2000

WEEK OF C)Mm1 S: Bf!U)

Thoms Continued from page 1D going to be missed a ton around here." Thoms started all three years that Clark coached the Tigers, and was already in the Newton baseball program when Clark arrived more than three years ago. He hit .440 as a senior and maintained an average of better than .390 during the past three seasons - despite carrying a last name which was well– known by opponents. "I think he probably had good blood in him for sure," Clark said of Thoms. "But I don't think there was any added pres– sure on him to perfonn. "I've been around them a lot ... but I didn't see Hank and Lake play, so I can't compare them to Josh," Clark said...But Josh always did an excellent job for me. He played above and beyond my expectations. "If he was under pressure, he sure didn't show it. He went out and played his game every night, regardless ofwhat sport." Thoms succeeding on the baseball field was no real sur– prise. But what he was able to accomplish in some of the other sports for the Tigers did open some eyes. This past seaJon, Thoms played both guard positions for first-year coach Ken McMullan's Tigers, and was one of the rea– sons Newton made a run to the playoffs. "He loved showing people that he was the real deal," Clark said of Thoms, a slasher who was also deadly from three– point range. "I think he wa~ a real catalyst for our basketball team."

As for football, although Thoms was never supposed to !llake a difference on the grid– Iron. Thoms had hip trouble and wore braces as a youngster. "He wasn't supposed to play foot– ball," Clark said. But as a ninth-grader, Clark says the itch to play - and maybe peer pressure - got to Thoms. ''He went to the coach and asked if he could just kick," Clark said. "That's all he was ever supposed to do." He did , and Thoms became one of the best kickers in the area. if not the state. He also started hanging around with receivers and return men in pre– game workouts. "Before we played Bay Springs this year, Josh told coach

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