Spring sports seasons exciting
Published 3:42 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Now that the Bainbridge High School spring sports seasons are winding down, it’s a good time to look back at some of the highlights of the seasons.
The most recent highlight came Friday when the Bainbridge High School Lady Cats tennis team turned in some top performances at the Region 1AAAA Tennis Tournament at Bill Reynolds Sports Park Tennis Center to win the Region 1AAAA championship.
They went 6-0 during the regular Region 1AAAA season under coach Nicki Shockley and were in control in nearly every match.
They were led by top singles performers Katie Monson, Kylie McGlincy, Anna Wells, Kristen Monson and McCall Mason and a pair of strong doubles teams.
Leading the way in doubles were the teams of Caroline Rollins and Anne Reynolds, and Kelsey Lambert and Malori Maxwell.
While the Lady Cats tennis team has enjoyed the most success among BHS spring sports teams, others have enjoyed their moments of success as well.
The Lady Cats and Bearcats soccer teams, led by Whitney Thomas, Aubrie Provence, Keenan Adams, Hal Clement and Jesus Castillo, enjoyed one of their most successful seasons ever.
Coach Larry Cosby’s and Tandria Phillips’ Bearcats and Lady Cats track teams have won numerous medals and posted high finishes meet after meet.
Local fans have not had the chance to see the Bearcats and Lady Cats track teams in action, but next spring, with the new Bainbridge High School, things will be different. With their new state-of-the-art track, they will be able to host several home meets if they desire.
Leading the way for the Bearcats have been triple jumper and 110-meter and 300-meter hurdler Denzel Gamble, high jumper and triple jumper Delonte Martistee, and the 4-by-100-meter relay team of Denzel Reynolds, Sean Samuel, Marquis Williams and Eric Henry.
The Lady Cats top performers are 200-meter and 400-meter runner Nancy Session, and 300-meter and 100-meter hurdler Jerisha Sutton.
Coach Scott Miller’s Bearcats baseball team has also had its moments this spring. One of the biggest came Friday night when pitcher Jon Sirmons blasted a three-run homer to right in the first and catcher Drew Kelley blasted a two-run homer to right in the fifth and the Bearcats went on to post an 11-3 Region 1AAAA victory over the Americus-Sumter County High School Panthers at Centennial Field.
Coach Tom Wheeler’s Lady Cats and Bearcats golf teams, who have also had a good season, were in Fort Benning in Columbus Monday and Tuesday competing in the Region 1AAAA tournament.
It’s been a good season for all BHS spring sports teams, and I congratulate them. There are quite a few underclassmen on all the teams, so the future is also bright.
High school athletes, regardless of the season, learn a lot of valuable lessons that they can use throughout their lives.
Those lessons include the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work and building character.
We also have a lot of outstanding coaches who teach those values daily.