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The True Citizen, Wednesday, March 31,2021 — Page 13
SPORTS
Bears maul Johnson County
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
The Bears picked up nearly
two dozen first place finishes in
a dual track meet with Johnson
County on Thursday.
Girls earning the top spot
in their events were J'Niyah
Gardner, long jump (14 feet,
5.5 inches) triple jump (33’)
and 100-meter (12.71 seconds);
Asia White, discus (67’6)
and shot put (23’8); Jakedra
Jones, 400-m (1:09.17) and
800-m (3:28); Brooke Jordan,
300-m hurdles (53.82); Caro
line Barnes, 3200-m (20:40);
Dy'MonWebb, 100-m hurdles
(17.05); and Treyonna Jones,
200-m (28.69).
First place dibs on the boys
side went to Aaron Dixon,
3200-m (13:45) and 1600-
m (6:32); Jaylon Golphin,
long jump (17 ’8) and 200-
m (23.18); Donterius Jones,
discus (123’10) and shot put
(41’5); Daveion Henry, pole
vault (8'6); Jaylen Coward,
400-m (54.63); Charlie Dors
ey, 100-m (11.46); Jonathon
Burke, 110-mhurdles (18.68);
and Henry, Coward, Dorsey
and Golphin, 4x100 relay
(44.75).
“We were able to get some
good work in with the kids,”
said head coach Purvis Dukes.
“We have several who are nurs
ing some injuries, and this gave
us a chance to see some other
people as we get closer to the
region meet in April. Coach
Griffin does a good job over at
Johnson, and his kids love to
come in and compete, so this
is definitely what we needed.”
The girls finished the meet
with 79 points to Johnson’s 24,
and the boys wanted 85 points
while Johnson put up 40.
The Bears will compete in
the Charles Turner Relay in
Dublin this Saturday, April 3,
beginning at 10 a.m.
J’Niyah Gardner ran the 100-meter in 12.71 seconds to win the event.
Victories continue
in Bears’ tennis
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DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
Burke County’s tennis team
picked up a handful of wins on
the court last week.
On March 22, the Bears went
up against Harlem at Patriot’s
Park, with both the boys and
girls teams winning 3-2.
Head coach Laurie Dickey
said this was a hard fight vic
tory but a great win overall
since it was a region match.
“The singles players were
very impressive in all of their
matches,” she said. “Even with
those that lost, they tried up un
til the last point and took their
matches to three sets.”
The following day, Burke
County hosted Thomson, beat
ing both teams 5-0. Dickey said
all of the players made quick
work of their opponents. “It
was a great match for them
to work on fine tuning skills
that weren't working for them
against Harlem,” she said.
“This group does a great job
with being aware of their mis
takes , and they all want to work
to fix them in order to continue
improving.”
On loss came in March 24
when the Bears traveled to
Newman Tennis Center for a
match against Davidson. The
boys lost 0-5 and the girls, 1-4,
with the girls second doubles
team preventing a shutout.
“Elsa Withers and Madison
Martin went to a tie break for
the match. They came from
behind in a big way and really
communicated well with each
other,” Dickey said. “Their
net play has improved tremen
dously, and they are getting
more confident as a duo.”
Both teams won against
Hephzibah on March 25 due
to a team forfeit. “That takes
us into next week being unde
feated in the region,” Dickey
added. “Those are also our
toughest opponents as we
face Morgan County and ARC
before heading into the region
tournament after spring break.
These two teams are composed
of a lot of strong talent. I feel
like our players can compete
but have to stay focused and
not make these small mistakes
that they've been able to get
away with up until now. Tal
ented players will be able to
quickly pick up on their game
so they need to execute their
shots with precision. No matter
the outcome, the win against
Harlem put us in a good posi
tion, and I can't say enough
great things about this group of
kids. They have a lot of heart
and determination and continue
to improve.”
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Evan Richardson is greeted at the entrance of the dugout after hitting a home run.
Bears sweep Thomson in series
DIANA ROYAL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
In a three-game series, the
Burke County Bears (11-7) an
nihilated Thomson’s Bulldogs
with a combined score of 44-3.
In game one on March 23,
the Bears took an easy 14-3
victory when they scored 6
runs in the second inning and
out hit Thomson 12-5.
“We had 24 reach base by
hit, base on balls or reach on
error, and we chalked up 14
runs,” said head coach Billy
Marchman. “We also were 9
for 10 stealing bags. The team
had a batting average of .375
and a batting average balls put
in play of .500. Offensively,
this was the best all-around
game as an entire hitting unit
we have had this season.”
Top hitters were Jahkari
Howard, single, RBI, 2 runs
scored, 2 walks, SAC fly and
2 stolen bases; Chris Buxton,
double, single, RBI and a run
scored; Tripp Cibak, double,
single, RBI and 2 runs scored;
and Phillip Hodges, single,
RBI, 3 runs scored, 2 walks
and 4 stolen bases.
Hodges and Howard split
6 innings on the mound, with
Hodges tallying 3 hits, 1 walk,
1 strikeout, 3 runs and no
earned runs. Howard allowed
2 hits and a walk and struck
out batters.
In a doubleheader on Friday,
the Bears once again bested
Thomson, defeating the Bull
dogs 15-0 in both games.
Evan Richardson led the
pack with a 3-run homer, 2
doubles, a single, 6 RBIs, 4
runs scored and 2 stolen bases.
Jed Osborn hit 3 singles and
had 3 RBIs and a run scored
while Marshall Flowers had
a triple, single, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
scored and a walk.
Hodges earned the win over
a 4-inning shutout, allowing 2
hits and a walk and striking out
3 batters.
Lead hitters in the final game
were Howard, triple, single, 3
RBIs,run scored, 2 walks and 2
stolen bases; Myles Heatwole,
double, RBI, 3 runs scored
and a walk; and Richardson,
double, RBI and a stolen base.
Flowers was on the hill for
the 3-inning shutout, allowing
a single hit and 4 walks. He
recorded 7 strikeouts.
“Our bats were hot the entire
week, and our pitching staff
continued the consistency
they have shown all season,”
Marchman said. “Our games
with Hephzibah this week have
been cancelled due to them
forfeiting all three contests. We
are now 8-2 in region play go
ing into spring break with two
series left with Morgan County
and Richmond Academy after
returning. I am very proud of
my team and for all the work
they continue to put in as we
are hopefully getting hot at the
right time of the year.”
The Bears travel to Jenkins
County Thursday April 1 for
their last game before the
breath. First pitch is at 5:30
p.m.
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