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The Jenkins County Times
Friday, April 28, 2023- Page 9
JCTimes 4-28-23.indd 9
4/27/2023 10:22:47 AM
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WAR EAGLE
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By Brad Asbury, Sports Editor
for
The Times
pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
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Under the
Bleachers
The Atlanta Braves had
another big winning streak
in the early season. This
time it was an eight-game
win streak. The Braves
would sweep the Royals
and the Reds, they would
then take two from Padres;
however, then they would
go on a four-game losing
streak. To snap the four-
game losing streak they
would defeat division rival
Miami.
On the night they
snapped the four-game
losing streak, Spencer
Strider threw an amazing
game! He became the first
Atlanta Braves pitcher to
throw nine consecutive
games with nine or more
strikeouts. Also, in this
game, he threw six perfect
innings. His bid for a
perfect game
ended in the seventh
when his teammate Matt
Olson was unable to hold
onto a routine grounder
and was charged with an
error. In the eighth inning,
the no-hit bid for Strider
was also disrupted as
Miami got two weak hits.
A perfect game in
baseball occurs when a
pitcher does not allow a
runner on base for any
reason. No walks, errors,
hits, hit by pitch, or on
base for any reason. The
last time a perfect game
occurred was in 2012.
There have only been 23
perfect games in MLB
history. In addition, there
have only been 318 no
hitters in baseball history.
Spencer Strider was
among an elite company
on Monday night as he got
into the late innings with a
perfect game.
Sometimes we forget
our favorite professional/
college players, the local
boys on Friday night, or
even our own kids are not
perfect. They miss plays
and they mess up on the
field; ultimately, they
are not perfect. We know
we are not perfect, but
sometimes we forget those
that we are
watching are not.
At times we forget the
umpires and referees are
not perfect.
Grace is one word
that we should always
remember when watching
a game from the stands or
hearing about the game
from under the bleachers.
Grace, in all aspects of
life, is demonstrated to
us perfectly in Jesus and
taught to us by Paul in
Colossians 3:12-14, “Put
on then, as God's
chosen ones, holy and
beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness,
and patience, bearing
with one another and, if
one has a complaint
against another, forgiving
each other; as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also
must forgive. And above
all these put on love,
which binds everything
together in perfect
harmony.”
What if we treated every
person based on these
verses? What if every
person was treated with
the dignity they deserved
and loved the way they
were supposed to be
loved? Of course, the
obvious answer is that the
world would be perfect. In
a sin-broken world, under
the bleachers is where the
unwholesome talk can
begin, mean words get
said, and unwholesome
talk comes out. The way we
live in grace on the field, in
the stands, and even under
the bleachers comes with a
life transfomied. Then we
have to remember, no one
is perfect.
To conclude, here is
a poem by an unknown
author that put it all into
perspective. In this poem
we are reminded that
the kids at the recreation
department, are simply
just kids.
They’re just kids, you
know.
The same kid that
missed that routine play
in a key point of the game
is the same kid that just
wants his mom when he’s
sick.
The same kid that got
thrown out running to first
is the same kid you used
to cheer for when he was
so close to taking his first
steps.
The same kid that struck
out last inning is the same
kid who couldn’t wait to
find out how much the
tooth fairy left under his
pillow.
They’re kids out there
learning how to be a
teammate, how to make
mistakes, how to lose with
grace and win with it,
too... and have some fun
out there along the way.
Remember that when
they come off the field
after a tough game or when
you’re feeling competitive
in the middle of it.
There’re not
professional athletes
getting paid to practice,
train and play.
They’re just kids.
WAll EAGLES TO
The 2022/2023 has been extremely
successful for War Eagle athletics.
Softball, football, basketball, tennis, and
now baseball have all made the state
playoffs. Cross Country had participants
in the state meet, and track and field
are presently competing in the regional
meet,
and no doubt they will have some
favorites to move to the state track
and field meet. The baseball team had
secured their spot in the playoffs when
they defeated Montgomery County a
few weeks back. However, on that day
it appeared that the War Eagles would be
the fourth
seed.
As the old saying goes, the War
Eagles got hot at just the right time. The
War Eagles won six of their last seven
games. They went from a four-seed to a
two-seed. The two seed has two major
implications for the War Eagles. First,
the War Eagles will play a three-seed
and not a one-seed!
Secondly, the War Eagles will play the
first round at home.
The playoff fomiat this season will see
the higher seed playing the entire first
round at home. Every round will be a
best-out-of-three series. The War Eagles
will host Treutlen County starting on
Thursday. Thursday afternoon will begin
at 4:00 PM with a second game slated
to start 30
minutes after the end of the first game.
If necessary, the teams will play game
three on Friday at 5:30.
Treutlen is not an unfamiliar opponent
for the War Eagles this season. These
two have met up twice this year. The first
time the War Eagles won a close matchup
at home 4-3, and they would play again
at Treutlen and the War Eagles won 11-2.
Right Coach Zac Clark has his 14-13 War
Eagles ready for the playoffs with a first-
round matchup Thursday afternoon against
Treutlen. Games will begin Thursday at 4 00
and 6 30, if necessary, the teams will play
Friday at 5 30. All games will be held at
the Jenkins County Recreation Department.
Photo by Anna Kate Hearn.
Senior Night Baseball
On Tuesday, April 18 the
Jenkins County War Eagles
celebrated Senior Night
as they hosted McIntosh
County Academy. This
night is always special
for the seniors as they
are recognized for their
contributions to the War
Eagles in their time on the
field. This year’s seniors
were Lane Waters, Gavin
Underwood, Jackson
Lanier, and Baker Jenkins.
Lane Waters is new to
this group, transferring to
Jenkins County this year
from EBA. However, the
other three seniors have
been playing together
nearly their whole life.
Baker, Jackson, and Gavin
have played together since
their early days on the
fields of the Jenkins County
Recreation Department.
Senior night marks the
last time seniors will play
on the field together in
a regular season game.
The seniors made sure it
would not be the last time
they would play together
though. The team made it a
special night, winning both
games of the double header
against McIntosh County.
The two wins placed the
War Eagles in second place
in the region and they will
host the state playoffs this
week.
Senior Jackson Lanier. Photo by Anna Kate
Hearn
Senior Baker Jenkins. Photo by Anna Kate Hearn
Senior Gavin Underwood. Photo by Anna
Kate Hearn
Lane Waters, a
senior for Jenkins
County takes a
leadoff during
the game against
McIntosh County
Academy. Jenkins
County defeated
McIntosh in both
games of the double
header and will host
first round of the
GHSA State Playoffs
that begin on April
27 th . Photo by
Anna Kate Hearn.
Senior Lane Waters. Photo by Anna Kate Hearn
Gavin Underwood took to the mound
during the second game of the
doubleheader. The War Eagles were
able to fend off a late-game comeback
and hold onto the win. Now the War
Eagles will host the playoffs! Photo
by Anna Kate Hearn.
Left
Jackson Lanier pitched form
the mound in game one of the
doubleheader on Tuesday, April 18
th . Lanier pitched 6 innings, striking
out 4, allowing only 3 runs and 6 hits
in the first game. Lanier will look
to help lead his team deep into the
playoffs. Photo by Anna Kate Hearn
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