Local Sports
Night Hawks soaring at 6-0
THOMASVILLE — Six games into the season, the Thomas University Night Hawks are soaring.
Off to a 6-0 start, TU is averaging more than nine runs per game and allowing less than four.
The only thing slowing down the Night Hawks is Mother Nature. TU’s game on Tuesday at Albany State was cancelled due to rain.
TU returns to the field this weekend against NAIA eighth-ranked Embry Riddle.
“It’s definitely the best start we’ve ever gotten off to,” said TU coach Mike Lee, whose team caught a few breaks with its three-game sweeps of Montreat College and Talladega College.
“Montreat was stuck in the gym for about 10 days before they came down, because of the snow,” Lee added. “Us being able to get outside, even as cold as it was the first couple of weeks in January, we were still outside and able to get some work done. Talladega, all the rain we get, they’re getting about twice as much in north Alabama. Their field doesn’t handle it near as well as our does.
“That worked to our advantage, but at the same time, I think these guys were ready to play. They’ve come out swinging the bats. Pitching has stepped up, at least in the first couple of weeks. Their job is to hold them until the bats get going. Fortunately, the bats are doing pretty well right now.”
TU has scored five runs in each game. It has reached double digits in three of the six contests, including an 18-run performance in its opener against Montreat College. The Night Hawks have belted nine home runs, three by senior infielder Adam Duncan. Catcher Rick Howroyd has two. Four other guys have one each.
“We’ve got some kids that can get it out of the yard in a hurry,” Lee noted. “At the same time, we can’t count on that. We’ve got to work a little bit harder and execute a little bit better on moving guys around. We’re getting the bunts down and moving guys along the bases. But we’ve still got some work to do.”
The Night Hawks have six players with at least five RBIs, led by Joey Kampfer’s and Matt Wilson’s seven.
TU will get a good barometer of how it stacks up in the NAIA in the upcoming weeks. It starts with Embry-Riddle this weekend. The Eagles are 3-1.
“They’re going to be good just like they always are. Even after that it doesn’t get any easier with Brewton Parker, and then we go to the No. 4 team in the country, Southern Poly,” Lee added. “We’ll know by the end of February where we stand and what we need to work on. Just like everybody else the whole goal is to get to the playoffs and be peaking at the right time. That’s what we’re looking to do.”
TU will play a single game against Embry-Riddle at 4 p.m. on Friday.
A doubleheader will be played on Saturday, starting at noon. All games will be played at Varnedoe Stadium.
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THS, Central, Cairo attend Bainbridge camp
Footballs were flying all over the practice fields adjacent to Bainbridge High School Thursday afternoon.
Thomasville, Thomas County Central, Cairo, along with two schools from Alabama and Leon (Fla.) participated in a passing camp at Bainbridge. The three-hour long passing league drew rave reviews from those in attendance. -
Yellow Jackets making strides in passing leagues
Another summer day gone by, another passing session under Thomas County Central’s belt.
The Yellow Jackets hosted a 7-on-7 passing league with Lowndes Wednesday afternoon.
The two teams threw for almost two hours at Central practice field. With Central set to compete in its last passing league today in Bainbridge, head coach Bill Shaver likes the progression his team has made on offense and defense. -
Folsom galloping ahead
Horseback riding came natural for Landrie Folsom — so, too, has winning.
It’s only natural that a national championship is in the Thomasville resident’s future, right?
That’s the dream Folsom will carry with her this weekend when she participates in the Junior Hunter Finals and Hunterdon Cup Equitation to be held in Lexington, KY on Aug. 2-5. Folsom is excited about participating on the national stage but understands how tough the competition will be. -
Drew still undecided about collegiate future
Ray Drew is still undecided.
By all accounts, Thomas County Central fans will have to wait until Signing Day, 2011, to find out where the highly-recruited senior will play collegiate football.
Speaking five days before the start of fall practice, the Central senior gave no hints as to who his favorites were. He’d like to keep it that way. -
East has mixed feelings with Brookwood’s play in camp
The run-oriented Brookwood Warriors got an extensive look at their passing attack this week.
The Warriors attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes passing camp at Georgia Southern, Monday-Wednesday. Brookwood competed in a passing league that included such schools as Cook, Irwin County, South Effingham and Long County. -
Cairo passing camp a success
Cairo’s eight-team football camp continues to be a passing success.
Thomas County Central, Bainbridge and Valdosta joined the Syrupmakers and four schools from Florida to compete in 7-on-7 drills Thursday morning. - Bombers to host tournament
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YMCA swimmers qualify for state event
The Thomasville YMCA took 26 swimmers to Tifton on for the 2010 GRPA district swim meet. All qualified for the state championships in Tifton in two weeks.
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Haskins running wild
Nathan Haskins has lofty goals for his cross-country career.
Running in a marathon is next for the Thomasville native. - More Local Sports Headlines
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