Eight And Under Girls All-Stars Headed To State

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   The Madison County eight and under girls all-star softball team is headed to the state championship.
   The girls earned the trip to Gainesville with a second place finish at the district tournament played last weekend in Madison.
   The team went to the state tournament last year with the same players and finish third in a field of 17 teams, who were all district champs. This year’s field will be approximately 20 teams.
   “They played beyond their capabilities a lot of the time,” Head Coach Mike Cooper said. “They never gave up. Hopefully, they will do as good this time.”
   Cooper said that the team had a little bit more experience this year and would not have the jitters that they did last year.
   The tournament will begin July 3 and will run through July7.

   The girls will be having two fundraisers this weekend. On Friday, they will be at the Johnson & Johnson Shell Station, at the corner of Highway 53 and Base Street, selling watermelons and lemonade. On Saturday, they will be on the Courthouse Square, selling hamburgers and hotdogs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to go out and support them!

Motoplex Attracting Weekend And Pro Riders

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Amateur, weekend and pro motocross and ATV riders have been enjoying a hotspot in Madison County that until recently went relatively unnoticed.  The Florida Motoplex is located in Madison County five miles south of I-10 on State Road 53. 
   According to details found on their www.floridaatv.com website, the Florida Motoplex offers riders trails, motocross tracks, mud pits and now a national qualifier track that’s slated to feature top riders in the next few years.
   Pat Stanton, a very popular “Brit” to those who have come to call his facility their weekend home, is pleased that the facility is steadily getting bigger and better while keeping the emphasis on family fun as well.  In fact, camping and a variety of other recreational activities are available.
   “We have stuff for the kids, for families and for the professional rider.  We are very happy to have found a home in Madison County and hope the community will take advantage of everything we have to offer,” Stanton noted.
   Not all residents have embraced the facility, with one recent protest being taken to the County Commission, where noise and exhaust were cited, among other environmental hazards associated with these types of facilities.  Madison County allows these facilities under a broad agriculture zoning category that doesn’t provide for pollution and targeted oversight that other communities in the region require. And although no neighboring property owners have complained, and many more have expressed their excitement at the potential revenue for the county and for simply having an additional recreational activity available, in the end, all concerned look for good stewardship in maintaining the facility to minimize any of these negative concerns. 
   With the growing popularity of the X-Games in recent years, motocross and stunt riding have now grown from popular to primetime.  The energy drink craze has added to that frenzy through its enormous sponsorship deals.  The Florida Motoplex hopes to become part of that expanding circuit with responsible growth to coincide with that rising popularity.  For more information on upcoming events and visitor rates, please phone (850) 673-7337 or again, visit the website at www.floridaatv.com.

12 And Under Boys Win District 2 Cal Ripken Baseball Champions

   The Madison County Babe Ruth League hosted the District 2 Cal Ripken 12U Baseball tournament this past weekend with great results.  The tournament included district representatives from Jefferson, Madison, and Wakulla counties.  The tournament was a huge success as the 12U Madison County All Stars are now the 2008 District 2 Champions, and will now battle for the state title in Jacksonville beginning July 10th.
   In the first round of double-elimination play on Friday night, the Madison County All Stars defeated the Jefferson County All Stars 7 to 3.  Cullen Gudz started as pitcher in the first game and no one was disappointed as he pitched five shutout innings while striking out ten batters along the way.  In the second game Saturday morning, Zack Money picked up the 14 to 3 victory over the Wakulla All Stars.  Zack pitched three strong innings, striking out seven while allowing only one earned run.  In the 11 to 0 Championship victory on Sunday morning, Cullen Gudz was again brilliant as he struck out nine Wakulla batters over four shutout innings.  As you can see, the pitchers were hot, but the bats were just as hot.  The team combined for a .481 batting average, eight home runs, and 32 runs scored. 
   For the weekend Jarrod Burns batted a whopping .857 while reaching base safely in all nine plate appearances.  Jarrod had one home run, two walks, three RBI’s, and seven runs scored.  Justin Briggs, the All Star second baseman, batted an even .500 with two runs scored and two sacrifices.  Zack Money also batted .500 with three home runs, eight RBI’s, and four runs scored.  The All Star catcher, Patrick Bowen, batted .400 with two home runs, four RBI’s, and three runs scored.  Eric Bright also batted .400 with five RBI’s, three runs scored and one home run.  Eric’s home run was his first ever and would you believe it was a grand slam.  Way to go EB.  Cullen Gudz batted .375 for the weekend with three runs scored, and Austin Bass pitched in with two runs scored and a .333 batting average.  Brandon Hammond ended the tournament batting .333, and Tres Copeland of Greenville, batted .300 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Cody Lange added his first ever home run, a huge two run shot, and Akevious Williams, the lead off batter for the All Stars, had seven runs scored while driving in three.  DaVontee Gallon had a big run in the final game on Sunday, and Drew Richardson who has been on the injured reserve list with a broken ankle got his first plate appearance in five weeks.
   Stay tuned as the 12U Madison All Stars continue their quest July 10th at the State tournament to be held in Jacksonville, Florida.
   The 12U Madison All Stars would like to recognize the following for their support and hard work during this exciting time.  Without their help, this tournament would not have been a success.

Billy Tolar – League President and Tournament Director
Donny Bailey - Umpire
Jennifer & Steven Williams – Concessions
Tommy Garner & Ray Bussey – Field Maintenance
Alan Sowell – Field Maintenance
Various Friends and Family – Concessions and Field Maintenance

Eli Sprenkle Signs To Play Football At Bethune-Cookman College

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   Eli Sprenkle will begin college a little bit earlier than his Madison County High School classmates.
   He has been ordered to report to Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach on August 7. That’s when football practice begins and Sprenkle will be worked in the rotation from the start as a defensive lineman.
   “I feel good,” Eli said, when asked what he felt about the opportunity.
Eli said that he had been offered other opportunities to play football at college, but that most of the opportunities had been at out-of-state schools.
   Eli said that, while he aspires to one day play in the National Football League, he plans to major in Criminal Justice and one day become a game warden.
“I play football, lift weights and hunt and fish. That’s about it,” Eli said, when asked about any other hobbies he might have.
Eli’s proud dad, Hal, will be rooting Eli on when he goes to Bethune-Cookman.
   “I have never missed a game he has played his entire life,” Hal said.
Eli is the son of Hal and Ramona Sprenkle of Pinetta. He has an older sister, Cortni, and a younger brother, Zachary.