MarchTHE TOWNS 13, 2013 COUNTY THE TOWNS HERALD COUNTY March HERALD 13, 2013 Page 9 Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Indians take Rabun to the wire Middle School baseball off to 2-0 start By Joe Collins balls had the count at 2-2 with 30-yard kick that caught the Cats By Joe Collins Towns County Herald 2 out when a fastball found the keeper to far out and cleared his Towns County Herald Staff Writer head by several feet and into the middle of the plate and that was Staff Writer right side of the goal. The game the one he had been waiting on. A The Towns County High stayed that way until Rabun long fly ball to right center found the hole and Langford looked like School boy’s soccer team hosted scored at the 71:08 mark and then The Towns County Middle a windmill as he waved the run- the Rabun County Wildcats last the fatal accidental goal at the School Indians baseball team opened their 2013 season with a ners home. The triple by DeVries Monday at the Frank McClure 76:45 mark. Sophomore Efren Memorial Stadium and played a come from behind victory against scored the 2 men on base and Figueroa showed some amazing Lakeview at the TCHS baseball the game ended with the Indians solid game holding the lead until footwork and ball handling skill late in the second period thanks to field. It was a very exciting game ahead 9-8. It was a heart stopper as he ended up scoring on a set as Kobe Denton made his way some really solid goal protection that found the Indians trailing play at the 78:01 mark but it was a home from second and the throw from sophomore Dallas Manus 8-1 going into the bottom of the goal shy and the Cats won 4-3. fifth inning but pulling out a last from the cut-off man was just a who had 16 stops on the night. “We played a much better inning win with two outs in the half second late on the last hit of The Wildcats scored an game this time than we did the bottom of the seventh thanks to TCMS vs Union County. the game. unanswered goal late that ac- last time we faced these guys,” two solid extra base hits from Coach Langford knows cidentally bounced into the goal Towns County vs Rabun County declared Head Coach Tim Ross- Will DeVries. One in the sixth runs in the bottom of the fifth to football but he also knows base- off a corner kick as both teams er. “Having Shea (Underwood) and another in the seventh that close the Lakeview lead 8-4 on ball and he was on his team and struggled for the ball and that the goal at several different points back allowed me to change the scored 3 of the final four runs for some good base running by the never let up until the end. “This ended up making the difference during both halves. Manus made lineup a little bit and it proved the victory. Indians. team has a tremendous amount as Rabun pulled it out 4-3. a very impressive stop at the positive tonight. We got a good The bases were loaded The top of the sixth found of poise and confidence. They The Indians came to play 18:48 mark on a penalty kick by boost from Blake early as he in the bottom of the first inning the Indians in trouble with two never look at the scoreboard and and it was a shock to the Wildcats Rabun that was a rocket. The scored with a hard shot in the when Major Moss had a solid eye men on and momentum edging just play the game. It would have who defeated the tribe 10-1 in keeper and the defense held the upper corner of the goal and at the plate and drew a walk to in favor of Lakeview until center- been easy for them to doubt what their first meeting. The Indians Cats at bay for the rest of the first our defense played the offside score the first run of the night for fielder Moss made a great catch we were doing but they didn’t played hard with a lot of good period allowing only one goal trap effectively. We played a lot the Indians. It was all Lakeview which surprised the Lakeview and kept doing what they were solid soccer and a tremendous to tie the game at 1-1 as the first better with a lot of emotion. The from then on with the Indians runners. A good throw from Moss coached to do. We had a lot of amount of hustle all over the half ended. hustle was there and although we stranding 5 runners through the caught their lead runner between discipline at the plate but we need field. The defense was cover- The second half found didn’t come away with the win, it fifth inning when a pitcher change second and third for the second out to be more aggressive in the hit- ing the ball well and the offense the Indians controlling the ball definitely gives us something to for Lakeview gave the Indians of the inning. Graper then struck ting counts,” declared Langford. was producing shot chances well and the Wildcats breaking work on next week,” said Coach the break they needed to get a out the final hitter of the inning The team hosted rival but unfortunately none of the the rules which gave the tribe a Rosser when comparing the two rally going that held for the rest and the Indians took charge in the Union County on Mar. 7 and attempts made it in until senior penalty kick at the 47:02 mark Rabun games.. of the game. bottom of the sixth. took it to the Panthers on the midfielder Blake Burnette made which hit the top of the crossbar The Indians face rival The fifth was a sloppy in- Taylor Jackson opened the backs of some solid pitching and an unassisted hard line drive shot and missed. Manus made some Union County at Frank McClure ning for Lakeview as they walked inning with a base on balls fol- aggressive hitting. The Indians into the upper corner of the goal solid stops at the 48:58 mark Memorial stadium on the grounds several of the TCMS batters and lowed by DeVries who launched led 1-0 after the first two innings that blew by the Wildcat keep and at the 54:32 mark that kept of TCHS on Mar. 19 staring at 6 allowed them to score on 4 passed a long double to right center to and took a 3-0 lead into the fifth. like the wind. the scored tied a 1-1. Freshman p.m. Make plans now to come balls at the plate. It was some score Jackson. Adam Barrett then They closed the Panthers out in Manus had his hands full Dalton Bradley put the Indians in out and support the team as they heads up base running directed by drew a walk and he and DeVries the top of the seventh and carded all night as the Wildcats pounded the lead at the 56:21 mark with a continue to improve. Head Coach Kyle Langford who advanced on a passed ball at the their second victory of the season guided his team through the final plate. Moss followed with a 5-1. This boosted their season three innings despite the severe sacrifice fly that scored DeVries record to 2-0. Tennis teams split with Woody Gap cold. “If we are going to play in and moved Barrett to third, which It is a solid start to what By Joe Collins a solid match and had a strong this cold we might as well play brought Graper to the plate. He promises to be an exciting season delivered a single, which scored Towns County Herald win in the third singles match. to win,” declared Langford. His from some good middle school team responded with some solid Barrett, and the Indians trailed athletes. The next game is Mar. Staff Writer “Mackenzie works hard and has a very positive attitude. She hitting and some good pitching 8-7 as the inning ended. 15 against Lumpkin County at The Towns County High has a strong serve matched by from closer Brody Graper who The bottom of the seventh home. Game time is 4:30 p.m. School tennis teams hosted some really solid ground strokes finished with three strikeouts for found the Indians with two men Make plans now to come out on and two outs as DeVries came Woody Gap last Thursday at the which has made her our player the game, two of those strikeouts and support the TCMS Indians to the plate. A called strike, a baseball team and be prepared to tennis complex on the grounds of the week,” stated Head Coach closing out the sixth and seventh swing and a miss along with two see some exciting baseball. of TCHS and came away with Heather Moss about the senior’s innings. The Indians scored 3 a split, the varsity girls winning solid play. 4-1 and the varsity boys loos- “We have a lot of work to ing 3-2. do between now and the Area NASCAR 2013 For the Lady Indians, Tournament on Apr. 22. The By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter senior Kayla Olin got the first Towns County vs Woody Gap weather has affected our mo- victory of the match by beating mentum at practice and we have gets Vegas win her opponent 8-2 in the singles. The boys had a tough had to reschedule many of our Matt Kenseth celebrated his Senior Mackenzie Mirandi kept time with the Falcons and lost matches, which hurts our prog- 41st birthday by winning Sunday’s Sprint Cup Kobalt 400. He gained things going in the right direc- all three of their matches in the ress. We will focus on ball place- singles and doubles divisions. the lead during a restart on lap 240 tion by also winning 8-2 in her ment and volleys next week in of the 267-lap race and held off a singles match. Both players Junior Garrett Bradshaw lost practice as well as getting more hard charging , who showed good hustle and con- 2-8 while seniors Wesley Blood- first serves in,” declared Moss. led the most laps. trolled the matches. worth and Bradley Smith lost Their next match is Mar 12 at It was Kenseth’s first win Junior Courtney Marshall a close one 6-8. Juniors Jaryd Gilmer County. First serve is in a for Racing and junior Lesleigh Irvin played Gurly and Dustin Bracket lost at 4 p.m. after spending 15 years behind the hard and came out on top in the the second doubles match 1-8 The tennis team is work- wheel of a Ford for Roush Racing. first doubles match 8-4 followed and that gave Woody Gap the ing hard and they need your help. “It’s always good to be a by sophomore Carly Gilfilian win they needed and the Indians Their main fundraiser, the 100 winner,” said Kenseth. “I was ner- and junior Eryn Cochran who lost 3-2 as the Falcons were Game Match is set for Friday, vous during those last laps because dominated their doubles match forced to take two forfeits. Mar. 22 at 3 p.m. at the TCHS Kasey had a great car. Not taking 8-0. It was a great team effort The Indians tennis star tennis complex. Make plans now on tires there at the end allowed us as they came away with the of the week is Lady Indian to support the teams during this to be at the right spot at the right victory 4-1. Mackenzie Mirandi. She played exciting time. time.” Kahne dominated most of Matt Kenseth, winner of Sunday’s race and crew chief Jason Ratcliff the race, but came up short at the were the remain- ite are wishy-washy, when it comes Recap...continued from page 8 end and finished 0.6-seconds be- ing top-10. to voicing their true opinions about hind Kenseth. Top-10 points leaders after what is happening in NASCAR. “I drove so hard every 3 of 33; 1. Hornish-127, 2. Allgai- Prior to Daytona practice, Earn- losing a heart breaker and a trip to two teams went on to win 21 and 15 single lap. I didn’t leave anything er-108, 3. Sadler-108, 4. Scott-108, hardt sang praises about the new the state tournament by an 86-83 games respectively with admirable behind,” said Kahne. “I thought we 5. Smith-103, 6. A. Dillon-100, car. After a crash during a practice score. The Rabun County Boys performances against prominent had the best car, but my tires began 7. Vickers-96, 8. Bayne-95, 9. Pi- session, he said, “I guess I still got in the state tournament by opponents included. slipping there at the end.” quet-93, 10. Bowman-90. have a lot to learn about it. It’s just winning their region opener 71-51 The Hiwassee Dam Girls didn’t lead NASCAR IS WRONG not handling the way I thought.” over Riverside Military Academy won both the regular season and a lot of laps, but he passed Kyle NASCAR has gone too far Earnhardt believes he can before losing a tough 60-56 deci- post season tournament champion- Busch for third late in the race. in attempting to manage its image. voice his opinion but sometimes sion to eventual region champion ships in their Little Smoky Moun- “We needed a little more The organization assessed it needs to happen behind closed Jefferson in the semi-finals. The tain Conference and went on to win speed,” said Keselowski. “When I $25,000 for bash- doors. Wildcats took the third place game their first two games in the Class lost spots on the track, the guys in ing the new Gen 6 car. But he only “I don’t think they mind you by a 67-53 score over Washington- A State Playoffs before falling to the pits helped me out. We didn’t stated what fans saw in the first coming up in the hauler and talking Wilkes but had to travel to Spencer Cherokee 67-55. The Hayesville have the fastest car in practice, or two races, that it’s difficult to pass about what you think about the rac- in Columbus for their opening Girls, who finished third in regular during the race, but it turned out and teams need time to work on the ing and how you think things could round game in the state tournament season and reached the semi-finals pretty good.” new car, just like they did when the improve or what might improve and fell by a 70-58 score to the of their Big Smoky Mountain raced back old model was rolled out. things,” he said. Greenwave. Conference got a win over highly Towns County Senior Night 2013 from a pit road speeding penalty to Others drivers have said the “I think that they’re open to finish fourth. same thing. listening to that kind of stuff.” regarded Smoky Mountain regular in Waynesville and a 58-52 home OPPONENTS – The Lady Indians season and tournament runner-up “All in all, it was a great “The short of the long of it Earnhardt then switched the court win over Pisgah of Canton. race,” said Busch. “Our short speed is I believe I was severely disre- conversation to how much he liked won five games without a loss this Robbinsville in the opening round Tuscola fell last Saturday by just year against four opponents from of the state playoffs before fall- was good, but we just needed to spected by NASCAR by getting the new car, a move that likely a 51-50 score in their Class AAA fined,” Hamlin said. “I believe North Carolina—Hiwassee Dam, ing to North Wilkes, who lost to pick up more speed on the longer made NASCAR officials smile. state semi-finals to Harding “Uni- runs.” that the simple fact of us not even pretty much Hayesville, Murphy, and High- Cherokee two rounds later. versity” of Charlotte while Pisgah lands. Two wins over Hiwassee finished fifth, having a conversation about this summed up the NASCAR orga- A couple of highlights for got a 63-57 win over Thomasville issue before I was hit with a fine Dam and one at Hayesville proved followed by , Dale nization back in 2002, when he the Hayesville Girls were just a on Saturday and will face Kinston has something to say about our said, “It’s NASCAR’s way or the to be the most significant as those Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex, Kevin 46-42 loss at Class AAA Tuscola in the Class AA State Champion- Harvick, and . relationship. What I said was one highway.” ship game this Saturday. finished sentence taken completely out of Hamlin is determined to 2013 Co-Ed T-Ball and Farm League The Hayesville Boys won 33rd, six laps down. context.” fight back, and fans and competi- The Towns County Rec- in either the T-Ball or the Farm the regular season Big Smoky Top-10 leaders after 3 of Hamlin said he will not pay tors are behind him. reation Department will be League programs. Mountain Conference Champion- 36: 1. Johnson-129, 2. Keselows- the fine. Fining Hamlin, or anyone holding registration for T-Ball Cost for these programs ship but fell to Swain of Bryson ki-124, 3. Earnhardt-119, 4. Ham- “Most drivers will tell you for stating their opinion in a rea- and Farm League the week of will be $35 per participant. All City 51-46 in the conference cham- lin-102, 5. Edwards-98, 6. Mar- that we constantly have sponsors sonable manner is going to come March 11th thru March 23rd. registration will be held at the pionship game. They then got wins tin-95, 7. Kenseth-93, 8. Biffle-93, and NASCAR’s best interest in back and bite NASCAR. Co-Ed T-Ball is for boys Recreation Department. Our over Murphy and West Wilkes be- 9. Bowyer-89, 10. Almirola-88. mind when speaking,” he contin- This is a battle that NA- and girls ages 4 and 5. Co- hours of operation are: Mon- fore falling in the third round of the HORNISH IS VEGAS ued. “On the other hand I am a SCAR cannot win. Ed Farm League is for boys day thru Friday 9 a.m. til 8 Class A State Playoffs by a 59-56 NATIONWIDE WINNER person that worked very hard from Its image is going to be tar- & girls ages 6, 7 and 8. The p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. score to East Surry. East Surry Sam Hornish Jr. drove an the bottom to get where I am today nished even more. age control date will be prior til 4 p.m. For more informa- went on to defeat Hendersonville absolutely dominant car to vic- and someone telling me that I can- Weekend Racing: It will be to May 1st for boys and girls. tion please call the Recreation in the fourth round but fell to tory Saturday afternoon, streaking not give my one hundred percent short track racing at Bristol’s .54 honest opinion really bothers me. Boys and girls ages 6 may play Department at 706-896-2600. Winston-Salem Prep 59-43 in the away from Kyle Busch during a mile bullring for the Nationwide state semi-finals last week. seven-lap dash to the finish in the “I feel as if today NASCAR and Sprint teams. The Trucks do Nationwide race at Mo- lost one of its biggest supporters. not race again until April 6. Fuzion Dance and Noteariety featured in benefit concert March 23 tor Speedway. So in the end there are no winners. I Sat., Mar. 16, Nationwide said today I would not pay the fine. Benefit Concert featuring viding healthcare, building assis- Meagan Corbin, and LeAnn De The win was Hornish’s Series, race 4 of 33; Starting time: I stand by that and will go through 2 pm ET; TV: ESPN2. Noteariety and Fuzion Dance tance, trade skills, & veterinary an. second in NASCAR’s Nationwide Company on Saturday, March 23 Series and his first since Nov. 12, the process of appealing. Trust Sun., Mar. 17, Sprint Cup medicine. Each year our team The Fuzion Dance Compa- me; this is not about the money. at 7 p.m. Towns County School 2011 at Phoenix. It was the first Series, race 4 of 36; Starting time: consists of many from our local ny, a project of Brasstown Dance It’s much deeper. I will now shift 1 pm ET; TV: FOX. Auditorium. Tickets: $10 adult, Las Vegas victory for Penske Rac- community churches, not just Academy, was created in August, ing in any NASCAR series. my focus on giving FedEx and my Racing Trivia Question: $5 student. McConnell. Please prayerfully 2007 for the serious dancer ready The Penske organization team what they deserve this week- Camping World Truck Series Proceeds to benefit the consider your involvement. For to spend more hours at the stu- also collected its first victory after end, a win.” champion Ron Hornaday Jr. heads non-profit organizations of more information contact the dio training in a variety of dance switching from to Ford be- The irony of this is that five 2013 inductees into the West McConnell Memorial Baptist church office at 706-896-2281. styles. Fuzion is a non-profit or- tween seasons. what Hamlin said about the new Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame next Church Peru Mission Trip, Fuz- Noteariety is an audition ganization which promotes the Busch rolled across the car and the racing last week at weekend. How many truck titles ion Dance Company and Towns acapella group at Towns County performing arts and expands the finish line in second, 1.1 seconds Phoenix wasn’t all that harsh. But did he win? County School Music Program. High School directed by Chris opportunity for dancers to per- behind Hornish. ran because Hamlin didn’t choose his Last Week’s Question: MMBC PERU MISSION Adams. The 12 members are form. Membership is by audition third, followed by words correctly, or dared to com- Who owns the Las Vegas track? TRIP: McConnell Memorial Brittany Boyer, Celeena Corb- only and member are required to and . Bayne recov- pare the new car to the old one, he Bruton Smith and his Speedway Baptist Church works with Runa in, Christa Hamill, Kayla Olin, attend Royal Academy of Dance ered from an early brush with the was called out and made the poster Inc. Simi, a Peru based Mission, to Natalie Freel, Megan O’Donald, examinations annually. Compa- wall to post the fourth-place result. boy for free speech. You may contact the spread the gospel of Jesus Christ Bonnie Bennett, Alana Calhoun, ny co-directors are Madge Smith , , A few drivers like Dale Racing Reporter at hodges@ to the Quechua Indians by pro- Sierra Nichols, Jessie Poole, and Amy McIntyre. , , and Earnhardt Jr., a ten-time fan favor- race500.com.