Wednesday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Mercer's Blalock honored; Atlanta United lose; ex-Ga. Southern BSB coach Stallings dies; Bobcats in the pros; aaand Savannah played Macon

Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media

Mercer’s Blalock honored as a women’s basketball “trailblazer”

          Being a trailblazer is nothing new for Sybil Blalock.

          Being recognized by outsiders as much is, however, a little different.

          Blalock was honored recently as a “Trailblazer of the game” by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in conjunction with the 20th Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier this month in Knoxville, Tenn.

          Blalock was among the inaugural members of the Women’s Professional Basketball League honored as part of the induction ceremony that installed seven members to the hall.

          Blalock played two seasons in the WBL, the first women’s pro basketball league that operated from 1979-81. She played under Butch Van Breda Kolff, a longtime NBA coach, in New Orleans.

          Blalock racked up all-star and all-league honors with the pride, and was named the Sportswoman of the Year.

          "I'm very grateful for everyone that has been part of this journey, especially my parents, coaches and teammates," Blalock said in a Mercer news release. "I enjoyed every minute of my playing career. It is really unbelievable for those of us fortunate enough to play in the WBL to be honored by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame."
          Blalock went on to play professionally in Europe and South America, was on the U.S. World University Team and Olympic development team.

          All that came after her All-American career at Mercer (1971-75), and before her post-playing career at Mercer as an assistant women’s coach and administrator. She is Mercer’s deputy athletics director.

          Blalock is a member of the Macon Sports Hall of Fame, and one of three female athletes at Mercer to have her jersey retired.

United fall at home to Chicago

          Atlanta’s Open Cup journey is over after losing 1-0 to Chicago at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Longtime Georgia Southern baseball coach Stallings dead at 87

          The man who got Florida State the closest its been to a College World Series title died before the Seminoles could finally accomplish the feat.

          Jack Stallings coached FSU to the runner-up finish in 1970, and then he went on to Georgia Southern and established the Eagles as a quality regional program.

          Stalling died Tuesday at 87 in Tallahassee.

          He coached at Wake Forest (1960-68) before going to FSU (1969-74) and Georgia Southern (1976-91).

          Southern Cal scored in the bottom of the 15th inning to beat FSU 2-1 in that 1970 finale. The Seminoles went 49-9-1 that year

          “He could teach you anything if you wanted to learn it, not just baseball,” said son, Mike Stallings, said Wednesday in the Tallahassee Democrat. “Whatever we wanted to do, he helped us. He didn’t push his dream on us.”

          Stallings is 28th on college baseball’s all-time wins list with 1,259 wins. He tops the Georgia Southern list with 859 wins.

          His No. 1 jersey at Georgia Southern is retired, and the field at J.I. Clements Stadium was named after him in 2005, a year after his induction to the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame.

          Stallings was 859-582-5 in Statesboro, leading the Eagles to five conference tournament titles and a CWS visit in 1990.

Another Savannah-Macon game, and another, well, ya know

          There was suspense for about half of the game, and then not so much.

          Savannah scored two in the sixth and four in the seventh to pull away from Macon 9-0 in a afternoon game Wednesday at Luther Williams.

          Macon was shut out for the second straight time, making things tough with four errors.

          Four Savannah pitchers teamed for nine strikeouts and 1 walk.

          Bill Leroy of Dublin was one of five Savannah batters to get two hits. He also scored twice.

          Tanner Wetrich went 3-for-4 for Macon.

          The teams play Thursday night in Savannah.

The Braves Report is in The Latest Coverage

Catching up with Georgia College’s pro baseball players

          The Eagles have a fair number of players getting paid to play.

This Week’s Signings

          Dublin boys basketball standout Torian Holder signed Tuesday with William Penn University.