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PAGE 6A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Thursday, April M, 2004 Local Sports Adult baseball league forming A new adult baseball league associated with Stan Musial Baseball is seeking teams in Forsyth and surrounding counties to begin play in late spring and summer of 2004. Call Dennis Holbrook for more information at (770) 887-4036. Lacrosse camp coming soon SuperSouth Lacrosse Camp 111 is currently accepting registration for girls, boys and youth lacrosse camps set for North Georgia College and State University. For information, please visit www.bagatawaylacrosse.com or contact Jason Alberici at jasona@bagatawaylacrosse.com or (404)216-5870. Running Camp gearing up The Mountain High Running Camp will take place July 12-17 and July 19-24. at Tallulah Falls. The staff is composed of elite Kenyan and international distance runners and internationally experi enced coaches. For information, contact Scott Simmons via email at sim mons@minotstateu.edu. or call (800) 777-0750. or visit the camp’s Web site at: www.mountainhighrunning.com. Summer hoops camp evaluates applications Applications are now being evaluated for the Ten Star All-Star Summer Basketball Camp. The camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible to apply. A camp will take place this summer in Atlanta. Call (704) 373-0873 for more information. ASA set to host summer camps The Atlanta Soccer Academy, Forsyth County's new soccer club, is hosting Summer Camps this season in Cumming. The first session runs June 21- 25. There will be sessions for players in age divisions U 6 to U 8 (from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.). U 9 to Ull (9 a.m. to noon) and Ul2 & up (4-7 pm.). All camp partici pants receive an ASA t-shirt. The camp costs S9O for U6-U8 participants and is 5125 for play ers aged U 9 & up. There is also a pre and post camp shuttle service available for U6-U8 players for a fee of $5. The ASA’s second camp runs July 19-23. This camp is involved with the Atlanta Silverbacks pro fessional club and will take place at Forsyth’s Pinecrest Academy. The Silverbacks camp has two sessions: 9 a.m. to noon (cost, S 100) and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cost, $185). For information, call (770) 557-0430 or visit www.atlsoccer.com. Football officials needed for fall The Lanier Football Officials Association is now accepting applications. If you have ever thought about becoming a football official, this is a great opportunity. Football officiating allows you to be a mentor to the players because you’re enforcing the rules and upholding the integrity of the game. The Lanier Football Officials Association is now taking applications for the 2004 season. No experience necessary, all train ing is provided. LFOA is a mem ber of the Georgia High School Association. For more information or to apply, visit www.lanieroffi cials.org or call Tim Tipton at (770) 967-3197 ext. 239. , Sports EXTRA REGION TOURNAMENT South tennis clinches State Bulldogs, Raiders point to the future By Morgan Lee Sports Writer South Forsyth's boys and girls tennis team qualified for State, while North and Central each fought hard before falling short in Tuesday's Region 6-AAAA tournament at the DeKalb Tennis Center. The War Eagles each won quar terfinal matches South’s boys defeating Dunwoody, while the girls took out rivals Central but could n’t get past the region's private schools, falling to Marist and St. Pius X. respectively. South faced seeding matches Wednesday (scores not available at press time), the Lady Eagles taking on Dunwoody and the Eagles facing Riverwood, to determine the 6- AAAA’s No. 3 and 4 teams. "In general, we're pleased," said South boys coach Gerry DeStefano. "We had a new team, and it’s taken the season to gel. We have a very competitive region, and. when we get to State, we may not get a team as strong as the No. 1 or 2 seed here." South girls coach Jan Nourollahi is optimistic about the postseason: "I think that we’ll do well." she said. "I’m really looking forward to it." For Central and North, the season ended with tough losses, but both the Raiders and Bulldogs point to a bright future. With neither boys or girls squads losing many players at either school. North and Central hope to build on what coaches con sidered prpmising 2004 campaigns. “They played beyond my expec tations really," said Central coach Ralph Tworek. who coached both boys and girls. "I was honored to work with such a great group of South Forsyth doubles play er Jamie Humber and his War Eagle teammates qualified for State Tuesday, defeating Dunwoody 3- 2. South couldn't over come Marist in the semifi nals, but still finished as one of the region's top four teams. Photo/Morgan Lee Payton gets shot with Tennessee By Terry Bannon Chicago Tribune/KRT Jarrett Payton won't be playing for the Chicago Bears, but he will be playing for a for mer Bear. Payton, passed over in the NFL draft, has agreed to a contract with the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher was a teammate of Payton's father, Bears Hall of Famer Walter Payton, in the early 1980 s. “I was just looking for the right fit,” Payton said of the decision to pick Tennessee over five other teams that called after the draft. Payton was only 5 when Fisher retired after five seasons to become defensive backs coach of the Philadelphia Eagles under Buddy Ryan. Ryan, then the Bears' defensive coordinator, and Fisher took their new jobs days after the Bears’ Super Bowl XX victory. “I didn’t know coach Fisher, but all those guys on that team have always been classy,” E_ i t • j&3 ****** I jfJm p w-' WR I * I ■ "'J Photo/David McGregor Forsyth Central’s Justin Davis helped his team to a first-round victory, but the Bulldogs couldn’t make their way into the state playoffs during Tuesday's Region 6-AAAA tennis tournament. kids." The Bulldogs started well Tuesday morning, winning both first round matches. The Dawgs swept Chamblee 3-0 in pro-style matches during the tour nament's opening contest No. 1 sin gles player Justin Davis won 10-1; No. 2 singles player Brian McKin non won 10-0. and N 0.3 singles player Harry Pritchett won 10-4. Meanwhile, the Lady Dawgs dominated Tucker, winning 3 0 behind the play of Brittany Romig (10-2), Anna Martin (10 3) and No. 2 Payton said. “He showed a lot of interest in me, and that's what I wanted because all I want is a chance." Payton didn't start regularly until his senior season at the University of Miami, meaning he has plenty of experience on special teams, which could become an asset in making the final roster. “Coach Fisher said I could make it if I can show I can catch the ball and play special teams," Payton said. "I'm looking forward to getting down there and working my butt off.” The Titans have an opening for depth behind veteran Eddie George and his backup, Chris Brown, a third-round pick last year. The Titans drafted two running backs, but sixth-round pick Troy Fleming from Tennessee will be tried at fullback and seventh-round pick Sean McHugh from Penn State is switching to tight end. The Titans also have Ray Jackson, a free agent signed last year who is now playing in NFL Europe. doubles team Erin Moister and Maddie Stoddart (10-1). Moving into the second round, however. Central ran into tough tests against Marist and old rivals South Forsyth. In the boys matches, the Bulldogs fell to an imposing Marist squad 3-0. dropping both doubles points and No. 2 singles. "1 was pleased with their effort." said Tworek. “I'm disappointed because the boys didn't finish above .500 for the season, but we're losing just two seniors and we showed a lot of promise. I'm looking forward to next year." Central s girls also bowed out in the second round, falling 3-0 to South No. 2 singles player Alexis Webb defeated Romig 6-1. 6-1. while, in doubles play. No. 1 team Courtney Milam and Kyndell Fry stopped Maddie Stoddart and Erin Moister 6-2. 6-2. South's No. 2 dou bles team of Liz Dennis and Marissa Salomon defeated Jennifer Korb and Jane Turpin 6-1,6-3. "We have a good core returning." said Tworek of his Lady Dawgs, who graduate No. 1 singles stalwart Nerina Schoeman along with Moister and Turpin. The North Forsy th Lady Raiders should also have an experienced squad back next season, and head coach Dianne Foxx, though disap pointed to lose 3-0 to North Springs in the first round, was pleased with her team's progress this season. “I'm real pleased with the per formance,” said Foxx, who loses Katie Walker and Erin Gustafson after this season. "I saw some improvement, and we stayed strong in our three singles matches.” North Forsyth’s boys also played several closely contested matches before falling 3-0 to No. 3 seed Riverwood. Dropping both doubles points, the Raiders couldn't recover and finally succumbed in No. 2 singles. "I think we had a chance, but we didn't show up." said North head coach Jeremy Elrod. “We played Riverwood extremely close both times this year." Elrod also has high hopes for next season and returns all but one player in senior doubles player Dane Cromartie. "I'll have my top two players as seniors next year." said Elrod. “I’d like to see some senior leadership out of them, and we'll be looking for that third or fourth spot in the region again." South, meanwhile, found its way back into those spots this season but couldn't climb any higher despite strong matches against Marist and St. Pius X. South’s boys fell 3-0, dropping both doubles points and No. 2 sin gles. But the War Eagles led or were tied in the other two matches which were halted. Wednesday, the War Eagles trav eled to take on Riverwood, seeking the No. 3 seed in the region. "We wanted to finish no lower than third." said DeStefano, whose War Eagles fell to Riverwood earlier in the season without No. 1 singles player Nathan Wheeler. The Lady Eagles, meanwhile, hosted Dunwoody at Sharon Springs Park also looking for the region’s third spot. Despite wins from No. 1 singles player Kari Fuller and No. 2 singles player Alexis Webb, South's girls couldn't get past St. Pius, falling 3-2. Results from Wednesday’s action were not available at deadline. Photo/File Jarrett Payton has agreed to a contract with thp Tennessee Titans. |