SOUTH GEORGIA BASEBALL PREVIEWS
A Force to Be Reckoned With DJ Lundy, Irwin Co. High School
Fitzgerald’s Finest Hayleigh Ross, Fitzgerald High School
Female Kicker Strives in MaleDominated Sport
IN THE
GAME
DEC/JAN 2018-19
Jenna Cuff, Terrell Academy
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Carson Hoes Colquitt County High School Mascot What is the most memorable moment of your sports career to date? When the Packers went to the state championships each year. Also, going to the Benz Stadium for Corky Kell. What makes you different from everyone else? I say being a mascot is showing that you are willing to do the hardest of things on the sidelines. If a team doesn’t have a mascot, they don’t have a full team. Who is your biggest sports inspiration? My older brother because he did the mascot before me, and I wanted to be like him, but also be better than he was.
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Female Kicker Strives in Male-Dominated Sport Written by: Alex Dunn | Photography by: Marque Milla Reese
Senior Jenna Cuff is not your ordinary 18-year-old. Not only does she run track and start for her school’s soccer and basketball teams, but she is also the kicker for Terrell Academy’s football team. Cuff grew up around football. Her dad was a kicker for Albany State University and currently coach’s arena football. He played college ball at a much older age, 30, which is why Cuff was able to experience the game when she was younger.
“I would often go with him to practices,” she said. “Kicking was something we would do just for fun, but my dad realized that it was something I was good at.” When Cuff realized that her school’s team needed a kicker in her eighth-grade year, she asked her dad if she could try out. They went to the field, and Cuff proceeded to kick her first 30-yard field goal. They sent a video of her skill to Terrell Academy’s coach Bill Murdock. “He asked if I could do that every time,” Cuff said. “I have been kicking ever since. Once I stepped out on the football field for my first Friday night game, I was hooked. Being under the lights is a feeling like no 44 | itgnext.com
other. I love kicking, and God has blessed me with a talent that I believe should be honored.” Cuff comes from a long line of coaches, so her interest in sports is not much of a surprise. Both her parents, her cousins, and her brotherin-law are in the coaching business. They are the ones Cuff goes to for advice and support. “My family encourages me to do and be anything that I want to be,” she said. “I can remember when I was nervous about trying out for the team. My mom told me that if I was going to let fear stop me, then I would never accomplish anything that God had planned for me. I am surrounded by supportive family members.” Cuff also credited her team and school with showing support; they
voted her homecoming queen and had her crowned in her football uniform. Cuff was named tothe GISA All-State Team her sophomore and junior years, the first female to accomplish the feat.
“I was honored, and it was one of the most wonderful feelings I have ever experienced,” Cuff said. “It was like a dream. All the hard work was worth it. I must give my team credit. It would not have been possible if they had not worked so hard. My success was only possible because they believed in me. Being the first female was an honor and privilege.”
Being a female in a male-dominated sport often requires you to work harder than the competition, at least that’s what Cuff lives by. On the field, she follows a work ethic that has resulted in her success up to this point. “On the field I am always working to perfect my accuracy and increase my range,” she said. “Some nights I would practice by the lights of my dad’s truck because I want to be looked at for my success, not for my gender. I am often harder on myself than my coach. If I miss an extra point or field goal, I am letting my team down.” Off the field, Cuff understands that she has become an example of what you can accomplish if you try your hardest. “I am very aware of
“Once I stepped out on the football field for my first Friday night game, I was hooked. Being under the lights is a feeling like no other. I love kicking, and God has blessed me with a talent that I believe should be honored.” — Jenna Cuff In the Game | 45
Breaking Barriers Written by: Kaylee Kopke Photography by: Eric Vinson
Julie Doss is an adult Special Olympian who lives in Lake Park, Georgia. She was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome at an early age. Her mom, Jeanie Doss Allen, said she would always see Doss doing perfect cartwheels for fun when she was younger, which prompted her to put Doss in a regular gymnastics program at the age of 7. Immediately, Doss’s then coach saw that she had talent and potential within the sport. But there were times when, according to Allen, Doss had some trouble with certain apparatuses. Allen and Doss’s coach knew she could get far, especially being so young at the time. At the age of 12, Doss won first place in a regular meet in all four apparatuses, which are the beam, bars, floor, and vault. Shortly after that, Doss made the decision to take a step back from gymnastics to pursue dancing throughout her high school career. After graduating high school, Doss and her family moved to Lake Park, Georgia, when she was 22 years old. After a 10-year hiatus, her gymnastics career really took off. Thanks to the help 48 | itgnext.com
of Jane Walsh from the and made everyone Valdosta YMCA, Doss proud by going to the got started again in the Games.” She won first in vault sport, and she picked up right where she left off. and second in the othShe learned new things er three apparatuses. quickly, and she put in ESPN featured her as a backdrop the work required to be “Seeing all the love that throughout recognized she was receiving, she that week by the World pushed through these when the Games. She obstacles and made ev- games were was one of eryone proud by going going on. to the Games.” According two people from — Jeanie Doss Allen to Allen, that the state was the exof Georgia to go to the perience of a lifetime for 2015 World Games in Los Doss. Angeles, California. Doss’s next compeThe road to the tition will be in January Games wasn’t easy for the Georgia Winter for Doss. A couple of Games as well as swimmonths before she was ming in the Summer set to compete, she had Games and bowling to undergo a surgery, in the Fall Games. Not the aftermath of which only is she an avid athcaused serious health lete, but she also likes to complications for Doss. horseback ride during “Even though she her free time, something faced many setbacks that has become a big before her appearance part of her life. at the Games with health Doss’s story just goes complications and sur- to show that with courgeries, many people age and perseverance wrote to her after being there are no goals that inspired by her story you cannot accomplish, through a newspaper ar- no obstacles that you ticle that was written on cannot overcome. That, her,” Allen said. “They all combined with the love rallied together and sent and support from family, her letters and words of friends, and the comencouragement. Seeing munity, can give you the all the love that she was extra boost to shine and receiving, she pushed achieve your greatest through these obstacles potential.
South Georgia Baseball Previews AAAAAAA The 2018 regular season saw Lowndes and Colquitt dominate the upper half of region 1-7A as the two teams combined to win 44 games between them. The Vikings of head coach Rusty Beale finished as the region champs, gaining the No. 1 seed with a 9-3 region mark. Tony Kirkland’s Packer squad finished as the No. 2 seed after going 8-4 in region play. Both teams headed to the state playoffs with high hopes of advancing to the final four. However, both the Packers and Lowndes suffered second round losses in the playoffs. Tift County finished last in the region and did not see any playoff action. Headed into 2019, both Colquitt and Lowndes face heavy losses among key contributors from a year ago, forcing both Beale and Kirkland to look at any and all newcomers to fill the void. Colquitt will have to replace 12 seniors from last year, including standout shortstop Garret Patel, along with pitchers Cory Newsome and Dylan Collins. Returning are senior outfielders Tucker Hathcock and Alex Bledsoe. Lowndes was not hit as hard to graduation, but still lost standouts Wyatt Fender, Tyson Shaw, Rhett McCleod, Brett Beals, Johnny Retterbush, and Palmer Henderson. However, Beale will have some great players back this season, including three players who brought home top awards as juniors in Region 1-7A last year: Region Hitter of the Year C.J. Rose, Region Pitcher of the Year Cameron Carter,and Region Player of the Year Tyler Andrews. Heading into this season, Rose and Andrews are already preseason All-State selections. Tift County will try to rebound from a rare season with no postseason. The Blue Devils of head coach Kyle Kirk were very young, finishing 10-20 overall with a 4-8 region record. That left Tift as the only team in the region not in the playoffs. But, Kirk will have several of those young players back this upcoming season, including Reese Watson, Gauge Domingue, Ben Brock, and Joseph Pittman. The Parkview Panthers of Lilburn wound up as the Class 7A state champions for 2018.
TOP 10 MLB HOME RUN LEADERS OF ALL TIME 1. Barry Bonds
762 home runs
3. Babe Ruth
714 home runs
2. Hank Aaron
4. Alex Rodriguez 5. Willie Mays 6. Albert Pujols 7. Ken Griffey Jr. 8. Jim Thome 9. Sammy Sosa 10. Frank Robinson
755 home runs 696 home runs 660 home runs 633 home runs 630 home runs 612 home runs
MLB FUN FACTS
Written by: Phil Jones
• Every single ball used in MLB is pre-rubbed with mud from a secret location along the Delawre River in New Jersey. Only one man knows this secret location. This improve the quality of the ball and is the only way that it can be used in a game.
• Hollywood personality Charlie Sheen once bought 2,615 tickets to a single MLB game just to increase his chances of catching a home run ball. • Between 1885 and 1893, the MLB allowed one side of the bat to be flat. This rule only last eight years.
AAAAAA After making it to the state championship game in 2017, the Lee County Trojans had grand thoughts of returning to the big game last season. A 27-win season had Lee winning the Region 1-6A regular season title heading into the state tournament as the No. 1 seed. But, a second round loss to Greenbriar High School in the playoffs ended any hopes that head coach Brandon Brock and his team had of getting a second chance of playing for a state championship. Heading into 2019, the Trojans will have a new coach as Brock decided to step away to spend more time with his family. Taking over the head coaching duties will be pitching coach Brian Trivette. He’ll inherit some nice returning talent, but he’s also lost some big time names such as pitchers Layne Waird and Reid Hanson, who both signed with Albany State University. Also signing to play college ball were Garrett Suiter and Johnathon Logsden. Meanwhile, head coach Brad Porter enjoyed a successful first season at the helm of the Valdosta Wildcats baseball program after taking over for long-time coach Bart Shuman. His Valdosta team finished as the No. 3 seed in the always tough Region 1-6A, advancing to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs and finishing with a 23-12 record. Some good talent returns this season, including Region Player of the Year Colby Thomas, who was selected to play for Team Georgia. Joining Thomas are All-Region selections Jude Ard, Cory McCann, and Avery Stephens. Gone to graduation are Dustin Doscher, Kody Noviello, and Eric Posas. Northside (Warner Robins) is looking to recover from one of their worst seasons in the history of the Eagles program. Last season is one to forget as Northside finished winless in region play, while picking up only five wins against 21 losses. Head coach Mark Estes is hoping the young roster that endured such a tough season last year will be able to put 2018 behind them and move forward this season. The Eagles open the year against Howard High School from Macon. Coffee County finished as the No. 4 seed in region standing last year, finishing 10-19 overall with a 4-8 region mark and losing out in the first round of the state playoffs to Effingham County. The Trojans lost key seniors pitcher and outfielder Justin Tarver, catcher Grant Vining, and standout infielder Wade Sumner. Sy Jones begins his second season as head coach after coming over from FPD of Macon. Houston County came within a game of the region title last year, finishing 9-3 in region play and the as the No. 2 seed despite winning a region-high 28 games overall. Heading into 2019, the Bears of HoCo will be welcoming in a new head coach. Jason Brettn — who led the Houston County program over the past nine years as head coach, including state championships in 2014 and 2016 — resigned to take an administrative position within the Houston County school system. His replacement is former assistant coach Matt Hopkins. Hopkins will inherit a team that lost eight seniors, including Dillan Toms and Logan Morris, who batted .340 for his high school career at HoCo. One of our teams from Region 1-6A hopes to dethrone the Pope Greyhounds, who defeated Lee County in 2017 for the title and repeated last year, defeating Alatoona to win it again.
609 home runs 586 home runs ITG Next | 49