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SPORTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017
THE SUMTER ITEM
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Old starters among new Braves faces
McCutchen’s move, rotation provide intrigue for Pirates
BY NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves were ready to add some more experience to their starting rotation — and boy, did they succeed. Bartolo Colon, the 43-year-old right-hander whose longevity and jovial disposition have turned him into one of the game’s fan favorites, joined Atlanta in November. Around the same time, the Braves acquired R.A. Dickey, the 42-year-old knuckleballer who is one of baseball’s elder statesmen — but whose big league debut back in 2001 came four years after Colon’s. After three straight losing seasons, the Braves are hoping for a bright future led by young pitching as they move into a new ballpark. In Colon and Dickey, they’ve certainly acquired knowledgeable mentors. “It’s not bad to have that experienced guy like that to lean on a little bit. There were times last year when I thought ... some of our young guys, that we lacked that, that veteran presence,” manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. “You can learn a lot just by watching.” Dickey returns to the National League for the first time since 2012, when the right-hander won 20 games and the Cy Young Award for the New York Mets. He spent the past four seasons with Toronto.
BY WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Atlanta knuckleballer R.A. Dickey loosens up during a spring training workout. Along with the 42-year-old Dickey, the Braves have 43-year-old Bartolo Colon in camp as well. Colon has a Cy Young to his credit as well, from back in 2005 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. He’s the active leader in wins with 233, a total that ranks third among pitchers born in Latin America behind fellow Dominican Republic native Juan Marichal (243) and Nicaragua native Dennis Martinez (245). Colon says he’d like to be able to provide about 30 starts and 180 in-
OBITUARIES CHERYL M. SIMS BISHOPVILLE — Cheryl Mott Sims, 53, of 312 Munnerlyn St., Bishopville, entered eternal rest on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. Cheryl was a South Carolina State University graduate, where she received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in counselor education. She was a SIMS retired school guidance counselor for the Lee County School District. Cheryl was a daughter of the late John and Estelle Brown Mott of Bishopville. She was the beloved mother of Ashleigh Nicole and Helen Matice. She also leaves stepchildren, Marvin T. Sims, Latasha Sims and Julius Miller; former husband and friend, Marvin Sims; a brother, Tyron (Denise) Mott of Awendaw; a mother-in-law, Carrie Sims; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Harry) Anderson, Diane Sims and Lois (Leon) Woods; brother-in-law, Bobby Sims, all of Mayesville; and aunts, Louise Sutton of Awendaw and Annabelle Moore of Miami. The family is receiving friends at the residence, 312 Munnerlyn St., Bishopville. Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Wake and Delta Sigma Theta Omega-Omega Service will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. at New Bethel AME Church, 400 Munnerlyn St., Bishopville. Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Lee Central High School auditorium, 1800 Wisacky Highway, Bishopville, with the New Bethel AME Church pastor, the Rev. Emanuel Davis, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Jerome McCray and the Rev. Iris J. Brown. Interment will follow in Thomastown Cemetery in the Browntown community of Lee County. Wilson Funeral Home, 403 S. Main St., Bishopville, is in charge of arrangements.
GLORIA M. RAGIN CHARLOTTE — Gloria Maxine Ragin was born on Sept. 12, 1943, in Sumter, and died on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte. She is survived by her daughter, Hope Alford Summerhill (William Summerhill Jr.); her RAGIN three grandchildren, Grant, Grayson and Paige, all of Charlotte; her sister, Shirley Ragin Levy (attorney Thomas B. Levy) of Columbia; her brother, Ira “Tex” Ragin of
Charlotte; and her sister-inlaw, Mildred Jones Ragin. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at noon on Friday at Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe, North Carolina. R.O. Levy Home for Funerals, Batesburg-Leesville, is in charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM JONES Funeral services for William “Bill” Jones will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 417 S. Fulton St., with the Rev. Cartrell Wood officiating. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, Percival Road, JONES Columbia. Mr. Jones transitioned on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at the Carriage House of Sumter. He was born in Charleston to the late Willie and Lizzie James Jones. He attended the public schools of Sumter County and Lincoln High School. Bill served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After the military, he was employed by Tuomey hospital for many years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his former wife, Rosa Stewart Jones. Surviving are his sons, William Stewart Jones of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Kevin Keith Jones of Santa Cruz, California; a sister, Annie (David) Murray of Sumter; and a host of other relatives and friends. Condolences may be made on his tribute page found at wwwPalmerMemorialChapel. com. Professional services rendered by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc.
THURSTON WALDON Funeral services for Thurston Waldon will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 401 S. Main St., with the Rev. Alexander Baker officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Park. Mr. Waldon will be placed in the church for WALDON viewing at noon on Saturday until the hour of service. Mr. Waldon, 79, husband of Amelia Crosby Waldon, transitioned on Feb. 7, 2017. Born in Sumter County, he was a son to the late Herald R. Waldon and Lottie Evans Waldon. He attended Lincoln High School from 1952 to 1956. In June 2002, he retired from the Los Angeles
nings, marks he’s reached each of the last four seasons. The home run he hit for the Mets last year at San Diego was one of the highlights of the season, and on the mound, there’s no telling how much longer he can keep this up. “I always used to tell my mother, God rest her soul, that I always wanted to play until I was 45 years old,” Colon said through a translator.
County Sheriff ’s Department. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Amelia; five children, Cynthia Waldon of Kennesaw, Georgia, Herald (Anita) Waldon of Gardena, California, Irwin Waldon and Natina Waldon, both of Douglasville, Georgia, and Darvina Waldon of Los Angeles; four grandchildren; one greatgrandchild; two sisters, Barbara Wilson-Duffin of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Beverly (John) Dicks of Columbia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Condolences may be made on his tribute page found at www.PalmerMemorialChapel. com. Professional services rendered by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc.
JAMES WATSON James Watson was born on Nov. 5, 1934, to the late Oder and Lurethia Blair Watson. He departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at his residence. James served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years in the Republic of Vietnam and throughout the United States. When he retired, he worked for Sumter School District 17. He leaves to mourn and cherish his memories: his wife, Ruth Watson; one daughter, Jacquelyn R. Watson of Atlanta; one son, James (Clarissa) Watson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; two sisters, Mary Ann Taylor and Kathy Atkins Taylor of Sumter; four grandchildren; two sisters-inlaw; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary. Mr. Watson will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. on Saturday for viewing until the hour of service. Funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday at Jeho-
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew McCutchen’s spot in center field was the fulcrum around which the Pittsburgh Pirates swung from laughingstock to contenders. Now it belongs to Starling Marte after McCutchen gracefully opted to pass the torch MCCUTCHEN at his favorite position to pick up the torch at another: right field. The five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP will arrive in Bradenton, Florida for spring training as the starting right fielder as part of a shuffling that saw Marte — a two-time Gold Glove winner — slide over to center and Gregory Polanco flip from right to left. That means McCutchen will patrol right for the first time in the majors, working in front of the 21-foot high Clemente Wall at PNC Park named for arguably the greatest player in franchise history. McCutchen certainly seems at peace with the decision, sharing a picture of Clemente on his Twitter feed shortly after manager Clint Hurdle made the decision official.
vah Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Marion H. Newton officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Park. The family is receiving friends at the home, 5 Van Buren St., Sumter, SC 29150. Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.
BOBBY ANN G. MAHONEY BISHOPVILLE — Bobby Ann Gregg Mahoney, 63, passed on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at her residence in Newark, New Jersey. Born in Lee County, she was a daughter of Alvin and Hannah Mack Gregg. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mt. Lisbon Presbyterian Church, 205 Mt. Lisbon Road, Bishopville, with Minister Othan Franklin, pastor / eulogist. Interment will follow in McCutchen Cemetery, Bishopville. Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Square Deal Funeral Home Chapel. Online condolences can be sent to the family at esquaredealfun@sc.rr.com. These services have been entrusted to Square Deal Funeral Home, 106 McIntosh St., Bishopville.
RAYMOND LEE HIGH Raymond Lee “Ray” High, 52, husband of Andrea Brown High, died on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at his home. Born in Spartanburg, he was a son of the late James Olin High Sr. and Alice “Midge” Nabors High. He was a member of Alice Drive Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Life Group leader, organizer of the New York mission trip, and any other way he could serve others. Mr. High was a member of Mountain Movers Ministry team and an integral part of the “Over the Top” youth event. He was a business development executive with
IMA Consulting. He was a very active member of the HFMA professional organization. He loved the outdoors and cooking, and Camp Legacy where he could spend time with special friends enjoying both. Survivors include his wife of 25 years; two sons, Matthew W. High of Columbia and Michael F. High of Charleston; one daughter, Ann Elizabeth High of Sumter; two brothers, James O. High Jr. (Jennifer) of Columbia and Kenneth High (Kim) of Sumter; his stepmother, Judith High of Sumter; one stepbrother, Carl Jensen (Tammy) of Sumter; and a number of nephews. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Alice Drive Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Clay Smith officiating. Pallbearers will be Britton Moseley, Trey Howell, Joe Disher, John Jekel, Dan Tindal, David Magnin, Jay McElveen and Terry Stein. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Camp Legacy, Eric Kolb, Buddy Noonan, Kurt Moore, Monte McLeod, David Patrick, David Van Patten, David Cotton, Andy Reynolds, Bert Parker, Travis McIntosh, Tim Garrity and Sonny Jones; as well as members of Mountain Movers, Dave Lovice, Chad Dowling, Greg Stone and James Goodson. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday at Alice Drive Baptist Church. A private family burial will be held in the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island. Memorials may be made to Alice Drive Baptist Church — Open Door Ministry Program, 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
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