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Local Roundup: GSU Cheerleading wins National Championship
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The East Georgia Flames 12-and-under baseball team traveled to Dublin this past weekend and won the Director’s Cup Qualifier. The Flames went undefeated in the tournament and beat the Jacksonville Heat 8-0 in the championship game. By winning the tournament the team has qualifed for the Director’s Cup Championship in Atlanta May 2-4. The tournament win was a total team effort with key at bats by Drew Rushing, Clay Crawford, Zach Smith, Hunter Ritchie, Austin Brosh, Jarrett Humphries, Justin Jackson, Tyler Brown, Matthew McBride, Ryan McBride and Bland Tucker. The team will be in action again this weekend right here in Statesboro at Mill Creek Regional Park. - photo by Special to the Herald
    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — This past weekend, Georgia Southern University cheerleaders were presented with the National Cheerleading Association Collegiate Cheer Championship trophy.
    Competing in the All-Girl Intermediate Division against teams including  Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, the 17-member, all-girl GSU squad took home top honors and a national championship with a score of 8.256.
    NCA Nationals is the most prestigious cheerleading championships in the  country.  Each year, teams come together to compete for national titles  in a variety of levels and divisions.  The NCA national championship  competition is held annually and teams must meet a myriad of  requirements in order to qualify and compete. 
    "This is a tremendous recognition for our team and for Georgia Southern  University," said coach Barry Munkasy. "To compete against some of the top teams in  the country is one thing, but to win is a major accomplishment.  I am  extremely proud of the hard work, dedication and spirit our team showed  not only during the competition, but throughout the year."
    During the two-day competition, the team, led by team captain Jessica  Armstrong (a junior from Glennville) was required to perform a 2:15 routine that included stunts, pyramids, a  dance, a cheer, tumbling and jumps. Based on its first-day performance, the Eagles entered the finals as the top seed.  The  team, which consists of nine members who participated as Eagle  cheerleaders for the first time during this past year, clinched the  title during the second day championship round. Georgia Southern's winning team included three juniors, eight sophomores and six freshmen.
    "The entire team worked really hard to prepare for the competition and  we hope this is the first of many more to come," said Armstrong, who is a Child and Family Development major.  "We are just very proud to be able to bring home the first national cheerleading title for Georgia Southern University."
    The team's routine was choreographed by Chris White and Chelsie Mitchel of Stingray All-Stars in Kennesaw.  Additional support throughout the year was provided by Keyshia Brunson of Cheer South All Stars and Shandy Ellis-Brown of Clarksville (Tenn.) Extreme All-Stars.
    President Bruce Grube along with Dr. Teresa Thompson, vice president of  student affairs and enrollment management will recognize the team during  an official ceremony on Thursday at 5 p.m. on the steps of Marvin-Pittman Administration Building on Sweetheart Circle.
    The public is invited to attend.

SEB wins in tennis quarterfinals
    BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch No. 3 seed Yellow Jackets swept No. 6 seed Jefferson County in quarterfinal action at SEB in the Region 3-AA tennis playoffs.
    The girls (8-6, 6-2) got a 5-0 win.
    Shelby Forehand, Victoria Herndon and Jordan Sherrod all got 6-0, 6-0 wins in singles play.
    No 1 doubles pair Kaitlin Bramo and Emily McGuire won 6-0, 6-1, and No. 2 pair Candace Tillman and Amanda Garden won 6-0, 6-0.
    The boys (10-4, 6-2) also won 5-0, with singles players Aaron Groover (6-0, 6-0), Sam Dickerson (6-1, 6-1) and Brandon Sellers getting wins.
    No 1. doubles pair Brooks Edinfield (6-0, 6-2) and No. 2 doubles pair William Groover and Sean Brannen (6-2, 6-0) also picked up wins.
    The Jackets return to region action in the Region 3-AA semifinals Thursday at the Newman Tennis Center in Macon.

Jackets finish field events at Region
    AUGUSTA — The Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets finished second with 41 points after the field events of the region 3-AA track and field tournament held Tuesday at Westside.
    Sarah Herndon placed first in the shotput (36-7) and discus (109-8). Brittany key finifhed fourth in discus with a throw of 82-3.
    The only races held on the day were the 1600m and the 3200m. Sarah Burgess placed first in the 1600 (6:14) and Jennifer Puckett placed third (6:33).
    Alicia Mercer came in sixth in the long jump (14-11) and Rebecca Harville and Jordan McEaon tied for fifth and sixth respectively in the high jump (4-8)

SHS soccer claims No. 4 seed
    EVANS — The Statesboro boys soccer team lost 2-1 at Lakeside on Tuesday in the consolation game of the Region 3-AAAA tournament.
    The Blue Devils will travel to Thomas County Central on Monday for the first round of the state playoffs, looking to avenge a loss from two years ago.
    On Thursday, SHS (8-9)will travel to South Effingham for a make-up game at 5:30 p.m.

Screven track leads after day one
    AUGUSTA — The Screven County Lady Gamecocks held on to the lead (46 points) after a day of field events at the Region 3-AA track tournament at Westside Tuesday.
    Stephanie Scott got a first-place finish in the long jump (33-9.75) and Imani McCoy finished first in the long jump (15-4.75)
    Second place finishers were Lasmeyona Austin (6:20 — 3200m) and Latecia Sampson (4-10 — high jump).
    Brittany Lawton (14-5 — long jump) and Leanna Mills (32-7.5 — Shotput) got fourth-place finishes.
    Johmesia Lucas finished fifth in the high jump (4-6).
    The tournament resumes with the races on Thursday at Westside. All Screven runners qualified.

SEB shuts out MHS
    BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch boys’ soccer team defeated Metter Tuesday night at Fred Shaver Field in Brooklet on Senior Night, 6-0.  
    Seniors Joel Rubio scored twice and Ben McGaha scored once.  Justin Hodnicki scored a single while Ian Foster scored a pair.  
    The Southeast Bulloch Boys soccer program wants to thank the following seniors for their hard work and dedication: Matt Mobley, Rubio, McGaha, Jason Smith and Wyman Brown.          The SEB soccer program ends its season Wednesday against Calvary Day at 5 p.m.

Lady Gamecocks fall to SCPS
    The Screven County Lady Gamecocks (9-7, 3-7 Area 3-AA/A) fell 2-0 to Savannah Christian in soccer action Tuesday.
    Christi Boston had nine saves on the night.

Lady Jackets knock off Metter soccer
    BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets picked up a 9-0 win over the Metter Lady Tigers Tuesday in soccer.

SCHS gets baseball win
    SYLVANIA — The Screven County Gamecocks (11-7, 7-3 Region 3-AA) squeeked by Jefferson County 7-6 on Tuesday.
    Cameron Hayden drove in Jon Rash in the walk-off win.
    Haydon also got the win from the mound, coming in in the seventh and striking out the side.
    Jeremy Rosier finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Dinial Griffin went 2-for-3 and drove in three.

SEB beats Laney
    AUGUSTA — The Southeast Bulloch baseball team beat Laney 5-4 on Tuesday.
    David McCarthy pitched a complete game, striking out five.
    Dustin Stall went 2-for-3 and had a three run homer to put SEB (10-9, 6-3 Region 3-AA) up 4-3 in the third. Stall then scored the go-ahead run in the fifth on a McCarthy RBI hit.
    Tony Raymond was 1-for-3 and Joe Wilson was 1-for 2.
    Southeast is at Emanuel County Institute today at 6 p.m.

Gamecocks to host Laney in first round
    The Screven County Gamecocks open Region 3-AA Tournament tennis action in Sylvania today against Laney.
    
SEB golf tops Metter
    METTER — The Southeast Bulloch boys’ golf team beat Metter 194-196 ti improve to 5-1. The Lady Tigers beat SEB (4-2) 97-112.

GSU golf Pro-Am a big success
    While friends, community and alumni of Georgia Southern golf were shooting for a hole-in-one Monday at Forest Heights Country Club, they were also showing their support for the Eagle golf program as part of the annual Eagle Golf Pro-Am.
    Despite unseasonably cool temperatures and occasional showers, Forest Heights welcomed 31 groups and over 150 participants, a showing that head coach Larry Mays hasn’t before seen.
    “This is the only time of the year that we ask for financial support from the community,” said Mays.  “So to have them come out here in force and this year, with 31 groups, it’s the most we’ve ever had.  We’ve averaged about 28 or 29 groups.  We’ve also had a record number of corporate sponsors this year.  It’s been a good day.”
    Several familiar faces, including alum and recent Nationwide Tour winner Aron Price, managed to make time in their busy schedules to join the tournament.
    “Having some of your alumni come in, especially your high profile alumni, including Aron Price, who really made an effort to come here today, and a lot of the other participants coming back year-in and year-out really makes the day special,” said Mays.
    Price, who wore the Blue and White from 2002-05, recently won the Livermore Valley Wine Country Champion two weeks ago, marking his first career Nationwide title since turning pro in 2005.
    In light of his recent success, Price identified his time at Georgia Southern as a valuable part of his golfing career and future.  Today, he enjoyed a rare break from the national circuit and delighted in the opportunity to reunite with those that have helped him along the way.
    “It’s great to see a lot of faces that sort of helped me out and always were there, and were always a great vote of confidence there,” said Price.  “So it’s good to come back and almost repay them.”
    The event helps provide support for the Eagle golf program, its players and facilities, which allows GSU to consistently compete at high levels among the nation’s best.

BA JV track wins title
    DUBLIN — Both Bulloch Academy boys’ and girls’ junior varsity track teams walked away with GISA Region 2-AA championship trophies Monday.
    The Lady Gators won nine events and the Gators won eight in the lopsided victories.
    In the girls’ meet, Taylor Collins won the high jump, the 400-meter and the 200m. Hendley Kimbrell took the 100m hurdles and the long jump while Marianna Peebles won the 100m and Amelia Akins won the shot put.
    The 400m relay team of Collins, Peebles, Emily Morgan and Maddie Manack crossed the line first while the 1600m relay team of Collins, Manack, Morgan and Anna Newton was victorious.
    In the boys’ meet, Codi Johnson won both the shot and the discus and Lexton Womack took both the 1600m run and the 400m run. John Gowan was first in the 800m run while Harrison Averitt won the long jump.
    The 400m relay team of Johnson, Womack, Averitt and Gowan and the 400m relay team of Johnson, Womack, Averitt and Matthew Collins were both victorious.
    Bulloch Academy ends its season next Monday with a trip to the Brentwood Relays in Sandersville. The statewide meet is generally considered the unofficial middle-school state championship.  

City and County bowling results
    Results are in from the City and County Bowling League for the week of April 9.
    In Scratch Games, Wayne Cannady (235), Willie Torrence (228), Melanie Turner (224), Eddie Williams (220) and Richard Wallace (212) posted high scores.
    In Scratch Series, Williams (621), George Adkins (602), Mujahid Salahud (571), Cannady (571) and Wallace (539) were tops in the league.
    In Handicap Games, Torrence (265), Marie Young (259), Cannady (247), Turner (245) and Paula McGee (240) bowled top games.
    In Handicap Series, Ken Martin (668), Williams (660), Torrence (645), Salahid (643) and Adkins (641) posted high scores.
    The league standings are as follows: Mill Creek Storage (52 games won); C&L Truck and Trailor Service (47); Franklin Chevrolet (44); Deloach Timber (44); Mel Hates These Envelopes (43); Triple XXX (42); Shenanigans (42); ALFA Insurance (36); Ocean Galley (36); 3 Men and a Lady (36); Grasshoppers (34); Gutterboys (33); Whippersnappers (28); Brannen Sea Food (20); Matco Tools (20) and Why Nout Us (19).

Free picnic Saturday at 2 p.m
    Former Statesboro graduate Jeremy Mincey will host a free picnic/barbecue on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Luetta Moore Park.
    The event will include a celebrity basketball game and will end around 8 p.m.
    Mincey is currently playing with the NFL’S Jacksonville Jaguars.

Splash to host Youth Triathlon
    Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark and Aquatic Center will host the first Splashy’s Youth Triathlon on Sunday, April 27 beginning at 2 p.m. inside Mill Creek Regional Park in Statesboro.
    Boys and girls, ages 7 to 17, can compete in this triathlon. It is broken down into four age divisions to equalize the field while distances are adjusted to create a more safe and fun-filled experience.
    Ages 7 to 9 will swim 50 yards, bike two miles and run1⁄2 mile. Ages 10 to 12 will swim 100 yards, bike two miles and run one mile. Ages 13 to 15 will swim 150 yards, bike 3.5 miles and run 11⁄2 miles. Ages 16 to 17 will Swim 200 yards, bike five miles and run 21⁄2 miles.
    Triathlon’s incorporate swimming, biking, and running for a fun and exciting endurance race for all ages and skill levels. The swim portion will be held in the competition pool at Splash in the Boro, while the biking and running portions will be held inside Mill Creek Regional Park.  The younger age group will start at 2 p.m. with each older age group going in order once the group before them are finished.
    Registration for Splashy’s Youth Triathlon is being held at the Honey Bowen Building on Fair Road (M-F 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.), or online at www.splashintheboro.com. If there are still openings, race day registration will also be available between the hours of Noon and 1 p.m. only. Cost is $25 per athlete if registered by April 18. After this deadline, cost is $35 per athlete. There is a $5 discount for additional siblings.  Participants will receive a gift bag, T-shirt, and be eligible for door prizes during the event.
    For more information on Splashy’s Youth Triathlon, please call Steve Brown at (912) 489-9047 or visit www.splashintheboro.com.

SEB Hall of Fame ceremony
    The Southeast Bulloch Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be Saturday at Southeast Bulloch Middle.
    Call (912) 842-2131 for details and ticket information.

    If you have a score to report, please call the Herald Sports Desk at (912) 489-9408.