About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 2023)
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.
