Bulldogs open first full week with loss

The Toombs County Bulldogs closed out their 2014 regular season with four games in five days and their last game in that set was at Bacon County. They lost that game. Coincidentally, the Dawgs opened up their first full week of the regular season at Bacon County in the Raiders' new ballpark. Bacon broke open a close game with a four-run fifth leading to a 6-2 Raider victory. Watch Highlights   Bacon scored a run in the first inning on an opposite field single by left handed designated hitter Jacob Holton. The Raiders scored a second run in the fourth on TCHS's first error of the season. Toombs scored a run in the fifth. Jake Davis walked, D.R. Meadows (2-for-3 with a walk) singled and Tyler Luke (1-for-4) grounded out to third scoring Davis. Bulldog pitching walked four Raiders in the fifth leading to a four-run inning. Holton (2-for-3) singled to the opposite field driving in a run and Klein Nipper (1-for-3) singled in in two Raiders. A bases loaded walk scored another Bacon run. The Bulldogs scored their second run in the seventh inning. Meadows and Lane Adams each walked with one out against Nipper, Bacon's reliever. Luke followed with a run scoring single and then the Bulldogs loaded up the bases. However, the game ended on a curve ball strikeout. The Bulldogs left 10 runners on base including seven in scoring position. In the battle of starting pitchers, Bacon's righty Dalton Spires threw six innings and allowed an earned run on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Toombs County's Nick Taylor pitched 4 1/3 innings and yielded three earned runs on three hits. The senior right hander struck out four batters including the five, six and seven hitters in a row in the second inning. Taylor walked six including Holton intentionally. Lane Adams threw a three up, three down sixth with one strikeout.

Indians rally in the 7th and nip the Dawgs

Tyler Luke allows one earned run in five innings

The 2015 Toombs County Bulldog baseball team with a lineup featuring two returning starters- senior pitcher Tyler Luke and sophomore shortstop D.R. Meadows- and only one other Dawg who had started a varsity game- junior right fielder Logan McGowan- opened up a 4-0 lead at Vidalia. However, the Indians rallied with a run in the fifth and four in the seventh to win the non-region rivalry matchup 5-4. Watch Highlights Video   The Bulldogs who also started three seniors- third baseman Alan Beverly, designated hitter Nick Taylor and center fielder Jake Davis- one junior- first baseman Nick Curtis along with two sophomores- second baseman Lane Adams and left fielder George Lucke- and freshman catcher Dalton McBride scored their first run of the season in the second inning. Lucke (2-for-4) singled with one out, Beverly (0-for-4) reached on an error, Curtis (2-for-3) singled and Taylor (1-for-3) reached on an infield single to drive in the run with two outs. Toombs left a runner in scoring position in the third and the fourth and then scored three runs in the fifth inning. With one down, Adams (2-for-4) singled, Luke (1-for-4 with a seventh inning double down the left field line) reached on an error and then McGowan singled in to right field to score Adams to make 2-0 Dawgs. Lucke doubled to left to drive in a run and it was 3-0 and Curtis stroked a RBI hit and TCHS had a 4-0 lead. On the mound Luke kept the Indians off the scoreboard for the first four innings with a combination of good pitching and fine defense. The Bulldogs did not make an error and they made two big plays to end the fifth and sixth with the Indians threatening to score. Luke struck out the four and five hitters, with runners on second and third, in the first inning. The right hander allowed only two hits through the first four innings. The Indians finally lit up the Greg James Field scoreboard in the fifth on a Eric Tillery (2-for-3) sacrifice fly which was caught on a dive by Lucke in left field. The inning ended with Vidalia trying to manufacture a run out of a first and third base running situation. The Dawgs were able to get the out near first base denying the Indians a second run. In the sixth Luke yielded a leadoff double to Dylan Crawford (1-for-3) and then he was relieved on the mound by Meadows. Luke pitched five innings and allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out four batters, walking one and hitting two. Meadows walked a batter and allowed a single, but he didn’t allow a run in the sixth as Adams timed his leap perfectly on a liner and after snagging the ball he threw to second base for a double play. The Indians started off the bottom of the seventh with four straight singles. Blake Corbett (2-for-3), Paul Dixon (2-for-4), Tillery and Jordan McFadden (2-for-3) all reached base. McFadden drove in the first run of the inning and then Curtis relieved Meadows on the mound and walked pinch hitter Ruston Robinson on a 3-2 pitch, with the basses loaded, to cut the TCHS lead to 4-2. Jarrett Bryant (1-for-4) singled in a run to make it a one-run game and then Greg McKenzie popped up to Adams for the first out of the inning. Number eight hitter Devin Williams ended the comeback and the game with a sacrifice fly to left giving the Indians the win.   JV Bulldogs rally in loss  The Toombs County Bulldog Junior Varsity baseball team fell behind 7-0 at Vidalia and then the young Dawgs rallied scoring five straight runs before losing 8-6. Willie Campbell and Christian Conley each hit a double and Dalton McBride stroked a run-scoring triple to center field. Watch Highlights

Toombs County Soccer Season is Here

TCMS teams off to great start

The Toombs County Middle School soccer teams are off to a fine start in 2015. The Bullpups are 6-0 and the Lady Bullpups 6-1. On a real windy and cold day TCMS split with visiting West Laurens. The Toombs County Boys won 4-3 and the Girls lost 3-1. Watch highlights of both games Video Ricardo Santana scored all four Bullpup goals as TCMS led 1-0 at half and 4-1 before yielding two goals. The Lady Bullpups trailed 1-0 prior to Jazmine Nahuacha scoring a goal, just a couple of seconds before the end of the first half.

Dawgs open Region 1 with shutout win

The past two seasons the Toombs County Boys soccer team has advanced to the Elite 8 round of the AA GHSA State Tournament. This season, with a big senior class, the Dawgs want to go further. TCHS opened up the season beating Liberty 4-1 in a road scrimmage, East Laurens 6-1 in a non region road game and Pierce 3-0 in a Region 1 home game. In the Pierce game Gilbert Zamarono, Eddie Zamarono and Fernando Rodriquez each scored a goal. Watch Highlights In the East Laurens game, Gilbert scored two goals, Eddy had one and Fernando tallied three. The Lady Bulldogs tied Liberty at one in the scrimmage, beat Treutlen 4-2 in a regular season game and then lost to East Laurens 7-0 and Pierce County 6-0.

GHSA Traditional State Wrestling Tournament

Jamar gets his state championship

Jamar Smith executes a state championship pin

In 2014 Toombs County's Jamar Smith was denied his first GHSA State Championship because of an illegal slam in the title match at the Toombs County Middle School Gym. 358 days later, in the Macon Centreplex, the senior ended a perfect 47-0 season with the perfect result- a first round pin with just two seconds left on the clock. Smith is the 13th Toombs County Bulldog to win a state champsionship.The Dawgs have won at least one state title in each of the last four years and they have totaled seven championships during this span. Watch Jamar win state Video  and watch and listen to Jamar break down his state championship victory Video  Coaches Adam Hightower and Bradley Benton discuss Saturday night at the state championships Audio  Watch some Sights and Sounds from Macon Video Smith opened up his match with McNair's Derek Clayton with a short feeling out period and then he collected two points for a take down. From the top position Smith was able to get Clayton on his back and then he stuck him for his seventh first round pin in eight matches of the sectionals and state.

Bryson- from JV to 2nd in state

Bryson Smith finishes second in state

One of the most amazing stories in the Macon Centreplex was the rise of Toombs County's  Bryson Smith. Due to the strength of the Bulldog wrestling program, in 2014, in his weight class Bryson was relegated to the junior varsity squad. But, in his senior season the tall 195 pound wrestler got his chance to compete on the varsity level and he went 47-12. He was an Area 1 champion. finished sixth at the tough AAA East Sectional and after a string of upsets at the GHSA State Tourney Bryson finished second in the state.   Rockmart's Marlon Morales won the state championship and improved his record to 54-6 with a first round pin of Smith.

Friday- Bryson Smith and Jamar Smith both won their semifinal matches and the two cousins will each wrestle for a GHSA State Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Macon Centreplex. Listen to coach Bradley Benton talk about the two semifinal victories Audio Bryson was the first Bulldog to compete on Mat 5 and his match with Elbert County's A.J. Edmond was scoreless for nearly the first two periods. Bryson earned a point for an escape then fell behind 2-1 and then he received a point because his opponent was stalling and another for an escape to win the match 3-2. After a 14-5 win in the quarterfinals, Jamar Smith reverted to his recent form and pinned Ringold's Jesse Wade just 34 seconds into the first period. Jamar scored two early points and then it was lights out as Smith improved his record to 46-0. The second day began with the consolation round and four Bulldogs trying to stay in the tourney. Chase Corbin (152) edged Calhoun's Christian East 7-6 to advance and then Chase lost to Zak Evans 3-1 to end his senior season with a 42-17 record. Jose Delgado (120) lost to Banks County's Cory Turner 7-2 ending his senior season with a 23-14 record. Justin Hall (126) was pinned in the second period ending his sophomore season with a 27-13 record. Cole Dowd (182) was pinned in the first round ending his senior season with a 20-13 record.    Thursday- Cousins Jamar and Bryson Smith both advanced into the semifinals at the GHSA Traditional State Tournament at the Macon Centreplex. in the opening round, Jamar (220 pounds) continued his dominating run through the sectional and state tourney with a pin, 51 seconds into the first period of Zion Hester from Coahulla Creek and then in the quarterfinals he outscored Pepperell's Deonte Morgan 14-5. Bryson Smith (195) beat Jasaad Graves (Spencer High) 11-5 in the first round and then in the quarterfinals he pulled out a 5-4 victory over Southwest Macon's Dalvin Andrews. Coach Bradley Benton talks about the first day of the state tourney Audio Jose Delgado, Justin Hall, Chase Corbin and Cole Dowd all lost in their first round matches and they will move in to consolation bracket.   Jose Delgado (120) lost Spencer's Deandre Jackson 12-2. Delgado (23-3) will meet Banks County's Corey Turner (25-11) in the consolation bracket. Justin Hall (126) was pinned 1:16 into the second round by Sonoraville's Kyle Chastain. Justin (27-12) takes on Central Macon's Oliver Phillips (34-8) in the consolation bracket. Chase Corbin (152) was a 20-5 loser to McNair's Jamaal Deng. Corbin (41-16) faces Calhoun's Christian East (20-8) in the consolation bracket. Cole Dowd (182) lost a 6-4 decision to McNair's Justin Corley. Dowd (20-12) draws Harrison Pettigrew (28-8) from Savannah Arts in the consolation bracket. Listen to the Dawgs and coach Bradley Benton talk about the sectional tourney Y-101 Story