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 Love survives incident
to take Lanier win
Maysville's Joey Love survived a lap-17 incident to take the
win in Saturday's Akins of Winder Pro Truck division at Lanier
National Speedway.
Love and pole winner George Williams Jr. put on a show early,
racing side-by-side for 10 laps before making contact on lap
17 of 30. The incident sent Williams' truck spinning and relegated
him to the rear of the field. Love then held off the challenge
of Clifton Daniel to grab the truck feature win. Roger Adkins
was third, Jimmy Motes collected fourth, and Mark Caudell finished
fifth.
Clay Dale made a late rally to finish second after starting sixth
in the 50-lap Budweiser Pro Late Model event. He appeared to
be running leader Jamie Stephens down near the end, but ran out
of time as the checkered flag flew. Stephens' margin of victory
was three car-lengths in an event slowed by one caution.
"Tony's car was a little better than mine on the short run,"
Stephens said afterward. "It took a few laps for mine to
get going, then I could run the groove I wanted to run. But I
knew Clay was going to be tough. He's getting his car better
every weekend, and he was coming on there at the end."
Bennett was third, ahead of Stacy Long and Chastain.
Kevin Stephens led all 30 laps in the Simpson's Trucking &
Grading Sportsman division, then announced in victory lane that
his Chevrolet is for sale.
"We're ready to move up to late model," a confident
Stephens said. "If we can find sponsorship, then we'll go
ahead and make the move." The remainder of the top five
included Terry Crump, Mike Bruce, Harry Caudell and Larry Ferguson.
In the 40-lap Sunoco Ministock event, Jason Bates took the lead
early and fought off repeated challenges from Curt Britt and
Thomas Ross. Bates scored the victory with Britt, Ross, Brian
Huff and Shane Nalley rounding out the top five.
The Pure Ministock class made its 2001 debut, with Greg Swink
claiming his first career win at Lanier. He was followed by Chase
Rutledge, Dafney Bates and Scott Dunn.
Lanier Notebook - Finishline Racing School will be at Lanier
beginning August 7 to present their driving and instruction classes.
Visit www.finishlineracing.com, or call 1-800-WIN-RACE for more
information...Saturday's trophy dash winners were Clay Dale and
Jason Bates...Friday's Legends races were canceled due to weather.
Legends racing returns to Lanier this Friday...The NASCAR Weekly
Racing Series returns to Lanier Saturday...Universal Chevrolet
and Re/Max will present the Saturday of Speed August 4, with
a 150-lap race from the Southern-All Stars, 100 laps from the
Budweiser Pro Late Models, 30 laps from the Akins of Winder Pro
Trucks and a pit stop contest...For more information on upcoming
events at Lanier National, call 770-967-8600 or visit www.lanierspeedway.com.
Banks County
teams play state competition
The Banks County Recreation Department sent two softball teams
to South Georgia to participate in the state playoffs last week.
The 10-and-under girls finished fourth in its state tournament
in Ashburn July 20. The team had to play its three games back-to-back.
In the first game the 10-and-under girls lost to Gilmer County
8-2.
Then in their first game in the losers' bracket, Banks County
defeated Lamar County 14-5.
In the next game the Banks County 10-and -under team lost to
Irvin County 13-12.
In the third game Banks County was losing 8-1 to Irvin County.
Then Banks County pulled ahead 12-10 before Irvin County took
the 13-12 lead in their last at-bat.
The 12-and-under softball team played in Adele July 19.
In the first game against Terrell County the Banks County girls
lost 20-3 after scoring first and taking a one-run lead into
the second. Kayla Parks drove in two of the three runs Banks
County scored in the first and after that "the bats stopped,"
coach Jan Parks said.
"Our defense was strong, all the girls played well, they
were just a better team," Parks continued.
Parks also said that the Terrell County team had won a national
tournament as a traveling team.
The girls entered the losers bracket of the tournament where
they lost to Gilmer County 17-6.
Registration for fall
recreation programs now being accepted
Registration for fall recreation programs offered by the City
of Jefferson and Jackson County Parks and Recreation Departments
began earlier this week.
Both the city and county programs will field competitive football
teams participating in the Vince Dooley Football League.
JACKSON
COUNTY
Parents may register their children at the JCPRD office at Lamar
Murphy Park at 180 I.W. Davis Road from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
weekdays through August 3, and August 11 from 10 a.m. until 2
p.m.
Late registration will be held August 13-17, and will incur an
additional $15 fee.
Local school registration dates will also be held at the following
elementary schools from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.: Maysville Aug. 6;
North Jackson Aug. 6; Benton Aug. 7; South Jackson Aug. 9; Jackson
County Elementary Aug. 9.
The JCPRD is offering contact football for ages 7-8, 9-10 and
11-12. A $60 fee covers a minimum of six games, helmet, shoulder
pads, pants and jersey. All equipment except the jersey must
be returned to the department at season's end. Lower pads sets
may be purchased for an additional $5.
Cheerleading is offered in conjunction with the football programs,
for children ages 7-12. The $65 fee covers a minimum of six games,
pom-poms (which must be returned following the season) and a
uniform.
A fall fast-pitch softball season will be held for athletes ages
9-12. The age control date is January 1, 2002.
A $45 fee includes jersey and visor, and a minimum of eight games
for county teams.
Play will begin Sept. 15.
Competitive soccer will be offered for children ages 4-13. A
$45 fee covers a minimum of eight games, instruction and a jersey.
For more information, call (706) 367-6350.
 JEFFERSON
Jefferson residents may also register their children at the CJPRD
main office at 178 Mahaffey Street during regular business hours.
Football registration will also be held August 14 and 19 at Jefferson
Elementary School.
The CJPRD will offer flag football for children ages 5-6 and
7-8. A $25 fee covers a minimum of six games and a jersey.
Children ages 9-10 and 11-12 will play contact football. A $50
fee covers a minimum six games, helmet, shoulder pads, lower
pads set, pants and jersey. All equipment except the jersey must
be returned at season's end.
Cheerleading is offered for children ages 5-12. A $25 fee covers
pom-poms (which must be returned) and a T-shirt.
The CJPRD will also offer introductory soccer for athletes ages
3-6. The fee is $15, and covers instruction and a jersey.
For more information, call (706) 367-5116.
 N.E.
Georgia Offensive Camp Starts Preseason For Tigers
The Commerce Tigers hosted 320 athletes from 18 schools at the
Northeast Georgia Football Camp July 17 through 19. Athletes
practiced in all areas of offensive football and were coached
by 34 members of coaching staffs from all over the state. The
Tigers had 45 players participate.
"The camp went good. The kids enjoyed being around other
folks, and I want them to be around other folks that are doing
what we do. It is good to have them be told what to do by somebody
besides us," Coach Steve Savage said.
The camp consisted of two halfback stations, two fullback stations,
four quarterback stations four wide receiver stations and 14
offensive line stations.
The Tigers' offensive line won the line competition. For the
competition the line ran through a play inside its offensive
scheme against a defense. The coaches at the camp judged the
performance of the line on a scale of 1 to 10. Offensive line
coach Michael Brown said, "We won one of many (of the camp's
competitions). our kids gave a good effort." The offensive
line is returning three of its five starters.
"Our kids held their own. It is a tribute to Michael Brown.
The kids are coached as good here as anywhere in the state,"
said Coach Terry Canup.
Canup continued, "The camp went really well. Good kids working
hard in an environment like that... It is good to see 300 young
folks working hard and sweating and giving up part of their summer.
It makes you think things aren't as bad as they say. There are
still some good kids in the world."
The camp allowed Commerce to get some repetitions in at the offensive
positions before practice officially started Monday, July 23.
Savage said the first goals in practice are," fill all the
slots and develop some semblance of a team attitude. We got a
good mixture of players that have been around a while. the younger
kids have to find their role."
The team will practice in shorts and helmets this week and will
put on shoulder pads and girdles for full workouts starting July
30.
 Back
to the grind
Raider football team starts summer practice Friday nights under
the lights may be where the glories lie, but the players know
they must first pay their dues in the summer heat.
So the Madison County football team got back to the less glorious
side of football Monday, kicking off their summer practice schedule
with the gridiron season looming just a month away.
Fifty-one players hit the practice field as the team ran through
drills in helmets and shorts in their first meeting back since
the May spring practice sessions.
Head coach Tom Hybl said team showed some signs of off-season
rust.
"We looked really sluggish, we needed more enthusiasm,"
he said. "The older guys with experience moved around well,
but the other guys have a long way to go."
But the fourth-year Raider coach who owns a 14-16 mark during
his tenure in Danielsville said the first few days of practice
aren't the most exact measuring stick of a team.
"It's hard to get a lot done without equipment," he
said. "It's hard to tell right now."
Hybl said the team will try to hit the basics this week and adapt
to the physical conditions.
"We've got to try to get used to the heat and get in good
shape without our pads on," he said, adding that the team
will also work on installing a base offense and defense and develop
their kicking game.
The team has until August 24 to get ready when they will kick
off the season at home against South Forsyth.
Madison County will be in their second season of non-region football
after completing a 10-0 campaign a year ago outside of region
play.
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