Spring sports are going strong at Appling County High School in Baxley. The
Pirates’ baseball team is striving to earn a playoff spot as is the track and field team. Meanwhile, golf and tennis are preparing for region tournaments in April.
Baseball
The Pirates baseball team of Coach Jeremy Smith finished March with a record of 11-5-1 overall and 10-1-1 in Region 1-AAA. Despite a tough non-region schedule, the Pirates had only one region loss through March putting them atop the region standings as the month came to an end thanks to losses by Pierce and Tattnall. Due to the tie with Jenkins, the Pirates were a half-game ahead of the remainder of the region with four region games to go. Appling got off to a strong start in March with shutout wins over several Savannah schools including Islands High School, Johnson, Beach, and Savannah High. The Pirates then shutout Brantley County before defeating Toombs, Dodge and Pierce.
Region playoffs are scheduled to begin April 15.
Track & Field
The Pirates’ track and field teams fared well at the sixth annual Swamp Relays hosted by Ware County High School in Waycross. The boys’ team of Coach Sheldon Pearce had a strong finish with several athletes placing. Sprinter Devon Moore put on a show, setting school records in the 100 and 200 meters. He finished second in the 100 with a 10.56, the second-fastest time in the state this year. Moore then won the 200 with a time of 21.74, which is fifth best in the state so far.
On March 19, a dozen teams were in Fitzgerald for the Colony Bank Invitational. The Appling County Lady Pirates of Coach Garrett Cranford showed well, with sophomore Turkesia White finishing fourth in the 100 meters. Kaitlyn Paulk finished fourth in the discus and Kelsey Jones was fourth in the shot put.
The Region 1-AAA meet is scheduled for April 18-19 at Southeast Bulloch in Brooklet. Sectionals will be held at the same location on April 30. Qualifiers will advance to the State meets, with the girls’ taking place in Albany on May 5-7 and the boys’ in Jefferson May 12-14.
Golf
The golf teams of Coach Andrew Livingston have been busy playing through March and into April. They are preparing for the Region 1-AAA tournament which is scheduled to begin April 18 in Brantley County.
Tennis
The boys’ tennis team of Linsey Tillman has been through region play and is preparing for the Region 1-AAA tournament set to begin April 16 at Pierce County High.
SE-SF-0416-Appling page
Pirates Baseball, Track and Tennis Going Strong
By Rob Asbell
