Sports

Oglethorpe County’s Reese Campbell pitches during a game last year, when what was a young softball team finished 2-20-1. She’s considered the Patriots’ ace this season. (Landen Todd/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Freshman Leanna Newton tips a pass over the net to score a point in a scrimmage against Rabun County Tuesday. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS receiver Darius Heard breaks away for yardage in a victory over Riverside Military last fall. Heard, who will be a senior this fall, and fellow starting receiver Jordan Johnson both return for the Patriots. (Liz Rymarev/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bailey Wray will travel to Notre Dame to compete in the Senior Intermediate National Pageant Winner title this weekend. The recent OCHS graduate has twirled since she was six years old. (Submitted Photo)

Lawson Smith (center) and other campers imitate a soccer “knee slide” goal celebration on the slip-n-slide after the baseball finished on June 26. OCHS baseball coach Mike Campbell focused on having fun at the camp. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The OCHS gym floor was recently refinished and a modern Patriot head logo replaced the old “OC” at center court. Oglethorpe County School System director of operations Paul Thiel said he wanted to brighten up the gym with a lighter polyurethane finish on the hardwood. (Torin Smith/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Raven Cooper demonstrates how to get a horse to walk calmly over obstacles at her Clinton Anderson horse training certification, with horse AJ in Arkansas in July 2022. Cooper gives back what she has learned to the 4-H community by coaching students in horse quiz bowl and judging knowledge. (Submitted Photo)