Community Sports
Even in a pandemic, it's been a good year for local sports.
By Dave Whitaker
Dec 25, 2020, 12:13

While there’s probably no one would want to re-live any part of this year, spring of 2020 was probably the toughest. Businesses and churches closed, schools closed. It also shut down local sports as both the GHSA cancelled spring high school sports and the SSAC did the same with college, affecting Middle Georgia State University.

But as summer began, and on into fall, there were still great things happening with local sports. The 8u softball team won the Dixie Youth State title this summer.

In the fall, Lady Royals softball won their first region title since 2014, advancing to round two of the playoffs. Both Runnin’ Royals cross country teams won region, the girls finished third at state. Tristen Crosby was state runner up. The boys were sixth, with Luke Churchwell finishing seventh individually.

The girls cross country team was also named milesplit.com’s “South of the Border Team of the Year.” Royals football had a historic season, scoring a school record 31 points per game en route to advancing to the elite eight in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

It was also a good fall for middle school sports. Girls cross country won region, boys finished runner up. Both teams finished runner up in the small school division at the state meet. Ella Gibbs was individual state champion, Briggs Dominy finished state runner up.

BCMS also won the small school grand championship for having the highest overall score in both JV and varsity races. Coach Shelly Cranford was named milesplit.com “South of the Border Coach of the Year” for both middle school girls and boys cross country. Ella Gibbs was SOTB Runner of the Year.

Both the Lady Barons soccer team and the Barons football team made the playoffs. Given how many good things happened in a relatively short time, how good could 2021 be if all the sports are allowed to have full seasons?


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