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PAGE 3B — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. MARCH 19, 2009 Boys’ Golf Raider golfers may experience growing pains this year By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com If Madison County’s boys’ golf team is to have any success this year, it will have to over come a considerable amount of inexperience. “We’re young, young, young,’’ coach Chris Smith said. “We’ve just got a lot of work to do.” Madison County started its season March 5. So far it is 1-1 in matches and finished last in an 18-hole tournament. Smith said the team has to improve in sev eral areas. “We’ve got to get a lot better in the short game and off the tee — everything pretty much all around,” he said. “The kids just don’t know what to do when they get into a bad situation.’’ Madison County started the season with a victory over Oglethorpe County March 5 at Sunrise Golf Course. The Raiders shot a 195. The Patriots’ score wasn’t available. Jacob Fleming led the team with a 47. Alex Young (48) and Wilmont (49) both broke 50. The Raiders then finished last out of 24 teams at the Apple Mountain Invitational Saturday, shooting a 377. Madison County placed behind three region teams — Habersham Central no. 2 (17 th , 328), Habersham Central no. 1 (18 th , 330) and Heritage (19 th , 334). Wilmont led Madison County with an 85, finishing 79 th out of a field of 124. Zach Roden (90), Fleming (93) and Young (109) rounded out the scoring. Brody Dudley (111) also competed. Madison County fell to Franklin County 192-195 Tuesday at Highland Walk. Top scorers were Wilmont (43) and Matt Papp (49). Matches with East Jackson (March 2) and Oconee County (March 3) were canceled due to the recent snowstorm. There’s no word yet if they’ll be made up. Baseball • • • continued from page IB Dustin Roberts pitched three and two-third innings of scoreless relief in Madison County’s 12-2 win over Stephens County Friday. Ben Munro/staff clutch two-out, three-run homer in the third inning. The Broncos, 34-3 last year, added runs in the fourth and fifth. Madison County limited Brookwood to just four hits, but the three-run homer was the difference in the ball game. Matthew Robinson finished with a single and a double and drove home a run to lead the Raider offensively. Kennison and Dalton each had singles. The Raiders left six runners in scoring position. "We had our chances,” Griffeth said. One day earlier, the Raiders scored a dozen unanswered runs to come from behind to beat Stephens County 12-2 in just six innings Friday. Madison County enjoyed offensive outbursts in the second and sixth innings, scoring four and six runs respectively, as it won for the second time this year. Dustin Roberts’ mound performance factored heavily in the win, as well. He pitched three and two-thirds innings of stellar relief, facing just 12 batters, allowing only two base runners and retir ing the side in order in the third and fifth innings. Making Roberts performance all the more impressive was that he threw the day before against Jefferson. "And he didn't want to come out,’’ Griffeth said. "He said he felt great. He was a real big picker-upper.” Robinson came on and worked a per fect sixth inning. Raider pitching surren dered just five hits. Offensively, Madison County pounded out 11 hits. Roberts had two hits and collected three RBIs. Dalton drove home two runs with a single and also had a double. Kennison had two RBIs and a single. Seagraves had two hits. Seth Fleming also had a RBI single and Morris’s two-run double in the sixth inning upped Madison County’s lead to 12-2, bringing the 10-run mercy rule into effect. The big win over Stephens County fol lowed a 4-3 loss to Jefferson March 5. Jefferson, which Madison County beat 8-0 on Feb. 26, scored three runs in the third and one in the fifth to beat the Raiders. Madison County scored two in the second and one in the third. Dalton ripped a two-run homer, his second of the year, and Robinson had a single and a double, but Dragon pitching limited Madison County to six hits. “They've got some good arms over there,” Griffeth said. “The first kid they started had a pretty good arm and good breaking stuff... Then they brought (Chris) Beck in and he’s lights out.’’ Boys’ Tennis Raider tennis team loses after long layoff Unable to shake off the rust from a winter weather hiatus, Madison County's boys lost to Habersham Central 3-2 Tuesday. This could have easily been the Raiders' (1-2) first region win, coach Keith Strickland said. “The boys played a match that could have easily been us 4-1,” he said. Habersham Central had already played seven matches this year, compared to Madison County’s two. The coach said that top singles player Marcus Bowen "came out on fire” in winning his match in straight sets and that no. 2 singles player Jeffery Branson played well despite losing. Jake Scarborough and Chris Dove supplied Madison VOTE FOR KATHY STAMPS For Danielsville City Council I til niiiirii JlhiiilniHi !■ Ilmkiri Jwj MiiElj Hbh inJ ■. Mu^ IT, IIIH.lKn >1m That* lkr jvnr rapport! County’s only other victory, taking their match at no.l dou bles in three sets. “Jake Scarborough and Chris Dove started a little sloppy but turned it around in the final two two sets, playing some really good doubles,” Strickland said. Connor Hancock and Josh Dooley lost a seesaw match at no. 2 doubles. “As they gain experience, they will be able to win the big points and take matches like this one,” Strickland said. Winners vs. Hab. Central •No.l S Bowen, W, 6-2,6-2 •No.l D Scarborough/Dove, W, 2-6,7-6,6-4 Sd rs SCAPING &H0HSE ARENAS •BIVER8AND • TOPSOIL •HVEBBOCK • WHITE HAND • Kl I jTj Til If r • FEA GRAVEL WILLIAMS SAND 770-967-6601 OB 706-789-3779 DuDdnflbt GA * wirevillUmatniupartH .rail |Bp,1»M.lb.lLb^UUblW, !-■ J State champions ... continued from page IB lead over Douglas-Coffee and led 37-31 at the half. However, the team fell behind 44-39 with 4:36 left in the third quarter. But Madison County regained the lead at 50-48 on Skelton's three- pointer, followed later by Williams’ three pointer at the buzzer to stake Madison County to a 53-51 lead going into the last quarter. The team took the lead for good at 57-56 on Marguez Henson’s layup with 3:45 to go. Madison County extended the lead to five on an assist from Williams to a wide-open Freeman under the basket. A running layup in the lane by Skelton finished off Douglas-Coffee as Madison County claimed the nine-point victory. Stone said the team had the right chemistry to win a championship, pointing out that eight of the 10 players on the roster played together in an Athens premier league earlier in the winter and went undefeated. Still, winning a state title pleasantly surprised Stone, who hadn't enjoyed a victory at district in his five years of coaching all-stars. “I figured we had a pretty good chance to go pretty deep into region (district), but I didn’t ever think we’d go off and with a state champion ship with them,” he said. Madison County won despite not having a roster loaded with 12-year-olds. Key performers like Skelton, Freeman, Williams and Hanson are only 11 years old. Sam Bartlett is 10 and Cade Hancock is actually playing up one age group. Madison County would seemingly have a stacked roster for next year. But several off this team might tryout for roster spots on Madison County Middle School’s seventh grade team. “They'll play middle school, I imagine, next year,” Stone said of the nucleus of 11-year-olds. The state championship team included Sam Bartlett, Hunter Chandler, Cade Hancock, Malik Freeman, Marguez Henson, Chris Newton, T. J. Skelton, Eric Smith, Cameron Stevenson and Eric Williams. Stone was assisted by David Hancock and Tim Skelton. Soccer continued from page IB Had the team converted a few of its chances on offense, it would have pulled off a major upset. Though his team was discouraged, Mangan wasn't. ‘The team was extremely disappointed to come up with a loss from a 15 second breakdown in the back,’’ Mangan said, noting Salem's only score. “But I was very proud of how they played. It's the best game the team has put together so far this year. Most of the credit for Friday’s solid performance went to the defense, especially Spencer Baird, Russell Adams, Ben Larkins and Daniels Eubanks. “Defensively, the back four had the best game they have put together as a unit so far,’’ Mangan said. The coach also noted the efforts of goalkeeper Jason Bales, who he said had a great game, “stopping several breakaways that kept us in the game,” Offensively, Ben Ortman hit the crossbar on a set piece that very nearly tied the game, Mangan added that the Raider forwards did an “excellent job staying physical with a tough, big defensive unit.' “I was very impressed with their gritty performance,” he said. Madison County is still trying to make up three games it missed due to inclement weather. Madison County Board of Commissioners ADVERTISEMENT FOR SEALED BIDS The Mildis on County Board of Commitsioncts in seeking bids for paving portions of Sprarlin Mill Drive (County Road #£20), Specifications may he obtained by contacting Road Superintendent Charles Tfcmplc at T06-T9S- 62.60. Bids should be sealed and clearly marked on the outside 'Sealed Bid for Favlrtg Sp rati in Mill Driw p and received no later than 12:00 Hoon on March 27, 2009 La the office of the Chairman of the Board of Commissionera located at 91 Albany Avenue in Danielsville, Georgia. The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Anthony Dove Chairman Caregiver Workshop: TA<? Strains & Odns ofCaregiving A workshop offered for Professional and Family Caregivers Barry Jacobs, Psy>D, author of “Iimofionflf Guide for the Caregiver" Friday, April 3 nl , 2009 tocajiftf zit Atfens Medical Cbtferi Sci'i.w.'i ioii'ii'irimj - hcibi'jrcf )hi< uiflin Mspffqf CcitiJiratrs and Fragrant information available for -sell UFulicatipn of Cunii nui in- Edimiiidn Credit RtgKtratioiU &l? -8:45 am fFbe-regHmswn reguirecU I'noEi*mi: 8.45 am. -1 JO pm $20 per person Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided For more information, call (706) 475-56 ao j Athens Regional W MEDICAL CEmil WINTER CLEARANCE Golf Clubs & Equipment must go to mate room for spring arrival I Certificates Available Fittings Bag Evaluations Repairs Putting Green Equipment Apparel ccessories 706-612-1159 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. • Athens, GA