World Champs! The CHS54 Connection

“The shot heard ’round the world!”

Bobby Thompson’s pennant winning home run against the Dodgers in 1951?
No.

It was Dalton Carriker’s Little League World Series winning home run against Tokyo in 2007!

Dalton Carriker rounds the bases after his World Series Winning home run.

It was a proud moment for all Americans.

But NOBODY was as proud as his grandfather: our own classmate, Bill Carriker!

Dalton Carriker’s Grandfather

Report from Associated Press

(AP) Make it three straight Little League World Series championships for the United States. Dalton Carriker homered to right in the bottom of the eighth inning as Warner Robins, Ga., beat Tokyo 3-2 in a thrilling title game on Sunday.

The 12-year-old Carriker raised his arms in celebration after hitting a 2-1 pitch from Japan’s Junsho Kiuchi over the right-field stands. “USA! USA!” cried the Georgia-partisan crowd.

Columbus, Ga., won the crown last year, and Ewa Beach, Hawaii, in 2005.

The jubilant kids from Warner Robins hugged Carriker as he reached the plate. A relieved manager Mickey Lay lost his hat after joining his team in celebration following a tense game marked by excellent pitching.

Georgia reliever Kendall Scott struck out 10 and allowed one hit over five-plus innings to quiet Japan’s bats after Georgia fell behind 2-0 early. Zane Conlon got the last out in the top of the eighth after Scott left the game.

That set up Carriker’s game-winning homer. The slugger, hitting .769 entering Sunday’s game, was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up in the eighth.

There was no doubt about his opposite-field shot, which easily cleared the hedges beyond the right-field fence.

After exchanging handshakes with players from Japan, Georgia players took hold of the championship banner, their proud parents snapping pictures from the stands.

CONGRATULATIONS Dalton!

And congratulations to you too, Bill.

Next time you want to show someone a picture of your grandson Dalton, you won’t have to pull out your wallet. All you’ll have to do is tell them to turn on TV…..or look at the magazines…or read the newspaper……..etc., etc.

-Ed

From Jerry Gaudet:

Billie and Bill,

How great! I saw that game winning hit. Congratulations to your grandson!

Were you at the game? If not, I’m sure you were there via TV and in spirit.

From Obie Oakley:

Bill,

I watched part of that game and thought that the pitcher from Japan was just dominating. Then, I had to do something that took me away from watching the ending. Needless to say, I’ve seen a thousand replays.

Now, for the “Third Generation” bit. Do you remember the championship touch football intermural game at Piedmont? You and I were in Miss Love’s homeroom and we were playing Coach Edelman’s homeroom. It must have been during lunch for there was a crowd on the sidline watching. In fact, they were so much on the sidelines that they were actually about 15 yards onto the field.

I was calling the plays and told you to run around left end, so far in fact, that I wanted you to run behind the crowd and use them as your downfiled blockers. You executed perfectly and ran 50 yards for the touchdown. We won!

Miss Love was so proud. She commented the next day that she “..saw one of her young men take that ball and do something with it and run real hard and made some points”.

I know where Dalton got his athletic abilities.

Obie

Story time on TV

Our own Ellouise (Diggle) Schoettler (and one of Maryland’s most popular storytellers) appeared on Fairfax Virginia Cable TV recently as a guest on a show called OUT OF THE PAST, hosted by Ed Myers and Chuck Langdon. The program, started by Ed almost 20 years ago, is
Fairfax Cable’s longest running series.

In addition to a half hour of discussion of the art of modern storytelling, Ellouise performed one of her most requested storys: “The Wedding Dress.”

Ellouise is featured weekly on her own TV show on Maryland Cable, but I believe this was her first appearance on Virginia TV.

The discussion ranged from the early days from before writing was invented to the “trobadours” of the middle ages, to modern day storytelling.

…..and even a discussion of the great storytellers who graduated from the legendary Charlotte Central High School….from Marion Hargrove (See Here Private Hargrove……1942) to best selling author Jan Karon…..and Charles Kuralt.

By the way, Ellouise has a website that you might want to visit. It’s:

HERE

Young Wildcat Update

Central High may only exist in our memories now, but to me, I’ve always thought of all of our 5 grandkids as “young wildcats.” Linda says the name is very appropriate……sometimes.

With that thought in mind, here are some pictures of Don and Letty Nance’s newest “wildcat,” Jackson.

JACKSON and DON

Jackson is a lot happier now that his Mom, Charlotte has joined them.

Grandmaw Letty, his Daddy Roth and his Mom Charlotte

Basketweaving and other sports

Basketweaving Time. One of the expressions we used back in the 50’s when we sometimes referred to either the VERY old, or, uh humm,……… the insane. This was usually said in fun.

However, I came very close to fulfilling that phophesy recently after my two youngest grandchildren came home from a day care field trip with a couple of clay artifacts they had made.
They had visited a place here in Falls Church called The Clay Cafe, where youngsters can paint clay figurines and artifacts and then have them “baked” to a gloss that gives them a real professional pottery look.

I was so impressed that Linda and I took them back to that shop…..and asked them to paint something for us. Here’s the coffee cup that my 7 year old made for us.

We were VERY impressed!

I had as much fun as the kids did! So, I went back to the Clay Cafe….this time WITHOUT the grandkids….and sat down with the other 6 and 7 year olds and painted a couple of cups for MYSELF, so I could be reminded of my two FAVORITE radio stations with each cup of my morning coffee every day!

When I showed them to Linda, she just rolled her eyes……obviously in awe of my brilliant artistry!!

-Ed

Still Rambling

Remembered for his many outstanding columns in “The Rambler” about the goings on at old Central High during the golden years, Warren Sparrow is STILL rambling.

When I first saw this picture I thought that Warren had reinlisted. Then, I realized that he was in the NAVY, not the airforce during the 60″s.

These photos of Warren and his wife Becky were taken at “Wings Over Wayne,” an air show featuring the Blue Angels at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

Keep “rambling” Warren. Some of us, like me, are just “shuffling.”