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The Madison County Journal INSIDE THIS WEEK Ten grapplers qualify for state The Madison County youth wrestlers recently qualified for a USA wrestling state tournament /Ajn IB Thursday, March 12, 2009 www.MainstreetnewsSPORTS.com Ben Munro/ ben@mainstreetnews.com (706) 795-2567 Boys’ Soccer Rec. Basketball Raiders rally past Monroe, nearly stun Salem By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Despite playing unin spired soccer for most of the night, Madison County (3-3) topped Monroe Area 3-2 Tuesday to get back in the win column. While the team's play was fair-to-middling at best, coach Trevor Mangan was still happy his team came through in the clutch. “Overall, the team did not play up to its poten tial, but they still scraped out a win, and I’m proud of the heart they showed," Mangan said. The Raiders trailed 2-1 with 35 minutes 1 before Jake Sapp and Ben Ortman rallied the team with two clutch scores. “I was very disappoint ed in how we played for much of the game,” Mangan said. Madison County start ed fast, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first 15 minutes with a goal from Sapp. “Jake Sapp did a great job finishing his opportu nity after he got in behind the Monroe defense," Mangan said. But Madison County’s intensity lagged through the middle portion of the game, Mangan said, which allowed Monroe Area to pull ahead. But Sapp tied the game with 12 minutes left, scoring on “sheer deter mination,” Mangan said, and Ortman scored off a header to put Madison County ahead for good. Jason Bales came up with a clutch save in the closing minutes to pre serve the win. Mangan said Sapp played a great game, noting his two scores from the center midfield position, and added that Ortman took control of the game when the team trailed. “His drive to win real ly pulled us through," Mangan said. The coach also noted the play of Brandon Wilson, who “did a good job running the right wing." The Raiders were per haps much more impres sive during a recent loss. Madison County nearly upended ninth- ranked Salem, losing 1-0 Friday. — See ‘soccer’ on 3B 1 - V SAPP High School baseball Bracken Turner attempts to steal third base in Madison County’s 12-2 victory over Stephens County Friday. Ben Munro/Staff Raiders head into region play with win By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com T he diamond Raiders picked up a non region victory Monday night before entering into the daunting region sched ule. Madison County came from behind to beat Franklin County 10-3 in Camesville in its final tune-up before 8-AAAA play. The Raiders trailed 3-1 in the third with two outs, but Matt Kennison drew a walk and Ian Drake belted a two-run homer. Madison County added an insurance run after that to take the lead for good. “It was good see us put three runs up with two outs, down by two," coach Charlie Griffeth said. Madison County hopes it took on enough top-tier teams during non-region play to ready it for the all- important region schedule. The Raiders were scheduled to start their 20-game region schedule this past Wednesday against Heritage (results weren't available at press time). Madison County's collection of non-region foes included defending Class AAAAA champion and nationally-ranked Brookwood, Class AAA runner- up Stephens County and a respectable Jefferson outfit that went to the quarterfinals in last year’s Class A playoffs. “I think we’ve played a preseason schedule to prepare us,” Griffeth said. Madison County continues its 8-AAAA sched ule Friday against Salem and Monday against Loganville. Griffeth said his team is ready to take on the region. “We might as well," he said. “You always feel like you would like to play some more, but then it's a whole lot funner to play for something that really counts.” As for the Franklin County victory, Drake's homer was part of a five-RBI night from the senior. Other big hits came from Bo Dalton, who ripped a two-run double in the fourth and Ethan Seagraves, who drilled a solo homer in the fifth. Ben Morris worked five innings for the victory, allowing three runs (two earned), three hits, no walks and striking out three. Before beating Franklin County to get above .500, Madison County split its first four games. Brookwood, who finished at no. 3 in last year’s ESPN national high school baseball rankings, downed Madison County in Snellville behind a — See ‘baseball’ on 3B Girls’ Soccer Lady Raiders break drought with OT win MCHS’s first win comes down to PR’s By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com When it came down to crunch time, the Madison County girls’ soccer team had the all-important ice in its veins. Tied 1-1 with Monroe Area in overtime Tuesday, the Lady Raiders (1-5-1) beat the Lady Purple Hurricanes on penalty kicks to snap a six- game winless streak with a 2-1 victory. Madison County had started the season with five losses and a tie. “I continue to be impressed by the determination all our players have shown in every game, never giving up in any of them," coach Susanna Hawley said. After the scoreless overtime, Danielle Kindley, Renee Ellisor and Rebecca Smith successfully converted their penal ty kicks, while goalkeeper Morgan Pierce stopped three of the four kicks Monroe Area attempted. “It's very unnerving to have everyone in the stadium focusing on you in a penalty kick situa tion, but all four calmly stepped up and did their jobs to secure the victory for the team,” Hawley said. Sarah Robertson scored Madison County’s lone goal in regulation. Though Monroe Area later tied the game, Hawley praised her team for its perseverance, “After surrendering the tying goal Tuesday, the girls didn’t get down on themselves but contin ued to fight for the remainder of the game and the overtime period," she said. Madison County's girls took one on the chin four nights earlier, falling 10-0 to Salem Lriday. The team still has to makeup games with Apalachee and Habersham Central. The Apalachee makeup date is April 7, accord ing to coach Susanna Hawley. She is still trying to reschedule the Habersham Central game. HAWLEY Hoop dreams realized Rec dept, team claims county’s first basketball title in 19 years “We never concentrated on one guy getting the ball—just people mov ing in open space and taking open shots. And all our guys could hit shots. ” — all-star coach B J. Stone From Submitted reports Madison County now rules the state in boys’ 12-and- under recreation department all-star basketball, downing defending champion Douglas-Coffee 65-56 Saturday for the Class B state title in Effingham County. It was the county recreation depart ment’s first state bas ketball championship since 1990. ‘They were really used to playing with one another,” Madison County coach B.J. Stone said. “I guess you could say we never really did have one guy. We never concentrated on one guy getting the ball — just people moving in open space and taking open shots. And all our guys could hit shots." And Malik Freeman hit plenty of them in the finals, scoring 29 points to lead Madison County over Douglas-Coffee. Eric Williams added 15 andT.J. Skelton scored 13. Overall, Madison County went 6-0 in all-star play in its march toward the tide. The team enjoyed its easiest win at state during the opening round, jumping out to a 23-7 lead on Calhoun en route to a 6245 win Friday. Skelton led Madison County with 24 points and Freeman and Williams each added 10 points. Madison County then overcame an early 10-0 deficit in the second round to beat Swainsboro 56-46 Saturday afternoon. Madison County enjoyed balanced scoring in that win with Freeman leading the team with 17 points and Skelton and Williams adding 16. In the finals, Madison County took an early 20-10 SCORES & STATS •MADISON CO. 62, CALHOUN 45 (FRI.) T.J. Skelton 24, Freeman 10, Williams 10, Stevenson 9, Henson 4, Bartlett 3, Smith 2 •MADISON CO. 56, SWAINSBORO 46 (SAT.) Malik Freeman 17, Skelton 16, Williams 16, Henson 5, Hancock 2 •MADISON CO. 65, DOUGLAS-COFFEE 56 (SAT) Freeman 29, Williams 15, Skelton 13, Hancock 4, Henson 4 — See ‘State champs’ on 3B Girls’ Tennis Lady Raiders ‘establish dominance’ in subregion win A long layoff was little hindrance to the Madison County girls’ tennis team. The Lady Raiders (2-1) whipped Habersham Central 4-1 Tuesday in their first tennis action in 11 days to claim their first subregion win. “The girls played very well and did just as we expected,” coach Keith Strickland said. “Since we play each team in our subregion twice, our goal is to establish dominance in the first match to give us the momentum when we meet again.” No. 2 singles player Jeannie Bowen overcame a slow start to win her match in straight sets while both doubles teams — Sarah Powers and Sam LaZear and Alexia Supakomdej and Kaitlyn Hale — won convincingly. “Both teams will be tough as they get more match play in,” Strickland said. At no. 3 singles, Audry Minish persevered for a three-set win. “Once again, Audra Minish surprised me with how well she handles pressure,” Strickland said. Habersham had already played seven matches this year, compared to two for Madison County. Winners vs. Hab. Central •No.2 S Bowen, W, 7-6,6-1 •No.3 S Minish, W, 6-2,4-6,6-3 •No.l D Powers/LaZear, W,6-4,6-4 •No.2 D Supakorndej/Hale, W,6-3,6-2