The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for April 3, 2023

20 YEARS AGO
APRIL 3, 2003

Council helps Sparta pay for new gym roof: The Evergreen City Council voted Tuesday night to give $10,000 to help Sparta Academy pay off an outstanding debt for the replacement of the roof on their gymnasium. The donation will be contingent on City Attorney Todd Watson assuring the council of its legality.
Wilbur Baggett, one of Sparta Academy’s long-time supporters, came before the council to explain the school’s plight. Baggett told the council the school was forced to make an emergency roof replacement on the gym after basketball season began.
The materials for the roof was discounted for the school and the labor for the installation was donated by Samuel Skipper Construction. The school has raised $12,000 through donations toward the cost of the roof but is still approximately $10,000 short.
Councilwoman Maxine Harris asked if they were aware of any other cities making donations to private schools in the past. (Sparta Headmaster Wayne) Hammonds told the council that most every school they play in athletics has advertising from local municipalities and the city has purchased an ad from Sparta each year in the annual.
(Councilman Lynn) Blackmon made a motion to give the money to the school and his motion was seconded by Councilwoman Joye Fordham. The motion passed unanimously with everyone voting for the motion. The council approved the request from the school to purchase a full-page ad in the yearbook for $250.

35 YEARS AGO
APRIL 7, 1988

Johnny Bartlett of Castleberry bagged this “Tom” last Thursday morning near Sandcut. The turkey weighed 16 pounds and had a 9-1/2 inch beard and 1-1/8 inch spurs.

RODEO IN ANDALUSIA: The Andalusia Civitan Rodeo will be April 29th and 30th at 7:30 p.m. at the Covington County Fairgrounds. Advance tickets are on sale from Andalusia banks and Civitan members.

HORSE SHOW: There will be a horse show at Pineywood Farms Saturday, April 16th at 11 a.m. Directions-Turn South on Century Road 65 off Highway 84 between Opp and Andalusia.

50 YEARS AGO
APRIL 5, 1973

Four members of Evergreen High School’s outstanding basketball team have signed scholarships with Jefferson Davis State Junior College in Brewton. Shown with Jeff Davis Coach Frank Cannon are Leamon Jones and Willie Locke, David Carroll and Wavie Ausby. The Aggies were Region 1 champions and were not beaten until the semifinals of the State Class 3A Tournament. Coach Cannon said: “We feel that these four boys will definitely be an asset to our basketball program. Especially important is the fact that they are winners and know what it takes to win. These signees, along with some others that we expect to sign in the near future, could give Jeff Davis its best basketball team ever.

Men’s softball league meets Tuesday night: A meeting of the Evergreen Men’s Softball League will be held Tues., April 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Conecuh County Courthouse. All teams from the county who want to enter the league must be represented and all men who want to play must attend.
The league hopes to have more players so that more dependable teams can be formed. All interested persons are urged to attend this organizational meeting.

Horse show set at Lyeffion Arena Sat., April 14: The Lyeffion Saddle Club will have a horse show on Sat., April 14, beginning at 5 p.m. The arena is located one mile south of Lyeffion High School. There will be no admission charge. Barbecue will be sold.

65 YEARS AGO
APRIL 3, 1958

Aggie Baseball Team Plays Next Tuesday: The Evergreen Aggie baseball team, under the direction of Coach Jeff Moorer, is busy readying for their first game of the season with Lyeffion next Tuesday, April 8.
Working on the mound for the Aggies are Ken Tucker, Bill Ivey and Howard Claybrook. One the receiving end are Billy Melton and Billy Grace. W.A. Pate and Robert Ellington are candidates for the ‘hot corner’ and Don Pate and Billy Bateman are fighting for the shortstop slot. Bill Ansley, Heywood Williamson and Gerald Howington are second basemen. The four first-sackers are Dale Wiggins, Cleveland Brown, Bill Ivey and Ken Tucker.
Twelve men are working in the outfield, they are: Byron Warren, Leland Burgess, Johnny Lewis, Robert Daniels, Elvin Higgins, Howard Claybrook, Leon Stinson, Connie Rigsby, H.W. Ward, Tal Stuart, Andy Moses and Ken Tucker.
Several men are being rotated and used in utility roles with Ken Tucker leading the list by working at three positions.
Last, but not least, an important man to any sports team, the manager, is Bonner Ridgeway.
Work is rapidly being completed on a new baseball field at the new City Recreation area. When the field is completed, the Aggies will play their home games there.

A mass meeting of all officials of the Evergreen Junior Baseball League and parents of boys who plan to play in the league this summer has been called tonight. The meeting will be held in the auditorium in the new courthouse addition at seven o’clock.
Byron Warren, league vice president, who will preside over the meeting in the absence of the President Aren Bolton, who said the meeting might be termed a ‘public relations affair.’ Its purpose is to explain the junior baseball program and role that managers, players, parents and spectators have in it.
Mr. Warren said that application forms have been given to the parents of boys planning to play. He said that a parent or the guardian, must complete this application, sign it and bring it to the meeting tonight in order for a boy to be eligible to participate this summer.
Morris Thornley, chairman of the league committee in charge of the pancake supper held Friday night, said today that the affair was a success in every way. He expressed thanks to all who purchased tickets to the event and said the league is especially grateful to those who contributed the food.

80 YEARS AGO
APRIL 1, 1943

BOY SCOUT NEWS: We held our regular meeting last Monday night at 7:30. We played a game of “Capture the Flag,” the winning team receiving two points each on the contest. The meeting was opened with the 12 Scout Laws. During the next two weeks points for passing tests will be doubled in the contest. All scouts interested in passing tests should meet at 3:15 Thursday afternoon at the grammar school. The meeting was closed with the Scout Oath.