APRIL 2013_UPSTATE GAME DAY

springtime Hits

/ 14

gAme DAY

>> NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNINGS >> FENCING ACADEMY OPENS IN BOILING SPRINGS >> SETH BUCKLEY: BOSTON LESSONS

>> INSIDE: YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS

5 questions that will be answered during postseason

FreeApriL 2013

ApriL 15 - mAY 14, 2013

Chapman’s James Deal takes

a swing during the Steve Sanders

Tournament.

john clayton-PHOTO

SO LONG

Meaningful Marcus

Broome’s Finley finishes career

Lattimore’s impact goes deep

/ 16-19facebook.com/upstategamedaywww.upstategameday.com UPSTATE

Don’t let injury knock you out of the tournament.

Is an injury preventing you from being your best? Get professional orthopaedic treatment and preventative care to train right and play right, no matter the game.

We are experts in treating all sports injuries from the fingers to the toes and everything in between:

• Fractures • Rotator cuff tears• Shoulder instability • Back pain• ACL tears • Cartilage tears• Ankle sprains

OA physicians: M. David Mitchell, MD; Michael P. Hoenig, MD; Michael Henderson, MD; Michael W. Funderburk, MD; James Behr, MD; Stephen Harley, MD; Mary Joan Black, MD; Anthony DiNicola, MD; Gerald L. Rollins, MD; Sonya Clark, DO.

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Large Groups Welcome

1509 John B. White Sr. Blvd / Spartanburgmyfuddruckers.com864.576.8329

Call us or visit us at myfuddruckers.com to order your cookie tray and

we’ll have it ready when you pick it up!

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baked-from-scratch daily.They’re perfect to bring to any party

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Looking for an extra copy?Upstate GameDay is located in more than 250

high-traffic Spartanburg County locations. Copies can be picked up inside many restaurants, including Bojangles, Fuddruckers, Pizza Inn, The Clock, Chick-Fil-A (eastside), bookstores such as Barnes & Noble, sporting goods stores, medical offices, gyms/fitness centers, schools, hair salons, and many more locations.

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> 12

> 16

Lattimore’s impact deeper than autographs

Spring Sports questions, predictions abound

Summer Sports Camp listings

Shayna Finley moves on from Centurions

Seth Buckley: Lessons learned from Boston

> 21

> 29

Leading OffDon’t let injury knock you out of the tournament.

Is an injury preventing you from being your best? Get professional orthopaedic treatment and preventative care to train right and play right, no matter the game.

We are experts in treating all sports injuries from the fingers to the toes and everything in between:

• Fractures • Rotator cuff tears• Shoulder instability • Back pain• ACL tears • Cartilage tears• Ankle sprains

OA physicians: M. David Mitchell, MD; Michael P. Hoenig, MD; Michael Henderson, MD; Michael W. Funderburk, MD; James Behr, MD; Stephen Harley, MD; Mary Joan Black, MD; Anthony DiNicola, MD; Gerald L. Rollins, MD; Sonya Clark, DO.

faster

better

s t ro n g e r

Orthopaedic Associates

Better. Stronger. Faster.www.upstateoa.com • 864.582.6396

North Grove Medical Park, Spartanburg, SC • West Grove Park, Duncan, SC Since 1962

4 APRIL 2013 u GAME DAY

gAme DAY Youth sports magazine

EDITOR & PUBLISHER /LAYOUT/DESIGN EDITOR

Les Timms iiiles.timms

@upstategameday.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR / SENIOR WRITERJohn CLayTon

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jed BlackwellKen Finley

ed overstreetPamela Dunlap

Tim Lambka

TO ADvERTISE, [email protected]

864-804-0068

WEBSITEwww.upstategameday.com

issuu.com/upstategameday/docs

CONTACT GAME DAY864-804-0068

Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is not responsible for the return of submitted photography, artwork, or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or

similar charges.© Upstate Game Day Youth

Sports Magazine 2013

Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is published 12 times a year by Timms Com-

munications. All contents are copyrighted by Upstate Game Day Youth Sports Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine, including publisher-designed advertisements, may be copied, scanned, or reproduced in any

manner without prior consent from the publisher. Unauthorized user will be billed appropriately for

such use.

www.upstategameday.comwww.facebook.com/upstategamedaywww.issuu.com/upstategameday/docs

‘HI NEIGHBOR’ CHAMPSMembers of the Upstate Volleyball Club 16 National team flash No. 1 signals after winning the champi-onship in the 16 year old division in the Hi Neighbor tournament in the Asheville area in mid-April.

By JOHN CLAYTONOn Twitter @JCTweetsOn

Dorman has an addition to its trophy case.

In its first full year of compe-tition, the Dorman bass fishing team brought home the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Youth High School Bass Fishing Championships trophy.

The tournament, held in late March at Lake Murray, included 13 high school and 14 middle school teams from across the state.

“I’m extremely proud of the guys on the team,” said Dorman coach Shalon Hardin, who said he is glad outdoorsmen in school

now have an avenue through which to compete and follow their passion.

Hardin, a math teacher at Dorman, also said a scoring miscalculation originally had Abbeville as the winner and the Cavaliers in second, but after doing the math, Dorman was awarded the title.

“We got that straightened out,” Hardin said. “We were able to beat some really good teams -- T.L. Hanna and Ninety-Six are really strong and Abbeville has a really good team.

Teams were able to field as many as six anglers in the tour-nament. The average weight of each team’s catch determined the

winner.Dorman’s four anglers --

Cody Richardson, Hunter Green,

Erick Xaikhamharn and Brandon Pack -- averaged 12.53 pounds on their combined catch.

ClipboardNEWS & NOTES FROM THE LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS SCENE

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO [email protected]

GAME DAY u APRIL 2013 5

Left to Right: Dorman’s Brandon Pack, Cody Richardson, Eric Xai-khamharn, Hunter Green celebrate their championship.

SMART CHOICE


Taylor Cabe’s grade-point average is significantly higher than her microscopic earned-run average, and she will be taking both from Boiling Springs to Harvard next year.

Cabe, a senior pitcher for the Bulldogs, said she has always emphasized academics off the field and is excited to join the Ivy League as both a student and a Division I athlete.

“I think education is extremely important,” said Cabe, who made her decision to attend Harvard this past summer.

Though competing at the NCAA Division I level, the Ivy League does not offer athletic scholarships.

Cabe said she is comfortable

with her future teammates and excited about he chance to attend Harvard, which is located just outside of Boston in Cambridge, Mass.

That comfort level, the chance for a top-notch education and fitting a chance to experience life in a large, vital city made Cabe’s decision easy.

“I’m looking forward to expanding myself academically and socially,” she said. “Boston is a melting pot with so many different kinds of people. So much will be new and different for me.”

Cabe has won more than 40 games over the past two seasons at Boiling Springs, sporting a 0.70 ERA as a junior. She also plays for the Carolina Elite club team coached by USC-Upstate assistant coach Bryan Pack. GD

Boiling Springs pitcher Taylor Cabe warms up. before a recent game.

Dorman anglers hook state tourney win

BSHS’s Taylor Cabe headed to Harvard

DORMAN SIGHNING DAY

Gaffney standout Scottie Kay Auton joined Chesnee’s Samantha Haynes and Chapman’s Jenna Brock in a local contingent to sign National Letter of In-tents with the Lady Valkyries volleyball program.

Auton paced the Indians last season with 160 kills and 91 blocks, 31 solo, as Gaffney advanced into the Region II-4A playoffs before losing in the first round.

She chose to sign with Converse due to a familiarity with the program.

“I know the coaches very well and

like the team and the school,” she said.“I think I will fit in very well there.”Auton, who noted she was intro-

duced to volleyball in seventh grade, began to hone her skills with Club South in the ninth grade. She was coached in club volleyball one season by Converse volleyball coach Regina Schantz.

The 5-9 middle hitter looks forward to the proximity of the campus.

“I can come home when I want to and can stay away if I want to,” she said jokingly.


Chapman’s Jenna Brock has been sold on Converse College for a while and now the defensive specialist is ready to continue her volleyball and academic careers at the Spartanburg school.

“When I visited, I fell in love with the campus,” Brock said. “I met the team, and we just really bonded well.”

Brock said she wanted to remain close to home while at-tending college, so playing for the Valkyries turned out to be the perfect fit because of familiar surroundings and some familiar faces.

Converse assistant coach Brent Atkins coached Brock’s for-mer Club South team and head coach Regina Shantz also helped out on occasion.

“That made me more comfortable because I know their coaching styles, and they know how I play,” Brock said.

Brock helped lead Chapman to three region championships after joining the team as a 7th grader.

“Jenna has been a huge asset to our team,” said Chapman head coach Jennifer Allen. “She’s been a huge part of our pro-gram for six years for us. She works really hard on and off the court. She’s a tremendous student-athlete.”

CONVERSE ADDS LOCAL PLAYERS TO VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM

Jenna Brock (seated) with parents Jay and Candy Brock.

Scottie Kay Auton is surrounded by her parents Lyndley and Scott Auton, front row, and Upward Stars director and coach Corey Helle during a signing ceremony at the Upward Stars Volleyball Center.

Panthers’ Brock sticking close to home

Indians’ Auton sets sights on Valkyries

Dorman athletic director Flynn Harrell introduces

Dorman athletes who signed National Letters of Intent

in April. From left, Marisha Salters, basketball; Olivia Knight, Lacrosse; Sherin

Malone, Track; Sam Thorn-ton, Softball, Carissa Snyder,

Softball; Shelby Stroud, Softball; and Tori Anger-

meier, Swimming.ED OVERSTREET PHOTO



Developmental ProgramBoys & Girls • Ages 6-12

Micro Soccer ProgramBoys & Girls • Ages 5 & 6

Register by June 1 to receive a free Adidas soccer ball!Register online at www.CarolinaFC.net

Email [email protected] for additional information

When it comes to the number of retirement accounts you have, the saying “more is better” is not necessarily true. In fact, if you hold multiple accounts with various brokers, it can be difficult to keep track of your investments and to see if you’re properly diversified.* At the very least, multiple accounts usually mean multiple fees.

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Byrnes golfer Taylor White said the chemistry was just right for him at USC Upstate.

White, who plans to major in chemistry and math in college, chose USC Upstate over several NCAA Division II offers and will continue his academic and playing career at the nearby Atlantic Sun Conference school.

“I wanted to go to a Division I school,” White said. “USC Upstate is really growing. There’s a lot more there than I really expected, and I can get the education I wanted there.”

The Spartans play most of their home matches at the Caro-lina Country Club, and White said he feels good about taking his game there from River Falls, which the Rebels call home.

White honed his game in S.C. Junior Golf Association events and gave the organization credit for helping him im-prove as a competitive golfer.

This season, White’s scoring averages at Byrnes are 35.7 over nine holes and 73.6 over 18.

The Spartans will lose local products Matthew Hopper (Gaffney) and Brian Horton (Boiling Springs) to graduation this year, but White will join junior Adam Goins (Gaffney) on next year’s squad.

LANDRUM SENIOR GUARD TRUSTAN WHITESIDE (23) signed in April with Southern Wesleyan University. Whiteside averaged 11.3 points per game this past season for the Cardinals.

BYRNES’ TAYLOR WHITE CHOOSES SPARTANS

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Athletes in Actionphotos by: John Clayton * Les Timms III * Ed Overstreet

• Ted Conwell

please submit your best pics to [email protected]

GAME DAY u FEBRUARY 2013 11

if you can dream it, you

can achieve it.


By JOHN CLAYTONand JED BLACkWELL

For the past three seasons, the road to the Class 4A softball finals has run through Green-ville County.

Boiling Springs players, fans and coaches know that path all too well, but hope this year to reset the GPS.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, have made it to the Upper State Champi-onship series only to be thwarted by three different teams from neighboring Greenville County -- first J.L. Mann, then Mauldin and, last year, Hillcrest.

But Boiling Springs players say they believe this year will be different and the long-awaited state finals appearance can hap-pen in May.

So what will make the difference this season in Boiling Springs’ quest for a state

softball title?The players and coaches seem to agree

the difference may lie in chemistry -- team chemistry.

“This team has really good team chemis-try,” said senior shortstop Katie Jacoby, who will join older sister Jennifer at Southern Wesleyan next year. “Everyone gets gets along and we’re playing for each other.”

The Bulldogs are led by senior pitcher Taylor Cabe, who will attend and play for Harvard next year, and junior outfielder Camry Taylor, who discovered her power stroke and has led the Bulldogs with 13 home runs this season.

Senior third baseman Bailee Maybry said she and her teammates are having fun, but are still keeping focused on the task at hand -- getting to the state finals and bringing home a state championship.

“We’re puting a lot into practice every single day,” said Maybry, who began her varsity career as an eighth grader. “We’re just

5 SPRING SPORTS QUESTIONS

Will this be the year of the Lady Bulldogs, and can the Panthers continue a remarkable run in postseason?

We surmise what may happen as the prep season winds down.

The Chapman High baseball team after sweeping through the Steve Sanders Tournament in April.

Camry Taylor has supplied the power for a hungry Boiling Springs softball team this season.


working at it, but we all get along really well, so it’s fun.”

At the time of this writing, the Bulldogs had put together a gaudy 22-1 record and ascended to the top of the Class 4A rankings.

“This year’s team is a very strong team,” Cabe said. “We’ve been working together well -- our hiting and our defense has been strong and it’s all come together.”

Beyond perennial Upper State chal-lenger Boiling Springs, which local softball team can make the deepest

playoff run?

There are a number of area softball teams who appear poised to make some noise in the playoffs. In the 3A ranks, Union County and Chapman are ranked fourth and fifth in the state, respectively, and have split a pair of games in the Region III-3A standings.

In Class 4A, top-ranked Boiling Springs suffered its only loss of the season to Byrnes. The No. 6 Rebels could be poised for a run at the title with wins over the Bulldogs and No. 3 Mauldin.

Can Chapman’s baseball team continue its remarkable run, capitalizing on the momen-

tum the Panthers gained by winnng the Steve Sanders Tournament?

The Panthers couldn’t have started the sea-son any better, getting a Ben Zeigler no-hitter on opening day and trouncing Greer.

But Chapman’s bats cooled off and the Panthers suffered several hard-luck losses in the early going and stumbled out of the Region III-3A gate. Since just before Spring Break, though, the Panthers have been untouch-able. A region win got things started, then Chapman captured four straight in the Steve Sanders Tournament, beating Dorman for the Spartanburg County title. During that stretch, five different Chapman pitchers notched wins.

Two more crucial league wins, including one over Region III-3A frontrunner Union County followed, and as of this writing, the Panthers had extended their winning streak to nine-straight games, and their playoff hopes remained very much alive.

A sweep of Broome and Clinton in the season’s final week would put the Panthers in third place and return them to the postseason.

Can spartanburg high’s traCk teams translate their success to the state level as the

Vikings have before?

With the Vikings’ move back to Region II-4A after two years away, not much has changed. Glover Smiley’s squads are still win-ning track titles.

This time, it’s both boys and girls teams, as both sport unblemished 7-0 records in the region.

The girls team is strong in both the sprints and distance races, while do-everything Au-breya Smith excels at all three jumping events in the field.

The boys squad is strong across the board, with performers like Dwight Rogers, who took the long jump, triple jump, and sprint hurdles titles in a recent meet.

With region qualifiers later in the month, the State qualifier on May 3 and 4 and the State meet the following weekend, the Vikings seem to be peaking at the right time and ready to return to state glory.

Can OakbrOOk prep sOC-Cer complete a sweep of the SCISA 2A state soccer champion-

ships after a near-miss last year?

State titles have become something of the norm at Oakbrook Prep. The boys basketball team and cherleading squad have already cap-tured SCISA championships this school year following a girls’ soccer championship in the spring of 2012. The boys soccer team was the state runner-up last year.

“At Oakbrook, our soccer teams always feel like we can put our teams in a position to win a state championship,” said Oakbrook boys coach Jonathan Burnett. “That’s what we’re try-ing to do again this year.”

The Knights’ last state title came in fall in 2011. They played their first spring season in 2012.

meanwhile, the Oakbrook boys golf team is going for a fourth-straight state champion-ship, begging yet another question -- can they “Four-peat?” GD

SPRING SPORTS QUESTIONS

Spartanburg track has been flying high again this season.

The Byrnes Rebels handed Boiling Springs a surprising loss earlier this season. Here, Byrnes and Dorman tangle in a Region contest.

14 MARCH 2013 u GAME DAY

SUMMER CAMPSare here!

Spartanburg Parks 2013

Check out our website for dates, locations and registration information.

www.spartanburgparks.org

595-5356

• Summer Playground Program • Piano Performers Piano Camp• Weekly Piano Lessons• Julliard Music Adventures• Middle/High School Language Arts Camp• Basic Reading/Comprehension Camp• Middle/High School Writing Camp

• Basic Math Treasures Camp• Middle/High School Math Camp• Math Heads Camp• How to Prepare for the PSAT, SAT and ACT• SummerFoodProgram Available

Campobello-Gramling School

Inman Recreation Center

Woodruff Leisure Center

Upstate Family Resource Center, Boiling Springs

Call our Youth Development Office at

864-472-3634 for more information

CAMP LOCATIONS:

Follow us on

Fan us on

Summer X-Perience Day Camp

Choose Weekly, Monthly, or all Summer Monday-Friday7:30a.m.-6:00p.m.

Activities include games, arts and crafts, guest speakers, and field trips. Weekly sessions have a

special theme emphasis each week.

$80/week


Spartanburg GymnasticsWe wish to recognize our outstanding

Southern Stars team which placed among the best in the 2013 South Carolina State Meet.

Levels 5-10, March 22-24, in Rock Hill.

Back Row, left to right: Elainee Sprinkle, Emmie Sprinkle,

Sophia Jones, Averi Wood, Khushi Mann.

Front Row, left to right: Sara Caroline Faucett, Alexis Gilfillan, Erin Quinn.

> CONGRATULATIONS!

where champions are made...

<< SCHEDULED SUMMER CLASSES>><< WEEKLY SUMMER CAMPS, 9 am - noon >>

<< Cheerleading, Tumbling Classes & Clinics >> B’DAY PARTIES

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570 Southport Road, Just off Reidville Rd. / www.spartanburggymnastics.com / 864-574-0509

Register to play volleyball at PCMikayla Register, a four-year letterman for Woodruff High School,

signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at Presbyterian Col-lege beginning in the fall of 2013.

Register is a 5’-3” Libero/Defensive Specialist, but has played all positions. During Register’s high school career at Woodruff, her team was Region and Upper State Champions in 2010 and advanced to the State Championship finals in 2010. She earned All-Region honors all four years and was a Hustle Award winner in 2010 and 2011. She was named Most Valuable Player in 2012 and was a Top Scholar in 2011 and 2012. She was also a Scholar Athlete all four years. Her sister Jes-sica plays volleyball for Lander University.

Mikayla Register (seated) with parents Kevin and Myra Register, and sisters Alyssa and Jessica.



Former collegiate volleyball coach Corey Helle, now director of club volleyball at Upward Stars, has seen the value of sum-

mer sports camps increase over the years.Certainly, the experience can vary from

camper to camper and sport to sport, but Helle, who formerly coached volleyball at Wofford College, sees summer camps as a near necessity for those serious enough about their sports to seek college scholar-ships.

“As the kids get older, camp becomes a vital component of recruiting,” Helle said. “Those (serious) players need to get in front of college coaches. It may cost $300-$400 to go to the camp, but you may get a college scholarship out of it.

“That’s not the only way kids get scholar-

ships, but it is an investment and sometimes that investment plays back huge dividends.”

Helle added that while at Wofford, the vast majority of his players had attended his camps, so he was more able to assess their talent level and whether they would be a good fit for his program.

Younger players, on the other hand, are able to make huge gains in fundamentals and the understanding of their chosen game.

Helle compared it to learning a foreign language.

“They get intense time of training and learning and being immersed in their particular sport,” he said. “It’s a very time-intensive immersion. Think about learning a foreign language and going to another country and being immersed in the lan-guage. Think about how much quicker you

pick it up.”

Younger campers also learn to social-ize outside of their usual groups and get to experience being away from home for few days.

Still, Helle said parents should be picky about where they are sending their children for camps.

They should also make sure their bud-ding athletes want to go to camp. Before making the financial investment, parents should make sure their children are invest-ed, he said.

“Camp is worth it if your daughter or son prepares to make it the best camp pos-sible,” said Helle. “It’s not worth it if they’re not really gung-ho about going to camp -- it’s probably not worth it financially.

“Whatever kids put into a camp is what they’re going to get out of it.”

sUmmer spOrts CAmps VALUABLE FOR ATHLETES WHO WANT TO GET AHEAD


Upward Stars Volleyball CampsCamps Director: Corey HelleActivities at camps include Zumba, Yoga, team building, possible sand volleyball at the new Upward Stars facility in Spartanburg.“Students will get some of the best train-ing in the best volleyball facility around,” Helle said.Camps are for beginners to 18 years and college players are able to attend.For more information, visit www.upwardstars.org or email Helle at [email protected].

Ron Sweet Volleyball CampWofford CollegeJuly 5-8 Junior High Team Camp, Ages 10-14July 10-13 High School Team Camp, Ages 14-18July 15-18 Avanced Camp, Ages 13-18July 19-21, Position Camp, Ages 10-18July 22-24 All Skills Camp, Ages 10-18Contact: Ron Sweet, 864-597-4152ronsweet.com

Mike Ayers Footbal CampsWofford CollegeCamp Director: Shiel Wood Option Offense - Sunday, June 16-Tues-day, June 18, [email protected] Offensive Camps are designed for athletes entering the 9th-12th grades.

The deadline for registration is one week prior to the start of camp. Any individual who registers after the deadline will be charged a $30.00 late registration fee.All Top Prospect One Day Senior Camps are designed for rising 12th graders. The price of the camp is $55.Camps are open to any and all entrants.

Mike Young Basketball Team CampWofford CollegeJune 13-16Individual Day CampsHalf-Day Camp for Little TerriersSession I: June 17-21, 9 a.m.-noonSession II: Aug. 5-9, 9 a.m.-noonAges 5-6, Cost $125Full Day CampSession I: June 17-21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Session II: Aug. 5-9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.Boys and Girls Ages 7-18Cost: $230 (lunch provided)For information, call (864) 597-4117 or (864) 597-4115

2013 Champions Junior Golf CampWofford CollegeCoach Angie RidgewayDay Camp, June 10-13, boys and girls ages 5-17Resident Camp, June 16-20, boys and girls ages 10-18Golf events held at Country Club of Spartanburg

USC UPSTATE SUMMER CAMPSOnline at http://uscupstate.edu/sum-mercampsBasketball Camp (Kente Hart)Date(s): June 10-15; June 24-29Location: Hodge Arena, USC Upstate CampusTime: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.Ages: 7-15Contact: Kente HartPhone: (864) 503-5297Email: [email protected] More Info: Click here to view the brochure and registration info.

Bobby Bentley QB CampDates: June 27-29Contact: Bobby BentleyPhone: (864) 809-1316

Boy Scouts Aquatics CamporeeDates: May 17-19Location: Health Education Complex Pool and Intramural FieldsContact: Victor DurrahPhone: (864)279-4065

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Girls Basketball CampDates: June 17-19Location: University Readiness Center, Hodge ArenaContact: Kaye O’SullivanPhone: (864) 809-2710

CAMP LISTINGS


Fellowship of Christian Athletes Foot-ball CampDates: July 18-20Location: Intramural FieldsContact: Kaye O’SullivanPhone: (864) 809-2710

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Vol-leyball CampDates: July 15 – 17Location: Hodge ArenaContact: Kaye O’SullivanPhone: (864) 809-2710

Greg Hooks› Soccer Camp at USC UpstateDay CampDate(s): June 17-20Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Location: Soccer fields at USC UpstateAges: 5-18 (Coed)Description: Day camp offering compre-hensive soccer instruction.Cost: $190 Late-Stay, $180 Full-Day,

$120 Half-Day, $95 Mini-Camp

Sparty›s Kids Camp: Date(s): July 1-3; July 8-12; July 15-19; July 22-26Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Location: USC Upstate Wellness CenterAges: K-5th gradeDescription: Let’s start the summer off right with wide variety of games to get everyone up and moving. We’ll see some classics but be prepared for some brand new ones as well!Cost: $40 - $70Registration: Click here for the online registration form.More Info: Contact: Shane Conti Phone: (864) 503-5174Email: [email protected]

FIRST BAPTIST SPARTANBURG: CAMP VOYAGER

First Baptist Church of Spartanburg will be taking a group of 4th-6th graders to Camp Voyager and also host its annual Vacation Bible School this summer.

Camp Voyager is an ACA-accredited camp near Hendersonville, N.C. There, campers can swim, fish, canoe, play basketball, ride surf bikes, practice archery and participate in lots of other activities.

Dates for the camp are June 1-6. Cost is $320 with $150 due at registration. The registration fee covers lodging, meals, transportation and supplies.

For more information, visit www.fbs.org/voyager or call (864) 596-4108.Also, during Vacation Bible School at First Baptist this summer, students will

navigate Colossal Coastal World, a unique look at the roller-coaster world that life can sometimes be.

“Come join us as we experience the thrill and excitement of a day at the park! Tap into God’s promise to give you courage to face your fears by trusting Him. Your day at the park will include Bible stories about Paul and his journey to face his fears by trust-ing God! In this one-week adventure kids will learn to trust God through Bible stories, crafts, motivating music, and games.”

VBS at First Baptist is set for June 17-21 from 9 a.m.-noon each day and is free to all.

For more information, visit www.fbs.org/vbs or call (864) 699-4308.


Upstate Baseball CampDate(s): June 17-20Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Location: Cleveland Harley Baseball Park, USC Upstate CampusAges: 7-15Contact: Matt FincherPhone: (864) 503-5135Email: [email protected]

Upstate Fastpitch Softball CampDate(s): June 24-27Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Location: Cyrill Stadium at USC UpstateAges: Girls 8 - 18Description: Extensive fastpitch softball instruction for players of all skill levels.Cost: $300 Resident, $190 CommuterContact: Chris HawkinsPhone: (864) 503-5171Email: [email protected]

Upstate Tennis Boot CampDate(s): June 10-14 & 17-21 and July 22-26Time: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.Location: USC Upstate Tennis FacilitiesAges: 8 - 18 yearsDescription: Collegiate-style tennis camp for boys and girls interested in improving their tennis game at the junior varsity, varsity, state and national level.Cost: $200/weekContact: Dr. Oliver TrittenweinPhone: (864) 503-5131Email: [email protected]: Brochure

CONVERSE COLLEGE SUMMER CAMPSOnline at: http://converse.edu/summer-camps-activities

Converse Kickers Soccer Day CampJune 3-6, boys and girls ages 4-12Premier Soccer CampJuly 22-26, rising 10-12 gradersContact John Constable, Head Soccer Coach (864) 706-2777 or [email protected]

Girls Basketball Day CampJune 17-20, Ages 6-13Contact Head Coach Kaye Waldrep(843) 822-3609 or [email protected]

DORMAN CAMPSFootball CampLocation: Dorman football practice fieldsDates: June 3 – 7Times: 8 am – 12 noonAges: 2nd – 8th gradesCost: $80For Info Call: 864-342-8929 Girls Basketball CampLocation: Dorman arena and aux gymDates: June 3 – 6Times: 9 am – 12 noonAges: 3rd – 8th gradesCost: $40For Info Call: 864-342-8905 Softball CampLocation: Dorman softball fieldDates: June 10 – 12Times: 9 am – 12 noon

Ages: 7 – 14Cost: $60For Info Call: 864-582-4347 Baseball CampLocation: Dorman baseball fieldDates: June 10 – 14Times: 9 am – 3 pmAges: 6 – 12Cost: $100 half day, $150 full dayFor Info Call: 864-576-8088 Boys Lacrosse CampLocation: Practice fields by Dorman tennis courtsDates: June 10 – 13Times: 4 pm – 5:30 pmAges: 3rd – 8th gradesCost: $50For Info Call: 864-978-0428 Boys Basketball CampLocation: Dorman arena and auxiliary gymDates: June 17 – 20Times: 9 am – 12 noonAges: 3rd – 6th gradesCost: $65For Info Call: 864-342-8907 Volleyball CampLocation: Dorman arena and auxiliary gymDates: July 22 – 25Times: 9 am – 12 noonAges: 6th – 8th gradesCost: $50For Info Call: 864-216-5507


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Hard to say goodbye

By JED BLACkWELL

Broome softball coach Todd Justus isn’t quite sure how he’ll feel during next year’s opener when he writes down a lineup without Shayna Fin-

ley’s name in it.He’s got a pretty good idea how he’ll

feel when he writes her name for one of the last times.

Finley, a six-year player for the Cen-turions, is nearing the end of her senior season, and the end of one of the most remarkable careers Broome softball has seen. In her time at Broome, Finley has played multiple positions, hit for a tremen-dous average, provided power, speed, and leadership, and been a major reason for the success enjoyed by the program.

It’s understandable that her coach is not looking forward to saying goodbye.

“A lot of people don’t ever get the chance to coach the caliber of a kid like that,” Justus said. “It’s going to be really

difficult on senior night knowing our time together is coming to an end. She’s done some phenomenal things. She does things that make you just shake your head. She understands the game as well as anybody I’ve ever coached.”

That understanding has led Finley to a new position for Broome this season, and a new spot in the order. The Centu-rions’ longtime leadoff hitter and catcher now finds herself patrolling the diamond at shortstop and batting in the No. 2 posi-tion in the order. Finley, who was hitting .587 at this writing, has thrived in both spots.

“It’s actually more calming,” Finley said of her move to shortstop. “I actually wanted to be out in the field anyway. In travel ball I play middle infield. I love it. It’s my passion. I love catching, but I like short better.”

Justus said that passion is evident in her play.

“She’s one of the best catchers in the

region, but my thinking was once the ball was hit, she’s basically out of the play,” he said. “Playing shortstop, we can put the ball in her hands. She moves well, and she’s just a leader on the field. We want her making decisions as much as possible.

“She loves it, and you can see it. There’s a comfort level there. She plays with a big smile on her face out there. She’s go-ing to sign with North Greenville to play shortstop, and probably be their starting shortstop from what we understand. She’s just that smooth out there.”

Finley has been heart of Centurions for 6 seasons

Shayna Finley has been a stalwart for the Broome softball team since 7th grade.

Photos courtesy / Kathy Johnston

At the plate, Finley has adjusted well to the No. 2 spot, even though it requires a dif-ferent approach.

“I like it better with people on base,” she said. “I like the pressure of having to move them.”

Justus notes that Finley’s sizzling average is actually a little down from past seasons, but says he’s thrilled with her production.

“She wants to lead us, and sometimes takes herself out of what she’s trying to do by taking too much on her shoulders,” he said. “She’s an amazing hitter, and I know she’s got the power to move the leadoff runner to third, and with her speed, she can turn a single into a double. She’s a great fit for the No. 2 position.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is Finley’s “green light” on the base paths. Both player and coach said she’s a threat to steal any time she’s on base. Finley said there wasn’t really a method to swiping bases. She just knows when it’s time.

“If it’s low in the count or if the pitcher or catcher is struggling, I know I’m going,” she said. “I don’t even base it on whether or not the ball is bobbled. I just go.”

Finley said her time as a catcher helped make her a better base thief.

“Knowing where they set up, and what I’d do in the situation, how I’d make the throw, those things give me a better release.”

Her tools in the field, her bat, and her speed have made Finley, a former All-State

player, a tremendous asset on the diamond. Her leadership makes her just as important in the dugout, and is something that she takes seriously.

“We have eighth and ninth graders start-ing,” Finley said. “It’s mostly all fundamentals and learning what to do. I’m basically just trying to be a leader and make sure they do things right.”

Justus sees that, and has a quick answer when asked to evaluate how much of their future success the Centurions will owe to the things Finley is trying to instill in them.

“One hundred percent,” he said. “They come to practice every day and they watch her prepare. They watch her play. She has

actually taken the role of almost being a hit-ting coach for the JV team. She films them on her cellphone. She critiques what they do. They’ve all picked up things from her.”

While the Centurions aren’t having as much success in the record books as in recent years, Finley said the team could learn just as much from this season. She also hopes for a little extra time.

“You’re going to have down years,” she said. “You have to just learn and go with it, and do what you can with what you’ve got. I’d like to make the playoffs, and hopefully win the District again,” she said. “But, I feel like there’s a good foundation here for the future.” GD

Shayna Finley high -fives teammates during a recent game.

Fencing Academy brings new sport to Boiling SpringsBy JOHN CLAYTONOn Twitter @JCTweetsOn

Ten-year-old Adam Quinn said he has always been fascinated by swords.

But before he even gets to hold one, coach Sarah Mayes is working with Quinn on basic footwork at the new Knights of Siena Fencing Academy location at Boiling Springs.

“It was good,” Quinn said of his first fencing experience. “I’m sweating, but it was good.”

Quinn said he saw a flyer at his school library and decided he would like to try the sport, which proved to be a little different than he expected.

No swashbuckling allowed.The academy, which is part of the Knights of

Siena group of fencing academies led by former U.S. National team member Alan Blakebor-ough, is the newest among several in the Caro-linas. Its sister academies include locations in Taylors, Powdersville, Morganton, N.C., Shelby, N.C. and two in Charlotte.

Students at the academy begin their tutelage with sabres, one of three weapons -- along with foil and epee -- that make up the sport, a martial art developed from a combination of dueling weapons and military training.

“We’ve found that the retention rate with

sabre is almost twice that of the other weapons,” Blakeborough said. “That’s why we start out with it.”

Cowpens resident Sarah Mayes will be the primary teacher for youth at the Boiling Springs location. She began fencing four years ago in Florida and quickly fell in love with the sport.

“I’ve always been a sword and fantasy nerd,” Mayes said. “When I was in Florida, it was re-ally all I had, so I kept with it. I just love it.”

Like Mayes, Boiling Springs native Maggie Lawter, a student at Converse College, came to the sport as an adult when she joined the college’s fencing club, but local youth such as Charlie Koproski, 10, and Olivia Summerfield, 10, both of Boiling Springs, aren’t waiting and have been taking fencing classes at the Taylors location.

Koproski, a student at Boiling Springs In-termediate School, started 18 months ago after being introduced to the sport at a local festival.

“I was interested and got to fence there some,” he said. “So, I started to fence after that.”

Summerfield started earlier this year and quickly found out it was something she wanted to do.

She had seen fencing on TV and was able to find classes to take. Those classes are now much closer to home.

“I really like it and I hope to get better at it,”

she said.If she does, opportunities could await down

the line.Blakeborough said there are three male

fencers for every NCAA scholarship opportuni-ty, but two scholarships for every female fencer.

While few schools in the Southeast offer fencing scholarships, schools such as Notre Dame and Penn State and others in the Midwest and Northeast do.

“I like it because you really have to think,” said Lawton. “It’s sort of like athletic chess. You have to have a strategy. I call it a sport for nerds.”

While the sport requires no small amount of brainpower, athleticism -- speed, quickness, strength and stamina -- is also rewarded -- and absolutely required at the highest levels.

Fencing is an Olympic sport and also in-cludes world championship events.

Blakeborough said he sees what has been called “The Sport of Kings,” as becoming more and more accessible for everyone.

“It used to be that people were introduced to fencing in college, so if you didn’t go to col-lege, you were never introduced to it,” he said. “We want to make it as accessible as martial arts classes. People are seeing it for the first time and getting a big kick out of it.” GD

En Garde!

Charlie Koproski, left, and Ol-ivia Summerfield shake hands after a friendly bout during practice at the Siena Fencing Academy in Boil-ing Springs



It seems like Erica Peake has always been running -- and always running fast.

Now a senior track star at Coastal Carolina, Peake has a running resume that dates back to her days as a pre-teen track-and-field prodigy here in Spartan-burg.

By age 14, she had captured gold in the long jump in the AAU National Junior Olympics.

And as if cued by a starter’s pistol, a career in track-and-field was off at an early age.

Peake recalled those days as an AAU star with a laugh.

“I was scared and excited all at the same time,” she said. “I was also having fun. It’s hard to explain. I was more excited than scared.”

But Peake also credits her AAU years with getting her accustomed to competing at a high level, something that has served her well in college.

The excitement is still there, but so is a sense of confidence and accomplishment as one of the Big South Conference’s top

female athletes.Now, she said, she knows she belongs.“This year, I competed in the NCAA

International meet, and I was nervous after I got there. Then, I said to myself, ‘Why should I be nervous? Yeah, the best runners in the country are here, but I’m one of the best, too.’”

After a stellar career at Spartanburg High School as a member of four state championship teams with three all-state selections and a pair of state champion-ships in the long jump and state titles in the 100- and 200-meters, Peake committed to and attended South Carolina State.

But after her freshman year in Orange-burg, Peake transferred to Coastal Caro-lina.

There have been no regrets for the for-mer two-time S.C. Association of Women Sports Player of the Year.

“I just never felt like South Carolina

State was home,” said Peake, whose sister, Kendra, was a cheerleader at S.C. State. “Coastal Carolina felt right when I was being recruited in high school, but I went to S.C. State. Coastal is home. It’s felt like that since I got here. The track team is like a family.”

Peake has certainly made herself at home in the Big South. In early April, she earned her ninth conference Athlete of the Week award after four first-place finishes at the North Florida Invitational. There, she also turned in a 200m time of 23.35, tops in the NCAA East Region.

“Those awards to mean a lot to me,” she said. “They give me more confidence and provide more motivation for me.”

A year ago, she missed qualifying in that event for the NCAA Meet by .15-sec-ond, but seems poised to qualify this time around given her recent performances.

After graduating this year with a degree in sports science, Peake said she wants to continue to train and compete on the professional circuit.

It won’t be easy, but Peake will rely on the confidence that first brought her AAU glory to take her to the next level.

Confidence, she said, is key for all run-ners.

“You have to stay confident and have faith in God,” she said. “You need to have support -- from family, friends and coaches -- and then confidence can take you a long way.” GD

For anyone with the desire to play sports at the college or professional level, the road is long and hard. This regular feature is about

local athletes, living their dream, competing at ...

PEAKE PERFORMER> SPARTANbuRG SPEEdSTER STARS foR CHANTS

Coastal Caro-lina runner and Spartanburg native Erica Peake has put together a stellar career on the track for the Chanticleers.

Confidence and faith have led Erica Peake to the brink of a professional career in track and field.

They spent their Saturday afternoon waiting in lines that snaked through rows of new cars and trucks at Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer.

Inside the showroom, the reason for the ruckus was signing officially approved 8-by-10 photographs of himself. The photos of Marcus Lattimore as a South Caroina Gamecocks run-ning back were fine, but an estimated 1,500 folks don’t spend a great portion of their weekend just for an autograph.

There was some-thing else at work.

In some cases, just pure fandom for all things Gamecock. Often, I think, it was just to say thank you for the good times Lattimore helped bring to the forever hopeful Gamecock Nation.

For 9-year-old Dakota Miezejeski, of Fountain Inn, Lat-

timore was much more than a big guy with a Sharpie.

Dakota wore one of those gray alternate jerseys just like Lattimore wore against LSU. No surprise, it was No. 21.

Of the hundreds of kids wandering the park-ing lot, tossing footballs and playing tag, most of them were wearing one version or another of Lattimore’s jerseys.

But Dakota wasn’t like the other kids, not really.

Underneath the jersey and underneath the skin, dangerous tumors have found Dakota’s spi-nal chord -- six of them before the first surgery.

There have been surgeries and more are on the horizon. The family is hoping for a sponsor-ship to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

It is more than 9-year-olds and their parents should have to bear.

“He says, ‘if Marcus can do it, I can,’” said mother Dana Miezejeski.

And that is where football stardom meets inspiration, something Lattimore said he under-stood during an ESPN interview with former

NFL head coach Jon Gruden.“My story relates to everybody sitting and

watching right now,” Lattimore said. “Somebody is going to go through adversity, and it’s about how you get up from it. . . . Adversity introduces a man to himself.”

And sometimes, a child.Adversity introduced Marcus and Dakota

at a car dealership, where an autograph with a well-used Sharpie was an afterthought.

JOHNCLAYTON

All Sports - All Spartanburg - All the Time www.espnspartanburg.com

COMMENTARY

Lattimore’s impact on some goes deeper than autographs

Marcus Lattimore greets a young fan at Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer prior to the NFL Draft.

JOHN CLAYTON PHOTOS


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An estimated 1,500 fans lined up at Bradshaw Chevrolet in Greer for an autograph from former Byrnes and South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore in April.


So, Dakota, who was confined to a wheelchair for a period after the first surgery to remove the tumors attack-ing his spine, waited for hours to meet his hero.

Depsite the jerseys and such, that meeting was about anything but football.

Lattimore will find out in late April about his NFL future, while doctors will work to ensure that Da-kota has a future of his own.

A team will weigh the player’s work ethic and character against two surgically repaired knees, and it will take a chance on the player who was

once a sure-bet first-round pick.Maybe the third round of the NFL

Draft, maybe the fourth.And that team will instantly gain

a legion of fans from the Upstate, including a 9-year-old boy with “a hard row to hoe” of his own, as we say in the country.

Lattimore has had one of those rows of his own lately, and he’s right -- we can relate to his story, especially Dakota, who slept under a Game-cocks blanket after his first surgery.

“If Marcus can do it, I can . . . “ GD

BIG WINNERBoiling Springs’ Cameron O’Sullivan, 10, wasted no time in picking up his first go-kart racing victory. Driving the No. x2 go-kart at Sugar Tit Speedway, O’Sullivan won his first race in early March.


UPWaRD ToURney PiCsoR FCa CoL-

Umn

Faith in Sports

Lessons can be learnedfrom Boston tragedy

As the nation looked on in disbelief, the tradition-rich Boston Marathon

was forever etched into our hearts as a result of the hor-rific bombing attacks that has impacted the lives of hundreds physically and tens of thou-sands emotionally.

Throughout the aftermath, there have been numerous questions that have centered on the subject of why? Why would someone do this? TO be honest, there will never be an answer to this question that will

bring a sense of understanding, but there are things that we can learn from moments of tragedy.

First – Life is precious – it is a gift from God. We should re-alize that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and so we should live each day like it is our last. We should bring resolve to any re-lationships that are out of sorts, and we should make a point to express love to those who are around us.

second – There will always be things that happen in life that we will never understand

this side of heaven. Tragedy strikes in different ways throughout our lives. The true test of who we are is not based on the adversity that comes our way; rather, it is the response to that adver-sity that defines who we are as it calls us to reorganize our priorities.

Third – We must take the time to invest into the younger generation so that in their times of challenges and struggles, they will respond with a strong conviction that is built on a resilient faith.

Fourth – we must realize that sports is a merely a tool that allows us to teach our children the great life lessons. IF it is only about winning, trophies, records, and awards, then we have established a foundation that will lead to a life of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams.

Fifth and last – We must

realize that people are desper-ately searching for what matters most and for what brings mean-ing. This quest is only realized when we see the reality of Jesus Christ and that he came to give us life in a way that the world will never be able to top!

We have opportunities to learn life lessons in every situa-tion. There are times in athlet-ics that we learn more through adversity & losses than we do in prosperity and winning. It is in adversity that we seek answers…but in prosperity feel comfortable. I pray that when adversity strikes…the first place we look to for answers is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.

GD

by REV. SETH BUCKLEY

Rev. Seth Buckley is Minister to Students at First Baptist Spartanburg.

We have opportunities to learn life lessons from events such as the one above, as seen in video from a cable news channel.


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Local therapy group creates niche over a decadeStaff Reports

Soon after Dillen Hartley and Niel Visser met at a Spartanburg ice cream shop more than a decade ago, the two South African natives set off on a bold new venture.

Hartley, an occupational therapist, and Visser, a physical therapist, soon thereafter formed Ad-vanced Therapy Solutions, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

“It’s not an easy thing for a therapist to jump ship and go out and do this by themselves,” Hartley said. “But this was kind of a unique opportunity. . . . We wanted to provide a little bit more customer service -- a little bit of extra effort. We wanted to make more of an investment in the client and cre-ate more of a patient-centered approach.”

The idea from the beginning was to offer more personal client-based services. Now, ATS oper-ates four offices -- three in Spartanburg and one in Greenville, but the idea of creating a patient-first experience for children and adults has not changed.

“We had a unique model to provide more advanced therapy,” said Hartley. “I think for the both of us -- myself as an occupational therapist and Niel as a physical therapist -- we had the same ideas.”

ADVANCED THERAPY SOLUTIONS

“We complement each other very well. We’re very different, but that’s why it works.”

- niel Visser, physical therapist, Advanced Therapy Solutions

Occupational Therapist Dillen Hartley, left, and Physical Therapist Niel Visser.


Visser added, “Over the years, we’ve expanded our practice with the idea of creating specific ad-vanced therapies for orthopedics, pediatrics, work-mans’ comp or pain management, but customer service has been our mainstay.”

While ATS has grown, so has the scope of treat-ment, including that of young athletes. Visser said about 50 percent of ATS patients are pediatric, rang-ing from injured athletes to autistic children.

Hartley said pediatrics has become his specialty over the past decade. ATS works with Orthopedic Specialties, a Spartanburg-based surgical group and gets a number of referrals from Wofford and Con-

verse colleges as well as the Carolina Football Club.Sometimes, the job is to help a world-class level

athlete return to form and sometimes it is helping a child find a way to a more normal life and possibly the playing field.

“A lot of children with other challenges have a great desire to participate in sports,” said Hartley, noting that athletics present children with social and physical activities they want and need. “He wants to hit the ball as hard as he can and run around in circles like everybody else. . . . Some kids have the natural ability to do that but not always. Little skills like that can make such a difference in

the self-esteem of a child.”Visser, who won the Butch Buchanan Award for

Clinical Excellence in 2007, said the culture he and Hartley share helped bring them together, but their professional differences have helped ATS to thrive over the past decade.

Both could have justifiably pulled away from hands-on therapy as they manage their business, but Visser said treating patients is still a passion for both him and Hartley.

“We complement each other very well,” Visser said. “We’re very different, but that’s why it works.”

2013/2014 Select TryoutsBoys & Girls, Ages 12-18Professional training and competitive matchenvironment for serious soccer players !

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Dillen Hartley, left, and Niel Visser are celebrating their 10th anniversary in business at Advanced Therapy Solutions.

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