Wednesday's Daily News 'n Notes: GHSA expands workouts; Bacon fall in opener; Kemp speaks about football; baseball's starting; and more

July 2, 2020 Central Georgia Sports Report

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

Several other states concerns aside, GHSA expands workout rules

While other Southern states seem concerned about rising numbers in COVID-19 cases and express some doubts about starting fall sports on time, Georgia is moving ahead on schedule, such as the schedule is.

The GHSA announced an update Wednesday to its guidelines and stipulations, continuing a pattern of only expanding workout allowances, this round coming despite Georgia setting another record with nearly 3,000 new confirmed cases.

Deaths, however, have remained fairly steady despite the drastic increase recently in confirmed cases and hospitalizations.

A public health emergency has been declared in Cobb and Douglas counties.

“The GHSA has elected to implement: 1) inter-squad competitions (7-on-7, 3-on-3, ... ) are allowed but competition between schools is illegal, 2) Groups of 50 are allowed to re-group if it can be done safely, 3) Cheerleading, Softball and Volleyball tryouts are allowed, 4) mask and face covering are recommended and 5) Each student should have their own personal water bottle (water bottles may be re-filled during workouts). No use of water fountains or “water cows” is allowed, starting Monday, July 6th with the following stipulations:

1. Recommend a mask or face covering.

2. Groups may be re grouped into a group with up to the limit of 50 individuals.

3. Water bottles may be refilled during workouts

“FOOTBALL- NO helmets, shoulder pads, girdles, knee or thigh pads can be worn AT ANY TIME. The face mask and face covering recommended guideline does not refer to helmets or helmet face masks, but to the use of cloth face covering/masks to help slow the spread of Covid-19.

“Recommendations and restrictions are fluid and subject to change. Safety must be our top priority.”

GHSA schools are in a dead week, so schools will go from no one-on-one matchups, 7 on 7, live batting practice with a catcher and hitter within six feet of each other.

The latest allows for intra-squad 7 on 7 drills.

There was nothing else in the release regarding softball or volleyball. Tryouts for softball, volleyball, and cheerleading may start next week.

GHSA executive director Robin Hines told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that everything remained on schedule, and he remained optimistic, adding the near-weekly caveat that “it could change tomorrow.”

Assorted schools and districts throughout the state have stopped workouts because of testing results.

Tennessee governor Bill Lee on Monday extended that state’s emergency order through August 29, past the start date for football. The state’s association met Wednesday to discuss options.

Macon falls to Savannah in CPL season debut

Savannah got the slugging going pretty quick with a five-run first en route to an 8-0 win over visiting Macon in the opener of the abridged Coastal Plain League season.

The rematch is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Luther Williams Field.

The Bananas went through seven Macon pitchers, who did team to strike out 10 batters against four walks. The Bacon managed just four hits, but struck out 14 times. Mercer’s Holton McGaha whiff five with two walks and no hits in two innings of relief work.

West Laurens grad Bill LeRoy was among five Bananas to rack up four hits, adding an RBI.

Kemp: want college football? Wear a mask

“But if we all hunker down right now …”

Around/About Georgia

Atlanta starts showing up for summer training

Braves storylines

Hawks mailbag

Sports and COVID-19/Georgia

Braves to pay minor-leaguers through July

So, how long you think things can keep going?

Sports and racial awareness

Jazz fan done with Jazz because of BLM? Two players reply