Albany Herald | Danny Aller

Posey celebrates big day wth hometown, loved ones

With nearly all his immediate family and hundreds from the Leesburg community by his side, hometown hero Buster Posey is named the 2012 NL MVP live on national television Thursday during a fundraiser at his mother's school at the Lee County Transitional Learning Center.

Posey wins NL MVP

With hundreds of friends and family looking on Thursday night in Leesburg, Buster Posey is named the 2012 National League MVP.

Set your clocks: NL MVP announcement to be made at 6 p.m. today live on MLB Network

Leesburg native and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is considered the favorite to win the National League MVP when the coveted award is handed out tonight. (ADDS: that Posey will be in Leesburg tonight as guest speaker at Lee County Transitional Learning Center when MVP award is announced)

Ex-Worth County star Williams named Big 12 Player of Week

Former Albany Herald Dynamite Dozen selection Meshak Williams of Sylvester has become the leader of the defense for the No. 1 college football team in the nation, Kansas State.

Lady Cavs roll in nationals opener, 4-0; Darton's men continue title quest today

Despite a sluggish start, the Darton women’s soccer team wins easily in its NJCAA national tournament opener Tuesday in Melbourne, Fla.

Darton College golf team now turning heads off the course with new wheels

The Darton State College golf team recently got the gift of a lifetime that could very well improve all aspects of their game on and off the course.

FRIDAY'S PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Deerfield wins ninth straight, will face Tattnall in postseason opener; SGA falls in heartbreaker in first round of GISA Class AA playoffs

Deerfield jumps all over rival Southland, 41-0, before shutting it down and cruising to a 41-13 win Friday night for the Knights' ninth straight win. (ADDS: items on SGA-Gatewood in Class AA state playoffs; Randolph Southern-Crisp Academy; Terrell County-Randolph-Clay; Crisp County-Americus-Sumter; and Cairo-Dougherty)

COLUMN: For Dougherty, it was only one win — but, man, what a big one

Herald sports editor Danny Aller takes a closer look at just how huge Thursday's win was for Dougherty's football team against Americus-Sumter --- a victory that could very well be the turning point for the struggling program.

COLUMN: Believe it or not, the best of Buster is still to come

Herald sports editor Danny Aller looks back at Leesburg native and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey's rise to stardom in just three years in the majors following the Giants' second Posey-led World Series title in three years they won Sunday in Detroit.

LOCAL SPORTS ROUNDUP: Westwood’s Harrell wins AA cross country state title

Westwood freshman Perra Harrell won the GISA Class AA state cross country title with a personal best time of 20:09, giving her school its first state championship in girls cross country in the 15-year history of the program. (ADDS: Preseason basketball jamboree at Albany State)

Darton golf rallies, finishes third in district preview tourney

After falling back of the leader by 25 shots after the first two rounds of the NJCAA District IV Preview in Tennessee, Darton dusts the field on the final day to surge and finish third.

Lee County’s Posey near-unanimous choice for MLB’s NL ‘Comeback Player of Year’

Shortly before the Giants win Game 5 of the NLCS on Friday to stay alive in the series, NL MVP favorite Buster Posey of Leesburg is an overwhelming choice for MLB’s “Comeback Player of the Year."

FRIDAY NIGHT PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Rare FG by Herald No. 5 Early County caps wild win vs. Thomasville, 17-14; No. 2Bearcats prevail

Brandon Carter kicks a 25-yard field goal with 51.1 seconds left Friday night to lift the Bobcats past Thomasville, 17-14, in a crucial showdown to improve the Bobcats to 2-1 in Region 1-AA play. (ADDS: roundup items on Seminole-Calhoun; Southland-Pinewood; Cairo-Albany; Frederica-Crisp Academy; Bainbridge-Hardaway; Randolph Southern-Fullington; SGA-Southland).

FRIDAY'S PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Herald No. 2 Bainbridge stunned by Harris County; Deerfield blanks Bulloch

The Bearcats, who fell from The Herald's No. 1 spot in the Fab 5 Poll last week after an overtime loss to TCC, falls for the second week in a row --- this time in a stunner vs. region rival Harris County. (ADDS: roundup items on Miller County-Randolph-Clay; Baconton Charter-St. Francis; Deerfield-Bulloch; Seminole County-Stewart County; Crisp Academy-Fullington; Valwood-Terrell Academy; and SGA-Brookwood)

Bravo, Buster

Lee County native and San Francisco Giants star catcher Buster Posey became just the third catcher in baseball’s modern era Wednesday — and the first since 1942 — to win the National League batting title.

Southwest Georgia golfer Clanton struggles with 8-over in opening round of U.S. Senior Amateur Championship

Leesburg's own Bill Clanton made his debut at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship on Saturday in N.J., but he struggled during the first round and is well back of the lead.

Panthers release 2013 schedule; PIFL adds two new teams

The defending PIFL champion Albany Panthers announce their 2013 schedule Thursday, as well as reveal that two new teams have been added to the league.

Pollock on leave of absence: ‘I feel bad for the kids’

Michael Pollock, who was temporarily relieved of his duties as head coach of the Panthers’ football team two weeks ago, is officially put on administrative paid leave by the Sumter County Board of Education.

Pollock’s status in limbo for Americus-Albany game

The Albany Herald's Game of the Week between Albany High and Americus-Sumter on Friday got a little more intriguing Tuesday when it was learned that Panthers head coach Michael Pollock has been removed from his role as leader of the program, although whether the move was the result of a suspension --- and is temporary or permanent --- remains unclear. (UPDATED: 5:14 p.m. with new quotes, details)

Local golfer Clanton wins playoff at Doublegate, secures spot in prestigious U.S. Senior Amateur

Albany will have a representative in the U.S. Senior Amateur Open later this month in N.J. after Bill Clanton earns a coveted qualifying spot Thursday at Doublegate.

Monroe, Seminole, Early get votes in AP prep football poll

Sportswriters across Georgia don’t rank any area teams in The Associated Press’ first Top 10 of the year, but three squads get votes in the season’s preseason poll. (ADDS: Complete poll; Corky Kell Classic)

Vinent siblings make history at Albany Motor Speedway over the weekend

In what’s believed to be the first time in Albany Motor Speedway history, a brother-sister duo take the checkered flags on the same night.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Ex-Bainbridge star Gaines turning heads at Arkansas

Former Bearcat standout Rohan Gaines is in the running to be a starter at DB for the Razorbacks this season. (ADDS: items on UGA's practice Friday; banned LSU DB Mathieu checking into drug rehab; book on Paterno has new revelations)

COLUMN: It’s time for NBC to pass the Olympic torch

Herald sports editor Danny Aller takes a look back at NBC's heavily criticized coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and hopes the network will learn from its mistakes before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Silver lining

Albany native Angelo Taylor is passed in the final 100 meters as the U.S. men's 4x400 relay team settles for silver Friday in London, while the Bahamas wins its first gold medal in Olympic history in a men's event.

History halted

Albany’s Angelo Taylor, who was seeking to become the most decorated hurdler in Olympic Games history Monday, falls short of his record third gold medal when he finishes fifth in the men’s 400-meter hurdle finals in London.

Pro basketball returning to Albany with new ABA team

Albany City Commissioner Christopher Pike tells The Herald late Monday night that he will continue to serve his role in the community, while also becoming the GM of the newly founded Albany Shockwave ABA professional basketball team, which will be unveiled today.

On Warriors’ Summer League roster, Albany’s Young to see NBA future unfold in next 2 days

Former Deerfield star Andre Young wasn’t taken in either round of the recent NBA Draft, but Young was invited to the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League tryouts, where he will find out soon whether he’s made the team’s final roster before play kicks off Friday night.

Out for redemption

One week after losing in the tournament championship game against Conyers, Albany Post 30 comes back strong in the Paul Eames Memorial on Friday, opening with a pair of wins.

LOCAL SPORTS BRIEFS: Nine-team, Paul Eames Memorial Baseball Tournament kicks off today; Darton coach Henry set to hold two hoops camps starting next week; ASU honored by SAAC

Nine under-19 baseball teams from around the Southeast will converge on Albany today for the inaugural Paul Eames Memorial Baseball Tournament. (ADDS: breakout of today's schedule of games)

Back-To-Back!!!

For the second year in a row, the Albany Panthers arena football team ends the season as champions after downing the Richmond Raiders, 60-56, on Saturday night in front of 6,194 fans at the Albany Civic Center.

Leesburg’s Posey still leads NL catchers on MLB All-Star ballot; voting ends today

Leesburg native and Giants starting catcher Buster Posey still leads the MLB NL All-Star voting, which ends today at 11:59 p.m.

Lee County rising junior WR Cabrera gets first D-I offer from Duke; ex-Trojans star WR, UGA signee Seay to play for Itawamba CC

With interest brewing from major colleges around the country, Duke becomes the first D-I school to extend an offer to Trojans star Josh Cabrera.

Cavs No. 1 golfer, Mississippi St. signee Sakulpolphaisan named to prestigious national All-Nicklaus Team

Darton’s Joe Sakulpolphaisan, who ended his sophomore year as the No. 1-ranked JUCO player in the nation, becomes the first Cavs golfer in the program’s history to be named to the All-Nicklaus Team, which is selected by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.

GSW men’s basketball program signs former Duke football star, high school hoops standout

Austin Kelly, a former two-sport star at South Cobb High in North Georgia, had already graduated from Duke — but still had a year of eligibility left — so he’s decided to pursue his master's degree in Americus and play hoops next season for GSW.

New Darton wrestling coach backs out of job

The search is back on for Darton’s next wrestling coach after Tom Erikson — a former assistant at D-I powerhouse Purdue — accepts the position, but then backs out Thursday.

Ex-DWS star Young’s NBA tryouts a success; more to follow?

Albany’s Andre Young shines in his tryouts with the Warriors and Kings, and those performances have now drawn interest from the Hawks, Bobcats, Lakers and Spurs.

Several Lee County girls soccer players inadvertently omitted from All-Area team

Lee County girls soccer stars Carsen Taylor, Nicole Polk, Emily Peters, Sarah Sheffield, Danielle Brendel and Kristi Sheridan are added to the 2012 Herald All-Area Girls Soccer Team.

Duluth’s Shim still leads Ga. Jr. Championship at Doublegate; Albany’s Joiner brothers T-24th

Albany’s Jacob and Tyler Joiner sit tied for 24th place after Day 2 of the Georgia Junior Championship.

Former Lee, college baseball stars Nichols, Richardson opt to give up pro careers

After being drafted and advancing in the minors, Leesburg natives D’Vontrey Richardson, who starred at FSU, and Thomas Nichols, who starred at Georgia Tech, decide not to pursue MLB careers.

Ex-DWS, Clemson star Young set for NBA tryouts

Former Deerfield and Clemson star point guard Andre Young has tryouts this week with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings — and others could follow leading up to June 28’s NBA Draft.

U Save It owner drops ace at Doublegate on hole he sponsored, wins $10K

Fred Sharpe, owner of U Save It Pharmacy in Albany, put up $10,000 for any player that sunk a hole-in-one during the recent Member Guest Tournament at Doublegate — and believe it or not, Sharpe was the one who ended up acing the hole.

Albany’s Branch may have to fight for spot on New England’s roster

Albany native and former Monroe star receiver Deion Branch, who re-signed with the Patriots this offseason, may be in danger of not making the team’s roster.

FSU rocks Stanford, ace Appel in Super Regional opener

Florida State knocks Stanford ace Mark Appel out of Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regionals on Friday night and rolls to an impressive 17-1 win.

Braves wrap up MLB draft by selecting Colquitt High's Creech, two UGA stars

The 2012 MLB draft ends Wednesday as UGA‘s Alex Wood and Levi Hyams are taken by the Braves, who also select Moultrie’s Matt Creech.

Posey Power

Former Lee County softball star Sam Posey played hero for Valdosta State last week when she kept the Lady Blazers’ season alive with an 11th-inning, walk-off HR that propelled them to their first national title two days later, adding another chapter to the growing legend that is the Posey last name.

PIFL in process of sorting out fallout from Panthers-Hammers end-of-the-game brawl

With a lack of video evidence or eyewitness accounts by the officials of the brawl that broke out between players from the Albany Panthers and Alabama Hammers at the end of their game Saturday, the PIFL front office says it’s dealing with a “unique” situation that it hopes to have resolved soon.

Danny Aller

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