About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2019)
SPORTS DawsonNewscom Wednesday, July 24, 2019 facebook.com/dawsonnews twitter.com/dawsonnews Harvick gets 1st win of season 21-race winless streak ends by holding off Hamlin in Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 By Bob Christian bchristian@dawsonnews.com After a 21-race winless streak dating back to Nov. 2018 at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick picked up his first win of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on July 21 in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Opting not to pit under the final yel low flag of the race on lap 264 of a scheduled 301, Harvick took over the lead on the restart and aggressively defended his front row view for the final 34 laps to claim the “Magic Mile” for the second year in a row. Overall, the win marked the fourth checkered flag for Harvick at the 1.058-mile oval track, moving him into a tie with Jeff Burton for the most all-time. “I was really questionable about how that was going to go, and the thing took right off,” Harvick said. “We’ve run well enough a few times this year to win, and we’ve just made mistakes, and to finally battle and get over that hump is a great day for everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing, everybody on the No. 4 car.” Runner-up Denny Hamlin, who had led the previous 112 laps before putting on four new tires under caution, felt the .210 second margin of victory came down to a difference in strategy between the drivers. “I wanted to just tap him there, but I didn’t want to completely screw him. I at least wanted to give him a fair shot See Harvick 14B Honoring a hometown hero Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves Master Sgt. David Sapp of Dawsonville waves to the crowd during the July 19 Atlanta Braves game against the Washington Nationals. Iraq War veteran retired from active military duty in 2009 Sports Specialization: An athletes’ view of a growing interest By Bob Christian bchristian@dawsonnews.com As a girl, Dawson County High School senior Kaitlynn Bennett tried a wide variety of sports and activities, ranging from tumbling to cheerleading to basketball, but it was when she discovered softball “at like the age of four” that she knew she had found her sport. “Growing up, I had a cousin that played softball and I wanted to be like her, I guess,” Bennett said. “She played when she was young, so I did too.” Sports specialization, defined by a sum mary study entitled Sports Specialization in Young Athletes published in May 2013 by the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine “as intense, year-round training in a single sport with the exclusion of other sports,” is a growing trend in youth sports across the United States. A 2011 study of 519 U.S. Tennis Association junior tennis players found that 70% began specializing at an average age of 10.4 years old with that number increasing to almost 95% by the age of 18. Multiple studies have found this trend mirrored in a wide spec trum of sports with the biggest shifts taldng place in basketball, softball, volleyball and hockey. Since discovering the game, Bennett has played some form of organized softball every year of her life. Progressing from parks and rec leagues into middle school ball and now playing year-round as she enters her final year of high school playing for the Lady Tigers and an elite travel team, the Georgia Prime. Based out of the Woodstock/Canton area, the Georgia Prime is a softball-only training organi zation with the “goal of making each young lady that joins our program the best overall per son and player that they choose to be.” “I wanted to focus on myself as a player. My strengths. My weaknesses,” Bennett said. “I felt that if I could focus on myself that I could be a better player and a better person.” Tryouts are usually conducted in late July or early August each year, and the travel schedule begins immediately at the See Athletes 14B 2019 Varsity Football Schedule Aug. 9 N. Forsyth (Scrimmage) Away Aug. 23 Flabersham Cent. (Senior Night) Flome Aug. 30 Chestatee Away Sept. 13 West Flail Away Sept. 20 Denmark Home Sept. 27 Lumpkin Away Oct. 4 East Flail (Park/Ftec Night) Home Oct. 11 G.A.C. (Flomecoming) Home Oct. 25 Fannin Home Nov. 1 Cherokee Bluff Away Nov. 8 North Hall Away By Joshua Demarest jdemarest@dawsonnews.com The Atlanta Braves honored veteran Master Sgt. David Sapp of Dawsonville during their July 19 game against the Washington Nationals. Sapp enlisted in the United States Army in 1988 at the age of 18. “The Army served a great purpose for me as I had a very successful career,” writes Sapp in a brief biogra phy sent to Dawson County News. “My duty assignments consisted of Ft Benning, GA; Ft Campbell, KY; Ft Bragg, NC; Dahlonega, GA; Ft McPherson, GA; Italy; and Germany. My achievements included: Infantryman, Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, Air Assault, and Pathfinder. My awards included: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, and three Army Achievement Medals.” In 2006, Sapp was wounded in a firefight outside of Hit, Iraq. During the skirmish, Sapp sustained gunshots to the left temple, right shoulder and right leg. “After being wounded, I was left wondering what life would be like with my disabilities,” writes Sapp. “My new normal consisted of me being blind in my left eye, a shattered upper right humerus with very limited mobility, a shattered upper right femur, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.” After sustaining these injuries, Sapp and his family moved back to their Dawsonville home, which they had bought during Sapp's time stationed in Dahlonega. “My wife and I coped with many issues that I had, along with raising two young girls,” writes Sapp. “I am thankful that I have such a great wife, as she has remained with me despite these years of frustration and uncer tainty.” After retiring from the Army in 2009, Sapp became a stay-at-home dad to his two daughters, Celine and Yelena. This sudden switch from a lifestyle of activity to one of staying at home took its toll on Sapp. “My depression grew from a lack of purpose and no real sense of direc tion,” Sapp writes. “Since I am not a person that allows obscurities to over come me, I continued to seek ways to find contentment. Initially, I found this through college. In the spring of 2013, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Business Resource and Technology Management from Troy University. Since then, I’ve sought ways to occu py my time through therapeutic recre ation and hobbies that fulfill my desires mentally and physically. These hobbies consist of Deer hunting, fish ing, snowboarding, cycling, Whitewa ter kayaking, and gardening.” Sapp also discovered another way to find fulfillment — veteran outreach and service with Team River Runner, a nonprofit that hosts weekly paddling excursions across the country for dis abled veterans. “Although initially, I wanted a ful filling, fun adventure, my expectations were far surpassed as I had no idea I was going to be put in a kayak and strapped down with a skirt,” writes Sapp. “The unexpected undertaking has been thrilling and exhilarating to See Sapp 14B Player of the Week! Zac Holtzclaw With a demonstrated ability to score through the air and on the ground 2018’s Most Valuable Offensive Player (gth grade team), rising sophomore Zac Holtzclaw, has emerged as a leading contender to takeover the Dawson County backfield. Holtzclaw’s unique combination of size, power, and accuracy will challenge opposing defenses as he looks to lead the Tigers back to the playoffs in 2019. 706-216-0992 We’ve Gone Green! “We will be here when you need us. ” Certified Collision Center DAHLONEGA DUNKIN DONUTS Industrial Park Rd. 130 Industrial Park Rd, Dawsonville M-F: 8:00 - 5:00 Dawsonville's Premier Collision Center PLAYER OF THE WEEK Olivia Martinez Sophomore Olivia Martinez’ defensive skills at second base and clutch-hitting at the plate, capped off by a monster three-run shot in the team’s final playoff game, were key pieces of the Lady Tigers 2018 post-season appearance. For the 2019 campaign, Martinez steps into the circle as she takes over the pitching duties for the Lady Tigers as they look to build on the success of last season. Sponsored by: estate Farm® Ryan Scott Ins Agency Inc Ryan Scott, Agent 1000 Old Dawson Village Road E Suite 210 Dawsonville, GA 30534 • Bus: 678-456-4785
