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PAGE 2B — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 9. 2009 continued from page IB powered his way around Haley’s no. 51 car. After a late caution lap, “Rolls Royce Bray” finished well ahead of Parker Herring who had overtaken Haley. Racing action shifts to Lavonia Speedway this weekend for a double points race for the local divisions. Saturday was also a big night for Comer rac ers Jimmy Little, who won the Stock 4 race, and Bubba Russell, who won the Limited race. Madison County drivers placing in other races were Comer’s Chuck Finch (sixth, Enduro) and Kenny Collins (ninth, Colbert). — report submit ted by Heather Rhoades. Jorden Williams slides home safely in Madison County’s 14-1 win over Habersham County last Thursday in the District 7 title game. Ben Munro/staff Alexis Damron brings the heat last Thursday night in the Madison County Little League softball all-stars district title game. Ben Munro/staff Little League softball all-stars ... continued from page IB Games at district only went four innings due to mercy-rule requirements. Madison County beat Hart County 22-0, Franklin County 12-0, Rabun County 15-0 and Habersham 14-1. Madison County gave up its only run late in its Thursday plastering of Habersham County in the championship contest. Pridgen certainly wasn’t complaining about the run, but would have liked for his team to have posted a tournament shutout. “That was my goal; that's what I told them ... I would have liked to have had a zero up there," Pridgen said. Now attention turns toward state. This year’s Madison County Little League softball all-star roster features seven players from last year’s team that fell one game short of a state championship. Pridgen said this group is twice as good as last year’s state runners-up, noting another year of experience. And it’s safe to say that the bar is set high heading into state, “They went in there and almost took it at 11 years old; they’d better take it at 12 years old," Pridgen said. Madison County receives a first-round bye at state, facing the winner of District 6 and District 8 in the second round. This year’s state tournament is double elimi nation, bracket format, a welcomed change for Madison County players and coaches. Last year's state tournament started with pool play followed by a single-elimination semifinal, a system that played out unfairly from Madison County’s vantage point. Madison County went unbeaten in pool play to advance to the semifinals, where it also won. However, Madison County was beaten in the championship by a team, Pioneer (Columbus), it had already downed in pool play. So both teams lost just one game at state, but Pioneer took the championship. This year’s double elimination bracket pro hibits that scenario from happening again. “If something like that happens, we’ll have an ‘if game’ which will help out a lot,” Pridgen said. Pridgen said he's “very confident” in his team’s ability to atone for last year’s miss. While he doesn't want to be boastful, Pridgen loves his team’s chances in a double elimina tion tournament. “I honestly don't think there’s a team that's going to be at this tournament that can beat us twice,” he said. ACE HARDWARE & LAWNMOWER SERVICE Proudly Serving Northeast Georgia For 18 Years Master Your Great Outdoors With Professionally Proven Outdoor Equipment We Carry Parts & Service Most Brands Of Power Equipment Pick-Up & Delivery Available IT’S THAT EASY. 706-788-2878 • 706-788-3319 6145 Hwy. 72, West Colbert, Ga. 30628 www.colbertacehardware.com Sports shorts MCYA football, cheerleading camp, sign-ups ahead Sat. The Madison County Youth Association (MCYA) will hold football and cheerleading sign ups at its annual football camp Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Madison County Recreation Department. The cost of the camp is $15, which includes lunch and a T-shirt. For more information on cheer leading, call Wendy at 706-788- 3830. For more information on football, call Sherry at 706-795- 3978. Hitting camp set for July 18 The Diamond Club Sports Academy will sponsor a hitting camp on Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., which will include a video analysis and breakdown by Jon Armitage, (San Francisco Giants and UGA baseball) and Justin Holmes (Cleveland Indians, UGA coach and UGA team captain). The cost is $35 for younger players and $50 for advanced players. Call 706-795- 2HIT or 706-498-1842 to sign up or for more information. Rec dept, offering sports conditioning camps this month The Madison County Recreation Department is offering sports con ditioning and speed development camp for ages 7-and-up. “Participants of all ages will per form better in any sport they play after participating in this camp,” organizers said. The camp is based on improv ing one’s core strength and sprint fundamentals. The instructor is Aaron James, a former University of Georgia track coach, who is the speed development coach at Athens Christian School. His coaching experience includes work with national champions, All-Americans and Olympic med alists — including gold medal ists Sheryl Swoopes (basketball), and Michael Johnson and Shawn Crawford (track). Remaining camps are the weeks of July 13 and July 20. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the main park on Hwy. 98. The cost per week is $50 per participant. Registration is at the rec dept., Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information or to obtain a registration packet, call 706-795-6270 or go to www. madcorec.com. Rec dept, soccer registration starts Aug. 3 Madison County youth soccer registration starts Monday, Aug. 3. Signups run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the meeting room of Haggard Park located at 1345 Highway 98 West. Extended hours are Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, run ning from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. An additional signup date is Saturday, Aug. 15, with hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The soccer leagues are coed and as follows: •Pee-Wee League, ages 5 and 6. •Midget League, ages 7 and 8. •Intermediate League, ages 9 and 10. •Major Ixague, ages 11-13. •Senior League, ages 14-16. This league requires 48 participants reg istered to be offered. The age control date is Sept. 1, 2009. All players must turn 5 by this date and no player can turn 17 before this date. A birth certificate is required for all youth program registration. The registration fee is $25 per child, with an additional $25 fee for any out-of-county par ticipants. For more information, or to vol unteer to coach a team, call the rec reation department at 795-6270. MCHS softball alumni game ahead Aug. 8 The Madison County High School softball program hosts its third biannual alumni softball game Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. Any girl who played fast-pitch softball her senior year is invited to participate at no cost. There is no admission charge. Family members and friends are invited to attend. Those interested in playing need to contact Raider softball coach Doug Kesler at dkesler5 @ msn.com. Madison Co. Cruisers schedule continues The Madison County Cruisers — a local automobile organiza tion — continues its schedule with shows on July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17. The October date is a special cruise-in, organizers note. Shows are at Danielsville City Park, run ning from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “All makes and models are welcome — rat rods, finished and unfin ished,” organizers said. “As long as it has wheels and an engine, it’s invited. We want to see it all.” The registration fee for all shows is $5. For more informa tion, contact J.J. at 706-255-2196 or James at 706-795-2645. Bass Masters Club seeking new members The Madison County Bass Masters Club, the only feder ated Bass Masters organization in the county, is seeking new members. The group meets the last Thursday of each month at the Madison County Government Complex and fishes the first Saturday of the month. The group welcomes those wanting to learn how to fish or fish competitively. Members of the club fish as individuals, and the top fishermen from the organization have the opportunity to compete against members of other federated Bass Master clubs in the state. Those interested can contact club president Wendell Smith at 706-247-6073 or vice president Darren McElroy at 706-340- 2024. Junior League .. . continued from page IB punched its ticked to the state tournament. The team comprises Amber Toole (catcher), Megan Moon (first base). Amber Fitzpatrick (first base), Andrews (second base), D.J. Rucker (second base), Allen (pitcher, shortstop), Argo (pitcher, shortstop), Chelsea Ford (third base), Megan Boswell (left field), Elizabeth Stoyle (center), Candice Hammond (right field) and Taylor Garrison (right field). Tim Brock and Allen Ford coach the team. Madison County plays the champion of District 5 Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Rabun County Recreation Center. The winner faces the champion of District 8 Sunday at 11 a.m. The Junior League state tour nament will be double-elimina tion format. The championship game is slated for Monday, with a Tuesday game if needed. ALL-STAR SCORES •9-AND-10 BASEBALL: Madison Co. 16, Toccoa 6 (June 27) Madison Co. 11, Franklin Co. 1 (June 28) Madison Co. 15, Rabun Co. 5 (June 30) Note: Madison County lost Kayla Argo pitched the decisive game in Madison County’s district champion ship series against Rabun County. Submitted photo in semifinals to Habersham American. •LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL: Madison Co. 7, Habersham National 6 (July 6) Note: Madison County played Toccoa Wednesday, but results weren’t available at press time, •JUNIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Madison Co. 13, Habersham Co. 5 (June 29) Toccoa 11, Madison Co. 1 (June 30) Hart Co. 10, Madison Co. 8 (July 1) •SENIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Madison Co. 10, Toccoa 6 (July 1) Hart Co. 12, Madison Co. 1 (July 2) Madison Co. 11, Toccoa 7 (July 3) Hart Co. 16, Madison Co. 2 (July 6) •9-AND-10 SOFTBALL: Rabun Co. 8, Madison Co. 7 (June 27) Franklin Co. 6, Madison Co. 2 (June 29) •LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL: Madison Co. 22, Hart Co. 0 (June 29) Madison Co. 12, Franklin Co. 0 (June 30) Madison Co. 15, Rabun Co. 0 (July 1) Madison Co. 14, Habersham Co. 1 (July 2) •JUNIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL: Madison Co. 7, Rabun Co. 6 (June 29) Madison Co. 11, Rabun Co. 5 (June 30) mg Wmmsmm A complete golf center dedicated to enhancing YOUR game? ■fly,, -sV Gift Certificates Fittings Bag Evaluations Repairs Putting Green Equipment Apparel ccessories Available V> 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. • Athens, GA