By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Our 2007 sports year in review continues
9-Wildcat-football-gets-a-r
2007 marked the debut of the Wildcat radio show on 104.7 FM The Hawk. Seen above is (from left) booster president Ricky Bodaford, The Hawk's Yvonne Clark and Coach Brian Brocato. - photo by Ross Blair

Sept. 19 – Lindsey Vasher again leads the pack for RHHS cross country while the boys and girls each place third at a home meet. Jimmy Gardener led for the boys while Lauren Hall was closely behind Vasher.

-         The Lady Cats beat St. Vincent’s 11-1 in another overwhelming softball victory. Caitlyn Casey led with 3 for 4 and 3 RBI’s. Alex Hefner excelled on the mound.

September 22 – Two winning programs collide when RHHS narrowly defeats BCHS in softball. It came down to a pitcher’s duel of the two hottest rookie pitchers in the county when Lady Skin Samantha Howard threw a near no-hitter and Lady Cat Jena Reddick struck out nine with no walks. The following, the Lady Skins swept Claxton 7-0 with Ashley Barfield recording 10 strike-outs.

September 26 – RHHS wins big at JF Gregory in cross country with a first placing by the girls and second for the boys. Lead runners were Lindsey Vasher and David Cassidy. Also faring well were BCHS runners Isaiah Foster and Jennifer Waters.

-         RHHS cheerleaders take the top prize in the Coastal Cheer Classic.

-         Coach Brian Brocato tells the Richmond Hill Rotary Club that RHHS football is on the right path in spite of a lackluster win-loss record.

Sept. 29 – Lady Skin softball beats ECI 11-1. Ashley Barfield strikes out 11 while the Skins knocked out 10 hits. Two days later, the Skins beat tough region foe Calvary 3-2 and look strong as they head toward the region tournament.

- Richmond Hill’s new-found pitching ace, Jena Reddick, leads her team to a win over rival South Effingham.

Oct. 3 – In county football, the Redskins face a heartbreaking 21-20 region loss to SCD. Meanwhile, Richmond Hill drops one to traditional powerhouse Washington County, but wows critics by giving the tough team some stiff opposition.

- Former Richmond Hill sailor and Coast Guard Academy freshman Krysta Rohde finished second at the New England Women’s Singlehanded Championship. This also gained her a berth into the nationals.

- RHHS cheerleaders take first place at a GHSA competition in Toombs County.

- RHHS and BCHS cross country runners compete at Savannah Country Day with Lindsey Vasher and David Cassidy turning in the best times. The Lady Cats place highest in the county with a second place finish.

- The Lady Cat softball team gain two consecutive victories during a double header against Hepzibah. Heather Vaccaro, the team’s lone senior, is honored in conjunction with Senior Day.

Oct. 6 – A 38-lb. kingfish garners pro fishing team Double Gobble a top five finish and $13,000. The event is chronicled by FSN with a network cameraman on board.

- In their last season game, Lady Skin Meghan Shuman slams an over-the-fence homerun. It wasn’t enough though as they narrowly lost to Portal 4-3.

- Lady Cat Melanie Goolsby scores a homerun and scores four other times to lead her team to an 18-2 win over St. Vincent’s.

Oct. 10 – The Redskin football team beats Wheeler County 35-29 to begin an upward slide that would eventually take them to the state playoffs. Ivey Mutcherson rushes for 214 yards.

- Lady Cat Jena Reddick throws the first ever perfect game in Richmond Hill history to lead her team in a win over Burke County. Also against Burke, she nailed her first homerun of the season.

Oct. 17 – Kaitlyn Uhlig, David Cassidy, Jennifer Waters and Kurt Shuman were among the top runners at a JF Gregory cross country meet.

- The Redskin football team beat Portal. Among the top players were Ivey Mutcherson, Justin Bostick, Deandre Walker and D.J. McElroy.

- After a seemingly unstoppable string of victories, the Lady Cat softball team surprisingly is sent home from the regional tournament after two losses.

- BCHS football player Ivey Mutcherson is named the Bryan County News’ September Athlete of the Month.

Oct. 20 – Head coach Lee Boaen leads his fall Wildcat fall baseball team to a string of victories. Boaen and assistant coach Charlie Johnson say all signs are pointing to a top notch regular season and dote on the talents of players such as Logan Wolf, Kevin Mathews, Raul Rodriguez, John Johnson, Cody Rushing and Steven Boaen.

Oct. 24 – BCHS softball makes history by dominating the region 3-A tournament in Dublin to earn a spot in the Elite Eight state tournament. Samantha Howard filled in nicely for the injured Ashley Barfield. Barfield was able to bat and even hit a homerun against Bacon County. Bridget Bacon, Taylor Stanfield and Meghan Shuman had hot bats as well while the hottest bat belonged to Howard who also slammed a homerun.

- The usual suspects, Lindsey Vasher and David Cassidy, lead RHHS cross country to a second placing for the girls and fourth for the boys in a home meet.

Oct. 27 – At the state tournament in Columbus, the Lady Skins softball team are ousted after a pair of losses to Gordon Lee High School and rival SCD. The team takes solace in the fact that they are the most successful BCHS softball team in history. Columbus highlights include a homerun from Samantha Howard and a two-run double from Taylor Stanfield.

- RHMS football beat Burke County 7-0 to advance to the finals of the region championship tournament.

- Rec football draws to a close. Highlights include the 10U Wildcats having an undefeated season to nab the region title.

Oct. 31 – The Redskin football team continue their winning ways with a 26-6 region victory over Jenkins County. Among the top players are Tyler Burgstiner, Justin Bostick, Deandre Walker, Willie Harris, Jarrell Paulk, Ivey Mutcherson and D.J. McElroy.

- RHHS boys and girls cross country turn in a pair of top five finishes at SCD with Vasher and Cassidy leading the pack.

Nov. 3 – Three touchdowns by Ivey Mutcherson and two from Deandre Walker led BCHS to a 35-16 region win over Claxton. The win secures a slot in the state playoffs.

- The Richmond Hill Middle School Wildcat football team beats the undefeated South Effingham Mustangs 35-28 in the final round of the region tournament. They overcome a 22-7 deficit at halftime and come back strong to win the region title.

- The Lady Wildcat cross country team finish second at the regional meet to earn a vie into the state playoffs. The boys narrowly miss the mark by finishing fifth as only the top four advance.

Nov. 7 – At the regional competition in Lyons, the RHHS cheerleaders take first place to secure a 3-AAA region championship for the fourth straight year.

- RHHS graduate and Coast Guard Academy freshman Krysta Rohde wins the ICSA national sailing title. She is the first female Coast Guard cadet to win a national title and the first national champion from the Coast Guard overall since 1968.

- For the second straight year, BCHS is awarded Georgia Electric Cooperative’s Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

- Congressman Jack Kingston draws the winning ticket of the RHHS Gridiron Association’s golf cart giveaway. Despite political support, the Cats still lose to Burke County. Improvement is imminent though as the deficit is half of what it was last year versus Burke.

- The fall Wildcat baseball team rack up numerous victories to earn a second place finish in the 2007 Chain Baseball Fall Classic Tournament. Raul Rodriguez is the top pitcher while the hottest bats belong to Logan Wolf, Ben Auger, Matt Graney, Jeremey Goolsby and Steven Boaen.

- The Lady Cat softball holds their annual awards banquet. Among the winners are MVPs – Melanie Goolsby and Jena Reddick, Most Improved – Alex Hefner, Wildcat Award – Caitlyn Casey, Best Defense – Caitlyn Casey, Best Offense – Melanie Goolsby, Coaches Award - Margaret Goolsby and Academic Award – Stefanie Ortiz.

Nov. 10 – New RHHS basketball coach Elizabeth Bennett shares her excitement for the season one week before the Lady Cats' first game. She dotes on assistant coach Jodi Reagan as well as players Tyler Carlson, Colleen Keller, Jade Crosby, Shakeena Durham and Courtney Myers.

Nov. 14 – To cap off senior night and the last home game of the season, the Redskin football teams continue their winning streak with a big victory over region foe Calvary Day School. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Miller County will be the Skins’ first round opponent later that week in the state playoffs.

- RHHS softball player Jena Reddick and BCHS softball player Samantha Howard are both honored as a tie is declared for the Bryan County News’ October Athlete of the Month award. Among Reddick’s October achievements was pitching a perfect game against Burke County. Among Howard’s efforts for the month was hitting homeruns both at the region and state tournaments.

- The 2007 Santa Scramble raises $23,000 for the Bryan County Children’s Fund, making it the most successful event in the eight years it has run.

- Both the RHHS cheerleading and cross country teams finish in the top 16 in their respective state competitions.

Nov. 17 – RHHS football holds its annual awards banquet. Among the winners are MVP – Darius Postell, Defensive Linebacker– Nathan Kilburn, Academic Award – Sean Szad, Offensive Lineman – Josh Davis, Defensive Lineman – Manny Garcia and Most Improved – Mike Morris.

Our look back concludes Wednesday. More photos online at www.bryancountynews.net.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters