On any given afternoon in either the spring or fall, Bulloch Academy students are transported off-campus for varsity softball and junior varsity baseball practice. All games are played on the fields of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Recreation Department.
In late August, that will be a thing of the past.
A regulation softball field, which will also be used for middle-school baseball, is being built on the campus of Bulloch Academy. The project is a joint venture of the school’s Booster Club and Board of Trustees. Many of the school’s families are donating services, manpower, equipment and materials to help make the project a reality.
“I would estimate that 75 percent of the labor and materials is being donated,” said Don Lanier, the Booster Club vice president. “Since the field will be one of the first things a person will see when they come on the school’s campus, we want it to be a showcase. The main reason for building the field at Bulloch Academy is not having to shuttle kids off campus to practice and play softball and baseball.”
Currently, the varsity and junior varsity softball teams practice and play games on Memorial Field at the Memorial Park (Fair Road Park) while the junior varsity baseball team practices and plays its games on Luetta Moore Field at Luetta Moore Park (formerly Blitch Street Park). In 2006, Bulloch Academy’s varsity softball team finished the season with a 24-6 record and was the Class AA state runner-up.
“We are very excited about the new addition to our athletic facilities,” said Bulloch Academy athletic director Clint Morgan. “It has been a long time coming for our varsity girls to be able to play on campus. They deserve it and, besides, it will help our junior varsity baseball program as well.”
The new field, which is in its early phases of construction along Westside Road on the school’s campus, will be 225 feet from home plate to an eight-foot fence enclosing the outfield. It will also have a skinned (dirt) infield. The complex itself will have home and visitor dugouts, a concession/bathroom building and a small press box.
“Safety was our main focus for building this facility,” said Morgan. “Having to shuttle kids off campus was not exactly what we wanted to do. Too much traffic and too many teens on the road at 3 p.m. Many thanks go out to our Boosters and other supporters for making this dream a reality. Expansion shows progress and we are definitely progressing both academically and athletically.”
The area is the first phase of a proposed building project which may eventually include tennis courts, a soccer field and a new classroom addition.
The idea to develop that particular portion of land has been in the minds of Bulloch Academy supporters for years but a specific area of need couldn’t be settled on. Finally, a decision was reached in the latter part of 2006.
Surveys were taken and plans were drawn. Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was contacted and asked about developing the small portion of the property which was deemed wetlands.
Work began approximately three weeks ago on clearing the land of trees and stumps. Once the land has been thoroughly cleared, approximately 3,500 cubic yards of dirt will be trucked in to fill and level the area. Completion is scheduled for mid-August.
Screven qualifies for state
Over the past four season, the Screven County girls soccer team amassed a total of 12 wins. Thursday night at Jefferson County, the Lady Gamecocks secured their 12th win of the 2007 season with a 3-1 win to qualify for the state tournament.
Screven got goals from Catherine Cela, Nicole Miller and Haley Iten in improve to 6-1 in Area 4-A/AA East. They’ll face the No. 1 seed out of the area’s West Division on April 11.
Brittany Brinson had five saves in goal for SCHS.
ECI shuts out Portal
The Portal baseball team lost 5-0 Friday in Twin City. Dereck Finch and Vinnie Lynn both went 2-for-3 in ths loss for PHS (7-9, 4-2). The Panthers face Screven County in Sylvania Friday at 5 p.m.
BA pounds St. Andrews
SAVANNAH — Bulloch Academy freshman Matt Simons went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs as Bulloch Academy beat St. Andrews 13-4 in GISA baseball action Thursday.
Eighth grader Win Lee got his first varsity on the mound, striking out four and walking two. Freshman Taylor Burke came on for the saving, striking out nine. The pair gave up just four hits.
Junior Drew Cheshire went 3-for-3 for the Gators, who improve to 4-9 overall. Bulloch hosts First Presbyterian of Hinesville today at 11 a.m. and hosts Nathaniel Greene on April 3 at 1 p.m.
SEB splits with Westside
The Southeast Bulloch tennis teams split with Westside on Thursday in Augusta.
The boys (7-4, 3-0) got singles wins from Toby Sanders (6-0, 6-1), Jon Martin (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) and Aaron Groover (6-3, 7-6, 7-3). In doubles play, Brooks Edenfield and Sam Dickerson won 6-4, 6-2.
The Lady Yellow Jackets (6-4-1, 0-3) fell 3-2. Jordan Sherrod won 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 for SEB’s only singles win. Sara Burkhart and Kaitlin Brannen won 6-3, 6-0 in doubles play.
Southeast returns to play Thursday at Richmond Hill at 4 p.m.
Diamond Eagles lose sixth straight
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Brian Wilkerson and Georgia Southern found themselves in a pitchers dual Friday night, but a seventh inning home run proved to be the difference as UNC Greensboro pulled out a 2-0 win. The Eagles, losing their sixth straight, fell to 16-15 overall and 0-4 in the Southern Conference.
In the decisive seventh inning, Greg Feltes singled up the middle. Wilkerson got the second out then had Ricky Orton down in the count 1-2, but Orton took the next pitch over the right field fence for the only scoring.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch today.
Eagles struggle at ASU
EVANS, Ga. — The Georgia Southern golf team finished its first round of competition at the Administaff Augusta State Invitational, Friday afternoon after carding a 15-over 303.
The Eagles are sitting in 18th place at the par-72, 7,265-yard Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga. and will have two more rounds, Saturday and Sunday to move ahead.
After day one, Georgia Southern’s top performers are juniors Chris Smith and Drew Lethem who both are tied for 38th place shooting a 2-over 74.
Leading the 18-team field is No. 17 North Carolina with a first round score of 9-under 279. Four Tarheels have recorded scores at even-par or below to give them a three stroke lead going into Saturday’s second round.
South Carolina’s Georgia Bryan IV leads all individual competitors shooting an 18-hole total of 6-under 66, just one stroke ahead of Tennessee’s Jonathan Mount.
The Eagles continue action today for another round of 18 holes with an 11:45 a.m. tee time.
Fans can follow the live action on-line at www.Golfstat.com for the latest standings, statistics and tee times.
Bryan stymies Jenkins County
Wesley Wilkes struck out nine and allowed just two hits, helping Bryan County to a -0 win over Jenkins County Thursday in Pembroke.
Trey Boatright went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Redskins (5-8, 2-3) and Brice Mingledorff added an RBI with a squeeze bunt.
Lady Gators lose
The Bulloch Academy girls soccer team fell 14-0 to Frederica Academy 14-0 Thursday at Gator Alley. The Lady Gators (2-5) return to action Tuesday, April 10 at Augusta Prep.
BA JV boys win meet
SANDERSVILLE — The Bulloch Academy boys placed first in seven of 13 events to a seven-team, junior varsity track and field meet at Brentwood School.
The Gator guys also had three seconds and six thirds en route to netting 137 points. John Milledge Academy was second with 127 and Briarwood was third with 57. In the girls’ meet, the Lady Gators finished third.
In the boys’ meet, Ellis Lane and Kelly Williams won two events each. Lane won in the speed category (100m and 200m dashes) while Williams took the two distance races (800m and 1600m runs) John Harden took first in the 100m hurdles while both the long (4x400m) and short (4x100m) relay teams won. Williams and Lane headed up both relay teams. Lumpkin and Harden were also on the 4x1 squad while Harden and Will Johnson were members of the 4x4 foursome.
Second-place finishers were Harden (long jump), Jonathan Lumpkin (shot put) and Codi Johnson (discus).
The Gator girls had two firsts, a second and three thirds for 71 points. Briarwood won the meet with 110 points and Gatewood was second with 76
Sally Marie Futch had Bulloch’s only two victories; easy wins in the shot and the discus. Emily Morgan was second in the 800m run.
Both Bulloch squads take next week off for Spring Break and then travel to Dublin on April 12 for the Region 2-AA championships.
BA JV soccer wins
The Bulloch Academy soccer team defeated Frederica 3-1 Friday at Gator Alley.
Haley Burke had a hat trick for the Lady Gators (3-2).
If you have a score to report, pease call the Herald Sports Desk at (912) 489-9408.
In late August, that will be a thing of the past.
A regulation softball field, which will also be used for middle-school baseball, is being built on the campus of Bulloch Academy. The project is a joint venture of the school’s Booster Club and Board of Trustees. Many of the school’s families are donating services, manpower, equipment and materials to help make the project a reality.
“I would estimate that 75 percent of the labor and materials is being donated,” said Don Lanier, the Booster Club vice president. “Since the field will be one of the first things a person will see when they come on the school’s campus, we want it to be a showcase. The main reason for building the field at Bulloch Academy is not having to shuttle kids off campus to practice and play softball and baseball.”
Currently, the varsity and junior varsity softball teams practice and play games on Memorial Field at the Memorial Park (Fair Road Park) while the junior varsity baseball team practices and plays its games on Luetta Moore Field at Luetta Moore Park (formerly Blitch Street Park). In 2006, Bulloch Academy’s varsity softball team finished the season with a 24-6 record and was the Class AA state runner-up.
“We are very excited about the new addition to our athletic facilities,” said Bulloch Academy athletic director Clint Morgan. “It has been a long time coming for our varsity girls to be able to play on campus. They deserve it and, besides, it will help our junior varsity baseball program as well.”
The new field, which is in its early phases of construction along Westside Road on the school’s campus, will be 225 feet from home plate to an eight-foot fence enclosing the outfield. It will also have a skinned (dirt) infield. The complex itself will have home and visitor dugouts, a concession/bathroom building and a small press box.
“Safety was our main focus for building this facility,” said Morgan. “Having to shuttle kids off campus was not exactly what we wanted to do. Too much traffic and too many teens on the road at 3 p.m. Many thanks go out to our Boosters and other supporters for making this dream a reality. Expansion shows progress and we are definitely progressing both academically and athletically.”
The area is the first phase of a proposed building project which may eventually include tennis courts, a soccer field and a new classroom addition.
The idea to develop that particular portion of land has been in the minds of Bulloch Academy supporters for years but a specific area of need couldn’t be settled on. Finally, a decision was reached in the latter part of 2006.
Surveys were taken and plans were drawn. Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was contacted and asked about developing the small portion of the property which was deemed wetlands.
Work began approximately three weeks ago on clearing the land of trees and stumps. Once the land has been thoroughly cleared, approximately 3,500 cubic yards of dirt will be trucked in to fill and level the area. Completion is scheduled for mid-August.
Screven qualifies for state
Over the past four season, the Screven County girls soccer team amassed a total of 12 wins. Thursday night at Jefferson County, the Lady Gamecocks secured their 12th win of the 2007 season with a 3-1 win to qualify for the state tournament.
Screven got goals from Catherine Cela, Nicole Miller and Haley Iten in improve to 6-1 in Area 4-A/AA East. They’ll face the No. 1 seed out of the area’s West Division on April 11.
Brittany Brinson had five saves in goal for SCHS.
ECI shuts out Portal
The Portal baseball team lost 5-0 Friday in Twin City. Dereck Finch and Vinnie Lynn both went 2-for-3 in ths loss for PHS (7-9, 4-2). The Panthers face Screven County in Sylvania Friday at 5 p.m.
BA pounds St. Andrews
SAVANNAH — Bulloch Academy freshman Matt Simons went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs as Bulloch Academy beat St. Andrews 13-4 in GISA baseball action Thursday.
Eighth grader Win Lee got his first varsity on the mound, striking out four and walking two. Freshman Taylor Burke came on for the saving, striking out nine. The pair gave up just four hits.
Junior Drew Cheshire went 3-for-3 for the Gators, who improve to 4-9 overall. Bulloch hosts First Presbyterian of Hinesville today at 11 a.m. and hosts Nathaniel Greene on April 3 at 1 p.m.
SEB splits with Westside
The Southeast Bulloch tennis teams split with Westside on Thursday in Augusta.
The boys (7-4, 3-0) got singles wins from Toby Sanders (6-0, 6-1), Jon Martin (3-6, 6-2, 6-2) and Aaron Groover (6-3, 7-6, 7-3). In doubles play, Brooks Edenfield and Sam Dickerson won 6-4, 6-2.
The Lady Yellow Jackets (6-4-1, 0-3) fell 3-2. Jordan Sherrod won 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 for SEB’s only singles win. Sara Burkhart and Kaitlin Brannen won 6-3, 6-0 in doubles play.
Southeast returns to play Thursday at Richmond Hill at 4 p.m.
Diamond Eagles lose sixth straight
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Brian Wilkerson and Georgia Southern found themselves in a pitchers dual Friday night, but a seventh inning home run proved to be the difference as UNC Greensboro pulled out a 2-0 win. The Eagles, losing their sixth straight, fell to 16-15 overall and 0-4 in the Southern Conference.
In the decisive seventh inning, Greg Feltes singled up the middle. Wilkerson got the second out then had Ricky Orton down in the count 1-2, but Orton took the next pitch over the right field fence for the only scoring.
Game two of the series is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch today.
Eagles struggle at ASU
EVANS, Ga. — The Georgia Southern golf team finished its first round of competition at the Administaff Augusta State Invitational, Friday afternoon after carding a 15-over 303.
The Eagles are sitting in 18th place at the par-72, 7,265-yard Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga. and will have two more rounds, Saturday and Sunday to move ahead.
After day one, Georgia Southern’s top performers are juniors Chris Smith and Drew Lethem who both are tied for 38th place shooting a 2-over 74.
Leading the 18-team field is No. 17 North Carolina with a first round score of 9-under 279. Four Tarheels have recorded scores at even-par or below to give them a three stroke lead going into Saturday’s second round.
South Carolina’s Georgia Bryan IV leads all individual competitors shooting an 18-hole total of 6-under 66, just one stroke ahead of Tennessee’s Jonathan Mount.
The Eagles continue action today for another round of 18 holes with an 11:45 a.m. tee time.
Fans can follow the live action on-line at www.Golfstat.com for the latest standings, statistics and tee times.
Bryan stymies Jenkins County
Wesley Wilkes struck out nine and allowed just two hits, helping Bryan County to a -0 win over Jenkins County Thursday in Pembroke.
Trey Boatright went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Redskins (5-8, 2-3) and Brice Mingledorff added an RBI with a squeeze bunt.
Lady Gators lose
The Bulloch Academy girls soccer team fell 14-0 to Frederica Academy 14-0 Thursday at Gator Alley. The Lady Gators (2-5) return to action Tuesday, April 10 at Augusta Prep.
BA JV boys win meet
SANDERSVILLE — The Bulloch Academy boys placed first in seven of 13 events to a seven-team, junior varsity track and field meet at Brentwood School.
The Gator guys also had three seconds and six thirds en route to netting 137 points. John Milledge Academy was second with 127 and Briarwood was third with 57. In the girls’ meet, the Lady Gators finished third.
In the boys’ meet, Ellis Lane and Kelly Williams won two events each. Lane won in the speed category (100m and 200m dashes) while Williams took the two distance races (800m and 1600m runs) John Harden took first in the 100m hurdles while both the long (4x400m) and short (4x100m) relay teams won. Williams and Lane headed up both relay teams. Lumpkin and Harden were also on the 4x1 squad while Harden and Will Johnson were members of the 4x4 foursome.
Second-place finishers were Harden (long jump), Jonathan Lumpkin (shot put) and Codi Johnson (discus).
The Gator girls had two firsts, a second and three thirds for 71 points. Briarwood won the meet with 110 points and Gatewood was second with 76
Sally Marie Futch had Bulloch’s only two victories; easy wins in the shot and the discus. Emily Morgan was second in the 800m run.
Both Bulloch squads take next week off for Spring Break and then travel to Dublin on April 12 for the Region 2-AA championships.
BA JV soccer wins
The Bulloch Academy soccer team defeated Frederica 3-1 Friday at Gator Alley.
Haley Burke had a hat trick for the Lady Gators (3-2).
If you have a score to report, pease call the Herald Sports Desk at (912) 489-9408.
