Thursday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: FOOTBALL IS HERE, as is The Sports Report's preseason coverage; full scoreboard; Braves, Falcons, college football
Thursday'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.
Coming Friday: Football knowledge
The temperatures will be in the 90s and it’ll be humid.
Football is here. And throughout the area and state, there are great first-week matchups that aren’t associated with a big tournament name, plenty of hype, and sponsors.
The most thorough and complete preseason coverage of Central Georgia football is coming, throughout Friday, with – because of time constraints – more coming on Saturday.
Starting in the morning, and posting each hour:
* Scouting reports on all Central Georgia GHSA and GISA teams. All.
* There’s a good chunk of new head coaches in the area, from brand new to the area to familiar to promotions.
* The preseason All-Central Georgia team – one team – plus Another Fantastic Fifteen (regardless of position). You think picking three teams is tough? One set on offense and defense and kicker is even tougher when some positions are loaded with talent.
* A look at the top area games.
* Predictions for week 1.
* First statewide polls.
And more. Updates throughout the day, so check back at the top of the hour, starting at 9 a.m.
Scoreboard
High Schools
Thursday
Softball
Bleckley County 11, East Laurens 3
Brookstone 4, Crawford County 2
The Eagles had three more hits, but also two more errors, helping Brookstone to three in the third. Jaimee Hudson had two hits for the Eagles.
Crawford County 3, ACE 1; Crawford County 5, ACE 1
The Eagles’ two-run first was enough in the opener, in which both teams had two hits. Crawford County’s Bailey Phillips struck out nine with three walks. The Eagles put up all five in the first two innings of the nightcap, four pitchers teaming for a two hitter.
Houston County 11, West Laurens 5
A pair of four-run innings in the middle of the game lifted Houston County, despite three errors. The 7-2 Bears, who doubled the Raiders in hits, got a 3-for-5 game from Madi Campbell, who scored twice and drove in three runs, and a 3 for 3 night from Bobbi Poff, who scored twice. Makayla Krepps had two hits – including her fifth homer of the year - two runs, and three RBI. Kendall Huelsman and Averi Martin had two hits.
Howard 3, FPD 0
Two walks, a fielder’s choice, and then an error led to two of Howard’s three sixth-inning runs. Another error led to the third. Elle Doolittle threw a one-hitter in six innings, striking out six with no walks.
John Milledge 10, Trinity Christian 1
The visitors’ offense took awhile to get going, the Trojans scoring eight in the final three innings. Brayden Latimer threw a three-hitter, with six strikeouts and no walks. Olivia Rhodes and Madison Brown had three hits each at the top of the lineup, Hannah Reece adding two hits. Rhodes, Sutton Eady, and Latimer each drove in two runs.
Jones County 10, Eagles Landing 2
A seven-run third led to a short game, seven Greyhounds driving in at least a run and 11 getting a hit. Madison Bennett had three hits, while Kloey Goins, Kenzie Forrester, Molly Keenum, and Macy Norman adding two hits each. Kenzie Forrester got the win with six strikeouts in five innings.
Mount de Sales 4, ACE 1
The Cavs led 2-1 after one, and added single runs in the fifth and sixth, winning with one less hit. Jordyn Partain had two of MdS’s four hits, Sara Winters two of ACE’s five. Partain fanned 11 with two walks, Dixiana Sims of ACE countering with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Perrty 15, Warner Robins 7
There were 14 runs scored in the fourth inning and six errors committed overall. Both favored Perry, winner of the 9-5 fourth. Four errors and seven walks helped lead to six unearned runs. Reagan Hughes went 3 for 3 with three RBI and two runs for the Panthers. Terra Odom, AliRae Dykes, and Carsen Garner had two hits each, Dykes driving in three runs and Odom two.
Rutland 13, Central 0
A big 11-run first led to a shortened game, Rutland with 12 hits and Central with five errors. Alexis Hollis drove in five runs on two hits, including a homer, while Lacey Caldwell had three RBI and two hits. Taylor Stewart scored twice and had two hits. Bailey Caldwell whiffed eight with no walks in four innings.
Schley County 3, Hawkinsville 1
Mary Claire Daniell led Hawkinsville with three hits and Bailey McLeod two, the Red Devils stranding seven runners.
Stratford 14, Wilkinson County 0
It took Stratford three innings to finish. Mary Elaine Mitchell had three hits, three runs, and three RBI, Kenna McElmurray with three RBI and Kamber Thalongsengchah two. McElmurray struck out seven with no walks in three innings.
Tattnall 16, Twiggs County 0
Tattnall put up 15 in the first inning of the three-inning game, during which Twiggs County had five errors, leading to 10 unearned runs. The Cobras walked 14 batters, combining with errors to lead to a three-hit Tattnall game. Hailey Daughtry fanned six for Tattnall.
Union County 2, Monticello 0
Monticello was held to one hit, and kept Union County off the board until a two-run sixth.
Veterans 8, Bainbridge 3
Jenna Thomas belted a two-run double, Kaylee Brown added an RBI single and then Trinity Thiel belted a two-run homer as Veterans broke a tie with five in the sixth. Cailyn Snellgrove had three hits, with Nicole Chavous, Thiel and Alli Eidson two hits each. Thiel had three RBI, Thomas and Eidson two each. Emily Myers went the distance for a four-hitter win, with six strikeouts and two walks.
Volleyball
Callaway 2, Lamar County 1
Jackson 2, Mary Persons 0
Oconee County 2, Putnam County 0
Upson-Lee 2, Tattnall 0
College
Football
No. 19 GMC 33, No. 18 Navarro 30
Navarro didn’t have GMC’s number this time around, the Bulldogs opening the season with a win for the first time in four years.
Soccer
W-Mercer 2, Kennesaw State 1, 2 OT
Braves Report
The Marlins – don’t laugh – pitched to Ronald Acuna in a big spot.
Runners were on the corners, two outs, tie game. A base was open, and the next batter has not mauled Miami pitching.
Soooo, Acuna sent a 2-2 pitch to the gap in left-center for the game-winner in Atlanta’s 3-2 series-sweeping win.
It was his only hit of the night when pitchers ruled.
Both starters went seven innings, and there were three pitches difference in their totals. Sandy Alcantara fanned seven with two walks and three hits for Miami, while Mike Soroka gave up five hits against five strikeouts.
Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits and Freddie Freeman belted a homer.
Next: Friday, at NY Mets, 7:10 p.m., MLB/FSSO; Saturday, @ NY Mets, 7:10 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, at NY Mets, 1:10 p.m., FSSO
Banged up, but still ballin’
Falcons Report
State college football Report
Tech: Special teams and motivation