Sports

Habersham Central’s Audrey Hotard is poised to cap an amazing cross country career with the Lady Raiders. FILE

Habersham Central’s Audrey Hotard is poised to cap an amazing cross country career with the Lady Raiders. FILE

Raider runners eye state marks in ’24

   The 2024 Habersham Central cross country team may very well be the youngest group Kaylee Bosley has had in her time as the Raiders’ head coach. From a pure numbers standpoint, the team is loaded with underclassmen, primarily freshmen.
Landon Holbrook holds the bag while Dawson Barnett blocks at practice Thursday morning. LANG STOREY/Staff

Landon Holbrook holds the bag while Dawson Barnett blocks at practice Thursday morning. LANG STOREY/Staff

Raiders put a bow on summer grind

   It’s pretty hard to imagine, but we’re just one week away from those Friday night lights … kinda.    It certainly won’t be dark at 7:30 p.m. next week when the Raiders lineup against Oconee County. Nor will the game count.
Emily Diffenderfer will be a big part of the Lady Raiders’ gameplan this season. LANG STOREY/Staff

Emily Diffenderfer will be a big part of the Lady Raiders’ gameplan this season. LANG STOREY/Staff

Habersham softball hopes to get ‘mojo flowing’ with seasoned roster

   A 6-20 record usually explains itself. That was the final tally for Habersham softball in 2023. By no metric was last season one to remember for the Lady Raiders, but, unlike their record suggests, Coach Karly Thompson’s club was competitive in just about every tilt.
Ava Saxon (right) and McKenzie King hype up their teammate after Kinslee Hicks (far left) won a point during one of  Habersham Central’s summer camps. LANG STOREY/Staff

Ava Saxon (right) and McKenzie King hype up their teammate after Kinslee Hicks (far left) won a point during one of Habersham Central’s summer camps. LANG STOREY/Staff

Lady Raiders set sights on playoff return

   The Habersham Central volleyball team was on the verge of carving itself a spot in the 2023 GHSA state tournament. But those aspirations came to a bitter halt in the Lady Raiders’ final region tournament match at Apalachee.
Mekhi Mawdesley, shown during his Raider days, plans to return to playing for Reinhardt University after rehabbing his second knee injury. FILE

Mekhi Mawdesley, shown during his Raider days, plans to return to playing for Reinhardt University after rehabbing his second knee injury. FILE

Mawdesley plans to battle back from second knee injury

   There is no standard reaction for athletes who experience devastating injuries. Depending on the severity, folks react in different ways. Some, unfortunately, eventually face no choice but to walk away from the game they love.
Georgia’s Charlie Condon put up insane numbers this season and was the third pick overall in Major League Baseball to the Colorado Rockies. KARI HODGES/UGAAA

Georgia’s Charlie Condon put up insane numbers this season and was the third pick overall in Major League Baseball to the Colorado Rockies. KARI HODGES/UGAAA

Georgians represented well in MLB Draft

   Earlier this week, 18 players who are either from the state of Georgia or who played their collegiate baseball in Georgia were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft.    With the 3rd overall pick, the Colorado Rockies took Georgia 3B/OF Charlie Condon.
Ballcarrier Donnie Warren cuts upfield at a Raider practice this week. LANG STOREY/Staff

Ballcarrier Donnie Warren cuts upfield at a Raider practice this week. LANG STOREY/Staff

Season’s getting closer for Raiders

   The Habersham Central football team continues to sweat it out on the gridiron. It’s still summer, but from a school and football season perspective, it’s late summer.
Tallulah Falls’ national championship rifle team included (front row, from left) Zeek Pruitt, Marc Crotta, Ethan Simmons, Kylee Loudermilk, coach Tim Stamey and assistant coach Kerry Stamey. Back row are (from left) Leah Rogers, Brianna Walter, Chloe Erwin and Joseph McGahee. Right photo shows the trophy the Indians brought home. TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL/Submitted

Tallulah Falls’ national championship rifle team included (front row, from left) Zeek Pruitt, Marc Crotta, Ethan Simmons, Kylee Loudermilk, coach Tim Stamey and assistant coach Kerry Stamey. Back row are (from left) Leah Rogers, Brianna Walter, Chloe Erwin and Joseph McGahee. Right photo shows the trophy the Indians brought home. TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL/Submitted

Indians’ rifle team wins national title

   The Tallulah Falls precision rifle team is bringing home a national championship trophy after winning the 2024 National Three-Position Air Rifle Championship last week. The event was held at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio.    TFS coach Tim Stamey shared what the big win means for his program.