Items for sale

Knotty Pine desk w/chair, good for student $50. 4 wood kitchen chairs $80. HD wood stair rails for outside steps. $20 pair. Call 748-8101.

‘03 Nemesis Competition Series Go-Kart... Ready to race! New clutch, new tach, with cart! $1500 or best offer. Call 826-0898.

4 - Eagle Alloys 18” wheels and 3 Yokohama 255/55R18 AVS S/T tires, good cond. Fit 99 Honda Passport, Isuzu Rodeo, others. $700 or best offer. Call 657-3998.

16’ flatbed utility trailer, dual-axle. $1000 OBO. Call 912-604-0252.

First $150 TAKES IT! 2 months worth of Nutri-System Foods, unopened and good thru 5/08. Call 728-9199, Guyton.

THE SPIRIT WORKS!

Sports

Sports Briefs

• The Garden City Recreation Department is now taking sign-ups for Gymnastics. Call 966-7776 for more information.

• “Diamond in a Rough” Boys Basketball Camp brought to you by Hoop Heaven... June 25 – 29, 8 AM – 12 noon at Garden City Recreation Center (behind Groves HS). Cost is $75 per camper. Director: Dondre Williams. Dondre is a former college player at West Virginia State University, has experience in the European Spandau Professional League and has experience in the Canadian Professional League (OPBA). Camp Highlights include: free camp T-shirt, team competitions, emphasis on fundamentals, individual coaching sessions, motivational speaking, and a camp certificate. Questions? E-mail: dondre@hoopheaven.net or call: 912-655-6415. Visit our website to download the registration form: www.hoopheaven.net. “Changing the World Through Basketball”

• STACY WEBB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Stacy Webb Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Black Creek Golf Course on Saturday, June 16th. The 4 person scramble format will have a shotgun start at 9am. Registration will begin at 8am. Lunch will be provided at the end of the round, and goodie bags will also be provided for all players. A drawing for prizes will be held during lunch. Cost is $80 per person or $320 per team. Mulligans will be available, two for $10, with a maximum of two per player.

This will be a Gross/Net tournament. Please turn in Handicaps on entry form. If a team wins Gross, they will not be eligible for Net. For more information, please call Kevin at 858-4653.

• CAMP EAGLE – May 29th thru August 17th

Summer Day Camp for Ages 6-12, Garden City Parks and Recreation Department. Age Groups: 6-8 LIONS, 9-10 TIGERS, 11-12 BEARS. Camp Eagle offers Swimming (swim lessons available), Archery, Team Sports, Field Trips, Arts & Crafts, Songs & Skits, Games and More! $25 Registration Fee, $75 Week/One Child, $65 Week/Two children (per child), $55 Week/Three Children or more (per child), $25 Daily Rate (per child).

Camp Eagle – Monday thru Friday, Drop Off 7am-9am, Camp Activities 9am-4pm, Pick Up 4 pm-6 pm.

Camp held at Garden City Gym, 160 B. Wheathill Road. Call 966-7788 for more information.

High School Sports

By C. Edward Wilson

Mustangs almost get sweep

While the school year has ended for most students in Effingham County, the South Effingham baseball team continues on in the quarterfinals of the Class AAA state baseball tournament. The Mustangs split a double-header against visiting Riverwood (out of the Atlanta region) on Tuesday and had to play a third game on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

South Effingham started the best of five series with a win in the opener 7-3. The nightcap game was a lot closer, but Riverwood prevailed to capture a 6-5 win in extra innings.

The most amazing thing about the Mustangs has been the team’s ability to come back from injuries all season long. “We had four players hurt and finally everyone got healthy,” said Coach Tony Kirkland, from an earlier interview.

Things didn’t look too good for the host team as Riverwood started the game with the bases being loaded, but a spectacular play from center fielder Keifer Youmans ended the threat. On the same play, a Riverwood runner was ruled out for leaving the bag too early and on appeal lost.

Youmans, who is headed to Andrews College, is one of the few upper classmen on this year’s club.

Riverwood starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg also will be playing college baseball as he signed a national letter of intent to play collegiately at Charleston Southern next fall. The

crafty pitcher did a phenomenal job to get his team out of trouble in both the seventh and eighth innings to preserve the win.

The win in the nightcap would have moved the Mustangs into the state semifinals for the third time in the last four years, according to Kirkland. If history is a barometer, then the Mustangs have to be concerned, because the team has yet to win a play-in game to move on into the state semifinals..

South Effingham high school right-hander Jesse Osborne took a no-hitter into the fifth inning until the visitors showed some life and battled back before finally succumbing.

South Effingham 7, Riverwood 3

W-Jesse Osborne (8-1); L-Ian Shaw (8-2). Leading hitters-SE, Paul Cheeks 2-4; Colby May 2-3, 2B; John Roberts 2-3, 2 RBIs; Keifer Youmans 2-3, 2B, 3 RBIs; Waylon Pickard 2-2, 2 RBIs.

Riverwood 6, South Effingham 5

W-Tyler Thornburg (7-2); L-Colby May (1-1). Leading hitters-SE, Keifer Youmans 2-4; Waylon Pickard 2-4, 2 RBIs; Chris Zittrouer 2-4; R, Brian Stewart 2-4; Chris Nault 2-2; Tyler Thornburg 2-4, RBI; James Gilbert 2-4, 2 RBIs. Records-SE 20-10; R 26-7

Red Raiders lose to better team

To quote an old adage, turn about is fair play. The Savannah Christian baseball team got a taste of its own medicine when Holy Innocents prayed over and then preyed on the Westside school. When the smoke cleared, the Golden Bears had knocked the Red Raiders out of the Class AAA playoffs, 12-8 in both games.

SCPS had literally swept both Dodge County and Westside- Augusta in the first two rounds, but ran into a better team on Tuesday afternoon.

Savannah Christian finished the season with an overall record of 21-9. It was the best season for the Red Raiders since 2002. That season, the Raiders finished with a 29-4 record.

Holy Innocents' 12, Savannah Christian 8

W-Mark Grimm (8-4). L-Russell DeMasi (3-1). Leading hitters-HI, Bentley Heyman 3-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Bert Olsen 2-2, 2 2B; Fletcher Hawkins 2-3, 3 RBIs; Robert Aitkens 1-4, 3 RBIs, 3B; Andrew McGonnigle 2-4, RBI; SCPS, Jonathan Hester 3-3, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 2B; Jordan Hill 2-4, HR, RBI; Kyle Jones 2-2; Alex Demaio 1-4, 2B.

Holy Innocents' 12, Savannah Christian 8

W-Ben Cornwell (8-2). L-Nate Sisolak (5-4). Leading hitters-SCPS, Hester 1-1, 3 RBIs, 2B; Hill 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2B; Robbie Beck 1-2, 2B; HI, Olsen 2-3, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs; Grimm 4-4, 4 RBIs, 2B; Heyman 1-4, 2 RBIs, 2B. Records-SCPS 21-9; HI 20-9.

Note: The Calvary Baptist baseball team knocked off Aquinas at Bethesda on Tuesday, 4-3 and 6-0.

OUTDOOR TRUTHS

(Editor’s Note: Outdoor Truths is a weekly sportsman's article that appears in newspapers and regional magazines across 13 states in the South, and Midwest. It is a blend of observations and experiences that have come over time from being in God's great outdoors. We’re proud to offer this column for the outdoor sportsmen in our area.)

I spent my last day hunting turkeys, trying to call two gobblers across a small lake. Normally this is not a good idea, but I have accomplished this at least once during the last three years. And I had already taken one tom this way, this year.

qSince it was the end of the season, these particular toms were pretty hot. They were gobbling at any sound and at my calls. I really thought that they were going to fly across the lake off the roost. They didn’t and I spent the better part of three hours coaxing them as best I could.

I could tell they were probably older birds. They were not eager to fly into a place where they could not see a hen. And since they thought a hen was calling to them, I’m sure they wanted her to come to them. We had an old fashion Mexican standoff.

These toms would come to the lake’s edge, but would not fly across. But their refusal to leave soon became the reason for one turkey’s demise. He was living so close to the edge, that eventually he couldn’t stand the temptation to make the trip across the lake. I won.

Once again, this is a warning for all of us who continually stay within an earshot of temptation. If those gobblers would have left the scene, they would have lived another day. Instead, they moved so close, that the next step was full commitment.

They stayed too long at the edge. They enjoyed the temptation so long that their ability to resist it soon went away.

Temptation comes to all of us. It is a part of our existence. It comes to us, no matter our walk of life. There are times when we are hit with it suddenly and without warning, and there are other times that we put ourselves in its path.

The Bible gives us three ways to deal with temptation. First, we are to FASHION our lives in a way that we are not susceptible to being in a place where temptation may come. (If you’re an alcoholic, don’t go to the bars.) Secondly, we are to FIGHT it. (This is for the times that we are suddenly exposed to it.) And thirdly, we are to FLEE from it. (Just run like a scared chicken.)

They’ll be times that we all will fall to temptation, but remembering these things will make it happen a lot less and just might keep us from becoming a trophy in the wrong trophy case.

www.outdoortruths.org

One of the big stories around at Atlanta last week was the death of a 17 year old high schooler from injuries he suffered in a single vehicle accident.

Much was made of the youth’s popularity, his prowess on the playing field (he was a quarterback on his school‘s football team) and the tragic loss.

What everyone seemed to keep forgetting, though, was that the boy’s injuries were, essentially, self-inflicted. He had been drinking, and wrecked his vehicle because he got behind the wheel afterwards.

Let’s hope his friends- as they reflect on his life- will reflect on the mistake he made, and learn something from it…

Speaking of drinking and driving, House Appropriations Committee chairman Ben Harbin was charged with DUI early Sunday after police in Atlanta said his car sheared a utility pole.

According to police reports, Harbin was driving on Memorial Drive around 1:00 AM when he struck the pole. The car traveled another 40 to 50 feet before coming to rest. No one else was in the car.

I can’t wait to hear his “apology.” Think he’ll serve any time?

From the mailbag comes this from Craig:

While they were out chasing the thief, how many sets of $1200 frames did you loot?…

I thought I'd chime in on few things. Is it just me or is Andrew Jones over swinging? I mean worse than usual. He's falling over on every cut. I haven't seen a Brave come out of their shoes like that since Ryan Klesko. And his quote about being a pull hitter exclusively. Gee, do you think they'll ever pitch him inside again? I wouldn't.

I know you don't care but: NBA- Cleveland up 3 games to 2 on New Jersey; Detroit up 3 games to 2 on Chicago; Utah beat Golden State 4 to 1; San Antonio and Phoenix 2 games each and playing right

now. (He’s right, I don’t care.)

I can't wait for Clemens to suck. I can't wait... I can't wait.

NFL preview: The NFC South, it's gonna be a dog fight. Ha-ha-ha ...It's a good thing (the Falcons) have that promising backup Matt ...What? ...Trade? ...um ...Joey Harrington, GREAT!”

A dog fight. Good one. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that…

MLB announced last week that the start of the World Series would be pushed back an extra day to October 24, meaning Game 7- if necessary- would be played November 1st. And, if an team were to sweep the NLCS, they’d wait eight days for game one.

MLB announced last summer that the Series would start on Tuesday, beginning this year, under the sport's new network television contract but a decision was made recently to move the start back one more day, to Wednesday.

“Maybe it will be over by Thanksgiving,” Mike Piazza said after the announcement.

“Starting the World Series in the middle of the week, when television viewership is historically higher, will provide more fans with the opportunity to watch the games,” said baseball C.O.O. Bob DuPuy. “The additional off days throughout the postseason will give us greater flexibility to facilitate travel and protect against poor weather.”

You know what else would give viewers more opportunity to watch the games? Not starting them at 8:37 at night and not allowing Fox to cram four minutes of commercials every mid-inning and pitching change…

Was anyone else as nervous as I was last week when John Smoltz left the game with an injury to his pitching hand? Even after I heard it was a dislocation, I still couldn’t believe he would make his next start.

And what a start it was- Smoltz pitched a fantastic game Saturday night- a welcome relief from the abomination that was the pitching in the first half of the double-header…

Speaking of the early pitching Saturday, the Braves got rid of Anthony Lerew by sticking him on the DL, but how long will it take them to realize that Mark Redman won’t ever be the pitcher he used to be? (Editor’s Note: Redman was cut by the Braves on Tuesday.) Every time that freaking guy comes into the game, you can practically see the other team’s hitters salivating…

Truly ugly, though, is Andruw Jones’ rapidly plummeting batting average (sitting at a paltry .212 Monday afternoon). Judging by the 15 hacks he took on the way to a five strikeout embarrassment Sunday, that average isn’t going up any time soon.

More annoying that the strikeouts was Jones‘ cavalier attitude. He said after the game that he‘d “struck out six, seven times in a row (over two games) before, so it ain't no big deal. We'll see what happens when we go back home. I just had a tough series here.” (Psst, Andruw- you’re sucking at home, too.)

Jones has 51 strikeouts in 156 at bats, and it hitting .147 this month. “He's been in (slumps) before,” Bobby Cox said. “We're not giving up on him; never have, never will.”

And I’m certainly not suggesting the Braves should give up on Jones- but this slump sure will make the task of re-signing him a lot easier…

The sale of the Braves to Liberty Media was made official last week when MLB owners put their approval on the stock swap deal between Liberty and Time Warner.

Liberty’s brass has said all the right things- like how they’re committed to having a winning team, and they’ll give Terry McGuire a relatively free rein on running the team. Still, as a fan, I can’t help but wonder if they’ll be unloading the team as soon as the four and a half years the league required them to agree to for an okay are up.

Then again, maybe Arthur Blank will take another shot at the team. Of course, with the way he’s allowing one player to ruin the Falcons, that might not be such a good idea after all…

I enjoy hockey, but the danged NHL playoffs are still going. They’re almost as bad as basketball! Of course, I’d probably be able to overlook had the Thrashers not sucked so bad and gone four and out…

Monday is Memorial Day. Don’t forget to thank a vet…

And finally, happy birthday to my big sister, Judy…

So, that’s about all for this week, boys and girls. I'll be back next time with more news, note, and rumors from the sports world. As always, send your questions, praises, or gripes to BeanSpouts@gmail.com, or via snail mail to:

c/o Spirit Newspapers