MACON — Bulloch Academy finished third in the 10-team Windsor Academy girls’ varsity fast-pitch softball tournament over the weekend at Freedom Park.
The Lady Gators (4-2) fell into the losers’ bracket after game one Friday afternoon but won four straight to be in the thick of the title hunt on Saturday. Bulloch fell short though, falling to eventual tournament champion Mount de Sales late Saturday.
“I was extremely pleased,” said BA head coach Chandler Dennard, “especially after getting into the losers’ bracket and battling back to finish third in the tournament. I thought we hit the ball well, even when we were making outs. We were really aggressive at the plate. In six games, we only had 10 strikeouts. If you put the ball into play, good things are going to happen.”
But it didn’t start off that way Friday afternoon as the Lady Gators lost their opening game of the tournament, a 5-3 nailbiter to Strong Rock Christian.
Bulloch took a 3-2 lead by the fourth inning but Strong Rock retaliated with three in the top of the fifth and held off the Lady Gators for the victory.
Junior Sunny Salzman was the losing pitcher and she also led the BA offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game Friday afternoon, the Lady Gators broke open a close game with Central Fellowship with a seven-run, third inning to take an 11-5 victory.
Senior Addie Reddick went 2-for-4 with three RBI and the Lady Gators drew seven walks. Junior Kelcie Jacobs was the winning pitcher.
In game three Saturday morning, Bulloch blasted Sherwood Christian 7-1. Salzman recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit. Senior Kaylee Lanier, junior Kaylee Dennard, sophomore Rachel Gilbert and freshman Taylor Collins all went 2-for-3.
Salzman threw her second one-hitter of the day in game four as the Lady Gators blanked host Windsor Academy 6-0 in game four. Lanier, Collins and junior Heaven Hinton all went 2-for-3.
Game five was a rematch with Strong Rock Christian and this time the score was reversed. The Lady Gators were up 5-1 going into the final inning when SRC began a rally and scored two runs. But Salzman came on in relief and a sweet 4-6-3 double play (Collins to Lanier to Reddick) helped Bulloch escape with the win. Dennard went 2-for-3 and a host of Lady Gators had one hit each.
The winning streak came to an end in game six as Class AAA Mount de Sales nipped Bulloch 9-7.
The Lady Gators jumped out to a 3-1 lead but the Lady Cavs scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth inning. Two costly BA errors also helped MDS go up 8-3. Bulloch scored three in the top of the fifth to cut the advantage to 8-6. Each team added another run before time was called. Mount de Sales went on to win the tournament.
Salzman got the loss but helped her cause by going 2-for-3. Lanier was 2-for-3 with two doubles and Gilbert was also 2-for-3.
Bulloch travels to Dublin Thursday to battle Trinity Christian School in a varsity, B-team doubleheader. First pitch for the varsity contest is slated for 4 p.m. with the B-team game to follow at approximately 5:30 p.m.
8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk
The 8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday. The race is set to begin at Brooklet Elementary School at 7 a.m..
The cost is $15 until Aug. 11 and $20 after Aug. 11. Trophies and gift cards will be awarded to the top three male and female overall runners and top three male and female masters overall. Trophies will be awarded to the top three males and females in each age division.
Proceeds benefit the Southeast Bulloch Cross Country and Soccer programs. Save a stamp and register online at www.active.com, or contact Kent Brannen at 912-682-6924 or kbrannen@bulloch.k12.ga.us.
Travel Team tryouts
Around the Horn Baseball/Softball, travel teams with the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation, will be having open tryouts on Saturday at Mill Creek Regional Park. Around the Horn will be instructed by former college and professional athletes who stress fundamentals and skill development.
The team will be competing in the USSSA Baseball Division of 11, 12, 13, and 14-under and ASA Softball Division of 12, 14, and 16-under. The tryout times are: 11 and 12-under boys at 10 a.m. and 13 and 14-under boys at noon. The girls’ softball times are: 12-and-under at 10 a.m. and 14 and 16-under at 11:30 a.m. For further information contact Dadrian Cosby or Mitch Stafford at (912)764-5637.
Statesboro Hall of Fame nominations
The Statesboro Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for the 2008 induction. A nominee must be a graduate of Statesboro High School, William James High School, or Marvin Pittman. In order to be considered, one must be an alumnus from one of these institutions for at least fifteen years.
A nominee will be considered in the following areas: high school athletic participation; high school athletic awards, records, and recognitions; college athletic participation; college athletic awards, records, recognitions, and scholarships; high school and college non-athletic extracurriculuar activities; accomplishments after high school and/or college (contributions to community); leadership and character
Nomination forms can be obtained at the Statesboro High School main office or from Snooky’s Restaurant. In addition, a form can be obtained from the Statesboro High School website:
(www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/shs) For additional information, contact Kathy Tucker at 852-9205. Forms must be received by Saturday, August 30, 2008 in order for the nominee to be considered for the 2008 induction.
GSU Preseason Dinner and Rally
On Thursday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m., in the Russell Union Ballroom, the Bulloch County Eagle Club will hold a football preseason dinner and pep rally.
Come support the Eagles, enjoy a wonderful meal and hear coach Chris Hatcher give an outlook for the 2008 season. Tickets are only $15 and you are encouraged to buy them well in advance. Last year the event was a sellout.
The pep rally will be at the Rotunda immediately following dinner.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Georgia Southern Office of Alumni Relations at (912) GSU-ALUM (478-2586).
The Lady Gators (4-2) fell into the losers’ bracket after game one Friday afternoon but won four straight to be in the thick of the title hunt on Saturday. Bulloch fell short though, falling to eventual tournament champion Mount de Sales late Saturday.
“I was extremely pleased,” said BA head coach Chandler Dennard, “especially after getting into the losers’ bracket and battling back to finish third in the tournament. I thought we hit the ball well, even when we were making outs. We were really aggressive at the plate. In six games, we only had 10 strikeouts. If you put the ball into play, good things are going to happen.”
But it didn’t start off that way Friday afternoon as the Lady Gators lost their opening game of the tournament, a 5-3 nailbiter to Strong Rock Christian.
Bulloch took a 3-2 lead by the fourth inning but Strong Rock retaliated with three in the top of the fifth and held off the Lady Gators for the victory.
Junior Sunny Salzman was the losing pitcher and she also led the BA offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game Friday afternoon, the Lady Gators broke open a close game with Central Fellowship with a seven-run, third inning to take an 11-5 victory.
Senior Addie Reddick went 2-for-4 with three RBI and the Lady Gators drew seven walks. Junior Kelcie Jacobs was the winning pitcher.
In game three Saturday morning, Bulloch blasted Sherwood Christian 7-1. Salzman recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit. Senior Kaylee Lanier, junior Kaylee Dennard, sophomore Rachel Gilbert and freshman Taylor Collins all went 2-for-3.
Salzman threw her second one-hitter of the day in game four as the Lady Gators blanked host Windsor Academy 6-0 in game four. Lanier, Collins and junior Heaven Hinton all went 2-for-3.
Game five was a rematch with Strong Rock Christian and this time the score was reversed. The Lady Gators were up 5-1 going into the final inning when SRC began a rally and scored two runs. But Salzman came on in relief and a sweet 4-6-3 double play (Collins to Lanier to Reddick) helped Bulloch escape with the win. Dennard went 2-for-3 and a host of Lady Gators had one hit each.
The winning streak came to an end in game six as Class AAA Mount de Sales nipped Bulloch 9-7.
The Lady Gators jumped out to a 3-1 lead but the Lady Cavs scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth inning. Two costly BA errors also helped MDS go up 8-3. Bulloch scored three in the top of the fifth to cut the advantage to 8-6. Each team added another run before time was called. Mount de Sales went on to win the tournament.
Salzman got the loss but helped her cause by going 2-for-3. Lanier was 2-for-3 with two doubles and Gilbert was also 2-for-3.
Bulloch travels to Dublin Thursday to battle Trinity Christian School in a varsity, B-team doubleheader. First pitch for the varsity contest is slated for 4 p.m. with the B-team game to follow at approximately 5:30 p.m.
8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk
The 8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday. The race is set to begin at Brooklet Elementary School at 7 a.m..
The cost is $15 until Aug. 11 and $20 after Aug. 11. Trophies and gift cards will be awarded to the top three male and female overall runners and top three male and female masters overall. Trophies will be awarded to the top three males and females in each age division.
Proceeds benefit the Southeast Bulloch Cross Country and Soccer programs. Save a stamp and register online at www.active.com, or contact Kent Brannen at 912-682-6924 or kbrannen@bulloch.k12.ga.us.
Travel Team tryouts
Around the Horn Baseball/Softball, travel teams with the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation, will be having open tryouts on Saturday at Mill Creek Regional Park. Around the Horn will be instructed by former college and professional athletes who stress fundamentals and skill development.
The team will be competing in the USSSA Baseball Division of 11, 12, 13, and 14-under and ASA Softball Division of 12, 14, and 16-under. The tryout times are: 11 and 12-under boys at 10 a.m. and 13 and 14-under boys at noon. The girls’ softball times are: 12-and-under at 10 a.m. and 14 and 16-under at 11:30 a.m. For further information contact Dadrian Cosby or Mitch Stafford at (912)764-5637.
Statesboro Hall of Fame nominations
The Statesboro Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for the 2008 induction. A nominee must be a graduate of Statesboro High School, William James High School, or Marvin Pittman. In order to be considered, one must be an alumnus from one of these institutions for at least fifteen years.
A nominee will be considered in the following areas: high school athletic participation; high school athletic awards, records, and recognitions; college athletic participation; college athletic awards, records, recognitions, and scholarships; high school and college non-athletic extracurriculuar activities; accomplishments after high school and/or college (contributions to community); leadership and character
Nomination forms can be obtained at the Statesboro High School main office or from Snooky’s Restaurant. In addition, a form can be obtained from the Statesboro High School website:
(www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/shs) For additional information, contact Kathy Tucker at 852-9205. Forms must be received by Saturday, August 30, 2008 in order for the nominee to be considered for the 2008 induction.
GSU Preseason Dinner and Rally
On Thursday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m., in the Russell Union Ballroom, the Bulloch County Eagle Club will hold a football preseason dinner and pep rally.
Come support the Eagles, enjoy a wonderful meal and hear coach Chris Hatcher give an outlook for the 2008 season. Tickets are only $15 and you are encouraged to buy them well in advance. Last year the event was a sellout.
The pep rally will be at the Rotunda immediately following dinner.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Georgia Southern Office of Alumni Relations at (912) GSU-ALUM (478-2586).
