The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 15

Friday. October 18, 2002 SPORTS The Jackson Sun58 JCM football coach admitted to hospital after chest pains Giants announce starting rotation By DAN MORRIS dmorrisjacksonsun.com Flat on his back in a hospital bed Thursday night, Jim Hardegree was fretting about his team's key, regional football game tonight at Rothrock Stadium. Hardegree, Jackson Central-Merry's head coach, suttered a "mild heart attack" Wednesday morning, said his wife, Adair Hardegree. It is uncertain if he Hardegree will be released in time to attend tonight's 7:30 game between his unbeaten Cougars and Memphis Overton (4-3). "He's trying to figure out how he's going to get there," Adair said from the hospital room Thursday night.

Coach Hardegree was sedated and not available for comment. "He's had his plays out and been working on them with coach (Larry) Shanks and the other assistant coaches. He's hoping the doctor will release him." Adair said her husband had felt chest pains in the past, but stress tests ruled J. out anything major. On Wednesday, coach Hardegree "felt a whole lot more uncomfortable than ever before," Adair said, and he drove himself to the emergency room at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

Tests on Thursday revealed a blocked artery, and two stents were inserted, Adair said. "He's going to be OK," she said. "We're just glad he found out it's not anything worse and that he took action when he needed to." If Hardegree, also the offensive coordinator, can not attend tonight's game, Shanks, the defensive coordinator, and the other assistants will guide the Cougars. Tonight's game will decide the leader in Region 7-5A. Adair Hardegree said her husband might sit in the press box if he is allowed to attend tonight's game.

North Side coach Joe Davis, who worked with Hardegree at North Side and Lambuth, said he expects his friend will be at Rothrock if at all possible. "He'll probably want to be rolled down to the field in a wheelchair like Knute Rockne in those old films, and that's what worries me," Davis said. i I Photos by CARA EASTWOODThe Jackson Sun South Side volleyball coach Tommy Dean gets a congratulatory hug from Susan Smith after the Lady Hawks won their Class A-AA substate game against Oakhaven on Thursday. 1 XwMtfiAiitiiMttXwA I ii "1 Jackson Middle uses big plays for Sports Plus Bowl win The Lady Hawks will play in Wednesday's morning session at 11 a.m. A win puts them in the second session at 5:30 p.m.

From there, it's three victories to a state championship. Smith said it was almost a relief to play the sectional match, after fighting though rugged district and region play with the likes of Crockett County, Covington and USJ. And to. cap her final high school season with a state tournament trip "The past couple years we've been really, really good and we had some really great players," Smith said. "But we got so nervous at the end.

It's like we froze or something. But we finally made it, and we hope to go as far as we can in the state tournament." The Lady Hawks need to play through at least Thursday, said Robertson, who has another reason to celebrate that day. "I'm going to throw my birthday party up there," she said. South Side improved to 39-6, plenty of matches in a three-month season. Knowing that the team might be a little worn out, Dean has given the girls the weekend off.

Monday, they'll be ready for action, with an evening practice scheduled. But first things first. "We've had some awfully By RONALD BLUM The Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. After flying down the coast Thursday, Dusty Baker announced his big decision: Jason Schmidt will be followed by Russ Ortiz, Livan Hernandez and Kirk Rueter in the Giants' World Series pitching rotation. On Wednesday, Baker picked Schmidt to face Anaheim's Jarrod Washburn in Saturday's opener.

But the San Francisco manager held off announcing the rest of his rotation until his team arrived for its first workout at Edison Field. "We had two or three different orders. We thought this was the best one for a seven-game series," Baker said Thursday. Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia hasn't announced any starters except for Washburn. Ramon Ortiz, John Lackey and Kevin Appier also will be in the rotation, but no order has been set.

Baker had simple reasons for making his choices. "Our two hottest pitchers are Jason Schmidt and Russ Ortiz," he said, standing behind the batting cage. "Also, if there's a Game 7, Livan can handle it as well as anybody. He's the only guy who's been there before." Hernandez was the MVP of the 1997 NL championship series and World Series for Florida. He started Games 1 and 5 of the Marlins' seven-game victory over Cleveland in the World Series.

"Game 3 is very important," Hernandez said. "If it's 2-0 or 1-1, it can turn the series around." Schmidt is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two postseason starts, while Ortiz is 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in three starts. Hernandez is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in two starts, and Rueter is 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA in three starts. Pitching coach Dave Righetti, Baker and general manager Brian Sabean spent time examining their options. "You can go hard-soft, lefty-righty," Righetti said, adding that if you spend too much time analyzing the decisions, all the choices start looking bad.

Ortiz was 9-6 on the road during the regular season, but just 5-4 at home. "The last couple of years, I've been able to get over any outside distractions," he said. In the first-round series, Russ Ortiz opened for the Giants at Atlanta's Turner Field, and was followed by Rueter, Schmidt and Hernandez. Ortiz also pitched Game 5. In the league championship series, Rueter pitched the opener at St.

Louis, followed by Schmidt, Ortiz and Hernandez, then pitched six shutout innings in Game 5 Monday as the Giants won 2-1 to finish off the Cardinals. Rueter said pitching at home on the road made no difference to him. "You pitch half and half during the year, anyway," he said. Baker still hasn't decided if he will make any roster changes before Saturday's noon deadline and said he hasn't decided on his designated hitter in the AL ballpark. He opted to hold a workout Thursday starting at 7 p.m., roughly the same time the World Series games will start this weekend.

Cougars with a 247 high game and a 620 series. Shane Stout also rolled a 620 for JCM. The Tigers were led by Wes McCrane's series of 574. In girls' action, the Lady Tigers won, 25-2. Hardin County was led by Natosha Pipes with a 164 high game and a 451 series.

South Side's Allison Hopper spikes the ball against Oakhaven on Thursday in the Class A-AA substate. Hopper had six kills. tough matches the last couple morning with my dad, relax, weeks, so we're going to and then we'll head on to enjoy the moment," he said. Murfreesboro." "I'm going fishing Monday Dennis Seid, 425-9634 South Side Continued from cover South Side gave up the first point of the night to Oakhaven, but the Lady Hawks had little to worry about. With Sarah Pipkin recording 10 kills, Allison Hopper adding six more and Tami Dotson posting 16 assists, South Side made quick work of its opponent.

"I was just concentrating on playing hard instead of being emotional and being nervous," Hopper said. With Amy Robertson whipping three consecutive aces during her service rotation, the Lady Hawks went ahead 9-1 and never looked back. Susan Smith's trio of aces finished the first game. Oakhaven showed a little more life in the second game, taking a 2-1 lead, but back-to back kills by Pipkin put South Side up for good, 4-2, .4 For seniors like Smith, earning a trip to the state tournament was a long time coming. "Yes, it has," she said with a huge smile.

"We knew this was it. We knew this was our chance, and we knew we could do it. We put our minds to it and tried not to be nervous We tried everything we could to win it, and we did. We are so ready to go." USJ Continued from cover They played five weeks ago, with Ridgeway beating USJ, 4-1, in a Nashville tournament. This time, the Lady Bruins appear to have a much better balanced attack.

That showed Thursday. While Beth Met-calf stole the show, USJ's Leah Thompson and Jessie Metcalf scored two goals each, and the Lady Bruins' defense denied McNairy Central much of the afternoon. Other than Kennedy's goal, USJ's defense kept the Lady Bobcats off senior goalkeeper Chelsea Dockins, who stopped McNairy's two other shots on goal. Metcalf made it 4-1 in the final minute of the first half on a goal that came 30 seconds after USJ stopped McNairy near USJ's goal. It spoke well of Dockins' supporting cast of senior Megan Rice, junior Ashley Warren, and sophomores Stephanie Gerard and Jamie Autorino.

"We're communicating a lot better," Rice said. "We weren't talking at all but now we're talking a lot. In the second half, we just came out more determined." touchdown pass, and Casey Carpenter added TD receptions of 27 and 32 yards. "The boys did a great job of bouncing back," JCS coach Eric Cohu said. "We had so many key injuries against Camden last week, we had new starters in six positions tonight.

But Will McDonald By STEVE C0RLEW sportsjacksonsun.com Bolivar Middle School got it's rematch, but Jackson Middle got the breaks on Thursday and used big plays to win the Sports Plus Championship Bowl, 28-18, at North Side High. Jackson Middle (5-2) had learned Tuesday night the Bearcubs had won the district championship and an. automatic invitation to the bowl when Bolivar (7-2) defeated Tigrett, 14-0. Bolivar then learned Wednesday that it would be Jackson Middle's opponent. Jackson Middle had lost to Tigrett during the regular season, 36-34, in double overtime.

Bolivar had finished second in the district with it's only regular-season loss being to Jackson Middle. "I expected it to be close," Jackson Middle coach Tim Patton said. "Bolivar is a good team, they are well-coached. It's hard to beat a team twice." Turnovers proved to be the difference in the game. Jackson Middle took advantage of three fumble recoveries and an interception.

"We have been playing like that all year," Patton said. "We have taken advantage of turnovers all year long." Jackson Middle's defense held the Tigers to 145 yards total offense, while the Bearcubs rushed for 229 yards and gained 72 yards passing. "The big plays put it away," Bolivar coach Ted Kessler said. "We had a few breaks that didn't go our way." Jackson Middle's Don-tavius Forrest was named the offensive player of the game. Forrest gained 107 yards on 10 carries.

Bolivar's Trey Williams was named the outstanding defensive player of the game. Jackson Middle grabbed the lead early when the Bearcubs stopped Bolivar's opening drive, then drove 77 yards in five plays, netting three consecutive first downs. Marketis Bailey scored on a 38-yard run and quarterback Jewuan Long completed the two-point conversion. Area roundup The Jackson Sun LINDEN Jackson Christian School managed a 27-point halftime lead and defeated Perry County, 33-21, Thursday night in a Region 7-1A football game at Perry County. The victory keeps JCS (6-2 overall, 3-1 in 7-1A) in the "The big plays put it away.

We had a few breaks that didn't go our way." Ted Kessler, Bolivar coach Jackson Middle 28, Bolivar Middle 18 JM-Marketis Bailey 38 run (Jewuan Long run) B- Jamarious Barber 43 pass from Tyler Hazelwood (Ozell Robertson pass from Hazel-wood) JM-Antwan Long 32 pass from J. Long (run failed) B-Safety when JM snaped the ball out of the endzone JM-J. Long 20 run (Dontavious Forrest run) Robertson 78 kickoff return (Barber run) JM-J. Long 2 run (run failed). Bolivar tied the game early in the second quarter when Jamarious Barber caught a 43-yard pass from Tyler Hazelwood.

Hazel-wood then completed a pass to Ozell Robertson for the two-point conversion. The Bearcubs then drove 65 yards on 11 plays to score. Facing third and 19 on the Bolivar 32, Jewuan Long completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to his brother Antwan Long. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Jackson Middle led 14-8 at halftime. Bolivar pulled within four points, just before the end of the third quarter when the Jackson Middle center snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

The Bearcubs made up for that mistake on their next possession, when Jewuan Long scored on a 20-yard run to cap a 52-yard drive. Forrest added the two-point conversion for a 22-10 lead. Robertson then returned the Jackson Middle kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown. Jamarious Barber ran the two-point conversion to make it 22-18. Jackson Middle then answered, driving 65 yards in seven plays, aided by a Bolivar holding penalty and a 24-yard run by Jewuan Long.

Long scored again from 2 yards out on a quarterback-keeper. The two-point conversion failed. hunt for a regional championship. Freshman quarterback Will McDonald completed 8-of-20 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Eagles. Robert Matlock rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries, including a 78-yard TD run.

He caught a 13-yard 4., mmmmmm M''0, 'VjTJ if 'iyftZy' Mw4 2 1 -ij -Ji 1 1 ti ii mi- "I think if we play hard and up to our potential, we have a good chance of beating them." Beth Metcalf, USJ senior on Ridgeway "We just couldn't get the ball over their heads," Kennedy said. McNairy beat Trenton-Peabody, 2-1, in overtime to reach the region championship game, but the Lady Bobcats end a 13-4-2 season. "Their defense is really good," McNairy Central coach Jerry Lott said, "but their offense is even better." USJ certainly showed that. In the second half, the Lady Bruins scored on breakaways at 36:15 and 32:03, on a penalty kick at 29:58, then on Beth Metcalf goals at 27:04 and 20:52. Jessie Metcalf and Hamilton scored the final two.

Now they get Ridgeway. "We've been working all season long to Ridgeway," USJ coach Chris Leonardi said. "And we like that." Said Beth Metcalf: "I think if we play hard and up to our potential, we have a good chance of beating them." Karp Booher, 425-9637 stepped up as a freshman quarterback, and we had several guys step up to keep us in the running in the region." JCSI MSI 6-33 Perry County 714-21 First Quarter JCS-Robert Matlock 13 pass from Will McDonald (Casey Carpenter kick). JCS-Carpenter 27 pass from McDonald (kick failed). JCS-Carpenter 32 pass from MCDonald CARA EASTWOODThe Jackson Sun University School of Jackson's Margaret Jaco drives past McNairy Central's Stacey Montgomery during the Region 7 A-AA championship game Thursday.

USJ won, 11-1, to advance to Tuesday's substate game at Memphis Ridgeway. First downs 10 10 Rushing yards 213 210 Passing yards 143 24 Comp-Att-Int 8-20-2 3-12-1 Fumbles-lost 4-1 5-5 Penalties-yards 5 40 3 21 (kick failed). Second Quarter JCS-Matlock 78 run (2 pt. conversion pass from McDonald to Carpenter). Third Quarter PC-Wes Waters 1 run (Jonathan Niece kick).

Fourth Quarter PC-Waters 1 run (kick failed). JCS-Parker Long 35 run (kick failed). PC-Waters 3 run (2 pt. conversion pass from Dustln Shane to Drew Bunch). ICS Per Prep Bowling The Jackson Central-Merry boys' bowling team defeated Hardin County, 24-3, on Thursday.

Drew Lytle led the.