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OLYMPICS, 5C Michael Phelps concludes his Olympic swimming career with a final gold medal in the 4x100-meter medley relay.
Sports Editor Daniel Shirley | dshirley@macon.com | (478) 744-4227
Sunday August 5, 2012
Georgia bounces back, tops Florida Bill Shanks
NL playoff races are heating up
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By ANGELA WOOLEN awoolen@macon.com
WARNER ROBINS — The Georgia bats finally came alive Saturday in the Little League Baseball Southeastern Regional n More Tournament, from the as the team Little League from Warregional, 11C ner Robins American Little League rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat Florida 7-6. The win came after Georgia lost its initial pool play game Friday night, 10-2 to North Carolina.
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Both coach Randy Dempsey and manager Martin Pinckney said the players had deer in the headlights looks Friday night but came out Saturday ready to play. “(Pinckney) told us we had to flush (Friday) night down the toilet,” relief pitcher Tee Adams said. After giving up four runs in the first inning Saturday, Georgia started playing fundamental baseball. In the bottom of the fourth inning and down two runs, Georgia manufactured three runs to take the lead. Chase Padgett reached first on a error. Leyton Pinckney placed down a perfect bunt.
Kody Winner struck out, but Cameron Jones reached second on a error one batter later, scoring Padgett. Adams hit a sacrifice to tie the game at 6, scoring Pinckney, then Connor Bookout hit a single to score Jones for the goahead run. Martin Pinckney said once the team started getting momentum, he could sense a difference in how things were going. “You could see it in their eyes that they started believBEAU CABELL/bcabell@macon.com ing,” the manager said. Georgia manager Martin Pinckney had nothing but big hugs Leyton Pinckney pitched for his team Saturday after the team from Warner Robins the first two innings for put down a scoring threat by Florida in the top of the sixth
ow that the trade deadline has passed and we know what the rosters will look like for the stretch drive, it’s obvious the Atlanta Braves are going to be in one heck of a pennant race in the NL for the next two inning Saturday to seal a 7-6 win in the Little League Baseball months. Southeastern Regional Tournament. SEE GEORGIA, 11C The first-place Washington Nationals didn’t really do anything to help their roster, but they could have argued they didn’t really need to. They’ve either led or tied for the NL East lead for all but 10 days this season. Washington is pretty good, with a great pitching staff, a great manager in Davey Johnson and a lineup that is better now with outfielder Jayson Werth back from his injury. The biggest thing to watch with the Nationals will be Stephen Strasburg. Will WashBy SETH EMERSON ington shut down the ace semerson@macon.com pitcher after 160 innings, ATHENS — Everyone has stopped dancing as they have threatened around it. David Andrews is short. He knows to do? Most believe it’s a smokescreen. Why that. His coaches know that. would you not allow “There’s nothing I can do about it,” said the your best starter to pitch presumed starting center for the Georgia football team. “It’s what God blessed me with. I when you need him the can’t stretch myself to get any taller. I don’t most? But here’s another get self-conscious.” question about WashAt this point, it bears noting that Andrews ington. Teams that are isn’t actually THAT short. Officially, he is listed at 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds; pretty new to first place the height might be generous. sometimes hit a slump in August. If that hapEither way, that places him pens to the Nationals, both taller and heavier than about 90 percent of the gencan they dig themselves Go to out of a hole? What if Ateral population. macon.com/ The problem is, Andrews lanta catches the Nationbulldogsblog als? Those Washington plays football. When the Georfor Seth gia offensive line is grouped toplayers have never really Emerson’s gether during drills, one can been in a race before, Georgia blog so will they collapse, or and also follow pick Andrews out fairly easier, because he is ... are the Nationals good him at enough to avoid the dog “Shorter,” head coach Mark twitter.com/ days of a summer slump? sethemerson. Richt said Friday, finishing a reporter’s sentence. In the NL Central, Cincinnati has been It’s not just his current teamred-hot (pun intended) mates. Andrews, a sophomore, n More from the past three weeks. is replacing four-year starter Athens, 3C Ben Jones, who was a couple They were 18-3 since the inches taller and 20 pounds All-Star break entering Saturday’s game against heavier, one-fifth of the largest offensive line Pittsburgh. The Reds in the country. just added Jonathan Now one of the prime jobs is set to go to someone who gets cracked on for his size. Broxton to the bullpen, and putting him with “It used to (tick) me off. Coach Friend and Aroldis Chapman gives Coach Bobo cracking jokes and stuff,” Andrews Cincinnati two unbelievsaid, speaking of his position coach and offenable flamethrowers at sive coordinator. “It’s just kind of fuels you to work harder and stuff. There’s been centers the end of the pitching staff. that play my height.” Remember the last One in particular is Andrews’ role model. Jeff time Cincinnati won the Saturday, also listed at 6-2 and 295, has been an World Series, in 1990? All-Pro four times and was Peyton Manning’s center for a long time in Indianapolis. They had Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton and Saturday, who grew up in the Atlanta area, Randy Myers — three played collegiately at North Carolina. He was undrafted in 1998 but has had a long career, outstanding relievers BEAU CABELL/bcabell@macon.com who threw heat. That David Andrews, whoSUNDAY, tops Georgia’s depth chart at center at the start of preseason practice, is 6-foot-2 and macon.com AUGUST 5, 2012 8C THE TELEGRAPH SEE ANDREWS, 11C franchise is hoping for 295 pounds. the same luck with the same formula this year. Pittsburgh teased us last year with a strong first half, but the Pirates flattened out and became the same old Pirates By GEORGE HENRY en innings. of Brett Myers and Astros 3, after that long, 19-inning Associated Press The Braves had a foot injury to newloss in Atlanta on July won two straight Braves 2 ly acquired Fran26. So far this season, ATLANTA — Justin Maxwell and nine of 10. cisco Cordero, rePittsburgh has not really had a career-high four hits, Harrell allowed Next: vs. lievedWesleyWright hit a roadblock. They are including two homers, rookie two runs and four Astros, with the bases empright with Atlanta as the Lucas Harrell won his first hits with five walks 1:35 p.m., ty. He walked Dan two wild-card leaders career start at Turner Field, and five strikeouts Sunday (Fox Uggla before pinchright now, but it will be and the Houston Astros in six innings. Since Sports South) hitter Juan Francisa test to see if the young snapped a four-game losing losing at Texas on co grounded into a Pirates, who have never streak with a 3-2 win over May 16, the rightdouble play. been in a pennant race, Atlanta on Saturday. hander is 3-2 with Maxwell’stwo-run either, can keep up the The Astros won for just a 2.26 ERA. shot made it 2-0 in pace. the fourth time in 33 games, Wilton Lopez got the fourth, and he A look at Middle Georgia’s all-time greats Don’t forget about St. improving to 11-45 on the two outs to earn his second added his 12th homer leadLouis. While the Carroad — the worst mark in career save, the other com- ing off the seventh to give dinals are back a bit in the majors. ing in 2010. He had convert- Houston a 3-2 lead. It was the NL Central, they Paul Maholm (9-7) lost ed one of his previous 11 save his first two-homer game started Saturday only 3½ his Atlanta debut — three opportunities. since he played for Washruns, six hits, and two walks. Lopez, who took over as ington in an 11-3 loss at FlorHe struck out eight in sev- closer following the trade ida on Sept. 12, 2009. SEE SHANKS, 11C
Breaking stereotypes Bulldogs center Andrews is trying to prove that height isn’t a defining factor for his position
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The 20s lifts Astros past Braves Maxwell
INSIDE
The
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THE 20s. PAGES 8-9C.