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The Madison County Journal
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IB
Thursday, June 11, 2009
www.MainstreetnewsSPORTS.com
Ben Munro/ ben@mainstreetnews.com (706) 795-2567
My fave five
Bulldogs
We’re in the midst of
what I’ve termed "reading
season” in college football.
That’s when all those
information-laced maga
zines hit the shelves to
hold fans over until August
practice.
So, in the spirit of read
ing season, here’s some
food for football thought:
My top five all-time
Georgia
players.
The list
is limited
to those I
saw play,
so no
Herschel
Walker.
•No. 5
Verron
Haynes:
Yes, he put the "hobnailed
boot” into Tennessee in
2001, but it’s his gutsy
performance later that year
that landed him in my top
5. Haynes, a tenacious
runner, switched from
fullback to tailback and
ran for 192 yards against
Ole Miss and then for
207 the next week against
Tech. Too bad Georgia
didn’t think of the position
change sooner.
•No. 4 Champ Bailey:
A rare two-way gem on
the gridiron, Bailey was
a great comer and logged
744 receiving yards as a
junior. Don't forget: Bailey
helped set up Mike Bobo's
game-winner against Tech
in 1997 with a key 27-yard
reception. Plus, what better
name than “Champ?”
•No. 3 Knowshon
Moreno: The acrobatic
and charismatic Moreno
left 'em wanting more.
The tailback ran for 2,734
yards in just two seasons.
What’s more, he leapt over
defenders and scored the
touchdown against Florida
in 2007 that sparked
Georgia’s infamous, full-
squad celebration in the
end zone.
•No. 2 D.J. Shockley:
Had he not been out with
injury against Florida in
2005, he would have likely
torched the Gators. Still,
Shockley guided UGA
to an SEC tide that sea
son as a senior, and he's
a Bulldog legend for it.
There’s no more beloved
one-year starter in school
history ...
Before I unveil no.
1, here’s some current
players who could enter
my top five when their
Bulldog careers are
over: A.J. Green, Joe
Cox, Orson Charles
(the recruit has instant
“street cred” for breaking
Florida's national tide tro
phy) and Jeff Owens.
And now, my top Dog
of all-time:
•No. 1 Hines Ward:
Perhaps the most versatile
Dog of them all. Ward did
everything but sell pro
grams at UGA.
He played three posi
tions, including quarter
back, where he led the
Dogs to a memorable
win over Tech in 1995.1
remember Ward fondly for
his role in Georgia’s 37-17
whipping of Florida in
1997. He totaled 133 yards
that afternoon via receiv
ing, rushing and passing.
Apart from the stats. Ward
was the grittiest Bulldog
I’ve seen, a quality that's
served him well in what’s
possibly a Hall of Fame
pro career.
Ben Munro is a reporter
for The Madison County
Journal.
From the
sports
desk
Madison Co. Professional Athletes
Former Raider solid in first rehab start
Jake Westbrook threw
three scoreless innings
in a rehab start in the
minors.
Danielsville native Jake
Westbrook threw three scoreless
innings Saturday for The Akron
Aeros (AA) in the Cleveland
pitcher’s first mound appear
ance since undergoing Tommy
John surgery in 2008.
Westbrook allowed only one
hit and a walk in Akron’s 1-0
victory.
The former Raider star went
1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 2008
before being sidelined with an
elbow injury.
Westbrook, a first-round draft
pick out of Madison County
High School in 1996, is a
10-year veteran of the Major
Leagues and a one-time all-star.
He’s spent the last nine seasons
with Cleveland.
Westbrook could return to the
big leagues as early as late June,
according to MLB.com.
Hull native, former
UGA star off to 2-0 start
Madison County native
Joshua Fields is 2-0 with a 4.50
ERA after 15 minor league relief
appearances for the West Tenn
Diamond Jaxx, a Class AAaffil- FIELDS
iate of the Seattle Mariners.
Fields’ latest outing came
Tuesday when he pitched a scoreless inning of
relief against Huntsville,
Summer Hoops
Kayla Freeman will be one of the scorers Madison County looks toward next season with the departure of her
sister, Courtney Freeman. The Lady Raider basketball team is in the middle of summer workouts. Ben Munro/staff
Moving on
Coach says players have emerged after star’s exit
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
T he Madison County girls'
basketball team has officially
entered the “post-Courtney era.”
The Lady Raiders, 24-6 last year, are
in the midst of their summer exhibition
schedule, tasked with replacing the 20-plus
points and 10 boards per game lost due
to the graduation of superstar Courtney
Freeman.
“I've already seen a lot of players start to
step up their game,” third-year coach Dan
Lampe said.
Still, it's not everyday a team loses an
impact player like Freeman. That much
was evident back in spring league play
(not an official part of the high school bas
ketball program; coaches aren't allowed to
instruct).
What Lampe saw early was a team
missing its star.
“You saw the transition," he said.
But, apparently, a transition has trans
pired, nonetheless.
Players like Lauren Smith, entering her
fourth year in the Lady Raider back court;
post player Kayla Freeman, the team's
top returning scorer; and Molly Glaze, a
reserve guard last year; have bolstered a
“Courtney-less” offense so far.
“Lauren, Kayla and Molly have carried
the scoring load,” Lampe said.
Glaze’s emergence, in particular, has
surprised Lampe. He said the rising sopho
more is equally capable of penetrating
for points or stepping back and draining
a three,
“She’s going to be a hard cover for
somebody ... I expected her to improve,
but not to the level she has,” Lampe said.
Lampe added that rising senior guard
Shantydra Arnold’s game appears to be
"back on track,” while Juvonna Fleming
has opponents respecting her jump shot.
"Now that she’s hitting her shots, it’s
making people have to play everybody
solid, which is opening up other players
even more,” Lampe said.
Sam LaZear, who’s splitting time
between summer basketball and softball,
adds to the Raiders’ depth at guards.
Elizabeth Whieldon, also splitting the sum
mer between softball and basketball, gives
Madison County more options in the front
court.
Madison County is also benefiting from
the contributions of a newcomer. Rising
freshman post player Elise Colberly has
emerged as a “knock-down shooter” and a
— See ‘Basketball’ on 2B
Madison County’s girls’ basketball team was
one of several Lady Raider athletic teams to
advance to state.
Director’s Cup
MGHS girls’ athletic program ranks 27th in state
The Madison County High School
girls' athletic program finished in the
top third of Class AAAA, ranking 27 ,h
out of 81 schools in the Georgia Athletic
Directors Association standings.
The girls finished with 216.5 points.
That was good for third-best in the
region behind Heritage (319) and
Loganville (276).
Five girls’ teams advanced to state
tournaments this year.
Madison County boys’ athletics
ranked 55 th , with 91 points.
Three Raider teams advanced to
state.
Madison County’s 91 points ranked
ninth in the region, ahead of Salem and
Monroe Area.
Atlanta-area private school Marist won
both the girls' and boys’ athletic direc
tors’ cups, as well as the overall athletic
directors’ cup with 1,448 points.
Briefly
MCHS girls’ golf
team hands out
season awards
Madison County honored
its region championship and
state tournament-qualifying
golf team at a recent awards
banquet.
C o r t n e y
Boggs, the
region’s low
medalist,
earned Most
Valuable
Player and
Highest Grade
Point Average
honors, while
BOGGS
Taylor Morgan was named
Most Improved.
All players received a
plaque for winning region
and going to the state tourna
ment.
MGHS baseball
‘old-timers’ game
ahead June 27
A June 27 “old-timers”
alumni game is open to all
former Madison County
High School baseball players
who played
their senior
year.
Raider
coach
Charlie
Griffeth
hopes to
generate
enough
interest for two games, one
starting at 4 p.m. and another
at 7 p.m. A homemn derby
and radar gun contest are
scheduled between games.
The cost for players is
$50, which covers the cost
of food and a commemora
tive T-shirt. Fan admission is
free. All proceeds go toward
baseball facility improve
ments. Former players want
ing to participate may send
a check and their T-shirt size
to MCHS baseball coach
Charlie Griffeth at 1050
Hunt Rd. Danielsville, GA
30633. Checks must be made
out to the Madison County
Diamond Club and received
by June 24 to guarantee a
T-shirt.
For more information, con
tact Griffeth at 706-783-2400
ext. 1205 or 706-207-0414.
GRIFFETH
Madison Co.
football team
continues passing
league schedule
The Madison County foot
ball continues its voluntary
offseason preparations this
week with
another pass
ing league date
Tuesday.
Passing
league is a
series of sev-
en-on-seven,
non-tackling
scrimmages between area
schools. Madison County
faces Jefferson, East Hall and
Winder-Barrow Tuesday at
Jefferson.
The Raiders match-up with
the same three teams the
following week at the same
location.
Passing league then shifts
to Jackson County July 7, 14
and 21. There, the Raiders
take on Jefferson, Jackson
County and Winder-Barrow.
All passing league sessions
start at 6 p.m.
O