East Cobb Sports & Recreation Archives

East Cobb sports update: Pope girls swimming team wins 1st state championship

February 4, 2018 5:31 PMFebruary 4, 2018 2:11 PM by Wendy Parker

For the first time in school history, the Pope girls swimming team has won a state championship.

The Greyhounds edged Johns Creek, 349 points to 338 points, to win the Georgia High School Association Class 6A title at Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Pope swimmer Sarah Sorensen won individual state crowns in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, and her teammate Mady Bragg won the girls 200-yard freestyle.

Sorensen, Bragg, Julia Keith and Anna Prestel took the 6A championship in the 400-yard freestyle relay event.

The Walton girls were attempting a second consecutive state championship in Class 7A, but placed third with 282 points, behind Brookwood and Lambert. The Lassiter girls were sixth, with 213 points.

The Raiders’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Jasmin Hoffman, Abby Belinski, Jami Williams and Melissa Cox won the 7A state title. Hoffman and Cox finished 1-2 in the 50-yard freestyle finals and they were 2-3, respectively, in the 100-yard freestyle.

Williams was second in the 100-yard backstroke, and Walton diver Mackenna Buchanan won the 1-meter springboard event.

In the boys competition, Lassiter finished second in the Class 7A team results with 304.5 points, which Brookwood won easily with 404 points. The Pope boys were fourth in Class 6A with 283 points.

Sprayberry’s Ananda Lin won the state championship in the Class 6A 100-yard freestyle event with a time of 44.66. He also was second in the 200-yard finals. Other top finishers from East Cobb schools in their respective classifications:

Boys 200-yard medley relay: Pope, 2nd (Mitchell Hunt, Langston Weddington, Ben Prestel, Gabe Lacasella);
Boys 1-meter diving: Casey Harrison, Pope, 2nd;
Boys 200-yard freestyle: Parker Ciaramella, Lassiter, 3rd;
Boys 50-yard freestyle: Jordan Dunn, Lassiter, 3rd;
Girls 100-yard butterfly: Sophie Taylor, Lassiter, 2nd;
Boys 100-yard freestyle: Brendan Hausdorf, Lassiter, 2nd;
Girls 200-yard freestyle relay: Pope, 2nd (Rachel Geller, Britheny Joassaint, Julia Keith, Mady Bragg);
Boys 100-yard backstroke: Zach Franklin, Lassiter, 3rd;
Girls 200-yard individual medley: Anna Prestel, Pope, 2nd;
Boys 100-yard breastsroke: Jordan Dunn, Lassiter, 3rd;
Girls 100-yard breaststroke: Bailey Dopfel, Pope, 3rd;
Girls 400-yard freestyle relay: Walton, 2nd (Melissa Cox, Caroline Current, Abby Belinski, Jasmin Hoffman).

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb football players honored at Cobb County Touchdown Club dinner

January 29, 2018 12:28 PM by Wendy Parker

Players, coaches and parent volunteers from all high schools in the county were honored at the Cobb County Touchdown Club dinner Sunday night.

The dinner was at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest Hotel. From Walton, Daniel Brunner was named coach of the year, Dominick Blaylock was named offensive player of the year and Austin Kirksey was named quarterback of the year.

Although the Raiders finished 11-1 and reached the second round of the state playoffs, they were not named the Cobb team of the year. That went to McEachern, which reached the Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

Walton’s Chris Hirschfield was named offensive coach of the year and Raiders player Cole Arendsen was named 48 Minute Man of the Year. From Lassiter, Derrik Allen was named defensive back of the year.

On the all-county offensive and defense teams of the year, the following East Cobb players were recognized:

Evan Conley, QB, Kell;
Josiah Futral, RB, Kell;
D.J. Soyoye, RB, Walton;
Michael Luckie, WR, Kell;
Zack Owens, WR, Pope;
Connor Gates, OL, Kell;
Justin Talley, DL, Kell;
Chance Jones, LB, Wheeler;
Aaron Bibbins, DB, Sprayberry;
Christian Jackson, DB, Lassiter.

A player from each school was also selected as a scholar-athlete of the year:

Connor Gates, Kell;
Chase Branch, Lassiter;
Ryan Inskip, Pope;
Zack Heib, Sprayberry;
Kris Kollias, Walton;
Jake Pereira, Wheeler.

And parents from all schools were recognized as volunteers of the year:

Richard Luckie, Kell;
Kate and Adam Beckerman, Lassiter;
DJ Van Deusen, Pope;
Jackie Blalock, Sprayberry;
Stuart Gurr, Walton;
Shontai Davidson, Wheeler.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Sandy Plains Softball announces free clinics as spring registration continues

January 11, 2018 5:55 PM by Wendy Parker

As the new year dawned we posted that several East Cobb youth baseball organizations were continuing spring registration, and that’s also the case on the softball front. The Sandy Plains Softball Association has announced that it will be holding several free fundamentals clinics later this month as the sign-up period continues.

The dates for those fundamental clinics are from 6-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 (Tuesday) and Jan. 25 (Thursday) at Sandy Plains Park, 2977 Gordy Parkway (our calendar listing has more).

After those clinics is a Fun Day on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 12- 2 p.m. at the same venue, and it includes walk-up registration. Evaluations are on Sat. Feb. 3, starting at 10 a.m.

Sandy Plains Softball also is accepting applications for the Allison Beasley Scholarship, which will be awarded to one recreation league (non-travel) team girl during the spring season. The scholarship is named for a former Sandy Plains Softball Player who died at the age of 12 in a car accident in 2015.

The above link has full information to apply, including a required letter from each applicant about “what softball means to me,” and where to send that and the forms. The deadline is March 10 and the winner will be announced shortly after that. The selected girl will wear jersey No. 10, the same number Beasley wore, in her honor during the season.

Opening Day is March 17.

Online registration for Terrell Mill Girls Softball starts on Saturday and continues through Feb. 25. We’ll post more information about that as we get it.

If you have youth sports news to share, we’ll be glad to post it. This can include photos, awards, registration information, as well as calendar and event listings. Please e-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

PHOTOS: New Pope gym debuts as Lady Greyhounds roll

January 6, 2018 6:56 PM by Wendy Parker

After dignitaries, architects, construction engineers and school administrators were honored for their work making the new Pope High School gymnasium possible, the varsity girls basketball team made easy work of their opponent in the facility’s first event on Saturday.

The Lady Greyhounds trounced Chattahoochee 55-13, and the Greyhounds boys team also downed Chattahoochee 70-58, adding to the celebrations that brought out the Pope community.

The multi-level gym includes a running track on the top level, and peeking room at the floor down below.

Nick Parker, the executive director of the Cobb County School District SPLOST program, which oversees school construction, said the building of the new gym and adjoining theater (next to the existing gym) was one of the smoothest he’s experienced. He said the gym, which along with the theater cost nearly $24 million and took two years to build, will eventually have a capacity of 3,000, and will add 200 or so seats on the top level.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Former Sprayberry football star Rodrigo Blankenship helps Georgia Bulldogs reach national championship game

January 2, 2018 3:32 PM by Wendy Parker

When former Sprayberry football star Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 55-yard field goal for the Georgia Bulldogs near the end of the first half on New Year’s Day against Oklahoma, it did more than set a Rose Bowl record.

Those points helped the Bulldogs recover from a 17-point deficit as they defeated the Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

It was a game, as one sportswriter covering the came called it, “flat-out bonkers,” and Blankenship played a vital role.

In the national championship game next Monday against Alabama, Blankenship and UGA will be playing very close to home, at the new Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

Blankenship, who also starred for the Yellow Jackets in soccer during his days at Sprayberry, was an all-county and all-state placekicker and punter under former coach Billy Shackelford.

But he initially was a walk-on at Georgia, and finally was awarded a full athletic scholarship earlier this season, after he kicked the decisive field goal for the Bulldogs in a 20-19 win over Notre Dame.

A sophomore, Blankenship’s previous longest field goal was from 49 yards out this season against Mississippi State. His longest field goal in high school was a 56-yarder.

He’s also become something of a cult figure on social media, notable for the thick, nerdy-looking glasses he wears under his helmet while playing.

The Twitter account for Men in Blazers, a national soccer TV program hosted by two sardonic British expatriates, posted several times during the game and included photos of Blankenship playing soccer for Sprayberry (also while wearing glasses):

RODRIGO BLANKESHIP World Cup 2022 🇺🇸👊 pic.twitter.com/2MP1zJuBhM

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) January 1, 2018

YOU CAN’T SPELL CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT “BLANKENSHIP” pic.twitter.com/7kWGWiNsGG

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) January 2, 2018

On his personal website, Blankenship has included soccer information while he was at Sprayberry. He graduated in 2015 and enrolled at UGA, redshirting that year, and was an all-freshman SEC team selection last year.

This season, he has made 16 of 19 field goal attempts, including the Rose Bowl, and was voted one of the most improved UGA players on special teams.

After the Rose Bowl, Blankenship talked about his record-setting kick and Georgia’s memorable win:

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb youth baseball registration underway through January

January 1, 2018 4:04 PM by Wendy Parker

It’s bitterly cold as 2018 begins, so it doesn’t feel much like baseball season, but time is running out for East Cobb youth baseball registration.

Registration continues through Jan. 28 for the East Marietta National Little League, which will have player evaluations Feb. 3, followed by the start of practices Feb. 10 and the Opening Day celebration at Sewell Park on March 10.

Full registration information, including costs and season dates, can be found here.

At East Side Baseball, the online registration deadline is this coming Sunday, Jan. 7, with a late fee applying after that. Evaluations start during the month, on Jan. 20, with the season starting on March 3 and the rookie season following on March 17.

More registration information is listed here.

Registration for the recreational season at the Sandy Plains Baseball Association concludes on Jan. 25 at 9 p.m., with late fees applying after that. More details here about fees and age groups. Evaluations start on March 3.

East Cobb Baseball‘s spring season starts in late February with various Triple Crown tournament events for ages 8-14. For more information and a full schedule of events, click here.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Honors for Walton football coach, star receiver as all-Cobb teams named

December 26, 2017 1:22 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb football — *Walton coach Daniel Brunner at an East Cobb kickoff breakfast in August.*

First-year Walton football coach Daniel Brunner has been named coach of the year for 2017 by the Cobbhsfootball website, and Raiders’ star receiver Dominick Blaylock was tabbed as offensive player of the week.

Blaylock led the 22-man all-Cobb team that was released just before Christmas, and that includes three other players from East Cobb high schools.

They include Walton linebacker Malik Adams, Kell offensive lineman Johnathan Bass, and Lassiter defensive back Derrik Allen.

Brunner, a former assistant at Walton, led the Raiders to an unlikely 11-1 season, after the program came off a losing season under Mo Dixon in 2016.

Walton’s only loss came in the state playoffs to eventual state runner-up Colquitt County, where Dixon is now an assistant. In Brunner’s first game, in the Corky Kell Classic, the Raiders defeated North Gwinnett, which went on to win the Georgia Class 7A state championship.

Brunner, who was named Cobb coach of the year by The Marietta Daily Journal, is a graduate of Roswell High School and also coached there before coming to Walton.

Before the season started, he inaugurated “Raider Day,” a jamboree-style event that included all the Walton football teams, from varsity down to the grade school-level.

With Blaylock, who has committed to play at the University of Georgia, and Adams returning, Walton is expected to contend in the region and state in 2018.

Bass was part of another Kell state playoff team under Brett Sloan, a former Walton assistant in his first year as head coach. Bass has signed to play at Georgia State University.

Allen, considered one of the top high school players in the country at his position, had another strong season for Lassiter, whose state playoff streak ended this season. He has signed to play at Notre Dame.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Registration underway for Johnson Ferry Baptist’s Polar Bear Run

November 24, 2017 3:49 PM by Wendy Parker

The 30th annual Polar Bear Run, sponsored by Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, takes place on Jan. 27, 2018, and registration is underway.

The race is now a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race and takes place on the church grounds (955 Johnson Ferry Road). Proceeds benefit the church’s student music mission trip program. Here are more details about the Polar Bear Run, which in addition to a 5K also includes a 2K distance and a fun run:

Not only do we offer you a fast, flat course, but the fun, food, and commemorative 30th Anniversary dry fit pullover, make this a must run! Only the running is outdoors; the rest of the time, you stay in the warm surroundings of the church’s Activities Center. Times for 2K & 5K will be recorded using finish-line chip timing devices.

Start Line: Johnson Ferry Road near LIttle Willeo Road.

Finish Line: FBC Parking Lot, Woodlawn Road side, near Activities Center.

Cub Runs are completed indoors!

COURSE
Click here for 2K Course Route

Click here for 5K Course Route

COST

5K & 2K – $30

5K & 2K Late Registration begins January 20 – $35

Cub Runs (age 2-5 only) – $25

Phantom Runner (Don’t make me sweat! – just send me the shirt) – $35

RACE PACKET PICK-UP

Friday, January 26, 10am – 7pm, Big Peach Running Co., 1062 Johnson Ferry Rd. Marietta, GA

Saturday, January 27, beginning at 6:30am, Activities Center at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church

Walton’s football dream season ends in 28-21 loss to Colquitt County

November 17, 2017 11:31 PM by Wendy Parker

Dominick Blaylock did all he could for the Walton football team Friday in as big a game as the Raiders have played in several years in a Georgia Class 7A second-round playoff game.

But they committed two critical turnovers near the end of the first half that helped Colquitt County take the lead and pull away to a 28-21 victory at Raider Valley.

Walton had been undefeated, with an 11-0 record and a No. 3 state ranking coming in, and was backed by a loud home crowd, against Colquitt County (8-3 and No. 9). The game also was shown on statewide television, with a full crew on hand from Georgia Public Broadcasting.

A near-full house looked on as Walton took 7-0 and 14-7 leads in the first quarter, thanks to big plays from Blaylock. A junior wide receiver who has already committed to the University of Georgia, he scored via the run the first two times Walton had the ball.

But the Packers, whose coaching staff includes former Walton head coach Mo Dixon, responded right away each time. It was with the game tied at 14-14 late in the second quarter that events began to turn their way, thanks to turnovers.

Colquitt County converted on both of them, an interception and a recovered fumble on a muffed lateral, to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Packers’ defense effectively shut down the rest of Walton’s offense, and took a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter. That would prove to be enough to hold off Walton, even after Blaylock scored a late third-quarter touchdown to give the Raiders a lifeline.

He ran for 54 yards and had 101 receiving yards for the game, but Colquitt County advances to the quarterfinals against Archer.

Walton enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history under first-year head coach Daniel Brunner, and will have many top players returning, including Blaylock and quarterback Austin Kirksey.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Walton football tickets on sale online for Colquitt County playoff game

November 16, 2017 6:16 AM by Wendy Parker

The Walton football home playoff game against Colquitt County takes place on Friday at Raider Valley, but advance ticket sales are already available online if you want to avoid the game-day ticket lines.

Raider Valley is expected to be packed for the Class 7A Georgia High School second-round game pitting No. 3 and 11-0 Walton and Colquitt County, which is 8-3, and whose assistant coach is ex-Walton coach Mo Dixon.

Walton holds off North Cobb

In a post Wednesday on the Walton website, athletics director Chris Williams said tickets can be purchased at the GoFan page for the Walton-Colquitt game, or by downloading the GoFan app and presenting the QR code at the gate on Friday.

The ticket cost for adults is $10 (with a $1.50 service charge if you use GoFan). Student tickets are $8 and will be sold Friday during all lunch periods. Williams said any spectators without an approved GHSA pass will be charged $10 at the gate.

If you’d rather get your tickets the old-fashioned way, the ticket booth at Raider Valley opens at 6 p.m. Kickoff is 7:30.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb high school football: Walton holds off North Cobb; Pope and Kell eliminated

November 11, 2017 9:58 AM by Wendy Parker

It wasn’t easy, but the Walton football team held off a Cobb County rival Friday night in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class 7A state playoffs. The Raiders, who defeated North Cobb 28-14, were one of three East Cobb high school football teams in action.

Dominick Blaylock scored two touchdowns, including on a key drive in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Austin Kirksey was 11-for-11 passing for 181 yards, as the Raiders remained unbeaten on the season.

They’re 11-0 and will remain at home next Friday against Colquitt County, which routed Pebblebrook 49-7.

Walton, which is led by first-year head coach Daniel Brunner, a former assistant, will see a familiar face on the Colquitt County sideline. Mo Dixon, who was the Raiders head coach for the last two seasons, left East Cobb over the spring to become an assistant coach at the South Georgia powerhouse.

In the Class 6A playoffs, Pope fell behind early in a 42-14 loss at Dacula, which scored on six of its first seven possessions. The game was the first in the playoffs in five years for the Greyhounds, who finished 4-7 under first-year coach Tab Griffin, a Pope graduate and former player.

Kell reached the Class 5A playoffs but also went out in the first round, falling to Flowery Branch 21-14. The Longhorns mounted a comeback after trailing 21-0, and had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but were stopped on fourth-and-goal on the goal line. Kell’s season ends at 5-6 under Brett Sloan, who was in his first season as head coach after being an assistant at Walton.

The Art Place employee named customer service award winner

November 5, 2017 3:31 PM by Wendy Parker

Pat Bell, a maintenance technician at The Art Place-Mountain View for 13 years, was named the Cobb County Customer Service Award recipient for the third quarter. Here’s more about Pat (pictured in the green shirt) from the Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department:

He has assisted hundreds of patrons including directors, light techs, instructors, students, children and seniors. Every interaction Pat has with a patron is genuine and customers love how he is always willing to help. He is responsible for indoor maintenance including a black box theatre, pottery studio, 5 multi-purpose art classrooms, gallery, dressing rooms, conference room and offices. Pat also handles all landscaping and general grounds keeping. With theatre groups, he hangs their theatre curtains and backdrops as well as assisting with light and sound needs and anything else that our user groups may require. Pat is the lead on any set construction that is needed for our in-house productions. Just last year he completed a set for ‘The Wedding Singer,’ ‘Five Women Wearing the Same Dress’ and ‘A Seussified Christmas Carol.’ “

East Cobb football update: Pope, Kell join Walton in state playoffs; Lassiter waits

November 8, 2017 2:37 PMNovember 4, 2017 12:42 PM by Wendy Parker

There will be at least three East Cobb football teams in the Georgia High School Association state playoffs next week.

There could be a fourth, Lassiter, which lost to Etowah Friday night and could be selected for an at-large berth in Class AAAAAAA.

Walton clinched the Region 7-AAAAAAA title Friday with a 42-37 win at home over Woodstock, giving the Raiders a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season.

That’s only the third time in Walton school history that has happened. The Raiders will play at home next Friday in the first round of the state playoffs against North Cobb.

Kell lost to Hiram 52-37 at home but still clinched a playoff berth in the Class AAAAA playoffs. The Longhorns, who finished 5-5 in the regular season, will play at Flowery Branch.

The most unlikely East Cobb football story this season is Pope High School, which had won just three games in the past two seasons. The Greyhounds got off to a sluggish start, losing their first three games.

Pope came into Friday’s game against Northview on a two-game losing streak, but rolled to an easy 41-22 win to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Greyhounds will take a losing record—4-6—into next Friday’s Class AAAAAA first round game at Dacula.

Lassiter could have cemented a playoff berth in Class AAAAAAA but lost at Etowah 29-20 to finish the regular season with a 6-4 record. The Trojans await word on whether they’ll be selected as an at-large team.

The three East Cobb football teams that have clinched playoff spots also have something else in common. They’re coached by first-year head coaches, which was one of the leading storylines heading into the season.

Walton’s Daniel Brunner had been an assistant for the Raiders and was elevated to head coach after Mo Dixon resigned to take a coaching job in south Georgia. Another Walton assistant, Brett Sloan, was hired to succeed Derek Cook at Kell.

Tab Griffin’s task at Pope was considered the biggest job of all. He was a former Greyhounds player and Pope graduate who was hired in the summer after coaching at Mt. Paran Christian School.

Two other East Cobb teams ended their seasons Friday on a down note. Sprayberry, also coached by a first-year coach, former Yellow Jackets player Brett Vavra, lost to Sequoyah 38-28 and finished 2-8 on the year.

So did the Wheeler Wildcats, a playoff last year who lost 51-37 to Pebblebrook.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Walton volleyball wins another state title; Top 5 finish for Pope softball

October 29, 2017 12:53 PM by Wendy Parker

Although the match was competitive, the Georgia Class 7A finals were really never in doubt Saturday at Marietta High School. The Walton volleyball team won its third consecutive title, defeating Etowah by scores of 25-16, 25-16, and 25-21.

The Lady Raiders finished the season with a 41-1 record, losing only to a team from California.

The Walton players this season are: Katie Crocker, Sam Jones, Caroline Cheney, Meg Froemming, Gabby Gonzales, Reilly MacNeill, Molly Pember, Jordan Rush, Riley Spurlin, Phoebe Awoleye, Madison Morey, Kendall O’Brien, Katie Strickland, Catherine Cheney, Julia Davis, Emery Dupes, Ashlyn Goolsby and Chandler Parker. Coach: Suzanne Fitzgerald.

The Pope softball team won one game at the Georgia Class 6A softball finals in Columbus, defeating Evans Thursday on a no-hitter by freshman Hallie Adams. However, the Lady Greyhounds fell to Allatoona (the eventual state champions) and Houston County and finished 5th with a record of 31-5.

The Pope players this season are: Gracie Kittrell, Hannah Dodd, Sydney Sheahan, Jodie Smith, Leah Higginbotham, Hannah Rogers, Carolyn Deady, Kyla Smith, Lea McFadden, Trinity Pizutti, Zoe Laneaux, Mary Deady, Hallie Adams, Kami Smith, Maura Foreman, Rachel Pearle, Lela Landry, Morgan Herman, Min Brookshire, Bailey Chapin, Abby Rocco, Taylor Henson, Alyssa Eman, Kaitlyn Wells. Coach: Chris Turco.

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: With only one week left in the regular season, only Walton has clinched a state playoff spot from East Cobb. The Raiders stayed unbeaten (9-0) with a 42-21 win over Etowah. Walton will have senior night on Friday against Woodstock. In other football games Friday:

Lassiter inched closer to a playoff berth by beating Cherokee 31-0. The Trojans (6-3) have to visit Etowah Friday; a win means they advance, and they could play a home playoff game.
Kell moved to 5-4 and within reach of a playoff spot with a 21-12 win over Woodland. The Longhorns are tied for second in Region 7, Class 6A, and play Cass on Friday;
Pope fell to 3-6 with a 45-17 loss to Centennial; the Greyhounds conclude their season Friday at home against Northview;
Sprayberry is now 2-7 following a 35-21 loss on senior night to Creekview; the Yellow Jackets play their last game of 2-17 on Friday at Sequoyah;
Wheeler‘s senior night also was spoiled by Westlake, which won 48-27; the Wildcats, who are 2-7, close out on Friday at Pebblebrook.

EAST COBB SPORTS UPDATE: Walton volleyball aims for three-peat on Saturday

October 27, 2017 1:26 PM by Wendy Parker

The Walton volleyball team will find a familiar foe on the other side of the net Saturday when the Lady Raiders attempt to win their third consecutive Georgia High School Association state championship.

Walton faces Region 4AAAAAAA rival Etowah at 6:30 p.m. in the finals at Marietta High School (1171 Whitlock Road). The Eagles have been one of the better teams in the state all season, with a 43-6 record, and they haven’t dropped a set in the state tournament.

But they’ve been no match for Walton (39-1), which has twice beaten Etowah by 3-0 scores, including the region tournament in October.

In fact, the Lady Raiders haven’t lost to a team from Georgia since 2014. Their only loss this season came in an Arizona tournament in late September to a team from California.

Here’s something else that illustrates just how dominant Walton, a longtime volleyball dynasty in Georgia, has been this season: The only other sets they’ve dropped also came to out-of-state teams.

Walton is also doing this with with only two seniors seeing regular playing time. Team leaders Gabby Gonzales, Riley Spurlin, Caroline Cheney, Reilly MacNeill and Jordan Rush are juniors.

The Pope volleyball team reached the Class 6A semifinals, but was ousted on Wednesday by defending state champion Harrison.

The Lady Greyhounds had their best finish since winning their last state title in 2011, going 33-9. While two of Pope’s top offensive players, Samantha Walters and Danielle Bissel, are seniors, there is plenty of talent returning. As a freshman, Stella Dees was second on the team with 284 kills.

In the Class 6A softball tournament in Columbus, Pope split opening-round games on Thursday. In the opener, Hallie Adams pitched a no-hitter as the Greyhounds defeated Evans 2-0. However, they lost to Cobb County rival Allatoona 1-0 in Thursday evening and move to a losers bracket game Friday afternoon, meeting Houston County at 2 p.m.

East Cobb community piano program expands to Egg Harbor Cafe

November 8, 2017 2:38 PMOctober 23, 2017 3:23 PM by Wendy Parker

Tommy, East Cobb community piano — *“Tommy” will make his debut at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 4 at Egg Harbor Cafe in East Cobb. (Photo provided by Play It Again Pianos)*

Back in July East Cobb Park was the benefactor of a community piano program thanks to Play Me Again Pianos, a local non-profit (previous East Cobb News post here).

“Sunny,” named after East Cobb Park advocate Sunny Walker and located in the upper gazebo, will have some nearby accompaniment of sorts soon, at Egg Harbor Cafe (4719 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 210), on Nov. 4.

That’s when “Tommy” will be unveiled during a ribbon-cutting at 12 p.m. Like “Sunny,” the first tunes played on “Tommy” will be by a young local student musician.

It’s the latest in a community piano program started last year by East Cobb-based Play Me Again Pianos, co-founded by Jason and Kelly Brett. Their aim is to purchase, restore, paint and place 88 pianos throughout the metro Atlanta area, designed for community use.

*Angela Lockman, East Cobb Middle School art teacher.*

“Tommy” is also locally painted, by Angela Decker Lockman, a visual arts teacher at East Cobb Middle School.

“Street pianos and public pianos inspire people to connect with each other in ways that were once common, but seem increasingly rare,” Jason Brett said. ”By adding our pianos to the landscape throughout the metropolitan area, we hope to nurture that connection into an evolution of Atlanta’s culture, community and the arts.”

Here’s Lockman, last year’s Middle School Art Specialist of the Year for the Cobb County School District, on how she went about her work:

“My vision was to translate what we love about our area onto eggs that cover the piano. There are 16 eggs that encompass fun places to visit, our sports teams, and even the lyrics to our state song, ‘Georgia On My Mind.’ Then as a nod to our host, we also incorporated two brightly-colored roosters and the Egg Harbor Cafe logo.”

The Bretts said “Tommy” is named after a member of the family-run Egg Harbor Cafe business. Unlike others in the family who had menu items named after them, there was no mention of Tommy on menus or business literature or logos.

Other Play Me Again Pianos are located in Chastain Park, The Woodruff Arts Center, Colony Square, the Dunwoody Nature Center, the Chamblee Rail Trail, Brookhaven, Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station and Alpharetta.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Walton football beats Lassiter, clinches playoff spot; Sprayberry ends losing streak

October 21, 2017 1:46 PM by Wendy Parker

The Walton football team under first-year coach Daniel Brunner remains undefeated and has now sewn up a state playoff spot.

The Raiders did that on Friday night at Raider Valley in a 42-19 win over East Cobb rival Lassiter in a key Region 4AAAAAAA contest.

Although starting Walton quarterback Austin Kirksey didn’t return following a third-quarter injury, running back D.J. Soyoye more than made for his loss with two touchdown scores in the second half as the Raiders (8-0) pulled away from the Trojans (4-3) down the stretch.

Walton, which has regular season games remaining against Etowah and Woodstock, is the first East Cobb high school football team to qualify for the state playoffs.

Lassiter is still in contention for a post-season berth and will close out against Cherokee and Etowah.

Sprayberry was hopeful at the start of the season with a new coach, former Yellow Jackets player Brett Vavra. After winning their opener, however, they lost six in a row. On Friday at home, Sprayberry ended that skid with a 17-14 win over River Ridge. Sprayberry doesn’t have a post-season shot, but has two games left against Creekside and Sequoyah to try to finish with some momentum.

The three other East Cobb teams suffered some heartbreak on Friday, with playoff berths within reach.

The Kell Longhorns took a 28-7 lead at home against Carrollton, with a chance to nail down a home playoff game. But Carrollton surged back and kicked a field goal with time expiring to earn a 45-42 victory. The Longhorns (4-4) are still in the hunt for the post-season, and play Woodland and Hiram over the next two weeks.

Pope fell behind early at Chattahoochee on Friday, then mounted a comeback that fell short in another wild finish, a 46-41 loss. The Greyhounds are 3-5 and have an outside playoff chance, with games remaining against Centennial and Northview.

Wheeler led a good bit of the night on Friday at Campbell, but were defeated 35-23 to fall to 2-6 on the season. The Wildcats also are winless in regional play and will close out their season against Westlake and Pebblebrook.

Walton, Pope volleyball teams play home matches Saturday in state tournament

October 20, 2017 11:09 AM by Wendy Parker

The Walton and Pope volleyball teams will be playing host to Georgia High School Association state quarterfinal matches on Saturday.

The Walton Raiders, defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Class 7A, will entertain South Forsyth at 2 p.m. in the Walton gym, aka The Pit. The Raiders are 37-1 on the season, and their only loss came in recently in an Arizona tournament to Mater Dei of California, which is ranked in the Top 10 nationally.

The Walton team is marking the match as a “black out”—asking fans to wear black. If you need something black to wear, they’ll be selling Black Pit Crew t-shirts and hoodies at the match.

According to the latest national rankings by MaxPrep, Walton is at No. 2 in the country and is the only school from Georgia in the Top 25.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Pope Greyhounds (32-8), will take on Greenbrier of Evans, Ga. (near Augusta). The Greyhounds are repeating their 2016 trip to the Class 6A Elite Eight and are looking for their first state championship since 2011.

Lassiter’s season ended earlier this week in a state tournament loss to East Coweta. The Trojans finished with a record of 18-11.

Admission to both the Walton and Pope volleyball matches Saturday is $5. The winners will advance to the semifinals next Wednesday.

The state championship round takes place next Saturday, Oct. 28, at Marietta High School.

Pope softball shuts out Harrison to reach state finals; Lassiter eliminated

October 19, 2017 12:55 PM by Wendy Parker

The last home games of the season for the Pope softball team were close, but were clinchers for the Greyhounds as they advanced to the Georgia High School Association finals once again.

Pope defeated Harrison 1-0 and 3-0 in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon, and will be headed to the GHSA Final Eight next week in Columbus.

That’s the fifth time in the last six seasons for the Greyhounds (29-4), who reached the Class 6A semifinals in 2016.

Pope’s first game in the double-elimination round will be next Thursday morning at 11 against Evans High School of Augusta.

Another East Cobb team playing in the Class 7A state tournament was eliminated Wednesday. Lassiter lost a doubleheader on the road to Lowndes by 2-0 and 4-3 scores. The Lady Trojans finished with a 22-10 record.

Freshman pitcher Hallie Adams won both games for Pope, getting the game-winning run in the first game from Bailey Chapin, another freshman. Adams followed her one-hitter in the nightcap with a little more run support, as Chapin, senior Hannah Rogers and Leah Higgs drove in the runs for the Greyhounds to book another trip to Columbus.

Grace Kittrell was 2-for-4 at the plate for Pope.

In the Class 6A finals, another Cobb County team, Allatoona, also will be competing. But the biggest obstacle for Pope, should the Greyhounds advance, may be a team in their own region. Pope recently defeated Cambridge High School of North Fulton to win the Region 7-AAAAAA title.

However, Cambridge returns to Columbus as the defending state champion. Should Cambridge and Pope continue to advance, they could meet for the state championship as well.

Walton football team ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAAAA

September 18, 2017 12:03 PM by Wendy Parker

Following an emphatic 44-10 win over Wheeler in an East Cobb rivalry game Friday night, the Walton football team stayed unbeaten.

The 4-0 Raiders also moved up a lot in the latest statewide polls, to No. 4 in the Maxwell rankings, after being ranked 7th last week.

The Lassiter Trojans are also 4-0 after defeating Marietta 37-14 Friday, and moved into the No. 14 spot in the Maxwell Rankings, which include 15 teams in each classification.

No other East Cobb school is ranked.

However, two East Cobb teams that had been winless finally earned their first victories of the season. After several close losses and falling to a No. 1 team in Rome, the Kell Longhorns (1-3) defeated Paulding County 58-46 in their first home game.

The Pope Greyhounds (1-3) traveled to Cambridge and won easily, by a 35-6 score. The Sprayberry Yellow Jackets also moved to 1-3 on the season in a 45-16 home loss to Dalton.

Walton is enjoying early success under first-year coach Daniel Brunner and has scored 40 or more points in its last three games. Against Wheeler (2-2), D.J. Soyoye ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders.

In Maxwell’s all-classification rankings, Walton is at No. 7 this week, and Lassiter is 25th.

Both teams could conceivably undefeated when they meet each other in a region game at Raider Valley on Oct. 20. But they have some obstacles before that.

This Friday Lassiter plays South Forsyth, No. 12 in Class AAAAAAA. The Walton football team plays Dacula, which is ranked No. 15 in Class AAAAAA.

The Raiders and Trojans also have to play region rival Roswell, ranked 11th in this week’s polls.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related story

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this: