Cedartown celebrates champions at Fourth Friday
July’s Fourth Friday concert in Cedartown featured more than just bands on July 25, but also two local recreation department All-Star teams who came home with championship trophies in national tournaments. Before Prior Station and Khaotik took the stage in downtown Cedartown last week, a procession of classic cars was followed by the 16-and-under boys All Star baseball team and the 12-and-under girls All Star softball with their Dizzy Dean World Series trophies.
Make that two World Series teams for Cedartown.
Not long after the Cedartown 14- and-under girls softball team returned from Southaven, Miss., the 16and-under boys baseball All Star team won their own championship.
It is the first time in local history two teams have brought home World Series trophies from the same tournament.
Jamie Newsome, Cedartown Police Chief and former first base coach for the recreation department all-star team, said Cedartown defeated the Pontotoc, Miss., team in dramatic fashion earlier this afternoon in Southaven, Miss.
Newsome called the game for locals to enjoy last week on WGAA radio. He said he stepped aside from coaching the team to be able to call the game.
As far as how the final game went, Newsome said the team came back after going down 5-3 to the Pontotoc Thunder in the seventh inning in a grudge match between the two teams in the nine team tournament.
Newsome - who stepped aside from his coaching position on the team to call the game for WGAA listeners - said Cedartown took their final chance for the win following the lead off batter being hit by a pitch and a walk. Beau Davis then singled in a run to bring the score to 5-4, followed by Newsome’s son Casey hitting a single to drive in the next run to tie the game.
“Jack Haney got a base hit to center field to bring in the scoring run,” Newsome said.
The team previously beat Pontotoc in an earlier game in the tournament to advance, but the Thunder made it back in by winning out the loser’s bracket, Newsome said.
Cedartown went undefeated through the tournament. They represented Georgia as state champions in the 16-and-under division.
Newsome said this team has previously won championship gold in five different divisions in earlier years. They won the Baseball Players Association State Championship as
FISHING PICTURES: The Polk County Standard Journal is accepting fishing pictures this year of kids 16-and-under. The exception for someone older than 16 submitting a fishing picture would be if they caught an unusually large fish. The Standard Journal asks that a child's picture be submitted no more than twice a year. When bringing a photo to the office or e-mailing it, please include the name of the kid(s) in the photo and what kind kind of fish it is. To e-mail the photo, send it to KMyrick@npco.com as a .jpg attachment. Photos may also be dropped off at the office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. YOUTH FOOTBALL TRAINING: The Rockmart Youth Football Association is holding conditioning and fundamental training each Tuesday and Thursday at the old Rockmart High School football field. Those events are free of charge and are from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. For additional information, call Donta Jones at 770-878-8282.
FOOTBALL, The Cedartown Recreation Department will start youth football and cheerleading sign-ups on July 14. Sign-ups will be at the Nathan Dean Gym at the Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. each evening. For more details, call 770-748-7783. ROCKMART YOUTH FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING SIGN-UPS: The Rockmart Youth Football and Cheerleading Association is currently holding signups for boys and girls, ages four to 12-years-old. Those interested in signing-up can call Donta Jones at 770-878-8282, Lazarius Peek at 678-836-6054, or Yanci Davis at 404-323-9223. The league can also be e-mailed at Rockmartyfl@gmail.com. The organizers also encourage people to visit their Facebook page at Rockmart Football Association. The sign-up fee this season is $130. THE CEDARTOWN VARSITY CHEERLEADING SUQAD would like to invite any past Varsity Football Cheerleader to cheer during the upcoming Alumni football game on Saturday, August 23. There will be a meeting for any alumni cheerleader interested on Saturday, August 2 at 10 a.m. at the Girl’s Fieldhouse at Cedartown High School and registration will close at this time. You may pre-register with your name, graduation year and t-shirt size with Jennifer Westlake Ruff at jwruff1985@gmail. com or Brigitte Tillery at btillery@polk.k12.ga.us. CHS Cheerleaders will be hosting a cheer practice on Aug 23 at 10 a.m. for interested alumni also. Cost will be $25 for each alumni cheerleader. THE CITY OF ROCKMART RECREATION DEPARTMENT announces signups have begun for the 2014 recreation league soccer teams. Signups will continue at the City of Rockmart offices through August 11. Youth signups can be completed during the city office’s operating hours. Fees are $50 for the first child, and $35 for each additional child after. For more information contact recreation department director Jeff Hulsey at 678-757-1001. Community Sports Briefs lists current events related to sports that will be taking place in Polk County or the surrounding area. Items may be submitted several different ways. People can e-mail items to Kmyrick@npco. com or call 770-748-1520. Announcements can also be faxed to 770-748-1524.
a 12-and-under team, the Georgia Parks and Recreation and Dizzy Dean State Championships as a 14-and-under team and runner up in the World Series that year, and were Little League state champions in the 15-and-under division.
“This team, with the exception of 1 or 2 boys here or there, has their fifth state championship in some governing body of baseball or another since they were 12 years old,” he said.
The team is not planning to return in fanfare, since Newsome said they are not traveling together in a caravan.
“We’re all coming back at our own pace,” he said.
It would likely be midnight or later before they returned.