Towns County Herald’s Sporting News

Lady Mountain Lions squeeze past tennis Jaguars Local Racing

JIM BRYANT Nam/Badnati (W) (YHC) Singles Results: (GPC) (YHC) Sar Vaughters 6-0, 6-1; Rodgers/Dixon 8-3; (YHC) Yoha Nam (W) (YHC) Sara (YHC Megan Wheatley (W) Action Sports Writer Vaughters/Wheatley (W) Rodgers 6-3, 6-3; oung (W) (GPC Voyka Milosoje 6-0, 6-0; (GPC) Truong/Milosoje 8-5; (YHC) Carrie Dixon 6-0, 6-3; (YHC) (W) Default; (YHC) (W) by Carl Vanzura Rains finally allow (YHC) (W) Default. (GPC) Maria Bagnati (W) Default. Lady Cats to get in net time.

With all the sports pro- Shawn Chastain takes night two at Tri-County grams facing schedule changes Murphy hot-shoe Shawn Chastain cruised around Tri- due to inclement weather, the County Race Track Saturday night to become the second Lady Mountain Lions were no different driver to win early in to 2009 season. Kevin Sutton exception. After weeks of can- was second, followed by Glenn Barnett, Jamie Oliver and cellations, they finally man- Johnny Chastain who broke during qualifying. aged to get in some net time Bobby Painter raced to the front of the Sportsman against the Jaguars from Geor- feature as he battle Devin Dilbeck who went out with a cut gia Perimeter College. tire. Jamie Lunsford dueled it out with Panter and managed The cats led in the #1 a strong second place finish. Preston Crisp, Robby Roxbury doubles match but faltered and Doug Sneed rounded nut the top five. late and dropped their match Blairsville racer Brian Kinnersley drove to victory but the #2 position was se- from the pole in the Nesmith Crate Late Model feature as cured and GP defaulted in the he held off Jacob Anderson, Josh Morrow, Jason Deal and #3 position to give YHC a 2- Terry Ledford. 1 lead after the doubles. Murphy driver Jim Twiggs and Brasstown’s Greg Again in the singles matches Sudderth raced door-to-door just inches apart for eight laps the Mountain Lions struggled until Twiggs spun when Sudderth went into turn four to strong in the early matches but a and hit the rear of Twiggs car spinning him. Sudderth had to late win at the #4 seed and go to the rear on the restart. Sudderth, last weeks winner, two defaults gave the Lady worked his way back to a second place finish, followed by Cats a slim 5-4 win in the Jeffery Wood, Bo Eaton and Blairsville’s Shannon Dockery. Megan Wheatley returns the ball in 5-4 win Hiawassee driver Steven Sofield became the first two match. Sara Vaughters returns an overhead shot in over Georgia Perimeter College. Doubles Results: (GPC) time winner in 2009 when he won the Street Stock feature doubles actions against the Jaguars. Photos by Jim and Lisa Bryant again. He raced to victory over Charles Toomey, Jeremy Woody, Harold Garrett and Josh Roberts. Justin Woodard also took his second win this year Commerce Tigers comeback thwarts Indians in final innings when he took the Mini Stock feature over Franklin Burk, Jamie Cross, Lynn Burchfield and Travis Robinson. double by James Mullins for a runner bowled over the Indian on and took the 6-4 win back JIM BRYANT The Georgia Mini Sprint Series put on a crowd pleas- 1-0 lead. Andy Page walked to catcher in route to the plate. over the mountain. ing show when 20 cars blasted around the 3/10s clay oval at Sports Writer load and Matt Beni hit a 2-out Despite a protest by the Indian speeds nearing 100 miles-per-hour. Justin Lineman from single when the Cat second coach, the play stood and after Spencer, NC won the 20-lap feature over Rich Goss from Tribe blow early 3-0 baseman booted the ball and six innings of play, it was a Charlotte , NC . lead, falter in final two scored pinch-runner, Billy stand-off at 3-3. The Tigers Racing returns this Saturday with all six classes along Meier, 2-0. Alan Turpin fol- picked up in the seventh where innings. with the Modified 4 Cylinder class making their first ap- lowed with a shot over third they left off with an RBI “stand- pearance. The points season also starts this week. For more that also got Mullins home D” and a 4-3 lead. The final information on Tri-County go to www.tricountyracetrack.com After winning 14-1 over when the third baseman nail in the coffin came off a Over at Sugar Creek Speedway in Blue Ridge , Athens Christian the day before couldn’t find the handle, 3-0. Tiger HR that plated two more Randall Twiggs’ driver Johnny Chastain won what will be and leading 3-0 through five in- The Cats were just bid- runs, 6-3. In the bottom half one of many races this year in the Super Late Model fea- nings, it looked like the TCHS ing their time and in the sixth the Tribe got one run back when tures this year. Brian Kinnersley won the Crate Late Model Indians were holding the win- they touched starting pitcher Charles Corn cranked a show in his Blairsville based Chevy. Sugar Creek run each ning hand. Fate is often cruel Tryston Drummond for two double, stretched it into a Friday night. and Thursday the Commerce runs when two Indian outfield- triple and then was waved home Blairsville’s Jonathan Davenport raced in West Tigers utilized one of those time ers let a ball drop between by the umpire when the over- Virgina over the weekend in a Worlds Of Outlaws Series to take a come-from-behind 6-4 them, 3-2. A booming RBI shot throw at third went into the Charles Corn watches the ball event and had the fast time of the night, won his heat and win over the home team. Play- to right made it 3-3 when the dugout, 6-4. The Tigers held whiz by in action. led three time in the 50 lap race and finished fifth against ing on the YHC Mountain Li- the best drivers in the country. ons’ field, the game settled in to a 0-0 stand-off through the first three innings. Plate action in the first three innings for both team was quite, with only a single over the shortstop by James Mullins in the second and a shot over third by Alan Turpin in the third innings. The best action came in the third inning when catcher, Zeke Gribble rifled a throw to Matt Beni at second base to boink a sliding Tiger. The bats came out of the bag in the fourth when Commerce opened with three hits but failed to plate any runners due to the defense of the Indians. In the bottom of the stanza, Charles Corn (who signed with Bryan College following the game) opened with a single to Cody Harkins makes the stretch for the out at Matt Beni slides into third ahead of the ball as coach Moss right and was plated off an RBI first base in loss to Commerce. Zeke Gribble chases down a foul ball for an out. watches. Photos by Jim and Lisa Bryant Winn to play basketball at Piedmont College NASCAR 2009 By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter senting some of her greatest TCHS Seniors as the fourth to JERRY KENDALL “OLD MAN” MARTIN IN ran up front , talents such as assists, steals, come to agreement for contin- VICTORY LANE for most of the race and fin- while the Craftsman Trucks are and shooting percentages are ued sports activity in college Sports Writer PHOENIX, Ariz—With ished third. at Kansas Speedway. not yet available but will be with perhaps as many as three his win in the Subway Fresh Fit “I felt like we started Sat., Apr. 25, Nation- Towns County Lady In- compiled in time for the sports more to follow. Prior signees 500, became the the race on the tight side, and wide Series Aaron’s 312, race dian basketball superstar Nikki banquet. from this year’s senior class fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup then we were having trouble 8 of 35; Starting time: 2:30 p.m. Winn placed an exclamation In a departure from her include Chase Ellis for football Series driver 50 or older to go putting the power down off (EDT); TV: ESPN2. point on a marvelous high high school career, Winn will at Pikeville College in to victory lane. turn four when the sun was out. Sat., Apr. 25, Camping school career last Friday when wear uniform number “1” at Pikeville, Kentucky; Ezekiel The other three were I ignored how loose the car was World Series O’Reilly Auto she signed a scholarship to play Piedmont as the familiar num- Gribble for baseball at Young (52), Morgan Shep- on power down because I felt Parts 250, race 5 of 25; Start- basketball at Piedmont College ber “5” she wore at TCHS has Harris College; and Charles herd (50) and (50). like that would go away with ing time: 5:30 p.m. (EDT); TV: in Demorest, Georgia. In so been retired at Piedmont. No Corn for baseball at Bryan Martin started from the the sun setting, and it did, but Speed Channel. doing, she followed the foot- matter that her uniform will be College in Dayton, Tennessee. pole and led 157 of 312 laps. we were a bit on the tight side, Sun., Apr. 26, Sprint Cup steps of a number of TCHS different, however, as Winn is “I hoped it would hap- and so I had to loosen up the Aaron’s 499, race 9 of 36; graduates involved in sports at expected to contribute imme- Congratulations and pen,” said Martin. “But I didn't race car. When I did that, the Starting time: 1 p.m. (EDT); the school. diately to the fortunes of the best wishes are once again ex- expect it to happen. I only crew got me out in front, we TV: FOX. Included among this list Piedmont Lady Lions who have tended to Nikki Winn for reach- hoped. But Rick Hendrick, you led some laps out in the lead Racing Trivia Question: is Lady Indian Assistant Coach a rich history of success and ing this latest chapter in a stel- know, I sat and watched him and felt comfortable up there.” Who will AJ Allmendinger be Candice Blythe (Thompson) show great promise for the fu- lar career. She can be certain make Tim Richmond's dreams , Greg driving for in 2010? who was a star basketball ture with several other top the roads between Towns come true from being sick, and Biffle, , Martin Last Week’s Question: player at Piedmont during the notch signees. County and Demorest will be this may not be as dramatic, but Truex, David Reutimann, Sam Who does Clint Bowyer drive 2003 and 2004 seasons follow- Winn continues an admi- quite busy with fans following it’s big to me. Hornish, and Carl Edwards for? Answer. He drives the ing a standout four year career rable pattern for this year’s her college career. “But you know, the re- rounded out the top-10 finishers. No. 33 at TCHS and two top flight sponse from the competitors Top-12 Chase Contend- in the Cup Series. years at Truett McConnel Col- means much more than the tro- ers after 8 of 36: 1. J. Gordon- You may contact the lege. Further, Indians Head phy, and that was an incredible.. 1242, 2. Johnson-1157, 3. Ku. Racing Reporter at: Basketball Coach Chet Kendall really, really incredible, from Busch-1144, 4. Stewart-1138, [email protected]. is a member of the Piedmont all of the crew guys to all of 5. Hamlin-1088, 6. Bowyer- Sports Hall of Fame in honor the guys, including Jack Roush, 1052, 7. Ky. Busch-1026, 8. of two outstanding years as both who seemed genuinely happy. Edwards-1023, 9. Reutimann- a pitcher and hitter for the And Jack and I are at tight as 992, 10. Kahne-975, 11. Bur- school’s baseball program in we have ever been and have ton-953, 12. Kenseth the early 1990’s. been through all of this. BIFFLE TAKES PHOENIX A multi talented athlete, “It's just, like I said, I NATIONWIDE RACE also starring on the softball hoped it would happen, but you Greg Biffle won the field at TCHS, Winn put up know, it's asking a lot, man. Bashas’ Supermarket 200 at stunning scoring numbers in These things are hard to win. Phoenix. It was Biffle’s first appearing and scoring in all 118 It's hard just to make a car good win of the season and it gave varsity basketball games played enough to win, and then it's like car owner Jack Roush, his during her four years with the ten times harder to win one on 100th victory. Lady Indians. She finished with top of that.” took over the the verifiable career scoring finished a points lead from Carl Edwards, record of 1,870 points for a four close second. who dropped to second. year average of 15.8 points per “It seemed like what we Top-10 points leaders af- game. She also holds the single fought, we fought all night and ter 7 of 35: 1. Ky. Busch-1075, game school scoring record it didn't really change for us. 2. Edwards-1028, Ragan-949, since Georgia began allowing As it got a little bit cooler it 4. Leffler-932, 5. Brad girls to play full court back in got more grip but that's Phoe- Keselowski-898, 6. Logano- the 1970’s with thirty seven nix,” said Stewart. “I think for 893, 7. Gaughan-822, 8. points against Athens Christian us, it's been refreshing. Just Allgaier-818, 9. Bliss-789, 10. during her junior year. For her when you've never had a start Bliss-789 senior season, she accumulated like this to the season, it's nice Next Week: State of the 558 points in thirty one games to finally have one. It's amaz- Camping World Trucks for an 18.0 points per game Nikki Winn signs to play basketball for the Piedmont College ing to think that with a new Weekend Racing: The average. Official additional Lady Lions. Winn is flanked by Asst. Coach Candice Thompson team we can go out and have Sprint Cup and Nationwide statistics for this season repre- and Head Coach Jim Melton. Photo by Jim/Lisa Bryant this kind of a start to the year.” teams will be at the 2.66-mile Mark Martin wins at Phoenix

April 23 2009 sports.p65 1 4/20/2009, 5:11 PM