Wednesday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Tech's Collins loyal; Mrs. Dan Pitts passes; Braves Report; Bacon; and more
Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
When a co-worker was in dire need, Geoff Collins showed up … big
The then-Temple head coach’s right-hand man was suddenly near death almost a year ago. Tech head coach Geoff Collins is still helping Kane Ivers-Osthus.
Wife of Mary Persons coaching legend passes away
They’re never on the official list, but every successful married head coach has one unnamed assistant whose impact is immeasurable, that of the spouse or significant other.
That was certainly the case at Mary Persons, where Dan Pitts made the Bulldogs a program of statewide renown, starting in Forysth two years after marrying Mary Lynda Stevenson.
Pitts and Mary Persons lost one of their most important assistant coaches on Tuesday when Mary passed away.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, as well daughters Carolann Pitts Evans (Deck) and Penny Pitts Mitchell (Bob), sisters Barbara Stevenson Smith of Macon and Carolyn Stevenson Link (Bradey) of Cayce, S.C., along with grandchildren, in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Visit here for the full obituary.
Braves Report
No errors, clutch hitting, no wasted offense, and good pitching were all parts of Atlanta’s 9-2 win over Philadelphia.
Bryce Wilson turned in a solid start with six innings, five strikeouts, two walks, five hits and two runs. Sean Newcomb and Jacob Webb followed with a quality bullpen effort.
Nick Markakis was the only starter not to get a hit – Wilson himself went 1 for 2 – while Josh Donaldson and Austin Riley drove in three runs each, on three-run homers.
Ozzie Albies had the lone two-hit night, Matt Joyce adding a two-run homer in a pinch-hit performance.
Atlanta was tight, stranding only three runners and going 4 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Thursday, vs. Philadelphia, 7:20 p.m., ESPN/FSSE; Friday, vs. Miami, 7:20 p.m., FSSO; Saturday, vs. Miami, 4:10 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, vs. Miami, 1:20 p.m., FSSO
Offense was AWOL Tuesday, but Keuchel was pretty good
Around/About Central Georgia
Lexington County tops Macon in wild runfest
The Blowfish led 7-0 after three, were tied after four, but the difference was a run in the seventh that Macon couldn’t counter in Lexington County’s 11-10 win at Luther Williams.
The visitors had one more run, one more hit, and one more error than the hosts.
A pair of Central Georgians, M.J. Rookard (Middle Georgia State) and Logan Fink (Tattnall) had three hits each for Macon, Fink driving in three runs and Rookard scoring twice. Jared Miller and Daniel Harris had two hits for the Bacon.
Lexington County went through four pitchers and Macon five. The staffs combined, despite the offense, for 15 strikeouts and five walks.
Macon visits Forest City on Thursday and Lexington County on Friday, and welcomes Savannah on Saturday.
Around/About Georgia
Defense a problem in United loss at Chicago
Can Atlanta learn from that loss?