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jenkinscountytimes.com
The Jenkins County Times
Wednesday, March 6, 2024- Page 9
BRAD ASBURY pastorbradasbury@gmail.com
Under the
Bleachers
Spring is in the air! Baseball teams have taken the
field, and it seems like the long winter days may be gone!
Of course, in Millen, winter is not all that harsh, but for
baseball fans the winter could never get below 75 degrees and it would be a long
harsh winter! Spring training has been fun to watch as players get back in shape
for a new season.
If you watch spring training baseball, do not expect for the teams to feature all
your favorite players. The big names usually do not play every day, and if they do,
they only play 2-4 innings. Their time will increase as the season prepares to begin
at the end of this month. The shorter playing time seems to have two purposes. Of
course, a 162-game season that is in front of the players puts a strain on anyone
so the players must get themselves slowly ready. Secondly, this gives the younger
players an opportunity to shine and earn a spot in the big leagues.
Caitlin Clark, a women’s basketball player continues to set records. On Sunday
afternoon, Clark who is a senior for the Iowa Hawkeyes broke a 50-year record by
topping “Pistol Pete” Maravich in the all-time scoring leader in NCAA basketball.
Just a few weeks back she became the all-time women’s basketball points leader,
but now she has placed herself as the leading all-time scoring leader. With the
season still a few weeks from being done, Clark now has 3,684 points and this will
continue to climb.
Clark has set a ceiling that had not been broken in the past 50 years. She has
been a dominant player and simply fun to watch. This season she has averaged
32.3 ppg and has a career average of 28.3 ppg. Clark has brought fans out
consistently and renewed a much-needed interest in women’s basketball. This
year’s Big Ten Conference women’s tournament is a sell out for the first time in
the history of the tournament. All eyes will be on Clark as she continues to add to
her point total and see a national championship.
Clark has been a positive role model in athletics all four years of her career.
Finding positive role models in sports is sometimes hard to come by, but Clark has
exemplified what it is to work hard and set goals. Get out from under the bleachers
and watch this young lady play ball the next few weeks, in our lifetime, we may
never see a player achieve what she has.
Speaking of being a “role model,” are you giving people someone to look up to?
Does your light shine before others in a way that others can see your good works
and as a result glorify God? If you are a believer in Christ, live in such a way that
others can see Christ through you. This means that when people are under the
bleachers and they hear you talk, your light shines. It also means that when you
are under the bleachers your light will be shining bright still! Until next time, go
out and enjoy the spring weather! And on a rainy day find some baseball to watch!
Caitlin Clark, a senior for
the Iowa Hawkeyes set the
NCAA Basketball all-time
scoring record for both men’s
and women’s basketball. She
currently has 3,684 total points.
Photo by CBS Sports.
GHSA Basketball State Championships
Basketball across Georgia will end this week at the Macon Coliseum. In Class A
Division 1, Palideia a number 2 seed will play on March 9th against Mt. Vernon a 1
seed. Class A Division 2, Manchester and Greenforest Christian will play on March
6th. Class A Division 2 saw Portal defeated in the quarterfinals on a last-second
shot in overtime against Warren County, also out of Region 3 McIntosh County
Academy was beaten by Greenforest Christian.
In 2A basketball, a local team, Toombs County will play Westside Augusta on
March 7th. 3A will feature Johnson High from Savannah against Sandy Creek, 4A
will be North Oconee against Holy Innocents, 5A Alexander and Riverwood will
play for the championship and in 6A it will be McEachem against Grayson.
In girls’ basketball Class A Division 2 will feature Region 3 champion
Montgomery County as they play Greenforest Christian. Earlier in the season the
Lady War Eagles of Jenkins County defeated the Montgomery County team, giving
them their only loss. Class A Division 1 will be St. Francis against Galloway, 2A is
Josey against Mt. Paran Christian, 3A is Hebron Christian against Wesleyan, 4A
Baldwin versus Hardaway, 5A is North Forsyth against Marist, and lastly in 6A is
North Paulding against Grayson.
Jenkins County High School
Baseball Schedule
2024
Feb. 8
Thur
GSIC
Home
5:00
Feb. 13
Tue
Bryan Co.
Away
5:30
Feb. 16
Fri
Swainsboro
Away
5:30
Feb. 20
Tue
Treutlen
Home
5:30
Feb. 22
Thur
Bryan Co.
Home
5:30
Feb. 27
Tue
Screven Co.
Home
5:30
Mar 1
Fri
Treutlen
Away
6:00
Mar. 5
Tue
Bulloch Acad
Away
5:30
Mar. 7
Thur
Bulloch Acad
Home
5:30
Mar. 8
Fri
Swainsboro
Home
5:30
Mar. 19
Tue
ECU
Away
5:30
Mar. 22
Fri
ECU (DH)
Home
4:00
Mar. 26
Tue
Portal*
Home
5:30
Mar. 29
Fri
Portal* (DH)
Away
4:00
Apr. 1
Mon
Montgomery Co.*
Away
5:00
Apr. 3
Wed
Montgomery Co.* (DH)
Home
4:00
Apr. 9
Tue
MCA*
Home
5:30
Apr. 12
Fri
MCA* (DH)
Away
4:00
Apr. 18
Thur
Screven Co.
Away
5:30
^Region Games
(DH) Doubleheader
Jenkins
County Middle School Baseball Schedule
2024
Feb. 24
Sat
Swainsboro
Away
TBA
Feb. 24
Sat
Swainsboro
Away
TBA
Feb. 27
Tue
Bryan Co.
Away
4:30
Feb. 28
Wed
Portal
Home
5:30
Mar. 4
Mon
Portal
Away
5:30
Mar. 11
Mon
Metter*
Away
4:30
Mar. 13
Wed
Metter*
Home
4:30
Mar. 16
Sat
Portal
Away
TBA
Mar. 16
Sat
Portal
Away
TBA
Mar. 18
Mon
Screven Co.
* Away
4:30
Mar. 20
Wed
Screven Co.
Home
4:30
Mar. 25
Mon
ECI*
Away
4:30
Mar. 27
Wed
ECI*
Home
4:30
Apr. 9
Tue
Playoffs
TBA
TBA
Apr. 11
Thur
Playoffs
TBA
TBA
Apr. 13
Sat
Playoffs
TBA
TBA
*Region
JV Middle Schedule
Feb. 28 Wed
Portal
Home
4:00
Mar. 4 Mon
Portal
Away
4:00
Mar.22 Fri
Sylvania
Away
TBA
Mar.23 Sat
Sylvania
Away
wTBA
Apr. 3 Wed
ECI
Home
4:30
First Homerun in Middle School
On Thursday night, the Jenkins County Middle School War Eagles (C-Team)
faced off against Portal. Portal was the first to score in the game during the first
inning, however, noise was made in the second inning. Ryley James stepped up to
bat after teammate Joshua Gray hit a single to centerfield. Gray would be able to
advance to third base on the hit after an error by the centerfielder.
With James at the plate, a first-pitch ball was thrown that got past the catcher
and Gray scored. The bases were empty, and James would foul off the second
pitch, the third pitch was a swinging strike. On the fourth pitch, the umpire would
call a ball.
With a full count and nobody on base, James would be looking to get on base
and get the lead. The pitch was thrown in the zone and James would turn on the
ball. There are times you know a ball is going to be a good hit and the player gives
the ball a “ride” to deep outfield. There are other times when the ball is crushed,
and fans could have been looking the opposite way and just know the ball is a
homerun.
When Ryley hit the ball, it was a “no doubt” homerun. The ball jumped off the
bat and into deep right-center field. While the ball was eventually retrieved, fans
wondered if the ball would even come down. This was James’ first home run of his
middle school career. He is the son of Bobby James and Heather James.
Ryley James is surrounded by
his teammates as he crosses
home plate after his first career
home run. Photo by Heather
James.
Chandler Cates, an 8th grader for
the War Eagles is ready for a pitch.
Chandler was 1 for 2 batting for the
War Eagles on Thursday. Danielle M
Davis
Harley Burke awaits on deck with his
teammates gathered behind him. The
War Eagle baseball team will play two
games this week, Monday at Portal,
and Thursday at home against Burke
County. Danielle M. Davis.
Judson Godbee, a 7th grader for the
Middle School War Eagles prepares to
catch a ball this week. Photo by Danielle
M. Davis.
Coach Bobby James shares a smile with
son Ryley James on Thursday night.
Photo by Danielle M. Davis.
Joshua <^ra^^dmlsan8th^^der was mi the mound a^^JRmtahPortal won the
game 9-4, the War Eagles are now 2-2 on the season. Gray had 8 strikeouts during
the night. Danielle M. Davis.