One of the most ancient forms of paddling competition will be on display this week in Hall County, as the Dragon Boat U.S. National Team trials returns on Saturday and Sunday to the Lake Lanier Olympic Center. The U.S. National Team will be qualifying members in the junior, senior and master’s teams for the ICF World Championships coming Aug. 27-29 in Szeged, Hungary.
Paddlers with little or no experience are invited to try the dragon boat, which is an elaborate display with 20 paddlers and a total crew typically consisting of 22. Trials will also include an in-depth analysis of each athlete using the Merlin data acquisition paddle, which yields a computerized interpretation of each athlete’s strength and endurance depending on their body weight and can assess their talent in the water.
GACA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Former Gainesville High baseball coach Wayne Vickery will join some elite company when he is inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton.
During his 20-year career coaching the Red Elephants, Vickery led the way to 12 region titles, five state titles and 470 victories. As a new inductee, he’ll join some of the greatest coaches to come out of the state, including former Gainesville football coaches Bobby Gruhn and Graham Hixon.
ATLANTA BRAVES: The Braves have won six of their past seven series this month. The only series they didn’t win during this stretch has been a two-game series split against the New York Mets during the middle of May.
Atlanta has a chance to start another series on the right foot against the Philadelphia Phillies today, the first in a three-game set at Turner Field.
Today, Tommy Hanson (4-3, 4.06 ERA) will go up against Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton (1-3, 5.63). After struggling through his two previous starts, Hanson picked up the win last Wednesday against the Marlins by allowing two earned runs in six innings on the mound. Blanton’s only victory this season came on May 15, despite allowing five earned run over seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In Game 2 of the series, Tim Hudson (5-1, 2.24) will go against Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (5-3, 3.82). Hudson has recorded a win in four of his last six outings, including a no-decision against the Florida Marlins last Thursday. Hamels took the loss last Thursday against the Mets when he allowed nine hits over six innings.
Derek Lowe (7-4, 4.86) will pitch the series finale Wednesday for the Braves.
GWINNETT BRAVES: After playing their last eight games on the road, the Triple-A G-Braves open a seven-game home stand against the Indianapolis Indians today at Coolray Field. Gwinnett will play four games against the Indians, followed by a three-game series against the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees.
Last week, Gwinnett split a four-game series at Indianapolis. Last Friday, G-Braves pitcher Todd Redmond pitched a complete-game, no-hitter against the Louisville Bats.
Paddlers with little or no experience are invited to try the dragon boat, which is an elaborate display with 20 paddlers and a total crew typically consisting of 22. Trials will also include an in-depth analysis of each athlete using the Merlin data acquisition paddle, which yields a computerized interpretation of each athlete’s strength and endurance depending on their body weight and can assess their talent in the water.
GACA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: Former Gainesville High baseball coach Wayne Vickery will join some elite company when he is inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton.
During his 20-year career coaching the Red Elephants, Vickery led the way to 12 region titles, five state titles and 470 victories. As a new inductee, he’ll join some of the greatest coaches to come out of the state, including former Gainesville football coaches Bobby Gruhn and Graham Hixon.
ATLANTA BRAVES: The Braves have won six of their past seven series this month. The only series they didn’t win during this stretch has been a two-game series split against the New York Mets during the middle of May.
Atlanta has a chance to start another series on the right foot against the Philadelphia Phillies today, the first in a three-game set at Turner Field.
Today, Tommy Hanson (4-3, 4.06 ERA) will go up against Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton (1-3, 5.63). After struggling through his two previous starts, Hanson picked up the win last Wednesday against the Marlins by allowing two earned runs in six innings on the mound. Blanton’s only victory this season came on May 15, despite allowing five earned run over seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In Game 2 of the series, Tim Hudson (5-1, 2.24) will go against Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (5-3, 3.82). Hudson has recorded a win in four of his last six outings, including a no-decision against the Florida Marlins last Thursday. Hamels took the loss last Thursday against the Mets when he allowed nine hits over six innings.
Derek Lowe (7-4, 4.86) will pitch the series finale Wednesday for the Braves.
GWINNETT BRAVES: After playing their last eight games on the road, the Triple-A G-Braves open a seven-game home stand against the Indianapolis Indians today at Coolray Field. Gwinnett will play four games against the Indians, followed by a three-game series against the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees.
Last week, Gwinnett split a four-game series at Indianapolis. Last Friday, G-Braves pitcher Todd Redmond pitched a complete-game, no-hitter against the Louisville Bats.