Newspaper Page Text
thejenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Friday, March 17, 2023- Page 11
Crossfire: ICs More Than Softball
If a person were to drive by a large baseball/softball complex on any given weekend you
might see hundreds of ballplayers, tents, parents pulling small wagons stuffed to the max,
and field lights on until the wee hour mornings of the weekend. Those sights are typical
not just locally, but nationally as well. Sports outlets across the United States call the
move to travel sports a phenomenon as numerous girls and boys play “travel sports.”
Locally, we have several girls and boys playing travel sports. One team that has several lo
cal ties is East Georgia Crossfire. East Georgia Crossfire is under the leadership of co-di-
rectors and Jenkins County residents Callie Dailey and Kay Sapp. Board members include
Dave Henry, Tony Felix, Allan Hooks, Tony Evans, and Mikel Clifton. The directors along
with the board seek to provide not just softball, but a program that will lead the girls for
the future. Director Dailey stated the following, “The non-profit organization is to serve
young ladies from the East GA area. Our main goal as an organization is to fundamentally
develop young ladies in softball to make them better players and people in years to come.
Not only is our goal to make them physically better, but also to know the game better from
the mental side of the game. Our organization provides opportunities for young ladies to
build confidence, leam responsibility, and provide leadership and mentorship to younger
girls in the program while having fun and improving themselves as valued citizens in our
community.”
This year is the first year for Dailey and Sapp to lead the organization. The East Georgia
Crossfire Fastpitch Organization was started 11 years ago by Mr. Dave Henry for his
daughter, Hannah Henry. What started out as one team that he coached, developed into
multiple teams as the organization grew. Over this time, the East GA Crossfire Fastpitch
Organization has been instrumental in the development of regional area softball players;
some of whom have gone on to play at the collegiate level.
Parents find joy in their children playing for Crossfire. One parent in particular, Lynne
Lane, stated, “I like Lynnsey playing for Crossfire because it has been a great experience
for her, and she has had the opportunity of making long-lasting friendships not only on the
team but also at different tournaments. We love Crossfire because the whole organization
feels like an extended family. Travel ball has been good for Lynnsey because it gives her
an opportunity to play against other competitive girls who love the game just as much as
she does.”
Parents Mark and Nicky Wallace, who have two daughters playing for the team echoed a
very similar statement when they were asked about Crossfire. “We admire Crossfire as an
organization because it is led by a collection of good-hearted directors and coaches whose
goals are to see these girls leam, grow, and succeed in their passion for softball while
nurturing their morals, friendships, and faith. They all pour a lot of time, patience, and
love into the girls that they coach. Travel ball has been a great experience for our family
because it allows us parents to be involved in our children's goals, straggles, and
friendships. We believe that children having goals and priorities to work towards builds
character and helps to form them into successful, driven adults. “
This season Crossfire has three teams. Players come from the East Georgia, mostly
within a close distance of Millen/Jenkins County. However, some come from as far away
Hawkinsville and Dublin. The following teams and coaches are part of the 2023 season:
12U team coaches: Callie Dailey, Kay Sapp, and Hannah Henry; 14U Coaches: Tony
Evans, Jamel Nelson, and Wes Withrow; 16U Coaches: Dave Henry, Tony Felix, Devan
Fumari, Shaun Stringer, and Allan Hooks.
Without a doubt, Dailey has a passion for this organization. She stated, “I love Cross
fire because I enjoy sharing a love and passion for the game, but also because it's bigger
than softball. It's more than teaching them how to field a ground ball or put down a bunt
correctly; yes, we want them to be able to execute on the field regardless of the situation.
But it's also being able to face adversity, having integrity, giving back to those in need, and
a ton of other important qualities of having champion-level character. We have fantastic,
well-rounded players within our organization both on and off the diamond. Our organi
zation is blessed with a lot of great people-parents, players, and coaches who set the tone
day in and day out for everyone in our organization.”
Throughout the year we will share, as often as we can the results of Crossfire and other
local travel ball teams that our athletes in the community are playing for. If you have a
child playing for a local team, send us some information at the Millen News Sports. You
can email pastorbradasbury@gmail.com for any information and pictures you wish to
share!
OPENING DAY
Opening day 2023 for
Major League Baseball
will be Thursday, March
30 th . (photo by Baseball
Almanac)
Countdown to the New Season
(Part 3)
Arriving at a Major League Baseball stadium one is quickly greeted with the smell of
ballpark food, the lights and sounds of a stadium, and an action-packed game of some of
the greatest athletes in the world. However, the length of a game has supposedly hindered
some from attending and others from watching. The average MLB game in 2022 was
just over three hours, and the longest game was nearly six hours before the final out was
called. One rule change this season, the pitch clock has already shortened the game by
nearly thirty minutes per game during spring training.
The second rule change, spoken of last week in “Countdown to the New Season,” was
the wider bases. The hope is to see stolen bases on the rise. The exciting steal in baseball
had dropped to nearly 1.6 stolen base attempts per game. In the early days of training this
spring, stolen base attempts have risen to 2.4 attempts per game. Last season, Jon Berti
won the stolen base title with forty-two stolen bases; this is far removed from the days of
Ricky Henderson who averaged 56.24 stolen bases every season.
The third rule change is hoping to increase the number of runs scored. Runs and hits had
decreased because of teams playing what is known as the shift. The Atlanta Braves, for
example, would be seen sending their third baseman into shallow right field in hopes of
stopping players who would hit that direction. It worked and hits decreased. Now, there
are new shift rules. This season you will not see players running out of position. Teams
will have to keep two players to the right of second base and two to the left of second
base. In addition, infielders must stay in the dirt of the infield. Be ensured that teams will
be creative this season, but the rules will hopefully allow more hits and more runs scored.
Rule changes are hard for those who love the game. Change is never easy. However,
when rules make for a more exciting game, it is possible they will turn out for the better.
As the season starts, only time will tell how the changes truly affect the game. Next week,
in “Countdown to the New Season,” I will give you my picks for division winners, playoff
contenders, and whom I project to win the World Series.
(Statistics provided by Jeff Passan and Major League Baseball, Inc.)
r
< 'A 3 L-
•v mrn
wA
r a
i S.
fwj
1
4, — — i
1
Kay Sapp (Back Row, first picture from left to right) and Callie Dailey (Back Row, Last Picture from left to right)
is shown with their 12u teams. Sapp and Dailey also serve as co-directors for the Crossfire Organization for
2023. (photo submitted)
From left to right Jennifer Hernandez, Kara Leigh Bell, and
Kerrighan Fountain take a break during training day held a
couple of weeks ago. (photo submitted)
Above
Instructor Hannah Henry and player Kensey
Felix work during training day a couple of
weeks ago to get Felix ready for the 2023
travel season, (photo submitted)
Right
Lynnsey Lane gets down on a
groundball drill during training day.
Lynnsey has played several years for
Crossfire, (photo submitted)
With the goal of being more than a softball team, Crossfire worked to collect over 200
items to be donated to the Statesboro Food Bank as one of their biannual Community
Service Projects, (photo submitted)
Allstate Building Services, LLC
Window Cleaning * Pressure Cleaning * Caulking Specialist
Quality Work At Its Best
25— years of experience
Niml Pettis, Cfrrn.fir P.O. Boi 112P
S13-309-7188 Milieu. GA 30442
Npettitll a y_ilioo.com
Tournament Time
The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments will get underway. The state of
Georgia is not heavily represented in the tournament. Kennesaw State is the only men’s
team from Georgia in the tournament. They will play Friday against Xavier. Kennesaw
State will be a big underdog as they are the fourteen seed and will play the three seed. On
the women’s side, the University of Georgia is the only Georgia school in the tournament.
They are the ten seed and will play the seventh-seeded Florida State Seminoles.
The early rounds become more than exciting for fans as they tune in to nearly every game
hoping to see the big upset. Teams are seeded 1-16, and only one time in history has a
sixteenth-seeded team defeated a one seed in the first round in men’s basketball. This took
place a few years ago when Virginia lost to UMBC by twenty points. Overall, the sixteen
seeds are a combined 1-143 against the one seed. This year will prove to be an exciting
one as they always are.
If I were to make an early call on who will win the tournament, I would guess Alabama
will be crowned men’s champions and South Carolina will win the women’s tournament.
In the final four, I would predict on the men’s side Alabama vs. Kentucky and Kansas vs
Texas. The championship will take place between Alabama and Kansas. Again, these are
my early selections for the men’s tournament.
The next three weeks for college basketball will be fun and exciting. The men’s games
will be shown on four different channels. In years past, I have been known to have my
computer, iPad, phone, and television all going at the same time to ensure that I did not
miss a moment of tournament action. However, you plan to watch or listen, enjoy the
games!
BRINSON'S
Tree Sc Stuwtp
Removal
• Tree & Stump Removal
• Expert Trimming
• Storm Cleanup
• Skidsteer Work
• Land Clearing, Brush Cutting, &
Bush Hogging
Locally Owned, Licensed & Insured
CALL NOW
706-526-8686
