DUBLIN — Bulloch Academy scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning and held arch-rival Trinity Christian School in the bottom of the inning to take a 10-2 victory in GISA Region 4-AAA action Thursday.
    With the run-rule win, the Lady Gators clinch their first-ever Class AAA region softball title. Bulloch was the region runners-up in 2010 and the Region 2-AA champions in 2009 and 2008.
    Bulloch (14-2 overall and 4-0 in region play) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning but the Lady Crusaders were able to push one across in the bottom of the stanza.
    The BA girls added four in the fourth to take a 4-1 advantage. BA starting and winning pitcher Madelyn Vickery was cruising through the TCS lineup. But the sophomore began to struggle in the bottom of the inning, giving up one run and loading the bases with two outs. Junior Lauren Dennard came on to get the final out and finished the game for the save.
    "Madelyn pitched good from the start but seemed to lose her rhythm," said BA head coach Chandler Dennard. "Lauren came on and was able to get six strikeouts in the final 2 1/3 innings. That's what's great about having two top-quality pitchers. Their individual strengths and talents compliment each other."
    With a 6-1 lead, the Lady Gators went off in the top of the sixth for the run rule.
    Sophomore Danielle Atkinson went 3-for-4 to lead the BA offense. Dennard and fellow junior Mary Margaret Reeves had two hits each. Freshmen Ashley Burke complimented her defensive play with a two-RBI single.
     "We had another error free game on defense," said Dennard. "We've played pretty solid in the field all season long."
    Bulloch travels to Sandersville Saturday to play a non-region doubleheader. The Lady Gators take on Piedmont Academy at noon and Brentwood at 2 p.m. Tuesday is Bulloch's final regular-season home game, a 4:30 p.m. battle with region foe John Milledge Academy. Seniors Taylor Collins, Haley Burke and Amelia Akins will be honored prior to the start of the game.

Former Eagle signs with NBL
    Former Georgia Southern basketball guard Antonio Hanson will travel north of the border this winter to join the Mocton Miracles in the inaugural season of the National Basketball League of Canada. As a senior with the Eagles, Hanson averaged 13.4 points per game and scored 100 three-pointers at a 41% clip.
    “It’s a dream come true for me to play professional basketball,” said Hanson. “I’ve worked hard playing basketball all my life. I’m excited to continue my career and represent Georgia Southern at the next level.”
    Mocton joins the NBL as the league’s seventh team and is one of two squads in the province of New Brunswick. The Miracles will play in the Mocton Coliseum, the league’s second largest arena. Hanson will play for Head Coach Norris “Bo” Bell, a native of Atlanta.
    Moncton will open the 36-game regular season on the road against Quebec on Oct. 29. After five consecutive road games, the Miracles will play their home opener against Saint John on Nov. 20.

Jackets blank Jefferson Co.
    BROOKLET — Sierra Peebles struck out eight in a five-inning shutout as the Southeast Bulloch Lady Yellow Jackets (12-4, 5-1 Region 3A-AA) blanked Jefferson County 8-0 Thursday at home.
    Lindsey Crosby went 2-for-2 with a pair or RBIs and two runs, Effie Manahan drove in a run and knocked two doubles and Casey Hadded scored and drove in two.
    The Jackets host SEB Diamond Day Saturday, facing Metter at 9 a.m. and Tattnall County at noon.

Vidalia edges SCHS in 10
    SYLVANIA — Screven County battled Vidalia for 10 innings at home Thursday, but a lone run in the top of the 10th propelled Vidalia to a 9-8 win.
    The Lady Gamecocks (8-8, 5-0 Region 3A-AA) led 7-3 in the fifth, but a rain delay took away all the momentum.
    The Lady Indians (10-2) tied it in regulation, and SCHS stranded three runners in scoring position combined in the eighth and ninth innings.
    The Gamecocks tallied 10 hits, including three by Courtney Burns (RBI) and two by Haley Mock and Madyson Torres (2 RBIs).
    Dawn Stewart also drove in a pair of runs.
    Screven returns to region action Tuesday when it hosts Laney at 5 p.m.

Bryan holds off SCPS
    SAVANNAH — The Bryan County Lady Redskins (15-6, 8-1 Region 3A-A) moved into a first place tie in the region with Savannah Christian (14-6, 8-1) with a 7-5 win on the road Thursday.
    Tiffany Howard (12-4) got the win on the mound and also went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs.
    Rebecca Strickland (3-for-4) doubled and drove in a run.
    Bryan County will leave the state this weekend for a tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.

SEB JV dominates South Effingham
    The Southeast Bulloch junior varsity Yellow Jackets (3-0) pounded South Effingham JV 36-0 Thursday.
    Ryan McBride blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and Dominique Murphy recorded a forced fumble on a sack and recovered the fumble for another score.
    Tyler Epps, Isaac Phillips and Andrew Stansell each scored in the SEB win.
    The Yellow Jackets face Effingham County next Thursday.

GSU women back in action
    Kennesaw — The Georgia Southern women’s tennis team returns to the courts Friday, Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. for the second annual Kennesaw State Invitational. The three-day tournament is the second competition of the fall season for the Eagles, who captured two of three titles at last week’s UNC Asheville Bulldog Open.

Lady Eagles face USC Upstate
    The Georgia Southern women’s soccer team returns home for the first time in more than a fortnight for a Friday afternoon match against USC Upstate. The contest starts at 4 p.m. and the first 50 fans will receive free pizza from Papa John’s.
    he Eagles (1-3-1) downed the Spartans by a 3-0 margin last season in Spartanburg. Senior Sara Oland and sophomore Alex Murphy scored two of the three Georgia Southern goals, while the Spartans conceded an own goal for the third tally.
    Murphy along with Courtney Collins lead the Eagles in scoring with three goals each. Collins scored twice in Georgia Southern’s first victory of the season two weeks ago against South Carolina State.
    The Spartans enter Friday’s contest at 1-5-1 with a win over Alabama State in their last outing, 6-0. Upstate has been outscored 22-7 on the year and is led by Michelle Calmeyn, who posted a hat trick against the Hornets.
    The Eagles open SoCon play next weekend against Wofford and Furman. The match against the Terriers begins at 7 p.m. while the weekend finale against the Paladins starts at 2 p.m.

SBCPRD to host baseball clinic
    The Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department will host the Chevy Diamonds and Dreams Cal Ripken Baseball Clinic for ages 8 to 14 on Monday, September 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mill Creek Park Field 3. Check in time will begin at 5 p.m.
    This clinic, which is free to all participants, will provide instruction in fielding, hitting and pitching by experienced Cal Ripken instructors.
    Registration is required. Register online at www.chevyyouthsports.com/dnd. Enter Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Rec as the clinic and the password is Statesboro.
    Participants will need to wear and bring their own baseball gear. Practice apparel or team uniforms are acceptable, as are cleats or tennis shoes. Each participant should have their own glove and may bring their own bat if available.
    SBCPRD is able to host this event thanks to a community member who won the clinic in the Chevy Diamond and Dreams contest. SBCPRD would like to thank the Bulloch County citizen who helped provide this clinic to our community youth.
    For more information, please contact SBCPRD at (912) 764-5637 or visit www.bullochrec.com.

GSU's Clandening among nation's best
    Georgia Southern men’s soccer opened the 2011 home schedule with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian College at the friendly confines of Eagle Field on Wednesday  afternoon. The Eagles exacted revenge on the Blue Hose for a 1-0 win last year in Clinton, S.C.
    Luigi Clendening scored twice on the afternoon to move into a tie for third place nationally for total goals.
    “It was the tale of two halves,” said GSU coach Kevin Kennedy. “In the first half we played a little selfish, but in the second half we got our combination play working around the box and it payed off with a win for us.”
    Following a quiet first half in terms of goals, Clendening scored the match’s first goal in the 50th minute as Alex Evert played a loose ball wide to Clendening in the penalty area. The forward slotted the ball past the keeper into the net for a 1-0 Eagle lead.
    Clendening struck again just three minutes later for his sixth goal of the season on a breakaway pass from Ethan LaPan (Martinez, Ga.). A through ball to Clendening in the channel took the senior free one-on-one with the keeper outside of the six-yard box. The Blue Hose keeper dove to dispossess Clendening as he played the ball around the outstretched hands into an open position. Clendening delivered a close angle shot for the second goal of the day.