Former Vidalia Indian and Mercer University starting First Baseman Ty Dalley has been named to the 2023 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team. Dalley who hit 18 home runs and had 56 RBI in his inaugural year had previously been named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team, and Southern Conference All-Tournament Team.
“This is a true honor,” said Dalley, who’s 18 Home Runs and 56 RBI set new marks for a Freshman at Mercer. “"I am honored and Blessed to receive this honor. It's good to see that all the long hours that I have put in to get better is being recognized and rewarded. I just want to continue to work hard and be as good as I can be for my team," Dalley added.
Dalley, who’s 56 RBI’s led the team was quick to acknowledge his coaches for the time and effort they put in to change his swing during the fall. “"I wouldn't have been able to do what I did this year without our coaches. I am so thankful they took the time this fall to retool my swing and to make sure I was ready for my Freshman season."
(Courtesy of Vidalia Athletics)
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(L-R) Front: Brody Boston, Freddy Fondren, Bryson Taylor, Chance Woodruff, Brock Page, Blaze Boston, Mason Zorn. (Middle) Braydon Henry, Jackson Beasley, Kellen Neesmith, Macks Sasser, Grayson McDade, Hatcher Williams, Hawk Jernigan, Jackson Snead. (Back) Coaches Fondren, Chuck Page, Brandon Boston and Jas Snead.
(L-R) Front: Durham Roper, Pete Lewis, Asher Hamilton, Nolan Blunt, Abram Holes, Kase Rush, Jace Hobbs.(Middle): Champ Sharpton, Josh Hill, Colt Page, Luke Hopkins, Brinson Martin, Ethan Holmes, John Braddy, Cutter Roper, (Back): Coaches Ryan Lewis, Jody Hobbs, Scott Strickland, and Doug Roper.
Congratulations to VRD 8U & 10U Boys All-Star Baseball Teams on winning the 60th Annual Lyons Youth Tournament. The 8U Boys defeated Jeff Davis 2-1 to win the championship. The VRD Boys have won three straight tournaments without losing a game.
The 10U Boys defeated Bulloch County 5-3 to win the championship.
(Pictures By Carroll Williams)
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June 5-- Here are the latest sports schedules and scores for the week.
Monday, June 5
Tuesday, June 6
Baseball: Braves 6, Mets 4
Wednesday, June 7
Baseball: Braves 7, Mets 5
Thursday, June 8
Baseball: Mets at Braves 7:20pm (WYUM, 1017 FM, Sweet Onion Country)
Friday, June 9
Baseball: Nationals at Braves 7:20pm (WYUM, 1017 FM, Sweet Onion Country)
Saturday, June 10
Baseball: Mets at Braves 4:10pm (WYUM, 1017 FM, Sweet Onion Country)
Sunday, June 11
NASCAR: Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway 3:30pm (WYUM, 1017 FM, Sweet Onion Country)
Baseball: Nationals at Braves 1:35pm
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During his 30-year tenure as the head coach of the Vidalia High School Baseball team, Coach Greg James won two State Championships and 489 games. On Saturday in Dalton, Coach James received the highest award for a High School Coach in Georgia, as he was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) Hall of Fame. “I’m very honored and thrilled to be recognized in to receive the honor of being in the Coaches Hall of Fame.,” said James.A contingency of over 25 family members, former players, and supporters gathered in the Dalton Convention Center. Which is home to the HOF,
Vidalia Principal Bruce Mulkey induct James into the Hall. “This is not about how many games or how many State Championships Coach James has won. This is not about how many region titles or how many players he has had go on to college and the pros to play. Today is about Greg James, the man, and what he has meant to countless individuals, including me, and how he has effected each one.”
Mulkey, who was on James’ first team at Vidalia, told several stories from former players and that Coach James used baseball to teach young men “the value of being something bigger than themselves and that there is no greater calling than service to others.”
Mulkey then shared the stories of Vidalia super fan Ronnie Turner and former player Timothy Simpson, who credits James for “saving his life” when he was in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder.
James, who was raised in Vidalia and went through the Vidalia City School system and then returned to coach and teach at Vidalia for 31 years, said that when he received the call that he had been voted into the Hall of Fame, the first thing he thought about was his mentors, Coach Chunk Reid, and Buck Cravey who are both also in the Hall of Fame, “I guess the first thing I thought about was Coach Reed and Coach Cravey, you know, they’re both in and, what an honor to go into the Hall with those two men. Those two men I looked up to so much and learned so much from, as a student and from coaching with them.”
Ever humbling, Coach James deflected any credit for his accomplishments, saying that he was “blessed to have great players and coaches along the way.”
James was also quick to thank his wife Mary, who, despite being a 30-year teacher herself, “I tell people all the time if there was a hall of fame for coaches’ wives, she would be in it. Being a coach’s wife can be tough, and she did a great job handling it, helping us with our baseball camps, and making sure Derek and Drew were where they were supposed to be when I wasn’t there.”
James also thanked all those who supported him and the baseball program throughout his tenure. “It doesn’t matter what we’re doing; there’s gonna be fan support. The community’s always been there. Anything we’ve ever needed, they supported our kids. We always tried to take a lot of pride and represent Vidalia well, and I will say, I feel like our players always did that.”
James closed by saying that the award was going to be shared by everyone, “I just want every, every player and assistant coach, to know that I’m representing them. Because they were there for everything, and I appreciate being able to represent Vidalia High School and the baseball program.”
To hear an interview with Coach James and John Koon, Click Here
(Courtesy of Vidalia Athletics)
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June 1-- Congratulations to two Vidalia Recreation Department All-Star Teams on finishing in second place at the Lyons Recreation Department Youth Softball and Baseball Tournaments.
VRD 14U Girls - (L to R, Front): Lilly Menard, Aubrey Jones, Addi Welch, Ivy Berry, Paisley Ledford; (Back): Coach Matt Jones, Elizabeth Sowell, Ansley Jones, Bell Jones, Ella Mosley, Myra Meade, and Coach Rusty Mosley.
VRD 12U Boys - (L to R, Front): Brennan Hammock, Jax Roberts, Eli Gay, Gavin Reynolds, Cayden McDonald, Peyton Williamson, J’mari Brown, Hudson DeLoach; (Back): Coach Colby Reynolds, Lane Howard, Kaleb Wallace, Teagan Guin, Cole Scott, Coach Allen Scott, Alex Danly, Logan Scott, and Coach Mark McDonald.
(Pictures by Mike Branch)
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