CMYK 2B
Sports
The Paper | Thursday, June 14, 2012
LARSON from page 1B
Eddie MacDonald got 150th career start
File photo
The 2011 Jackson Brevet attracted nearly 1,500 cyclists to the community.
Drivers reminded about Jackson County Brevet Routing around routes being recommended By RAMONA RACE EVANS revans@clickthepaper.com Shortly after 7:15 a.m. Saturday, close to 1,500 cyclists will take the roadways of Jackson County for the largest fundraising event for Aplastic Anemia in the entire United States. With participation higher than it has ever been, supporters and survivors of the disease have registered and are traveling from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and even Michigan, according to event founder Robert Wilhite. Not only does the Jackson County Brevet raise money for new discoveries of a 25-year-old treatment but it also affords AA patients the opportunity to meet each other, a rarity as rare as the disease itself. As the cyclists prepare for the staggered start, safety is on the mind of event officials and the community. On Tuesday, multiple signs were posted along the 22-, 39-, 64- and 100-mile routes to prepare motorists for traffic delays to eb expected on Saturday. Event organizers met with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Braselton and Jefferson Police Departments to establish a united front for cyclist safety. Law enforcement officers will be monitoring the major intersections along the routes including those along Ga. 53 and Old Pendergrass Road. More than 30 motorcyclists will patrol the four routes along with multiple SAG vehicles with first aid and backup bike accessories. Motorists are asked to plan alternative routes for their Saturday commutes. On May 11, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 101, “The Better Bicycling Bill.” Among other improvements for cy-
clists, the “3 Feet 2 Pass” initiative is making its way to Georgia motorists. Georgia is the 18th state to adopt a 3-feet minimum passing distance for motorists overtaking cyclists, ensuring a higher level of safety. “The three feet of distance begins at the outside of the mirror,” said Wilhite. “The wind from vehicles can be very detrimental to the cyclists. While they have airbags, we just have Spandex. Cyclists are unable to ride strictly on the shoulder of the roadway due to an accumulation of debris. Our tires are thin and easily punctured by broken glass and materials.” As the community joins together for safety, the excitement leading up to the event is hard to ignore. New this year was three training rides for preparation. With more than 100 participants in the training rides, event organizers were pleased with the controlled, break-out free training rides. “People didn’t realize how nice it is to ride out here in Jackson County,” said race director Ed Mooney. To accommodate the number of registered cyclists, rest stops have been planned for every 18 miles of the routes. Each will have restrooms, beverages and snacks. Countless businesses and restaurants have donated materials and foods for the stops as well as for the catered meal at 4 p.m. All profits will go to the AAMDS for research. Still needed are volunteers for the early morning registration. To sign-up, email info@ jacksonbrevet.com with “Potential Volunteer” in the subject line. Visit jacksonbrevet.com for information on the fundraiser ride, donations, event apparel and more.
JCPR to host camp A soccer camp is being held June 1114 at Hoschton Park and July 16-19 at East Jackson Park. The camp is hosted by Classic Soccer Academy. Call 706-693-0892 to register. There will be a developmental camp for ages 4-14 and a goal keeper academy camp for ages 8-14.
Tavani Soccer Camp Coach Gregg Tavani will lead the annual Tavani Soccer Camp June 18-22 at the Jefferson Parks and Rec fields. Entering its 10th year and third year coming to Jefferson, the camp is designed to be both intense and fun. The camp will run from 9 a.m. to noon each day and is intended for boys and girls ages 6-15. Cost of the camp is $160 and includes a leather handstitched soccer ball, camp T-shirt and a personal player evaluation. Register online at www.tavanisoccer.com.
SOFTBALL Lady Dragons Softball Kiddie Camp at Jefferson High The Jefferson High softball team is hosting a camp for young players June 11-14 from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day. College softball coaches, past college players and current high school players will assist in teaching softball fundamentals in a challenging but fun way.
Lady Dragon Middle School Softball Camp A softball camp for Jefferson Middle School students is being held June 11-14 from 1-5 p.m. each day. College softball coaches, past college players and current high school players will assist in teaching softball fundamentals.
son and Conley, followed by last week’s race winner Corey LaJoie and Ben Kennedy. Sergio Pena, Darrell Wallace Jr., Eddie MacDonald, who was honored in the driver’s meeting for making his 150th career start, Andrew Smith, and CJ Faison completed the top-10. Racing action will return to Gresham Motorsports Park on July 4 for the World Crown 300 Super Late Model race and the local division features. For more information, please visit www.RaceGMP.com.
GMP Local Divisions JEFFERSON – After a hot day at Gresham Motorsports Park the on-track action got even hotter with the local division features on Saturday as the Mini Stocks, Renegades/Sportsman, Trucks, and Outlaw Late Models took to the track. Avery Burgess and Vernon Hicks started the Mini Stock feature side-by-side. Aaron Calvert was black flagged on lap four for leaking fuel but refused to pull into the pits and began to race Hicks for the lead. He overtook Hicks on lap 9 but was no longer being scored. Scotty Beck then went around Hicks to take over the true race lead despite being behind Calvert’s No. 01 machine. The caution flag flew on lap 12 as Hicks went off the pace and stopped in turn four. After the yellow came out, Hicks re-fired, made a gesture to the flagman, and did a small burnout on the front stretch. Calvert pulled into the pits under the yellow and was allowed back on the track at the tail end of the field. Beck continued to lead as the green came out again but immediately Hicks spun in turn two bringing out another caution. Calvert hit the wall trying to avoid the spinning Hicks. When the green flag flew once more Calvert was on the move. He picked off car after car and took over second on with a handful of laps left. With a couple of laps to go, Beck slowed and pulled into the pits giving the win to Calvert. After the excitement in the Mini Stocks, the Sportsman/ Renegades hit the pavement with Jeff Chadwick leading the Sportsman and Matthew Widener in the top spot for the Renegades. Widener managed to
get a sizeable lead early on in Renegades while Brian Sosebee went to the lead in Sportsman. Widener had a problem and pulled into the pits giving the Renegades lead to eventual winner Mike Childers while Jackie Daniels began to work hard on Sosebee in Sportsman. The duo battled in the closing laps of the 25-lap feature before Daniels took the lead on the outside of Sosebee and took the checkered flag. In the 35-lap Truck event, division dominator Cody Haskins drew a six following the drivers meeting which inverted the entire truck field putting him shotgun on the field for the green flag. Aaron Calvert strapped into a truck after winning the Mini Stocks feature and was on the pole for the race. Calvert lead early on while Haskins meticulously worked his way through the field but could not hold off the powerful No. 38 machine and Haskins went to the lead on lap 11. Conrad Compton took over second after Calvert got a bad restart and attempted to challenge Haskins for the top spot to no avail. Haskins again went to Victory Lane going three-for-three this year at Gresham. Mike Davidson was on the pole for the Outlaw Late Models feature. Davidson led Jason Bates and Matthew Wragg to the green flag. Bates’ stout No. 22 ride took the top spot on lap three and the driver never looked back. While Wragg and Davidson battles for second and David Murphy and Russell Fleeman exchanged the fourth position multiple times, Bates extended his lead to nearly two seconds and went to Victory Lane.
CARDINALS from page 1B
Town of Braselton passed a resolution Team members Nicolas Blacklidge, Michael Burel, Logan Cantrell, Jonathan Cole, Aidan Conley, Evan Hubbard, Keaton Juhl, Cole Kicklighter, Isaiah Maxey, Benjamin Meadows, Michael Noel II, Walker Pangle, JT Sosebee and Derek “D” Vaughn were honored by the town, their coaches and their parents. Following a season of success in baseball and teamwork, the West Jackson Cardinals, proudly sporting their red jerseys, left grateful of their accomplishments and ready for a new season this fall.
Summer sports BASKETBALL camp calendar Elite Basketball Camp SOCCER
and red flag periods, the race was filled with two and three-wide battles for position. The level of intensity kept rising as the laps wound down and peaked when Larson made the pass for the lead. Amazingly enough, the hard racing only contributed to two major multi-car incidences; the first involving Ryan Gifford and Bryan Ortiz, the second collecting Akinori Ogata, Jorge Arteaga, and Enrique Contreras III. Contreras was taken to the hospital for observation after his incident. Brett Moffitt finished third behind Lar-
Chelzey Watson with North Georgia Elite will hold a summer basketball camp July 16-19. Camp will be broken into two divisions, with grades 3-5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and grades 6-8 from 4-9 p.m. Contact Chelzey for more information and to pre-register: chelzeywatson79@gmail.com.
FOOTBALL Future Panther Camp Jackson County Comprehensive High School will host a Future Panther Football Camp June 18-21 for participants in grades 1-8. Cost is $75 per camper. Make checks payable to JCCHS TD Club and mail to P.O. Box K, Jefferson Ga. 30549 or email lianne.daniel@ gmail.com for questions.
Mill Creek Youth Football Camp The Mill Creek High School football program will host of camp for elementary and middle school boys interested in learning the fundamentals and skills of football. The camp will run July 9-12 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The cost of the camp is $85 and includes a T-shirt. Camp registration is handled by Mill Creek Community School. Checks can be made payable to Mill Creek Community School, 4400 Braselton Hwy, Hoschton, Ga. 30548 or payment can be made in person.
Dragon Football Camp Jefferson High School will host the annual Dragon Football Camp July 16-20. Varsity high school coaches and players will share their secrets of success to the next generation of Dragons. Ages 7-14 are welcome. This camp is strongly encouraged for all youth registering for the 2012 recreation season through Jefferson Parks and Rec. The cost is $60 (if registered for 7-12 Jefferson Rec tackle football). Contact Colton Green at 706-3675116 or cgreen@jeffersonrec.com for more information or to sign up.
Apalachee High camp
The 7th annual Apalachee football camp is set for June 18-21 for grades 1-8. Camp times are 9 a.m. to 11:30 and activities will be held at the AHS football field. Cost is $60 if registered before June 18 or $80 after June 18. For information contact shane.davis@ barrow.k12.ga.us.
OUTDOOR
Camp for the outdoorsy type The wild child who enjoys the outdoors would be right at home at the FFA Wildlife Camp, a weeklong residential camp for boys and girls. Held at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington, the camp has two programs-basic and advanced. See more at the website at www.georgiaffacamp.org.