Sports

Loran Smith/Staff

Loran Smith/Staff

Smith: Chick and ‘Teddy Ballgame’

Loran Smith
Thursday, June 27, 2024
There was a teenage rookie outfielder for the San Diego Padres in the summer of 1936 who was fidgety, restless, and blatantly anxious to experience more playing time in the outfield. He was “champing at the bit” to play every day.
Gatewood quarterback Ames Johnson drops back to pass during a game last season. (File Photo)

Gatewood quarterback Ames Johnson drops back to pass during a game last season. (File Photo)

Gators’ football faces loaded schedule

Lance McCurley
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Longtime Gatewood football head coach Jeff Ratliff said he’s “excited” about his team’s upcoming season.Last year, the Gators lost a heartbreaker in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association Class AA state final to Edmund Burke Academy.
Cedrion Brundage bends over backwards to break the goal line plane and score Putnam County’s first touchdown of the 2021 season against the Morgan County Bulldogs, leading to a 37-0 rout. (File Photo)

Cedrion Brundage bends over backwards to break the goal line plane and score Putnam County’s first touchdown of the 2021 season against the Morgan County Bulldogs, leading to a 37-0 rout. (File Photo)

War Eagles begin 2024 season with new region, familiar rivals

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
With high school football summer practices in full swing, The Eatonton Messenger is doing a two-part series on the upcoming schedule breakdowns for Putnam County and Gatewood. This week, the Putnam County High School War Eagles.
James K Pressley/File Photo

James K Pressley/File Photo

Outdoors: The tomato sandwich

James K. Pressley
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
There’s one great thing about summer in the South. Vegetables, especially tomatoes and corn, top my list. Each summer, I await the season’s harvest with the anticipation of a child at Christmas.
Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

Smith: Charlie Condon

Loran Smith
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
A few weeks ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers in Phoenix. This allowed me to see Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani play at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks chose to pitch to him.The Diamondbacks chose to pitch to him.
Putnam County rising junior J’mari Greene (3) averaged nearly 12 points per game last season. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County rising junior J’mari Greene (3) averaged nearly 12 points per game last season. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

War Eagles’ basketball begins summer slate

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
When the month began, the Putnam County War Eagles’ basketball team “hit the ground running” this summer.After a few practices at home in Eatonton, the team traveled to Atlanta to attend a camp at the Georgia Tech campus, where the War Eagles played some of the best competition attending.
Georgia baseball player Charlie Condon broke the alltime program home run record earlier this season. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Georgia baseball player Charlie Condon broke the alltime program home run record earlier this season. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Condon leaves legacy with Bulldogs baseball

Skyla Morris
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
With Georgia’s 2024 baseball season over, sophomore infielder Charlie Condon has probably played his final Bulldogs game. If so, Condon left with a flourish, scoring a record-setting 37th home run of the year Monday night in the ninth inning of the Dawgs’ season-ending 8-5 playoff loss to N.C.
In addition to GIAA 2-A All-Region and All-State recognitions, Gators' slugger Ames Johnson shared co-Player of the Year honors with teammate Wilson Moore. (TREY NORRIS/Staff)

In addition to GIAA 2-A All-Region and All-State recognitions, Gators' slugger Ames Johnson shared co-Player of the Year honors with teammate Wilson Moore. (TREY NORRIS/Staff)

Gators gather post-season praise

Trey Norris
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
After winning a second-consecutive state championship, the Gatewood Gators saw six players named to the GIAA AA District 2 All-Region team and four to the GIAA AA All-State team.
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