Buddy Lowe: FHSAA inducts seven new members into its Hall of Fame, April 29, 2013

Leesburg Legendary Coach Charles "Buddy" Lowe plaque being held by a member of his family during his induction ceremony at the 23rd Annual  FHSAA Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Gainesville, Florida Sunday night.

By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
Monday April, 2013

GAINESVILLE - When you talk about the great high school baseball coaches in the state of Florida and the nation, one name will have to be included in on the conversation. Leesburg High School Legendary baseball coach Charles "Buddy" Lowe would have to be a part of that conversation as he finished his career as the state's winningest coach when he retired. The playing field at Pat Thomas Memorial Stadium in Leesburg is also named after the coaching legend.

Sunday night at the Hilton Convention Center in Gainesville, Lowe's was inducted into the FHSAA Hall of Fame at the 23rd Annual FHSAA Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Lowe and six others were inducted during the ceremony.

Former Leesburg High School Baseball coach Buddy Lowe.

The new inductees included Robert Green, Bruce Irvin, Norman Jackson, Holly Kelly-Thompson, Charles "Buddy" Lowe, Paul McLaughlin and John Messina.
Dorothy Brunson was also honored for her 63 years of service to the FHSAA, which began in 1943.

FHSAA Director Dr. Roger Dearing served as Master of Ceremonies and called the 2013 induction class the epitome of athletic excellence, integrity and sportsmanship.

Click here to watch video.

Jim Busby: 1975 The Sporting News All-American Honorable Mention

Jim Busby: Sports Illustrated: Faces In The Crowd, May 1, 1972

 

SI Vault
Sports Illustrated 
May 1, 1972

Jim Busby, a junior lefthander for Leesburg ( Fla.) High and the son of the former major league outfielder, averaged 15 strikeouts a game and gave up no earned runs in compiling a 6-0 record. He has pitched two no-hitters and a pair of one-hitters.

Joe Bowery, 10, a left defenseman on the Allington Fire Dept. team, ended the West Haven ( Conn.) Squirt Hockey League championship game in its 12th overtime period (four hours playing time with a break for lunch) by scoring a goal for a 3-2 win.

Hal Oppenheimer, of Baytown, Mo., playing No. 3, scored half of his team's 16 goals to lead the Culver ( Ind.) Military Academy Black Horse Troop to its third straight U.S. Polo Association National Interscholastic championship in Roswell, N. Mex.

Peter Briggs, a Harvard junior from Greenwich, Conn., won the U.S. Intercollegiate squash racquets singles title when he beat Ty Griffin of Williams 15-9, 15-10, 10-15, 15-10 in the finals. He also led the Crimson to their fifth team championship in six seasons.

Michele Conroy, 20, of St. Paul, who has been skating seven years, won the National and the North American Indoor Women's speed skating titles in the half mile and mile on successive weekends. Her 1:25 in the half at the North Americans set a meet record.

Bill Burger, a senior at Flint Bentley High in Flint, Mich., pinned all his 11 dual-meet opponents, then went on to pin all his 27 opponents in district, regional and state tournaments to win the 119-pound class state championship with an overall 38-0 record.

Class 6A District 5 Standings, April 15, 2013

Jackets Lose Another Heartbreaker To Gainesville, April 16, 2013

By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer 
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 16, 2013

LEESBURG - Gainesville earned its second victory over the Jackets in four days 7-6. Leesburg scored five runs in the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. Senior Case Harrison had another big day against the Jackets going 2 for 5 at the plate and scored 2 of the Hurricanes 7 runs. 

“Before he got hurt, he was the catalyst for our offense,” Gainesville coach Adam Souilliard said. 

Gainesville High School Senior Case Harrison

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Harrison — who will play on the UF football team in the fall as a preferred walk-on.

Kyle Brana started and took the loss for the Yellow Jackets (7-14).

Brana (1-1) gave up seven runs — three earned — on eight hits and struck out six.

Tanner Long had three hits for the Yellow Jackets and three RBIs. Sawyer Free had two hits.

With its second win over Leesburg in a week Gainesville moved two places to No. 2 in the district standings.The Hurricanes improve their record to 8-15 (4-4) on the season. Gainesville will return to action on April 16 against Bradford in a non-district matchup.

The Jackets will return to action on April 15 at The Villages Charter School in a non-district matchup.

FHSAA Baseball Class 6A District 5 Standings, April 10, 2013

Gainesville Beats Leesburg In Extra Innings, April 10, 2013

Gainesville will visit Pat Thomas Stadium/Buddy Lowe Field in Venetian Gardens April 12 in a Class 6A District 5 game.

By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 10, 2013

GAINESVILLE - The Purple Hurricanes of Gainesville High School overcame 4 errors to beat the Jackets 8-7 in extra innings Monday in Gainesville. Senior Case Harrison led the Purple Hurricanes with 4 hits. The loss drop the Jackets record to 5-13 (2-5) on the season.

The Jackets will get a chance to redeem themselves when they host Gainesville April 12 at Pat Thomas Memorial Stadium/Buddy Lowe Field.

Leesburg Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Umatilla, April 2, 2013

By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 2, 2013

LEESBURG -  The Bulldogs of Umatilla High School picked up a 11-9 win over the Jackets at Buddy Lowe/Pat Thomas Memorial Stadium Monday night. Umatilla took early 6-1 lead and held on the hand the Jackets their 12th loss on the season.

The Jackets will try to get back into the winning column on April 9th when they travel to Gainesville to take on the Hurricanes in a Class 6A District 5 matchup.

1977 FHSAA Class 3A Baseball State Champions, Leesburg High School