Tuesday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Macon Touchdown Club schedule; area alums make all-conference teams; HS SB and VB scores; Braves, Falcons, Peach State college FB reports
Tuesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
Macon TD Club speakers list is finalized
A little more than a week away from its doubleheader, the Macon Touchdown Club released a speakers list that brings three legends, a former player worth of that tag, and a roster of familiar names.
The first meeting is Sept. 9 with longtime college football writer and broadcaster Tony Barnhart. All meetings are at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth at 304 Pierce Avenue, and include dinner. Cost is $250 for an individual membership and $450 for corporate (two seats). Non-members can attend for $30 per visit.
The Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic is August 24 at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium, with Westside and Southwest at 4 p.m. followed by Baldwin and Washington County.
Each week, a local high school is featured, teams from Bibb County as well as Jones County and Mary Persons.
The schedule: Sept. 9, Tony Barnhart; Sept. 16, Georgia Tech assistant head coach Brent Key; Sept. 23, Mercer head coach Bobby Lamb; Sept. 30, legend Andy McCollum (Middle Tenn. State and Georgia Tech).
Oct. 7, Georgia Southern head coach Chad Lunsford; Oct. 14, Samford head coach Chris Hatcher; Oct. 21, legend Tommy Tuberville (Auburn); Oct. 28, former UGA QB legend David Greene; Nov. 4, Chick Fil A Bowl CEO Gary Stokan; Nov. 4, legend Paul Johnson (Georgia Southern, Navy, and Georgia Tech); Nov. 18, Army head coach Jeff Monken; Nov. 25, West Alabama head coach – and former Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech assistant – Brett Gilliland.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart is scheduled as the jamboree speaker in February.
For more information, visit www.macontouchdownclub.com or call executive director Lloyd Perkins at 256-6374.
Area alums make preseason football teams
Former Jones County standout Torrez Finney picked up some props recently.
Phil Steele's FCS magazine released its own All-Southern Conference team, and Finney made the third team at fullback.
Peach County's Mitchell Fineran of Samford is the third-team kicker.
Washington County alum Will Coneway of Mercer made the third team at linebacker.
Mercer's Austin Sanders (OL, first), Tyray Devezin (RB, second), David Durden (WR, second; KR, second)), Jake Flath and Chris Ellington (OL, third) were named on offense. Defensively: Dorian Kithcart (DL, second), Sidney Otiwu (LB, third), Malique Fleming (DB, third). Steven Nixon is the third-team snapper.
Former Perry multi-sporter K.J. Smith, who spent some time at Georgia, made the Big South's second team at DB, as well as kick returner and punt returner.
Reggie Gantt, a senior from FPD, made the Pioneer Football League's third team at defensive back.
Scoreboard
High School
Softball
ACE 11, Johnson County 0
Bleckley County 19, Northeast 0
Fullington 16, Crisp 4
Howard 10, Warner Robins 1
The Huskies took advantage of 13 walks to go with only six hits, Sydnee McElveen getting thee RBI, Megan Sharpe and Beth Dorough two RBI each. Ella Doolittle sat down 13 Demon batters with only one walk.
Jones County 12, Woodland 2
Mount de Sales 9, Rutland 4
In a game of seven errors and 23 hits, the Cavs took a 7-1 lead after one and maintained. Henderson Hurdle had three hits and two RBI from leadoff for MdS, which got two-hit nights from Chloe Nepveux (three RBI), Jordyn Partain, and Sarah Hatcher. Bailey Caldwell and Taylor Stewart had two its and Keely Bryant two RBI for Rutland.
Oconee County 14, Monticello 8
Monticello got its runs in the second and third innings, but got nothing after that in the nine-error game. Bailey Jenkins had three hits and three RBI for the Canes, Jasmine Stone adding two hits and two RBI.
Perry 12, Peach County 2
The visitors put it away early with seven runs in the first two innings. AliRae Dykes drove in five runs on two hits while Terra Odom scored four times on two hits. Abby Ussery and Harley Crumley drove in two runs each.
Stratford 5, Strong Rock 1
Taylor Justice had two hits and three RBI to lead Stratford, which scored three in the third – two on Justice’s homer – to take control. Shelby Bandt, Nadia Reese, and Paige Gray had two each for the Eagles, who got a five-strikeout, no-walk complete game from Kenna McElmurray.
Veterans 9, Northside 4
The Warhawks trailed until a three-run fifth, sparking seven runs in the final three innings to help overcome four errors. Alli Edison’s two-run double sparked the fifth, Kaylee Brown starting it with an RBI double. Brown had three hits and two RBI, Nicole Chavous two hits and three RBI.
Washington County 16, Glascock County 0
Volleyball
ELCA 2, Veterans 0
FPD 2, Strong Rock 1 (25-15, 16-25, 15-7); FPD 2, Lee County 0 (25-12, 25-22)
Lamar County 2, Southwest 0; Lamar County 2, Manchester 0
Stratford 2, ACE 0
Upson-Lee 3, Tattnall 0
Westside 2, Central 1
West Laurens 2, Stratford 0
Braves Report
Less than 30,000 fans showed up for what’s been a good rivalry, in this case won 5-3 by Atlanta, thanks to a balanced lineup attack - with seven of eight position players getting hits.
Atlanta led 3-1 after two and added single runs in the fourth and fifth, New York getting two in the eighth to make it closer.
Max Fried had to grind, leaving after six with six hits, four strikeouts, three walks and a hit. Shane Greene, the third of six pitchers, gave up two runs. Fried got the win, improving to 14-4 with Mark Melancon getting his second save.
Josh Donaldson went 3-for-4, while Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, Matt Hoyce added two hits each.
Next: Tuesday, vs. NY Mets, 7:20 p.m., MLB/FSSE; Wednesday, vs. NY Mets, 7:20 p.m., FSSE; Thursday, vs. NY Mets, 7:20 p.m.; Friday, vs. LA Dodgers, 7:20 p.m., MLBN/FSSO; Saturday, vs. LA Dodgers, 7:20 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, vs. LA Dodgers, 1:20 p.m., FSSO/TBS
Dadgummit, Acuna is fun to watch
Grinding out a win, on the hill and at the plate
This week feels like a pennant race week
Falcons Report
A little more intensity heading into next exhibition
Making plays a focus for Kazee
State college football Report
UGA: And the top mascot is …
UGA: He was absent early; Marshall back
Tech: Lucas Johnson has made plenty of progress
Around/About Georgia