Most high school baseball players can only dream of play-ing at a major league baseball stadium before the age of 20, but for senior Mason Robbins this dream has become a reality. This summer, Robbins got the chance to be apart of one of the most strategic high school base-ball games of the year, which was held at Wrigley Field in Chicago. “(I) felt great because I got to stand where so many greats stood

and played and even changed (their game),”said Robbins. “The whole experience was great, just the atmosphere of being at that field and being in the locker room that all the big-leaguers have been in, it was just awesome.” Robbins was one of the 36 players who were chosen to take part in the 2010 Under Armor All–American game. The event showcased the world’s most promising juniors and seniors, competing in an American ver-sus National match-up, where

Robbins took the field as Amer-ican’s center fielder and pitcher. The Mississippi Press states that while at the game, Rob-bins had two hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored in the American team’s 7-0 win over the National on Aug. 14, the same day he finished second in the Under Armour All-Ameri-can home run derby. Robbins was one of eight players selected for the Under Armour home run derby and led all partici-pants with four homers in the opening round, which put him in the finals against Californian Jacob Anderson. Robbins failed to make a home run and Ander-son claimed the win. “It was pretty nice,” Robbins said. “I got to the final two. But in the final round, the ball just wasn’t flying like it was before.” The game was not the only thing Robbins got the chance to attend while he was there. He also got some hands-on in-struction from Baseball Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken Jr. He also at-tended a Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins game at U.S. Cellular Field. Robbins states that when he graduates from high school he wants to attend the University of Southern Mississippi and hopes to get drafted by the Yankees.

October 2010GCHS Sports 7

With a batting average of .495 last season, senior Mor-gan Fairley was selected fast-pitch Player of the Year by the sports staff of the Sun Herald newspaper this past summer. Fairley is the first person from GCHS to be named Player of the Year. She plays two positions on the softball team, pitcher and outfielder. She ended the 2010 fast-pitch season with 41 stolen bases, 10 doubles, and 5 tri-

ples, all of which are school records. “She is an all around good player, and she sharpens her skills every year,” Head coach Bruce Thornton said. “I just love the game and the adrenaline rush I get when I’m playing it,” Fairley said, who has been playing softball for 12 years. Up against Fairley for this award was a player from Stone County High School. Fairley’s story was featured in multiple newspapers, including the Clarion Ledger.

Athletes receive special honors Teens tell all about lucky charms

Senior Joze Debevec has been playing soccer for about six or seven years now and states that he relies on his magic undies. “I made them myself,” De-bevec said. He is talking about his “lucky” underwear. “They’re black boxers that say ‘mmmmm cookies’ on them.” Debevec says that if he for-gets his boxers the coach might as well not play him and warn him of his mess ups ahead of time. Why is it when athletes per-form well they automatically give all the credit to a charm? Psychologically speaking the “lucky” belief is in their head. Debevec does not stand alone with this superstition, senior Ronald Goins feels that the reason the football team has five wins is because of his lucky black socks. “I’ve forgotten my socks twice, and those two games re-sulted in losses,” Goins said. “They just make me feel lucky. When I wear my black socks, I do good things and we win.” Junior Rikki Pribanic says that he eats a turkey and may-onnaise sandwich before every baseball game. “I started the tradition about three years ago. I ate one before a game and hit a home run, been eating one ever since,” Pribanic said. Freshman cyclist and cross country runner Mick Kelly has a Zippo lighter that he carries in his back pocket when he competes. “It has a shamrock on it, I bought it at a gas station.” “I had my lighter in the Ala-bama State cycling race, I came in first in the state. Later that day, I didn’t have my lighter and I tried for the men’s race. I got hit by a car,” Kelly said. Senior Forrest Proctor said he wears a skull cap when he plays. “No white guys wear those, that’s why I started wearing it. I got black brothers and I got white brothers,” Proctor said. Whether it be a lucky pair of underwear or turkey sandwich ritual, it all boils down to the state of mind of the athlete.

photo/Lea KittrellOle’- Junior Cammie Law and Sophomore Leslie Williams perform a rifle routine to “Novus” during the Pride’s halftime performance. The Pride competed at the Gulf Coast Marching Festival in Gulfport. The color guard received all-superior ratings at both competitions this year. The drum major also received superior ratings with band receiving excellent.

Pride competes in state marching festival

On Oct. 9, the Pride traveled to Milner Stadium in Gulfport to compete in the 42nd annual Gulf Coast Marching Band Festival. The scores for the state com-petition were Drum Major: Su-perior (1), Color Guard: Superi-or (1), Percussion: Excellent (2) and the overall band received a score of Excellent (2). On Oct. 2, the Pride traveled to Jones County Junior Col-lege (JCJC) for the West Jones Marching Classic. The scores for the competi-tion at JCJC were Drum Major: Superior (1), Color Guard: Su-perior (1), Percussion: Excellent (2) and the overall performance of the band was superior (1). During the summer, the Pride began putting together its Spanish-themed show with the color guard learning their flag and rifle routines during choreography camp in July.

The percussion section also be-gan learning its music. At the end of July, the entire band came together to begin learning music and drill that eventually lead to the the band’s half-time performance for each football game and competition. The band’s show includes three songs; they opened with “San-tana” which includes two sepa-rate solos from juniors trumpet player Isaac Gaines and trom-bone player Jessica Rasberry. Their second performance was “Novus” with a trumpet solo from junior Emily Read; their closing performance was “Es-tancia.” Now that the Pride’s compe-titions are done, the band will complete the football season and begin preparing for its con-cert season, including the an-nual George County Christmas Parade. The Pride is also raising money for a spring break trip to Disney World where they will perform in a parade.

Madison GordonStaff Reporter

Derrick WhittingtonSports Editor

Lea KittrellAdvertising Manager

Taylor MaplesStaff Reporter

photo courtesy/ Phyllis Robbins

Mason Robbins

photo/Kristyn Strahan

Morgan Fairley