September 16, 2011
The Colonnade
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Durden presents Triple-A experience Sabrina Chandler Senior Reporter It is common for children to dream of playing a sport professionally. It is not common for that dream to come true, but for Brandon Durden, it did. Durden is a Georgia College alumnus. After three seasons as a pitcher for the Bobcats baseball team, Durden was drafted in 2005 by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Durden spent six seasons in the minors, working his way all the way up to Triple-A. Just like those so many other little boys, it was Durden’s dream. “It was fun and exciting,” Durden said. “It made me grow up as a person. It turned me into a man.” Though Durden didn’t quite make it all the way to the “big show,” his memories are fond and his stats in the minors tell a tale of a great ballplayer. In 2006, Durden was dubbed a South Atlantic League All Star. “Even though I didn’t make it to the majors, I wouldn’t trade (that experience) for the world.” Durden said.
Durden After six years, Durden has now returned to his previous home in Milledgeville to continue both his passion for baseball as an assistant coach for the Bobcats, as well as his education by completing his bachelor’s degree in history. Head Coach of the baseball team Tom Carty has never coached Durden, but knows him well. Carty joined GC as a pitching coach in summer 2005, soon after Durden got drafted, but Durden would come back to the field to throw bullpens and work out, getting ready for the next spring training. Carty followed Durden throughout his minor league career. “I definitely kept up with him,” Carty said. “Whenever he’d have a good outing, I’d
send him a note somehow, whether it be a text or an email.” Through this relationship, Carty stayed in touch with Durden over the years. When Durden became available, Carty called and suggested that he come help out with the team and finish his undergraduate degree. Today, Durden is trying to readjust to normal, everyday life. “It was weird at first. But now things have gotten going, baseball has started up, school is back in; now it almost feels like I never left,” Durden says. Carty is looking forward to what Durden will bring to the table this season. “Durden has valuable experience that no one else on this staff has to offer,” Carty said. “We’ve all brushed shoulders with guys who have made it (to the minors), but Brandon has been there.” Durden is also hopeful for the upcoming spring season. “We have some real talent,” Durden said. “I think I can really relate to these guys, I’m excited to see where this season goes.”
Sabrina Chandler / Staff Photographer Former Triple-A player and new assistant coach Brandon Durden (left) critiques junior pitcher Darin Wiltgen in fall practice at John Kurtz Field at West Campus. The GC alumnus returns to the Bobcat baseball team.
Sodexo hosts annual Bobcat Classic golf tourney Steffi Beigh Contributing Writer On Sept. 12, Georgia College hosted its 19th annual Sodexo Bobcat Classic Golf Tournament at Harbor Club on Lake Oconee, where the event has taken place for over six years, according to head golf professional at Harbor Club, Grant Gaalema. Harbor Club, a gated golf club community with 1,000 acres of land, helps run the tournament, in addition to providing the facilities paid for by Georgia College. “Harbor Club helps with the set up, and with the signs,” Gaalema said. “Georgia College send(s) a player list and (Harbor Club) organizes who starts on what hole and who plays with who and … runs the scoreboard there at the end.” The tournament consists of teams of four in an 18-hole scramble. The tournament offered two registration times: 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., and two shotgun times (where everyone starts
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able to score for the first 45 minutes, and halftime arrived with the score of 0-0. When the second half began, Georgia College and the Pioneers continued to play aggressively. While not shooting as often as the Bobcats, Tusculum broke the 0-0 deadlock at 73:08 with a 35-yard shot in the left side of the net for the lead. Dalton had two daring shots miss the goal
at the same time) at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. “Although the students don’t participate in the tournament, they are volunteers and have opportunities to get to know the alumni and main sponsors for their athletic department,” said Al Weston, Georgia College sports information director. Weston also played in the tournament with his boss and coworkers. “It was a beautiful course and a great day for you be outside in the sun and knock a ball around, sometimes rather poorly and sometimes rather decently,” Weston said. The winners of the tournament for the afternoon round were Brian Robinson, Josh Eady, Jody Bellflower and Bill Faith. Sponsors for the tournament include Sodexo; Siemens Building Technologies; Coca-Cola; The Christman Company; Dunwody/Beeland, Architects, Inc.; CWC; Murray Barns Finsiter LLP; and Pickle Barrel Cafe & Sports Pub. “It’s a great camaraderie element
in her attempt to tie up the game. Her second shot, with 6:35 remaining in the game, hit the crossbar. Although the Bobcats fought hard to tie the score with Tusculum, they were unable to score any goals and the Pioneers took the 1-0 victory. “We’ve got to string two halves together,” Clark said. In the Bobcats’ goal, Stephens had more stopping power in this game, with six saves on goal. “The team is deep, and everybody is con-
tributing,” Clark said. “I think everybody coming in off the bench was a great spark.” With their record at 1-3, the Bobcats are back in action the weekend of Sept. 16, when they will travel to Florida to play in the Tampa Tournament. On Sept. 16, Georgia College will face Barry University and on Sept. 18, they will face the tournament’s host, the University on Tampa. “We play a tough schedule, and that’s to get us ready for the Peach Belt,” Clark said.
where you have the ability to meet people you might not be able to on a regular basis and share a common goal of helping students get collegiate degrees and help them move on to the profession of their choice,” Weston said. “It’s not professional athletes but professional people that we’re helping and it’s nice to meet people who share the same goal.” With Sodexo being the main sponsor, the tournament is named after them. The $175 entry fee per person or $700 per team includes lunch, green fees, carts, driving range, snacks, beverages and prizes. The lunch was served by Pickle Barrel Cafe between the sessions. Georgia College comes up with the prizes. “Major prizes (are) awarded for the first hole-in-one on each of the par 3’s,” Gaalema said. This year, major prizes included a new golf cart from Club Car. “The tournament is put on by (GC’s) entire athletic department as
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fensive swaps. The first half was quiet on both sides and the Bobcats were disappointed with their ball movement. “We’ve been practicing possession a lot in practice and that didn’t transfer over in the game,” Knight said. “We need to work on keeping the ball within our players and not always look up field.” The only goal of the game came off a free kick from graduate student Jarred English. English
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a fundraiser for scholarships and program upgrades,” said Steve Barsby, assistant athletic director and head men’s and women’s tennis coach. “I oversee the tournament but it is really coordinated by numerous people within the department,” “It is a way for alumni and athletic department supporters to contribute to the funding for the athletic departments,” Gaalema said. The goal for the tournament is to include alumni and athletic department supporters and keep them involved in GC’s athletic life. With so many participants, the proceeds from the tournament will fund 14 studentathlete scholarships for this academic school year. “We had very good numbers for this year. They were actually up from last year’s tournament which is good, especially in this economy,” Weston said. “With any fundraiser, you can never raise too much money. I think this year’s numbers are going to be right were we need to be.” The potential scholarship awardees
curled one into the box on the far post to find freshman striker Paul Murray. Murray timed his leap in the box and delivered a header to the opposite post for the Bobcat’s first goal of the 2011-2012 seasons and Murray’s first in college. “It was overwhelming as a freshman. It was my first goal and my first shot of the game,” Murray said. “I just stopped and high-fived everyone. I didn’t really know what to do.” The men took half up 1-0 looking to improve on their on-field communication and possession. “In the second half, our
must have a minimum 1140 SAT (out of 1600) and a 3.5 grade average. The athletic department advertises for the Sodexo Bobcat Classic. “The tournament is advertised in the local print media and on our websites, (as well as by) previous participants and alumni,” Barsby said. “Every team helps in some aspect of the event whether it is at the tournament selling raffle tickets or acting as hosts for the participants.” The athletic department is optimistic about the money raised from the tournament and will continue to keep the annual Sodexo Bobcat Classic Golf Tournament going. “This is a tightly run fundraiser and requires minimal expense by the athletic department, which is wise. I don’t see any needed changes,” Weston said. “I see more success in the future for the event it we can continue to get the word out and continue to get people to help out with our athletic department.”
play wasn’t as tight as it should have been,” Strawbridge said. Payne wanted to see his new players’ strengths and weaknesses and much of the second half was entering new players and moving people around. The last twenty plus minutes of the game were focused on maintaining the ball within the blue jerseys. The opener was a success, Georgia College winning the battle and learning what is necessary for improvements. “It wasn’t always pretty,
but at times it looked good,” Strawbridge said. Good enough for a victory and for motivation to go into their long weekend. The Bobcats will continue their three day practice regimen to prepare for the long weekend. “The defense was a solid effort this weekend so a lot of practice will be based on striking,” Payne said. The team will travel to Valdosta State University to play the Blazers on Sept. 17 and head further South to take on the Seminoles at Florida State University.