By Kris Henry

TALENT — For the past few months the Baha-Men have been crooning a question over pop radio stations that, until Thursday, appeared rhetorical.

Who let the dogs out?

Apparently, the answer is John Doty.

For the second straight season, Doty and the Phoenix girls soccer team harkened back to the golden days of Talent High and its Bulldogs clad in orange and black during this Homecoming week.

And for the second year, the soccer team paid tribute to the Bulldog memory with a victory — this year’s effort a 7-0 spanking of Mazama at Hagler-James Field.

"That was something that I cooked up last year," said Doty. "I thought it would be a nice thing to do to give some ongoing recognition and honor to that half of the Phoenix-Talent School District."

The idea met with some raised eyebrows last season as the Bulldogs downed Rogue River, 3-2.

It also met with some very positive responses from former teachers, students and admirers of Talent High, which was in existence from 1912 to 1960.

"We really are a school district made up of different communities, and because the school is Phoenix High they get all the press," said Doty. "Talent provides us with a considerable amount of players and we play in Talent, so we thought why not give Talent some ink from time to time.

"It’s just one more little aspect to add character and depth to our program and character and depth to the community."

The once-a-year change doesn’t seem to bother Doty’s players.

Annie Kulig, Helen Shorland, Larrisa Wiltrout and Chelsi Clark baffled the Vikings and seemingly scored at will as the Pirates opened a 5-0 lead by halftime and never looked back.

The Fearsome Foursome accounted for all but one goal and earned every assist as Phoenix improved to 2-0 in league play and 4-3-1 overall. Mazama dropped to 0-2 in District 5 play.

Kulig scored three goals and had an assist, while Clark chipped in two goals, Shorland had a goal and two assists and Wiltrout earned three assists.

"They’re amazing," said Doty. "I can’t even begin to sing their praises adequately. They all have tremendous hustle.

"Annie and Helen both have excellent distribution sense. Larrisa is rabid. No one is going to deny her the ball if she’s close to it. And Chelsi finds a way. She’s just unbelievable."

Kelly Singleton provided the exception to the rule Thursday, scoring a second-half goal after playing with the junior varsity in the first half.

Freshmen Kat Cox and Acacia Lacy shared the goalkeeping duties and earned the shutout as the Bulldogs outshot Mazama 29-8.

With his bunch of Bulldogs now 2-0 in their career, Doty already has an eye toward the future.

"If we can win it three years in a row then it’s etched in stone," he said of the annual event. "And who knows, when we hit the 50th anniversary (of the school’s closure) we might try to play every home game as Talent High."

Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us
Copyright © 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.