Vikings Christen Turf with Four-Team Scrimmage

The Avery football team held a scrimmage on Tuesday evening, facing off with West Caldwell, Hampton (TN), and Morganton Draughn High Schools. Avery's offense scored on several occasions through the scrimmage, while the defense continues to build and focus on stopping the run and pass.

Avery methodically scored on its first drive against Hampton as Adam Pate dashed in for a nine-yard scoring run. The Vikings showed they could also effectively pass the football out of its spread atteck, connecting on a slant pass for a long touchdown on one drive against West Caldwell.

The Big Red continues practicing in anticipation of next Friday's regular season opener in Roan Mountain against Cloudland (TN) High School. Large crowds are expected at Orr Field next Friday night for the 2nd annual Avery Journal-Times Border Battle Classic. Avery captured the trophy last season in Newland with a 35-14 win, so the 'Landers will be seeking revenge on its newly renovated surface next week. A full preview of next week's game can be found in next week's edition of the Journal-Times.

Avery Soccer Kicks Off Fall Practice

The Avery men's soccer team has kicked off the 2008 season with practice this week. Coach Lou Brancourt's club has boasted good turnout, with 20-25 players attending for both morning and afternoon sessions at MacDonald Stadium.

The team begins play with the Asheville Jamboree this Saturday in Asheville, where the team will take on Dixon High School and a host of other opponents. On Thursday, August 14th, the team will host a scrimmage with West Wilkes, starting at 7 p.m. Avery's season opener will take place against East Wilkes on Monday, August 18th at Lees McRae College.

A full writeup on Avery's preparations for the 2008 season will appear in next week's Journal-Times.

Musings and Ramblings: Loss of Caray Reminder of Bygone Era

I have to say this Monday has been a somewhat melancholy day at the sports desk. The news that long-time Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray had passed away on Sunday afternoon at age 68 was greatly disappointing.

You see, I have been a lifelong Atlanta Braves fan. Many of my earliest memories involve spending time watching Braves games on WTBS with my dad. I remember fondly watching those players of the early 80s, when guys like Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, Rafael Ramirez, Rick Mahler, Phil Niekro, Glenn Hubbard roamed the dimensions of old Fulton County Stadium. Back in 1982 the team reeled off 13 straight wins to open the season and went on to hold off the Dodgers to win the National League Western division. The excitement of the championship was soured by the 3 games to zero sweep by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series.

Despite the outcome, I was hooked as a card-carrying member of the Atlanta Braves Fan Club. In those days, the Braves were the only team in the Southeast, so thousands of residents in states from Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, North and South Carolina, and Georgia identified with the slogan of the Atlanta Braves being "America's Team".

Much of the remainder of the 1980s witnessed the Braves scratch and claw to keep themselves out of the division cellar. Those seasons were dark ones for fans, but one of the few bright spots in those years was the way the Braves broadcasters kept the games entertaining. Skip Caray, along with Ernie Johnson Sr., Pete Van Wieren, and a number of other fourth broadcasters (such as Billy Sample, John Sterling, and Don Sutton) brought class to each game, and made fans feel as if they were part of the game.

Part of the reason I developed a passion for sports and enjoy reading, writing, and covering sports was due to the passion that guys like Skip Caray brought to their job. It was easy to see that Skip loved baseball and was loyal to the Braves. He was easily what some today call a 'homer', and unabashedly was so.

Although Caray showed bias toward the Atlanta club, which makes sense considering they paid his salary, he always remained consistent when it came to speaking his mind. If a player was stinking it up at the plate or in the field, he would say so. If he didn't agree with a call or a decision, he in his own unique way would say so.

In the days of sports entertainment and celebrity status that many of the so-called "big time" sports networks strive for, Caray was a unique and refreshing breath of simplicity. He called the game with a great deal of knowledge and confidence without trying to make himself the star.

When Atlanta went from worst to first in 1991 and began an unprecendent string of division championships and postseason appearances, Skip was the consistent voice. Perhaps his signature call came in 1992 in the NLCS game 7 against Pittsburgh when Francisco Cabrera laced a base hit to left field. Sid Bream, a veteran with bad wheels, ambled around third and barely slid home before being tagged:

"Swung line drive left field! One run is in! Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...... SAFE! Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! Braves Win! The Atlanta Braves are National League Champions again, and this crowd is going berzerk!"

Braves baseball and the sport as a whole is better because of broadcasters like Skip Caray. He will be sorely missed by this and many fans of Atlanta Braves Nation.

Parks and Recreation Sponsors Bulldog Baseball Camp

Special Thanks to Avery Parks and Rec Director Robbie Willis for the following:

Avery Parks and Recreation held its third baseball camp this past week, with twenty-six participants taking part in drills, instruction and games. The importance of hard work in school for progress and respect was stressed throughout the week. Proper stretching technique, pitching form and overall respect for the game were focal points of the weeks’ sessions. Each day was divided into two sections with younger players attending the morning session and older youth playing in the afternoons.

Various awards were given in five different age categories. The following campers were awarded Most Outstanding Camper in their age groups: Josh Briggs (4/5), Caleb Pritchard (6/7), Jordan Lecka (8/9), Jerry Lunsford (10/11), and Dillon Nelson (12/13). The Bulldog Awards were given to River Willis (6/7), Zac Briggs (8/9), Luke Crow (10/11), and Tyler Edwards (12/13). Camp Stars were awarded to Harrison Horney (4/5), Colin Acheson-Adams (6/7), Josh Cook (8/9), Samuel Acheson-Adams (10/11), and Walker Carswell (12/13). Best Attitude awards went to Nolan Hughes (6/7), Lane Johnson (8/9), Canian Singleton (10/11), and Lane Smith (12/13). Camp Awards went to Matt Leaman (8/9), Charity Ollis (8/9), and Destiny Ollis (10/11). Best Effort awards went to Shane Peterson (6/7), J.J. Brinkley (8/9), Jonathon Brewer (10/11), and Luke Wotell (12/13).

Camp director Samuel Phillips cited the determination of the players taking part as well as the great listening skills even the younger kids displayed. Many returning players were cited for their marked improvement since last seasons’ camp, and all who participated commented on a great week. Also taking part as instructors were Travis McDaniel from Tennessee Wesleyan College, Nathan Davis (Duke), and Seth Phillips (Wilkes CC).

Cloudland Football Schedule

The 2008 Cloudland Highlanders Football Schedule

August 22nd- AVERY

(Thursday) August 28th- @West Greene

September 5th-COSBY

September 12th- @ Chuckey Doak

September 19th- TRI-CITIES CHRISTIAN

September 26th- @ North Greene

October 10th- JELLICO

October 17th- UNAKA

October 24th- @ Knoxville Grace Christian

October 31st- @ Hampton

(Home games in CAPS)

Note: The bolded dates are corrections that was orginally posted on the Avery Journal-Times Sports Blog. This schedule reflects what was given to members of the media at Highlander Media Day. We apologize for the error.

Scenes From Appalachian State Media Day

Kidd Brewer Stadium Construction Pictures

Tennis Tryouts

"Fall sports practices are now underway! The Avery tennis team begins practice on Monday, August 11th, with tryouts from August 11-15. For more information on Avery athletics, please contact Director of Athletics Matthew Bentley at Avery High School at 733-0151."

Lady Vikings Host Successful Volleyball Camp

Last week the Avery Lady Vikings held its summer Volleyball Camp. The four-day event was developed by Lady Vikings volleyball coach Kim Hayes as an opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school girls to receive specialized volleyball skills training close to home without the high costs of larger team camps and traveling expense.

The camp was the largest attended single camp for students in the county this summer, as approximately 55 girls ranging from third grade through high school senior took the floor in Viking Gym to improve their skills and learn from former players and expert instructors.

“We’ve had around 26 girls come out for the morning camp for third through eighth grade, and we had high school sessions in the afternoon and evening, with around 28 for those sessions. It’s been so exciting and every single kid who has been at this camp has worked their butt off,” Coach Hayes said during one of the sessions.

Directing the week’s camp was Fish Gupton, former regional and district championship head volleyball coach at Virginia High, Coach Hayes’ college coach where he restarted the Lees McRae College volleyball program, and is currently a national referee who officiates matches for the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic 10, Southern, and Big South Conferences.

“Fish has done a terrific job. He was the first coach to recruit me, and he is so knowledgeable about the sport. He just knows more than me and has been absolutely terrific,” Coach Hayes added. “This has been terrific for the girls because at some point during the week of camp he took time to stop for individual work with every single kid.”

For Gupton, it was an easy decision to accept Coach Hayes’ invitation to help the Avery volleyball program through the camp.

“Kim played two years for me at Lees McRae before going to Appalachian State, and she is one of those athletes who would do anything you asked them to do,” Gupton remarked during a drill. “When you have a bond with your athletes, you want to do anything to help them, so when she contacted me to tell me she was back in coaching and wanted to organize the camp I told her that I would be glad to help her.”

Girls participating in the camp were well versed in a number of drills, with emphasis placed on running offense, transition from offense to defense, and placing the ball effectively without utilizing a one-hit style of play.

“This week we wanted to break down every skill into its parts and put it back together, and there has been great improvement in the players from the first day through the end of camp,” Gupton stated. “We’re teaching footwork, approach, reach, and hitting, and we wanted to instill confidence in these girls that they can win a conference championship and compete for a state championship.”

Overall the week was a productive camp and the camp’s director strongly believes it will serve as a valuable building block when the high school players prepare for the upcoming fall volleyball season beginning with tryouts this week. “These girls have a great coach who knows what she is doing, and the players know that they have the opportunity to make a state championship,” Gupton explained. “It is a lot of fun to come back to this camp. I have great respect for Kim and she has always shown the same to me. It is great to work again with Kim and with the athletes here at Avery.”

Avery volleyball will hold tryouts on Tuesday, August 5th and Wednesday, August 6th, with a team scrimmage at North Henderson on Thursday, August 7th.

Johnson County Football Coach Arrested For DUI

The Avery Journal-Times sister paper, The Watauga Democrat, had the following report on August 1 on the arrest of Johnson County Football Coach Mike Atwood. Avery hosts the Longhorns on September 19th.

The head football coach for Johnson County high school was arrested Thursday, July 24, on charges of driving under the influence and a violation of implied consent.According the narrative included in the arrest report, the Elizabethton Police Department received a call regarding a reckless driver on West Elk Avenue. A patrol officer stopped the 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, driven by Michael Atwood, 41, of Mountain City, Tenn., just before 10 p.m.
The officer reported a strong odor of alcohol, and Atwood's performance of a sobriety test was described as very poor. Atwood initially told the officer he would not take a sobriety test, and when presented with the implied consent form, Atwood is reported to have refused to comply leading to the second charge of violation of implied consent. He is scheduled to appear in district court in Johnson County, Tenn., on Aug. 11.Morris Woodring, superintendent for Johnson County schools, said, “We are aware and monitoring the situation and will take the appropriate action when deemed necessary.”

Article by Melanie Davis http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2008/0728/0801coachdui.php

Five Football Games to Remember

For most people, summer is going too fast. However, for some of us, fall and football cannot get here fast enough. As a way to satisfy your football needs, here is a list of the five most intriguing games that feature local teams.

#5- Tennessee at Georgia- Saturday, October 11^th.

This will be a make or break game for both teams. If the Vols enter this game undefeated in SEC play, it will mean they have defeated both Florida and Auburn, and a victory in this game will put them in the driver’s seat in the SEC East. On the flip side, however, the Vols could realistically enter this game 2-3. If that is the case, Tennessee may need a victory just to keep their bowl hopes alive.

#4- Appalachian State vs. Wofford- Friday, October 31^st.

This has the potential to be the best atmosphere as well as the best game of any on this list. Wofford ended App’s record breaking win streak last year as the two teams tied for the SoCon Championship. The game will also be a homecoming for Eric Britenstein as the Boone native will make his first trip home to play as a Terrier. Oh yeah, did I mention this game is on Halloween night and in front of a national TV audience on ESPN? This game is a must see for any football fan.

#3- Cloudland at Hampton- Friday, October 31^st.

If history repeats itself, this Halloween showdown could also double as the conference championship.  That exact scenario was in place last season when the Bulldogs left Roan Mountain with the crown. However, this season the Highlanders want revenge and the conference title. However, if one team stumbles along the way, this game between fierce rivals will still be important because a victory would be morale boast entering the playoffs.

#2- Avery at Watauga- Friday, September 5^th.

This contest is this area’s version of David versus Goliath. Avery is a small 1-A school while Watauga is the bigger 4-A foe. The differences between Boone and Newland are night and day. This year’s edition of this classic rivalry will be a major test for both teams as Avery looks to end a two year losing streak to the Pioneers. This year’s Goliath is weakened as the Pioneers lost their premier back Eric Britenstein to graduation last season. Will this be the year Avery comes out on top?

#1- Avery at Cloudland- Friday, August 22^nd.

There is no better way to celebrate the start football season then with the Avery Journal-Times Border Battle Classic. These two longtime rivals renewed their rivalry last year with Avery coming out on top. This season, the battle moves to Roan Mountain, and the ‘Landers want to avenge last season’s loss. The Vikings however, want to start the season off right, and a victory over their rival Highlanders in the Border Battle Classic would be a great way to accomplish that.

Kids Learn Roundball and Life Skills at 24th Annual Burleson Basketball Camp

Each July, legendary basketball star and Avery County native Tommy Burleson, in conjunction with the Avery Parks and Recreation Department hosts the annual Tommy Burleson Youth Basketball Camp.

Boys and girls ranging from grades 3-12 spend five days at the camp learning fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense, but also acquire a wealth of knowledge from the former N.C. State University, U.S. Olympic basketball, and NBA standout.

This year the group of around 35 campers received an official camp t-shirt quoting Scripture from Proverbs 13:6, which reads “Righteousness guards the person of integrity”. The statement is also indicative of the importance Burleson has placed through the years of teaching campers moral truth in addition to basketball principles.

“It’s important to set an example as a role model, and we try to teach kids to be consistent in doing that,” Burleson remarked after Friday’s morning session. “We hope that with the kids who come back each year, we can teach them basketball fundamentals as well as the importance of being a positive role model and person of Christian character.”

Campers were treated to a special event on Friday morning when Tommy’s former North Carolina State teammate David Thompson and his exceptionally basketball gifted nephew and former high school all-star Dion Malachi dropped by.

Thompson spent time speaking to the attentive group of campers, sharing with them his highs and lows in his life from being a top professional draft pick and highly paid athlete to his past difficulties and eventual conquest over substance abuse, and a witness of how his Christian morals guide his life today. Thompson and Malachi also helped with a number of basketball drills, topped off by Dion performing a number of slam dunks to prove that the ability to temporarily defy gravity runs in the family.

Thompson, the man dubbed “Skywalker” because of his purported 48-inch vertical leap and touted by many as the greatest player in the history of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball, has assisted by speaking at over twenty Burleson Basketball Camps through the years because he believes in the significance of teaching not only the right way to play on the court, but also how vital it is to be a productive citizen off the court.

“We’re planting seeds with these kids, and it’s special to see those seeds grow over three or four years and play high school and college football or basketball,” Thompson remarked. “Not every boy and girl will grow to become a college or professional player at a high level, but here at camps like these we can impact those boys and girls to make good choices throughout their lives.”

The camp featured a talented crop of boys and girls who flashed their skill on the hardwood and impressed the instructors immensely.

“I was tickled with the players. A lot of them are skilled, and you can see that they have had parents or teachers or coaches working with them,” Burleson noted. “A number of kids have good jump shots and good jump-stop moves and play good hard defense. You can see that they enjoy the game.”

An intriguing by-product of the longevity of the yearly camp is that a pair of long-time friends in Burleson and Thompson, one of the top 1-2 punches in college basketball history, can continue to maintain close and pass along to kids both their passion for the game that they excelled in and their common compassion for people.

“Our friendship has remained strong through the years as our kids have grown, and we’ve had such an impact on each other’s lives. From going through some of the things we did at North Carolina State, we established a bond that has only grown stronger with not just the two of us, but even our teammates from those years we played together,” Thompson shared.

“This camp is key because it gives us an opportunity to come together here in the mountains,” Burleson stated. ”We knew each other through playing in high school and established a bond in college, and any opportunity for us to come together and get our families together is a blessing. It’s a blessing that he can come to this camp and we can continue to get together like we have through the years.”

Update: Madison names new head football coach

The Sports Blog reported last week that Avery's fellow Western Highlands Conference member Madison High School's head football coach and athletic director Darren Ponder had resigned from the school. Last week, the Patriots found a replacement when they hired Eric Schneider, who coached the Madison High junior varsity football team to a 7-3 record last year, as its new head coach.

The announcement appeared last week in an edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times as follows:

The Madison County Board of Education approved the hiring on Friday night after a lengthy school board meeting.

Several football players stood outside the board office awaiting word on who would be hired, and the players presented board members with a letter asking them to hire Schneider.

“Coach Schneider has been the most consistent and loyal coach that the Madison County football program has had for a number of years,” the players wrote. “Coach Schneider has mentored many of us as players, students, and young men since seventh grade. This consistency and personal interest has created a mutual trust that is necessary to any successful team sport."

The move came less than a week after the resignation of athletic director and football coach Darren Ponder, who had been at Madison High School for one year. The varsity team went 0-11 in 2007, playing several games at the end of the season with several junior varsity players after about a dozen varsity players were suspended for improper activity.

Schneider, who said he played high school ball in Chicago and college ball in Washington State and in Chicago, has never held a varsity coaching position.After the vote to hire Schneider was announced, players and parents hooted and grabbed their cell phones to spread the news.

James Taffer, a football parent who attended the meeting, said Schneider “has worked with them for so long. The values he’s instilled in them in the seventh and eighth grades are showing right now,” he said.

Also interviewed for the coaching position were Madison native Mark Gosnell, who has coached at Erwin High School and in Georgia, and former Northwest Cabarrus High head coach Mike Helms, who led the Trojans to the playoffs in six straight seasons.

Non-Conference Gauntlet to Test Vikings Football in 2008

The 2008 edition of the Avery Vikings varsity football team looks to improve upon consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2006 and 2007 and continue its streak of six consecutive years of playing in the postseason. Although more emphasis is placed on conference play as teams prepare for playoff competition, the Vikings must still wish to improve upon two straight seasons of winning only 1 of 5 games in out-of-conference matchups.

This year the Vikings have the exact non-conference foes they faced a year ago, with the switching of weeks between Robbinsville and Cloudland. Rather than open the schedule with the Black Knights, the Big Red will kick off 2008 with the Avery Journal-Times Border Battle Classic showdown against the neighboring Landers from Roan Mountain, following by an endowment contest a week later to open the schedule on the new turf at MacDonald Stadium. Avery will travel to Boone to tangle with Watauga in the Battle for the Bucket, and will host both nearby Johnson County (TN) and a former conference foe in the West Henderson Falcons.

Here’s a brief look at how each of these games break down:

Avery at Cloudland (August 22nd): Avery travels to nearby Orr Field to take on a Cloudland club that finished last season with a 7-4 mark, falling in the first round of the TSSAA playoffs. Cloudland’s three defeats came to its closest foes, as Avery defeated Cloudland 35-14 last August, along with wins from Mitchell and Hampton (TN).The Landers and its spread offense lost one of the best quarterbacks in the region to graduation in Jordan Hughes, but a young nucleus of returning players plan to anchor the team for continued success.

Robbinsville at Avery (August 29th):

A year ago the Vikings opened the season with the Endowment game at Robbinsville. The Black Knights under head coach Gene Boley surprised some, using a 41-34 shootout win against Avery last year to springboard themselves to a 7-5 campaign and advance to the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs. Boley left the helm of the Black Knights after just one season, and was replaced by former Hayesville High School assistant coach Dee Walsh. A Robbinsville alum, Walsh was offered the head coach position last summer, which he accepted and quickly changed his mind due to a perceived lack of school board support. Robbinsville returns experience at the running back position, but it is unknown if the squad will continue to employ the Double-Wing offense it used to success last season, or if the new coach will change playbooks.

Avery at Watauga (September 5th): The annual border war between these rival teams will continue to provide a powder keg of excitement. Gone from the Watauga lineup is graduate and Wofford enrollee Eric Britenstein who torched the Vikings for 386 yards and six touchdowns in his final two seasons at Watauga. Also gone from the Watauga sideline is head coach Adrian Snow, who left Boone to accept a head football coaching position at his alma mater West Forsyth High School. Key returning players like Cam Steury, Devan Corum, and Baine Martin will provide leadership to the Pioneer ballclub.

Johnson County at Avery (September 19th): After a bye week, Avery will play host to the Johnson County Longhorns. The neighbors across the border handed the Vikings a discouraging 21-7 loss in Mountain City a season ago en route to a 7-4 record in 2007. The Longhorns and 12th year head coach Mike Atwood utilized a strong offensive line and powerful running game on a muddy night last season to win the line of scrimmage battle. Johnson County rushing threat Tyler Leonard, who sealed last year’s win with a fourth quarter, 48-yard touchdown run, graduated and has an opporunity to walk-on at Carson-Newman College, but return all-conference selections QB Austin Phipps and WR/K Christian Prudhomme.

West Henderson at Avery (October 3rd): Avery hopes to erase the thoughts of last season’s 14-0 shutout in Mills River at the hands of West Henderson High. The Falcons took advantage of two long touchdown passes by QB Zach Corliss to provide the only scores of the night. The blanking was the first for Avery in a total of 75 games, a span of six full seasons.West will look to replace their veteran signal-caller Corliss, and may rely more heavily on the wing bone offense the team has employed in past seasons.

Lady Vikings Volleyball 2008 Schedule

The Avery Lady Vikings, led by head coach Kim Hayes, will return to the floor for hard-hitting volleyball action in 2008. Below is the schedule for the JV and varsity squads.

2008 Lady Vikings Volleyball Season Schedule

(JV match at 5 p.m., varsity begins following JV, unless otherwise noted.)

*-denotes conference match. Home matches are in ALL CAPS.)

Date: Opponent:

8/12 @ RS Central (Scrimmage) Time TBA

8/18 PATTON

8/21 @ Thomas Jefferson

8/23 @ Watauga (tri-match) (11 am)

8/26 WATAUGA

8/28 @ Owen*

9/2 THOMAS JEFFERSON

9/4 HENDERSONVILLE*

9/5 @ Patton

9/9 @ Polk County*

9/11 MADISON*

9/16 @ Mtn. Heritage*

9/18 MITCHELL*

9/23 OWEN*

9/30 @ Hendersonville*

10/2 POLK COUNTY*

10/7 @ Madison*

10/9 MTN. HERITAGE* (Senior Night)

10/14 @ Mitchell*

News & Notes: Fall Football Physicals Available

Attention All High School Football Athletes!!

Physicals for all high school football athletes (rising 9th grade through 12th grade ONLY) will be administered at the Aldridge Field House at a cost of $20/physical on Monday afternoon, July 28th beginning at 5 p.m. Contact Avery High School athletic trainer Susan Hawkins for more information.

Avery Men's Soccer Kicks Into Action in 2008

Head Coach Lou Brancourt and his Avery men's soccer team will be busy this fall, beginning with a jamboree at AC Reynolds in Asheville to open play on Saturday, August 9th, followed by a total of 22 regular season contests. Below is the 2008 team schedule:

HOME MATCHES IN CAPS -- Kickoff Time 6 p.m.
* Conference matches

Aug. 18 EAST WILKES
Aug. 20 ASHE COUNTY
Aug. 22 HIGHLAND TECH
Aug.25 @ Pisgah
Aug 27 NORTH HENDERSON
Aug 29 @ Highland Tech
Sept. 2 WATAUGA
Sept. 4 @ Ashe County
Sept. 8 @ Owen*
Sept. 10 PISGAH
Sept. 15 HENDERSONVILLE*
Sept. 17 @ Polk County*
Sept. 22 MADISON*
Sept. 24 @ Mtn. Heritage*
Sept. 29 MITCHELL*
Oct. 1 OWEN*
Oct. 6 WEST WILKES
Oct. 8 @ Hendersonville*
Oct. 13 POLK COUNTY*
Oct. 15 @ Madison*
Oct. 20 MTN. HERITAGE*
Oct. 22 @ Mitchell*
Nov. 1 Opening Round State Playoffs TBA

Monday Night Football (Junior Varsity Style) Highlights 2008 Season Schedule

This season, the Avery Vikings junior varsity football team schedule features a pair of Monday evening tilts. The team has played Monday evening contests in previous seasons, but usually due to postponements due to weather or other reasons.

The JV football squad will take on two non-conference contests on Monday evenings. On August 25th, Avery will host Cloudland in a junior varsity contest on the newly renovated field at MacDonald Stadium in Newland. The teams met only in a varsity football game a season ago, so this will be the first tussle at the JV level between the squads since the schools renewed aquaintances on the gridiron.

Three weeks later, on Monday, September 15th, the JV team will travel to Mountain City to tangle with the Johnson County Longhorns at the special kickoff time of 6 pm. The 'Horns defeated Avery in their JV meeting last season in Newland, so the Big Red will be looking for revenge.

Here is the complete 2008 Avery JV football schedule (Home games in CAPS)
(all games kickoff at 7pm unless noted)
* conference game
8/25 (Mon.) CLOUDLAND (TN)
9/4 WATAUGA
9/15 (Mon.) @ Johnson County (TN) [6pm]
9/18 OPEN
9/25 *OWEN
10/2 @ West Henderson
10/9 *@ Hendersonville
10/16 *POLK COUNTY
10/23 *@ Madison
10/30 *MTN. HERITAGE
11/6 *@ Mitchell

Turf Project Continues to Progress, 2008 Varsity football schedule

The turf at MacDonald Stadium continues to take shape in advance of next month's opening of the fall prep sports seasons.

Avery's varsity football schedule shapes up as follows (home games in ALL CAPS, *-denotes Western Highlands Conference contests):

August 22nd: at Cloudland (TN)
August 29th: ROBBINSVILLE (Endowment)
September 5th: at Watauga
September 12th: OPEN
September 19th: JOHNSON COUNTY (TN)
September 26th: at Owen*
October 3rd: WEST HENDERSON
October 10th: HENDERSONVILLE*
October 17th: at Polk County*
October 24th: MADISON*
October 31st: at Mountain Heritage*
November 7th: MITCHELL*

From the Student Section.......For the Love of the Money

Clay Bennett proved that there is no problem in sports that can not be solved by a suitcase of money. Bennett, the new owner of the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics, settled a lawsuit with the City of Seattle that will allow him to move the team to Oklahoma City next season. The settlement is worth $75 million, and ended a six day federal trial. The settlement, however, just proved that money can buy anything in sports.

Bennett and his group were fighting Seattle over two remaining years that the team had on its lease with the aging Key Arena. The Supersonics wanted the city and state to pour money into a new arena for the team. However, Seattle and the state of Washington refused to fund a a new arena project for the team. The Supersonics had called Seattle home for 41 years. The decision, however, made Bennett a villain to many.

“"In a perfect world I would have liked to see Clay Bennett leave, without the team at all," said Steven Pyeatt, the co-founder of Save Our Sonics, in a statement on Wednesday. Bennett bought the Supersonics from Starbucks Founder Howard Schultz for 350 million dollars in 2006. Bennett, an Oklahoma City native, face criticism for trying to force Seattle to build a new arena, while still wanting to move the franchise all along.

Bennett never really acted like he would live up to the promises of making a “good faith” effort to keep the team in Seattle. There are even emails that Bennett sent to his partners to prove that there was no hope that the team would remain in Seattle.

I don’t have anything against Oklahoma, it is the state that produced country star Carrie Underwood, but how can the NBA stand by and let an owner make a fool of himself and the league. Bennett is the guy who argued in court that the Supersonics departure would have no economic effect on Seattle. How would you like an Oklahoma City resident who voted to approve a $121 million arena renovation because you were told an NBA franchise would be an economic boon to your city? The same group of owners who claimed they would lose $60 million if they were forced to stay two more seasons in Seattle, but signed a check for $45 million and the possibility of having to write another check for $30 million if certain conditions are met. Compared to $75 million, $60 million would be a better offer in my opinion.

The former owner Schultz is suing Bennett to regain control of the team, because he did not make that “good faith” attempt, and was shopping for a new relocation within a year of buying the team. Some feel Schultz could still prevail, but it is going to be a tough sell.

While Bennett did agree to leave the Supersonic name, colors, and history behind in a grand gesture in case Seattle gets a franchise later on, the fans lost out. It also helps that you get to sell new merchandise with a new logo and city on it, and attempts to leave the Seattle saga behind.

With owners like Bennett in professional sports, it makes a person wonder if everything in sports can be bought for the right price.

Ponder Resigns as Madison Patriots Head Football Coach and AD

Madison High School head football coach and athletic director Darren Ponder has resigned, according to articles in the Asheville Citizen-Times and Marshall News-Record and Sentinel.

According to an article posted on the Citizen-Times' website, Ponder referred to this past year in a letter to the News-Record and Sentinel as "the most difficult year I have ever experienced."

During last football season, almost a dozen football players received suspensions from varsity play after admitting "illegal use of alcohol, marijuana or prescription drugs", and further complicating the coach's situation was the arrest and conviction of one of his assistant coaches and the public defiance of several varsity basketball players who quit the team during a game last season, according to the article.

Ponder spent only one year as head coach at his alma mater after previously serving as athletic director and assistant football coach at Mitchell High School, finishing 2007 with a winless 0-11 record and playing several games with a number of players brought up from the junior varsity squad.

The coach turned in his resignation to Madison County officials on Monday, citing that boys weren’t trying out for the team, he couldn’t staff his coaching positions, and the team didn’t have the money to “buy the things needed for the program”, according to the published story.

"It seemed like everything we tried to do, the door slammed on it," Ponder stated in his letter to the paper. “We hate to see Darren leave," Madison principal Tony Tipton was quoted to say. "Darren is a fine fellow, and under the circumstances he did a good job last year. He hung in there."

The school is currently posting both positions and setting up interviews. As for Coach Ponder, his future is uncertain. "I have talked to a couple of schools over the last week, but nothing is definite yet.”

Avery Little League Tournament Action Begins

The Avery 9 and 10 year old boys baseball team lost a narrow contest last Thursday by a final score of 7-6 to a Wilkes County squad to open Little League District Tournament action.
Jeffrey Puckett got the starting pitcher nod for the Avery team, and he kept the Wilkes National #2 team’s bats silent through the first two innings. During that time the Avery offense jumped out to a commanding 5-0 advantage, scoring three runs in the second inning and two runs in the top of the third frame.

The bats on the Wilkes club woke up in the bottom of the third inning, rapping four hits to put pressure on the Avery defense. Wilkes batters also were patient at the plate, drawing walks in the inning off both Puckett and southpaw relief pitcher Gabe Stanley for a total output of seven runs to put the Avery team behind by a pair of runs.

Stanley settled down and held Wilkes scoreless for the remainder of the ballgame while Avery managed to manufacture a run in the top of the fifth inning. Puckett belted a triple for his third base hit of the game to lead off the inning. He later scored on a Daniel Hartless single to cut the deficit to 7-6.

In the final inning Avery needed a run or more to avoid defeat. An Avery leadoff hitter ripped a double to start the frame, but was thrown out attempting to stretch the play into a triple for the inning’s first out. Nick Wottell had four hits in the game and a base hit put him on first with two outs representing the tying run. Unfortunately a strikeout by the next batter ended the game to drop Avery into the consolation bracket.

“We just ran out of innings in the game,” Avery coach Adrian Crowe said after the defeat. “We’re hitting the ball really well and that game could have gone either way.”

On Saturday Avery traveled to Happy Valley in Caldwell County for its second district tournament contest and picked up a thrilling 10-9 victory over another of the four Wilkes County teams in the District Tournament.

Brett Smith got the call on the mound to start for the Avery squad and ran into early difficulty. Wilkes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Smith and his teammates mounted a comeback, scoring two runs in the first frame to cut the lead in half at 4-2. Smith and the Avery defense held Wilkes scoreless in both the second and third innings, and Avery’s bats responded with a run in the bottom of the second and two runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead at 5-4.

In the top of the fourth Wilkes rallied for a pair of runs, but reliever Nick Wottell was able to put out the fire and keep Avery within a run at 6-5. The Avery club continued to hit the baseball, plating three in the bottom of the fourth for the third lead change of the game at 8-6.
Both teams were scoreless in the fifth inning, but Wilkes kept its season alive temporarily with three runs in the sixth before pitcher Rick Daniels shut down the inning. The rally left Avery fighting for its survival with a 9-8 deficit going into its last inning at bat.

In the sixth inning Avery put runners on second and third base for Aaron Dugger. Dugger became slugger as he belted a pitch in the gap in right field, scoring both runners to give Avery the dramatic 10-9 victory.

“Aaron came through with a bit hit for us. The entire team is hitting the ball so well and we’re tickled to see it,” Coach Crowe said after the win. “We’re also really confident with our pitchers and they are doing a great job.”Avery takes on a Caldwell County team at Ashe Park in Jefferson on Tuesday night.

Fists & Feet Fly at Lenoir's "Fights in the Foothills"

It was an exciting evening of cage-rattling action Saturday night at Lenoir’s Mulberry Street Recreation Center as Mayhem Cage Fights presented the “Fights in the Foothills” mixed martial arts event.

A near-capacity crowd filled the complex as fighters from across North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina competed in 11 MMA contests. Contestants were awarded points according to performance that are compiled throughout the year as part of the Mid-Atlantic Mixed Martial Arts Championship, with title belts to be awarded later in the year.

Fighters trained in disciplines including karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, grappling, kickboxing, and wrestling were showcased on the card. Matches were scheduled for 3 three-minute rounds. Despite only one match lasting into the third round, jarring punches and kicks were abundant throughout the night.

The evening kicked off with a mixed martial arts exhibition from 11-year old MMA Hall of Famer Alexandra Pyles, a young lady who holds 12 MMA championships and three world records and will be featured this season on the NBC television show “America’s Got Talent”.
Following the exhibition the evening’s fights kicked off with a first round, tap out victory by Joshua Curtis over Allan Mendez in the bantamweight division. Curtis “Bam Bam” Brinkley was victorious in the light heavyweight division over Najee Mohammad by second round technical knockout (TKO).

Matt Morgan defeated Phil Estes by tap out due to a triangle choke in a middleweight fight, followed by Bill Childs defeating Brennan Mays by first round TKO. In one of the night’s most exciting bouts, Travis Wilson and Ed Jackson squared off in a light heavyweight showdown. Jackson emerged victorious in the third round, grounding his opponent and winning in the third round by TKO.

After a 15-minute intermission and a second exhibition by Alexandra Pyles, the fight action resumed with a first round tap out victory by Joe Carroll over Brandel Clary at the lightweight division.

In the only super heavyweight fight of the evening, Tunene Jackson defeated Mike Imes in 18 seconds when a solid punch by Jackson wobbled Imes, leading to a TKO finish. The punch was one of the most effectively landed fists of the entire night, as on-site medical staff later determined a broken jaw resulted from the blow.

Sheyenne Housand defeated Ron Lindig in the night’s eighth bout by way of guillotine choke at 2:36 of the first round. Johnny Buck won a lightweight battle by first round submission, while in the night’s most technically contested fight, Johnson City’s Troy Dollar survived a number of submission attempts to eventually defeat Hickory’s Scott Monish, Jr. with a triangle choke for a second round win.

Saturday night’s main event of the evening was a welterweight matchup between Michael Peurifoy and MMA veteran Allen “The Hedgehog” Greenway. Greenway showed his experience in the early going, using his “educated feet” to inflict pain on the shin and thigh of his opponent. The perseverance of low kicks took its toll quickly on Peurifoy as he began to limp noticeably inside the cage. After a series of kicks to the same left leg, Peurifoy was deemed by the official as unable to continue the fight, giving the TKO victory to “The Hedgehog”.

Mayhem Cage Fights promoter James Hines was pleased with the turnout as well as the effort of the fighters throughout the evening. “The response from the folks was very positive. We believe that we can build a solid sporting event in the area, even three times per year in Lenoir possibly,” Hines said. “People came from a 60 mile radius to Lenoir's event from places like Charlotte, Shelby, Galax, VA, Johnson City, TN, Asheville, NC, and all points in between to see the event.”

Mayhem Cage Fights already has a busy schedule of events in the coming months around the region. MMA will be in Mebane, NC on July 19th, Concord, NC on July 26th, Asheville Civic Center on August 16th, and Greenville, NC on October 4th. Mayhem hopes to return to Lenoir or possibly the High Country later this fall.

“We would love to present Mayhem in Avery County, at the High School or another location at some point in time,” Hines added. “The fighters were all looking forward to the next event, coming to the fight coordinator at the end of the evening saying “put me on the card for July 19th”. It's in their blood. Some were winners, some were losers, but all were ready to fight again.”

Nothing Like a Night at the Ole Ballpark

The middle of June holds a special place in my heart. Yes, the days are longer and warmer, and there are finally leaves on the trees in Avery County. But that’s not why the time is special.
Appy League baseball has returned!

For the price of admission, I have found no local sporting event to be a bigger bargain than watching Minor League Baseball from the Appalachian League. The short-season league kicked its year off last Tuesday in stadiums across the Mountain Empire area of Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Of local interest, the Elizabethton Twins, winners of last season’s league title and two of the last three championships, hosted the Bluefield Orioles at Joe O’Brien Field in its opening series of the season. I managed to take in the second game of the three-game set, witnessing the game of baseball as it should be played. Solid defense, timely hitting, and massive home runs ruled the game, along with a couple of managerial discussions with umpires thrown in as Elizabethton took a hard-fought 5-2 victory.

The atmosphere of Appalachian League baseball is a treat that everyone should try to enjoy at least once. From the “Hillbilly Horseshoes” competition between innings in Elizabethton to the “Pizza Scream” competition at Johnson City’s Howard Johnson Field, fans get the opportunity to interact in ways not often seen in big league ballparks.

One of the most attractive facets of the local league is an opportunity to see future Major League Baseball greats as they begin their climb up the ranks to super-stardom. A number of talented and successful pros have traveled through the Appalachian ranks on their way to “The Show”. MLB Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and current players Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer began their Twins baseball careers donning the jersey of the Elizabethton club.

Current St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was behind the plate in Johnson City just a few short seasons ago, sharing the field with teammate Rick Ankiel, whom I once helped to his pickup during a rainstorm following a game at Howard Johnson Field. Ankiel was sent to Johnson City after an erratic stretch as pitcher to begin a transition to playing the outfield, which last time I checked has worked out fairly well.

This year there should be no shortage of young talent on the field either. Once he signs, there is a chance that shortstop and number one overall draft pick Tim Beckham will debut with the Princeton Rays. Former North Henderson High School and University of North Carolina standout outfielder Seth Williams will report this week to the Kingsport Mets once the Tar Heels finish its run in the College World Series. Catcher Jason Castro, the tenth overall pick in this year’s MLB draft, will take the field for the Greeneville Astros, while former Appalachian State baseballer Jason Rook starts for the Bluefield Orioles.

With soaring gas prices and tight budgets, a short drive to a local minor league park is a great and inexpensive way to take the family out to the ballgame and have a great time.

LIttle League District Tournament play begins, Summer Camps in Full Swing

The Avery 9-10 year old boys baseball team lost a heartbreaker this evening 7-6 against Wilkes American #2 in Little League District 7 tournament play.

Jeffrey Puckett started for the Avery squad and pitched two shutout innings, while the Avery offense lit up the Wilkes starter for five runs in the two inning span. Puckett ran into trouble in the third inning as the Wilkes bats warmed up. Avery head coach Adrian Crowe called on southpaw Gabe Stanley in relief, but the Wilkes squad put up seven runs to take a 7-5 advantage.

Avery rallied in the top of the fifth for a run to cut the lead to one run. After Stanley held Wilkes scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, Avery had one final opportunity to tie or take a lead. A leadoff base hit was erased by a fine Wilkes defensive play when a runner was thrown out at third base for the first out in the frame. Wilkes retired the final two batters to hold on for the one-run win. Avery drops into the consolation bracket and will return to action on Saturday afternoon.

This week the Avery Lady Vikings held basketball camp for elementary and middle school students. The Lady Vikings JV and Varsity basketball players, with instruction from head coach Missy Lyons, have worked together to instruct the future Lady Vikings on various facets of the game of basketball. A full write-up on this week's camp can be found in next week's edition of the Journal-Times.

Also found in next week's edition will be a story on the Lady Vikings Cheerleading Camp, with sessions and performances which took place both last week and this week. Matt Laws will have a writeup on Coach Cary Dominguez and her cheerleading team's work with local youngsters.