Westbrook gets back in the win column

Madison County's Jake Westbrook got back in the win column for the first time in a month as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Chicago Whitesox 5-3 on Thursday night. Westbrook, now 5-6, worked 6 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs-all earned, and struck out one batter without allowing a walk. Jake was pitching scoreless ball until a three run home run in the top of the sixth put the Sox on the board. That would be Westbrook's final inning on the hill. He finished the night with a pitch count of only 67 pitches 46 pitches were strikes. His ERA now stands at 4.27.

2012 Madison County Football Schedule

Aug 24  Athens Christian (Scrimmage) 7:30 Athens, Ga
Aug 31  Oconee County 7:30 Red Raider Stadium
Sept 7   Franklin County 7:30 Carnesville, Ga
Sept 14 North Oconee 7:30 Watkinsville, Ga
Sept 21 Lanier 7:30 Lanier High School Stadium
Sept 28 Eastside 7:30 Red Raider Stadium
Oct 5    Open week
Oct 12  Lumpkin County 7:30 Lumpkin Co. Stadium
Oct 19  Stephens County 7:30 Red Raider Field
Oct 26  Monroe Area 7:30 Monroe, Ga
Nov 2   Walnut Grove 7:30 Red Raider Stadium
Nov 9   Chestatee 7:30 Red Raider Stadium

Coach remembers his playing days as a Raider

Column published in a recent issue of the Madison County Journal's feature of "Where are they now." To subscribe to the Journal visit: www.mainstreetnews.com

Raider Head Coach Chris Smith

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

Madison County graduate Chris Smith is no stranger to the Red Raider community. Smith, a former quarterback (4 year letterman) for Madison County is now leading the Red Raiders on the gridiron as Head Football Coach. Smith was a 3 sport athlete at Madison County. He played football for under the direction of two different head coaches; 2 years for Brady Siegler and 2 years for Larry Milligan who is now the football coach at Oglethorpe County. Smith also was a 2 year letterman in basketball as a shooting guard and a 3 year letterman in baseball as a third baseman/outfielder for the Red Raiders.

After leaving Madison County, Smith continued his football career on an athletic scholarship at Presbyterian College where he graduated Cum Laude in 1997. He returned to the Madison County High school to teach and has served as an assistant football coach for the past 14 years. Smith will begin his first season as Head Coach of the Red Raiders this fall. Chris married former Lady Raider tennis and softball player Tonya (Culberson) Smith in 1999. They live in the Colbert area and have two sons; Colby age 10 and Camden age 6.

The Smiths are familiar faces around the athletic fields in Madison County. “Between my two sons and football, I am usually always at a field watching or coaching. They both love to play football, basketball, and baseball; therefore, we are involved in sports year round,” said Smith.

Despite the fact that Smith was a three sport athlete while wearing the Red and Grey, football is one he is most passionate about and the same sport that he will be teaching and leading this fall on the gridiron at Raider Stadium. “Football has been a huge part of my life. I have played the game since I was seven years old and I’m blessed to have been able to play at the youth level, high school level, and college level,” said Smith.

While at Madison County, Smith and his Red Raider football team struggled during his freshman and junior seasons. Finishing with a combined 1-19 record during his first two seasons, the Raiders bounced back to finish with a 5-5 record in his sophomore season and a 7-3 record his senior season just missing a spot in the playoffs. “We had a great group of seniors; Lee Bales, Gavin Griffith, Dale Abercrombie, Matt McElroy, Alan Simmons, Joe Alewine, Dewight Witcher, Phil Westbrook, Jeff Allen, Jonathan Cooper, and me,” said Smith. One of the highs of his senior season came during a run when the Raiders opened the year at 5-0 and ranked 10^th in the state in AAA. A loss to Winder-Barrow was the stumbling block that kept the Raiders out of post season that year. “Every one of us played a key role in the success of the team that year,” said Smith who also recalls seeing the stands pack every home game of his senior season.

Smith’s days on the baseball diamond included a senior season run that included winning the region tournament and finishing as state runners-up. Guys such as Joe Alewine, Clay Strickland, Joey Cheek, and Smith served as the only four seniors on the squad that season. “It was a special year for me. I was blessed to be a part of a great football and baseball team and I was blessed with the opportunity to play college football. Now I am blessed to with the opportunity to coach our young men in Madison County and help teach them a game that has been so good to me,” said Smith.

I was "Just a fan" for a day

My column published in last week's issue of The Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon
dallasb32@yahoo.com
Believe itor not, I attended the University Of Georgia G-Day spring football game at Sanford Stadium back in April. For those who know me, I still bleed the orange and purple of Clemson so before the comments on my Facebook page allow me to explain why I was there.  I wasn’t there to cheer on the Dawgs or to bark in the park but instead I was there supporting my niece who is a member of the Georgettes dance team. Despite being among the Red & Black faithful and my brother who is a big Dawg fan and loves Tiger bashing, I must admit I had a great time.

It was anatmosphere that teased football fans and made us miss the fall and pageantry of college football. The tailgaters had their grills fired up, playing music, and talking about their high expectations of the upcoming season. The pep rally was in full force with the band playing, cheerleaders cheering, and the dance girls doing their thing. It was all too familiar to what we see during football season yet it was only spring and a game that didn’t really matter to most other than the players and coaches.

I was there right in the middle of the Dawg nation with no other rival fans in site other than a lonely old man brave enough to wear a Georgia Tech cap. This man was perhaps old and wise but as much as I love Clemson I knew to keep my orange and purple attire at home. My brother, who was showing his kindness to me, offered me a Georgia cap to wear just in case I felt the urge to fit in.

On that beautiful spring day I put behind my loyalties to my favorite team and just decided to be a fan, a fan of college football and the festivities of the day.I let it all soak in and enjoyed hearing the band and drum line perform during the pep rally. I forced myself to enjoy hearing “Glory to Ole Georgia” no matter how many times the band repeated it. I enjoyed seeing the kids’ little faces light up for what seemed to be the thrill of a lifetime as they posed for pictures with the cheerleaders and majorettes at the pep rally. It was even enjoyable watching the dads daring to have that same glow on their faces while having their pictures made with those same girls. Then watching the expressions on the wives’ faces, while their husbands enjoyed the photo session perhaps more than their own wedding day, were priceless. Most of all I enjoyed watching my niece dance.

Just tryingto be a fan without a bias opinion on that day was something new to me. It wasjust the G-Day spring scrimmage for Georgia, but for me it was a chance to see my niece perform. Living two hours from my family I’ve missed many opportunities to be just a fan of my nephew’s baseball games from little league to college baseball. I also missed my niece dancing and cheering over the years from middle school to high school that prepared her for her days of dancing onthe big “G” in Sanford Stadium. So for me, Saturdays in Athens in the fall take on a different meaning than it does for Dawg fans. It’s my chance to make upfor lost time with her and to be just a fan, a fan of my niece as she dances with the Dawgs. 

The 1927-28 MCHS Basketball Team

Found photo from a "Athletes of yesterday" feature in the former Danielsville Monitor.