For performance, Lake Oconee’s Dr. Lou Pack builds a firm foundation

Story By Patrick Yost - Photos By Patrick Yost and Contributed

By Patrick Yost

By Brandon Park
Staff Writer

    The Morgan County Recreational Department was well represented in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) 6th District boys and girls baseball tournaments last week.   
    So well, in fact, three championships were won.
    Held in both Moaran and Greene Counties June 23-26, the 9-10 boys and girls Mites, the 11-12 boys and girls Midgets and the 13-14 Junior boys all competed against teams from Putnam, Greene, Wilkinson and Butts counties.
    The Mite, Midget and Junior boys ended the four-day, double elimination tournament with undefeated records and championship victories, while the Mite and Midget girls fell just short with two losses each.
    As a result of their wins, the boys have earned an opportunity to compete in their state tournaments.
    The 9-10 Mite league state tournament will be hosted at the Morgan County Recreation Department July 10-12. The 11-12 Midget league state tournament will be held in Hazelhurst July 9-11, while the 13-14 Junior league state tournament will be in Nashville on the same dates.
    Lights out pitching combined with timely hitting proved to be key for all three of the boys teams.
    The Junior's bats carried them through tournament play, exploding to a run-rule victory over Putnam in the championship game.
    For the Midgets, a first round blowout of Greene quickly changed into pitching duels against Putnam in both the second round and championship games. Both games were narrowly won by one run.
    "It was a real pitching duel against Putnam," assistant coach Nelson Hale said. "We had to scratch out runs in both games."

story by Patrick Yost • photos by Patrick Yost

MCHS team to solidify with junior talent

By Jessica Blomquist
Staff Writer

    The Diamond Dogs went 2 for 2 at a tournament in Rome last week.
    The team started out strong in their first contest of the tournament on June 20, besting Cass High School with a final score of 7-4. Drew Stapleton led off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun. After reaching base, J.D. Hawkins scored on a sac fly from Eddy Diaz to finish up the bottom of the first inning. Pitcher Dylan Jaskowiak showed outstanding pitching effort by throwing for 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Clay Duvall pitched the final inning, picking up the save. The Dogs fell to Pierce County High School in their second game.
    The third game of the tournament, against Rome High School, was “a pitcher’s duel,” said Varsity Coach Brandon Patch in an e-mail interview.
    “Clay Duvall was outstanding on the mound.”
    Duvall threw a complete game to pick up the win, only allowing three hits, walking two, and with no earned runs. The Dogs won with a final score of 2-1.
    Dylan Peppers was the starting pitcher in the final game of the tournament against Grayson High School.
    He pitched three innings before Eddy Diaz came in as relief. Both pitchers did a good job of getting several ground ball outs, said Patch.
     Offensive leaders for the game were Caleb Duvall, who went 2 for 4 with one run scored, and Wesley Barrett who went 2 for 2 with one walk.
    Despite being down 8-3 in the final inning, the Dogs rallied to score four more runs, ending the game with a score of 7-8 against Grayson.
    “The Grayson game was a great test for our mental toughness,” Patch said. “Our guys stayed focused and never quit.”