Same scenario, different result — and a much different post-game mood.
Playing as a No. 1 seed for the second year in a row, the Jackson County girls’ soccer team beat North Hall 4-0 Friday night at home to advance to the Sweet 16. The Panthers (14-4) were bounced in the first-round a year ago by four-seed Adairsville.
“If we had any tears, they were tears of joy this time instead of tears of sadness,” coach Matt Maier said of the win. “I’m happy for the girls. They’ve worked hard.”
Jackson County will host the winner of Sonoraville and Pace Academy Tuesday in round two (no time has been set yet).
Facing a tough No. 4 seed from a quality Region 7-AAA, Jackson County got two goals from Montgomery Garland — both of which came from outside the 18 — and two from Lindsey Fowler to advance in the tournament.
Fowler’s two scores bring her season total to 31. Jackson County has 99 goals on the year, surpassing last year’s school-record total of 94.
Maier talked about the pressure his young team faced going into this game.
“Especially the expectations of being a one seed playing a four seed where everyone pretty much expects you to come in and win, so from being the young team that we are, I thought we kind of handled it well,” he said.
Jackson County scored three of its goals in the first half after North Hall lost its starting goalie Kadie Sullens due to injury.
Garland scored from long range in the 21st minute, followed six minutes later by Fowler, who scored on a breakaway.
“We all know how Lindsey Fowler is — nobody is stopping her one v. one,” Maier said “ … I think once we got that second goal, I think our whole team just exhaled, and we just started playing a lot better soccer.”
Garland found the back of the net again in the 38th minute, connecting on another long strike.
“Montgomery Garland, she had a rocket shot that I don’t think anybody would have stopped,” he said.
The Panthers scored their final goal in the 52nd minute when the ball popped out of the North Hall keeper’s hands, and Fowler knocked it through on a header.
The play of Jackson County’s backline insured that Jackson County goalie Dakota Robertson had a fairly quiet night.
“North Hall didn’t really have a lot of good chances, which was a testament to our back four,” Maier said.
Maier pointed in particular to the play of defender Abbie Venable.
“She’s as consistent as consistent gets,” Maier said. “She’s in the right space. She’s blocking the passing lane. If anybody gets through, she’s chasing them down.”
With their 11th-straight victory over a Class AAA opponent now in the books, the Panthers will try to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2012.
Maier said he thinks Friday’s win “is just the beginning” for his team.
“Whoever we play next round, they’re going to have their hands full, playing on this home field,” Maier said. “Hopefully, we’ll start getting more fans in the stands and really start supporting these girls. If we start gaining momentum, we’ll be hard to stop.”
Entries from April 2018
Baseball: Bulldoggs sweep past Dunwoody in first round of playoffs
The Winder-Barrow High School baseball team won a pitchers' duel and a slugfest at home Friday as the Bulldoggs swept Dunwoody in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAAAA playoffs, winning game one 3-2 and game two 10-5 at the Charles W. Maddox Baseball/Softball Complex.
Freshman Brady House was strong on the mound in game one for the sixth-ranked Bulldoggs (21-10), going the distance and giving up just the two runs on four hits while striking out five. House set down the first 10 batters he faced before giving up a run in the top of the fourth inning on a pair of doubles that cut the Bulldoggs' lead to 2-1. Winder-Barrow got the run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Blake Friend.
The Wildcats (14-17) trimmed the lead again to 3-2 in the sixth but that was as close as they would get. Friend had two hits to lead Winder-Barrow at the plate. Zack Smith had an RBI double and Jackson Melton had an RBI groundout as the Bulldoggs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
Game two was a little wilder as both teams battled back and forth before the Bulldoggs pulled away with four runs in the top of the seventh. Hunter Marsh went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. House had a pair of doubles, a triple and an RBI, Trace Jeffers had two doubles and Lance Sikes was 2-for-4 with a double.
Smith picked up the win on the mound, pitching the final 3 2/3 innings in relief of Austin Lockridge. He allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the bottom of the fourth but wasn't charged any runs. Smith finished with just one hit allowed, a pair of walks, a hit batsman and six strikeouts.
The Bulldoggs, the No. 1 seed from Region 8, will host third-ranked River Ridge (27-5), the No. 2 seed from Region 6, in the second round, beginning with a double-header Thursday. An if-necessary third game would be played Friday. Times are to be announced.
The Knights made quick work of Northgate in the first round Friday, winning 15-3 in five innings and then 15-0 in three innings.
See more coverage of the Dunwoody series in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
Freshman Brady House was strong on the mound in game one for the sixth-ranked Bulldoggs (21-10), going the distance and giving up just the two runs on four hits while striking out five. House set down the first 10 batters he faced before giving up a run in the top of the fourth inning on a pair of doubles that cut the Bulldoggs' lead to 2-1. Winder-Barrow got the run back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Blake Friend.
The Wildcats (14-17) trimmed the lead again to 3-2 in the sixth but that was as close as they would get. Friend had two hits to lead Winder-Barrow at the plate. Zack Smith had an RBI double and Jackson Melton had an RBI groundout as the Bulldoggs scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.
Game two was a little wilder as both teams battled back and forth before the Bulldoggs pulled away with four runs in the top of the seventh. Hunter Marsh went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and five RBIs. House had a pair of doubles, a triple and an RBI, Trace Jeffers had two doubles and Lance Sikes was 2-for-4 with a double.
Smith picked up the win on the mound, pitching the final 3 2/3 innings in relief of Austin Lockridge. He allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the bottom of the fourth but wasn't charged any runs. Smith finished with just one hit allowed, a pair of walks, a hit batsman and six strikeouts.
The Bulldoggs, the No. 1 seed from Region 8, will host third-ranked River Ridge (27-5), the No. 2 seed from Region 6, in the second round, beginning with a double-header Thursday. An if-necessary third game would be played Friday. Times are to be announced.
The Knights made quick work of Northgate in the first round Friday, winning 15-3 in five innings and then 15-0 in three innings.
See more coverage of the Dunwoody series in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
BOYS' TENNIS: Lovett too much for Panthers in round-two loss
Facing no ordinary No. 3 seed, the Jackson County boys’ tennis team exited the Class AAA state tournament in the Sweet 16.
The top-seeded Panthers were swept 3-0 Wednesday by powerhouse Lovett, which won a state title in Class AA in 2016 and reached the Class AAA Final Four last year.
“It’s just the luck of the draw sometimes,” Jackson County coach Wayne Brooks said.
Kyle Graves lost 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, and Jackson County dropped matches at both doubles positions. David Cristea and Brendon Mitchell lost 6-1, 6-2 at line one doubles, and Hayden Dutton and Brendon Mitchell fell 6-0, 7-6 at line two doubles. Dutton and Mitchell rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to take a 5-4 lead before losing the final set in a 7-2 tiebreaker as Lovett clinched the team win.
Kade Graves did not complete his match, splitting sets a No. 1 singles against Nicholas Kazamias, who is ranked in the top 50 in the state’s USTA rankings for players 18-and-under.
“I am confident that Kade was going to beat him based on how he was playing in the second set against him,” Brooks said.
Nick Bergeron, Jackson County’s No. 3 singles player, also did not finish his match.
Brooks wondered what could have been if Dutton and Mitchell had been able to extend their No. 2 doubles match to a third set – allowing that match continue as well as the two remaining singles matches.
“So, if Hayden and Brendon could have extended their match to that third set, anything could have happened,” Brooks said. “Nevertheless, I am so proud of my players for their fight and effort this year.”
Jackson County’s positioning as a No. 1 seed came at a price, placing them in a bracket with Lovett, a private school powerhouse, and other programs of Lovett’s caliber.
Brooks questioned the competitive balance within the current format.
“We would have had to face three private schools to win state … Really and truly these private schools should not be in our same division but it is what it is,” Brooks said. “We have to play whoever is in our draw.”
Still, he said the second-round loss did not take away from the season. Jackson County won its second straight Region 8-AAA title and finished with a program-best 17-4 record. The team is 32-8 over the past two years. All three of Jackson County’s talented singles players return next year.
“I know that we have a serious future and we’ve got a very bright future here at Jackson County High School for our tennis,” Brooks said.
The top-seeded Panthers were swept 3-0 Wednesday by powerhouse Lovett, which won a state title in Class AA in 2016 and reached the Class AAA Final Four last year.
“It’s just the luck of the draw sometimes,” Jackson County coach Wayne Brooks said.
Kyle Graves lost 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles, and Jackson County dropped matches at both doubles positions. David Cristea and Brendon Mitchell lost 6-1, 6-2 at line one doubles, and Hayden Dutton and Brendon Mitchell fell 6-0, 7-6 at line two doubles. Dutton and Mitchell rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to take a 5-4 lead before losing the final set in a 7-2 tiebreaker as Lovett clinched the team win.
Kade Graves did not complete his match, splitting sets a No. 1 singles against Nicholas Kazamias, who is ranked in the top 50 in the state’s USTA rankings for players 18-and-under.
“I am confident that Kade was going to beat him based on how he was playing in the second set against him,” Brooks said.
Nick Bergeron, Jackson County’s No. 3 singles player, also did not finish his match.
Brooks wondered what could have been if Dutton and Mitchell had been able to extend their No. 2 doubles match to a third set – allowing that match continue as well as the two remaining singles matches.
“So, if Hayden and Brendon could have extended their match to that third set, anything could have happened,” Brooks said. “Nevertheless, I am so proud of my players for their fight and effort this year.”
Jackson County’s positioning as a No. 1 seed came at a price, placing them in a bracket with Lovett, a private school powerhouse, and other programs of Lovett’s caliber.
Brooks questioned the competitive balance within the current format.
“We would have had to face three private schools to win state … Really and truly these private schools should not be in our same division but it is what it is,” Brooks said. “We have to play whoever is in our draw.”
Still, he said the second-round loss did not take away from the season. Jackson County won its second straight Region 8-AAA title and finished with a program-best 17-4 record. The team is 32-8 over the past two years. All three of Jackson County’s talented singles players return next year.
“I know that we have a serious future and we’ve got a very bright future here at Jackson County High School for our tennis,” Brooks said.
BOYS' TENNIS: Dragons back in Elite Eight, hoping for more
The Jefferson boys’ tennis team is once again in the Class AAAA Elite Eight but hopes the upcoming quarterfinal match is only part of this team’s legacy.
The Dragons will face No. 1-seed West Laurens on the road Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. with a chance to reach the Final Four for the first time in program history.
“I think they’re really excited about possibly taking that next step and moving Jefferson from being a good tennis program to an elite tennis program,” coach Dawson Bryan said.
The Dragons beat visiting Chapel Hill 4-1 on Wednesday, securing another trip to the Elite Eight.
Marcus Berninger won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1 singles over a highly-rated foe as the sophomore continues to pile up wins in the top singles slot for Jefferson.
“Marcus really showed why he is as highly-ranked a player as he is,” Bryan said. “He took it right to him.”
Caden Mantooth also won in singles play, picking up a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 2 spot. Jefferson then swept doubles play with a 6-1, 6-1 win from Caleb Wells and Blake Lathrop at No. 1 doubles and a 6-0, 6-1 victory from Cooper Kework and Del Jakins at No. 2 doubles.
Bryan praised his team’s doubles play.
“Our guys just went out there and they played their games,” he said. “They really just made Chapel Hill have to play our style.”
Jefferson nearly pulled off a 5-0 sweep, but Cody Bare fell 6-2, 5-7, 6-10 at No. 3 singles, losing a tiebreaker in the third set.
The Dragons are somewhat familiar with their next foe, West Laurens, having defeated the Raiders 4-1 last year in the Sweet 16.
“From what we can tell and from what we’ve seen, it looks like a very similar team to what they had last year,” Bryan said.
Bryan said West Laurens’ strength should lie with its singles players, so Jefferson hopes to use its doubles players to its advantage. But Bryan points out that Berninger has “stepped up to every challenge put in front of him" in singles play this season.
“We feel really good about our prospects going down there,” Bryan said.
The Dragons have a journey in front of them in terms of travel time. The trip to West Laurens will take around three hours. Bryan hopes as many Jefferson supporters as possible will travel, noting the backing his team has enjoyed this season.
“We’re really looking forward to not only playing for us, but also playing for the folks who have driven these guys to lessons in the past and the tournaments, who have just supported us throughout the entire stretch,” Bryan said.
The Dragons will face No. 1-seed West Laurens on the road Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. with a chance to reach the Final Four for the first time in program history.
“I think they’re really excited about possibly taking that next step and moving Jefferson from being a good tennis program to an elite tennis program,” coach Dawson Bryan said.
The Dragons beat visiting Chapel Hill 4-1 on Wednesday, securing another trip to the Elite Eight.
Marcus Berninger won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1 singles over a highly-rated foe as the sophomore continues to pile up wins in the top singles slot for Jefferson.
“Marcus really showed why he is as highly-ranked a player as he is,” Bryan said. “He took it right to him.”
Caden Mantooth also won in singles play, picking up a 6-1, 6-4 win at the No. 2 spot. Jefferson then swept doubles play with a 6-1, 6-1 win from Caleb Wells and Blake Lathrop at No. 1 doubles and a 6-0, 6-1 victory from Cooper Kework and Del Jakins at No. 2 doubles.
Bryan praised his team’s doubles play.
“Our guys just went out there and they played their games,” he said. “They really just made Chapel Hill have to play our style.”
Jefferson nearly pulled off a 5-0 sweep, but Cody Bare fell 6-2, 5-7, 6-10 at No. 3 singles, losing a tiebreaker in the third set.
The Dragons are somewhat familiar with their next foe, West Laurens, having defeated the Raiders 4-1 last year in the Sweet 16.
“From what we can tell and from what we’ve seen, it looks like a very similar team to what they had last year,” Bryan said.
Bryan said West Laurens’ strength should lie with its singles players, so Jefferson hopes to use its doubles players to its advantage. But Bryan points out that Berninger has “stepped up to every challenge put in front of him" in singles play this season.
“We feel really good about our prospects going down there,” Bryan said.
The Dragons have a journey in front of them in terms of travel time. The trip to West Laurens will take around three hours. Bryan hopes as many Jefferson supporters as possible will travel, noting the backing his team has enjoyed this season.
“We’re really looking forward to not only playing for us, but also playing for the folks who have driven these guys to lessons in the past and the tournaments, who have just supported us throughout the entire stretch,” Bryan said.
Bridges: Looking back at the magical Braves’ season of 1991
With the start of a new professional baseball season, I found myself thinking back to 1991 when the Atlanta Braves went on a last-to-first ride and came within inches of winning the World Series.
The 1990 season showed no signs that the Braves were about to embark on an incredible run which would give fans something truly special.
Atlanta went into the 1991 season with a new general manager and some key new players, including Terry Pendleton and Sid Bream. With those two anchoring the infield at third and first, the Braves certainly had the potential to be better than the previous dreadful campaigns which became all too common.
However, the additions to the 1991 roster along with a strong returning pitching staff had many believing Atlanta would certainly climb out of the cellar. With names fans still remember such as David Justice, Jeff Treadway, Ron Grant and Rafael Belliard, the team was embarking, we would later learn, on a magical season.
I was a sophomore in college when the season began and often sat watching the afternoon Braves games in between working into the night as editor of the student newspaper.
It didn’t take long to see that this Braves team was going to be different. There was a different attitude and even the losses were competitive, often coming by a run.
I won’t try to convince you I knew Atlanta was going to eventually finish the season one run away from winning it all. In reality I felt the Braves would make that type of run in 1992.
However, in addition to improving defensively and with their standout pitching staff, Atlanta now had legitimate speed on the base paths and in the outfield with Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders.
All the ingredients were there, and as the 1991 season progressed the Braves were no longer in last place. In fact, they continued to hang around the top of their division and fans and media began to wonder if they could actually make the postseason.
Remember, this was still during a time when only the four division winners made the playoffs. A team could win more than 100 games, but if it didn’t win its division it would not continue playing.
Atlanta won 94 games in the 1991 regular season and it was just enough to get into the postseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers finished with 93 wins in what was a tough National League West which also included an 84-win San Diego Padres team.
The historic season continued all the way to the World Series against the Minnesota Twins, the American League’s last-to-first story.
In what is still considered one of the best series of all time, the Braves and Twins went seven games with the final game going to extra innings before Minnesota won.
It was not without controversy, though, as the umpires missed numerous calls that hurt Atlanta. Many still recall the infamous play where Ron Gant was pulled off first base and still signaled out.
While disappointed with the final game, fans could not be disappointed in the season as a whole. It was something completely unexpected and the start of a long postseason run.
The only thing that is tough to comprehend now is that it was 27 years ago.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former sports editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
The 1990 season showed no signs that the Braves were about to embark on an incredible run which would give fans something truly special.
Atlanta went into the 1991 season with a new general manager and some key new players, including Terry Pendleton and Sid Bream. With those two anchoring the infield at third and first, the Braves certainly had the potential to be better than the previous dreadful campaigns which became all too common.
However, the additions to the 1991 roster along with a strong returning pitching staff had many believing Atlanta would certainly climb out of the cellar. With names fans still remember such as David Justice, Jeff Treadway, Ron Grant and Rafael Belliard, the team was embarking, we would later learn, on a magical season.
I was a sophomore in college when the season began and often sat watching the afternoon Braves games in between working into the night as editor of the student newspaper.
It didn’t take long to see that this Braves team was going to be different. There was a different attitude and even the losses were competitive, often coming by a run.
I won’t try to convince you I knew Atlanta was going to eventually finish the season one run away from winning it all. In reality I felt the Braves would make that type of run in 1992.
However, in addition to improving defensively and with their standout pitching staff, Atlanta now had legitimate speed on the base paths and in the outfield with Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders.
All the ingredients were there, and as the 1991 season progressed the Braves were no longer in last place. In fact, they continued to hang around the top of their division and fans and media began to wonder if they could actually make the postseason.
Remember, this was still during a time when only the four division winners made the playoffs. A team could win more than 100 games, but if it didn’t win its division it would not continue playing.
Atlanta won 94 games in the 1991 regular season and it was just enough to get into the postseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers finished with 93 wins in what was a tough National League West which also included an 84-win San Diego Padres team.
The historic season continued all the way to the World Series against the Minnesota Twins, the American League’s last-to-first story.
In what is still considered one of the best series of all time, the Braves and Twins went seven games with the final game going to extra innings before Minnesota won.
It was not without controversy, though, as the umpires missed numerous calls that hurt Atlanta. Many still recall the infamous play where Ron Gant was pulled off first base and still signaled out.
While disappointed with the final game, fans could not be disappointed in the season as a whole. It was something completely unexpected and the start of a long postseason run.
The only thing that is tough to comprehend now is that it was 27 years ago.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former sports editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Baseball: Bulldoggs' playoff doubleheader pushed back to Friday
With the threat of rain lingering Thursday, the Winder-Barrow baseball team's GHSA Class AAAAAA first-round playoff doubleheader has been pushed back to Friday, beginning at 4 p.m.
The sixth-ranked Bulldoggs, the Region 8 champions, will be hosting Region 7 No. 4 seed Dunwoody in a best-of-three series. The if-necessary third game would be played Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner of the series will face either River Ridge or Northgate in the second round.
See full coverage of the series in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
The sixth-ranked Bulldoggs, the Region 8 champions, will be hosting Region 7 No. 4 seed Dunwoody in a best-of-three series. The if-necessary third game would be played Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner of the series will face either River Ridge or Northgate in the second round.
See full coverage of the series in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
Softball: Knights swept in semifinals
After putting together a dominant run throughout the season, the Bethlehem Christian Academy softball team ran into a buzzsaw Wednesday.
The Knights were swept on the road in two games by The King's Academy of Woodstock in the GICAA state semifinals, losing 12-0 in four innings in the opener and 13-2 in five innings in the second game, to finish the season 12-3.
A disastrous second inning in both games proved too much for the Knights to overcome. In game one, The King's Academy scored a run in the bottom of the first and then six in the second to break things open. The Knights' only hit came from Lindzie Owen in the fourth inning.
BCA took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first of game two. Owen led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Olivia Morgan, stole third and then scored on a squeeze bunt by Jadyn Goddard, who reached safely. Goddard later came around to score on a steal of home. But The King's Academy struck back with six runs in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to take full control.
Despite the loss, it was a solid season for BCA, which was competing at the varsity level for the first time since 2013.
See more in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
The Knights were swept on the road in two games by The King's Academy of Woodstock in the GICAA state semifinals, losing 12-0 in four innings in the opener and 13-2 in five innings in the second game, to finish the season 12-3.
A disastrous second inning in both games proved too much for the Knights to overcome. In game one, The King's Academy scored a run in the bottom of the first and then six in the second to break things open. The Knights' only hit came from Lindzie Owen in the fourth inning.
BCA took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first of game two. Owen led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Olivia Morgan, stole third and then scored on a squeeze bunt by Jadyn Goddard, who reached safely. Goddard later came around to score on a steal of home. But The King's Academy struck back with six runs in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to take full control.
Despite the loss, it was a solid season for BCA, which was competing at the varsity level for the first time since 2013.
See more in the May 2 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.
BASEBALL: Region champs ready for state-tourney test
Jefferson survived and even thrived in an arduous 8-AAAA by winning the region. Now, the Dragons will test their survival skills in the state playoffs.
With a No. 1 seed in hand, Jefferson (18-9) will host Region 7-AAAA No. 4 seed Chestatee (16-14) in a best-of-three series, starting Thursday with a doubleheader at 5 pm. A third game will be played Friday at 5:55 p.m. at home if needed.
“We definitely want to play at home as long as possible,” coach Tommy Knight said. “Winning the No. 1 seed is your best to doing that. So, we’re very excited about that. Our crowds have been good. Our fans are awesome.”
Both Jefferson and North Oconee finished tied atop the region with 11-4 records, but the Dragons owned the tiebreaker due to their 2-1 series win over the Titans.
The 8-AAAA title marked the program’s fourth region championship in the last six years and ninth under Knight.
“Our region, top to bottom, is as good as any in the state for sure,” Knight said. “To be able to compete and win some games you’re not supposed to win and win the region … I’m very proud of the guys being able to do that.”
For the rest of this story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
With a No. 1 seed in hand, Jefferson (18-9) will host Region 7-AAAA No. 4 seed Chestatee (16-14) in a best-of-three series, starting Thursday with a doubleheader at 5 pm. A third game will be played Friday at 5:55 p.m. at home if needed.
“We definitely want to play at home as long as possible,” coach Tommy Knight said. “Winning the No. 1 seed is your best to doing that. So, we’re very excited about that. Our crowds have been good. Our fans are awesome.”
Both Jefferson and North Oconee finished tied atop the region with 11-4 records, but the Dragons owned the tiebreaker due to their 2-1 series win over the Titans.
The 8-AAAA title marked the program’s fourth region championship in the last six years and ninth under Knight.
“Our region, top to bottom, is as good as any in the state for sure,” Knight said. “To be able to compete and win some games you’re not supposed to win and win the region … I’m very proud of the guys being able to do that.”
For the rest of this story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
TRACK AND FIELD: Relay win lifts Commerce boys to area track title
For the Commerce High School boys’ track team, the Area 4 1A Public title came down to the 4x400 meter relay with the Tigers holding a slim lead in the overall standings.
After the relay, the Tigers could officially celebrate being crowned area champions, thanks to a season-best run of 3:34 in the relay, good enough for a second-place finish. The Tigers (138 points) edged out Hancock Central (128) for the area title at Greene County.
“It was a great team victory for our boys’ team,” head coach Ron Minish said. “We had lots of individuals that contributed to the team score.
“We scored two individuals in each of the field events and built a nice lead after day one. Our distance runners and pole vaulters really had a great two days for us as we placed first and second in each of the (events).”
For the rest of the story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
After the relay, the Tigers could officially celebrate being crowned area champions, thanks to a season-best run of 3:34 in the relay, good enough for a second-place finish. The Tigers (138 points) edged out Hancock Central (128) for the area title at Greene County.
“It was a great team victory for our boys’ team,” head coach Ron Minish said. “We had lots of individuals that contributed to the team score.
“We scored two individuals in each of the field events and built a nice lead after day one. Our distance runners and pole vaulters really had a great two days for us as we placed first and second in each of the (events).”
For the rest of the story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
JCCHS ‘on the right track’ after pair of runner-up finishes at region meet
Jackson County coach Matt King considered last week’s region meet yet another building block for a program trending upward.
Both the girls’ and boys’ programs finished as runners-up at the 8-AAA meet held Wednesday and Friday at East Jackson.
“We’re on the right track,” King said. “We took over a couple of years ago and it was barely scoring and now we’re consistently fighting for top spots. It’s a beautiful, nice thing that we’ve got going on right now. I’m really proud of the kids.”
The girls’ team totaled 139 points, finishing behind East Jackson (156 points), while the boys’ team tallied 132.5 points to finish behind Hart County (150 points).
“Last year we had two, this year we had four,” King said. “Right trajectory, right where we want to be and we’re really, really, really young, so it looks good.”
On the girls’ side, Jenna Robinson repeated as region high-jump champion (5-2), and Karis Harbin continued her standout senior season with a region tittle in the discus (101-10). Kayla Sheppard added a win in the 3,200 meters (12:58.30)
For the boys’ Seth Caylor, the state’s leader in the pole vault, maintained his dominance in that event with his second region vaulting title, clearing 13-6.
For the rest of this story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
Both the girls’ and boys’ programs finished as runners-up at the 8-AAA meet held Wednesday and Friday at East Jackson.
“We’re on the right track,” King said. “We took over a couple of years ago and it was barely scoring and now we’re consistently fighting for top spots. It’s a beautiful, nice thing that we’ve got going on right now. I’m really proud of the kids.”
The girls’ team totaled 139 points, finishing behind East Jackson (156 points), while the boys’ team tallied 132.5 points to finish behind Hart County (150 points).
“Last year we had two, this year we had four,” King said. “Right trajectory, right where we want to be and we’re really, really, really young, so it looks good.”
On the girls’ side, Jenna Robinson repeated as region high-jump champion (5-2), and Karis Harbin continued her standout senior season with a region tittle in the discus (101-10). Kayla Sheppard added a win in the 3,200 meters (12:58.30)
For the boys’ Seth Caylor, the state’s leader in the pole vault, maintained his dominance in that event with his second region vaulting title, clearing 13-6.
For the rest of this story, see the April 25 edition of The Jackson Herald.
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