The Oconee Leader

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

This Week: Calendar Daily Prayer Chapel: 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. through the week, St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church, 3761 Mars Hill Road, Watkinsville. Our church is open for personal prayer and meditation and to light a candle every morning from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Stop in for personal prayer and/ or at 7 a.m. for the short prayer service.

(770) 725-5035, saint.philothea@ gmail.com, www. stphilothea.org.

Oconee Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oconee County Courthouse, 23 N. Main Street, Watkinsville. The market is open rain-orshine on Saturdays through the last Saturday in November. Located in front of the courthouse in downtown Watkinsville.

Burgers for Breast Cancer Awareness: 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Parker Plastic Surgery, 1181 Langford Drive, Watkinsville.

Join us for our annual Burgers for Breast Cancer Awareness cookout benefiting the Athens Area Cancer Auxiliary.

Jamie Parker will be flipping burgers, so stop by for lunch because it’s only $5 and it’s for a great cause. RSVP via FB, phone (706) 543.0404 or email (dhill@parkerplasticsurgery.com).

Scream Free Parenting Class: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Grace Fellowship Church of God, 1120 Malcom Bridge Rd, Bogart. Grace Fellowship Church will offer a Scream Free Parenting Class from on Wednesdays beginning Aug.10 until Oct. 26 at 6:30-8 p.m. at Grace Fellowship, 1120 Malcom Bridge Road. The cost is $15 for required workbook and childcare is FREE. Are you a screamer? Or do you employ the “Silent Treatment”?

Are you looking for ways to better connect with your children? Join us for a 12 week study (DVD, discussion, exercises) designed to equip you for your most important job PARENTING! Led

by Scream Free Parenting Certified Leader, Wendy Fletcher-Clements.

To register (required), visit http:// graceathens.com/ connect/details/ scream-free-parenting/ or for more info. call the church at (706) 769-4001. $15., 706-769-4001, graceathens.com/ connect/details/ scream-free-parenting/.

Issue 41

From the Oconee to the Apalachee

Volume 11

Reality TV crew documenting Watkinsville company’s efforts to help mother of 2 pick up the pieces after fire

Photos by WAYNE FORD Rob Bailey, from left, and Luke Smith are videoed by Hoplite crew members Jeff Clark and Lentrell McEachern.

Show of support Wayne Ford

TheOconeeLeader.com

When the crew of Black Dawg Restoration was recently called to a house damaged by fire on Magnolia Street in Athens, they found a bleak situation.

There was not enough insurance money to cover all of the cost of properly restoring the house for the homeowner and there was no insurance covering the contents owned by the single mother of two who rented the house.

“When I looked her in the eyes the first time I met her, I knew she was somebody that we needed to help,” said Luke Smith, who with business partner Rob Bailey started Black Dawg in Watkinsville.

The Oconee County-based company decided it wanted to help the woman, who is taking technical school courses toward her goal of becoming a nurse.

She is also caring for her two small children, who were at their grandmother’s home when the fire started from what appears an electrical cause.

“Black Dawg has decided to help this homeowner out and re-

This fire-damaged house on Magnolia Street in Athens is being repaired by a Watkinsville restoration company and is the subject of a reality TV show.

pair the house for the coverage he has,” said Bailey, who explained there was about $40,000 in coverage for a house he expects needs about $70,000 to

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restore.

The men have already started the work. Last week, the house was gutted of dry wall and ceiling boards because of smoke damage.

The fire damage was contained to the area of the living room.

Please see RESTORATION

Page 2

“She will feel great when she moves back in and gets her contents replaced, but it will be a blessing to me.”

Luke Smith of Black Dawg Restoration

Oconee cleared to hike Calls Creek discharges Lee Shearer

TheOconeeLeader.com

Contact us: Email editor@theoconeeleader. com

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Photo by JOHN ROARK Andrew Horton, 10, walks through Calls Creek in Watkinsville in June.

The State Environmental Protection Division signed off on Oconee County’s plan to increase the amount of treated wastewater a county wastewater treatment plant discharges into Calls Creek near Watkinsville.

In the wake of the EPD decision, Oconee County’s public utilities director called for

a public forum to talk about issues such as the construction schedule for the wastewater plant, a controversial pipeline down Calls Creek that would pass through residential areas, and other water and wastewater issues.

The county’s existing permit allows the up to 1 million gallons a day into Calls Please see CREEK

Page 2

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Page 2

Restoration

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Head of School John Thorsen, from left, Annabelle Woodard, Noah Johnson, Nathan Glushka, Kevin Yin, Harper Cline, Jarod Gilliam and Julian Shelnutt.

Scholars of merit recognized Staff Reports

TheOconeeLeader.com

Seven members of Athens Academy’s Class of 2017 were recently recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program for their performance on the October 2015 PSAT/NMSQT. Kevin Yin was named a semi-finalist and will continue in competition this

spring for Merit Scholarship awards.

In addition, Harper Cline, Jarod Gilliam, Nathan Glushka, Noah Johnson, Julian Shelnutt and Annabelle Woodard have been recognized as National Merit Commended Students.

Since 2007, Athens Academy students have accounted for 37 percent of all National Merit Semi-finalists named in public, private and home schools in

Clarke and Oconee Counties.

The program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. About 1.4 million students enter the program and only about 50,000 qualify.

Mars Hill Road project moving along

Continued from page 1

“Because there was no coverage for all of her contents, Black Dawg is kind of teaming up with our church, Oconee Heights Baptist Church, and the church will try to help her replace the contents,” said Bailey, who is also pastor at Oconee Heights.

And their donations and efforts to help are not going unnoticed.

Recently, a film crew with Hoplite Entertainment, based in Hollywood, Calif., came to the house to video the work as part of a reality TV show.

“It’s been interesting following these guys to see the recovery work they do from salvaging and mitigating the immediate damage,” said Lawrence Benjamin, a producer for the company, who was on site to video various stages of the restoration.

The show has been named “Masters of Disaster” with a tag line of “When Mother Nature Strikes, They Strike Back,” said Benjamin, who lives in Orlando, Fla. Some investors working with Hoplite happen to be from Northeast Georgia and while pitching various ideas for shows, this idea was pitched to Hoplite, Benjamin explained.

“We loved this idea, so it grew from there,” he said.

Smith and Bailey, who were already business associates with ServiceMas-

Creek

Photo by WAYNE FORD Work on the improvements of Mars Hill Road from Georgia Highway 53 to the Oconee Connector is going well, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation said recently. The most recent work has been concentrated in the area from Butler’s Crossing at Oconee County Middle School to an area about a half mile away at Woodlands Road. Curb and gutter crews will be in the area soon, the spokeswoman said. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2018.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

ter Complete Restoration in Watkinsville, started their new restoration company.

Black Dawg is cooperating with Hoplite in the production of the show.

And they expressed hope that their efforts of helping the woman shows how businesses can do good in a community.

Smith said they can’t do this for every damaged house they repair, “but a time comes along and you know when it’s right.”

The house is about 900-square-feet with two bedrooms, a bath, living room and kitchen. The house was probably built more than 75 years ago as a letter was found in the ceiling that dated from 1941.

The company plans to refinish the hardwood floors, install new insulation and dry wall, new windows and front door, and upgrade the electrical, plumbing systems and connect a new heating furnace.

“We’re trying to turn it around really quickly,” Bailey said, explaining their plans are to finish the job in 30 to 40 days so the woman and her children can move back in during November.

“She will feel great when she moves back in and gets her contents replaced, but it will be a blessing to me,” Smith said.

Continued from page 1

Creek, but now the county can up that limit to 1.5 million gallons per day, Oconee County Utilities Director Wayne Haynie told Oconee County Commission members at a Tuesday meeting.

In practical terms, the county would plan for a more conservative 1.2 million gallons per day upper limit, Haynie said.

Haynie also asked for permission to discharge up to 3 million gallons a day of wastewater into Calls Creek, but an EPD official said the creek was too small to take that much wastewater.

That means Oconee County can go ahead with a plan to replace its wastewater treatment plant on Calls Creek, designed to treat up to 667,000 gallons of wastewater a day, Haynie told commissioners. It is one of two wastewater treatment plants the county owns and operates.

The other is a smaller, land application system.

Building the new plant will cost about $7 million, Oconee officials said earlier this year.

The expanded plant capacity will allow the county to meet its growing demand for sewage treatment service for the immediate future without building a controversial pipeline that would take treated wastewater down Calls Creek to empty near where Calls Creek flows into the Middle Oconee River.

The pipeline would allow expansion of the plant to 3 million gallons a day.

The county can’t wait too long to determine future expansions of the county’s water and wastewater infrastructures, Haynie said.

“We feel like by 2020 we need to be at least looking at what that next option may be,” he said. “There’s plenty of options and other opportunities.”

Haynie told commissioners he was setting up a

“We feel like by 2020 we need to be at least looking at what that next option may be. There’s plenty of options and other opportunities.”

Oconee County Utilities Director Wayne Haynie

community forum on water and wastewater issues.

The meeting is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 26, and Haynie hopes to have it in the Oconee County Civic Center.

Water consumption has actually gone down in the county over the past several years, as it has statewide and nationwide.

Oconee now gets its water from the Bear Creek Reservoir, which the county owns with three other area counties, including Athens-Clarke, Barrow and Jackson counties.

Oconee also owns rights to a portion of the water in a new reservoir filling up in Walton County, the Hard Labor Creek Reservoir. Because of that decreasing demand for drinking water, a construction start date hasn’t been set for a drinking water treatment plant at the reservoir, however.

Wastewater treatment at the Calls Creek plant is also averaging well below its capacity, as well – about 450,000 gallons per day, Hayne said in January.

But the county has granted developers and businesses future rights to tap into the system that would stretch beyond Oconee County’s ability to meet without expanding its treatment capacity and discharge limits.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

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Page 3

Stephens considered for high court seat Wayne Ford

TheOconeeLeader.com

Western Judicial Circuit Judge Lawton Stephens is one of 13 jurists statewide being considered to fill three vacancies on the Georgia Supreme Court.

Stephens serves as Superior Court judge for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties.

Gov. Nathan Deal is reviewing a list of judges that includes Stephens compiled by the Judicial Nominating Commission from 130 people across Georgia who applied for the positions on the state’s highest court.

Two of the unfilled Supreme Court slots were created this year by the Georgia General Assembly, and the third will become available with the January retirement of Chief Justice Hugh Thompson.

Competing with Stephens for spots on the Supreme Court’s bench are one other Superior Court judge, seven judges from the Georgia Court of Appeals, a state senator who holds a law degree and the solicitor general in the state attorney general’s office.

When the Judicial Nominating Commission released its list Monday, it became the second time in a year Stephens was

Registration starts for winter sports programs

The Oconee County Parks and Recreation Department is opening winter program registration today.

Among the sports offered are Start Smart

16th Annual Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service from the State Bar of Georgia. Since 1998, the awards have been presented to honor lawyers and judges in Georgia who made significant contributions to their communities and demonstrate the positive contributions of members of the bar beyond their legal or official work.

Stephens served in the Georgia House from 1987 to 1991.

During three of his 10 years in private practice, he worked alongside his father, the late U.S. Rep Robert G. Stephens Jr., in the Athens law firm of Stephens and Stephens.

Oconee Pilot Club members attend convention in Canada

Fall fest will feature scarecrows

Scarecrows will be about town on Saturday during the 42nd Annual Oconee Chamber Fall Festival in downtown Watkinsville that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The scarecrows are part of a contest sponsored by the chamber and will be placed throughout town.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features more than 200 vendors showing arts and crafts to food.

There will also be an area for children’s activities. The chamber also reminds people that pets are not allowed in the festival area. Free parking is offered off site.

considered for a higher court. In October 2015, Stephens made it to the short list of judges considered for the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Stephens, 61, has been on the bench in the Western Judicial Circuit since April 1991, when appointed Superior Court judge

by Gov. Zell Miller. He was elected without opposition in 1996.

A graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, he served on many judicial and legal boards and commissions, and was the judicial circuit’s chief judge from 2003 to 2012.

In February 2015, Stephens received the

Basketball for those 4 years old; instructional junior basketball for ages 5-6; and basketball academy for ages 10-14; along with a high school basketball league, adult basketball, day camps, home school physical education classes and yoga.

People can register online or visit Oconee Vet-

erans Park. The department is also in need of volunteer coaches for the basketball leagues, which begin in November and end in February. Anyone interested can contact Daniel Cummings at dcummings@ oconee.ga.us. For more about the programs, call (706) 769-3965.

— Staff reports

On the scene in Oconee County schools

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Great day showing lambs at fair in Perry by the North Oconee High School’s Future Farmers of America.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Congratulations to Rocky Branch Elementary 2016 DA$H T-shirt design winner Maya Compton.

• More photos on page 4

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Two members of the Oconee County Pilots Club recently attended the 95th Pilot International Convention in Montreal, Canada. Oconee Pilot Club President Donna MacPherson, left, and member Joy Elder were among 620 Pilot members attending the event that drew club representatives from the United States and four other countries. The Oconee club has 32 members and meets the first Tuesday of each month at Watkinsville First Christian Church. For more information on becoming involved with the club see www.oconeepilotclub.com.

Page 4

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Thursday, October 13, 2016

On the scene in Oconee County schools

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Using microscopes, fifth-grade students at Oconee County Elementary examined plant and animal cells to gain a better understanding of their similarities and differences.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO High Shoals Elementary students were excited to have North Oconee High cheerleaders pump them up for the big game last week.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Former Georgia and NFL football player David Pollack visits students at Malcom Bridge Elementary School.

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

Cross country Oconee County XC

Oconee County’s cross country teams competed Saturday in the Alexander/ Asics Invitational in Douglasville. The boys finished seventh in both the championship and 1A-4A events.

The Lady Warriors finished 22 in the championship race and eighth in the 1A4A race. Athens Academy’s Anna Marian Block finished second in the championship race. nd

WARRIORS l TITANS l SPARTANS l WOLVERINES l LIONS

October 13, 2016

Rivalry win for Warriors

Boys’ championship 10-Wesley John-16:08 33 -Harrison Morris-16:38 34 -Jake Hadden-16:48 114 -Colin O’Neal-17:42 128 -Garrison Taylor-17:50 177 -Hayden Guthrie-18:18 185 -Kelton MCConnell-18:44 rd th

th

th th th

Boys’ varsity 13 -Tanner Schroer-18:33 19 -Tucker Schroer-18:49 39 -Joseph Higginbotham-19:18 40 -Sam Hunt-19:19 51 -Cole Huff-19:26 58 -Will Evelyn-19:46 79 -Patrick Gattiker-20:41 th th th

th st

th th

Girls’ championship 14 -Nicole Pachuta-18:55 41 -Caroline McArthur-19:58 178 -Cailey Dunford-22:33 192 -Megan Crozier-22:57 204 -Maggie Clutter-23:22 205 -Rachel Buffa-23:24 th st

th

nd th th

Girls’ varsity 12 -Julia Peroni-23:29 48 -Carlie Fass-26:18 65 -Sara Castro-28:01 66 -Morgan Carey-28:15 72 -Laurel Thomas-29:16 -Staff reports th th th th

nd

North Oconee XC

Fueled by top-ten finishes from Anthony Potts (4th in 16:21) and Brady Kalessa (9th in 16:54), North Oconee claimed the thirdplace trophy (149 points) in the 26-team field at Unicoi.

North Hall (109) and Flowery Branch (131) took the top two spots. Jacob Ash (17th in 17:28), Dawson Frey (58th in 18:22) and David Mustard (61st in 18:26) contributed top-five team scores, with Acton Vogt (118th in 19:11) rounding out the varsity scoring.

For the girls, top-15 individual medals went to Kate Mattison (8th in 19:50) and Gabby Huff-Streiter (14th in 20:31). Top-five team finishes included Hollis Brown (22nd in 20:57), Melanie Bowden (23rd in 21:08), and Courtney Jones (39th in 22:00). Anna Cobb was 80th in 23:40. Hart, Flowery Branch, and White County finished 1-3, respectively, in team scores.

The JV girls took second, spurred on by a 2nd-place individual finish by Peyton Coates (22:10). Grace Pan, Amy Gayer, Anna Marie Garmon, and Komal Parikh were top-five team scorers, with Christa Lynn Moore and Korey Dickerson in the top-seven for the Lady Titans.

In the boys’ JV, Thomas Dowis led the way (43rd in 19:59). Colin McCormick, Collin Pannell, Conar Jensen, and Daniel Smith were top-fivers. Michael Shirley and Cole Lannon rounded out the team top-7.

Next on the schedule for North Oconee is the Coach Wood Invitational at Gainesville on Saturday.

-Staff reports

Online

Photos by John Roark

Oconee County’s Christian Casey (24) runs the ball after taking a handoff from Sam Middlebrooks during the first half of last Friday night’s game at North Oconee.

Oconee County rolls past North Oconee in region opener

By Nicole Saavedra TheOconeeLeader.com

After two tries and a twoyear hiatus, Oconee County picked up its first regular-season win over rival North Oconee last Friday.

And the Warriors made the victory — and the wait — count. Oconee County (5-1, 1-0 in Region 8-4A) topped host North Oconee (0-6, 0-1) 55-14.

North Oconee won the first two meetings of the series in 2012 and 2013.

The teams did not play during the regular season in 2014 and 2015.

“I’m very happy with the win, very happy for our kids and our community,” Oconee County coach Travis Noland said. “I was very pleased coming out of the open date to play the way we did early in the game.”

North Oconee held Oconee County to a 29Please see ‘OCHS-NOHS’

Page 6

Lady Titans receive state championship rings North Oconee’s girls’ tennis team was recognized during last Friday’s football game for winning the Class AAAA state championship last season. It was the first state title in program history for the tennis team and they received their championship rings.

Photo by John Roark

Story, photo gallery

PACS football theoconeeleader.com

Oconee County’s Corderius Paschal breaks up a pass intended for North Oconee’s Garrett Paxson during the first half last Friday night.

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Page 6

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Lady Spartans win Area 8-A championship

Athens Academy’s volleyball team won the Area 8-A championship last Saturday with a 3-1 win against Hebron Christian. The Lady Spartans opened the tournament last Thursday as the No. 2 seed and defeated Athens Christian in the first round and Tallulah Falls in the second round. The tournament continued Saturday and the Lady Spartans beat George Walton to advance to the championship match, a best-three-of-five match against top-seed Hebron Christian. The state tournament opens this week.

Contributed photo

Lady Titans finish second in Region 8-AAAA tournament

North Oconee’s volleyball team finished as runner-up in the Region 8-AAAA tournament behind Atlanta private school St. Pius X. The Lady Titans entered the region tournament with a bye in the first round and a berth in the state tournament already clinched.

They beat Jefferson on Thursday evening and lost to St. Pius X on Saturday morning. The Lady Titans then beat Oconee County to qualify for the region finals and earn a home match in the first round of the state tournament, which begins this week.

Contributed photo

Lady Titans competition cheerleaders win for second straight week

Contributed photo

North Oconee’s competition cheerleading team put together what head coach Ashley Downs called their ‘best performance and biggest win of the season’ last Saturday at Johns Creek. The Lady Titans beat Cartersville, Gilmer County and Oconee County to finish first, their second straight win. The Lady Titans compete next on Saturday at Peachtree Ridge. Pictured are (back row) Maggie Booz, Payton Ryan, Braelyn Whyte, (middle row) Maitland Hood, Kaylee Frantz, Julia Walker, Olivia Emerick, Ava Sloan, Ashleigh Willis, McKinsey Haley, Bailey Ellis, Sydney Stricklin, (front row) Kendall Brown, Natalie Babin, Amelia Hamil, Kyler Hardigree and Baleigh Hancock with coaches Ashley Downs and Lydia Farman.

‘OCHS-NOHS’

Continued from page 5

yard field goal midway through the first quarter.

The Warriors went on to score on its next five drives of the half.

“We made a mistake on every play,” North Oconee coach Terry Tuley said.

“You cannot, I don’t care how good you are or who you’re playing, you cannot do that and consistently do much of anything. And of course, it steamrolled.

You could pretty much go through the book and everything that could go wrong did, not because we were overwhelmed. We just didn’t execute.”

Champ Bell broke off a 60-yard scoring run. Then Sam Middlebrooks found Corderius Paschal on two scoring passes — a 51-yard catch-and-run and a 50yard catch. Paschal intercepted a North Oconee pass to set up Middlebrooks’ 10-yard touchdown throw to Cam Conglose. Hunter Reynolds added a 21-yard field goal to give the Warriors a 34-0 lead at the half.

Oconee County opened the second half with another touchdown when

Middlebrooks connected with Roques Dowdy on a 65-yard score. The Warriors blocked a North Oconee field goal attempt on the Titans’ next drive, and Reynolds missed an Oconee County field goal attempt.

Freshman Max Johnson connected with Blaize Williams on a 17-yard touchdown with under a minute left in the third quarter to give the Warriors a 48-0 lead. Jarvis Stevens tacked on a fourth-quarter touchdown.

“For the future, it’s great,” Noland said. “Those guys have been working hard all year and a lot of them play JV, but to get to play under the lights in a great environment like against their county rival helps in the future.”

North Oconee’s Jermaine Browner scored on a 66yard run early in the fourth quarter. Turner Daniel added another score in the game’s final minute.

Oconee County hosts St. Pius X at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

North Oconee hosts Jefferson.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

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PACS routs Lakeview 49-0

Page 7

Athens Academy stays undefeated, beats Hebron Christian 21-10

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

It was a victorious homecoming for Prince Avenue Christian last Friday night. The Wolverines posted their second shutout of the season and remained undefeated with a 49-0 win against Lakeview. The Wolverines improved to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in Region 8-A. Thomas Huff opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Grant Roland had a 66-yard touchdown pass to Christian Parrish for a 14-0 lead. Roland completed a 15-yard pass to Noah Campbell (pictured above) for a 21-0 lead. Huff added a 6-yard touchdown run for a 28-0 lead and Roland completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Parrish for a 35-0 lead in the second quarter. Sam Wessinger had a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Dalton Owens had a field goal block and Tyler Roberts had a fumble recovery. For the full story and photos, see theoconeeleader.com. The Wolverines play at Hebron Christian on Friday night.

Lady Warriors finish third in Region 8-AAAA

Oconee County’s volleyball team finished third in Region 8-AAAA but qualified for the Class AAAA state tournament.

The Lady Warriors beat Stephens County 2-0 on Thursday night in the region tournament opener but lost to St. Pius later in the evening. The tournament continued on Saturday morning and the Lady Warriors beat Jefferson 2-0. With a berth in the championship on the line, the Lady Warriors lost to North Oconee to finish third.

The state tournament begins this week on the road. Pictured is senior Ansley McClain.

MATTHEW CALDWELL/ Oconee Leader

MATTHEW CALDWELL/Oconee Leader

Athens Academy improved to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 8-A with a 21-10 win at Hebron Christian last Friday night. The Spartans trailed 3-0 after Hebron Christian kicked a field goal on its opening drive but they took a 6-3 lead on a 3-yard run Henry Trapnell (pictured above). Matt Moseley connected with Ed Ferguson for a 30-yard touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the Spartans led 14-3 with 1:16 left in the second quarter. Ferguson had a 2-yard touchdown run and after the PAT by Drew Byus, the Spartans led 21-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Spartans host Providence Christian on Friday night in the first of three straight home games.

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Page 8

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Oconee enters state tournament as PACS opens state tournament at third seed from Region 8-AAAA home looking to go back to Columbus

By Matthew Caldwell

By Matthew Caldwell

Oconee County wrapped up the Region 8-AAAA tournament last Thursday at Jefferson with a 3-0 loss to Stephens County to finish third in the region, which means the Lady Warriors will be on the road in the first round of the Class AAAA state tournament this week.

“It’s better than finishing fourth, not as good as finishing first or second.

Offensively, we didn’t do much today,” said head coach Bryan Eades. “Chloe (Fambrough) had the big double and Keely (Glenn) had a double and Morgan (Tyler) got on and had a double. We couldn’t execute after that. We were already three runs down at that point. The first time I was trying to play for one run and we couldn’t get the bunt down. After that we tried to get two or three at a time. Off the pitcher for Stephens County, that will be hard to do. She shut Jefferson down for eight innings Tuesday. It was a struggle but we had two bad innings. We had one bad inning against Jefferson where they scored four runs and one bad inning against Stephens County where they scored two. I told them that can cost you your season now starting next week. We will have to try and eliminate that.”

Prince Avenue Christian came up short in its bid to win its fifth straight region championship after losing 5-3 to Athens Christian last Tuesday.

The loss sealed the region championship for Athens Christian. The Lady Wolverines stranded the bases loaded in the first and third innings, and left runners on first and second base in the fifth inning before breaking through for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3.

Athens Christian then scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

“We scattered the hits.

We just couldn’t put them together tonight. She did a good job of hitting her locations and we didn’t adjust to where the ball was.

We learned from it. It is a tough way to learn,” said head coach Jason Myers.

“That’s not our game to strand runners. We have to play good defense. Taylor Bond did a great job in the circle for us. But for us to compete, we have to push those runs across.”

Alex Tuttle was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. She also threw out a runner at the plate from centerfield in the top of the fifth inning.

Hays Simmons tripled with one out in the bottom

TheOconeeLeader.com

TheOconeeLeader.com

Morgan Tyler, Maura Grace Dickens, Ansley Hart

The Lady Warriors had a three-hour ride to NW Whitfield, located in the northwest corner of Georgia.

“We have been up there before. It works out where we get matched up with that region in the years we finish third or fourth,” said head coach Bryan Eades.

“Last year Pepperell had to come to us in the first round. We will make a day of it if the administration will let us and go up there and try to win a couple of games. That is our goal – focus on the first round and get through the first round.”

Eades said going through a tough region can help his team for the state tournament.

“Seeing the pitching we have seen, especially in the region tournament, at least

allows us to know what we might see on down the road should we get further down the road,” Eades said. “It is good to play good teams and Jefferson and Madison and Stephens are all good teams. That is why I like doing this, but we want to win. The fact that we lost by three runs in both games doesn’t matter to me. What matters is we could have won both games and that is what we have to do. At this point, once you get to the state playoffs, moral victories don’t matter. It is all about winning. You have to win those games to keep moving and keep playing.

That is what we are going to do. We are going to go up there and try to win games.”

Alex Tuttle of the sixth inning. She scored on a bunt single by Haley Cartey. After Mackenzie Kurt reached on an error, Cartey and Kurt scored on a hit to right field

by Tuttle to tie the game at 3-3.

“Alex Tuttle’s throw to the plate really sparked us.

She sparked us at the plate tonight. When she threw the girl out at home, it built that momentum,” Myers said. “When Hays came up, that was huge. Then Haley bunting the ball and executing. We have struggled with it and we struggled tonight. She did a great job of laying the bunt down and getting it in play and allowing us a chance to score a run. That started things for us.”

The Lady Wolverines opened the Class A private school state tournament this week with a home series. The top eight teams in the power rankings received a bye in the first round.

“Our ultimate goal is Columbus. We know that. If we want to go far and go to Columbus, we are going to have to make those adjustments and cut down on the strikeouts. She is a good pitcher and that is what we will see if we can make it that far,” Myers said.

“The next two weeks we have a three-game series instead of getting the bye.

We could have used it but that’s the way it is. We tried to settle it on the field and they beat us tonight.”

To Advertise: Phone 706.208.2290 Other

Other

1400

1400

Medical / Health

1380

Local medical office seeks to fill FT Case Manager/ Pharmacy Tech/ Insurance Biller/ Customer Service Position.

Previous medical or pharmacy experience preferred.

Please email resume to psiresume@hotmail.com.

Harrison Poultry, Inc.

Has opening for

Poultry Processing Workers.

Job entails cutting, trimming, & packing poultry.

Multiple openings and various shifts.

To apply, stop by to fill out an application or send resumes to HR Manager P.O. Box 550 Bethlehem, Georgia 30620.

Let us help you find that perfect new employee.

Call 706.208.2290 to advertise your job opening in the Oconee Leader.

PR OFESSIONAL

A Guide to Professional Services in the Oconee County Area To Advertise: Phone 706.549.0123 Home Services

Home Services

3520

EDT CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING

3520

* Rotten Wood Repair *Carports & Garage *Additions *Renovations *Roofing Repairs *New Home Construction *Sun Rooms *Decks & Patios *Ceramic Tile *Home Maintenance *Painting (Int/Ext) *Kitchen & Bath Renovation *Window & Door Replacement

Home Services

3520

Home Services

UlmBrothers Tree Service

Local and experienced!

We are fully insured and offer Tree removal,Trimming Pruning, Debris Removal, Insurance work, Right of way work, Lot clearing, and Stump Grinding. We pride our self on customer service and satisfaction.

Call for a free estimate today.

Office: 706-369-5300 Cell: 706-255-4941

State Licensed & Insured

For ALL Your HOME IMPROVEMENTS, Large Or Small, Call Today For A FREE ESTIMATE

706-202-6066 Call Anytime & Ask for ET Visit our website at www.edtconstruction.com edtconstruction@yahoo.com Serving Athens since 1989

3520

Oconee County’s best source for finding painters, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, and other skilled local service providers

LOOKING FOR A

PAINTER? The Professional Services Directory is Oconee County’s best source for finding painters, plumbers, landscapers, roofers, and other skilled local service providers.

Advertise in the Professional Services Directory!

Call 706.549.0123 for more info.