The Pride & The Passion Return

The thermometer soars into the 90’s on a daily basis and the heat index pushes triple digits. But toss those numbers out the window because another high school football season is about to kick off in Central Georgia.

And that means the time of year when teams and towns come together on a weekly basis to celebrate the pride and the passion that is high school football.

You won’t find any big money contracts, no altered names, no holdouts demanding what they feel is their fair share. You will see players, cheerleaders and band members showing off their skills honed through hours of practice under a searing sun. You will see communities united in a common cause – rooting the home team on to victory.

So grab your stadium seat, crank up the car and follow the bright lights to a high school stadium near you. Let these student-athletes know how much you appreciate their efforts to excel both on and off the field. They’ll appreciate the applause.

Now let’s play some football.

Frank Malloy

The All-Stars Prepare for Thursday's Game

Well, if the defending champs didn't inspire fear in the minds of other teams before they hit the diamond, one of the veterans of the squad made them take notice Wednesday afternoon.

Avery Lamb won the skills competition by consistently pitching a softball through a tire. Lamb, who says basketball is her favorite sport besides softball, does her duty on the pitcher's mound and also plays first base.

The girls will practice about 10 a.m. Pacific time Thursday morning before they begin pool play that night.

A softball legend got all nine teams fired up by chatting them up this week in Portland. Sue Enquist made a name for herself at UCLA as a standout player and coach. She told the parents to give themselves a hand for all of their hard work at getting their kids to this stage. She told the players to remember that F-U-N is in the word 'fundamentals' and to make sure they take this week in and remember that they're the best in the world.

A dairy sits adjacent to the Softball World Series diamond, and early Thursday afternoon, the girls got a scoop to enjoy. The WRALL All-Stars hope it's the beginning of a sweet week on their way to back-to-back titles.

Suzanne

Following The All-Stars

Woohoo! This week we will follow the Warner Robins American League Softball All-Stars to Portland for the World Series. The girls did a great job of winning the Southeastern Title. I say that because they had to show a little bit of grit battling back to win a couple of games. It's always an advantage when you can see a team do that. It gives them confidence with adversity.

Friday night the girls had a send off party at Flint Energies field. Head Coach Roger Stella said they're not going out there to make friends, they've got work to do. He told the audience it was a huge accomplishment to get back to this level because when the team won it all last year they immediately put a target on the back of this year's squad.

But maybe the biggest advantage for the kids comes from the fact that a little less than half of the All-Stars played last year. Imagine that kind of experience. Board member Steve Stout says the veterans can say to the 11 year olds "Hey it's okay, we can do this."

Throw the weather advantage to the girls too. I looked up the forecast for the area and we'll see highs in the mid to upper 80's. It will seem like Disney World after the sizzling 90's we're suffering through in Central Georgia.

We're excited to go on this trip and excited to bring you great coverage of the games and the little magical moments that make these kinds of things so memorable. So wish us luck on the road and we'll see ya on TV!!

Suzanne

New Hunting Regulations

With all of these hot temperatures out there, I wanted to paint a cool picture for you sports enthusiasts - think fall.

I'm not a hunter, I don't oppose it, I'm just not patient enough to sit in a deer stand, and when a gun fires it startles me too much. But, that being said, the Department of Natural Resources just sent out new hunting regulations, and a cool new program for the young bucks that want to bag a doe.

So here's the new information and don't forget think fall and sixty degrees....yeah!

Hunting Regulations Available Now in Print and Online

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (July 30, 2010) - The 2010-2011 Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations Guide is available online and in print announces the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. This guide provides information on season dates, bag limits, hunting licenses, wildlife management areas and much more and is available to view, download and print at www.gohuntgeorgia.com . Printed copies are available at Wildlife Resources Game Management and Law
Enforcement offices and license vendors throughout Georgia.

"The Hunting Seasons and Regulations publication is designed to better inform hunters on the laws and regulations for hunting in Georgia," says John Bowers, Widlife Resources Division Assistant Chief of Game Management. "We encourage all hunters to review the publication each year for any changes to their favorite hunting areas, seasons or activities."

Members of the Board of Natural Resources enact hunting regulations by acting on recommendations made by the division's professional wildlife biologists and field personnel. Georgia's game and fish laws are enacted by the elected members of the General Assembly.

Changes for the upcoming season include:

● In an effort to encourage youth participation in hunting and
enhance youth hunting opportunities, the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 474. This legislation included language that establishes a special youth hunting opportunity that allows youth under 16 years of age to hunt deer during the primitive weapons season with any firearm legal for hunting deer. This includes primitive weapons hunts on wildlife management areas.

● Tugaloo State Park, near Lavonia on Lake Hartwell, hosts a quota
archery deer hunt in December 2010. Apply online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

● Mistletoe State Park, near Augusta on Clarks Hill Lake, hosts a
quota firearms deer hunt in December 2010. Apply online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com .

● Alligator quota hunt opportunities have expanded. The number of
available permits has increased from 700 to 850. Quota opportunities were increased in each of the nine zones. Details and applications may be found at www.gohuntgeorgia.com.

For more information on Georgia hunting seasons and regulations, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com. Or to contact a local Wildlife Resources Division, Game Management Office or call Hunter Services at (770) 761-3045.

Suzanne Lawler