Monday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Jury picked for Quintez Cephus trial; Bud Dupree; Mercer trio - including Rutland's Pyon - in tourney; Braves Report, Falcons Report, and more
Monday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
All-white jury for Quintez Cephus trial
The sexual assault trial for Quintez Cephus will begin Tuesday with an all-white jury.
The Stratford grad and former Wisconsin receiver has pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual assault of an intoxicated victim and one count of third-degree sexual assault.
Two dozen potential jurors were interviewed, and eight women and six men were selected.
The alleged incident took place in April of 2018 and Cephus was charged in August. He left the football team, then was suspended from the team and school. He was expelled in the spring semester for a non-academic misconduct violation.
The judge ruled earlier this month that a rape crisis advocate who counseled one of the victims could be called as a witness, deciding that the counselor’s actions during the police interview were beyond counseling and involved influence.
A Facebook page to help raise funds for his defense has been started.
Money year on tap for Wilkinson County grad Bud Dupree
But he’s not feeling the pressure.
Mercer trio in women’s amateur
Three Mercer women’s golfers – including Rutland grad Carol Pyon – are competing in the Ladies National Golf Association’s 89th Amateur Championship at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs.
Monday’s first day wasn’t a good one two-thirds of the group.
Payton Schanen is tied for 16th after shooting a 1-over 72.
Pyon and Lauren Lightfritz are among eight tied for 57th with a 6-over 77.
The field will be cut to 60 and ties after Tuesday’s round, the second of four.
Braves Report
Anthony Rendon belted a grand slam in the sixth to put Washington ahead en route to a 6-3 win over Atlanta in the series opener.
The Nationals led 2-0 after two and Atlanta got one back in the fourth. The Braves scored one in the top of the sixth to tie it, and that didn’t last long.
Two walks, two outs, and a single loaded the bases for Rendon, who sent a 2-0 Chad Sobotka fastball over the fence in left to break the tie.
Charlie Culberson hit a one-out solo homer in the ninth, but Sean Doolittle ended up with three strikeouts in the inning to finish it.
Freddie Freeman had three of Atlanta’s seven hits. Josh Donaldson passed the 1,000-hit mark.
Dallas Keuchel fell to 3-4 after going 5.1 innings, with four strikeouts, four walks, four runs, and six hits. Jeremy Walker and x Blevins also threw in relief.
Atlanta’s lead is now 4.5 games over Washington and six over idle Philadelphia
Next: Tuesday, at Washington, 7:05 p.m., FSSE; Wednesday, at Washington, 12:05 p.m., FSSE; Thursday, vs. Cincinnati, 7:20 p.m., FSSE; Friday, 7:20 p.m., FSSO; Saturday, vs. Cincinnati, 7:20 p.m., FSSO
Falcons Report
What’s coming with Julio’s contract?
Around/About Central Georgia
Column: Georgia Southern, King play the waiting game
UGA basketball: Game with Memphis set