Sports

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Girls cross country finishes 10th at meet

Echo Staff
Friday, September 8, 2023
Sydnie Henderson finished eighth with a time of 21:41 at the Flying Biscuit Cafe High School Invitational at North Oconee on Aug. 31.  The Oglethorpe County girls finished 10th out of 23 teams and the boys were 19th out of 25 teams.
Senior catcher Abby Jones and her mom, Stephanie Jones, walk between rows of her Oglethorpe County teammates during the Senior Night celebration prior to the Patriots’ game against Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 31. Jones is the only senior on this year’s team. CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Senior catcher Abby Jones and her mom, Stephanie Jones, walk between rows of her Oglethorpe County teammates during the Senior Night celebration prior to the Patriots’ game against Washington-Wilkes on Aug. 31. Jones is the only senior on this year’s team. CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Jones wants to leave program in ‘positive state’

Trevyn Gray
Thursday, September 7, 2023
On a night centered around her, senior Abby Jones spent pregame next to Oglethorpe County softball coach Brianna Dickens, catching groundballs off the bats of her teammates and delivering them to Dickens in the drill.
Oglethorpe County’s Darius Heard leaps to pull in a 13-yard touchdown pass over Banks County’s Caden Watson for the Patriots’ first touchdown in their 19-14 loss to Banks County in Lexington on Friday night. (NOOR ABDALLAH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Oglethorpe County’s Darius Heard leaps to pull in a 13-yard touchdown pass over Banks County’s Caden Watson for the Patriots’ first touchdown in their 19-14 loss to Banks County in Lexington on Friday night. (NOOR ABDALLAH/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Patriots focus on toughness after loss to Banks County

Lauren Hill and Trevyn Gray
Friday, September 1, 2023
Oglethorpe County has focused on toughness during the bye week after falling to Banks County 19-14 in the home opener on Friday.   “Our five team pillars that we like to talk about are: commitment, toughness, discipline, effort and pride,” Holland said.
(NIMRA AHMAD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Runners take part in the 10K near Crawford Baptist Church in last year’s Restoration Labor Day races. Race organizers dropped the 10K this year, but have more than 100 runners registered for the 5K scheduled for Labor Day morning.

(NIMRA AHMAD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Runners take part in the 10K near Crawford Baptist Church in last year’s Restoration Labor Day races. Race organizers dropped the 10K this year, but have more than 100 runners registered for the 5K scheduled for Labor Day morning.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

No rest for runners in Labor Day 5K

Jordyn Gershoni
Thursday, August 31, 2023
This will be the 19th Restoration Labor Day 5K, but it will look different this year as there will only be a 5K option for Firefly Trail race series participants.
Junior Carlee Gibson waits on a pitch during Oglethorpe County’s 7-5 loss to Lincoln County on Saturday. The Patriots came back with a 13-1 win over Putnam County as Gibson got the win with five strikeouts and allowing only four hits. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Junior Carlee Gibson waits on a pitch during Oglethorpe County’s 7-5 loss to Lincoln County on Saturday. The Patriots came back with a 13-1 win over Putnam County as Gibson got the win with five strikeouts and allowing only four hits. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

OCHS softball struggles early

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The start of the softball season hasn’t been ideal for Oglethorpe County.   The Patriots were 2-6 through Tuesday, with several losses being blowouts. Their defense has struggled, likely due to a large number of new starters.
Quarterback Jayden Wallace delivers the ball to a teammate in Oglethorpe County’s season-opening 14-7 loss to East Jackson on Friday. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Darius Heard in his first start at quarterback. (DONNY FAUST/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Quarterback Jayden Wallace delivers the ball to a teammate in Oglethorpe County’s season-opening 14-7 loss to East Jackson on Friday. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Darius Heard in his first start at quarterback. (DONNY FAUST/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Patriots set for home opener

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Oglethorpe County will head into this week’s home opener against Banks County with a goal to correct the mistakes that led to a season-opening loss.   The Patriots fell to East Jackson 14-7 last Friday night.
OCHS sophomore Elizabeth Cook serves during practice earlier this season. Cook had five kills in victories over Prince Avenue Christian School and George Walton on Tuesday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS sophomore Elizabeth Cook serves during practice earlier this season. Cook had five kills in victories over Prince Avenue Christian School and George Walton on Tuesday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Volleyball team off to 9-2 start

News Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Staff Report Kenzie Henderson had nine kills and Sofia Horsley had nine aces to lead the Oglethorpe County volleyball team to a three-set victory over Prince Avenue Christian School and a two-set win over George Walton on Tuesday.
Darius Heard signals a first down during Oglethorpe County’s 19-7 victory over West Hall in a football scrimmage on Friday night. Heard will play both defensive back and receiver this season. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Darius Heard signals a first down during Oglethorpe County’s 19-7 victory over West Hall in a football scrimmage on Friday night. Heard will play both defensive back and receiver this season. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Photos: OCHS Football Scrimmage

News Staff
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Oglethorpe Echo

The Oglethorpe Echo

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Harrison pleased with early success

Owen Warden
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team has started strong.   The Patriots are 6-2 through three tournaments, including winning both matches at their first home meet.
Running back Jake Turner does his best Karate Kid imitation after scoring a touchdown in Oglethorpe County’s 19-7 victory over West Hall in a scrimmage last week. The Patriots open the 2023 season at East Jackson at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Running back Jake Turner does his best Karate Kid imitation after scoring a touchdown in Oglethorpe County’s 19-7 victory over West Hall in a scrimmage last week. The Patriots open the 2023 season at East Jackson at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (LANDEN TODD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Patriots open 2023 on road Friday night

News Staff
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
It’s time to turn on the stadium lights.   The Oglethorpe County football team, coming off one of its best seasons in years, opens the 2023 season at East Jackson at 7:30 p.m. Friday.