About Upson beacon. (Thomaston, Ga.) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 2024)
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 UPSON BEACON ig Lights Kaplng ttatdi on Savannah Unfriendly to U-l Soccer, Tennis Andrew Carroll Sports Editor acarroll@upsonbeacon.com Upson-Lee soccer made the long trip to Sa vannah on April 18 with both boys’ and girls’ teams facing Savannah Country Day. However, it was not meant to be for the Knights, as the Hor nets jumped out early in both games. For the Lady Knights, the Hornets went up by six goals before the end of the second half, and the Lady Knights were unable to respond. The team ended the season with a record of 9-10, 3-5 in re gion. For the Knights, the team came in sleepwalk ing after the long trip southeast. U-L surren dered five goals within the first 40 minutes of play. Although U-L woke up and kept the Hornets from scoring again in the second half, the Knights were unable to cut into the lead and dropped the match 5-0. The Knights ended the season with a record of 11- 7, 3-5 in region. However, compared to the 2023 boys’ soccer team, the 2024 rendition was a markedly enhanced team which improved from a two-win season the year prior to an 11-win season, including a playoff ap pearance in one of the best regions in the state. In a similar manner, the U-L tennis teams made a long drive to Sa vannah on Tuesday, April 16, with the Knights drop ping both games to Savan nah Christian, 5-0. Blakeney, Oglesbee Win Gold at Doc Holiday Pickleball Tourney Multiple Upson County Players Score Podium Finishes The largest tournament of the year for Spalding County Pickleball Associa tion was held April 12-14, with the Doc Holiday Pick leball Tournament draw ing hundreds to the courts of Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park in Griffin. Several Upson County players picked up podium finishes, and three fin ished at the top of their re spective divisions. Pam Blakeney scored gold in the women’s 2.5 singles. Blakeney and Alan Cor tez of Norman Park then went on to score silver in 3.0 mixed doubles. Randy and Mike Ogles bee scored gold in 3.5 70- plus men's doubles. Jenna Dunaway and Tracie Hawkins won silver in 3.5 women's doubles. Bruce Dunaway and AJ Pollard scored silver in the 4.5 men's doubles division. Tony Martinez scored silver in 3.0 men's singles. John Davis and Chuck Bankston picked up bronze in the 4.0 men’s doubles division. Martinez and Wayne Green won bronze in men's doubles 3.0 70-plus men's doubles. Pam Blakeney wins gold Pam Blakeney and Alan Cortez win silver HOLDING COUNTY CKLEBALL . r Randy and Mike Oglesbee, center, win gold Jenna Dunaway and Tracie Hawkins win silver PflLDINC COUNTY PICKLEBflL Tony Martinez, left, wins silver spaldingpickl idingpickle Bruce Dunaway and AJ Pollard win silver John Davis and Chuck Bankston win bronze Tony Martinez and Wayne Green, right, win bronze Page 9A Trey Webb makes one of his numerous catches against Jackson on April 19. Andrew Carroll/Upson Beacon Throwing Error leads to Jackson 54 Walk-Off Knights Miss Playoffs Andrew Carroll Sports Editor acarroll@upsonbeacon.com A brutal throwing error in the seventh inning of the series-deciding base ball game against Jackson led to the Red Devils walk ing off with a 5-4 victory over Upson-Lee on Friday and taking the fourth and final spot in the playoffs, leaving the Knights on the outside looking in. Hunter Smith’s even ing on the mound started rocky as he attempted to nail down the strike zone. Smith walked the first two batters and Jackson turned those walks into runs, adding two more runs on base hits to take a 4-0 lead before the third out was recorded. With U-L in a hole early, the Knights looked to a batting rotation that has been a struggle this season. The Knights fi nally found success in the third inning with Jax Har rison picking up a two- RBI single, followed by Trey Webb, who turned in a second two-RBI single to tie the game. Smith’s pitching im proved throughout the game, and, by the sixth in ning, Smith blazed through the inning with two strikeouts. Moreover, U-L short stop Webb put on a show. Webb made catch after catch as Jackson batters hit balls in his direction, and he picked up four outs by himself. The Knights could not get base runners home. The Knights left two runners in scoring posi tion in the fifth inning, and another in the sixth. A one-two-three inning put the Knights on defense in the bottom of the seventh. Unfortunately, Smith’s luck ran out with a lead- off double putting a runner in scoring position, and a bunt by the next batter led to disaster for the Knights since a throw ing error allowed the runner to score to end the season with a 5-4 loss to the Red Devils. The loss capped the season with a four-game losing streak after the Knights were swept by the Pike County Pirates. The Knights lost game one by a score of 3-2, game two 2- 1, and game three 11-6. With the loss to Jack- son, U-L finished the sea son 7-20 (2-7 in region) with the Knights missing the playoffs - a disappoint ing end for a team that many expected to compete for a region champion ship. If there are any upsides to the 2024 season, the 2025 rendition of the Upson-Lee Knights will feature a good mix of vet erans on the mound. With injuries to U-L’s senior pitchers Jackson Blakely and Colby Hemphill, younger pitchers like Hunter Smith, Trey Webb, Jayden Wise, Camron Murphy, and Jaxon Creamer have had to step into pitching roles far sooner than anticipated. It remains to be seen just how much that extra experience will play a role in the coming years. Friday, 16, 101H 0UrtS@ 8:30 PM. galbxies, qnd more with the Flint . River Astronomy Club. ■illll V 100 fyrewell Bluff Rofircf, T^o^cto^, 6A 30186
