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	’Canes and Firebirds tough it out for a tie pre-season game (21-21) The sky was clear, the weather cool, but you could see the steam coming off the helmets as the Hinesville Hurricanes and the Waycross Firebirds strapped on their football gear to open the semi-pro league’s pre-season game at the Gator Bowl on Fort Stewart Saturday night. Both teams battled during a scoreless first quarter. The haphazard offense on both sides made it evident that both offenses were working to clear the cobwebs accumulated over the long off-season. While the players gathered their mojo a series of penalties and turnovers kept both teams at bay. The first score came as Firebird ... Read Article »
	Panthers wrap regular season, spliting two with Savannah Christian The Liberty County Panthers wrapped up the regular season with a double-header Saturday against the Savannah Christian Red Raiders. The Panthers took a 5-4 victory in game one when Paul Davis opened on the mound and pitched for 4-1/3 innings. He allowed 3 earned runs. Eddie Chipple came in for the last 2-2/3 innings for the win. Byron Calahan went 2 for 3 while Chris Arnold went 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 RBIs. Panther coach Steve Cotrell said he played his younger players in game 2, hoping to find some depth as they go into the ... Read Article »
	Healthy Kids Day at Y encourages activities Kids jumped, danced, tossed the football, tried out their Hoola Hoop skills and raced in potato sacks during Saturday’s Liberty County Armed Services Family YMCA Healthy Kids Day. The local event coincided with the Y’s nationwide initiative meant to showcase the services provided at the YMCA and to enhance a healthy lifestyle for children. Children were allowed to test their skills in a variety of sports to help them develop an interest in physical activity. From obstacle courses to basketball, aerobics dance class to swimming the kids had an opportunity to sample an array of sports as well as listen ... Read Article »
	Lady Tiger takes second at state The Georgia High School Association’s women’s state track meet was last weekend in Albany with several members of the Bradwell High Lady Tigers vying for honors. But it was the solid performance of Lady Tiger Quintunya Chapman (seen here running at a local event) who earned a second place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.895. The Lady Tigers ended the state meet ranked number 21 with a total of eight meet points. Read Article »
	Long County ends year with win LUDOWICI — The Long County High School baseball team ended the year on a positive note Friday with a win over McIntosh County. Playing here, the Blue Tide beat the Buccaneers 5-1, bringing the season’s record to 14-11. The winning pitcher was Stetson Strickland. He threw all 7 innings, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 7. “It was senior night for us and we were able to start all 8 seniors,” Tide coach Brian Thomas said. “I am very proud of all the seniors for their effort and wonderful attitudes throughout the season. We’ve had a good season. We ... Read Article »
	Tigers set to play top seeded Valdosta of 1-AAAAA The Bradwell High Tigers did something that has not been done in a few years. They made it to the first round of baseball playoffs for region 3-AAAAA. Finishing the regular season with a come-from-behind win against the Groves Rebels helped clinch the number four spot for the Tigers, who ended at 6-15 overall but 7-5 in the region. The hard part about finishing fourth is that they now face the top seeded team from region 1-AAAAA, the Valdosta Wildcats. The wildcats are 15-4 overall and 10-2 in the region. While Tiger coach Rhett Hellgren said the team finally played ... Read Article »
	Lady Ballers’ bring home second from USBA tourney Fort Stewart Youth Sports 12U girls basketball team brought home second place from the USBA Ball N at the Beach Tournmanet in North Myrtle Beach last weekend. The local girls hit the road on Friday for the chance to play teams from North Carolina and South Carolina. “These young ladies play ball year round in Carolina,” coordinator Evelyn Alston said. “Our girls looked good playing against them and we came mighty close to bringing home the championship trophy. We are proud of them.” She said the local team is comprised of some of the best players in the Fort Stewart/Hinesville ... Read Article »
	Trainer: Eight Belles was not on steroids STANTON (AP) — The trainer of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles on Tuesday ordered drug testing as part of an the autopsy, intent on dispelling any suggestion the fallen filly may have been on steroids. Larry Jones said the tests for performance-enhancing drugs will come back negative on Eight Belles, who was euthanized after breaking both front ankles Saturday. “I guarantee there were no steroids ever on the horse,” Jones said at a news conference at Delaware Park, site of the filly’s first win. Jones said he was responding to unspecified criticism that his horse must have been on steroids ... Read Article »
	Third annual Braves golf classic raises $158,000 The third annual Atlanta Braves Foundation Golf Classic teed off Monday, May 5, at Reynolds Landing and raised $158,000 to support the Atlanta Braves Foundation’s youth outreach efforts and numerous charitable causes throughout the metro Atlanta community. Celebrity participants included Frank Wren, Roger McDowell, Terry Pendleton, Brian Snitker, Matt Diaz, Jeff Bennett, Jair Jurrjens, Buddy Carlyle, Royce Ring, Ruben Gotay, Will Ohman, Pete Smith, Greg McMichael, Paul Assenmacher, Jeff Treadway, Brad Clontz, and Zane Smith. The Atlanta Braves Foundation will donate proceeds from the second annual Golf Classic to several metro Atlanta charitable organizations through the Foundation’s Grants Program in ... Read Article »
	Panthers drop Bears in 5 The season’s third game against the Burke County Bears turned out to be the charm as the Liberty County Panthers finished the Bears 10-0 in 5 innings Thursday. The last score was a walk-off homer by Aaron Hoffer over the 380’ “green monster” wall. The Panthers started their prowl toward victory in the bottom of the second, when Byron Calahan, Aaron Pringle and Kendrick Jones loaded the bases. Eddie Chipple got a hit, sending Calhan home. Ethan Pringle hit a solid shot toward second base, but a Bear defender mishandled the ball and the throw to second. The Panther runner ... Read Article »
	Pettis named Iron Man at mid-season Hinesville native and former Bradwell Tiger standout Will Pettis continues to exceed the Dallas Desperados’ expectations. Last year’s 2007 Iron Man of the Year was voted the top Iron Man at mid-season by the Arena Football Writers Association at a ceremony on April 22. One of the league’s premier players and one of the last remaining two-way standouts, Pettis has become a threat whenever he is on the field, which is in every phase of the game. He continues to dominate as a wide receiver and defensive back, despite ending the season last year with back spasms. Last month a ... Read Article »
	Bryant to join Pennyman as Tiger NCT Another Bradwell Tiger will join a teammate at North Carolina Tech as Curtis Bryant Jr. signed a scholarship to play football for the Tech Tigers. Bryant will join Vontavious Pennyman, who signed on to the Tech Tigers two weeks ago. The Bradwell student, who played primarily as a weak side linebacker at Bradwell, will have to adjust to his secondary position as a strong safety to cut it at the college level. Bryant said the Tech Tigers plan to start him as safety. “It means I will have to learn to read the play a lot quicker,” he said. “It’s ... Read Article »
	LCRD Baseball / softball scores Liberty County Recreation Department baseball and softball scores: Read Article »
	Liberty County Thunder qualifies for USSSA baseball world series The Liberty County 11U Thunder finished in second place at a tournament last weekend in Statesboro. Coached by Patrick Sammons the victory has the Thunder poised for a chance to steal the crown at the USSSA 11U AA Baseball World Series being held in Pace, Fla., in July. The coach and players would say sponsors, including Enhanced Properties LLC out of Midway, Elaine Boggs Realty from Hinesville and many more sponsors, have made play possible. For information on the Thunder or to sponsor the team, call 572-8236. Read Article »
	Keeping kids healthy at the Y The Liberty County Armed Services Family YMCA held it’s annual Healthy Kids Day yesterday where children frolicked and participated in physical activities like this zumba aerobics dance class in an effort to enhance physical activities, reduce childhood obesity and educate the community about the YMCA’s services. See Wednesday’s Courier for a complete story regarding the activities, childhood obesity rates in Georgia and the different ways to reduce your child’s risk of obesity and childhood diabetes. Read Article »
	Talks between Chinese, Dalai Lama officials set to begin BEIJING (AP) — Chinese media railed against the Dalai Lama and his supporters Saturday and pledged to crush any campaign seeking independence for Tibet ahead of a meeting between Beijing and envoys of the exiled spiritual leader. The meeting in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen would be the first between the two sides since violent anti-government protests erupted in Tibet in March. Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche of the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile said envoys are scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday and travel to the neighboring city of Shenzhen for meetings to begin Sunday. The representatives, Lodi Gyari ... Read Article »
	Williams isn’t sure if he can play Game 7 ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks forward Marvin Williams isn’t sure if he’ll be able to play Sunday in the decisive game of Atlanta’s playoff series with the Boston Celtics after spraining his left knee in Game 6. Williams, who led the Hawks with 18 points in their series-extending win Saturday night, took part in a walkthrough at Philips Arena before the team departed for Boston, but his knee was heavily taped and had ice on it. He said the trainers list him as doubtful for the game, though coach Mike Woodson says he’s hopeful Williams will play. Read Article »
	ChopTalk magazine now available on newsstands ChopTalk, the official monthly magazine of the Atlanta Braves, is now available on select newsstands in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. Major retailers including Barnes & Noble Booksellers, B. Dalton Bookseller, Books-A-Million, Hastings Entertainment, Food Lion, and Rite Aid Pharmacy introduced ChopTalk on their newsstands beginning with the April 2008 issue. Additional outlets are being added each month, including a rollout with the July issue at 20 HMS Host retail locations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The May ChopTalk is currently on sale featuring an action cover photo of two-time National League All-Star catcher Brian McCann. Other May features include: ... Read Article »
	Three counties to participate in 17 Special Olympics Summer Games SAVANNAH — Athletes from Chatham, Liberty and Long counties will compete in the 2008 Special Olympics Georgia Area 17 Summer Games on Wednesday. Opening ceremonies take place at 10:30 a.m. and the games will last until approximately noon. Track and field, and tennis and soccer skills will take place at Savannah Country Day School. Golf skills will be at the Bacon Park Golf Course. Hundreds of athletes, volunteers, coaches, and family members are expected to take part in the competition. Special Olympics Georgia provides year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults ... Read Article »
	Panthers drop Bears in 5 The season's third game against the Burke County Bears turned out to be the charm as the Liberty County Panthers finished the Bears 10-0 in 5 innings Thursday. The last score was a walk-off homer by Aaron Hoffer over the 380' "green monster" wall. The Panthers started their prowl toward victory in the bottom of the second, when Byron Calahan, Aaron Pringle and Kendrick Jones loaded the bases. Eddie Chipple got a hit, sending Calhan home. Ethan Pringle hit a solid shot toward second base, but a Bear defender mishandled the ball and the throw to second. The Panther runner ... Read Article »
	Panthers clinch spot at state, take down Bulldogs with homers (5-3) It took Hank Aaron hitting some homers to send the Liberty County Panthers to a state bid. OK, so it was Henry (Hank) Barrett and Aaron Pringle, as well as a another homer from Chris Arnold to keep the Panthers ahead by 2 (5-3) to defeat the Thomson High Bulldogs of the northern sub region for 3-AAA. “We finally finished one,” Panther coach Steve Cotrell said. And they finished with pizzazz. Skyler Hoffer pitched all seven innings, taking the win with 11 strikeouts and allowing only three hits. Arnold hit a 2-run homer in the second, giving the Panthers a ... Read Article »
	Tigers live up to full potential “Finally,” Tiger baseball coach Rhett Hellgren said after his Tigers’ squad came from behind twice in Tuesday’s game against Groves. “It was a complete team effort and they played the way I always knew they could.” The Tigers were behind 1-5 early in the game but came back in the sixth inning, scoring 7. Then the Rebels scored 3 tying the score at 8 to open the 7th inning. “Steven Dill started the game but was pulled when I felt he was having control problems again,” the coach said as he recapped the game. “I brought Dustin (Belletty) in and ... Read Article »
	Long County loses by one to Savannah Christian The Blue Tide Baseball team won’t make the playoffs this year. But they have proven they can compete with any team, as they narrowly lost to the Savannah Christian Academy’s Raiders 11-12 Tuesday night, which is almost the exact score (10-11) they lost to the Pierce County Bears earlier this month. The two top teams in the 2-AA Region are clearly Pierce County and Savannah Christian Academy, the Bears are 22-2 with a region record of 12-1 and the Red Raiders are 15-8 and 10-3 in the region. Traveling to Savannah, the Tide made it into the bottom of the ... Read Article »
	Rebels keep season going, have standout young players The 17U Rebels head for Clemson South Carolina where they are scheduled to play Saturday at 11:40 a.m. against the Carolina Celtics at Little John’s Gym. Game two pits them against the Roc Nation at 3:40 p.m. in the L. J. Annex. The 16U are also headed out to Augusta this weekend for a 9:45 p.m. game tonight against the Atlanta Select. Read Article »
	Waycross Firebirds seek vengeance on Hurricanes The last time James Cox coached and played for a semi-pro football team from Waycross (2000-2001) things were a little rough. “Back then we had another team in Waycross, but the guy who ran it was a ripoff artist,” he said. “Also my team was not any better. We had team fights and there were too many hands in the pot trying to runs things.” Cox said all that has changed. He is now the sole coach and manager of the newly formed Waycross Firebirds semi-pro team. “This is our first season and we have 55 players on the roster,” ... Read Article »