Page 8 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 13, 2015 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Towns County takes first at Sectionals; advance to State on May 18 By Shawn Jarrard Towns County Herald Staff Writer The Towns County Indi- ans are Sectional Champs and heading to State after plac- ing first in the Class A Public School State Sectional golf tournament held on Monday, May 4, at Brasstown Valley Resort. “The boys wanted to hold their home course, so they took pride in that, and they practiced very hard – they always do – but they knew strategically, when you’re on your home course, how to play the course,” said Indians Head Coach Brett Keller. “And that came in handy for the kids when it came to scoring.” Towns County hosted nine teams and one individ- ual that advanced from Area tournaments from around the state. The Top 4 teams from Edwards. and helped us with the course. day, and great for all the kids.” Keller. “It’s more mountainous You can get tired, so you better Sectionals have advanced to the Teams joining Towns It was a great experience for The Lady Indians previ- than here. Even though we’re be ready for that mentally.” State tournament, which for the County from this tournament the kids. ously won first place in Area in the Appalachians, the course And mentally, everyone boys will be held on Monday, are Lincoln County, Schley “But I want to thank them competition, guaranteeing them is set up very hilly and tough seems ready to go, boys and May 18, in Commerce. County and Lanier County. for allowing us to practice out a spot in the state tournament walking, and it’s going to be girls, for the state tournament. This occasion marks the “I want to thank Brass- there, and putting on this event without the need to compete in mid-80s to maybe 90 degrees, “Each kid is different, but first time in school history that town Valley Resort and the golf for the state of Georgia. We a sectional competition. and they’re going to feel it, all they’re getting ready in their the boys golf team has advanced course management, mainte- had teams come up as far as The girls will compete in the kids. own way,” said Coach Keller. to state-level competition. nance, the groundskeepers for Charlton County, which is 40 the state tournament at Victoria “Walking this course, you “We’re still practicing and mak- The Indians team is getting everything ready for miles from Jacksonville, Fla. Bryant State Park in Royston, at better be in shape to get around. ing sure that we’re going over composed of junior Sterling us,” said Coach Keller. “For We had a team from Lanier, the Highland Walk Golf Course, I know that sounds funny, but there knowing the course, and Hedden, sophomore Nick Mc- Steve Phelps, for all the ladies which is a long haul. They came on the morning of Monday, lugging a bag around and walk- club-selecting the right club on Connell, sophomore Johna- that are working the Pro Shop, a long way to hit a golf ball, and May 18. ing when it’s really hot, it can each shot, making sure we’re than Watson, freshman Chase all the Rangers and everything Brasstown just welcomed them “It’s a tough walking affect your swing by the end of taking our notes and getting Williams and freshman Ben that helped us get kids around in, and it was a great, beautiful course for anybody,” said Coach the round if you’re not in shape. ready for that.” TCRD spring sports hit midseason By Shawn Jarrard NASCAR 2015 Towns County Herald By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Staff Writer Johnson wins at Kansas Towns County Spring Recreational Sports are in full Jimmie Johnson and his Truex, 10. Ryan Newman. team used confidence and luck The biggest loser was swing. to win the rain-delayed Kansas “We’re in the middle of Martin Truex Jr. He was clearly Sprint Cup race, his third vic- the fastest on the track for most baseball and softball season,” tory of the season. said Alan Rogers, assistant of the race, leading 95 laps. “It just dawned on me: His team felt they needed director of the Towns County We’ve won two races, we’re to bring him in for fuel during Rec Department. “We’ve got locked in the Chase, points the final caution. On the restart, Jimmie Johnson applies a win two 10 and under boys teams, don’t matter. We’re going for it became obvious they had sticker to his car after winning two 12 and under boys teams, the win,” Johnson said. “It was made the wrong call, because the Kansas Cup race. one 14 and under boys team. just sort of a gut feeling, a split- he finished ninth. We’ve got one 10 and under second thing.” “We should have either week’s Kansas Truck race. He girls softball team, we’ve got Johnson, didn’t appear to stayed out or took new tires,” not only won the pole, but set a four tee ball teams, and we’ve have the fastest car, but man- Truex said. “We probably did new track record. got three farm league teams. aged to hold off Kevin Harvick the worst thing you could have During the race he led We’ve also got soccer that uses over the final six laps to win by done there with just staying out 151 laps of the 167-lap race, the fields up there.” half-a-second. and getting gas only because but ran out of fuel with four Fields are currently under Harvick appeared to be we ended up being the last guy laps remaining, after his team headed toward his third victory with no tires. Everybody else miscalculated his truck’s fuel construction at the year-and-a- of the season as the laps wound half old Towns County Recre- behind us had two and they ate mileage. down after he took the lead on a us up on the restart.” In addition to the Truck ation and Conference Center, restart lap with 54 laps remain- according to Rec Director Wes The race which started Series, he has made eight starts ing in the 267-lap race. He had Saturday at 7:46 pm ET, had Hooper, but for now, these boys this year than we had last year. “Work ethic, working in the Xfinity Series, with one a lead of over one second with a two hour and fifteen minute win, five top-5s, and one pole. and girls are playing where The teams still were the same, together, reaching goals, all that 14 laps to go and nobody ap- rain delay and did not end until but like in 10U, we were three stuff is valuable lessons that “I’m pretty excited and they have for years – on the peared fast enough to run him 12:20 am ET on Sunday morn- grateful for the opportunity to fields at the Georgia Mountain kids away from having a third can be taught to kids at a young down. ing. drive the No. 18 M&M’s Toy- Fairgrounds. team.” age that will help them down But then, the race’s last Chase Grid Outlook af- ota in the Sprint Cup Series,” All of the coaches for Other teams ran just shy the road through life. Respect, caution came out with 13 laps ter 11 of 26: 1. Johnson-389 said Jones. “We are going to rec sports in Towns County are of the numbers necessary to discipline, all those things work to go, after Ricky Stenhouse hit (3 wins)-2. Harvick-437 (2), manage our expectations and if volunteers, many of them par- create an extra team, and Rog- together with sports, and I think the outside wall. 3. Logano-375 (1), 4. Earn- we can go out and get a top-15 ents, and teams in the rec ball ers thinks the numbers may be that’s something that every kid Harvick pitted for two hardt-360 (1), 5. Keselows- run and gain some experience, circuit include Union, Fannin, up due to past performance, as needs in their life.” tires and a splash of fuel, while ki-342 (1), 6. Kenseth-331 that would be a great day for and White counties, as well as Towns County has done well in Those interested in help- Johnson, Earnhardt, Kurt Busch (1), 7. Hamlin-284 (1), 8. us.” Hayesville and Copper Basin. rec ball the past few years. ing children further their lives and Jeff Gordon remained on Truex-391, 9. McMurray-328, If he can keep his mo- the track. “All our coaches are all Rogers, a native of Towns through sports should check out 10. Gordon-317, 11. Kah- mentum, it will mean added in- On the restart, Harvick ne-313, 12. Almirola-312, surance for JGR’s future racing volunteer, every one of them,” County, has been with the rec the fairgrounds this week and was lined up in the sixth spot. said Rogers. “And without department for 10 years. He into next, as Towns County will 13. Menard-306, 14. New- program. Within two laps, he had moved man-306, 15. Bowyer-272, 16. Meanwhile their other them, we don’t have a program. played rec ball when he was be playing many ball games in up to third, and from that point They do so much for us, and a kid, under Hooper, and said the days ahead.