By JIMMY WALLS
Contributing Writer
The year 1997 saw action from all four schools at some time during the year. Harts started off by beating Hamlin, 85-71, with David Frye getting 12, Napier 19 and Dalton 21. Hamlin got 12 from Beckett and 18 from Fulks.
Guyan Valley also downed the Bobcats, 58-51, with Roy putting in 20 points and Porter eight. Browning got 11 for Hamlin and Miller added 15.
GV also downed Hamlin jr. high with Shawn Smith getting eight points and Kris Johnson six. Hamlin was led by Walt McGrady with five and Cline Adkins wth four.
The Wildcat girls beat Hamlin also with Gosnay putting up 12, along with Pritchard. Burns added 10 for GV. May had five for Hamlin with Myers adding six and Puckett eight.
The Lady Bobcats toppled GV, 51-43, as Ginny Boggess put in 20 and Vance led GV with 22. Harts boys had a #2 ranking in the state.
Jody Tabor became sports editor of the Lincoln Journal.
Duval knocked off Hamlin, 66-64. Mosteller put up 16 points; Preece 18; and Hill had 12. Beckett tallied 20 and Fulks 26 for the Bobcats. Frye, Dalton and Napier ripped the nets once again as they walloped Hamlin, 78-56. Sponaugle tallied 16 and Miller 12 for the Bobcats.
Hamlin girls defeated Duval, 45-39, with Boggess netting 18, Lyter 11 and Salmons 12. Belcher and McGue led Duval with 12 & 15 points, respectively. Beth Belcher gained her 1,000th career point on her career.
Duval jr. high defeated Hamlin with Brandon McCallister putting in 14 and Alan Runyan adding eight. Brandon Enochs led Hamlin with 13 and Walt McGrady added eight. Hamlin bounced back to take out GV, 70-47. Miller had 24, Beckett 18 and Walls eight. Jose Clay led GV with 16 and Jared Blankenship followed with six points.
Hamlin jr. high girls win the conference championship, 35-34, over GV. Myers led the way for Hamlin with assists from Puckett and Randolph. Gosnay and Pritchard combined with Stollings for the tight game.
Harts beat GV, 67-55, for the County championship. Dalton poured in 27 and Frye 16, while J. R. Adkins was leading the Wildcats with 14. The jr. Lions defeated Sherman for the conference championship. Making All-Tournament were: Willie Wiley, Adam Vance, Jamie Mullins, Isaac Duty, Brandon Smith, Brandon Enochs and James Stacy.
LeAnn Lovejoy played basketball at WV State. The Lady Lions win the Sectional, 79-63, as Watts scored 17, Moore 31 and Kovach 10.
The Hamlin Bobcats defeated Duval in the Sectional boys and the Harts Lions played Burch in Regional and won. Harts girls fell to Matewan in the Regionals. Vinson knocked off Hamlin in the Regionals, also. Vinson also beat Hamlin in the semi-finals of the State and Harts rolls over Mullens.
Brett Hudson made the YMCA All-Tournament team. Class A All-Sate was David Frye, Brad Napier, Brad Vance, Courtney Dalton, Josh Miller and J. R. Shull.
Girls All-State were: Beth Belcher, Ginny Boggess, Missy Cook and Amy Watts. The All-County girls squad were: Beth Belcher, Missy Cook, Ginny Boggess, Amy Watts, Brandy Moore, Polly Lambert, Elizabeth Vance, Cindy McGue, Melissa Adkins, Mandy Kovach, Tiffany Morris and Kim Myers.
All-County boys basketball were: Brad Napier, Courtney Dalton, Robert Mosteller, Aaron Beckett, David Frye, Chris Williamson, John Roy, Chris Hill, J. R. Shull, Lee Pennington and Matt Fulks.
Baseball season rolls around and GV knocks off Hamlin, 12-1. Stars were: Lee Pennington, Todd Adkins, Gary Johnson and Brett Browning. Shannon Sizermore pitched a no-hitter against Hamlin. Beth Belcher signs to play basketball at WV Tech. Valarie Pritchard pitched GV's no-hitter against Huntington St. Joe.
Danielle Salmon struck out 32 batters in two games. Gary Johnson leads GV over Harts, 12-5. Duval beats GV, 9-6 as Gabe McKinney went 3-4.
The Lady Wildcats defeated Hamlin, 11-10, to win the Sectional. Stars were Allison Johnson, Missy Cook, Jerica Lawson, Ginny Boggess, Danielle Salmons and Kathrine Myers.
Bike season is also here and Justin Frye wins the 50-60 division; Teddy Frye 400, Randy Frye 2nd in 400, Rudy Thomas 500 winner, Teddy Frye 750 winner and Timmy Adkins Open winner.
Duane Estep signs on to be sports editor of The Lincoln Journal.
All-County softball honors went to Laura Watts, Missy Cook, Kellina Baker, Allison Johnson, Jerica Lawson, Tara Browning, Ginny Boggess, Mandy Kovac, Katrina Bragg, Valarie Pritchard, Brandy Moore, Candace Farley, Traci Elkins, Teah Dingess, Jessica Toppings, Danielle Salmons, Kristy Chapman and Carrie Adkins.
All-State baseball went to Lee Pennington, Gary Johnson, Brent Browning, Adam Johnson and Shannon Sizemore.
Named to the All-County baseball team were: Chris Dalton, Grant Gibson, Ryan Pennington, Tanner Johnson, Matt Fulks, Brent Browning, Lee Pennington, Aaron Beckett, Gary Johnson, Brian Williams and Pat Atkins.
Lee Pennington plays for the N-S baseball game and David Frye for the basketball game.
Jimmy Walls starts writing for The Lincoln Journal sports.
Ginny Boggess goes to Louisiana for the 15-under Nationals. Aaron Hunting goes after the State Amateur Golf title. Lee Pennington signs with Garrett Comm-unity College. Deiek Midkiff wins the Mountain State Jr. wrestling title. Amanda Skaggs and Tiffany Morris go to Holland to play for the USA team in basketball. Kellina Baker is the first GV girls' softball player to make All-State.
Football season rolls around and Hamlin stomps GV, 31-0, as Joey Vance, Daniel Lucas, Mike Slone, Jared Adkins, Bob Stickler and Jeff Sizemore run over the Wildcats.
The first Lincoln County Men's Softball Hall of Fame is voted and elected by the readers of The Lincoln Journal. They are: Jeff Huffman, Paris Browning, Donald Whitten, Keith Johnson, Randy May, Averill McClure, Donald Johnson, Jerry Roberts, Ronnie Walls, Ishmel Johnson, Gary Adkins, Adrian Johnson, Junior McClure, Lester Searls, Alto McClure, Jack Simpkins, Cledith Cummings, Randy Roberts and Stan Young.
GV snaps back and beats Duval, 30-24, in overtime. J. R. Adkins, Jose Clay, Daniel Frye and Jared Blankenship lead GV and for Duval, it was Nathan Miller, and Bryan Williams. Davin Scites wins the semi-pro championship of car racing. Duval hammers Hamlin, 34-29. Stars or Duval were: Brant Gibson, Jason Hager, Josh McCoy, Nate Miller, Brandon McCallister, Brian Williams and Mike McClure. Joey Vance led Hamlin with 168 yards, while J. R. Shull, Josh Miller and David Walls made contributions on offense.
At one time, Hamlin was ranked #20, GV #15 and Duval #24.
GV makes playoffs and Hamlin is 7-3 on season, but they don't make the big dance. GV defeats CK, 12-6, in overtime behind the running of Jason Clay and the blocking of Corey Beck.
GV got the running of the Clay boys, Jason and Jose, to defeat Burch in the next round, 16-14.
Big Creek ends their winning season, 15-0, in the next round.
Making All-County were: Joey Vance, Terry Adkins, Mike Pauley, Brat Gibson, Jason Clay, Mike McClure, Jared Linville, Ronnie Morrison, Shawn Simpkins, Cory Beck, Josh Miller, Greg Sizemore, Jarred Blankenship, Jeremy Adkins, Chad Parsons, David Walls, Jose Clay, J. R. Shull, Bryan Williamson and Jason Hager.
Basketball season rolls around once again and Hamlin captured the Hamlin Holiday Tourna-ment over GV, as Josh Miller scored 25 and David Walls added 18. Jose Clay led GV with 12.
Another season ends with many highlights and thrills. What will '98 be like?