Towns County Herald’s Sporting News

Lady Mtn Lions to play in GJCAA Softball Tournament

Day two saw them take JIM BRYANT on the always powerful ABAC Sports Writer Fillies for a split that gave them one needed win to make the tourney play-offs. They Cats forced to play Mountain Lions split with five series in five days to Truett McConnell but the split make tourney. was the one game needed to make the GJCAA road trip. Prep Baseball State Previews The 24-20 over-all and Still on the road on day 11-9 conference YHC Lady four, the Cats traveled south to Class A Mountain Lions had their work meet the Jaguars from Geor- #1 Lakeview Academy vs #2 Bremen cut out for them in order to gia Perimeter College only to Region 8-A Region 6-A make tournament play. The drop both ends of the series. sixth place Cats had to play a The final home game on the 25-1 17-5 grueling five games in five days fifth day of play saw the and win at least four wins to M’Lions drop both games to go to Covington, GA for the the Darton Lady Cavaliers to Class AA GJCAA Tournament. With the seal their place as the regular #1 Jefferson vs #2 Blessed Trinity writing on the wall, the Moun- season conference champions. Tara Mullenax makes a play against an ABAC Filly in 6-4 & 0- Region 8-AA Region 6-AA tain Lions squared off first The YHC season record of 24- 4 split. against the first place tied 20 would be enough to get them 22-3 20-8 Middle Georgia Warriors. The into the GJCAA tournament, Cats swept both games so they again to face the Jags from were half way home. Georgia Perimeter. #2 Banks County vs #4 Westminister Region 8-AA Region 6-AA 18-8 16-10

Prep Baseball State Play-offs Class A Lakeview Academy 3/4/4 Bremen 13/3/8

Class AA Jefferson 8/1 Blessed Trinity 10/3 Banks County 2/2/6 Westminister 1/3/7

Lady Mountain Lions go to Brittany Allen waits for the throw to home in 2-3 & 10-2 split with Truett McConnell. GJCAA Tennis Tournament

Sam Woolf stretches for the ball against Middle Georgia. #4 Singles Results: JIM BRYANT ABAC Calli Robinson de- feated YHC Megan Wheatley, Sports Writer 6-3, 6-2. #5 Singles Results: Victoria Milli wins at YHC Victoria Milli defeated the #5 seed position. ABAC Jahyna Pope 7-5, 6-2. #6 Singles Results: The GJCAA Tennis Tour- ABAC Marley Myers de- nament was hosted this season feated YHC Nichole by the Lady Fillies from ABAC. Richardson 6-2, 6-3. The Mountain Lions had qualifi- #3 Doubles Results: ers in the # 4, #5 and #6 seeded ABAC Pope/Myers defeated ingles positions and #3 doubles YHC Milli/Richardson6-1, position at the tournament. 6-0.

Jamey Chapman goes in at second base in 0-3 & 1-5 losses to Sam Woolf gets the out signal at the plate in 0-11 & 4-8 losses to Darton College. Georgia Perimeter. Photos by Jim and Lisa Bryant NASCAR 2009 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter

STEWART WINS ALL-STAR the advance of Stewart’s No. 762, 10. Scott-759 tion that wins and champion- RACE 14 car. WHAT’S THE STORY ON ship runs would follow now “It’s better to run second DALE JR. seems hopelessly optimistic. CONCORD, N.C.-- than anywhere else but first,” What has happened to But the pressure of ex- led only once for said Kenseth. “On the other Jr. and his pectations remains, and the two laps in Saturday night’s hand, it’s disappointing when team this season? Week after strain might be showing. NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race you take two to go on the track week, they turn in a poor per- Asked by reporters at at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and you’re in the lead and you formance. He faces many ques- Darlington why he was frus- but they were the most impor- come home second. I feel bad tions for which he still has no trated or on edge, Earnhardt tant ones, as he paced the final that we got beat, but I think I answers, like why isn’t he up said, “You go sit in that car. two circuits around the 1.5-mile could do it 100 times and I front and challenging for wins? It’s not fun.” oval after getting by Matt couldn’t hold him off.” He headed into last There has been plenty of Kenseth for the lead on lap 98 Stewart’s teammate, weekend’s at criticism of Earnhardt’s crew of the 100-lap event. Ryan Newman, driver of the 18th in the chief, Tony Eury Jr. Earnhardt Stewart, who started No. 39 U.S. Army/Haas Auto- Sprint Cup points standings af- has mostly offered public sup- 15th, was in the top-10 for mation , finished a ter a 27th-place finish at Rich- port for his cousin. But he was much of the night, but didn’t disappointing 18th after battling mond He has not won in nearly critical of his racecar at Rich- a year, dating back to June 15, Victoria Milli shown in action during a match at the YHC campus, become a factor at the front of with the leaders in the closing mond, and not merely because won at #5 seeded singles. Photo by Jim and Lisa Bryant the pack until he began battling stages of the race. On lap 93, 2008 at Michigan, and has only there were problems making with Kenseth in the final five Newman made contact with the one top-five finish this season. adjustments to the car during laps of the event. wall while engaging in a three- At Darlington, he the race. asked about it at Darlington. p.m. (EDT); TV: FOX. “I can’t believe he way battle for the lead with Jeff missed his pit stall – again – “We’ll, ya’ll saw what “I know everybody’s im- Racing Trivia Question: (Kenseth) gave me the bot- Gordon and . The during his first pit stop. Then happened,” Earnhardt said. patient,” said Hendrick. “I’m Why has NASCAR suspended tom,” Stewart said. “We got a damage to Newman’s car sent he fell behind when his crew “Why do I got to comment on impatient. I’m by nature a little Cup driver ? run on him two laps before and him to the garage, seven laps let a tire get away during an- it? It don’t help nothing to talk bit of a procrastinator. And until Last Week’s Question: got a run off of (turn) two at shy of the finish. other pit stop. Later, to cap about it. Not for me. My team I can see that we’ve done every- How many Cup wins does the bottom and got beside him. Following Stewart and things off, he wrecked. has had enough crap from ev- thing we can, the last thing I want , driver of the 07 I overdrove it in (turn) three Kenseth across the stripe was Two pit mistakes and a erybody else. I don’t need to to do is tear something down be- Chevrolet have? Answer. His and just got down there and got , while Denny wreck. Sadly, it was pretty weigh in on it. Ya’ll saw what cause it’s been good before. ... only cup win came at Char- loose trying to clear him, and Hamlin and much par for the course for happened and ya’ll can say I’m doing everything I can do lotte in 2007. he was able to get back by us. rounded out the top-five. Mark Junior and his beleaguered what you want to say. We’re right now. Hopefully, after the You may contact the Then he went to the bottom in Martin, Kyle Busch, rookie Joey team. He finished 27th and working on it and we’re try- next two or three races, we’re Racing Reporter at: (turns) one and two the next lap. Logano, Jamie McMurray and dropped two spots to 18th in ing to fix it.” going to see big improvement.” [email protected]. I don’t think he was great down Dale Earnhardt Jr., comprised points. About what you’ve come There have been rumors His fans can only wait and there, but he was good enough, the remainder of the top-10. to expect from this disappoint- that team owner Rick hope. I think, to hold us off. But the Sam Hornish won the ing driver and crew. Hendrick will make a drastic Next Week: Stewart/Haas next lap we go back through preliminary Sprint Showdown This mediocre perfor- change in the No. 88 race Racing; A Big Surprise there and we got a run off of to advance to the Sprint All- mance is not what anyone had team, swapping Eury with Weekend Racing: The (turn) four on him.” Star Race. in mind when he left Dale , the crew chief Sprint Cup and Nationwide It was Stewart’s first vic- HORNADAY RALLIES FOR Earnhardt Inc., to join power- for in the No. 5. teams are at the 1.5-mile Lowe’s tory as driver/owner for LOWE’S WIN house Hendrick at Both Martin and Gustafson Motor Speedway. For the Cup Stewart-Haas Racing. It was Ron Hornaday rallied the start of 2008. The assump- downplayed that scenario when teams, this weekend’s Coca Cola also the first All-Star race win from a lap down to win the 600 will be their longest race of for Stewart, who had four top- Craftsman Truck Series race the year (600 miles). 10 finishes in 10 previous starts at Lowe’s Motor Speedway 2009 Rec Dept Summer Day Camp Sat., May 23, Nationwide in the event. Stewart became over Kyle Busch. The win was Series Carquest Auto Parts 300, the second driver/owner to win Hornaday’s first of the 2009 Summer is just around dren sports game activities, Starting time: 7:30 p.m. (EDT); the All-Star Race, joining season, and moved him into the the corner and that means hot social game activities, field TV: ESPN2. Geoff Bodine, who accom- points lead over Mike Skinner. weather and Summer Day trips, nature hikes and much Sun., May 24, Sprint Cup plished the feat in 1994. Top-10 leaders after 6 of Camp for boys and girls ages 6 more. Give your child a lot to Coca Cola 600, Starting time: 5 Tony Stewart , who ran 25: 1. Hornaday-966, 2. Skin- thru 12. This summer The Rec- do this summer and sign them in second position the majority ner-882, 3. Crafton-877, 4. Ky. reation Department will offer up for Day Camp. You may of the race’s second half, took Busch-852, 5. Bodine-837, 6. day camp for 4 sessions, each send your child to any or all Indian Basketball Camp in June the lead with five laps remain- Cook-786, 7. Benson-779, 8. session being two weeks, run- of the sessions. ing, but was unable to hold off McCumbee-770, 9. Compton- ning Monday thru Friday from Children need to bring Girls and Boys entering bling contest, free throw 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. a swimsuit, towel, sprayable Grades 2-8 for the 2009-2010 contest, hot shot contest, and Sessions will be as follows: sunscreen and sack lunch. school year are invited to attend. team play. The Rock Regional Sports Academy Session I June 1 - June 12 The Recreation department Indian Basketball Camp is di- Camp dates are June Session II June 15 - June 26 will furnish the drinks for vided into two sessions. Session 1,2, & 3 and cost of camp is The Rock Regional Camp dates are July 6-10. New Session III July 6 - July 17 the campers. 1 is for grades 2-5 from 9am- $60 each (or $50 each for 2 or Sports Academy (formerly to The Rock are Tennis, Soc- Session IV July 20 - July 3l Registration will be the 11:30am and Session II is for more from same family). Baseball Instructional Camps cer & Baseball lessons rang- The fee for the two week first Monday of each session at grades 6-8 from 12:30pm-3pm. Registration deadline is @ YHC) has set dates for sum- ing from individual to small session is $120, payable to the the Recreation Department lo- Camp features include May 20. Camp Forms can be mer camps for baseball, soc- group to team. For more in- Towns County Recreation De- cated on Hwy. 76 west of agility and quickness drills, picked up at Elementary or cer and tennis. Our 2009 Cross- formation or for a registration partment the first Monday of Hiawassee. For more informa- shooting techniques, ball han- Middle/High School Office or Training for Christ Multi-Sport form, call 706-897-2363 or e- each session. tion please call the Recreation dling, basic offensive moves, call Coach Melton at 706-896- camp and Leadership Training mail [email protected] Day Camp offers chil- Department at 706-896-2600. defensive positioning, drib- 4131 ext 1231.

May 21 2009 sports.p65 2 5/18/2009, 9:50 AM