. 43

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J nel a Ma a ec dB “ iN Fa a i a i a cl il senior Jerry Fitch shows off his famous curve ball by striking a BE ber of the Chase Trojans OUT. Fg. j 2” 4 y } 3 3; % v H uo BASEBALL: BOTTOM ROW: Coach Pruett, Randy Greene, Joe Camp, Ken Byrd, Clint Shuford, Eric Campbell, Mark Shuford, TOP ROW: Jerry Fitch, Tim Wil- liams, Doug Simmons, Cecil Henson, Andy Canipe, Tim Mayhew, Ulysses Tuft. 4 Clint Shuford shows his skills by hitting a homerun in the ga me against Kings Mountain. TEAM BURNS OPP North Gaston Kings Mountain 2 East Gaston rs Crest 5 R.S. Central 8 Chase 2 E. Rutherford 9 South Point : 4 1 4 1 -8 WN — Shelby Crest R.S. Central E. Rutherford Chase Season Record 5 = NIN AWDOONDBDRON Senior Marion Crowe, in fear of making an out, retreats back to third base. 45