Sports

A Putnam County defensive lineman (72) goes up against an offensive lineman from Winder-Barrow during a padded camp held in Eatonton on July 17. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

A Putnam County defensive lineman (72) goes up against an offensive lineman from Winder-Barrow during a padded camp held in Eatonton on July 17. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County prepares to scrimmage West Laurens

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Putnam County football is ready to get started. The War Eagles will suit up this Friday to host West Laurens for a 7:30 p.m.scrimmage at Al Reaves Field.
Lauren Beth Harris is Lake Oconee Academy’s only returning senior this season and has been named the team’s captain. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Lauren Beth Harris is Lake Oconee Academy’s only returning senior this season and has been named the team’s captain. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

LOA softball ready for 2025 season

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 31, 2025
The Lake Oconee Academy softball team will begin its 2025 season this week against George Walton Academy. The Titans have been practicing all summer, preparing for the season opener Aug. 1, against the Bulldogs.
Morgan County High School senior Ty Tillery will be Auburn bound upon graduating next year. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Morgan County High School senior Ty Tillery will be Auburn bound upon graduating next year. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Auburn flips Morgan pitcher away from UGA

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Morgan County pitcher Ty Tillery recently flipped his commitment from Georgia to SEC rival Auburn.Tillery committed to the Bulldogs almost three years ago, before entering ninth grade.
After just one year at Greene County, soccer coach Jacob Baxley has accepted a similar position at Social Circle High School. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

After just one year at Greene County, soccer coach Jacob Baxley has accepted a similar position at Social Circle High School. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Baxley leaves Greene County for Social Circle

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Greene County boys and girls soccer coach Jacob Baxley recently accepted a job at his alma mater. Baxley, who coached at Greene County for one season, is headed to Social Circle to coach the boys’ team.
Loran Smith/File Photo

Loran Smith/File Photo

Smith: Herschel Walker

Loran Smith
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Herschel Walker, nicknamed “the goal line stalker” by Dan Magill, may have been the greatest Bulldog ever when it came to that particular talent. He also may have been the best when it comes to accentuating the positive.
L-R: LOA coach Chris Ingle, assistant coach Marnie Nelson, Chandler Clark, Ava Shurling, Lili Nelson, Tianna Chiplock, Lily Dominy, Kate Clark, and coach Alan Dodds. CONTRIBUTED

L-R: LOA coach Chris Ingle, assistant coach Marnie Nelson, Chandler Clark, Ava Shurling, Lili Nelson, Tianna Chiplock, Lily Dominy, Kate Clark, and coach Alan Dodds. CONTRIBUTED

LOA girls golf on par at national level

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 24, 2025
The Lake Oconee Academy girls golf team competed last week against some of the top teams in the country at the seventh-annual PGA High School Golf National Invitational, July 14-16 at Pinehurst Golf Resort in Pinehurst, N.C.
Morgan County running back Christian Monfort will return to the team as a senior this season but has already committed to attend and play for the University of West Georgia next year. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Morgan County running back Christian Monfort will return to the team as a senior this season but has already committed to attend and play for the University of West Georgia next year. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Morgan County running back commits to West Georgia

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Morgan County senior running back Christian Monfort announced last Monday that he has committed to play at West Georgia.Monfort chose to stay in-state and commit to the Wolves, who became a Division I program last year.
Gatewood senior Ellie McMillan has been a catcher for the past few seasons, but coach Dena Stancil said she will play multiple positions this year. CONTRIBUTED

Gatewood senior Ellie McMillan has been a catcher for the past few seasons, but coach Dena Stancil said she will play multiple positions this year. CONTRIBUTED

Lady Gators seek leadership for success on the diamond

Lance McCurley
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Gatewood head coach Dena Stancil said she is excited about this senior class.“I’ve got five seniors who have put in the work. They’ve really, really grown a lot,” Stancil said. “I had three of them start varsity in eighth grade and the other two are also solid.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected former Pitcher Hayden Murphy in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB draft. Murphy’s addition to the Lake Oconee Wild Things marked one of the first SEC athlete appearances on the team. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected former Pitcher Hayden Murphy in the 15th round of the 2025 MLB draft. Murphy’s addition to the Lake Oconee Wild Things marked one of the first SEC athlete appearances on the team. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Wild Things’ Murphy selected in MLB Draft

Skyla Morris
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Hayden Murphy, an Auburn baseball alum and current Lake Oconee Wild Things pitcher, was selected in the 2025 MLB draft on July 14. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted the Chula native in the 15th round, as the 453rd pick overall.
The Lake Oconee Wild Things faced off against the Alpharetta Aviators on July 18-19, for their final home series of the season. The matchup marks the conclusion of the program’s inaugural season in Lake Oconee. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

The Lake Oconee Wild Things faced off against the Alpharetta Aviators on July 18-19, for their final home series of the season. The matchup marks the conclusion of the program’s inaugural season in Lake Oconee. SKYLA MORRIS/Staff

Wild Things end inaugural season in Lake Oconee

Skyla Morris
Thursday, July 24, 2025
The Lake Oconee Wild Things faced off against the Alpharetta Aviators on July 18-19 in their final home appearance. The series conclusion marked the official end of the Sunbelt League team’s inaugural 2025 season.
Subscribe to