Towns County Sports

Page 11A THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 20, 2015 May 20, 2015 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD Page 11A Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Things are looking up as 49 come out for Spring Football Practice By Shawn Jarrard double digit numbers of eighth- Towns County Herald graders and upcoming fresh- Staff Writer men, it has also taken on about 10 new high school players who The Towns County Indi- chose not to play last year. ans have been busy with their “That’s huge,” said Coach Spring Practice schedule, don- Barnhart. “I think it gives us a ning pads for the first time since lot more depth. Hopefully we the season ended last fall. can get some people some rest “My goal this whole at times next year, and keep spring was really just to get people fresh throughout the better at the fundamentals of game and be stronger at the end football – blocking, tackling, of the game.” running and just our base plays,” This week will be Coach said Indians Head Coach Billy Barnhart’s first Blue and White Barnhart. “That was my focus Scrimmage, which will feature this spring, I felt it’s what we two Indian teams squaring off needed to do.” for gridiron greatness. So far, the roster numbers The game will take place are up over last year’s team total on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m. of 26 players to end the season, in Frank McClure Stadium. with a loss of four seniors to “It’s always fun, it’s al- boot. ways interesting to see how “We’ve got 49 out right those things work out,” said now, which is tremendous,” said Coach Barnhart. “The great Coach Barnhart. “So, we’ve got thing about it is, though, you a lot of newer guys out, younger get everybody on film, you get guys coming up from the middle to evaluate everybody and kind school. I just felt like we really of see where we are at the end of needed to focus on just the fun- The sound of pads popping last week at TCHS could only mean one thing: Spring practice is underway. Photos/Lowell Nicholson spring going into summer. damentals of football.” time Youth Football Director benefit both programs, the rec ing his system and practicing been recruiting the news guys “That’s what I look at One thing that’s new this Jimmy Smith. league and us, if we went ahead the plays. we’ve got out here. more than anything – it’s going coming school year is there will “Just after kind of observ- and brought our eighth-graders “We’re hoping that they’ll “And I just think it shows to be a great evaluation tool, be no more middle school team. ing the rec league last year and up with us.” stick it out with us,” said Coach that the guys that played for us because we will film it. So, we’ll The eighth-graders will join that oldest team, they were sixth With the new setup, sev- Barnhart of the new recruits. last year, they’ve bought into evaluate everybody and where freshmen at the high school to graders and that’s all they had,” enth-graders will get more play “And I think they will. I’ve what we’re doing, they believe they’re at right now, so we’ll form a freshman team and play a said Coach Barnhart. “And they as top dogs of the rec league, told our guys they’re the best in what we’re doing, and they’re kind of have a picture and idea six-game freshman schedule. were going against other teams and eighth-graders will gain, recruiters for this program, and excited about what we have of where we’re going into the Seventh-graders, histori- that were sixth and seventh in effect, a fifth year of high I think it shows that they like going on here. I am, and I can’t fall, of who we’ve got and who’s cally playing for the middle graders and just getting ham- school football. This will allow what’s going on here, they’ve wait. I’m chomping at the bit.” where, and who’s going to be school team, will go to benefit mered, and it really wasn’t fair Coach Barnhart to have kids for bought into what we’re doing, Not only has the 2015- playing what position and what rec league football with long- to them. I just felt that it would potentially five full years, learn- and they’re the ones that have 2016 football team gained kind of depth we’ve got.” TCHS hosts spring Towns-Union Special Olympics Spring Games By Shawn Jarrard tie Dyer at the beginning of the Towns County Herald games. Staff Writer Several sponsors came to- gether to make the event a success. The joint Union and Towns McConnell Memorial Baptist counties Spring 2015 Special Church provided lunch to those Olympics took place in Frank Mc- in attendance, and Coca-Cola do- Clure Stadium at Towns County nated bottled water for the day. High School on Thursday, May Blue Ridge Mountain EMC 14. and United Community Bank each “The kids love it,” said donated a tent for athletes and Union County High School Princi- volunteers to eat under and rest pal John Hill. “It’s a really big day out of the sun. for them. They look forward to it. Various student groups, They talk about it for weeks before such as the Union County FCLA and then afterwards. It’s very en- and the Towns County Spanish joyable. All the kids in the green Club, volunteered for the Olym- shirts are Union County, and then pics. the kids in the red shirts walking Towns County had several around are some volunteers from clubs on campus to assist the ath- our high school that came to help letes. The Pinterest Club handed with the events.” out stick-on jewelry, the Leo Club Overall, Principal Hill was and Towns County Cheerleaders impressed with the turnout of painted faces and the Robotics both volunteers and athletes, and Team held live robot demonstra- he attributed the numbers to the tions. passions of those involved. The cross country and soc- “It’s the most important Good times and good sportsmanship were the theme of the day at the Special Olympics hosted by Towns County. Photos/Lowell Nicholson cer teams, as well as seniors not thing in my day,” said Principal busy taking End of Course tests, Hill. “We’ve got a lot of stuff go- wore sky blue shirts that offset “They are competing letes from the Master’s Program of Athletes competed in a conducted the Olympic events. ing on with AP testing and End the neon green of Union County, amongst themselves, for the most Avita Community Partners. series of sporting events, including “If they’re having a good of Course testing, preparation for and everyone competed in a show part. I think everyone that partici- Becky Tracy, who is the the softball throw, the 100 meter time, we did our job, and that’s graduation, honors night, baccalau- of good sportsmanship and cama- pates just has a good time, and it’s parent mentor for special education run, the soccer run and kick, the what it’s about,” said Towns Coun- reate. But this is a priority for me, raderie. not as much about competition as services and the local coordinator 400 meter walk and the standing ty Cross Country Head Coach to be here and support our kids. “In the winter, we have the it is coming out here and having for Union County, helped to orga- long jump. Jeannie Ledford. “And that’s It’s a priority for me, it’s the No. 1 Special Olympics that we hold in a good time. I personally haven’t nize Thursday’s event. Each event was divided into the thing with them – we’re so thing today. And you can see that Union County, and so then in the missed a Special Olympics I don’t “We always try to plan it age groups, and athletes competed competitive. To them, they win Towns County’s superintendent spring, we have Union County think since I taught in Union to be the second Thursday in No- with their peers for chances to win every time, and that’s really what is out here supporting his kids. come over and we host the Special County back in 1998. I absolutely vember and the second Thursday medals. it’s about for them. When they These kids are very important to Olympics here every May,” said love it, so I’m always here.” in May,” said Tracy. “And then Cadence Nichols of Towns compete, they win. They’re just so both of us.” Towns County Superintendent of Joining the kids from Union we do the Friday as rain dates for County sang the national anthem happy, and it’s the true meaning of Towns County athletes Schools Dr. Darren Berrong. and Towns counties were adult ath- both.” with Union County athlete Ka- sport and athleticism.” NASCAR 2015 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter Hamlin gets All-Star win Is this the right call for a driver what is now known as the NA- CHARLOTTE, N. C. shootout. SCAR Sprint Cup Series. For the restart, Jones chose who has missed 11 races, nearly a –Polesitter Denny Hamlin, held third of the season? Give us your This race was held in viola- off Kevin Harvick to win Satur- the outside lane but was not able tion of South Carolina blue laws; to clear Kahne, who raced hard thoughts.

Load more