Wilson NCAC player of year; Reed coach of year From Staff Reports FAIRMONT Fairmont Seniors Jennifer Wilson has
been named North Central Athletic Conference girls basketball player of
the year, it was announced today.
Bridgeport edges Lewis BRIDGEPORT Tommy Joyce earned singles and doubles victories to help Bridgeport top Lewis County 4-3 in high school tennis on Friday, while the BHS girls lost 6-1. Joyce won his singles match 8-0 before join ing with Jeremy Crawford for an 8-4 doubles victory. Alexandria Marino earned the only girls win in the No. 2 singles match. Prep track Fairmont Seniors girls track team scored 128 points
to win the St. Joseph Track and Field Invitational at Parkersburg High
School.
The odyssey:Tossed some curves, Johnson hangs tough 1993 Harrison Athlete of Years battle for college degree heading for happy ending by Joedy McCreary SPORTSWRITER PHILIPPI Don Johnson thought it was all over for his son, Mike, when it came to the opportunity for a college degree and the chance for one last heyday on the baseball diamond. Here was 17-year-old Mike a three-sport star at South Harrison and perhaps the best high school athlete in Harrison County at the time who probably couldve played baseball at any college in the state. Instead, he decided after his graduation to get a job and move to, of all places, Raleigh, N.C. But in the end, baseball saved Mike Johnsons education. Baseball saved Mike Johnsons future. Baseball saved Mike Johnson. One last season on Bridgeports American Legion team brought him back to Harrison County. The chance to play again sent him on an ill-fated journey to Garrett County, Md., Junior College. And an offer from since-retired baseball coach Jack Funk at Alderson-Broaddus did more than give Mike one last shot on the playing field: It rescued his future, enabling him to earn a college degree. I just cant express my feelings that hes going to graduate from college, Don Johnson said. I never thought Id see the day May 8, graduation day from A-B. You can say this about Johnsons soon-to-be-earned degree: Its been a long time coming. In the spring of 1993, Mike Johnsons future was bright. He had just graduated from South Harrison, where he was the schools starting fullback on the Hawks undefeated team and helped the basketball team reach the regional finals. Oh, yeah, and his SHHS baseball team for which he was the starting shortstop won 20 games for the first time in school history. But Mike, the 1993 Harrison County Athlete of the Year, didnt have athletics in his immediate future; he opted not to take the ACT, an admissions exam required by West Virginia colleges. Instead, he planned to take a year off from school and move to Raleigh with his older brother Chris, an experienced welder. The decision didnt sit well with Dad. I was kind of against that," Don said. And I expressed feelings of that." For Mike, snagging a job not just snagging the baseball became priority No. 1. I just wanted to go to work somewhere," Mike said. And my brother said I could work for a while on my year off." Don Johnson prayed his son would reconsider, that he would come back to the game he loved. At that time, when someone receives some high awards, you hope he lives up to expectations,"Don said. Not to worry, Don. In the back of Mikes mind and all the way down to the bottom of his heart there was baseball. Always baseball. They say baseball is a metaphor for life. You start and finish at home, leaving for a short while but always hopeful to return. Such is the case with Mike Johnson, who returned to Harrison County in the summer of 1994 to play for Bridgeports American Legion team. Along the way, he decided to enroll that fall at Garrett County Junior College in Maryland. I just hoped to play there for two years,"Johnson said. Then, disaster struck. Mononucleosis, the kissing disease," turned into the kiss of death, it seemed, for Johnsons baseball career. All of a sudden, baseball wasnt a priority anymore. Never mind lacing up his baseball cleats again, Don Johnson told Mike. Just heal, son. Just heal. Mikes never been a real big fellow,"Don said. When he became ill, I was just concerned about his health. That was the only thing. Its a slow process to get back to the best of your abilities." Mike took a medical withdrawal from Garrett County JUCO and enrolled at Fairmont State for the spring of 1995, just wanting to get back to school," Mike said. At the same time, an old friend, Frank Blake, told A-B coach Jack Funk about Mike and his travails. And Funk, who had wanted Johnson to play for him after his South Harrison days, offered him a partial scholarship and a spot on A-Bs baseball team. He always wanted to come to A-B, even before he graduated from high school," Funk said. He can run like a deer and he has a real good arm. I was tickled to death that he wanted to come to A-B, and hes been loyal to A-B." After Mike earned the 24 credit hours at Fairmont State necessary to transfer to A-B, he became a Battler. I was about to give up baseball," Johnson said. But coach talked to me and he got my hopes up." And with them, the hopes of his father. What I felt ... after him being out of high school for two years, I was more or less surprised," Don said. (Coach Funk) had made him an offer, and I was just tickled to death." Mike Johnson arrived in Philippi in the spring of 1996 with the rust that comes with not playing in nearly two years. I hadnt fielded grounders in two years," Mike said. Plus, with hitting and seeing the ball, my timing was off and I couldnt pick up off-speed pitches." The difference between high school and college baseball is great, to be sure. Factor in a two-year sabbatical, and the gap becomes exponential. Its tough to go from high school to college," Mike said. The pitchers are tougher, they throw harder, everybody runs harder and hitters one through nine can hit the baseball. Its total night and day." So much, in fact, that Mike admittedly struggled during his first two seasons as A-Bs shortstop. He had too much self-inflicted pressure, pummeling himself mentally after each throwing error or misplayed grounder. Thats when it was time for another change: From shortstop to center field. Coach and I were talking and we decided it might be better if I moved to the outfield," Mike said. I felt I wasnt getting back as well as I shouldve been." The move paid off: Mike hit .367 in 1998 and as the only senior on this years A-B team is the team leader. Academically, Mike Johnson has gotten back better than ever. He is carrying a 3.2 gradepoint average, according to his father, and will graduate next month with a bachelors degree in recreation therapy. Not surprisingly, Mike is basking in these last few weeks of college, his father says. And why not? After all, to a familiar spot on a baseball field, to the warm spotlight that comes with glory thats legitimized by hard work, Mike Johnson has come home again. Return |
Clarksburg Publishing Company, P.O. Box 2000, Clarksburg, WV 26302
USA |