'Dogs soccer rolls to quarters
Apr. 25—The march back to the state finals got off to a successful start for GMC Prep boys soccer Wednesday.
After a first-round bye, the Bulldogs (14-2) blasted playoff challenger Washington-Wilkes (5-10) 10-0 in the second round on GMC's Robertson Field.
Coach Bobby Jaworski's boys weren't playing around as they scored five goals within the game's first 10 minutes. The 'Dogs were finding the net with their feet and heads at will, backing the visiting Tigers into a corner that was impossible to recover from.
Senior Brian Sherwood led the scoring barrage with four goals and an assist. Included was the 50th goal of his high school career with all of them having come since his sophomore campaign. His total now stands at 53 (21 this season) with up to three games left to match or pass 2021 graduate Ethan Tolentino's program record of 66. That's a tough hill to climb as the competition level should only go up moving forward, but Sherwood does become only the second GMC Prep boys soccer player to hit the 50-goal mark.
Senior Owen McCabe notched two goals and an assist Wednesday, as did sophomore Tommy Carty. Gavin Smith and James Portwood rounded out the scoring effort. Senior Tyler Smith was head helper with three assists. Spencer Galloway and Brody Brock had an assist apiece as well.
The Bulldogs now look ahead to the state quarterfinals where they will host 9-6 Macon County Tuesday. Macon County advanced with a 4-2 win over Montgomery County. The GMC-Macon winner goes on to the semis to face either Echols County or last year's state champion, Christian Heritage of Dalton.
In girls action, the GMC Prep Lady Dogs were knocked out in the second round by top-ranked Portal Tuesday, 6-0. The GMC girls end the season with a 6-11-1 record, and one thrilling overtime playoff victory over McIntosh County Academy in the first round.
Bulldog baseball over in first round
GMC Prep baseball saw its season end in the first round of the state tournament Tuesday as the 'Dogs were swept in the best-of-three playoff series at Washington-Wilkes, 7-2 and 15-0.
Hitting wasn't a problem for head coach Kyle Redmond's team in Game 1 (GMC won the hit battle 11-10), but scoring runs was. Things fell apart late. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, a defensive miscue kept the Tigers' inning going as they went on to plate five in the frame and take the first game of the series. The wind left the Bulldogs' sails at that point as the host team cruised in the Game 2 clincher.
GMC Prep baseball finished the season third in its region with a 12-14 overall record. Region champ Johnson County is left carrying the Region 5-A banner now as runner-up Glascock and fourth-place Wilco exited the first round as well.
