Friday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Cephus acquitted, Braves Report, Falcons Report, state college FBall, Bacon fall, United update
Friday’s Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
Cephus not guilty
An all-white jury took about 45 minutes to say Quintez Cephus was not guilty of the two sexual assault charges against him from an incident in April of 2018.
The trial for the Stratford grad and former Wisconsin football player started on Tuesday morning and went to the jury a little after 4 p.m. on Friday. Deliberations lasted between 30 and 45 minutes.
Cephus’s attorneys shed tears at the reading of the verdict, and there was a celebration in the courthouse hallway with Cephus and family and friends, including former Stratford head coach Jamie Dickey, now at Brentwood.
Full coverage, including video of the verdict reading, reactions, and interviews as well as links to the Friday coverage – pre-verdict and post-verdict – as well as daily stories during the trial is in The Latest Coverage.
Braves Report
Two new relievers got another day off, thanks to a five-run hole behind starter Kevin Gausman as Cincinnati topped Atlanta 5-2.
Gausman fell to 3-7 after allowing five runs oneight hits in 4.2 innings. He gave way to Josh Tomlin, Chris Martin, and Jerry Blevins.
Newcomer Martin struck out one in a quiet shutout inning.
Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna had solo homers for Atlanta, accounting for half of Atlanta’s hits.
Next: Saturday, vs. Cincinnati, 7:20 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, vs. Cincinnati, 1:20 p.m., FSSO; Monday, at Minnesota, 8:10 p.m., FSSE; Tuesday, at Minnesota, MLB/FSSE; Wednesday, at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.; Thursday, at Miami, 7:10 p.m., FSSE; Friday, at Miami, 7:10 p.m., FSSE.
Hank Aaron talks to youngsters
Martin: from Lowes to SunTrust
Melancon is really ready to go
McGuirk: The spending was coming
Falcons Report
Tony G. revolutionized his position en route to the Hall
Big payday for Julio less than the Saints and Thomas
Observations from Thursday, II
Qs and As and observations from Thursday
State college football
GSU-Boro: Eagles suspend two indefinitely
UGA: ‘Brotherhood’ vibe in Athens
UGA: And there is excitement about that
Tech: Jordan-Swilling shows off leaner frame
Tech: Johnson seeks an extra year from NCAA
Around/About Central Georgia
Savannah thumps Macon in home finale
Savannah got control with a four-run third and kept it en route to a 10-3 win over Macon in the Bacon’s regular-season home finale.
The teams finish the regular season Saturday night in Savannah.
The Bananas more than tripled the Bacon’s hit total, 13-4, West Laurens grad Bill LeRoy one of four players with four hits.
Savannah is 34-15, Macon 30-20. The Bananas were three games better in the second half.
Around/About Georgia
De Boer: United players should shhh