The Oconee Leader

For hundreds of photos and updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week: Sports

Issue 12

Oconee County girls, boys sweep Riverwood

Sports, page 4

Volume 11

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Batter up!

Malcom Bridge Middle School gets second-half goals to sweep Oconee County Middle

Sports, page 4

News

Oconee County Chamber of Commerce honors David Williams News, page 2

Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Oconee County Little League Opening Day was met with sunny skies and more than 700 baseball and softball players ready to get the season started. University of Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell threw out the first pitch. Story, page 4.

OCAF set for one of year’s biggest shows

By Rob Peecher The Oconee Leader

Changes to U.S. 441 corridor north of Watkinsville continue to take shape

News, page 2

Contact us:

Email editor@theoconeeleader. com

Twitter @TheOconeeLeader

The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation is gearing up for one of its biggest shows of the year next month, and this year the show will feature a special exhibit from some of the favorites of the past.

Southworks is one of the largest juried art shows in the Southeast and draws crowds from all around. This will be the 21st year of Southworks, and OCAF Director Cindy Farley said the show will feature a special exhibit.

“This year the Director’s Choice exhibit is going to feature several artists who were awarded Director’s Choice exhibits in previous years,” Farley explained. “We’re calling it Encore16. So we will have artists such as Margaret Morrison, Ron Myers and Otto Lange who have all been awarded past Director’s Choice exhibits.”

The Director’s Choice exhibit always runs in conjunction with Southworks, Farley explained.

“The director who makes the decision each year is the gallery director, not the OCAF director, and it’s several different gallery directors who have picked these artists over the years,” Farley said.

Encore16 will be featured in the Members Gallery and will feature diverse work from 16 past Director’s Choice winners – from printmaking to pottery, painting to fabric.

“It is a rare event to see artwork of this caliber presented together,” said OCAF’s current gallery director, Charles Warnock. “Each of the artists represented have achieved notoriety by their uniqueness and dedication to their

ROB PEECHER/Oconee Leader

This past weekend, the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation hosted its annual Thrift Sale, selling thousands of second-hand treasures to raise money for the Foundation. Nancy York (left), a volunteer with OCAF, hands a frame to Kathleen McQuiston (right) who was also volunteering at the annual Thrift Sale. McQuiston spent much of her morning Saturday on the bleachers in the old gym at OCAF handing items on display down to shoppers.

craft. This exhibit will also pay tribute to those Director’s Choice artists who are no longer with us. They include Benny Andrews, Beverly Buchanan, Lamar Dodd and Howard Finster.”

Southworks will feature 79 works of art from 52 local and national artists, Farley said.

More than 190 artists entered a total of 523 pieces of work for consideration in the show.

All artwork in Southworks was selected by juror Stephen Wicks, Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Mr. Wicks has guided the Knoxville Museum of Art’s curatorial depart-

ment for more than 20 years. He previously served as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Columbus Museum (Georgia), and is active as a guest curator, juror, lecturer and writer.

Both Southworks and the Encore16 exhibitions will be open April 1 through May 6, 2016 with the Opening Reception Friday, April 1, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Exhibits and the reception are free and open to the public.

OCAF is located at 34 School Street in Watkinsville. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Page 2

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

U.S. 441 road work continues to take shape

By Mike Sprayberry The Oconee Leader

With the completion of a few road improvements and a couple of new developments on the horizon, changes to the U.S. 441 corridor north of Watkinsville continue to take shape.

Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis provided updates on the Presbyterian Homes project planned for the corner of U.S. 441 and Hog Mountain Road and another potential development on U.S. 441 near Lavista Road.

He also highlighted recent road improvements to the area.

“The most recent information I heard is that the (Presbyterian Homes) property was coming out of conservation use around the 1st of the year,” said Davis. “I was assuming that was when it would be closing, but I haven’t seen anything official.

“What I understood was that they would go ahead and close on the property and then start whatever they need to do for permitting to start any type of construction.”

Davis said he is unaware of any new or recent concerns about the development from neighboring subdivisions. Previous unease regarding the Presbyterian Homes design and impact on traffic seemed to be addressed with various modifications to the design.

“I think those concerns were hopefully addressed during the rezoning process. For example, coming out of the back (of Presbyterian Homes) onto Lake Wellbrook Drive, you will only be able to make a left turn coming out of there. There might have been some extra buffers backing onto Crystal Hills.”

Across U.S. 441, near Lavista Road, land is being cleared for potential office space.

“The owners of that property had applied for a clearing and grubbing permit,” explained Davis.

“That permit was about to expire, so they started the process of clearing and grading and the erosion control process.

“That property was zoned for office. To my

knowledge, I don’t know that there is a plan for submittal for the building of a doctor, medical or dentist office. To my knowledge, that information has not been submitted. I have heard that they are making preparations for the future development of offices in that area.”

Although the two projects are at different stages of development, they would be coming on the heels of a couple of recent road improvements by the county and the Georgia Department of Transportation to address traffic and safety.

“The two left turn lanes from Hog Mountain Road onto 441 are operating very smoothly,” Davis said. “It is a piece of cake getting through there now at rush hour. Traffic does not back up. We used to have traffic backed well past Lake Wellbrook Drive, but now, it’s working like a charm.

“That was a good cooperative project between the county and GDOT. The county did the grading in preparation for the project.

GDOT did the paving and striping and also modified that concrete median on 441 so two lanes of traffic could turn left there. It is a model that GDOT uses between themselves and county governments. So, we’ve addressed a traffic hazard there.”

Davis also highlighted improvements to the corridor made by both the county and GDOT at the intersection of U.S. 441 and Macon Highway.

“A few years before that, we added that slip lane turning right north onto 441 there. That has reduced more traffic accidents and rear-enders than frankly any improvements we’ve made in some time.

Again, that was another cooperation between GDOT and the county.

“Most recently, GDOT added a blinking left turn light on 441 at that intersection. They changed it (from two left turn lanes with a turn signal) because with a yellow arrow, you can go at any time, so you don’t need two left turn lanes because you don’t have traffic waiting there for 3 or 4 minutes. People have the option of getting on through.”

Honoring David Williams The downstairs of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce is now named the David Williams Development Center, as last week a dedication ceremony was held to honor Williams.

A large group was on hand to honor Williams, a long time chamber volunteer and past Chairman of the Board. Recently he was given the J. Lloyd Burrell Honorary Lifetime Member Award for his service and dedication to the Oconee Chamber of Commerce for almost 40 years.

Photos by SALLY GUSTAFSON

School days in Oconee County

Top: Malcom Bridge Elementary School Fine Arts Night is in full swing. All students have a piece of framed art in the Artome Art Show.

Above Left: Rocky Branch Elementary’s Science Olympiad team take first Place.

Above Right: Colham Ferry Elementary Science Olympiad team finished 3rd out of 22 teams and are now heading to state.

Below: Georgia Aquarium visited fourth grade at Oconee County Elementary to share about factors that affect the survival/extinction of organisms.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Oconee calendar Infant Storytime: 10:30 a.m. today, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. This is a special Storytime for our youngest readers-to-be, 0-24 months.

Come for stories, songs, nursery rhymes, bouncing, and cuddling, and then stay for some playtime with friends.

A great way to introduce your baby to the joy of books, learn new ways to share books with your baby, and meet other parents. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary. org/oconee.

Windows Basics: 2 p.m. today, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. This Class is all about Windows. Topics include: Navigating Windows, working with files, finding files on your computer, common computer tasks, adjusting your settings, understanding user accounts, and keyboard shortcuts in Windows. Registration is required. Free. For more information, please call 706769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

TOPS weight loss: 7 to 8 p.m. today, Government Annex Building, Highway 15. Meetings are held each Thursday. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a nonprofit support group for weight loss. Members can share challenges, successes, or goals, hear a brief program and discuss plans for the week. (800) 932-8677 or www.tops. org.

SEC Equestrian Championship: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, UGA Equestrian Complex, 1171 Astondale Road, Bishop. Free. For more information, visit http://www. georgiadogs.com/sports/w-equest/geo-w-equest-body. html.

Grief Support Group: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Affinis Hospice, 1612 Mars Hill Road. Held the fourth Friday of each month. For more information, call (706) 705-6000.

Spanish Storytime: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville.

Come listen and practice fun Spanish songs and stories!

You don’t have to speak Spanish- come have fun and learn! All ages. Free. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Afterhours Anime Mini-Con: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville. Anime Club presents our second annual anime convention, For all lovers of anime grades 6-12, we are excited to host games, crafts, panels, cooking lessons, and screenings of your favorite anime shows. There will be tons of doorprizes and Japanese snacks! Grades 6-12. Free. For more information, call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Exhibit opening reception: “Oil Compass” by Greg Benson: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Farmington Train Depot, 1001 Salem Road, Farmington. Greg Benson’s show features eight paintings that comprise a 360-degree panorama of a particular place at a particular moment. The paintings manage to edit unnecessary clutter, like cars, strip malls, painters, and churches. What’s left is a series of windows opening to a majestic, late-winter morning.

Exhibit open through April 30.

Bogart Historical Society Museum: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Bogart Agricultural Center, E. Thompson Street, Bogart. Take a stroll through history at the newly opened Bogart Historical Society Museum. Free. www. cityofbogart.com.

SEC Equestrian Championship: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, UGA Equestrian Complex, 1171 Astondale Road, Bishop. Free. For more information, visit http:// www.georgiadogs.com/sports/w-equest/geo-w-equestbody.html.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide: 12:30 to 5 p.m.

Monday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained in filing certain tax forms and schedules, including the Form 1040. Volunteers will be assisting patrons on a first-come first-served basis. Free. For more information, visit aarp.org/taxaide.

Genealogy Next Step: Online Census Records: 6 p.m. Monday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. Learn the what’s and the how’s of searching online census records to find information about your ancestors. This class is intended for beginners. Free.

For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Storytime: 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road.

Storytime is for preschool aged children and their caregivers. Come for stories, songs, movement, crafts, and fun.

Apple iPad Basics: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. Our Apple iPad Basics class will cover the physical parts of the device, how to protect your iPad, navigation by using swipe, pinch, tap, drag and double tap, how to add, delete and rearrange apps, keyboard options and shortcuts, adjusting settings, Apple ID, iCloud, how to connect to a local WiFi network, and more. Registration is required.

Free. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Chess Club: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. All experience levels (including beginners) welcome. Ages 7 and up. Free and open to the public. For more information, please call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Indie Crafternoon: Organic Spa Night: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. Bring your friends while we test out some of the most popular DIY self-care trends from Tumblr Pinterest. Learn how to make your own organic lip balms, bath bombs, and more! Sign up required.

Grades 6-12. Free. Call 706-769-3950 or visit www. athenslibrary.org/oconee. ¡Aprende Español! Semana Uno: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oconee County Library, 1080 Experiment Station Road. An eight-week Spanish course for beginners with Adriana Hayunga, Wednesdays through April 20.

Participants don’t have to make it to every single class to attend. Registration is required and space is limited.

Free. For more information, call 706-769-3950 or visit www.athenslibrary.org/oconee.

Page 3

School is more fun than it used to be I get a feeling that school isn’t the same as it was when I was coming up.

When I was a kid, I wasn’t the best student when it came to things like answering problems from the math book or diagraming sentences or regurgitating dates of important historical happenings. Neither chemistry nor physics spoke directly to the things I was good at because both involved a lot of knowing stuff and solving equations.

I really enjoyed PE classes where we used to play volleyball in the gym or sit on the bleachers and try to finish the homework we should have done the night before.

Mercifully, none of my PE teachers ever seemed to worry too much about what we were doing, and if we had someone from the football team in PE class that dude could “take one for the team” by sitting in the coach’s office and talking to him about the upcoming game while the rest of us tried to do our homework, occasionally tossing a ball across the gym floor so it would sound to the coach like there was some kind of activity going on.

But there were days I really looked forward to.

Anytime I walked into class and saw the projector set up in the middle of the classroom, it was like a gift from Heaven. A projector meant a reprieve for the day. It meant that there was a better than 50/50 chance the teacher wasn’t going to take up the homework I didn’t finish in PE. It meant for that day there would be no homework. It meant we weren’t expected to learn anything new in class. A projector in the middle of the classroom meant I was about to get a short nap.

Oh, I loved film days!

To me, at least, the projector meant that the teacher was just as disinterested as I was and she needed a break. So the students got a break, too.

I don’t remember what sorts of films we watched because I was napping, but I do know that the films were never interesting nor entertaining because when I woke up from my naps none of the other students were saying things like, “Wow! What a great movie!”

A few weeks ago I cut the TV on after dinner and sprawled out on the couch to see if there was anything worth watching.

Leadership Oconee XXI nominations

Nominations now accepted for Leadership Oconee XXI, which begins in August. If you know someone who would be a good candidate for next year’s class (a co-worker, spouse, friend, yourself…), fill out the form and return it to scaven@ oconeechamber.org by May 26. All nominees receive an application in June. From all applications received, only 20 participants will be invited to take part in Leadership Oconee XXI.

Scrolling through the channels, I saw that The Great Escape was on.

I don’t know how you do things in your house, but in my house we watch The Great Escape when it is on television. Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charlie Bronson, James Coburn. The Great Escape is the kind of entertainment you don’t scroll past when you’re sprawled on the couch after dinner.

My sons, when they were younger and did as they were told, have all seen The Great Escape, but when Nathan walked through the room he did a double-take at the television. He stood for a moment watching the movie.

“Oh! I know what this is,” Nate said. “This is – what’s the name of it?”

“The Great Escape,” I said, absolutely disgusted that his home training has apparently worn off. “Yeah! The Great Escape!” he said. “We watched this in school last year.”

“No you didn’t,” I said.

“This is a good movie.”

Nathan is a sophomore in high school. The only thing I remember from high school is that nothing ever happened in any of my classes for four years

that was the least bit fun. I could not believe Nathan watched The Great Escape in high school last year.

“Yeah,” Nathan said.

“We watched this in school. I swear we did.”

Nate then recited the movie plot to me in specific detail. He even spoiled the end, “And that guy rides a motorcycle out through a field and the Nazis catch him.” “’That guy?’” I parroted. “That guy is Steve McQueen. Your education is sorely lacking if you think Steve McQueen is just a guy. ‘That guy’ was Bullitt. He was in the Magnificent Seven. He was the original Thomas Crown.”

“Yeah,” Nate said.

“That guy.”

I don’t know how or why Nathan watched The Great Escape in school, but I accepted it as fact because he knew that guy rode that motorcycle and got caught by the Nazis.

But I wrote it off as an oddity not worth pursuing. I didn’t ask about the class or the lesson they were meant to learn, I just accepted that somewhere in Oconee County there is a teacher who has good taste in movies and a couple of free hours where no homework needed to be assigned.

But then Robert, my youngest son who is a freshman, came home from school the other day and said, “I never realized all those quotes you say all the time are from O Brother Where Art Thou.”

“Huh?” I asked.

“Like when you say,

‘Pa said to shoot anybody that’s got papers’ or ‘I don’t want Fop, gotdangit, I’m a Dapper Dan man.’

Those quotes are from O Brother Where Art Thou.”

“I know where they’re from,” I said.

“We watched that in school today,” Robert said, nonchalantly, as if watching cool movies in school is something that happens.

“No you didn’t,” I said.

“That is one of the best movies ever made. They don’t show movies like that in high school.”

“We read parts of the Odyssey in my literature class,” Robert said.

“And then we watched O Brother Where Art Thou.”

Now, having been a sort-of English major in college, I happen to know quite a bit about the Odyssey. Also, being a fan of O Brother Where Art Thou, I know that it is the story of the Odyssey set in the 1930s. It’s a brilliant retelling of a classic story.

And it is hilarious.

I don’t know what’s happened in the 20-something years since I graduated high school, but I think school is a lot more fun than it was when I was coming up.

Of course, it may be that my teachers were showing us classic movies and I just don’t realize it because I was too busy taking my naps.

Rob Peecher is author of the Jackson Speed Memoirs, a series of historical novels set during the 1800s featuring a cowardly anti-hero. His books are available at Amazon. com.

For hundreds of photos and constant updates about Oconee events and people, go to theoconeeleader.com

This Week:

Online

‘Play ball!’

WARRIORS TITANS SPARTANS WOLVERINES LIONS

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Photo gallery

Track meet at NOHS

theoconeeleader.com

Online

Photo gallery

MBMS-OCMS soccer

theoconeeleader.com

Upcoming

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Teams walk on the field at Oconee Veterans Park during the parade of playes last Saturday during Opening Day.

Oconee County Little League holds Opening Day

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

Several athletes signed recently to play college athletics.

Their stories will be featured in an upcoming edition.

Schedule:

2016 high school football schedules Athens Academy

8/19 At Walker 9/02 At Lakeview Academy 9/09 Athens Christian 9/23 Towns County 9/30 At Riverside Military 10/07 At Hebron Christian 10/14 Providence Christian 10/21 George Walton Academy 10/28 Commerce 11/04 At Prince Avenue Christian

North Oconee

8/26 At Grovetown 9/02 At Morgan County 9/09 Cedar Shoals 9/16 At Clarke Central 9/23 At Winder-Barrow 10/07 Oconee County 10/14 Jefferson 10/21 At Madison County 10/28 St. Pius X 11/04 At Stephens County

Mother Nature must be a baseball and softball fan.

With the forecast calling for rain leading up to Saturday’s Oconee County Little League Opening Day ceremony, Oconee County Little League posted on its Facebook page Friday night to keep a heads up about whether or not the event would take place.

On Saturday morning, the sun was shining and more than 700 baseball and softball players were there in uniform with family members and friends in attendance for the ceremony.

“It was a great day. We were a little worried last night but it turned out to be a great day at the ball park,” said Brian Kimsey, Oconee ‘Opening Day’ Page 5

Please see

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

University of Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell throws out the first pitch during last Saturday’s opening day ceremony. For more photos, see theoconeeleader.com.

Middle school soccer

Malcom Bridge sweeps OCMS with pair of one-goal wins

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

Oconee County

8/26 Clarke Central 9/02 At Walnut Grove 9/09 Morgan County 9/16 At Cedar Shoals 9/23 Eastside 10/07 At North Oconee 10/14 St. Pius X 10/21 At Stephens County 10/28 At Madison County 11/04 Jefferson

Prince Avenue Christian

8/19 Aquinas 8/26 At Riverside Military 9/02 Athens Christian 9/09 At Towns County 9/23 At George Walton Academy 9/30 Commerce 10/07 Lakeview Academy 10/14 At Hebron Christian 10/28 At Providence Christian 11/04 Athens Academy

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

The Malcom Bridge Lady Lightning celebrate a goal in the second half last Wednesday against Oconee County. For more photos, see theoconeeleader.com.

Malcom Bridge Middle School got three second-half goals in the girls’ game and one first-half goal in the boys’ game to sweep Oconee County Middle School on Wednesday at MBMS. The Lady Lightning won 3-2 and the Lightning won 1-0.

“We really controlled the ball 90 percent of the first half.

It was a different lineup than what these girls had done before. It was experimental. They were unhappy about me wanting to do it that way but it worked well. Several of them realized that and wanted to stick with it the second half,” said Lady Lightning head coach Merritt Arnold. “We made a few changes in the second half. With the wind at our back, we were able to put the ball in several times and then just sit back and defend. I am proud of my girls. They played real hard today.”

“This was the game of the year, the one that everyone is excited about. A ton of parents and friends and school members were here,” said Lightning head coach Ben Please see ‘Malcom Bridge-Oconee’ Page 5

Page 5

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Malcom Bridge’s Fernando Bodie’s shot in the first half was the only goal in last Wednesday’s game against Oconee County. For more photos, see theoconeeleader.com.

‘Malcom Bridge-Oconee soccer’

Grassmyer. “It was real tight in the end. All of these boys play on the same team and luckily we came away with it.”

Emily Davis scored the girls’ game’s first goal to give the Lady Braves a 1-0 lead. It was on a long shot that bounced over the Malcom Bridge goalkeeper and it came with 18:47 left in the first half.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Lady Braves until four minutes into the second half when Callee Maughon’s goal tied the game.

With 16:40 left in the game, Carly Lantz gave the Lady Lightning a 2-1 lead and with 8:26 left, a long shot by Taylor Frew gave the Lady Lightning a 3-1 lead.

“They were beautiful shots. We have had a little bit of trouble putting it in the back of the net all year long but they were finding it today, at least in the second half,” Arnold said.

“Having the wind at our back the second half was a big help but the way they played in the first half, I wasn’t too worried about it.

Even at halftime, I knew it was going to go the other way.”

Ella Brauer cut the lead to 3-2 with 7:35 left.

“They didn’t give up and they kept working really hard. I told them to leave it all on the field. We kept seeing that when they came back and got the second goal. We almost had that one in the end. They worked hard. Sometimes it doesn’t go in your favor,” said Lady Braves head coach Jessica Dickerson.

Continued from Page 4

“It was a good game. It was tough and the girls played really hard. We made some adjustments in the second half. Even though the score didn’t say we went in our favor, we made some adjustments that kept us right in there until the very end.”

The Lady Lightning improved to 2-3 overall and the Lady Braves dropped to 5-1.

The boys’ game was a battle of undefeated teams.

The Lightning were 4-0 and the Braves were 5-0 going into the game.

Fernando Bodie scored with 18:40 left in the first half to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead. It turned out to be all they needed.

“He probably could have had three or four more,” Grassmyer said. “He has been a superstar all year. He is averaging a hat trick a game. That is pretty impressive. He had the varsity team watching him and he was excited about having the varsity coach seeing him because that is who he is playing for next season.”

Moments after the Lightning goal, Oconee’s Victor Hernandez was fouled in the box. His penalty kick was saved by Juan Gaona to keep the Braves off the board.

Braves goalkeeper Cole McDermott made several saves throughout to keep the Braves in the game.

“Cole had a good game.

He definitely kept us in the game down the stretch. He was getting peppered there at the end. The fundamentals he used were great,” said Braves head coach Jay Poole. “With about seven minutes left, we pushed one

of our defenders up and with about three minutes left, we pushed another defender up. We were definitely all in trying to get one on frame but the ball didn’t bounce our way today.”

Malcom Bridge has two games left to close the season – March 24 at home against Athens Academy and March 29 on the road against Jackson County.

“It would be nice to go undefeated. That is the goal and expectation,” Grassmyer said. “Hopefully it works out.”

Oconee County has two games left – March 25 on the road against Buford and March 30 at home against Morgan County.

“There is always room for improvement,” Poole said.

‘Opening Day’ County Little League president.

Each of the 60 teams were introduced to the crowd, players of various age groups read the Little League pledge, the Oconee County Middle School decatens sang the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance was performed by various players, the sponsor and volunteer of the year was announced and a familiar face to University of Georgia fans was on hand to throw out the first pitch for baseball and

Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Continued from Page 4

softball.

UGA wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who released his book The Magician’s Hat, was signing autographs and threw out the first pitch.

“It was great to have him here,” Kimsey said. “We were glad to help him out with his book and get that noticed, but we were also glad he was here with us helping out today.”

As the players were released off the field following the ceremony, several got to shake hands and get

photos of Mitchell. One player remarked after shaking Malcolm’s hand, “I am never washing this hand again!”

The ceremony was dedicated to Camden Stephens, who played in the organization last year.

“He got leukemia this past year,” Kimsey said.

“He is going through treatments now so we dedicated today to him.”

Following Malcolm’s first pitch, one of the umpires got on the microphone and said, “Play ball!”

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Page 6

Elizabeth Allen with family and coaches

Allen signs with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical to play soccer

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

The days leading up to Athens Academy senior Elizabeth Allen’s signing ceremony weren’t full of indecision about where she was going to play collegiate soccer.

Allen made up her mind 13 months prior and said there was no second-guessing her decision during that time, just a reaffirmation of her decision.

Allen signed her name on a letter of intent to attend and play for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. “To finally get to this day is really rewarding. I couldn’t sleep all last night. It’s good to finally get here,” Allen said. “It was a gut feeling. I loved every aspect of the school. I loved every aspect of the program. Great coach. Great team. Great school. I nar-

rowed it down to a few options and followed my gut.

Every single minute since has been reaffirming my decision.

“The location was beautiful. It is a great school academically and athletically. I knew I would be successful there. It has great people.

All of those decisions added up to the perfect one.”

Allen has played soccer since she was 5 years old and has always wanted to play in college.

“It’s been a long journey but I have always wanted to get to this stage,” Allen said.

Her position on the pitch is attacking center mid but during her club season with Carolina Elite Soccer Academy, she was able to play six different positions.

“That has set me up to be successful and contribute,” Allen said. “Being versatile

as a player is very helpful to get on the field.

“My coach helped because every player on my team is going to play college soccer somewhere.

Our coach was preparing us for that. We had a very successful season but it worked out that each one of us could try different positions. It has been really valuable getting to improve on different aspects of my game.”

The Lady Spartans are in the midst of their season right now. They are 6-2-1 overall and 3-0 in the region. They beat GMC 5-0 last Friday.

Allen said she hopes the team can win region and advance deep in the state tournament. Her individual goals for this season are “be a good team leader, stay healthy for college and support my teammates, and score a little.”

Photos by MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Above, the Warriors celebrate a goal in the first half of last Saturday’s 4-2 win against Riverwood.

Right, Averee Hurst battles a Riverwood player for possession after a throw-in in the second half last Saturday. For more photos of the games, see theoconeeleader.com.

Oconee sweeps Riverwood, plays Saturday at North Oconee in alumni, JV, varsity games

BY MATTHEW CALDWELL The Oconee Leader

Oconee County hosted Riverwood in their annual mid-March meeting last Saturday and it was a sweep for the varsity teams.

The Lady Warriors got a pair of goals from Carmen Paveo and they won 2-1.

The Warriors built a threegoal lead in the first half and came away with a 4-2 win.

“I think the girls played excellent,” said Lady Warriors head coach Chris Romano. “We have had a lot of injuries and we were missing a few key players.

The girls did really well in the middle of the field.

They moved the ball around. They worked well as a unit. I am really proud of them. They did a good job.”

“I was very pleased,” said Warriors head coach Colin Connors. “Things are coming together. We always try to be improving and hit a peak before spring break, and come back after spring break and hit another peak heading into the playoffs. It is looking good to do that right now. Guys are coming together and settling into our formation.”

The Lady Warriors improved to 4-3-1 overall.

They are 2-0 in the region.

“We are doing well. We have played some solid competition and we have been in every game this year,” Romano said. “This game proves we can play with just about anybody.

There are some bigger teams than us but they played hard again tonight

and we are looking forward to getting another region game in the books on Tuesday.”

For the Warriors, all four goals they scored came off set pieces. Chris Johnson scored on a header 11 minutes into the game. Bennah Okoth scored with 27:36 left in the first half and again with 19:08 left in the half.

Nick Morin’s goal with 34:20 left in the game capped the scoring for the Warriors.

“That was probably just one of those days,” Connors said. “It was a very even game, more even than the score indicates. We ran our set pieces great and scored on four of them.

That was a good quality team, probably the best team we have beaten all year. That was the type of win I was wanting us to get – against a team that was as good as us or on some days, better than us.”

Oconee County travels to Hart County on Tuesday for a Region 8-AAA contest.

On Saturday, it’s a busy day down Highway 53 at North Oconee.

The JV girls game between Oconee and North Oconee begins at 10am, followed by the JV boys game at noon.

At 2 p.m., a first will happen with the inaugural alumni game between the Oconee and North Oconee girls. That will be followed at 4 p.m. by the alumni game between the Oconee and North Oconee boys.

“It should be a lot of fun,” Connors said. “We have

done an alumni game 10, 11 years. A couple of North Oconee players approached me about it last spring with the idea. I talked to (North Oconee boys’ head coach) Billy Harrell and he is all for it. He is an alumni here and I’m not sure which team he will be playing with. Each player is going to pay $10 to play in it and we will raise money for Dietz Strong here at the high school. (Brian Dietz) has battled liver and colon and lung cancer in the last couple of years. We are going to try and raise money for some of his medical expenses.”

When the alumni games are wrapped up, it will be time for the varsity girls’ game at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity boys’ game at 8 p.m.

“It is a huge week. It doesn’t get much bigger than a week with a region game on a Tuesday and North Oconee on Saturday,” Connors said. “It is good to win today to take that momentum into this week. Hart County has played a lot of teams tough. They have a good team this year. They tied East Jackson and last night they only lost by a goal to Jackson. It is on the road at their place. It is a tough trip. Right now that is the main focus but we do know we have North Oconee sitting there. We are excited about that as well. It is a great rivalry. They have a great team. It will be a great day of soccer.”

Page 7

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Thursday, March 24, 2016

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Thursday, March 24, 2016