Page 8A THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD April 9, 2014 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports ooolgofk[gmflq`]jYd\f]lÛÝÛ<¤eYad‘Ûl[`]jYd\³oaf\klj]Yef]l

Joe of the body in relation to the Spring sports coming down the home stretch responsibility of the shoulders. Collins It is the one thing that will guide By Todd Forrest knit group in 2014. baseball team is currently 3-9 as Private School Power Rankings and their only loss came in a the back arm on the correct path Towns County Herald After taking the Tri-County of press time and sits 28th in the into the hitting area from the top Cup over Union County and Class A Public School Power 10-5 shocker to Commerce, who Tips from the Range [email protected] down as the weight transfers to Hayesville, the Lady Indians, along Rankings. Towns County defeated not once, There is and old cliché’ the front side. If the forward with the Indians are less than two The Indians are off until Fri- but twice. So anything is possible Towns County sports have that almost every new golfer arm bends, then there is a good weeks away from the Area Tourna- day when they host George Walton when the two teams lace it up on been taking it easy for the last week Apr. 17th in Hiawassee and on will hear from those who are chance that the club head will and won’t hit full stride for a little ment at Battlefield Golf Course on Academy at 5 p.m. Towns County Apr. 22nd in Ringgold. will travel to George Walton on April 18th down in Athens. trying to help them learn and get “buried” behind your hips while longer. The Towns County Herald that statement sounds like this, and force the hands into action The Lady Indians soccer They will get a tune up Tuesday, Apr. 15th. match on Apr. 16 at Prince Avenue The Bulldogs are currently would like to make a correction “Keep your left (forward) arm during impact and this is the team traveled out-of-state to take to last week’s sports page. The straight and your head down.” death of a possible good shot. on Highlands, NC last week and in Watkinsville. The Lady Indians the owners of an 11-7 record, are are looking to repeat as Area 7-3 in Region 8-A, and sit in the Apr. 2nd edition said that Towns Have you ever heard this while Keep the forward arm straight came away on the wrong end of baseball lost 4-3 to Lakeview. The struggling to swing the club? to maintain the turning of the a 3-1 score. Champions after becoming the 20th spot in the Private School first girls golf team to accomplish Power Rankings. Indians actually fell 4-3 to Prince I am sure most of you shoulders, around the spine, as Neither soccer team is Avenue on Monday, April 1st. have and I am concerned that it far as you can into the follow scheduled to play again until the feat. After the home-and-home The tennis season is also series concludes, the Indians must might not have been explained through. This will enhance the Apr. 15th when they visit Hebron properly so here goes. extension of the arms through Christian Academy. The Hebron nearing its postseason with their face one of their toughest tasks Area Tournament being held in of the season in a 16-1 Athens The concept of keeping impact and make for a better day boys are currently ranked No. 3 in the left arm completely straight on the course. Class A according to Eurosport and Rome, beginning on Apr. 21st. Christian. The Towns County Indians The Eagles are 5th in the is a difficult maneuver to execute As far as the meaning of the Hebron girls are No. 2. Both but is very important in trying to “keep your head down” goes, teams defeated Towns 10-0 back hit the ball consistently. forget it. If you keep your head on March 21st. Many good players will down, the spine will incur a On April 17, Towns visits actually find that they bend their slight bend at the top where it Lakeview Academy. The Lady forward arm a little at the top connects to your head and this Indians defeated the 4-8-1 Lady Li- and that is not all bad as long as will block any hopes of getting ons 5-1, while the guys fell 7-0. it is not profound and extreme. a full turn with the chest and Other games of impor- A slight bend is not recom- shoulders, and in relation, not tance will be played on Apr. 21 mended but can be a part of a allow you to turn around the and 22nd. Towns pays arch-rival solid swing although the player spine. Union County a visit on the 21st is trying very hard to limit that This reminds me of a in a makeup game and Providence subtle angle. turtle that is barely sticking its on the 22nd in another makeup Many top players will al- head out from its shell. The game. low a slight crook to appear at phrase should say, “Keep your The Lady Indians will be the top of the swing in order to chin up, your eyes on the ball looking to return to State once Jackson Noblet get a more full turn but will re- and your head still.” again after being knocked out by straighten as the arms leave the Remember, the spine has Fellowship Christian in the open- top most point of the back swing to maintain its original posi- ing round last spring. arc and drop back in front of the tion established at address to The Lady Indians’ golf team chest on the way down. promote good ball striking. You returns the majority of its golfers Ben Edwards Eryn Cochran Check out the two time must keep your chin up so that and are a stronger, and more tight U.S. Open Champion Curtis the spine will remain straight. Strange’s swing sometime to To achieve this, try and pick see what I am talking about. your chin up enough to make “He is the one player that I car- you look over the top of your ried for in my career that never face cheeks when addressing the left shots on the course,” stated ball. You will find that you have the late Greg Rita, P.G.A. Tour more room to turn and a bigger caddie and a golfing buddy of “slot” on the downswing. mine. A slight bend can’t be all Practice is the key to bet- bad if it produced a U.S. Open ter golf and a more enjoyable Champion, twice! experience on the course so find The importance of the some time to work on your game straight forward arm throughout and you will see it improve. the swing is found in the exten- Good luck and I will see Faithe Robinson sion it provides from the core you on the course! Blairsville’s Grayson Payne finishes fourth in 2014 FLW College Fishing National Championship Young Harris College bass fishing team members and senior biology majors Grayson Payne, of Blairsville, GA, and Joe Thompson, of Clayton, GA, recently finished fourth in the 2014 FLW Col- Junior keeper Dallas Manus goes all out for the Indians. Photos by Lowell Nicholson and Todd Forrest lege Fishing National Cham- pionship held on Lake Keowee in Seneca, SC, March 6-8. NASCAR 2014 The three-day competi- By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter tion included the top 49 col- lege teams in the nation. The Texas Cup Race postponed until Monday YHC team ended the first day Due to persistent rain Elliott Sadler. in third place and finished fifth showers which hampered Top-10 leaders after 6 of on the second day before the track drying efforts, Sunday’s 33; 1. Elliott-224, 2. Smith-222, top 10 teams battled it out on Sprint Cup Duck Commander 3. T. Dillon-214, 4. Sadler-208, the final day of competition. (L-R): Joe Thompson and Grayson Payne 500 at Texas Motor Speedway 5. Bayne-206, 6. Gaughan-193, Payne and Thompson with a combination of jerk serves as a comprehensive and has been postponed until noon 7. Scott-192, 8. Kwasniews- had a strong showing over the baits, A-rigs and drop-shots, accurate multi-year ranking Monday. ki-179, 9.Buescher-176, 10. course of the tournament with ultimately let the wind dictate system for tournament bass anglers of all levels of experi- The race will be shown Reed-141. Chase Elliott, Texas Nationwide an impressive three-day total their fishing. live on Fox. NASCAR PLANS ENGINE winner haul of 30 pounds, 12 ounces. “It was a tough day. The ence. Rain tapered off late CHANGES made in recent years have fo- “Placing fourth in a fourth place finish is still sink- The team, founded in Sunday evening but cool tem- NASCAR is at it again cused on the cars, beginning tournament of this scale was ing in—we were fishing for 2009, continues to rack up peratures and persistent “weep- with another planned change. with the rollout of the more incredible,” said Payne. “I the win,” said Thompson. “We accolades while regularly ers,” water seeping up from This time it’s the car engines. brand-identifiable Generation-6 hate that we didn’t win first, swung for the fences instead competing in fishing events underneath the track led to the , NA- vehicle for the 2013 season, and but I’m proud of our top five of playing it safe, but it was a nationwide. In 2013, YHC decision. SCAR’s CEO said last week on an aerodynamic package that finish. I wouldn’t have been great trip.” hosted the Carhartt College CHASE ELLIOTT SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that was further refined before this able to do as well if it wasn’t Payne and Thompson’s Series National Champion- CAPTURES TEXAS modifications to lower engine year. This will be the first time for the love and support of our strong finish at the 2013 FLW ship—the first time the cham- NATIONWIDE RACE horsepower was the next step the engine displacement size, friends and family. In fact, my Southeast Regional Champi- pionship took place outside of FT. WORTH, Tex.-- toward racing improvement. or the amount of horsepower mother is already planning onship secured the team a shot Arkansas, where it has been Chase Elliott, son of NASCAR “We’re going to make produced has been lowered. a get-together so our whole to compete for the national held since its inception. former champion Bill Elliott, that happen, and that’s part of Apparently this lat- family can watch the televi- title and catapulted YHC to For more information led 4 times for 38 laps on the the overall rules packages that est move is to slow down the sion special.” the top spot on Bass Rankings’ on the bass fishing team, visit way to his first Nationwide Se- we design that hopefully con- cars on the track. The ones that The team, who fished College Ranking list, which yhc.edu/bassfishing. N(Apr9,Z3)CA ries win, Friday at Texas Motor trol costs, hopefully make the would benefit the most, would Speedway. racing better,” France said. be the “start and park” teams. Wheels through Time Museum If you own a Jeep and “For sure, I gotta put this “The engine is an integral part I had a fan tell me, that in Maggie Valley, the Amish this is your cup of tea, we wel- win right at the top,” said El- of that. We also have to be in “NASCAR is like the weather farm in Tennessee, Smokey come you to come and enjoy liott. “I definitely know this is step as much as possible with in Chicago. If you don’t like it, Mountain Knife Works, the an extremely special win to me. life with us. We don’t have a the car manufacturers and don’t worry, it will change in a Atlanta Truck and Jeep Fest, To do it at JRM with Napa Auto where they’re going with tech- long list of rules or any offi- day or two.” Pickens County Sheriff’s Jeep cers in the group, and we do Parts and the new deal that nology and different things. It They will continue to came together this off-season all has to come together, and Fest in Jasper, the Blue Ridge not collect membership dues. tweak, just enough to keep the Parkway, The Dillard House, Our meetings are held just puts me right up there. that’s the next significant part TV networks talking and the “My restarts were pretty of the rules package. We are thankful that area waterfalls and other loca- the second Tuesday of each fans who still want to show winter has come and gone and terrible tonight and that’s one “The engine will get a up placated, but beyond that, tions. month at Steve’s Steakhouse thing I gotta get better on, hope- significant change. I’m not go- who’s kidding whom? that the weather is now be- We usually have picnic aka The Cookie Jar, in Blairs- fully next week at Darlington. ing to say (for) 2015, but we made the coming perfect for getting out- lunches on trail rides, and we ville, where we have delicious Kevin (Harvick) looked like he are certainly sizing that up. It’s following statement several doors, jeeping and socializing. also enjoy dining out, having food and excellent service. We was a little tight and I knew our very important for us to get that years ago, “It’s NASCAR’s Our members that spent the parties and doing other activi- eat dinner together at about 5 car would be a little faster if I right.” way or the highway.” winter hibernating in Florida ties together. We decorate our to 5:30, and we have a brief could ever get around him. The most important The more things change, and warmer climes are begin- Jeeps and ride in several local meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. “You always hear people phrase in France’s statement the more they stay the same. ning to trickle back into town, parades, and we are now offi- Visit our website, www. talk about “clean air” and obvi- was, “We also have to be in step Weekend Racing: The and we are eager to see them cial US Forestry Department blueridgemountainjeepers. ously it’s extremely important. as much as possible with the Cup and Nationwide cars are at and get our Jeeps on the road. ranger assistants, I guess you com, to view our calendar of Getting out front was really car manufacturers and where the historic one-mile Darling- The Blue Ridge Moun- would call us, responsible for upcoming events. In addition, big. I had Kyle (Busch) com- they’re going with technology ton Raceway. The trucks do not tain Jeepers group consists of cleaning up a portion of Coo- pictures and videos of recent ing hard behind me and I knew and different things.” race again until May 9. about 50 members, a happy per’s Creek roadsides with the rides are posted for your en- I needed to get by Kevin in a France’s wording con- Fri., Apr. 11, Nationwide bunch of mostly-retired peo- rangers. joyment. hurry or Kyle was going to get tains a lot of truth, but not the Series, race 7 of 33; Start- ple who love getting together If all this activity is too For more information, me. whole truth. ing time: 7:30 pm ET; TV: to Jeep ride. If you are like- much for you, attending each please attend one of our meet- “I kept trying to take a NASCAR was created ESPN2. minded, read on, or better yet, event is optional; you only do ings or contact us via our web- different line and Kevin kept and still operates as the France Sat., Apr. 12, Sprint Cup, come and join us. We don’t sit what appeals to you. There are site. taking my line away. I finally family business. They can race 8 of 33; Starting time: 6 around and talk about jeeping, no participation requirements. predicted what he was going spout off all they want that the pm ET; TV: Fox. we do it! to do in turns 3 and 4, and I race fan is their number one Racing Trivia Ques- Weather permitting, we was able to get the nose in the priority, but their main focus is tion: How many Grand Na- clean air a little bit and able to still what goes into the family ride about twice a week on tional championships did Rex all kinds of rides: easy street get a pretty good run on him. ATM machine. White win? So that was that, and it worked Modern day racing is rides, forestry road rides, and Last Week’s Question: the men (and a few adventur- out and we were able to get by about money. And that’s why Which year did Richard Petty him and get out front and hold the money men; car manu- begin his Cup career? Answer. ous ladies) take on more chal- Kyle off.” facturers, large sponsors and 1958. His first race was a Con- lenging rides such as Beasley’s Chasing him to the television are able to call the vertible Race prior to the Day- Knob and Bell Mountain. checkered flag was: Kyle shots. tona 500. Our bucket list is long Busch, Kyle Larson, Kevin The proposed change is You may contact the this year. In addition to month- Harvick, Jr., because some group that fuels Racing Reporter at hodges@ ly full-moon rides, we plan Matt Kenseth, Regan Smith, the sport demands it. race500.com. to visit many new, and some Ryan Blaney, Ty Dillon, and Most of the changes of our favorite, destinations:

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