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jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 - Page 9
WAR EAOJLE
By Brad Asbury, Sports Editor
for
'r111 : Times
BRAD ASBURY
pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
Big Win for the Lady War Eagles
Under the
Bleachers
For the past two weeks, we have had the joy of Friday
nights under the stadium lights on a football field. For
many, there is nothing better than the joy of being in the
stands of a high school football game, enjoying the cooler
air (EVENTUALLY), catching up with old friends, and
speculating what we would do if we were on the sidelines
coaching a game. While I have not been “under the
bleachers” for the games, I have been on the bleachers or
in the press box. What I have observed is hard-working
football players, band members, and cheerleaders who
give 100% to the task they have been given that night. I
have seen fans laughing and talking and cheering (and of
course fussing!).
I mentioned last week that we show kindness and grace
to referees and coaches and players. Here is a great guide
for us from the pen of James, the brother of Jesus, “My dear
brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...”
The outcome of many conversations in life would be so
much better if we could grasp this verse and truly let it
change our hearts.
Major League Baseball is heading down the home
stretch. There are 45 games remaining on the schedule of
the Atlanta Braves, and with a 75-42 record the Braves are
the best team in Major League Baseball.
We are just a few weeks before the NCAA football season
kick-off. Pre-season football has begun for the NFL. With
football starting soon, be on the lookout for the “Pigskin
Pick’em” challenge that will be in the Jenkins County
Times starting the first week of the college football season.
There will be a prize package that will be announced soon!
Until next time, get out and support our local athletes!
Fall sports are in full gear. Watch some softball, go to the
football games, and cheer on your War Eagles!
On Thursday, the Lady War Eagles would be on the diamond once again, this time facing the Screven County Gamecocks.
What was described as one of the best softball games in recent history by fans, finished out with a 4-1 victory in favor of the
Lady War Eagles. Katie Bell was on the mound for the War Eagles and the defense behind her came ready to play.
The game started with Screven County being sat down quickly on three straight outs on three batters. The Lady War
Eagles would then come to bat. Jakhaila Oglesby led off the game and was walked, the second batter. Bell would also reach
on a walk. Laura Gayle Dailey would be the next up and would hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop. The result of the play
was an error by the shortstop allowing Oglesby to score and Dailey to advance to second. Avery Wiggins who was a courtesy
runner for Bell, was thrown out trying to advance to third. The next two batters for the Lady War Eagles would be retired
and the first inning would end with the War Eagles 1 and the Gamecocks 0.
A defensive battle would take place for the next couple of innings, but the top of the third was when the defense for the
Lady War Eagles really shined! The first batter for the Lady Gamecocks hit a deep fly ball to center field. The outstretched
arm of Hillary Garvin could not bring the ball into the glove and the batter advanced to second. The next batter would walk,
this would be followed by a single loading the bases with 0 outs. The 1-0 lead that the Lady War Eagles held appeared to be
on the verge of disappearing.
The next Lady Gamecock batter hit a soft grounder to Bell at the pitcher mound and she was able to throw the ball to home
and get the first out. The next at-bat was an infield fly to Bell and this was followed by another infield fly to Oglesby at third
base. The Lady War Eagles got out of a jam and held the score at 1-0. The Lady War Eagle bats would be quiet in the third
and in the top of the fourth the Lady Gamecocks went three up and three down.
In the fourth inning, the Lady War Eagles really sealed the deal with three runs on the board.
The inning started off with Lohgan Walker being hit by a pitch, and then Garvin laid down a perfect bunt for a single,
advancing Walker to third. Lynnsey Lane then hit a grounder on the infield, but due to a throwing error, Garvin scored as
well. Kynlee Wallace followed up with a great bunt, and with some clever base running by Lane, they were able to increase
their lead to 4-0. It was a nail in the coffin for the opposing team.
The Lady Gamecocks would score one run in the top of the 5 th , but for the remainder of the game that is all the offense
they could put together. The Lady War Eagles did not score again, but in the end the 4 runs scored would be enough for the
Lady War Eagles’ third win of the season.
In the end, the Lady War Eagles had done something they had not done in the previous years, defeat the Lady Gamecocks.
The game was a mixture of excellent defense and runs scored on offense at the right time. Katie Bell and Jakhaila Oglesby
had an impressive outing for the Lady War Eagles in the infield, and Hillary Garvin made some great plays in the outfield.
Overall, the team effort gave the Lady War Eagles their third win of the season.
Statistically for the Lady War Eagles, Bell was on the mound for all 7 innings. She gave up 5 hits on 86 pitches. 64% of
her pitches were thrown for strikes! She allowed only one run with four strikeouts and only walked one batter. Hitting for
the war Eagles were Bell, Dailey, Garvin, and Wallace each having one hit. Lane finished with 2 RBIs to lead the team in
that stat.
The Lady War Eagles will be back on the field Monday at home against DEA and then at Screven County for a rematch
on Thursday the 17 th at 5:30.
The First
Look
The Jenkins County Band under the direction of James
McBride and Bob Russell had the team prepared and ready
for the first scrimmage game of the season on Friday night.
The band is marching out on the field for the pregame
tradition where eventually they will spell out J-E-N-K-I-
N-S as the band members position themselves. Photo by
Brad Asbury.
-ATTENTION PARENTS OF,
SCHOOL ATHLETES!
I
Our sports editor, Brad Asbury, sure
needs help this year taking photos
beyond the fence. If you are the parent
of a school athlete, please email him at
pastorbradasbury@gmail.com or just send 1
us a message and we'll get it to him!
Friday night was the final scrimmage of
the 2023 football season for the Jenkins
County War Eagles and the fans were
treated to six quarters of football. With
more than 500 fans packing into Roy Head
Stadium for a scrimmage game on Friday
night there is excitement about the new
season starting. Three teams competed on
Friday night and those included Jenkins
County, Glascock County, and Bulloch
Academy.
The first game of the night was between
Glascock County and Jenkins County.
Jenkins County jumped out to a quick lead
on a touchdown run, and while they only
played two quarters the War Eagles were
able to win 23-0. In the second game, the
War Eagles were able to rest for a moment
as Bulloch Academy and Glascock County
played. Bulloch Academy won those two
quarters 33-0.
The last game of the night between Bulloch
Academy and Jenkins County saw a
defensive showcase. Neither team's
offense was able to put points on the
scoreboard and the final was 0-0. Both
teams threatened on the offense side of
the ball a couple of times, but the defense
came up big. In the last drive of the night,
in the final seconds, the War Eagles drove
the ball down the field setting up a first
and goal. While they were stopped on the
5-yard line, they brought out the kicking
team for the field goal. A low snap resulted
in a scramble for the end zone that was
stopped just short of the goal line.
There were many “takeaways” for the War
Eagle fans that night that should have the
team excited and ready for the new year.
The War Eagles are a hard-hitting football
team on defense. Every year Head
Coach Waters along with the defensive
coordinator Jason Boynton produce a
hard-hitting team that limits yards gained
and points being scored. Secondly, this
offense is fast! Offensive coordinator Hil
Johnson has a core of running backs and
quarterbacks that can get up the field in
a hurry! If the blocks are there, this team
will beat you in a foot race. Some of these
running backs and quarterbacks were part
of the very successful track team that won
awards on the state level. Lastly, this year
the War Eagles once again will showcase
strength in the special teams area. Alex
Morales is the kicker for the War Eagles
and he is kicking extra points with ease
and has the ability to kick some long field
goals. Robtravious Coney will be punting
this year and he can hang a ball in the air
for a long time. While we did not see a
kickoff on Friday night, we can be assured
that the kicker will be putting the ball
down the field.
Friday night will be the first regular season
game! Come out to Roy Head Stadium
and support your War Eagles this week at
7:30!
TopLeft: Katie Bell, a senior for the Lady War Eagles, was “in the zone, ” on Thursday
night against Screven County. Bell helped lead her team to a 4-1 victory over the Lady
Gamecocks. Bell only gave up 5 hits and allowed one run. Photo Submitted.
Top Right: New assistant coach Kolbie Motes instructs freshman Hillary Garvin before she
bats on Thursday against Screven County. Photo by Bethany Asbury.
Bottom: It was all smiles after a big win for the Lady War Eagles. Front row Mya
Abraham (Sophomore), second row left to right Kynlee Wallace (freshman), Hillary
Garvin (freshman), Cayley Linder (freshman), Aubrey Davis (freshman), Laura Gayle
Dailey (junior), Katy Bell (senior), Lynnsey Lane (freshman), Dehaje Newton (sophomore),
Bethany Asbury (freshman), Ladaeshia Williams (Junior), Jakaliah Oglesby (Junior),
Lohgan Walker (Senior), Shanya Lake (Senior), Ava Brantley (Junior), Avery Wiggins
(Junior), Callie Dailey (Asst. Coach), Renee Hearn (Asst. Coach), and back row Kolbie
Motes (Asst. Coach) Photo Submitted.
New Parking for Football Games
Nothing can be more frustrating than arriving at sporting events, or for
that matter any event and not knowing where to park; especially if you
arrive moments before the event begins. The past couple of years during
a big football game, parking is hard to find at Roy Head Stadium.
With visiting teams and of course War Eagles fans, it was hard to find
a parking spot. This year Jenkins County schools have announced new
parking for home fans, visitors and a new traffic pattern that fans are
asked to follow.
First, the War Eagles will provide specific visitor parking for the games
this year. Visitor fans can park across from the performance gym in the
large grass lot and there will be a visitor’s ticket booth. This should cut
down on the long lines at the main ticket gate. Secondly, more parking
has opened for the War Eagles in the grass lot where the Jenkins County
Family Enrichment building previously stood.
Fans, please follow the new parking lots to help make the game day
experience even better! And please remember, if you are occupying a
handicap parking spot, ensure that you have a handicap placard in your
car or you have a handicap license plate.
Top Left:
Across from the JCMHS Performance
gym, in the grass parking lot, visiting
fans are asked to park in this location.
This will provide more space for all
fans who are coming to the game. Photo
Submitted.
Lower Left:
New parking has opened for War Eagle
fans during home football games. Photo
Submitted.
Right:
A new traffic pattern has been announced
for Jenkins County. Photo Submitted.