West Mecklenburg High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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Agile first baseman William Self demonstrates a superb long stretch as he gathers the ball on a crucial play. Headcoach Carl Bolick gives Phil Keener his batting instructions before the fleet shortstop goes to bat. SCOREBOARD West.6 West.12 West.9 West.13 West .1 West.3 West.3 West .5 West.8 West .15 West.7 West .6 West .5 West .0 West .4 West .2 West .3 West .6 South.7 Myers Park.0 Olympic.6 Ashley.2 North.8 Harding.1 Garinger.0 Hunter Huss.0 East.6 South.6 Myers Park.11 West Charlotte.0 Ashley.0 North.7 Harding.3 Garinger.3 Hunter Huss.2 East.4 Shortstop Phil Keener displays his powerful swing against Hunter Huss by making one of his many clutch hits. Sliding in home under the catcher’s tag, Ray Gaskins tries to score while umpire watches closely to make the call. Play-off West . . . . .... 5 Asheville. . . . . 0 West . . . . .... 5 Harding. . . . . 1 West . . . . .... 5 North. . . . . 1 West . . . . .... 5 Rocky Mount . . . . . . . . 7 West . . . . .... 2 Rocky Mount . . . . . . . . 1 West . . . . .... 1 Rocky Mount .... . . . . 6 Right-hander Tommy Russell exhibits his pitching form as he follows through toward home in his wind-up. 21

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Celebrating a victory over the Trojans of Olympic, team members demonstrate their enthusiasm after the game. West Places Second in State Posting a season record of seventeen wins and seven losses, West fought its way into second place in the State 4A Baseball Championship. Following a loss to South in the opening game, West returned determined to defeat Myers Park, Olympic and Gastonia. After a loss to North, the Indians went on to end the First half of the season with four straight victories over Harding, Garinger, Hunter Huss, and East. West beat South to start the second half but lost the following game to Myers Park. Angered by defeat, the Indians recovered and defeated West Charlotte and Gastonia before North halted the drive. West then beat Harding, lost a close one to Garinger, and Finished the regular season with wins over Hunter Huss and East. Watching the East game with intense eagerness, players shout encouraging words to their teammates from the bench. 4A Baseball Championship With a season record of thirteen wins and five losses, the Indians entered the state 4A playoffs. Shutout pitching from Tommy Russell enabled West to overcome Asheville in the First game of the series. Following that example, left-hander George Beam, with a season record of eleven wins and two losses, pitched the Indians by Harding and North into the Finals against Rocky Mount. After losing the opening game to Rocky Mount by 7 to 5, the Indians came back to win the second game 2-1 but lost the Final game of the series by the score of 4 to 1. Showing the excellent batting form that placed him on the All-County Baseball Team, Doyle Shaw cracks a long drive. Stepping across second base ahead of the runner, Phil Keener completes the first part of an attempted double play. 20

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Front Row: Armstrong, Zeigler, co-captain M. Bingham, Mullen, Hilewitz, Grimes, co-captain Graham, Blair. Second Row: Moss, Jones, K. Bingham, Osborne, Watson, Pearson, Kitchens, Burgin. Third Row: Wright, Aderholt, Anderson, Deese, Rowe, Davis, Johnson. Three Indian Grapplers Participate in State Tournament Coached by Watt Burris, the West grapplers had their best season. Finishing the regular season with a 4-6 record, the Indians sent three wrestlers to the state tournament. Wrestling in the 197 weight class, Charlie Burgin lost his match by the score of 9-0. Paul Kitchens wrestling at 154, lost his match 4-2. Harry Hilewitz lost his match in overtime by a 1-1 judge’s decision. In the first win of the season, the wrestling team defeated Hunter Huss 28-23. Dixon Armstrong, Mike Bingham, Jack Watson, and Charles Burgin pinned opponents. The match was won by a forfeit in the heavyweight division. Defeating South 28-19, the Indians won all matches between the 133 and 165 weight divisions. The other two victories came against Olympic 27-23 and Garinger 39-14. In the match a gainst Garinger, West drew a victory as the Wildcats forfeited four weight divisions. , Interest increased as the grapplers won, and more boys participated than in previous years. Trying for a pinning combination, Indian grappler Ken Grimes holds his North opponent to the wrestling mat. P. Kitchens in the ready position awaits the beginning of his wrestling match in the 154 pound weight division. Controlling his North opponent, Indian grappler Dean Mullen attempts a pin during the afternoon wrestling match. 22