Central Georgia Sports ReportAugust 09, 2019Comment

Thursday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes:

Central Georgia Sports ReportAugust 09, 2019Comment

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.

Bacon fall in championship series opener

Morehead City played small ball well and got clutch pitching en route to a 3-0 win over Macon at Luther Williams Field in the opener of their Coastal Plain League championship series.

The teams have a travel day Friday before resuming the Petitt Cup playoffs at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at Morehead City.

The Marlins got single runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth.

The fifth started with a leadoff walk, stolen base, and wild pitch, the run scoring on a wild pitch.

The run in the sixth came on a two singles to start the inning and then a throwing error on a stolen base. Reliever Walker Barlow, who had followed starter Cory Bartholomew (Tattnall) in the fifth, got out with no more damage.

The opposite happened in the eight, the run coming after two outs, but with another error behind the plate.

Meanwhile, two Morehead City pitchers had the Bacon under control, with Alex Canty getting Macon’s lone two hits. The Bacon struck out 10 times with three walks.

The Marlins have won six straight and 13 of their last 14 games. Thursday was their fourth shutout of the season, and the second time the Bacon have been blanked.

No word from Wisconsin on Cephus

Wisconsin may have reinstated Quintez Cephus on Thursday, the deadline imposed by his attorneys, but it just hasn’t been made public.

A Cephus attorney stated Tuesday that he was applying for reinstatement at Wisconsin and set a Thursday deadline for the administration to make a decision.

Odds are against Cephus returning to Wisconsin, which expelled him last spring, several months before his actual trial on sexual assault charges started.

But reinstating him goes a long way in further clearing Cephus’ name, enhancing the clearing that started with a jury needing 41 minutes to acquit him last week.

It would likely play a part in any future legal action – which has been expected – against the school.

Cephus’ academic status is unknown. He was suspended from the team last August, apparently went through classes in the fall, and then was expelled in the winter/spring of 2019.

Whether he took any online classes to finish out that semester or any in the summer isn’t publicly known.

So odds are, barring an NCAA ruling of some sort, he is ineligible for the 2019 season.

Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst told reporters Wednesday that Cephus was welcome to return to the team.

“If it’s best for Q, and it truly is for him, then I know his teammates and I know how we feel,” Chryst said. “We would welcome him back. And yet we’ve got to make sure, and even talking with the guys about it, it’s not about us. It’s what’s best for him, and if that is (best), we absolutely would.”

Five players made available to the media Wednesday were in agreement.

A timeline.

Charges against Georgia Southern QB dropped

It was an odd situation from the start, but apparently there wasn’t cocaine on the hood of Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts who was stopped in South Carolina on July 31.

The charges were dropped Thursday by the Deputy Solicitor for the 11th Judicial Circuit in South Carolina. (Dashcam video is in the link.)

Werts had claimed his car’s hood was covered with bird droppings, but police said it was cocaine after two field tests.

Werts was fully reinstated to the team after passing a drug test. He still faces a speeding charge.

Tests by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirmed no control substance on the hood.

Demon alum Callaway tops Tennessee leadership

Marquez Callaway has had a memorable – for him – and forgettable three years – overall – at Tennessee, doing his part to provide stability to an rocky program.

And now, believe it or not, he’s a senior.

Upson-Lee’s Walker off to a good start

Settled in on the defensive line, Georgia is finally get a first-hand look at former Upson-Lee standout Travon Walker, who’s making some early noise.

High School Scoreboard

Thursday

Softball

(Game details starting next week)

ACE 15, Warner Robins 0

ELCA 7, FPD 5

Fullington 14, SW Ga. 5

Hawkinsville 8, Treutlen 0

Houston County 20, Rutland 8

Monticello 5, Mary Persons 4

Mount de Sales 7, Northside 0

Perry 10, Dodge County 2

Schley County 8, Veterans 5

Tattnall 9, Newnan 5; Newnan 15, Tattnall 11

Washington County 8, Jefferson County 0

Windsor 19, CFCA 1

Volleyball

Mary Persons 2, Baldwin 1

Jackson 2, Mount de Sales 0

Perry 2, Stratford 0

Braves Report

Dallas Keuchel’s night was forgettable, giving up eight runs and 10 hits in 3.2 innings, and three homers, in Atlanta’s 9-2 loss at Miami.

Keuchel fell to 3-5 after his shortest stint of the season. He gave up one fewer homer on Thursday than he did in all of July.

Atlanta broke the shutout in the eighth on Ronald Acuna’s homer, and managed just five hits, two from Acuna.

Box

Next: Friday, at Miami, 7:10 p.m., FSSE; Saturday, at Miami, 6:10 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, at Miami, 1:10 p.m., FSSO; Tuesday, vs. NY Mets, 7:20 p.m., MLB/FSSE

Keuchel’s ERA nearing 5.00

Braves bringing the lumber lately

Still questions about pitching

Making moves: Riley to IL …

Bucks: revenues up, profits down

Falcons Report

Miami 34, Atlanta 27

A restful exhibition for some

Jarrett has come a long way since being overlooked

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn

State college football Report

UGA: Eyes will be on DL Davis