Sports

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Oglethorpe County resident Elmer Gray, an entomologist with the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, throws out the first softball pitch during Opening Day ceremonies at Bryan Park. Abigail Chappell, a Little League player, caught Gray’s pitch.

(JACK RHODES/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Oglethorpe County resident Elmer Gray, an entomologist with the University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, throws out the first softball pitch during Opening Day ceremonies at Bryan Park. Abigail Chappell, a Little League player, caught Gray’s pitch.

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Opening Day For Little League

Jack Rhodes
Thursday, April 20, 2023
EMILY DOZIER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County’s Daniel Garcia (from left) Austin Lowe and Blane McFarland cheer on their teammates in a 10-9 victory over Clarke Central earlier this season. The Patriots can wrap up the third seed from Region 5-A Division I with a victory over Jasper County.

EMILY DOZIER/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County’s Daniel Garcia (from left) Austin Lowe and Blane McFarland cheer on their teammates in a 10-9 victory over Clarke Central earlier this season. The Patriots can wrap up the third seed from Region 5-A Division I with a victory over Jasper County.

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Baseball team eyes playoff

Ryland Goede
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The Oglethorpe County baseball team will look to make a run in the playoffs next week after it wraps up the regular season against Jasper County at 5:55 p.m. Thursday on senior night.    It’s been a tough season for the Patriots, who are 10-17 and 2-5 in Region 5-A Division I.
JACK CASEY/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Jake Turner, who will be a senior next year, led Oglethorpe County with nearly 1,300 yards rushing last fall. The Patriots reached the Class A playoffs, but lost in the first round.

JACK CASEY/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Jake Turner, who will be a senior next year, led Oglethorpe County with nearly 1,300 yards rushing last fall. The Patriots reached the Class A playoffs, but lost in the first round.

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Taste of winning makes OCHS football hungry for more

Ryland Goede
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
The sounds of chin straps buckling, pads popping and whistles blowing will echo across the Oglethorpe County High School campus early next month.    The Patriots start spring football practice May 2 as they begin to prepare for next fall.
Oglethorpe County senior Soren Wisby (right) battles a Cedar Shoals player for possession during Oglethorpe County's 5-0 loss at Cedar Shoals last Tuesday. The Patriots will host Mount Vernon in the first round of the Class A Division I tournament on April 12. (Photo/Emily Dozier)

Oglethorpe County senior Soren Wisby (right) battles a Cedar Shoals player for possession during Oglethorpe County's 5-0 loss at Cedar Shoals last Tuesday. The Patriots will host Mount Vernon in the first round of the Class A Division I tournament on April 12. (Photo/Emily Dozier)

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Playing larger teams prepared Patriots for region

Emily Dozier
Sunday, April 9, 2023
The Oglethorpe County boys soccer team captured a region championship for the first time since 2017.   The Patriots went 4-2 in this year’s newly formed region, which included Prince Avenue, Jasper County and Social Circle. Winning the region meant a No.
Oglethorpe County’s Michael Fleming leads his team to a victory over Commerce and Rabun County. (Submitted Photo)

Oglethorpe County’s Michael Fleming leads his team to a victory over Commerce and Rabun County. (Submitted Photo)

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Prep Roundup: Fleming powers track team again, basketball trio receives recognition

News Staff
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Fleming powers boys track to victory   Michael Fleming won the 110 hurdles, triple jump and the 300 hurdles to lead the Oglethorpe County boys track team to victory over Commerce and Rabun County in a meet on March 30.
Steve Harris, a son of former school superintendent Thomas Young (TY) Harris, prepares to throw out the first pitch before Oglethorpe County’s baseball game on Friday, March 24. The school system named the OCHS baseball field in honor of Harris, who died in February, 2022. All four of his children (from left): Paige Colquitt, Steve Harris, Suzanne Mingledorff and Thomas Harris IV attended the dedication. (Emily Dozier/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Steve Harris, a son of former school superintendent Thomas Young (TY) Harris, prepares to throw out the first pitch before Oglethorpe County’s baseball game on Friday, March 24. The school system named the OCHS baseball field in honor of Harris, who died in February, 2022. All four of his children (from left): Paige Colquitt, Steve Harris, Suzanne Mingledorff and Thomas Harris IV attended the dedication. (Emily Dozier/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Prep Roundup: Boys soccer wins region title, girls track second

Echo Staff
Saturday, April 1, 2023
The Oglethorpe County boys soccer team can turn its attention to the playoffs.   The Patriots won the Region 5-A Division I championship with a penalty kick victory over Social Circle on March 22.
Sisters on this year’s Oglethorpe County girls soccer team include (from left) Emmaleigh and Hannah Hemingway, Emily and Madeleine Forschler. (Photo/Emily Dozier)

Sisters on this year’s Oglethorpe County girls soccer team include (from left) Emmaleigh and Hannah Hemingway, Emily and Madeleine Forschler. (Photo/Emily Dozier)

Soccer continues to be a sisterly affair

Emily Dozier
Thursday, March 23, 2023
A soccer team made up of sisters is nothing new for Oglethorpe County. In fact, it’s a normal occurrence.   This season, the Lady Patriot roster has two pairs of sisters.

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OCHS baseball field to be named for former superintendent

News Staff
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
The Oglethorpe County School System will name the OCHS baseball field in honor of former superintendent Thomas Young (TY) Harris III, who died in February 2022.   The ceremony will start at 5:40 p.m. Friday, before the baseball team’s game against Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy (BASA).
Oglethorpe Echo Sports

Oglethorpe Echo Sports

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Prep Roundup: Relay teams spark girls track to win

Echo Staff
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
The Oglethorpe County High School girls track and field team swept the relay events to win the 37th annual Loch Johnson Relays at Cedar Shoals on Saturday.   The Lady Patriots won the 4x100-meter, the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays on their way to a season-high 166 points.
Crawford’s Karen Patman prepares to hit the ball as her partner Elaine McGarity, of Winterville, watches during a match at the Oglethorpe County Rec Center. They are two of a regular group of 16 players who play the fast-growing sport. (Photo/Molly Linder)

Crawford’s Karen Patman prepares to hit the ball as her partner Elaine McGarity, of Winterville, watches during a match at the Oglethorpe County Rec Center. They are two of a regular group of 16 players who play the fast-growing sport. (Photo/Molly Linder)

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The rise of pickleball: Oglethorpe County embraces sport

Molly Linder and Olivia Shapiro
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
The pickleball league meets at 9 a.m. Monday and Thursday, and on Tuesday after line dancing class at the Oglethorpe County Rec Department. It is free to join.