Bears kick off season Friday
By Anne Marie Kyzer annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
      It's finally here. The high school football season officially kicks off Friday, but Bear fans will have to travel if they want to see it firsthand. The Bears will head to Springfield to take on Effingham County for their first regular season game.
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Lady Bears pulverize Grovetown
By Anne Marie Kyzer annemariek@thetruecitizen.com
      The Lady Bears didn't give the area's newest team any cause for celebration last week. In their home opener, the Burke County High School fast pitch softball team defeated Grovetown High 20-5 in just three innings. Grovetown just opened this school year in Columbia County.
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Spartan football underway
     The Edmund Burke Academy Spartans finished up scrimmage play last week and are ready to tackle the Region 2-AA competition. The Spartans begin their regular season this Friday in Thomson against nonregion opponent Briarwood Academy. Edmund Burke and Briarwood have each won four games against each other since 2000, and the two teams tied in 2006. The Spartans will face three more non-region opponents during the month of September before beginning region play in October. Their first region match will be against the Robert Toombs Crusaders on October 2. Pictured, freshman Aaron Icenhower avoids being tackled by a Westminster defender during a scrimmage game last Thursday.
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Lady Spartans struggle on the diamond
     The Lady Spartans (2-2) dropped two straight games last week before defeating Thomas Jefferson Academy 14-5. After a narrow loss to Nathaniel Greene Academy, the Spartans faced AAA Pinewood Academy. Eighth-grader Katelynn Kent started on the mound for the Lady Spartans. She struck out 4 batters and only gave up 5 hits. According to head coach Aaron Phillips, Kent "pitched a very good ballgame and kept us in the game." However, Edmund Burke had 6 errors and gave up 8 runs in the third inning, eventually losing 10-1. During the Lady Spartans' victory against Thomas Jefferson, sisters Amanda and Lauren Bragg combined for 7 hits during 8 plate appearances. Kasie Hargrove and Daryn Collins each had 2 hits while Ansleigh Dickey and Amber Bowman both reached base 4 times. The Lady Spartans began region play yesterday against Bulloch Academy but results were not available at press time. Pictured is Lauren Bragg as she makes contact with a fastball. She went 3-4 against Thomas Jefferson.
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Club members grab golf titles
     Juniors and ladies competed for annual championships at the Waynesboro Country Club last Saturday. The junior club tournament was held for boys and girls and was followed by the Ladies Golf Association's tournament. Above, Dale Tinley, left, claimed the championship title among the ladies with her 85, and Jamie Sandeford swung her way to the net handicap title with a 91. Her 22 handicap gave her a net score of 69. Below, Shay Chavous was named the Junior Boys Club Champion and Rylie Marchman claimed the title of Junior Girls Club Champion. Other age group winners among the juniors were Ragan Bailey, girls ages 10-11 champion; Dalton Quick, boys ages 12-14 champion; Jay Mobley, boys ages 10-11 champion; and Bill Knight Jr., boys ages 9 and under champion. Joe Jackson claimed the men's club title back in July and Mitch Newsome was the net handicap champion.
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