The 14-U Home Plate Chili Dogs won the USSSA state championship on June 22. They went 3-0 to win the title in the AAA Division. The Chili Dogs will now compete in the Fletcher World Series held in Charleston, South Carolina, the week of July 7. In the front row, from left, are team assistant Chase Bevil, Tanner Scroggins, Robert Nelson, Jr., Cody Bevil, Jared Aarsvold, Hunter Lewis, team assistant Jared Gresham; (back row): Coach Robert Nelson, Sr., Evan Gresham, Jordan Watson, Brandon Barrett, Blake Barnes and Coach Eric Sanchez. Photo/Special.

The Southern Crescent Junior Team Tennis League recently announced the 18U Intermediate Division Champs for Spring 2008 are the Braelinn Tennisholics. From left, sitting, are Cassie Eldredge and Victoria Vano. Standing are Catherine Millea, Jessica Hazelton, Evan Thorsen, Jonathan Hazelton, Mitchell Love, Paul Balmes, Cassidy Sparkman and Coach Randy Rye.

Pictured are: front row-Andrew Hitchcock, Nicholas Pippin, Sam Sheek and Cole Evans; second row-Austin Avans, Brandon Bell, Alec Hayes, Evan Skipper and Colby Taylor; and back row-Coaches David Pippin, Kevin Taylor and Marlon Evans.

On February 1, 2008, the inaugural USA Triathlon Southeast Regional Youth and Junior Teams were announced for 2008. Consisting of the top-ranked athletes throughout the Southeast Region, the members serve as ambassadors for the 2008/2009 USAT Southeast youth and junior development initiative. The local triathlon club, TRI Peachtree City, is sponsoring the sisters Taylor and Ashton Lego by providing the young ladies with training schedules and apparel. The girls are spending their summer break training and competing throughout the Southeast Region.

The 11U Home Plate Chili Dogs-Black swept the competition by going 5-0 to take the AAU Georgia state championship title for the second year in a row, eliminating the top-ranked ECB Astros in the final round 8-5.

The SouthSide Pioneers Track and Field Club competed at the 2008 AAU National Club Championships meet in Orlando, Fla., last week. The SouthSide Pioneers young men’s team placed second overall in the Young Men’s division at a meet that hosted over 900 athletes.

Sandy Creek senior outfielder Braxton Lane enters next season as one of the top football and baseball recruits in the nation.

One of the fastest rising local football recruits this summer has been Sandy Creek senior quarterback Rio Johnson.

[img_assist|fid=23231|thumb=0|alt=18 Bob Volleyball Championships|caption=The A5 Mizuno 18 Bob team is shown after receiving their National Championship Gold Medals. Pictured in the front row are Monique Mead [first on the left], Olympia Haney [third from the left], and Mary Chaudoin [second from the right].]

The PTB Fayette Express won the 8U Triple Crown State Tournament in Alpharetta on June 8, 2008.

The North American Roller Hockey Championship (NARCh) Regional Tournament was held in Snellville on May 23.

One tradition that many runners all over Atlanta have is to run the Peachtree Road every 4th of July. This tradition has been going on for 39 years. The race starts at Lenox Mall and the runners traverse down Peachtree Road to the Piedmont Park area totaling 6.2 miles. This year, Valerie Reynolds will be running as she has done for the past 28 years. She started running Peachtree while a college student at Georgia Tech. 28 years later, she still looks forward to the 4th of July and her trek down Peachtree.

During the Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which was held at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on June 20-22, athletes from across the nation competed for a spot on the USA team that will compete at the 2008 IAAF World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, July 8-13.

Mike's story

The opening scene of “Cliffhanger” has Sylvester Stallone’s character, Gabe Walker, go out on a long line to save his buddy’s wife or girlfriend. As her equipment breaks, he grabs her hand and tells her to hang on, but she slips out of his grasp and plummets to her death. Great opening to a Stallone movie that was better than most.

The annual Peachtree City Youth Triathlon was held on June 7. There were 296 participants. The winners are listed below, or the complete results can be found at www.ptcyt.com. Click on 2008 race results.

On July 6, the community is invited to join Peachtree City Christian Church in welcoming Coach Bobby Bowden to speak at the 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services. Bowden’s visit is part of the church activities during the B.I.G. 4th of July Weekend Celebration. Other activities include a picnic fireworks at Pebble Pocket Pool and participation in the PTC Parade.

Have you ever thought about playing soccer in Europe? Do you have what it takes to be a professional soccer player?

Well, now is your chance to find out.

Pictured from left to right are (front row): Elliott Bauer, Tyler Burdette, Julian Arnold, Tyler Mowry, Duke Kinamon and Joseph Reid; (middle row) Bryce Baker, Jay Ashley, Christian Wafford, Nick Fink, Jake Lee and Evan Mask; and (back row) Coach Robert Mask, Coach Tony Burdette and Coach Steven Reid.

• Starr’s Mill graduate and current designated hitter for the University of Georgia baseball team, Joey Lewis, had two hits and two RBIs in the Bulldogs Game 1 victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs in the finals of the College World Series. Lewis’ double in the eighth inning of Game 1 gave the Bulldogs the lead and the win.

The SouthSide Pioneers competed at the 2008 AAU Region 3B Championship meet held at Our Lady of Mercy last weekend. All first through fourth place winners have advanced to the 2008 AAU National Championship that will be held July 27- August 1 at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Peachtree City’s Southern Crescent Aquatic Team hosted its annual Swim With Dad Invitational June 15-16 at the Clayton County Aquatic Center. Nearly 200 swimmers turned out for the competition on Father’s Day weekend.

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizen.com

When summer time hits and the high school ball fields are empty, the sports pages need to be filled. We receive news of little league baseball teams, soccer teams, roller hockey teams, swimmers, golfers, drivers of all ages and track athletes. In addition to all of these stories, my colleague Kevin Wandra and I have started a summer tradition of challenging each other to sporting activities around the county and seeing how we stack up. Last year, we went miniature golfing at DixieLand Fun Park. I won the first course and Kevin won the second, also eking out a one-stroke overall win.

District 4 Little League tournaments will be played in Senoia at the LeRoy Johnson Ballfields beginning June 28.

Twelve teams from the district will compete in the 9/10-year-old baseball tournament. The winner of the tournament will represent District 4 at the state tournament in Warner Robins beginning July 19. Warner Robins is the home of the 2007 Little League World Series champions.

Sandy Creek graduate Blake Brewer, McIntosh graduate Jake Tanis and Whitewater graduate Heine Rivera were all selected by the Georgia Dugout Club to the Georgia All State Elite 96 All Stars game played June 7-8 at Kennesaw State University.

Mike Muetzel was at the helm of the McIntosh varsity boys lacrosse program as it made its way all the way to the state championship game this season, but last Thursday he was dismissed from the position by the school.

Friday Night Drags, presented by ACDelco, is underway at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and two local racers are burning rubber on the drag strip: Phil White of Peachtree City and Wes German of Fayetteville.

The Force won the 11-12 Peachtree City Little League National Majors division.