LEVY COUNTY SPORTS 16 Tune 5, 2008 Levy County Journal Etheridge Pitts Stamper Davis Labat Introducing the Levy County Journal's All-County Teams By Rick Burnham and Steve Jarboe Journal Editorial Staff They form a diverse group, these first annual Levy County Journal All-County Teams 30 young men and women with interests and goals as broad and challenging as you will find for high school students anywhere. Separately, they want to study business and medicine, agriculture and marine biology, and listen to country and hip hop, '80s rock ahd something called "brand new." Together, they hit the field with a vengeance, and represented their schools, their towns, and Levy County with class and style, grace and dignity in 2008. The.All-County Baseball Team begins with a couple of tall and talented hurlers, pitchers that nobody really wanted to face, and that few found a way to beat. Chiefland High School's Ory Pitts and Williston High School's Danny Etheridge were forces both on and off the diamond. "Ory was a four year starter for us," said Chiefland Head Coach Kyle Parnell. "He is a very talented athlete and his opportunities at the next level are unlimited. He has good size and strength and he is a leader both on and off the baseball field." Pitts led the Indians to the top seed in the District 7-3A playoffs, and a top 10 state ranking for most of the year. Etheridge, meanwhile, helped take the Red Devils far into the playoffs, including a district championship win over PK Yonge. Etheridge teamed with fellow right-hander Trip Fugate (who listens to brand new music), another member of the inaugural All-County team, to form a one-two punch few opponents had answers for. Chris Morrow had the responsibility for catching Etheridge and Fugate, and joins left fielder Carl Gilley and utility players Brandon Scott and Charlie Hilton on the 2008 squad. In addition to Pitts, Chiefland High School landed six other players on the team, including talented junior right handed pitcher Jeremy Hayes, who finished with a 5-0 record for the Indians. Other CHS players on the team include infielders Kyle Pendarvis and Brent Slaughter, outfielders Clinton Wasson and Daniel Galpin, and utility player Dane Cothran, who terrorized opposing defenses as the Indians' leadoff hitter. Talented sophomore shortstop Kelby Barber joins first baseman Steve Wimberly as representatives from Bronson High School on this year's All-County Baseball Team. A pair of college bound players from Williston headline the 2008 All-County Softball Team. Red Devil Head' Coach Robert Patterson said having both Margaret Brown and Heather Porter on the team made his job. a little easier. "1 try not to think about these two great players being seniors," he said following the team's final regular-season appearance this year. Joining Brown and Porter from the 2008 Williston team is catcher Dayna Hunn, along with talented freshman shortstop Crissy Rawls, right fielder Alneidra Graham, pitchers Tori Stamper and Laurrin Howard, and utility player Kene' Mincey. Chiefland pitcher Brittany Davis, a junior, will be back to lead Wayne Weatherford's 2009 team. This year, she very nearly beat P.K Yonge in the first round of the playoffs, and leads seven Lady Indian players on the All-County Softball Team. First baseman Sara Schouse was the Eagles on this year's team. All Levy County Baseball Team Position Players Catcher Chris Morrow, Williston First base Steve Wimberly, Bronson Second base Kyle Pendarvis, Chiefland Shortstop Kelby Barber, Bronson Third base Brent Slaughter, Chiefland Left field Carl Gilley, Williston Center field Clinton Wasson, Chiefland Right field Daniel Galpin, Chiefland Pitchers Ory Pitts, Chiefland Danny Etheridge. Williston Jermey I layes. Chiefland Designated Hitter Trip Fugate, Williston Utility Brandon Scott, Williston Dane Cothron, Chiefland Jessie Waybright, Bronson Charlie Hilton., Williston lone representative from the Bronson Lady All Levy County Softball Team Position Players Catcher Dayna Hunn, Williston First base Sara Schouse, Bronson Second base Simone Cannady, Williston Short Stop Crissy Rawls, Williston Thidr base Cassie Labat, Chiefland Left field Lindsey Salvery, Chiefland Center field Margaret Brown, Williston Right field Alneidra Graham, Williston Pitchers Brittany Davis, Chiefland Tori Stamper, Williston Laurrin Howard, Williston Designated Hitter Heather Porter, Williston Utility F Amy Biel, Chiefland Rebecca Williams, Chiefland Kene' Mincey, Williston L Several months ago, I wrote an article concerning the high cost of college, and how it affected the cost of athletic scholarships and the costs that were not covered for the athletes. I think I asked the question, "Should athletes on scholarships receive a weekly paycheck in addition to their Steve Jarboe free room, free board, free tuition, and free books?" Sports Editor There were several responses in "Letters to the Editor" and they were positive in nature, saying "Yes the athletes should receive compensation." Let me tell you what the college and university presidents don't want to hear. Recently, the presidents of many colleges and universities have been faced with having to cut, for various reasons, millions of dollars from their budgets for the coming school year. Now, let's face it, colleges and universities are, for the most part, run like most businesses. Yet, any business that is faced with having to make cutbacks and tighten their belt would first and foremost stop the give-away programs and donations. They would do this before laying off workers and cutting benefits. This is a logical way to make the cuts to trim your budget and operating costs to remain in business. So, why are the athletic scholarships and athletic programs left untouched when the cuts are made at most of these colleges and universities? Let's be real. Athletic scholarships are give-away items for any college or university with a twist a very big twist. It is a fact that the playing days are over for more than 80 percent of these athletes when they leave the college or university. Many are unprepared to enter the real world of employment due to their dedication to their sport while in school. The revenue, (big bucks) that these gifted and talented athletes bring in to the colleges and universities is inl some cases mind-boggling. All athletic scholarships should be called "GUY" scholarships. "Gonna Use You." Why do you not see cuts in the area of athletic scholarships, or real cuts in the athletic departments, at the colleges and universities that are faced with making cutbacks? It is very simple. You don't mess with the money makers, the items that bring in the really big bucks to the college or university.. When you are in high school, and you are a prospective athlete and you choose to participate on your school's sports team, your participation consists of after-school practices and a game or two a week. Your season usually lasts 10-14 weeks. If you are one of the sought-after and recruited athletes who receives an athletic scholarship, your sport then becomes a 24/7 job. You also have to work your academics and attend classes in there somewhere among your practices and games'. In performing your job to keep your scholarship, you are now one of the biggest money-making employees for your college or university, working for free. After allk you don't have time to get another job, even a part-time job, because your sports schedule comes first when you are not in class or doing your homework for class. If you want to keep your scholarship and be the best you can be, you have to be at the practices, and continue to work out to keep up with other team members in the offseason. I certainly don't think you see the professors, office staff, or any other employees of a college or university go unpaid for doing their job for the college or university. I have often wondered what the response would be if all the scholarship athletes decided to sit out and did not play the scheduled games for all the colleges and universities for just one month. My guess is the loss in revenue to the colleges and, universities would be millions of dollars. Athletics has become big business for all colleges and universities across the country. The resulting revenue also helps to keep overall tuition costs down for other students as well. These athletes should certainly receive a weekly paycheck as a revenue producing employee to the college or university. Each athlete on scholarship helps to bring in a lot more revenue to the college or university than the college or university spends or invests in their scholarship. It is always the case that when a team is successful and wins a championship, the coach is the one who gets millions of dollars added to his or her salary. The athletes get zero. Then the coach usually moves on to another college or university for even more millions, all from the hard work of the student athletes, who performed their job on the team and worked hard but who still receive zero compensation. There are those who say the free education, room, board and books included in the scholarship should be compensation enough. But not me. I say it is time for the colleges and universities to PAY UP. Pay these recruited employees who fill your college and university pocketbooks year after year. These kids had to work hard to get there and they have to work hard to stay there. Stop using them as money-making pawns. Of course, that's just my own opinion. Hayes olovoov owl*V*v I