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The Commerce News
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EJCHS Baseball
IB
THE COMMERCE (GA.) NEWS
WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 9, 2008
Eagles Knock Off Sub-Region Leaders
East Jackson’s Nick Keyros, pictured here from County, as the Eagles picked up their second
an earlier game, got the win against Fannin region win of the year. Photo by Brandon Reed
CHS Baseball
It was a back-and-forth game. The Eagles went
ahead TO in the second inning, playing small
ball to get the runner in. The Rebels scored
three runs in the bottom of the third, but in the
fourth inning, the Eagles plated two to tie the
game at 3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fannin got a runner
across, giving the Rebels a 4-3, but the Eagles
bounced back in the seventh. Taylor Boswell
got aboard early. A double from Hailey drove
Boswell in. Hailey then tagged up on a fly-out to
bring the winning run home.
Fannin County got two runners on with no
outs in the bottom of the inning, but the Rebels
went down on a fly out, a line drive out, and
fly ball to give the Eagles their third win of the
year.
Evan Williamson had a hit, Taylor Boswell
went 2-for-4, Hailey went 3-for-4 with an RBI, A.J.
Howard had a hit and an RBI, Sam Williamson
went 2-for-2 with a run scored, John Robinson
had a hit, and Josh Chumley went had a double
and an RBI.
Nick Keyros was the winning pitcher. He
struck out two, giving up six hits and three runs
in six innings.
“Last night was a baseball game," Robertson
said. “It was back and forth from the beginning.
“We came out and hurt some feelings, I think.
It was very quiet around the little ballpark there
in Fannin County after that ballgame was over."
With the win, the Eagles’ record improves to
3-13 overall, and 2-9 in the region.
Moving Forward
Robertson said the win over Fannin is a huge
shot in the arm as his team tries to end a rough
season on a high note.
“That carries into the summer workouts," he
said. “That sets the tone for next year, too. These
kids are getting their confidence up, and they’re
playing well. I’ve said since the beginning that
once they get that winning feeling, they’re going
to click. It’s very important to end the season on
a winning note."
After facing Rabun County today (Wednesday),
the Eagles will next travel to Dawson County for
a Monday night match-up at 5:30 p.m.
Auto Racing
By Brandon Reed
After a four-game losing streak, which included
losses last week to Union County and to Banks
County, the East Jackson Eagles struck back big
Monday night, defeating Fannin County on the
road, the number one team in the sub-region at
the time.
Up next for the Eagles is a home game today
(Wednesday) afternoon with Rabun County.
A win against the Wildcats could move East
Jackson into fifth place in the sub-region.
Union County
It was the second meeting of the season
between the Panthers and Eagles. Jackson
County lost the first game on March 18, and
hoped to turn the tables this time.
But it didn’t work out that way, as Union
County won, 8-1. East Jackson coach David
Robertson said his team suffered at the plate,
and that set the tone for the game.
Banks County
The Eagles traveled to Banks County to face
the Leopards on a cold Thursday afternoon.
The weather conditions didn’t help things, as
East Jackson lost its second game of the year to
Banks County, 5-1.
The Eagles found themselves down 3-0 early.
A controversial call on a foul ball may have hurt
the Eagles’ chances to rally with two runners on
board. The Leopards then scored twice more,
while East Jackson didn’t get on the board until
the sixth inning.
Taylor Boswell had a hit and scored, Zaine
Hailey had an RBI double, and Brandon Rucker
went 2-for-3.
Sam Williamson recorded the loss, surrender
ing nine hits while striking out three.
“Banks just hit the ball," Robertson said.
“They’re a good hitting team anyway. We just
weren’t making the plays, and they were hitting
it where we weren’t."
Fannin County
The turn in fortune came on Monday, as the
Eagles traveled to Fannin County to face the
Rebels, who entered the match up as the top
team in the sub-region. The Eagles pulled off the
upset, 5-4.
Tigers Travel to Social Circle Thurs.
T. Green stands at the ready at a recent game.
Photo by Chris Bridges
Bubba Pollard took the lead on lap 47, and opener at Peach State Speedway,
cruised to the win in the Georgia Asphalt Series Photo by Brandon Reed
Pollard Grabs Peach State Win
By Brandon Reed
It was another rough week for
the Commerce Tigers, as they
lost to Lakeview Academy and
Prince Avenue last week.
The losses leave Commerce
with a 1-9 overall record, and 1-6
in the region.
Up next for Commerce is
a trip to Social Circle at 5:30
Thursday.
Lakeview
Commerce got on the board
first last Tuesday against
Lakeview by scoring a run in
the top of the second inning,
but the Lions countered in the
bottom of the inning with two
runs to move ahead. The Tigers
scored again in the top of the
third to tie the game up, but the
Lions set the tone for the rest of
the game, scoring a run in each
of the fourth, sixth and seventh
innings to win.
For Commerce, Cohen Cooke
and Carl Allen both went 2-f or-4
at the plate, Josh Streetman
smacked a solo homer, and
Reuben Haynes had a hit.
Cooke recorded the loss on
the mound, giving up six hits
while striking out three over
seven innings.
Prince Avenue
Thursday’s game against
Prince Avenue would prove to
be a closer contest. Commerce
held the Wolverines to a one-run
game, with that run coming in
the second inning. But Prince
Avenue held the Tigers to one
hit, winning 1-0.
Paul Ford picked up the lone
hit for the Tigers, a single.
Haynes recorded the loss, but
struck out nine batters while
allowing only three hits.
Despite the losses, coach
Continued on Page 2B
By Brandon Reed
After two weeks of trying, the
Georgia Asphalt Series was finally
able to get their season opener in
at Peach State Speedway Sunday
afternoon.
For Senoia’s Bubba Pollard, it
was worth the wait, as he took
the lead near halfway from an ail
ing Russell Fleeman, and moved
away solidly to win the opening
event.
Pollard said this win was just
what he and his team needed to
get their season started.
“We had a rough last year," he
said. “We had a couple taken
away from us last year. We need
ed (a win) to get our momentum
going for this year. We’re going to
win a few more, I hope."
Pollard started the day on the
front row, alongside Fleeman,
who had taken the top starting
spot in qualifying earlier in the
day. At the drop of the green flag,
Fleeman jumped out front, and
kept his machine there solidly for
the first half of the race.
As the event neared the half
way point, Pollard began to reel
in Fleeman, as the leader’s car
began to slow, and sparks began
to show from underneath.
On lap 47, Fleeman slowed
dramatically with a flat tire, and
Pollard made the pass for the
top spot. As Fleeman made his
continued on Page 3B
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