TCHS soccer downs ATCO

It was home sweet home for the Toombs County soccer teams. Both teams defeated Atkinson County in their first home opportunities of the season. Ansley Tatum and Samantha Houston each scored three goals to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a 6-1 victory and Efrain Zamorano scored twice and Brandon Rosales and Ferrando Rodriquiz each booted in a goal to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 win, The game was tied 2-all at half. Watch Highlights Girls Game   Boys Game

B-Team Dawgs win in 9

The Toombs County B-Team Bulldogs played their second nine-inning game of the season and they won their first game of 2014 by beating Jeff Davis 13-10 on the road. D.R. Meadows, playing his first game since he was spiked sliding into third in practice, went 5-for-6 with two doubles including a two-bagger in the ninth. Hogan White and Stephen Helton each had three hits and Stephen Garrett supplied the game-winning hit. Lane Adams, pitching in relief, picked up the win. The B-Team Dawgs are 1-3.

13 K's do not lead to win

For the second straight start against the Jeff Davis, Toombs County senior pitcher James Ethredge struck out 11 Yellow Jackets. In 2013 he accomplished it in seven innings leading his team to a 5-1 victory. On Thurday it took him an inning less to match that total plus reliever Jeremy Beasley struck out two more in the seventh. However, this time the Bulldogs lost to Jeff Davis 6-1 in a Region 2 opener for both teams at Jacky Jones Field. The reason- the Yellow Jackets maximized their scoring opportunities while the Bulldogs blew most of theirs. Watch Highlights  You Tube Jeff Davis scored three runs in the first on a grounder by Drew Johns, a RBI double to deep center by William Browning and a single by Brett Wilcox. Johns, who entered the game with a .417 batting average went 0-for-3 against Ethredge for the second game. The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, with one out, and did not score. Ethredge clamped down on the Yellow Jackets after the first inning retiring them three-up, three-down with two strikeouts in the second and then after issuing a leadoff walk in the third he induced two pop ups to Bailey Salter at short and struck out his fourth Jacket. The Dawgs left runners on first and third in the second and had a single off Logan McLoon in the third and fourth. In the fifth, while Ethredge was striking out the three, five and six hitters, the Bulldogs were creating another opportunity for a big inning.  Hunter Braddy led off with a walk and then freshman Hogan White (2-for-3 with a walk) doubled to deep right. Ethredge followed with a infield hit which scored Braddy. However, McLoon ended the threat with a pickoff and two strikeouts. Ethredge ended his night on the mound with a three-up, three-down sixth featuring a fly ball to right and his tenth and eleventh strikeout. Jeff Davis scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run way over the left field fence by Browning, who was 2-for-4.

Rally Dawgs come up 2 short

The Toombs County Bulldogs spotted Swainsboro eight runs in the first three innings, of their first home game of the season. and they they scored eight in the final three innings only to come up two runs short in a 10-8 loss. Watch Highlights You Tube Hunter Braddy went 2-for-4 and led the Bulldog offense with two doubles, two runs scored and a RBI. Bailey Salter also went 2-for-4 while driving in one run and making two fine plays at short. He robbed a Tiger of a hit with his glove and started a double play with his arm after catching a line drive. Tyler Luke went 2-for-4 with a double while catching his first varsity game. James Ethredge (1-for-4) hit a double and drove in a run with a grounder. Hogan White, Christian Moore, Brandon Beckum and Jeremy Beasley each had one hit. Junior Nick Taylor led the pitching staff throwing two scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts. He induced a grounder to second, two popups to first and a flyball to right. The Bulldogs are 0-3.

Super 6 Soar on Special Night

J.D. Rogers wins his state championshp with a pin

As a Toombs County Bulldog wrestler Bradley Benton won two state championships. As a first year head coach, at his alma mater, he doubled that output in one special night at the Toombs County Middle School Gym. Solomon McLeod, Erion Gaffney, J.D. Rogers and Eric Hester all won state championships for the first time as seniors. And underclassmen junior Jamar Smith finished second and freshman J.J. Arrendondo battled back through the consolation round, after a first round 8-6 loss, and placed third. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the Double A team standings, 9.5 points out of third. Jefferson was first, Bremen second, Social Circle third, GAC fifth and Vidalia sixth. Head coach Bradley Benton talks about the GHSA State Tourney SoundCloud Watch the Bulldogs win their state championships  Solomon McLeod  Erion Gaffney  J.D. Rogers  Eric Hester Watch J.J Arrendondo finish third in the 106 pound weight  You Tube Watch the Bulldogs win their semifinal matches  Erion Gaffney  J.D. Rogers  Eric Hester  Jamar Smith plus Finals  Solomon McLeod Watch the Bulldogs win their quarerfinal matches  J.D. Rogers  Erion Gaffney  Solomon McLeod   Thanks to Salain Meadows for her video work and Bill Benton for handling the interviews 152 Pounds- Solomon McLeod was a dominant wrestler in his senior season. He finished with a 57-2 record. Solomon lost a match before Thanksgiving in a dual meet at Effingham County and another in the championship round of the Sweet Onion to J.J. Alfau, who won a Class A state championship for Turner County in the 152 pound weight class. Solomon, who wrestlers in a style that represents a cat pouncing on his prey, rolled through state. He pinned (1st period) Jaquan Zeno, from Chattahochee, in the quarterfinal round and defeated Artero Perez, from Cook, 20-7 in the semifinals. Soloman defeated Jefferson's Zach Boobas 11-6 in the finals. Last year, in his first season with Bulldogs, after transfering from Vidalia, McLeod finished third. "My focus was on take downs," McLeod said. "Just keep rebuilding and focus on the next match and keep wrestling hard. Coach Benton, (Adam) Hightower and (Robbie) Rogers worked us hard and the wrestling got us better."    182 pounds- Erion Gaffney was motivated to win a state championship by the memories and dissapointment of not making it to the podium in what was a dominant junior season prior to going to state. Gaffney wrapped up his high school career with a 54-3 record in his senior season. Erion, who is known for pinning his opponents quickly, recorded a pin in the first round over Brooks Layson from Lovett. Then he racked up the points in the next two rounds- beating North East Macon's Eddie Gibson 10-2 and Bremen's Darron Boxley 20-6 in the finals. "Last year I could have won my first state title and I folded on it and I have been working for it," Gaffney said. Erion at first was disapointed that the event had been postponed and eventually moved from the Gwinnett Center to high school sites around the state. However, on his home turf he always has a motto. "I just refuse to lose in front of the home crowd, I just can't do it." Boxley was 61-4 coming into the finals and was the favorite to win by many in the wrestling world. "Everybody was saying he was going to win. I just went out there and showed them because actions speak louder than words."  195 Pounds- J.D. Rogers has been seeking the ultimate prize for years. As a kid's wrestler he once won an important belt by doing well in a series of events across the state of Georgia. However, in high school his best finish at state was fourth last season. There always seemed to be somebody older and more experienced than J.D.  But, not in 2013-14. Rogers, despite wrestling in the 195 pound class against competition that was usually bigger than he was, went 48-4. Rogers opened up state with a first period pin of Dakota Wilerson from Model. In the semifinals J.D. beat Jefferson's Deshon Lester 6-2. Rogers ended his high school career with a late third period pin of Clayton Thornbury from Murray County.  285 pounds- Eric Hester, when he wrestled aggressively, was always different than most of the other heavyweights. Most big guys just want to bump and grind for six minutes leading to low scoring matches. An aggessive Hester is athletic enough to pile up the points or win with a pin. Eric scored 24 points in three wins at sectionals. At state he pinned his first opponent (Darby Henegan from Lovett) 1:33 into the first round. The he won his next two matches by a combined score of 12-3. Hester took care of D.J. Coker, from GAC, 7-1 in the semifinals and then he defeated Vidalia's Shakeem Lassiter 5-2 in an all Toombs County final.

Baseball Dawgs open up 2014 season

with two Big School losses

Close play at the plate- Jake Davis is called out

After a Friday weather delay, the Toombs County Baseball Bulldogs opened up their regular season with a Saturday doubleheader and a pair of losses to big schools from nearby. The 2A Bulldogs lost to 5A Richmond Hill 8-5 and to 4A Wayne County 2-1 at Edo Miller Stadium, in Brunswick, in a tournament called Baseball by the Beach. Watch Highlights Richmond Hil Game  Wayne County Game After two, two-out hits in the first inning by Jeremy Beasley (triple to center) and Bailey Salter (single to right), the Bulldogs held a 2-1 lead over Richmond Hill until the fourth inning when Richmond Hill scored three runs and the Wildcats scored three more in the sixth to lead 8-3. The Dawgs scored two in the seventh on back-to- back singles by James Ethredge and Beasley. Beasley (Darton College signee) was handed the baseball in the second game and he went out and battled Georgia Southern signee Sid Royal even-steven through seven innings of outstanding high school pitching. Beasley struck out the side in the first and fourth innings and he finished with 10 K's total while pitching a complete game. Wayne County took a 1-0 lead in the third. Kacey Crawford reached on an infield single up the middle, stole second and then scored on a one-out single by Ben Hockensmith. The Bulldogs scored a tying run in top of the fourth. Hunter Braddy walked, was bunted to second by Brandon Beckum and then scored on an error. Bailey Salter doubled to the fence in left center field and courtesy runner Jake Davis was thrown out at the plate on two perfect throws which brought head coach Bryan Fitzgerald out of the dugout to question a play in which it appears Davis was safe at the plate. The Bulldogs had only three hits off Royal and they struckout 10 times against the righthander with a good fastball. However, the Bulldogs had opportunities to score. They left the bases loaded in the sixth and they lost a baserunner in a rundown between third and home in that frame. They also stranded a runner at third in the seventh. Wayne County broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Mainor led off with a triple to right center field and then scored on a walkoff single by Brooks Parker.

JV Dawgs & Indians play 9

Last season the Toombs County and Vidalia varsity baseball teams played a 12 inning game at Jacky Jones Field won by the Bulldogs 7-6. The two schools' junior varsity teams opened up 2014 playing a three hour, nine inning game won by the Indians 5-4 at Greg James Field. Watch Highlights You Tube The pattern in this thriller was for the Bulldogs to take a one-run lead and then the Indians would come back and tie it up. The Dawgs took a 1-0 lead in the first when Hogan White singled in Logan McGowan. Vidalia scored an equalizer, an unearned run, in the bottom of the frame. In the second Austin Williams singled and scored on a grounder hit by George Lucke and the TCHS 2-1 lead held up until the bottom of the fourth when the Indians scored to tie the game for a second time. The game went to extra innings tied at two and Lucke hit a double off the left field fence to give TCHS a 3-2 lead. However, Vidalia pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the inning to send the game to the ninth. In the final frame Stephen Helton scored from first on a Stephen Garrett bunt to put TCHS back on top 4-3. But, once again the Indians answered that score with an unearned and then pushed across the winning run, with a base hit, to end a long night. Williams pitched the first four innings for the Bulldogs and White the final five.

LTCMS Baseball season is here

Logan Williamson flips the ball to Noah Anderson

The Toombs County Middle School Bullpups return only one starter from last season's team that won alot of games including a playoff game at East Laurens. Dalton McBride will be back behind the plate and he will be joined some players who excelled during the recreation ball season last summer. Cole Graham will be playing third base, Bryce Deloach shortstop, Martin Stephens and Logan Williamson at first and Noah Anderson will be in center. The pitching staff will feature Graham, Deloach, Williamson, Anderson, Brock Harrison and others. Check out the Bullpups and hear them talk about the team  You Tube

Bulldogs lose scrimmage

The Dodge County Indians scored three runs on a hit and four walks in the sixth inning to break a three all tie and give the home team, coached by former TCHS Bulldog Jared Allen, a 6-3 win in a seven inning scrimmage which was rescheduled, due to weather, to an 11 a.m. start on Friday. Watch highlights and a coach Bryan Fitzgerald interview You Tube The game featured plenty of walks and very few hits on a chilly, windy and sunny day. Seven Bulldog pitchers walked eight Indian batters and hit one while allowing only three hits. The Bulldogs walked five times and stroked four hits. Dodge scored a pair of runs in the first inning on three walks, a hit batsman and a Dawg error. Andrew Hardy doubled and scored the third Indian run on a sacrifice fly by Johnathan Perdue in the third. Toombs touched home twice in the fourth thanks to three Indian walks. James Ethredge (0-for-1) walked and scored on a wild pitch. Jeremy Beasley (1-for-2) walked and scored from third when Christian Moore (0-for-1 with two walks) got in to a rundown. Beasley tied the game in the sixth with a single to left which scored Bailey Salter (0-for-2 with a walk). Freshman Hogan White (1-for-2) had the first Bulldog hit, a one-out single in the third inning. White, a lefthander, pitched a three up, three down second inning inducing a grounder to second, a flyball to center and a strikeout. Junior Tyler Luke (1-for-2) also had a hit and a one, two, three frame on the mound. Luke fielded a bunt on the third base side and fired a strike to first to retire the batter by a step and then got a flyball out to right and a strikeout. HIs hit was a scorcher off the shortstop's wrist.       Ethredge, the 2013 Region 2 Player of the Year, looked like he was in mid-season form in the fifth. The senior struckout the first batter on three pitches and then struckout the second batter as well. He worked the count to 3-1 on the third Indian and then got him to ground out to second. Ethredge, who went 9-2 with a 1.78 ERA, had 25 three batter innnings last season in the 71 innings which he pitched. Salter, an all region player, pitched the third and gave up the run and then ended his inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Sophomore Logan McGowan stroked the Bulldogs fourth hit in a pinch hitting appearance in the seventh inning. The lefthanded hitter sent a pitch into left field with one out. McGowan, who started at shortstop for the junior varsity in 2013, is battling for playing time in right field with the varsity. Another young Bulldog who got to play was freshman D.R. Meadows. Meadows (0-for-1 at the plate) entered the game as a relief pitcher in the sixth and allowed a single up the middle. However, on that play sophomore catcher Stephen Garrett turned a double play. He tagged out a runner at the plate and then threw to third for a second out.

Marah & Angie talk about

Kim of Queens on Y-101

On the morning prior to being featured on Lifetime Network's Kim of Queens reality show, Marah and her mother Angie appeared on the Y-101 Radio After 8 Show to talk about a varity of subjects. Marah is 13-years old and has won 100's of pageants and is on the first season of a show that over a million people watch each Tuesday night at 10. Watch their Y-101 appearance You Tube

TCHS Basketball Season Ends

The Toombs County High School basketball season came to an end in the first round of the Region 2 Tournament as both the Lady Bulldogs and the Bulldogs lost in the TCMS Gym. The Bulldogs lost to Bryan County 72-51. Chris Mobley scored 19 points, Kenny Goethe contributed 12, D.R. Meadows five, Jeremy Beasley and Jordan Usher three, Tyrese Kent three each and Shaquinton Scott and Brandon Johnson had two. The Lady Bulldogs could never pull away from Long County because they weren't hitting their shots. Finally, with less than a minute to play Katie Estill made a 3-pointer that put Long up by thee points and the final score was 35-31 Lady Blue Tide. for TCHS Breanna Walker scored 12 points, Diamond Boyd five, Megan Meadows and Demetria Jones four and Jocelyn Walker two, Watch highlights of both games You Tube

Dawgs go 6-for-6 at Sectionals

Jamar Smith finishes first with a second period pin

The Toombs County Bulldog wrestling team went six-for-six in the final round of the GHSA State Sectionals at Dublin High. All six Dawgs will be number one seeds at state. No other Toombs County wrestler qualified for the trip to the Gwinnett Center. Freshman J.J. Arrendondo won the 106 pound weight class with a decisive 7-0 win. Senior Soloman McLeod was also dominant in the 152 pound division as he won 10-3. Erion Gaffney, 182 pounds, defeated his Vidalia Indian rival, Devin Johnson, with a pin early in the second period. The two have faced each other for first place three straight Saturdays with Gaffney winning the last two with pins. Erion is now a two-time sectional champ. J.D. Rogers, 195 pounds, won his first sectional title with a late first period pin of a Vidalia wrestler. Jamar Smith won the 220 pound divsion with a second period pin and heavyweight Eric Hester wrapped up the tourney with a 6-0 win over East Laurens. Hester scored 24 points in three wins.    Watch the Bulldogs  J.J. Arrendondo   Solomon McLeod   Erion Gaffney   J.D. Rogers   Jamar Smith   Eric Hester Raphael Florez and Nathan Belch finished fifth and are first alternates in case of an injury to a top four wrestler. Noah Moore and Jose Delgado competed for the first time at sectionals and did not win a match. Many Hernandez was unable to compete due to an injury to his ribs.

TCHS roundball regular season ends

The Toombs County High School basketball regular season ended with a pair of losses to Vidalia. The Lady Indians won 71-30 and the Indians completed a perfect regular season with a 81-37 victory. Watch highlights of both games You Tube Girls game- Breanna Walker hit a 3-pointer and topped the Lady Bulldogs with 11 points. Diamond Boyd scored nine, Demetria Jones four and Megan Meadows, Monique Slaughter and Dominique Jones each scored two. Chynna Hodge scored 16 for Vidalia and also hitting double-digits were Trinity Hamm and Chambria Harrison who each scored 10. Boys game- Chris Mobley (two 3-pointers) scored 10 points for the Bulldogs and was followed by D.R. Meadows (two 3-pointers) with nine, Jordan Usher seven, Jeremy Beasley five and Kenny Goethe, Brandon Johnson and Mark Kelley each had two. Ramel Thompkins tossed in 18 to lead the Indians, Dada Holloway had 11 and Alton McCloud 10. Vidalia made nine 3-pointers.

Pups take 2nd in MGMSAA 

The Toombs County Middle School wrestling team wrapped up the season by finishing second in the MGMSAA Tournament in Dublin. Four Bullpup wrestlers won their weight class- Justin Dees (70 pounds), Jeiden Sistrunk (152), Ervin Mincey (182) and Will Fuller (195). In all 14 Bullpups finished in the top three in their weight class and received a medal. Watch Highlights You Tube

Kim of Queens' Addison and Kelly on Y-101

Kelly (left) and Addison from Lifetime's Kim of Queens

Addison and her mother Kelly, from Toombs County, are on the first season of Lifetime's reality show Kim of Queens. The show features a cast of Georgia pageant contestants including Addison, who was featured on the first show. Even though the 14-year old has won many pageants she perfers to be outdoors hunting and mud bogging. On the show Addison is becoming famous for her blount and humorous personality. Her career goals are to star in movies or on television. Watch Addsion and Kelly in their appearance on Y-101 Radio Part 1  Part 2   Check out Kim of Queens Lifetime

Four Big Pins in a row

Erion Gaffney starts it off with a dramatic pin

J.D. Rogers follows with a 1st period pin

Jamar Smith continues the run with a quick 1st period pin

Eric Hester makes it four straight TCHS pins

In early January the Toombs County Bulldog wrestling team won the Area 1 Dual Tournament at Jeff Davis. On the first day of February the Dawgs dominated the Area 1 Traditional Tourney in the TCMS Gym. Toombs qualified eight wrestlers for the finals and they scored seven area champs- three more than last year. Watch Highlights You Tube Solomon McLeod and Erion Gaffney both repeated as area champions. Gaffney's win at 182 pounds brought the house to life. His pin of a Vidalia wrestler, who beat him at last weeks Sweet Onion, was followed by pins by J.D. Rogers, Jamar Smith and Eric Hester. J.J. Arrredondo and Raphael Florez also are first time area champions. Nathan Belch finished second, Jose Delgado was third and Noah Moore and Manny Hernandez fourth. All are going to sectionals in Dublin. The Bulldogs qualified 11 for sectionals- four more than last season. TCHS coach Bradley Benton talks about the tourney SoundCloud Watch Jose Delgado  Manny Hernandez  Noah Moore