Sunday's Report: Scoreboard; Westfield, Piedmont champs, HS 🏐&🥎, Mayhem, Russell Henley, Mercer Tennis Classic; Falcons, UGA; NFL, MLB, golf, NASCAR

October 23, 2022 Central Georgia Sports Report

Saturday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media. Updates will be noted, so check back.

In Coverage: Westfield and Piedmont won - again - softball state championships; Saturday’s college football coverage

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High School
🥎 🥎 🥎Softball 🥎 🥎 🥎
GHSA Playoffs
Class A/II

GMC 5, Lake Oconee 1
The Bulldogs got clutch pitching from Leah Jannakos and clutch hitting throughout the line up to win the super regional over the hosts. LOA beat Taylor County 5-0 in an elimination game. GMC scored twice in the third and LOA answered with one in the fourth. GMC added one in the fifth and sealed it with two in the seventh. Jannakos struck out six with a walk in the 90-pitch four-hitter. Hannah Garner and Josie Deason each had two hits, and Jannakos belted a homer and drove in three runs.

🏐🏐🏐Volleyball🏐🏐🏐
GHSA Playoffs
Class 6A

Houston County 3, Dunwoody 1

Class AAA

Savannah Christian 3, Mary Persons 0

Class AA

ACE 3, Toombs County 2
The Gryphons got scores of quality performances in battling to the five-set win to reach the Elite 8. Landry Heath had five aces, nine kills, and 25 digs, while Stuart McCurry had 10 direct kills. Chloe Nichols had 10 assists and 13 kills, while Olive Deese racked up 25 assists and three service aces. Libero Zachia Wilkerson chipped in 25 digs. ACE hosts North Cobb Christian on Wednesday.

Class A

Lamar County 3, Chattahoochee County 1

College
⚽ ⚽ ⚽Soccer ⚽ ⚽ ⚽

W-Georgia College 1, Lander 1
M-UNC Greensboro 1, Mercer 0

🏐🏐🏐Volleyball🏐🏐🏐

Carson-Newman 3, Georgia College 0 (32-30, 25-17, 25-11)
UNC Greensboro 3, Mercer 2 (25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 26-24, 15-12)

Pro
SPHL

Pensacola 5, Macon 3

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Around/about Central Georgia

Henley gets hot at CJ Cup

After two pedestrian first two rounds, Russell Henley found a groove and jumped 25 spots at the CJ Cup in Ridgeland, S.C.

The Stratford grad started the day with a bogey and almost finished with one, getting snagged on 17. But in between, he had six birdies for a 4-under 67 day.

That put him at 2 under for the tournament and in a tie for 38th.. He had the second-biggest improvement of the day, Cameron Young leaping 29 spots to 28th.

Mayhem off to rough start

The new season under the new head coach isn’t going so well early for the Macon Mayhem.

They followed up the season-opening 4-0 loss Friday to Huntsville with a 5-3 loss at Pensacola on Saturday.

After a scoreless first period, Huntsville got hot and scored three goals in only a few minutes, Macon regrouping to keep the visitors quiet the rest of the period. Huntsville added a goal midway through the third period, Macon managing a few near-chances but coming up empty.

Saturday, the second period again did the Mayhem in, although they had some answers, with two goals to the Ice Flyers’ three. Macon was only able to hold serve in the third with Nick Klishko’s goal countered by Pensacola.

Pensacola had 20 more shots on goal.

Macon hosts Roanoke on Saturday and Sunday. Roanoke is off to a 1-1 start.

It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 in Mercer Tennis Classic finale

They both lived up to their seeds, but they had mighty different Saturdays in semifinal action.

Nevertheless, the top two seeds will battle for the championship of the Mercer Tennis Classic on Sunday morning.

Second seed Panna Udvardy of Hungary was taken to the limit in her semifinal by upstart Thaisa Grana Pedretti of Brazil. The underdog had plenty of chances, leading in both sets and saving match points.

But the current world No. 81 gutted it out and survived 7-5, 7-6 (3).

Top seed Madison Brengle had much less stress, getting past No. 4 seed Katie Volynets 6-2, 6-3 on a day when she was sharp in all phases, improving to 15-4 in Macon.

The final at John Drew Smith Tennis Center is to start at 2 p.m.

Anna Rogers and Christina Rosca outlasted Brengle and Maria Mateas 6-4, 6-4 for the doubles title.

Around/About Georgia/Southeast

Cincinnati taking Falcons very seriously

Mariota making most of second chance

Pees on the defensive metrics that matter

Atlanta puts WR Berhardt on IR

Atlanta-Cincinnati capsule

Five things to watch, Bengals version

Five things to watch, Falcons version

Atlanta-Cincinnati predictions, notes, odds

Top 10 UGA plays from the first half