March 2, 2011 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD Page 15 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports T www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Panthers spoil indians season opener NASCAR 2010 By James Reese By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Towns County Herald [email protected] PULLS 12. Edwards-59 Class AA’s Union Coun- AWAY fOR PHOENix WiN BUSCH LEADS EVERY ty Panthers spoiled the season Jeff Gordon is back. NATiONWiDE LAP opener for the Towns County Gordon, who led 168 of held off a Indians last week. the 312 lap Subway Fresh 500 challenge from The Panthers claimed at Phoenix on Sunday, caught in the closing laps of Saturday’s a 9-5 victory over the Indians and passed Kyle Busch on lap Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at in the season openers for both 308, then pulled away for his Phoenix International Raceway teams. first win in 66 races. to win his 44th Nationwide se- The Indians bats came “Are you kidding me, it’s ries race. out cold as ice, struggling to been way too long,” said Gor- “First person I have to mount a rally against the Pan- don, who started the race 20th. thank is Carl Edwards for rac- thers. The indians are anxious to mount a rally against Union County Photo “Ooh, this feels good. I didn’t ing me clean. He raced me hard, Indians’ starting pitcher by Lowell Nicholson. care how we did it, I just want- but raced me clean,” Busch said. Taylor Denton broke the hitless ed to get to victory lane.” “After that second long run, I drought with the Indians’ first Gordon had lost the lead was like, ‘Man, so far I’ve led hit of the young season. during a round of pit stops, every lap of this thing,’ and it The Panthers jumped but on lap 308, he was able to came down toward the end of Jeff Gordon, winner of Sunday’s out to a 9-0 lead going into the squeeze under Kyle Busch’s the race and Carl was alongside Phoenix Cup race top of the fifth inning. On the No. 18 as the two went me and he was trying to pass series standings. verge of having the game by into turn-1. That was enough to me and I was like, ‘Man, just Top-10 points leaders mercy rule, the Indians defense loosen Busch’s car up, and Gor- beat him back to the start-finish after 2 of 25: 1. - managed to fend off a Panther don sailed by. line, just beat him back to the 71, 2. -70, 3. Cole charge as Union loaded the Busch was not able to re- start-finish line.’ Whitt-68, 4. -67, bases. gain his momentum and had to “I was just trying to 5. -66, 6. Aus- Between innings, Indi- settle for second. hold on for as long as I could. tin Dillon-63, 7. Jeffrey Earn- ans Head Baseball Coach Chris “We came through a lot Finally, it seemed like it was hardt-62, 8. -61, 9. Vardo gave an inspirational plea of adversity during the race,” about 15 laps or so that his -59, 10. Ron to his players to hang in and try said Busch. “We had good pit stuff would just start falling Hornaday-57. Billy Meier drives home two against the Panthers Photo by James Commentary: This year’s to create a spark. Reese. stops, but Jeff ran me down and off enough where we could That spark arrived in the passed. He had the fastest car.” start clicking back away and seemed to get NA- bottom half of the fifth in the Busch got into the pole- get away from him a little bit. SCAR off to a good start. There form of a Dylan Diehl single to sitter, Carl Edwards, forcing I knew if I could just make it was great fan enthusiasm, and right. Designated Hitter Wesley Edwards to pit for extensive to that threshold, that I thought with a 17 per cent increase in Bloodworth would follow with repairs to his No. 99. we’d be okay. Fortunately we television viewers, the season is another shot toward first to put “I really hate what hap- got there. It was pretty cool. I looking good. two on and nobody out. Follow- pened between me and the 99- love doing that stuff and being While the fan news ap- ing a walk and the bases loaded, car,” continued Busch. “I really in the position where you’re the pears to be positive, there was senior Billy Meier drove in the hate that I got into him after he guy to beat.” no optimism this past week for first Indian run of the year with raced me so clean in the Na- Busch became the first the Nationwide Series race at a solid line drive shot back up tionwide race.” driver to lead every lap of an Phoenix. the middle. The Indians added On lap 59, Edwards saw event in one of NASCAR’s top Only 40 cars started the four more runs before the Pan- his day go sour after Kyle Busch three series since Dale Earn- race, which was dominated by thers’ relief corps extinguished veered hard left into his No. 99 hardt Jr. did it on July 4, 2003, Kyle Busch. It was the first the Indians late rally. Ford along the backstretch. Ed- in a Nationwide race at Day- time Nationwide didn’t have a The Panthers returned to wards ran through the dogleg tona. full 43-car field since February Blairsville with a 9-5 season- grass and into the wall. Edwards, who finished 2008 at California. opening win over the Indians. “Hopefully that was an .514 seconds behind Busch, NASCAR officials be- The two teams were inadvertent move on Kyle’s made a contest of the race over lieve the full-time move to the scheduled to play seven in- part. I’ll talk to him and we’ll the final 20 laps, running side new Nationwide Series car and nings on Tuesday in Blairsville freshman Catcher Vonya Bald- deal with it accordingly,” Ed- by side with Busch for extend- long travel distance to Phoenix weather permitting. News re- win waits for the season’s first wards said, ed stretches as the race neared contributed to the shortage of sults of the matchup were not pitch to cross home plate Photo After watching a replay its end. cars. In addition to having only available at press time. by James Reese. of the incident, Edwards added, The remaining top-10 40 cars, there were five that “I thought at first he was just finishers were: , parked within the first 20 laps. frustrated and he turned left to Ryan Newman, , “Long term, with the new 21st Century hosts family game night get back in line and he didn’t , Ricky Stenhouse, car coming on board, we expect- The 21st Century After- as well as a special dessert pre- know I was there, but I watched , and ed there will be some challenges school Program will be host- pared by the students. Please the tape and I think he really . for some of the smaller-budget ing a Family Game Night on make plans to attend our fam- did get loose.” finished teams to get up to , which Tuesday, March 15, at 5 p.m. ily event for some quality time triggered 17th, three laps down, and you’re seeing,” NASCAR VP in the Towns County Middle with your family. For more a 13-car pileup on the back- posted her third straight top-20 of Racing Operations Steve School Lunchroom. This is a information, please call Gina stretch after his left rear tire result in the series. O’Donnell said. free event for all 21st Century Chambers, 21st Century Site Opening Day starter Taylor Den- went down. Top-10 points leaders I guess we’ll have to wait Afterschool students and their Coordinator, at 706-896-4131, ton fires the first pitch of 2011 Vickers blamed it on after 2 of 34: 1. Reed Soren- and see how the Nationwide Photo by Lowell Nicholson. families. Pizza will be served ext. 1155. T(Mar2,F2)SH . son-78, 2. Ricky Stenhouse-73, Series shakes out, but most fans “Matt wrecked us,” Vick- 3. -71, 4. Dan- I talked with are more optimis- ers said. “He just door-slammed ica Patrick-58, 5. Joe Nem- tic than in the past. Near darkness costs Indians first diamond win us in the corner. It’s gonna come echek-58, 6. -56, Weekend Racing: It’s By James Reese back to him.” 7. -55, 8. Justin All- off to for the Cup [email protected] A red flag lasting 14 min- gaier-53, 9. Kenny Wallace-50, and Nationwide teams. The Tallulah Falls – The utes was required to clean up 10. -50 truck teams have their first off Towns County Indians Dia- the resulting mess. Several big- KYLE BUSCH weekend. mond heroes tried to put one name drivers were involved: DOMiNATES TRUCK RACE Sat., Mar. 5, Nationwide in the win column on Thursday Vickers, Jamie McMurray, Clint Busch beat polesitter Series, race 3 of 34; Starting against Region 8-A rivals Tal- Bowyer, and Dale to the checkered time: 3 p.m.; TV: ABC. lulah Falls. Earnhardt Jr. among them. flag by .291 seconds, as Bow- Sun., Mar. 6, From all indications, it , Kevin yer tightened the margin on race 3 of 36; Starting time: 2 was going to happen. That is Harvick, Ryan Newman, Kasey the final lap of Friday night’s p.m.; TV: Fox. until the umpire went to the Tal- Kahne, , Kurt truck race at All times are Eastern. lulah Falls bench around 6:15 Busch, A. J. Allmendinger, and Phoenix. Racing Trivia Question: p.m. with the Indians winning Jr. were the re- Ron Hornaday Jr. was Which Cup team does Regan 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth. maining top-10 finishers. third, followed by Johnny Sau- Smith drive for? As the umpire walked Top-12 points leaders af- ter and . Last Week’s Question: away from the Tallulah Falls ter 2 of 36: 1. Kyle Busch-80, As full-time Sprint Cup Who is ’s teammate bench, players exited the dugout 2. Kurt Busch-77, 3. Stew- drivers, Busch and Bowyer in the Cup series? Answer. It is and prepared for the traditional art-69, 4. Allmendinger-69, 5. aren’t collecting points in the . shaking of hands following a J. Gordon-65, 6. Martin-65, truck series. Consequently, sev- You may contact the completed game. 7. B. Labonte-64, 8. New- enth-place finisher Matt Crafton Racing Reporter at: hodges@ The game was scratched man-64, 9. Montoya-64, 10. left Phoenix with a one-point race500.com due to approaching darkness. Gilliland-63, 11. Menard-63, lead over Clay Rogers in the The Tallulah Falls Indians’ base- ball field has no lights and the umpire felt there wasn’t enough first baseman Kyle McConnell lines a double to right against Tal- Mountain Area Christian Academy receives time to get out of the inning for lulah falls Photo by James Reese. a complete game. The two teams will start check from Blue Ridge Turkey Trot 5K Run from scratch at a later date in the On Saturday, February season, a disappointed Towns 19th, Mountain Area Chris- County Indians Head Coach tian Academy received the Chris Vardo said. proceeds from the first -an Despite the scratched nual Blue Ridge Turkey Trot. game, the Indians looked sharp Katelyn Greenleaf, the cata- when the ball was in play. lyst behind the run, presented In the top of the first in- the check to Howell Teasley, ning starting pitcher Alan Turpin MACA’s first administrator got on base. Unfortunately, he and present board member. In was left stranded at third base presenting the check, Katelyn by the time the third out of the said, “I am presenting this inning was recorded. check to Mountain Area Chris- Towns fell behind 1-0 in tian Academy for the amount the bottom of the first inning as of $1,700. I want to give all Tallulah Falls played small ball the glory to God for the great to push a run across the plate. success of this first Blue Ridge In the top of the second Turkey Trot.” L-R: Gabby Greenleaf, Sue Haller, Katelyn Greenleaf presenting the check inning, Towns senior Brett to Howell Teasley, board member of Mountain Area Christian Academy Bradshaw doubled on a long The Turkey Trot is the fly to left to give the Indians yet result of Miss Greenleaf’s family affair, with her parents, Over 240 people partici- another runner in scoring posi- idea for her high school junior Mr. and Mrs. Barry Greenleaf, pated on Thanksgiving Day. tion. Designated Hitter Paydon year’s community project. Her her grandparents, her great Each runner was asked to pro- Shook reached base and drove grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. uncle, David Hauseman, and vide a canned good as part of in Bradshaw. Senior Alan Turpin gets a lead from third against Tallulah falls Photo Hal Haller, live in Blue Ridge. her sister, Gabby, providing the entry fee. Feed Fannin was Jimmy Pearce singled to by James Reese. Katelyn, along with her parents the needed manpower. Not the recipient of these products. put both he and Shook in scor- again reached followed by an- McConnell. Meier accounted and sister, come to visit during only was family involved, but Tommy Jones was the overall ing position. Senior third base- other single by Pearce. Dylan for the Indians sixth and final the Thanksgiving holidays each members of her cross country winner with a time of 18:30.02 man Billy Meier proceeded to Diehl reached on a fielding er- run of the day. year. Because she is an accom- team, Mario and Lucio Oje- and the women’s winner was drive in both Pearce and Shook ror and Shook came into score The fateful bottom of the plished cross country runner, da, from Northside Christian Donna Garcia, whose time to give Towns a 3-1 lead. and make it 5-1 Towns. fourth arrived and at 6:15 p.m. and has participated in many School in Saint Petersburg, was 19:20.40. To learn more Meier eventually came In the top of the fourth, the umpire called game uncer- turkey trots, Katelyn wanted to FL, also spent the holiday in about this annual event, go around to score to make it 4-1 Meier reached with a lead-off emoniously due to impending begin one in Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge helping with the to www.blueridgeturkeytrot. Towns. single followed by a run-scoring darkness. The decision left the The 5K run became a project. com. N(Mar2,Z8)CA In the third inning Shook double by first baseman Kyle Indians searching for their first victory on the young season. The Indians headed to fishing for a cause Blairsville on Tuesday looking New Al-Anon meetings/times Where: Ledford Chapel ing. All donations are appreci- to avenge an opening season loss New times and meet- Church, Blairsville; new Ala- one who has been affected by Boat Ramp. When: Sat. March ated and accepted. Thanks for at the hands of their arch rival ings for Al-Anon/Ala Teen. Teen meeting: 8 p.m. Wednes- another person’s drinking. The 26th. Time: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. supporting our cause! Union County Panthers. News Family Group Meetings are as day night at Mountain Pres- only requirement for member- (Breakfast & sign-in starting All proceeds will ben- accounts of the game were not follows: Al-Anon: 7 p.m. Sun- byterian Church, Blairsville; ship is that there be a problem @ 5:30 a.m.) efit Towns County’s Relay For available at press time. day night, Chatuge Regional Al-Anon: 8 p.m. Wednesday of alcoholism in a relative or Entry Fee is $50 per Life. Anyone who would like The Indians face Prince Hospital, Hiawassee, GA; Al- night at Mountain Presbyterian a friend. boat. Blast off will be drawn to participate in this event or to Avenue Christian at Indians Anon: 8 p.m. Monday night, Church, Blairsville; Al-Anon Call 706-835-5827, 706- @ 6:50 a.m. Early registration volunteer please call: 706-897- Field at 5 p.m. on Friday in "The Mustard Seed", 12 Step 12 noon Tuesday, Sharp Me- 897-0628 or 828-389-8981. for will get you and your partner 5 3228 or email Crossfam27@ what is now their Region 8-A and Twelve Tradition meet- morial UMC, Young Harris. more information. NT(Mar2,Z1)CA opener. tickets in the door prize draw- gmail.com. T(Mar2,F1)SH ing at Mountain Presbyterian Al-Anon is open to any-