Sports

Putnam County's Rashod Daniel has committed to play football for United States Military Academy. (LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff)

Putnam County's Rashod Daniel has committed to play football for United States Military Academy. (LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff)

Putnam County football's Rashod Daniel finds college home

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Putnam County football senior Rashod Daniel has already determined where he will play college football. Daniel recently announced he will continue his career on the gridiron at the United States Military Academy (USMC) in West Point, N.Y., after graduating next year.
Loran Smith/Staff

Loran Smith/Staff

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Smith: Willie Mays

Loran Smith
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
The tributes to Willie Mays last week were bittersweet. Of course, he deserved all the lofty praise, but there was the regret of him having to endure the segregation, dissent, and humiliation of his native South, growing up in Westfield, Ala., nine miles west of Birmingham.
Putnam County 10U Girls State Champions include (front row, l-r): Ally Stancil, Maycie Crawford, Evie Milbrath, Anna Heberling, and Zoiey Dennis; (middle row, l-r): Kamille Thrift, Breanna Moore, Jessi Mashburn, K’Leigh Jones, Nora Dodd, and Henleigh Rios, with coaches Jonathon Chambers, Dena Stancil, and Chad Crawford. (CONTRIBUTED)

Putnam County 10U Girls State Champions include (front row, l-r): Ally Stancil, Maycie Crawford, Evie Milbrath, Anna Heberling, and Zoiey Dennis; (middle row, l-r): Kamille Thrift, Breanna Moore, Jessi Mashburn, K’Leigh Jones, Nora Dodd, and Henleigh Rios, with coaches Jonathon Chambers, Dena Stancil, and Chad Crawford. (CONTRIBUTED)

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Putnam girls double-up as state champs

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Both the coach-pitched 8-and-Under (8U) and live-pitched 10-and-Under (10U) Putnam County girls’ recreation softball teams won state titles last Friday afternoon at the Putnam County Recreation Center, which hosted the three-day tournaments.
A golfer takes a shot from the fairway during the golf tournament this past Saturday. (CHARLES JORDAN/Staff)

A golfer takes a shot from the fairway during the golf tournament this past Saturday. (CHARLES JORDAN/Staff)

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PCHS football golf tourney exceeds expectations

Lance McCurley
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Putnam County High School’s football boosters raised money to support this season’s program with their annual golf tournament Saturday at Harbor Club in Greensboro.The tournament kicked off around 9 a.m. and lasted a couple of hours. Each team played 18 holes of golf.
Loran Smith/Staff

Loran Smith/Staff

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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.
Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

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Smith: Dawgs’ shortfall in Supers can be an opportunity

Loran Smith
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wes Johnson is just getting started. A painful loss makes the coach hurt for his players, but he is a man who enjoys an eminent reputation that brings about inherent recruiting advantages. He is already at work for next season.
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

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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

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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.
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