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PAGE 2B - THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. JULY 6, 2023
son and 3rd place Gainesville
teams. The MC Jones team,
coached by Jamie Jones, won
its first game over Barrow
County 9-5 before losing in an
intense 8-inning game against
West Jackson 8-14. Immedi
ately following this extra-in
ning loss, Madison County
had to play against Gaines
ville. MC Jones did not have
enough left in the tank, fall
ing to Gainesville 6-13, and
was eliminated from the tour
nament. “These players and
coaches demonstrated great
class and sportsmanship. We
thank these participants for
their tremendous efforts and
dedication. You all make us
#MCProud,” said athletic co
ordinator Nathan Ledford.
10U Softball Live Pitch at
Madison County
On Tuesday, June 6, the 10U
Madison County team played
their first game against Jack-
son County at Sammy Hag
gard Park, where they won the
game 21-16. Their next game
was against Barrow County on
Thursday, June 8, where they
fell short 5-19. The loss caused
them to go to the bottom of
the bracket where they played
their next game against Haber
sham County on Friday, June
9. They won that game 17-9
and then had to turn around
and play a rematch against
Barrow County at 7:30 p.m.
Madison County came out
victorious in the rematch, win
ning 15-3, advancing them to
the championship game. The
championship game was held
Saturday morning where they
faced a tough team from the
City of Jefferson. They ended
up falling short 13-21 in the
game but finished the tour
nament as runner-up. “They
played Saturday’s game with
only 8 players, so we are very
proud of their hard work even
though it wasn’t the result we
had hoped for,” leaders said.
“#MCProud.”
12U Major Baseball at
City of Gainesville
On Wednesday, June 7,
Madison County traveled to
Gainesville to take on Barrow
County in round one of the
tournament. Play was tough
and Madison straggled to get
on the board trailing most of
the game, but once they final
ly saw runs it was like they
kicked it in gear and pushed
through the end. Unfortunate
ly, they came up just short
9-11. Moving into the bottom
of the bracket, Madison knew
they’d have to fight to get back
to the top. On Thursday, June
9, Madison County played
Habersham County beating
them out 9-1 to move on to
the next round to take on Daw
Rec
continued from IB
son County. “Throughout the
game the team felt as though
they were playing the umpires
more than the opposing team,”
leaders said. “Players played
their hearts out for not only
trying to win the game but for
their teammates.” Madison
County fell to Dawson County
2-14 but held their heads high
knowing that they will come
back next year for the win.
12U Softball at
Madison County
On Tuesday, June 6, the 12U
team played their first game at
Sammy Haggard Park against
Barrow County where they
won 11-7. Their next game was
Thursday night, June 8, against
Dawson County where they
took care of business 13-5 to
reach the championship game
set for Saturday. The champi
onship game saw a rematch
with Barrow County where
they won a close game 13-11
to win the district tournament.
They went undefeated going
into the state tournament.
14U Softball
There was no district tourna
ment held for the 14U team as
it is a straight to state entry.
STATE
TOURNAMENTS
Each of the softball All-Star
teams represented Madison
County well in the GRPA State
Tournaments held this past
week, June 20-23.
10U Softball at
Madison County
Coming off of a hard-fought
loss to Jefferson in the District
Tournament, Madison Coun
ty’s 10U girls softball team
were determined to represent
the host agency well. Tuesday
evening was a back-and-forth
game until Madison County
got great hits to come out with
a 9 to 6 victory over Baldwin
County. Wednesday morning
started out back-and-forth and
regular play ended in a 5-5 tie.
Play continued for three more
innings before the team pulled
it out with a 10-7 final score.
Their first lost was to Bartow
County, the ultimate champi
onship team on Wednesday
afternoon. When rain allowed
the semi-final game to begin on
Thursday afternoon, the girls
faced Baldwin County again.
Their come-from-behind effort
fell one ran short (3-4) in a
hard-fought game. Head coach
Bryson Powell summed up the
tournament season in his com
ments after the game: “You
girls represented Madison
County extremely well. We are
all so proud of how you came
together and fought hard. With
only 10 players, I don’t think
many thought we had a chance
of getting this far. You proved
that Madison County Softball
has a bright future.”
12U Softball at Bulloch
County
For the second year in a
row, the 12U team travelled to
Statesboro to represent Madi
son County and District 7. The
team received a bye for round
one and took on Douglas-Cof-
fee County on Wednesday,
June 21. With rain outs and
weather delays on Tuesday
night, the team was able to get
a little more rest before their
game. The sun held out and the
team played hard, but fell short
3-9 sending them to the bottom
of the bracket with their next
game scheduled on Thurs
day, June 22, against Camden
County. Since they had a little
time to bum Wednesday af
ternoon, the team took some
time to be a team and enjoy the
Splash in the Boro waterpark.
Afterwards the team was pre
sented with District 7 Champi
onship rings to commemorate
their achievement. After more
weather delays, field changes
and field prep the team was fi
nally able to take to the field.
They were up 1-0 fighting
against a strong pitcher for
Camden County. Unfortunate
ly, the girls weren’t able to
keep up their momentum and
fell to Camden County 1-12.
“Even with that loss, through
all of the chaos the girls stood
their ground, played hard and
still came out like champions
in our MC histoiy book,” said
Parham.
14U Softball at
Madison County
Madison County came into
the tournament as the host
agency and started things
off by facing Baldwin Coun
ty in the first game, losing
1-21. They played their next
game on Wednesday, June 21,
against a very tough Glynn
County team. They were un
fortunately eliminated from
the tournament with a 3-15
loss. “Even though the results
were not what we hoped for,
we are still very proud of the
hard work that they put in this
season,” leaders said.
“Win or lose our players
and coaches have worked so
hard all season and dedicat
ed themselves to representing
Madison County in a positive
and sportsmanlike manner,”
Parham said. “Thank you
again to the MC community
for the (in-person and social
media) support of not only
these student-athletes, but all
student-athletes representing
Madison County. Even though
it’s not the outcome we had
hoped for, we are still very
much #MCProud. We’ll be
back next year to fight for that
trophy once again.”
Photos submitted
The 8U baseball team competes in the district tournament. (L-R back row): Coach Daniel
Newton, Coach Chip Felton, Coach Shawn Porterfield; (L-R middle row): Greyson Long, Walk
er Corbin, Bentley Houser, Banner Allen, Brantley Newton, Elliot Phillips, Elias Felton; (L-R
front row): Collin Ingram, Eli Porterfield, Colin Baker and Hunter Burnette. Not pictured:
Coach Brent Bird and Joseph Bird.
The 12U baseball team competes in the district tournament. (L-R back row): Coach Drew
Sparks, Will McClure, Noah Scarborough, Colby Goodson, Coach Justin Sorrow, James
Bowden, Coty Sparks, Coach Nathan Bohannon; (L-R middle row): Aiden DePeri, Briar Ow
ens, Brantley Moore, Ezra Shadrix; (L-R front row): Beau Sorrow, Kase Bradshaw, Slayde
Roberts and Blaze Segars.
The 12U softball team is pictured with their district championship rings during the state
tournament. (L-R back row): Briella Butcher, Laura Thackery, Hazel Thomason, LeeLee
Thomason (team cheerleader), Caroline Chambers; (L-R middle row): Roslyn Moore, Mad-
dilynn Scarborough (a.k.a Squirt), Kristy Helton, Abigail Ingram, Brooke Bridges, Olivia
Ingram; (L-R front row): Breighlynn Gilley, Layauna Martin, Cheyenne Whittington and
Novalie Hokanson. Not pictured: Coach Noelle Barber, Coach Elizabeth Chambers and Coach
Blake Helton.
The 8U softball team competes in the district tournament. (L-R top row): Coach Ben Jeffers,
Coach Brad Kirk, Coach Blake Haagen; (L-R middle row): Khloe Conley, Ellie Kirk, Abby
Brown, Riley Hicks, Callie Griffeth, Ashtyn Naylor, Aliza Jeffers, Sarah Speir; (L-R back
row): Kinsley Mason, Quinn Haagen, Charlie Callahan and Kinsley Brown.
The 10U softball team is pictured at state. (L-R back row): Coach Bryan Booth, Coach Bryson
Powell, Coach Tyler Berryman, Coach Joni Smith; (L-R middle row): Charlie Vaughn, Sophie
Poole, Selah Smith, Scarlett Berryman, Addison Crumley; (L-R front row): Paisley Booth,
Julia Rouse, Summer Hatton, Evelyn Shadrix and Samantha Hatton. Not pictured: Marisa
Duncan.
The 14U softball is pictured at the state tournament. (L-R back row): Coach Adam Thomp
son, Coach Bobby Hatton, Coach Matt Hambrick; (L-R middle row): Coach Chassidy Ham-
brick, Addison Hughes, Claire Smith, Savannah Hatton, Ava Claire Hambrick, Hayleigh
Montgomery; (L-R front row): Evelyn Howell, Lena Williams, Faith Parlor, Lauryn Thomp
son and Ava Shepard.