Rebels Sports

Lady Rebels Outlast Triopia, 9-8

TRIOPIA, MAY 2 — South Fulton softball fans were treated to a high-scoring affair on Wednesday afternoon as the Lady Rebels squeaked out a 9-8 road victory over the Lady Trojans of Triopia.

Carly Beebe racked up 3 RBIs in the win and made a game-saving defensive play in the last inning by throwing out the tying run at the plate for the Rebels.

Juniors Brianne Brockley and Megan Hickle combined for six of South Fulton's 11 hits in the game, and drove in 1 run apiece on the day. Sarah Marshall, Lizzy Parker and Molly Lascelles netted one hit each for the victors with Marshall and Parker teaming up for 2 RBIs. Brandi Miller also chalked up 1 RBI for her team.

Courtney Musson recorded the win, giving up 7 earned runs on seven hits with six walks while fanning nine Trojan batters.

"This was an amazing win for our ball club. Both teams hit the ball really well in this game and we made the big plays when we needed to. It is good for us to play close games like this and come out on top. I believe we gained a lot of confidence by getting the win today, and this is a huge momentum builder heading into postseason play," Head Coach Kristi Reller commented.

The Lady Rebels up their record to 11-11 on the year following the dramatic victory. 

Trojans Top Rebels, 10-4

TRIOPIA, MAY 2 — In boys non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon, South Fulton fell victim to a 5-run rally by home team Triopia, as the Trojans handed the Rebels their 16th loss of the season.

Trailing 3-0 after three innings of play, South Fulton battled back scoring a run in the fourth and another in the fifth on RBI doubles by Jacob Shaw and Tyler Engel who lined shots to center field.

Following a 2-run inning by the home team in the fifth, Triopia busted out in the bottom of the sixth with five runners crossing home plate as the Rebels committed three errors in the field, and the Trojans took advantage on the base paths with four stolen bases in the inning.

Coach Matt Klaska's ball club tried to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh when senior Braden Wherley hit a 2-run blast over the center field fence scoring Jordan Bair, but it was too little, too late, as Eli Wherley looked at strike three for the final out of the game.

Zach Lascelles (0-5) took the loss, allowing 3 earned runs on five hits with three walks while recording five Ks in his five innings of work. Eli Wherley tossed one inning giving up 2 earned runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Braden Wherley led the Rebels offense driving in 2 runs on the day, while Engel went two for four at the plate tallying on 1 RBI of his own. Mason Blickenstaff, R.J. Hampton and Dedric Eckwood tacked on one hit apiece for their team. Wherley also recorded two stolen bases for South Fulton who fell to 9-16 on the year.

"One bad inning was the difference in this game, but I like our chances when we face them in the first round of the Regionals in a couple of weeks," Klaska commented. 

Junior High Rebels Capture Second- and Third-Place Finishes at County Meet 

HAVANA, APRIL 30 — The South Fulton junior high track squad put together another solid effort this week in the Fulton County Track Meet held in Havana. The runnin' Rebels notched a second-place team finish in the boys eighth grade, and a third-place finish in the girls seventh grade. 

Taylor Churchill and Caitlin Hood continue to put forth record-setting performances as Churchill posted a county mark of 2:36 in the 800-meter run, while Hood set the standard in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:39.

Highlighting the boys eighth-grade side was Trace Hood who finished first in the 100-meter dash. Hood, along with teammates Connor Stevens, Alex Dorethy and Jett Jones placed second in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:06.7. Jones captured second in the high jump with a leap of 5' 2" and Justin Batterton grabbed a second-place finish in the mile with a time of 5:59. Stevens turned in a time of 13.1 in the hurdles, good enough for a third-place finish. Hood went a season-high of 8 ft. in the pole vault to finish in third place as well. Stevens placed fourth in the 400 and discus on the day with a time of 1.01 in the 400, and a throw of 92' 0" in the discus. Others placing on the day included: Gage Hollenback, fifth in the mile and sixth in the pole vault; Dorethy, fifth in the high jump; and Joe Marshall, third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:31.08 and fifth in the long jump.

In the girls seventh-grade results: Churchill finished first in the 800 at 2:36 (county record), first in the pole vault at 7' 6" and first in the 4 x 400. Hood placed first in the mile at 5:39 (county record), second in the vault at 7' 0" and first in the 4 x 400. Tori Keeler took home a second-place finish in the 400-meter run with a time of 1:10 and first in the 4 x 400. Caitlin Heller turned in a solid effort in the discus with a throw of 59' 8" for a second-place finish. Alexa Robertson came in third in the 400 with a time of 1:11.3 and first in the 4 x 400. Sadie Markley rounded out the group with a fourth-place finish in the 100 with a time of 14.6.

The eighth-grade girls had a strong showing as well, with Hannah Lehman and Dacey Malott winning their respective events. Lehman won the high jump with a height of 4' 8", and Malott came in first in the 800 with a time of 2:52. Lehman also placed second in the mile at 6:18, while Hannah Krukewitt came in second in the hurdles at 19.66. Maggie Lascelles took second-place honors in the discus with a toss of 72' 4". The 4 x 400 relay of Malott, Lehman, Krukewitt and Savannah Burgett placed third, and Burgett finished fifth in the 100 with a time of 14.32.

The seventh-grade boys were led by Tanner Payne's third-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 27'. Grant Downin turned in a personal best in the pole vault by going 6' 6" in the meet. Alex Spencer placed sixth in the 100 with a time of 14.02. Braeton Kimbro placed fifth in the 800 with a time of 2:56.

The eighth-grade boys and seventh-grade girls received a plaque for their second- and third-place finishes in the county meet. 

South Fulton Athletes State Bound

Photos by Sports Editor Darren Churchil 

Trace Hood advances to the State Meet in three events. Hood qualified in the Pole Vault with a second-place finish at 8' 6", second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.55 and second place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:07.20. 

Alexa Robertson will advance to the State Meet in two events. Robertson placed second in the 400-meter run with a time of 1:07 and first in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:36. 

Alex Dorethy qualified for the State Meet in two events by placing second in the High Jump with a height of 5' 0" and second place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:07.20 

Taylor Churchill will advance to the State Meet in three events. Churchill placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:32, first place in the Pole Vault with a height of 8' 3" and first place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:36. 

Kaitlin Hood qualified for this year's State Meet in three events. Hood placed first in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:33, second place in the Pole Vault with a height of 6' 9" and first place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:36. 

Tori Keeler qualified for the State Meet by placing first in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:36. 

Hannah Lehman advanced to the State Meet in the High Jump by placing second with a jump of 4' 6". 

Dacey Malott qualified for the State Meet in the 800-meter run by finishing in second place with a time of 2:44. 

Jett Jones moves on to the State Meet in two events. Jones placed first in the High Jump with a height of 5' 2" and second place in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:07.20 

 Connor Stevens advanced to the State Meet by placing second in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:07.20.

Runnin' Rebels Post Best Meet of the Year at County 

Photos by Sports Editor Darren Churchill 

 

On the girls side, Destini Bollinger placed first in the high jump with a leap of 5' 3" in Monday's Fulton County Meet in Farmington.  

Will Palmer turned a fourth-place finish in the 3200 meter run and a sixth-place finish in the 1600 on Monday at the County Meet in Farmington.  

Casey Jones, pictured here in a meet earlier this season, placed second in the triple jump and first in the high jump at the Fulton County Meet held at Farmington on Monday afternoon.

 

FARMINGTON, APRIL 23 — The South Fulton boy's and girl's track teams turned in stellar performances on Monday afternoon at the Fulton County Track Meet held in Farmington.

The Rebel jumpers set the pace as Destini Bollinger captured first place in the high jump with a leap of 5' 3". Bollinger also placed sixth in the 400-meter run. Casey Jones soared over 5' 10" to win the boys high jump, and added a 36' 11" in the triple jump, good enough for second place. Bryar Anderson turned in a sixth-place finish in the high jump at 5' 5". Alex Turpin rounded out the jumpers, placing sixth in the long jump.

Alyssa Batterton fired off a season best in the discus with a throw of 73' 3" to grab third place, and added a sixth-place finish in the shot.

In long distance running, Will Palmer placed fourth in the 3200 and sixth in the 1600. Logen Wright continued to show strong improvement in the hurdles coming in third in the 110 high hurdles and second in the 300 hurdles with an impressive time of 46.29. "I believe Logen has found his strength, and is really starting to become a strong hurdler," Coach Greg Gaither commented. Jordy Belville had a respectable showing in the 300's as well, with a sixth-place finish.

According to Gaither, the most impressive performance of the county meet came from that of P.J. Draper. The freshman bolted out to a lead in the 400 only to be edged out at the finish line by Davante Berry of Canton. "Draper's second-place finish was a thrill to watch," Gaither said.

The Rebels scored a season-high 56 points on the afternoon, while the girls turned in their best of the year with a team-high 29 points.

"We are starting to peak right now and heading into the conference meet and then Sectionals, we are sitting pretty good at this time," Gaither concluded. 

Fifth Inning Proves to be Costly for Rebels

Photos by Jim Lascelles 

LIBERTY, APRIL 23 — Around the baseball diamond on Monday afternoon, a 9-run rally in the fifth inning by Liberty tipped the scales for the home team as the Eagles handed South Fulton their 12th loss of the year, 13-4.

The Rebels held a 3-1 advantage heading into the costly fifth inning on RBI singles by Jacob Shaw and Mason Blickenstaff in South Fulton's first two at bats. "The first four innings we really looked sharp, and starter Zach Lascelles was doing well on the mound. Our guys had a lot of confidence heading into the bottom half of the fifth. One bad inning was the difference in this game, that's all there is to it," Coach Matt Klaska commented.

Liberty's 9-run frenzy was highlighted by seven hits that included two triples, but the Rebels defense got credit for some of those runs as well, committing two errors in the inning with runners in scoring position.

The Eagles plated 3 more insurance runs in the sixth to capture the non-conference win.

Lascelles (0-4) suffered the loss allowing 6 earned runs on 11 hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Eli Wherley threw one scoreless inning walking two batters and recorded two strikeouts. 

Shaw and Blickenstaff led the Rebels offense by combining for a four-hit day driving in 2 runs, while Tyler Engel added two hits of his own in the contest. R.J. Hampton drove in South Fulton's last run of the game on a fielder's choice in the top half of the sixth.

Engel and Jordan Bair took advantage on the base paths recording one stolen base apiece in the game.

The Rebels fall to 9-12 on the season. 

Dedric Eckwood bats for the Rebels. The Rebels varsity team came up short in the ballgame, losing to a tough Liberty team. 

Quinten Hayes bats for the Rebels team against Liberty.  The junior varsity team came away with more runs than  the home team in this shortened game because of daylight.

Junior High Track Squad Enjoys Record-Setting Conference Meet

Photos by Sports Editor Darren Churchill

LEWISTOWN, APRIL 26 — The South Fulton junior high track team enjoyed a record setting day at the Prairieland Meet in Lewistown on Thursday afternoon. The eight-team event was highlighted by conference records from Taylor Churchill and Caitlin Hood. Churchill set two records on the afternoon in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:38 and a height of 8 ft. in the pole vault. Hood set her mark in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:46. Churchill and Hood, along with teammates Alexa Robertson and Tori Keeler, also set a Prairieland record in the 4 x 400 relay with a time of 4:44.16.

"It was a great performance by Taylor and Caitlin today. They are tough competitors and never settle for mediocrity. The 4 x 400 relay team has been strong all season long, and it's no surprise to me they set a meet record today," Coach Doug Banwart commented.

On the boys side, the eighth-grade relay consisting of Connor Stevens, Jett Jones, Trace Hood and Alex Dorethy led the way, finishing first in the 4 x 400 with a time of 4:13.83. To have one good 4 x 400 team is tough enough to do, but to field two dominant teams (seventh-grade girls, eighth-grade boys) that win every time is something you rarely see in junior high track.

Tanner Payne and Alex Spencer put together a personal best in the shot put and long jump in the seventh-grade boys field events. "These guys continue to work hard everyday in practice, and now it is starting to pay off."

South Fulton chalked up five second-place finishes in the Prairieland meet as well with Stevens running a 17.89 in the hurdles and a 59.82 in the 400. Robertson turned in a time of 1:10.88 in the seventh-grade girls 400. Hannah Lehman leaped 4' 4" in the high jump good enough for second in the eighth-grade girls field event, and Caitlin Hood vaulted 7' 6" in the seventh-grade girls pole vault.

Other athletes placing on the day included: Dacey Malott, fourth in the high jump; Trace Hood, third in the eighth-grade boys pole vault and third in the 100; Savannah Burgett, fourth in the 100; Caitlin Heller, fourth in the girls seventh-grade discus; Maggie Lascelles, sixth in the eighth-grade girls discus; Zach Thompson, third in the eighth-grade boys shot; Gage Hollenback, fourth in the eighth-grade boys pole vault; Jett Jones, fifth in the eighth-grade boys high jump; Stevens, fourth in the eighth-grade boys discus; Sadie Markley, fifth in the seventh-grade girls hurdles and sixth in the 100; Lehman, fourth in the eighth-grade girls mile; Keeler, fifth in the seventh-grade girls 400; Justin Batterton, fourth in the eighth-grade boys mile; Andrew Palm, sixth in the boys seventh-grade 1600; Hannah Krukewitt, fourth in the eighth-grade girls hurdles; and Caleb Jones, third in the 400.

The seventh-grade girls and eighth-grade boys led the team totals with second-place finishes on the day.

"We eagerly anticipate Sectionals this weekend and look forward to sending as many athletes as we can to the state meet, they deserve it," Banwart concluded. 

Rebels Set Records at Prairieland Meet

Photos by Cliff Miller 

TAYLOR CHURCHILL 

ALEXA ROBERTSON 

CAITLYN HOOD 

TORI KEELER 

LEWISTOWN, APRIL 26 — Taylor Churchill and Caitlin Hood turned in record-setting performances in the eight-team junior high Prairieland Conference Meet held Thursday afternoon held in Lewistown.

Churchill set records in the 800-meter run and the pole vault. The seventh grader ran a 2:38 in her mid-distance race and vaulted 8 ft. in her field event.

Hood made her conference mark in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:46.

Hood and Churchill along with teammates Alexa Robertson and Tori Keeler set a meet record in the 4 x 400 relay as well, with a time of 4:44.16.

On Monday, April 30, Churchill set a county record in the 800-meter run, 2:36; and Hood set a county record in the 1600-meter, 5:39 at a meet in Havana. 

Rebels Split With Rockets

Photos by Sports Editor Darren Churchill

South Fulton's Garrett Strode gets a good lead off of first base in the second inning of play against the Rockets on Tuesday. 

ASTORIA, APRIL 17 — In boys Prairieland action around the baseball diamond on Tuesday afternoon, South Fulton (7-10) split a double header with Rushville/Industry (9-9), dropping the opening game, 2-1, and winning the second contest, 6-5. 

In game one, former South Fulton athlete Myles Taylor led the Rockets to victory by fanning 13 Rebel batters and allowing only 1 run on one hit to record his fourth win on the mound this year. 

South Fulton's only bright spot in the game in the bottom of the fifth, when sophomore Jordan Bair doubled, scoring Thomas Cooper from second base. 

Mason Blickenstaff suffered the loss, allowing only 1 earned run on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

In game two, junior Zach Lascelles hit a walk-off single to left field, scoring Eli Wherley from third to clinch the 1-run decision for the Rebels.

Jordan Bair, who moves to 4-0 on the season, chalked up the win for South Fulton, giving up 5 earned runs on 12 hits while recording five Ks.

The Rebels pounded out seven hits against the Rockets pitching staff, as Bair, Braden Wherley and Seth Kessler cranked out extra base hits in the league victory. Lascelles, Wherley, Kessler, Bair, Blickenstaff, Dedric Eckwood and R.J. Hampton drove in 1 run apiece for the winners as well.

Smart-base running by the Rebels also paid dividends in the win, as Tyler Engel finished with two stolen bases while teammates Braden Wherley and Garrett Strode tallied on one stolen base each.

South Fulton moves to 3-4 in the conference following the split decision on Tuesday afternoon. 

 

Senior Jacob Shaw takes a big swing at strike three against the Rockets starting pitcher on Tuesday. 

Sophomore Jordan Bair, pictured at bat in the fifth inning against Rushville/Industry on Tuesday afternoon, doubled off of starting pitcher Myles Taylor driving in the Rebels only run of the game. 

Dedric Eckwood takes a cut at strike two in the second game of a double header against Rushville/Industry on Tuesday afternoon. Eckwood and the Rebels grabbed the win, 6-5. 

 

Rough Defensive Outing for Rebels

ASTORIA, APRIL 16 — Six errors in four and one-half innings of play by the South Fulton baseball squad on Monday afternoon resulted in an 11-1 non-conference loss to Midwest Central in Astoria.

Following two-scoreless innings by both ball clubs, the visiting Raiders plated five runners in the top of the third to take a 5-0 lead. South Fulton's sole highlight of the contest came in the bottom half of the third when Mason Blickenstaff singled in Zach Lascelles to score the only Rebel run of the day.

Midwest Central put this game out of reach in the fourth with another 5 runs to win the game in five innings.

Lascelles took the loss, giving up only 2 earned runs on seven hits with three walks, while striking out two Raider batters in his three and one-third innings of work. Reliever Eli Wherley tossed one and two-thirds innings, giving up 1 run on two hits with one K.

Offensively, the Rebels struggled with their bats, recording only three hits on the afternoon as Blickenstaff, Lascelles and Braden Wherley finished with one hit apiece. Blickenstaff chalked up 1 RBI for his efforts at the plate.

South Fulton slips to 6-9 on the year following the loss to the Raiders. 

Rebels Edge Out Hornets, 6-5

Photo by Darren Churchill 

Senior Braden Wherley, shown at bat earlier in the season against Camp Point/Southeastern, helped his team to a 6-5 home win over Brown County last Thursday afternoon. Wherley went two for four at the dish against the Hornets and recorded 1 RBI for the Rebels who move to 6-8 on the year. 

ASTORIA, APRIL 12 — In boys baseball action Thursday afternoon, South Fulton pitcher Tyler Engel recorded his first varsity win as the Rebels plated 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth to edge out Brown County, 6-5, at Astoria. 

Engel (1-1) allowed only 2 earned runs on seven hits while fanning eight Hornet batters on the day. The freshmen helped his team's cause at the plate as well, with a two for four performance that included a double in the second inning and RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth. 

The Rebels scattered 12 hits off of Brown County's pitching staff during the game. Sophomore Jordan Bair provided fire power of his own with a perfect three for three effort driving in 1 run, while teammate Braden Wherley went two for four with 1 RBI in the non-conference contest. Jacob Shaw, Dedric Eckwood, Garrett Strode and Eli Wherley tallied on one hit each with Strode recording 1 RBI for his team.

B. Wherley chalked up his third save on the year tossing one half inning giving up one hit with two Ks.

"We hit the ball very well today and everyone contributed to the win. It was nice to see Tyler get the win, and I felt he had good location on all his pitches today. I am proud of the guys' effort, and they played hard the entire game," Head Coach Matt Klaska commented.

With the victory, South Fulton improves to 6-8 on the season.