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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
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Pictured are the Perry Junior League under 10 first place Wayne Morris Ford Krushers. They
are, bottom row: Rachel Dixon, Grayce Bearden, MacKenzie Anderson, Britany Wilson and Julia
Bell. Standing: Leigh Anne Colvin, Maci Anne Wilson, Katie Greene, Savannah Smith, Hannah
Edwards and Hallie Emmons. Coaches: Robert Anderson and Brian Emmons.
Warner Rollins National begins tourney play
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
Already getting the sum
mer season in full gear, Warner
Robins National League released
a full slate of Dixie Youth All-
Star Tournaments. One of those
events from this past weekend
is in the books while another
is coming to Simpson Park in
Warner Robins beginning today.
The T-ball (7-8) All Stars took
on two teams last Saturday in
Jones County. No scores were
reported, but the Warner Robins
team won its first game against
Crawford County and lost the
SOCCER
From page iB
the All-Houston County First
Team for 2007. Has signed to
play at Georgia Southwestern
next year.
Danielle Atkins
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Center midfield
Impact: Scored 15 goals
and had 10 assists. “Danielle
has great one versus one
skills,” said Daly. “Incredible
Endurance, passes extremely
well, and was an important
part of our offense. Helped the
Oemonettes finish 17-3 overall,
Region 1 -AAAAA champion at
11-1 and earn an Elite Eight
berth in the state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the
Region 1-AAAAA First Team.
Was named the Region 1-
AAAAA Player of the Year in
2007, the All-Houston First
Team for 2007 and was a team
captain for 2007 and 2008. Has
signed a scholarship to attend
the Air Force Academy next
year.
Brittney Hill
; School: Warner Robins
; Year: Senior
! Position: Left midfield
I Impact: Scored 12 goals and
Ihad seven assists. “Brittney is
\a great passer, especially on
* ;crosses. good speed and an
-excellent head for the game.
was an important part of
this season.” Helped
Ithe Demonettes finish 17-3
overall, Region 1-AAAAA cham
pion at 11-1 and earn an Elite
■Eight berth in the state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the
• Region 1-AAAAA First Team.
JWas a team captain. Was
‘.named to the All-Houston
‘County team for 2007.,5he
•will be playing for Georgia
; Southwestern next year.
Kristin Graham
* School: Warner Robins
1 Year: Senior
Position: Keeper
Impact: Nine goals against
average for 2008. Recorded 10
I shutouts. “Kristin helped anchor
a defense that allowed only 18
; goals all year, Daly said. “She
;is a gifted athlete who also
possesses an intense com
■ petitiveness and desire to excel.
Helped the Demonettes finish
17-3 overall, Region 1-AAAAA
champion at 11-1 and earn an
; Elite Eight berth in the state
playoffs.
Other: Was named to the
Region 1-AAAAA First Team
and the All-Houston County
team for 2007. Will be playing
softball at Virginia Tech next
year.
Krushers
second game against North
Macon.
Beginning today (June 14),
WRNL is hosting the south por
tion of the Kid-Pitch (7-8) All-
Star tournament at Simpson.
Games are slated to take place
through Thursday (June 19).
Warner Robins’ first game today
will be at noon against Taylor
County.
The 10 & U team will be play
ing an All Star game on the road
against North Macon at 2 p.m.
on Saturday, June 28.
The 12 & U team will be play
ing an All Star game in Newton
Kailey Garrison
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Impact: Scored 21 goals and
had four assists. Helped the
Lady Bears finish 11-6 overall,
Region 1-AAAAA runner-up at
10-2 and earn a state playoff
berth.
Jessica Scarlett
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Sweeper/midfielder
Impact: Scored two goals
and had two assists. Played
most of her career at sweeper,
Head Coach Sid Baxley said. ,
“Saved many goals.” Helped the
Lady Bears finish 11-6 overall,
Region 1-AAAAA runner-up at
10-2 and earn a state playoff
berth.
Taylor Antioco
School: Northside
Year: Freshman
Impact: Scored most of our
goals, Walter said, “incred
ible up front.” Helped the Lady r
Eagles finish 9-6-1 overall, and
earn a state playoff berth.
Allison Burnham
School: Perry
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfielder
Impact: Without out a doubt,
she is an impact player, said
Head Coach Courtney Herbert.
She had 29 points this year
with 11 assists. “She is dynamic
in that she can really play any
position on the field if needed.
During our game with the region
winner, Spalding, Allison played
stopper and generated the
offense we needed to score.
She is a tremendous asset to
this team.” Helped the Lady
Panthers finfsh 10-6-1 overall.
Other: Named to the All-
Region 4-AAA team.
Coach’s Corner: “Allison is
dynamic in that when she is in
the game, she makes things
happen naturally. She is a great
leader on the field and plays
with real and heart and soul for
the game. She works hard in
the off season to get better and
has patience in working with
those on the team that are not
at her skill level.”
Megan Ward
School: Perry
Year: Sophomore
Position: Striker/midfielder
Impact: Megan is a dynamic
player, Herbert said. She had
12 assists and 22 points this
season. She roughly had 35
shots on goal. “She was out
sick when we played Central
High school this year,” Herbert
said. “After putting her in the
game, she changed the dynam
ics of the game by generating
a much needed offense to win
County, also on June 28, The
opponent is Taylor County with
a starting time of noon.
WRNL president Christine
Ethridge also announced the for
mulation of an open invitational
T-Ball tournament for Simpson
Park June 21-23.
“It has really been an awe
some year,” said Ethridge about
the WRNL regular season. “In
addition we were awarded a
Flint Round Up grant of $4,500
in May. The storm did some
damage to the park and we are
rapidly working towards getting
everything back in top shape.”
4-1. Although she was battling
being sick, her efforts changed
the game for us to win a
region game.” Helped the Lady
Panthers finish 10-6-1 overall.
Coach's Corner: Meagan
is a without a doubt a team
player. She loves the game and
when she is in game mode, she
always gives 110%. Although
she may not always score, her
determination is impeccable.
She works hard to assist when
needed and never complains.
Her attitude and work ethic is
what makes her a pleasure to
coach.”
Desirae Calvin
School: Perry
Year: Junior
Position: Striker
Impact: She was our big
scorer for the season, said
Herbert. She scored 40 points
along with having 62 shots on
goal. Helped the Lady Panthers
finish 10-6-1 overall.
Other: She received the 11th
Grads Soccer Award.
Coach’s Corner: “Desirae is
unlike any player I have. She is
left footed that of which makes
her vigorous and dangerous on
the field. Most players never
see her coming and when they
do, she well past them push
ing the ball into the goal. She
is very determined to help out
other players when she does
not have the ball. She is a great
communicator on the field and
the players are uplifted to know
she is always there to support
them when needed during the
game."
Second team
Becky Atkins
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Defender/midfield
impact: Scored five goals
and had one assist. “Becky is
a versatile player who played
center back and center midfield
for our team this year. She is
an incredible team leader and
extremely knowledgeable of the
game." Helped the Demonettes
finish 17-3 overall, Region 1-
AAAAA champion at 11-1 and
earn an Elite Eight berth in the
state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the
Region 1 -AAAAA Second Team.
Was named to Region 1 -AAAAA
team in 2007 and the All-
Houston County team for 2007.
Was a team captain for 2007
and 2008.
Coach’s Corner: "She was
the glue that kept our defense
together and was important part
of our team success the last
two years. It is hard to quantify
her contribution because what
she meant to this team cannot
be measured on a stat sheet.
She will be playing for Georgiq
Southwestern next year.”
Kaitlyn Thomas
SPORTS
Contributed
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Defender
Impact: Kaitlyn is a patient,
smart, and versatile defender,
Daly said, who was a major
reason our team was successful
this year. “She played all posi- ,
tions on defense and also some
in the midfield." Helped the
Demonettes finish 17-3 overall,
Region 1 -AAAAA champion at
11-1 and earn an Elite Eight
berth in the state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the
Region 1 -AAAAA team and the
All-Houston County team for
2007. She will be playing at
Middle Georgia College next
year.
Courtney Walker
School: Warner Robins
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Impact: Recorded 16 goals
and assists. Courtney pos
sesses great speed and a fierce
competitiveness, said Daly.
“She doubled her goal output
from last year due to her hard
work and coachability. Her
improvement added another
dimension to our offense
that gave opposing defenses
trouble all year.” Helped the
Demonettes finish 17-3 overall,
Region 1 -AAAAA champion at
11-1 and earn an Elite Eight
berth in the state playoffs.
Other: Was named to the All-
Region 1-AAAAA team.
Kiesten Wharton
School: Houston County
Year: Junior
Position: Forward
Impact: Scored nine goals
and had seven assists. Helped
the Lady Bears finish 11-6 over
all, Region 1-AAAAA runner-up
at 10-2 and earn a state playoff
berth.
Elizabeth Weber
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfielder
Impact: Scored seven goals
and had six assists. Helped the
Lady Bears finish 11-6 overall,
Region 1-AAAAA runner-up at
10-2 and earn a state playoff
berth.
Amanda Coggins
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Stopper
Impact: Scored seven goals
and had four assists. Helped
the Lady Bears finish 11-6 over
all, Region 1-AAAAA runner-up
at 10-2 and earn a state playoff
berth.
Kayla Bietler
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Position: Midfielder/defense
COACH
From page tB
“I was the starting catcher for four
years. I came in from New Jersey on
scholarship. I was fortunate enough
that they recognized me for the Hall
of Fame.”
The World Series bid was in
Fitzpatrick’s senior year. He played
with a Freshman All-American and
future first-round draft pick in Todd
Greene and yet another first-round
pick in pitcher Josh Hamilton. He him
self was a seventh-round draft selection
by the Montreal Expos organization.
He was actually picked in the ninth
round by the New York Mets out of
high school, but opted for college ball.
“I came from a small town,” said
Fitzpatrick. “I got noticed, luck
ily. (Scouts) will find you if they think
you’re good enough. I had a graduating
class of 116. We were a relatively small
high school, probably the smallest clas
sification ... like a 1A school.”
As for Fitzpatrick’s professional
playing days, which lasted six years,
he reached as high as Class AA (even
though he feels he should have reached
AAA) and made the Expos’ 40-man
roster. That got him to the Arizona
Fall League where he first encountered
players from the Major League level.
“I was right there, on the door
step,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was in Major
League spring training three straight
years. I had Rondell White from Jones
County as my roommate and played
with him, Cliff Floyd. I caught Pedro
Martinez. Even though I didn’t make it
WINS
From page iB
North Georgia Bulldogs 64-19 and last
toppled the Georgia Kings 68-35.
In the Elite 8, Team Athens fell to
the Knights 57-42. The semifinals saw
the Knights claim a 20-point win, 74-
54, against the Georgia Wizards. For
the championship, the foe was a team
called Hoop Planet, and the result was
a 62-52 Knight victory.
Impact: Scored three goals
and had four assists. Played
four different positions for us
in crucial times, said Baxley.
Helped the Lady Bears finish
11-6 overall, Region 1-AAAAA
runner-up at 10-2 and earn a
state playoff berth.
Rachel Kline
School: Houston County
Year: Sophomore
Position: Sweeper
Impact: “Did a tremendous
job moving from marking back
to sweeper,” Baxley said.
Helped the Lady Bears finish
11-6 overall, Region 1-AAAAA
runner-up at 10-2 and earn a
state playoff berth.
Emily Nissen
School: Northside
Year: Sophomore
Position: Keeper
Impact: “Kept us in many
games," said Community Coach
Billy Walter. Helped the Lady
Eagles finish 9-6-1 overall, and
earn a state playoff berth.
Jennifer Starvetsky
School: Northside
Year: Junior
Position: Center back
Impact: Held our defense
together, said Walter. Helped
the Lady Eagles finish 9-6-1
overall, and earn a state playoff
berth.
Other: A three-year starter.
Becca Fleming
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Left back
Impact: Helped the Lady
Eagles finish 9-6-1 overall, and
earn a state playoff berth.
Other: Was a three-year
starter.
Grand Re-Opening
1 X
Bobby Jones
4N4M-1M
RIVERSIDE
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jl i N C O l MERCURY®
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2008 ♦
to the big leagues, it was still an unbe
lievable experience.
“What’s good about it is every year
you get a new coach. Every coach
brings to the table something different.
As you pick each coach’s brain, you
learn something, and when you take it
all together you become a better player
and a better coach. I don’t care how
good you are, nobody knows it all.”
Fitzpatrick’s first venture into coach
ing was at Mercer. He said he went to
the Macon college to take more school
credits he needed, and he became the
Bears’ pitching coach.
“It wasn’t so much teaching the
basics; you taught more the mental
side of the game,” said Fitzpatrick.
From there he jumped into the high
school coaching ranks. Westfield will
be his first in the GISA, and among
his new assignments are finding ways
to defeat some perennial powers like
Tattnall Square, Deerfield-Windsor
and Southland.
“I’m coming in here not knowing
a whole lot about the GISA, and that
may be a good thing,” he said. “I’m
going to get our guys ready, work them
hard and get them prepared to play
baseball, whoever it may be against.”
Among Fitzpatrick’s other goals at
Westfield are to push his players aca
demically and do his part to make sure
they have a chance to go to college ...
not necessarily as baseball players. He
said it takes a special player to get as
high as the Division I level, but that
the coaches will take someone if they
have two of the five tools.
“I want to make this a positive expe
rience,” he said.
“We are and will be accepting dona
tions, as well as conducting fundrais
ers all over the area,” said Releford
about the upcoming trip to Orlando.
“We do ask that local businesses show
their support, and assist us in getting
to the Nationals. Mid South Bank has
already come aboard making a rather
generous donation.”
For more information on making
donations to the Knights, contact
Releford at 678-640-0616.
Kelly McKinley
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Right wing
Impact: A playmaker, Walter
said. “More than one-half of our
assists for the year and a num
ber of goals as well.” Helped
the Lady Eagles finish 9-6-1
overall, and earn a state playoff
berth.
Other: Was a four-year
starter.
Charli Harris
School: Perry
Year: Sophomore
Position: Sweeper/defender
Impact: Charli is known
by the defense as the saving
grace of the team, Herbert said.
“She is forceful while playing
a defender. She is a constant
whenever the ball is missed by
other defenders. She was able
with the help of the defense to
shut out seven games by solely
playing the game as it was
meant to be played." Helped
the Lady Panthers finish 10-6-1
overall.
Other: Received a nomina
tion for the All-Region 4-AAA
team as well as Coaches Award
for the 2007-08 season.
Coach’s Corner: “Had big
shoes to fill this year due the
fact that we graduated majority
of the defense last year. She
was energetic to fulfill her duties
as the new leader. She showed
tremendous leadership in guid
ing the defense as a whole.
She had remarkable patience in
teaching younger players where
to position themselves and little
skills that changed the essence
of the game.”
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