VOLLEYBALL ON A ROLL!!!!http://www.aikenstandard.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20121030%2FAIK0301%2F121039999%2Flady-predators-keep-rolling&template=artpex#pex1
The Fox Creek Girls Tennis Team won its first match, first region match, and first team match in school history against Batesburg-Leesville 4-3. Team record for this year is now 1-1.
Singles Scores were (Fox Creek player listed first);
1- Corrie Hall lost to Ann Cobb 6-4, 3-6, (4-10)2- Lainie Hollifield lost to Rosie Davis 1-6, 3-63- Kaylee Bryant lost to Ivey Holley 4-6, 6-4, (8-10)4- Sarah Chafin defeated Sarah Patrick 7-5, 6-35- Savannah Jones defeated Susie Irving 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Scores were (Fox Creek players listed first);
1- Corrie Hall and Sarah Chafin defeated Rosie Davis adnIvey Holley 7-5, 6-32- Carley Kitzey and Halle McPhearson defeated Blake Powell and Helena Burton 4-6, 7-5, (10-6)
It was a very close match with three third set tie-breakers. Predators take on Mid-Carolina today at 5:00.
A center fielder with a reputation for speed, Wanninger succeeded on 30 of her 31 base-stealing attempts this season, and signed to play for Florence-Darlington Technical College, while pursuing a degree in dental hygiene.
"My strength is defense," she said, noting that "I need to improve on my hitting, big time."
Wanninger started on varsity for all four years at Fox Creek. She also played varsity basketball for her first three years.
"She's just a natural athlete," said Amanda Schneider, who was Wanninger's softball coach during her freshman and sophomore seasons. "I haven't seen an athlete that picks up something as easily as she does ... She only started playing softball, really, in her freshman year, and she just picked it up and took off."
Wanninger said she's actually more experienced in basketball, playing rec-league ball since elementary school. But she took an immediate liking to softball and it became her favorite sport.
Wanninger, whose parents are Ernie and Laurie Wanninger, is strongest in terms of her speed and defense, said David Bell, who recently completed his first season as Fox Creek's head softball coach.
"Her glove, in center field," is probably what caught the eye of the Florence-Darlington coaches," Bell said. "She's got so much range, and then she spent the year really working on her hitting. At the beginning of the season, that was holding her back as far as getting a scholarship, and I think at the end of the season she went 3-for-4 in one of our playoff games ... It really paid off."
Corrie Hall, a junior who played third base for Fox Creek, credited Wanninger as being the leader of the outfield. "She made incredible stops that you'd never think could even be caught."
Hall added, "She always hustled and tried her best ... She always pumped up the team and got everybody in a good mood and made everybody laugh."
Wanninger's stats for last season include a batting average of .457 and a fielding average of .949. Her feet were especially fleet in a Feb. 25 game against McCormick, as she succeeded on all eight of her base-stealing attempts and her squad cruised to a 19-2 win.
Read more: Wanninger will play at F-D Tech | Aiken Standard Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Predators knock off Aiken to stay perfect
GRANITEVILLE -- The final score of Fox Creek's 13-2 win over Aiken High School didn't indicate how close the contest was most of the way. Tuesday's softball game, part of the Palmetto Classic at Midland Valley High School, was tied at 2-all after four innings. But a combination of timely hitting by the Predators and miscues by the Hornets turned a competitive contest into a mercy rule-shortened rout. Fox Creek improved its record to 3-0 on the season, breaking the tie with five runs in the fifth inning. It blew open the game with six more runs in the sixth. Over the final two frames, the Predators produced eight of their 13 base hits, while the Hornets made four errors. "They had us off balance with the bats early," Fox Creek coach David Bell said. "Aiken has a great team." The Predators took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings with the benefit of only two base hits. They manufactured the runs, getting players on and advancing them with bunts or steals and allowing catcher Micaela Bell to drive them home with deep sacrifice flies. But Aiken starting pitcher Sheridan Butcher limited the damage in each of those frames. Butcher even recorded a 1-2-3 fourth inning, where she retired Fox Creek on three pitches. It was a tie game when the Hornets rallied in the third, scoring twice without benefit of an RBI. Pinch runner Erin Colster scored by advancing on a throw after she moved to third on a bunt. One batter later, third baseman Dani Reeves astutely stole home after the Predators fell asleep with the ball in the field. Ayron Dupert was the only Aiken player to record multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk. Everything changed in the fifth inning. Fox Creek surged ahead with a five-run rally that started when left fielder Hannah Culpepper and center fielder Ashlyn Wanninger led off with back-to-back singles. The hits were more well placed than squarely struck, but they set the stage for shortstop Kristen Anderson. She went to the plate with the purpose of laying down a bunt to advance both runners into scoring position with Micaela Bell on deck. The strategy paid off - and then some. Anderson's bunt went to third, leaving Reeves with only the play at first. But her throw sailed over its target and rolled down the line. It not only allowed Culpepper and Wanninger to score, but the hustling Anderson rounded the bases as well. "It's typical for bunts. It's a tough play and happens a lot of the time," David Bell said. "The error got in their head and helped our side." Following the mistake Micaela Bell, tripled to deep right. She scored when the next batter, starting pitcher Stephanie Bloedel, bunted and the throw to first base was mishandled. A groundout and a passed ball allowed Bloedel to move to third and she scored when third baseman Kelsey Cook grounded out, recording the only RBI of the inning. Wanninger and Anderson each scored in both the fifth and sixth innings. Wanninger went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Anderson was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks, including a bases-loaded base on balls. The player most often driving them in was Micaela Bell. She went 2-for-2, knocking in four RBIs while scoring two more. "She just wants to help the team and do whatever it is that's needed," said David Bell, who was effusive for his praise for Bloedel. "She's a great kid, she goes out and throws a game and is our No. 1 right now." Bloedel, a transfer from Augusta Christian, was impressive throughout. Even in the inning Aiken rallied she only surrendered two hits. She gave up four in six innings, allowing just one walk while recording 11 strikeouts. "She's a solid kid and a competitor," David Bell said. "I'm pleased with the whole team right now. We knocked off South Aiken last night and beat Aiken today. We've never been this far in this tournament. We've never started a year like this, but we'll take it as it comes." Fox Creek will face an even greater challenge when it plays again on Thursday. It will face North Augusta. The Yellow Jackets won the Class AAAA Lower State championship last year and have started this season a perfect 3-0, outscoring opponents 35-2. Aiken will face a daunting opponent today, when it plays tournament host Midland Valley. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
FC 101 056 - 13 13 1
AIK 002 000 - 2 4 5
WP: Stefanie Bloedel (2-0)
LP: Sheridan Butcher
Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard, primarily covering sports, and has been a professional journalist for more than a dozen years after graduating from Syracuse University.
WILLIAMS CONTINUES TO MAKE HISTORY
NORTH AUGUSTA -- Marty Williams staked a claim to another piece of Fox Creek High School athletic history Wednesday, becoming the school's first student to earn a university football scholarship.
The standout quarterback, who delighted Predator fans and baffled dozens of opponents over the past couple of seasons, made his mark to attend Clemson University, with family members around him and several senior teammates seated nearby. "Visiting up there a lot and going to a lot of ball games and hanging around with the players and coaches, it really meant a lot to me," he said. "We created a good bond toward each other. The players up there are like brothers to me."
He is listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds. His academic interests, he said, are in the areas of music and sports (such as sports management).
Williams, known as a threat in both running and passing, had C.J. Williams, Quadre Castlebbery and DeOndre Baskett among his favorite passing targets over the past couple of years.
Williams also commented on his prospects on the Clemson roster. "For right now, I'll think I'll be playing at defensive back."
He also served in the Predators' defensive backfield. On offense, major highlights in the 2011 season included one game in which he scored seven touchdowns (six by ground and one by air).
The season's final couple of games included some unsettling moments involving a neck sprain that took him out of the action. It first arose in the opening playoff game. He returned to play the next week but was taken away in an ambulance as the Predators' season came to a close.
A Clemson website noted that Williams "chose Clemson over Florida, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Miami, East Carolina and South Carolina, among others."
Williams commented, "I hope it will open up doors for Fox Creek and give an opportunity for more guys to compete ... It means a lot to me, playing with the guys that are in younger grade levels. It shows to them that it takes a lot of work to get what you want. I hope they work hard for it, because the door's open for them now."
Coach Russell Schneider, who has guided the Predators' football program since its creation, described Williams as a hard worker with exceptional talent. "It's nice to see the time you've invested turn out to be such a great opportunity for him and his family," he added.
Read more: Williams continues to make history | Aiken Standard Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Micaela "Mickey" Bell recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball and attend college at Lipscomb University in Nashville Tennessee. Lipscomb is a top 25 Division 1 softball program and has one of the top 20 sports medicine programs in the country. Her father David Bell explained, “Mickey has been fortunate to have the support of our school, our community and most importantly our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though she has loved her time at Fox Creek, she looks forward to stepping up and playing at the Division I level. We are blessed that both Lipscomb and Fox Creek are family oriented programs with leadership to guide my daughter athletically, morally and spiritually.” Bell’s father coached the Predators baseball team for four seasons from 2006-2009 and girls basketball team in 2010-2011. David Bell will be taking over the softball team this spring as the Predators new Head Softball Coach.
Fox Creek High School Head Football Coach Russell Schneider been selected as a Palmetto Champions All-Star Coach by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association. Coach Schneider will be honored at the seventh annual Palmetto Champions All-Star Football Banquet sponsored by Founders Federal Credit Union at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2011. The banquet, which will be held at Seawell’s Restaurant in Columbia, will serve to recognize 25 high school football players and 10 high school football coaches for their outstanding achievement during the 2011 season. Coach Schneider explained, “I am humbled to be considered for this award. It is truly an honor to be selected considering the great coaches in the state of South Carolina. I’m blessed to have the support of my administration, coaching staff, players and community.”
Photo 1Russell Schneider, Head Football CoachFox Creek High School
The Lady Predators make school history winning their way into the Final Four in State Playoffs. Their stellar season continued last night when the Fox Creek Predator's volleyball team defeated the North Central Knights in 5 sets on Monday night 18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-17, 15-7. Mickey Bell led the Lady Predators with 31 assists and 3 aces. Amberlyn Harper had 4 digs and 1 ace. Patsy Kilgore had 2 blocks. Abbie Ergle had 1 block, 5 digs, 5 kills and 1 ace. Haley Bryant had 5 aces, 6 kills, and 2 digs. Morgan Williams had 3 aces, 12 kills, 3 digs, and 4 blocks. Kaley Turner added 2 aces, 11 kills, 7 digs, and 2 blocks. The Lady Predators play again Wednesday night 6:00 at St. Joseph's for the A Upper State Championship.
The Fox Creek Predators J.V. squad defeated The Ridge Spring Monetta Trojans 2 games?to 1, 25-20, 13-25, and 15-9. The Junior Varsity match set the tone for the evening.??The Fox Creek High School Predators are Region IV A Volleyball Champions??The Predators Varsity defeated the Trojans in the first match of a double header 25-11 and 25-17. the Predators then finished their undefeated region play by winning the second match 25-14 and 25-12. Fox Creek is now 21-4 on the season and 16-0 in region play. Mickey Bell finished the night with 29 assists. Haley Bryant led the Predators with 5 aces. Kaley Turner and Mickey Bell added 3 apiece. Haley Bryant finished the night with 8 kills. Morgan Williams and Kaley Turner each had 7 kills, Abbie Ergle added 4. Patsy Kilgore had 2 kills, and Amberlyn Harper had one. Morgan Williams had 2 solo blocks and 4 block assists. Abbie Ergle had one solo block and 3 block assists. Mikey Bell had 4 digs Kaley Turner and Patsy Kilgore had one each. The Predators play again at 6:00 Monday night at Merriweather Middle School in the first round of the state play-offs. The Predator's opponent will be Lewisville. Go Fox Creek!
Volleyball Team defeats Aquinas
Fox Creek High School's volleyball team defeated Aquinas High School at home in the Sweetwater Baptist Church gym on Thursday night 09/01/2011. Fox Creek won the match Three sets to two. Fox Creek was awesome defensively on the night. The Fox Creek team is now 1-0 in the regular season. Fox Creek travels to Blackville Hilda on Tuesday and to Keenan on Wednesday. Player of the week for The Lady Predators is Bailey Mattox, who performed magnificently from the bench when called upon.
THE FOX CREEK MIRACLE
Fox Creek Football Shares Teammate's Challenge
By Billy Byler Staff Writer
While the Fox Creek High School football players and fans celebrated a last-minute win Saturday night, one of their own was bracing for an entirely different battle.
C.J. Williams, the team’s starting tailback and top tackler, was in a hospital bed. A knot on his neck that popped up after he helped Fox Creek win its season opener Aug. 19 was diagnosed as Hodgkins lymphoma, head coach Russ Schneider said. Instead of planning for football match-ups, road trips and a possible state playoff run, Williams is now preparing to battle for his life. “It hit me hard at first,” he said. “But I know there’s no way of getting around it. I told myself I have to toughen up to get through this.” The Fox Creek community has quickly embraced Williams and his upcoming battle. Schneider said his players are wearing two different stickers on their helmets this season to honor their teammate and star quarterback Marty Williams will wear C.J.’s jersey for the rest of the year.
“Everything is dedicated to him,” Schneider said. “I’ll never forget Saturday night, the team, the cheerleaders, the fans. All of them were chanting, ‘C.J., C.J.’ in the middle of the game.” Williams, who underwent a series of tests over the weekend, said he expects to hear from his doctors today about treatment and recovery time. Schneider said the senior tailback entered the season with a 3.5 grade point average and interest from a few small area college football programs. But Williams said he has spent the last week unsure of anything about his future. “What’s helped is I’ve heard from everybody - school, church, friends,” Williams said. “It gets as little overwhelming sometimes, I mean, I have to get my rest, too. But everybody at Fox Creek has stepped up for me and helped me out and my mom and my grandma, too.”
Members of Good Hope Baptist Church, where Williams and his mother, Christina Berrien, attend, have made trips to the hospital to lend their support in prayer. “I hope everyone will keep praying for him,” Berrien said. “That’s what we need the most right now.” Coaches from Laney, where Williams went to school before he transferred to Fox Creek, have also visited. “I love all the support and prayers. I need them,” he said. “I want everybody to know I’ll come back stronger and better than ever.”
Schneider said donations to help cover Williams’ medical expenses can be made through Fox Creek High School.
Volleyball Wins Orangeburg Wilkinson Bruinette Volleyball Classic
The Fox Creek Volleyball Family travelled to Orangeburg Wilkinson High School on Saturday August 27, 2011 to compete in the Orangeburg Wilkinson Bruinette Volleyball Classic pre-season tournament. Fox Creek played two games against four opponents (Butler, Holly Hill Academy, Beaufort, Columbia) in "pool play."Fox Creek had a 7-1 record in pool play and went to the play-off bracket as a number one seed. Fox Creek defeated Whale Branch to get to the semi-final game. Fox Creek defeated 2010 runner up Holly Hill Academy for an opportunity to play 2010 champion Keenan. In the final match Fox Creek rallied after losing the first set to win the Tournament Championship in three sets. Fox Creek is the 2011 Champion of the Orangeburg Wilkinson Bruinette Volleyball Classic. Morgan Williams, a Sophomore middle hitter/middle blocker was named to the all tournament team.
Div. I colleges still looking at FCHS QB--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Spring football practice at one of the CSRA's smaller high schools is getting big-time attention this month by virtue of Marty Williams. Fox Creek High School's quarterback, preparing for his senior year and second season with the Predators, has offers so far from Clemson, Arkansas, Eastern Carolina University, The Citadel, North Carolina State, Newberry and North Greenville, according to Russell Schneider, Fox Creek's athletic director and head football coach. "A lot has happened over the spring," Schneider confirmed, noting that most schools are recruiting Williams as a running back. Clemson - Williams' current first choice - is looking at him as a free or strong safety, and Georgia Tech is considering him as a quarterback. Schneider indicated that Georgia Tech and Miami have indicated plans to offer a deal "soon." Georgia, Florida and Notre Dame have also shown strong interest. "They want to get a visual on him and see if he can pass what they call their 'eye test,'" Schneider said, recalling that Notre Dame's representative referred to Williams as "the best-looking kid that I've seen in South Carolina." The Fighting Irish's recruiting plan includes "gold" designation, for players who are definitely in line for an offer, and "blue" for those one step below. Williams was said to be at the blue level and on track for gold status. Williams, whose mother is Irene Williams, now measures 6-foot-2 and "about 205," ran for more than 1,900 yards, threw for 622 yards, accounted for 28 touchdowns and had 72 receiving yards during his inaugural season with Fox Creek. He had previously ben enrolled at Strom Thurmond High School. Williams said he is highly flexible in terms of a position to play in college. When asked about the extra attention from recruiters, he said, "I don't let it get to me ... but it's kind of shocking, because when I was younger, I always wanted to be that guy that had schools coming to check him out. It's going great. I love it." Schneider added, "We are going to a couple of one-day camps in June at different colleges."
Fox Creek High School baseball standout Rick Hickson recently signed his letter of intent to play college baseball at Paine College in Augusta. Paine offered Rick a four year scholarship to play for the Lions. Rick is a Senior and is a 4 year letterman for the Predators. Playing mostly at pitcher, Rick has been instrumental to the Predators consistent winning seasons. Head Coach Wesley Brown stated, "Rick has a great work ethic and is just what every coach wants in a player. He is dedicated to the game, his school and his teammates. I am certain that with Rick's work ethic that he will be a standout for Paine College."
The Magnum 15 Mizuno Volleyball team recently won the Open Gold Division at the Palmetto Region Championships for the second year in a row and will be headed back to USA Volleyball Nationals. They finished first out of 44 teams. The Magnum 15 team went 7-0 in matches and 14-1 in overall games, while outscoring their opponents 362-235. Nationals will be in Atlanta this year from June 27-30.
Team members on the front row, from left, are Bailey Parker of South Aiken High School, Morgan Wilson, Rebecca Barton andDamaris Collier. Pictured on the back row, from left, are assistant coach Donee Taylor, Fox Creek's Morgan Williams, Emily Teelon of Aiken High School, Tatyana Gibbs, Megan Brack, Tierra Small and head coach Adam Speight.
Congratulations to Senior Danielle Sheppard and Junior Micaela Bell for making the Augusta Chronicle's South Carolina All-Area Team.
Owen Jacobs Signs National letter of Intent for Newberry
Owen Jacobs of Fox Creek High School signed his National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the Wolves of Newberry College. Owen set almost every school record for the Predators. Owen is the first player in Fox Creek history to average a career double-double for points and rebounds. He is the first player to ever score 1000 points and is now the first player in school history to play basketball at the college level. Head Coach Andre Baskett commented at the signing, "Owen is fundamentally sound and plays hard from buzzer to buzzer. Most importantly, Owen is an excellent young man and a role model for all of our student-athletes. I am certain that Owen will be a very successful student-athlete at the next level."
Pictured from Left to Right in photo
Front Row: Marcus Jacobs, Father, Owen Jacobs, Basketball Player, Wendy Jacobs, Mother
Back Row: Dr. Tim Murph, Principal, Linda Smith, Grandmother, Ally Jacobs, Sister, Don Smith, Grandfather, Andre Baskett, Head Basketball Coach
FOX CREEK’S ASH ERGLE TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL
It’s official. Ash Ergle is the first Fox Creek High School football player invited to play college football for Fall 2011. Ash accepted an invited visit to Massachusetts Maritime College with Head Coach Jeremy Cameron last winter. Shortly afterward, Fox Creek Head Football Coach, Russ Schneider, received a phone call from Coach Cameron requesting Ash to play for the Buccaneers next season. Cameron explained to Schneider, “Ash is the kind of player that every coach wants. He only has one speed and that’s full throttle. Ash fits the mold of our two current starting linebackers and we want him.” Ash was a four year starter on Fox Creek’s football team. He played offensive guard and linebacker for most of his high school career. Ergle led the Predators in tackling this season with 108 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Schneider also rewarded him with one carry at the goal line as he scored on a three yard run for a touchdown. “That will probably go down as one of my most memorable moments of Ash” stated Schneider. “He had worked so hard for us I decided to give him the ball. I have never seen a player so excited.” The Ergle family was excited and proud of the news. Fox Creek faculty also shared in the excitement. Fox Creek Principal Tim Murph explained, “Ash is the kind of kid that every educator loves. He is a good person, respectful of his teachers, and solid in his coursework. It is always great to see good kids achieve success through hard work. We are very proud of Ash Ergle.”
Owen Jacobs, a senior at Fox Creek High School, was named to the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Boy's All-State Team for Class A for 2011. Owen has been a starter at Fox Creek for four years and reached the 1,000 point mark in the second game of the 2010 season. In this his senior year, Owen averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game; in fact, he averaged a double-double for each of his four years at Fox Creek. The Fox Creek boys' basketball team reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in school history. Owen and his coach, Andre Baskett, will be recognized at Myrtle Beach next weekend during the SCBCA meeting. Coach Baskett was named the Coach of the Year for Region 4, Class A, by the SCBCA.
Face to Face Offer
Marty Williams, who shines as an option quarterback for Fox Creek High School in North Augusta, picked up his first offer on Friday from Arkansas. Official offer No. 2 was delivered in person from head coach Dabo Swinney on Saturday as part of Clemson's Junior Day. What was the 6-foot-1, 205-pound athlete's reaction? Who leads? Marty Williams, who shines as an option quarterback for Fox Creek High School in North Augusta, picked up his first offer on Friday from Arkansas. "That wasn't that big because it wasn't face to face," Williams told Tigerillustrated.com Saturday afternoon. "But it's a big SEC school." Official offer No. 2 was delivered in person from head coach Dabo Swinney on Saturday as part of Clemson's Junior Day. "He brought me into his office with my recruiting coach (defensive backs coach Charlie Harbison) and we talked about football," Williams said. "He said he's real interested in watching me and I'm one of the most interesting players they've watched so far. Then he said he'd like to offer me a full scholarship. He said it right there face to face."What was the 6-foot-1, 205-pound athlete's reaction? "That was a lot of excitement," Williams said. "My mind went blank and I had no words to describe that. They offered me as a running back and a safety, basically as an athlete."Clemson sticks out for the instate prospect."I love everyone there and they are a team with nice people," Williams said. "On the academic side and on the football side." The junior saw a little of everything on Saturday."We went to the player's lounge when we got there," Williams said. "We watched TV, went to the meeting room, the coaches talked to us, we saw the weight room, went to the basketball game and put on jerseys and went to the hill and saw a video. We toured the academic part, too." Harbison has been reassigned from the Midlands to a new territory instate taking over the part of South Carolina former offensive coordinator Billy Napier used to handle."He's a great guy," Williams said. "He's a real good motivator and he's real experienced. He knows what he's talking about." The Tigers and Razorbacks have offered. Georgia Tech, Florida and North Carolina State are showing interest. Who leads? "Clemson is No. 1 now because that's the only place I've been to and I loved it," Williams said. "Then Florida, Georgia Tech, Georgia and NC State. After I take a couple of more visits and check out some other places I'll talk with my family and decide which one I want to go to." As a junior, Williams rushed for 1,902 yards with a 11.3 yards per carry average and 22 touchdowns. He also threw for 557 yards and five touchdowns as his team's option quarterback. The athlete added four catches for 53 yards and intercepted three passes on defense. Williams bench presses 305 pounds, squats 420 pounds, power cleans 280 pounds, runs a laser-timed 4.61-second 40-yard dash.
North Augusta, Fox Creek hit the field for Midland Valley tourney--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Local softball and baseball boosters can get a look at some of North Augusta's top teen talent over the next few days, as Midland Valley High School holds its annual tournament. Among those on the Mustang Invitational's guest list are the baseball and softball teams from North Augusta High School and Fox Creek's baseball team. Play will begin Friday and run through March 5, with all the title games to be held March 5. Fox Creek's games are Friday versus Aiken; Saturday, Silver Bluff; Monday, Midland Valley, and Thursday, North Augusta. North Augusta's baseball action is Friday versus South Aiken; Saturday, James Island; Wednesday, Silver Bluff; and Thursday, Fox Creek. North Augusta's softball schedule for the tournament was not available by press time. This season, Fox Creek has new coaches in baseball and softball alike - Wesley Brown and Richard Brady, respectively (Fox Creek is not taking part in the softball action at Midland Valley). North Augusta has Victor Radcliff returning as baseball coach and Derrick Quinn back as softball coach. All four teams made it into the postseason last year, with Fox Creek's squads winning their regions.
Congratulations to the Fox Creek Varsity Boys Basketball Team after itsvictory over Chesterfield High School in the first round of the SouthCarolina High School League Class A State Playoff Tournament.
This is a formal announcement that Taylor Carter has committed to Surry Community College in Dobson, NC to continue playing baseball at the collegiate level next fall. Please join in to congradulate him in this accomplishment.
The 2010 Aiken Standard Offensive Player of the Year, Fox Creek quarterback Marty Williams, got that chance this year. Williams, who has received interest from Georgia Tech and Georgia Military College, among others, said that individual accolades don't come to him often, so he was honored to be chosen for the award. "I don't receive awards like that, so it's a big deal to me," the junior said. Williams said that he and Fox Creek head coach Russell Schneider are aware of the momentum upon which the two of them can build after the school's most successful year to date. He also added that his team and coaching staff were key to his and the Predators' success this year and singled out a special relationship he has with Schneider. "It's great, because he always tells me I'm the greatest he's ever coached, and he's the greatest guy to ever coach me," Williams said. The Predators had, by far, the best season in the program's young history by going 7-3 overall and 5-3 in Region 4-A play. The milestones didn't end with the regular season, though, as Fox Creek went to the state football playoffs for the first time, hosted its first playoff game and collected its first postseason win, a 32-16 victory over Calhoun Falls. Williams had 285 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the playoff opener. The junior was the main threat in the Predators' offense all year, and he flourished in that role, accumulating 1,950 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground to go with a 27-of-63 season passing, good for 519 more yards and five more touchdowns. Williams also caught two passes for 51 yards over the course of the season. "You could put him anywhere at any time," Schneider said. "He's such a big weapon that, after the first few games, people notice where he is." His most impressive game of the season came against Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, a 48-18 Predators' win that came a week after Williams missed a game due to a suspension. The penalty resulted from an altercation during Fox Creek's 50-12 win over North. The junior said that he learned something about himself while sitting out of his team's 14-0 win over Denmark-Olar. "It showed me how much I really love the game of football," he said. Williams did not enjoy sitting that game out while the Predators played without him, and he added that he felt he "owed the team" after the suspension. He paid that debt against H-K-T. The junior signal-caller completed 4 of 9 passes against the Trojans for 118 yards and two touchdowns, but he really made up for lost time on the ground, racking up 337 yards and three scores on 20 carries. In regards to Williams feeling that he needed to compensate for his absence, Schneider wasn't surprised at his quarterback's reaction. "That would be the answer I'd expect from him," Schneider said. "Just him being humble, that's where leadership comes in." Still, Williams hopes to continue to improve as a leader for his senior year and develop in the passing game. "Becoming a better leader, and as far as field-wise, it's throwing, because I didn't get a lot of throwing attempts this year," he said of his goals for his final season in a Predator uniform. When he's on the run, he'll continue to use his favorite evasive maneuver, the stiff arm. "It keeps guys away from getting me on the ground," the junior said. Another part of the game that protects Williams from contact is the offensive line. With many of the Fox Creek linemen graduating after this season, the quarterback said that he and his new body guards will have to hit the weights this offseason if he hopes to reach his goal for the team to "make it to state." "I'll work hard in the offseason, since we're losing a lot of linemen, have some linemen in the gym, too," Williams said. Schneider said that the return of Williams and other skill position players is "exciting as a coach." Still, the coach said that he and Williams will have work to do if they want improve on the 2010 season and compete with what he calls "the big three" in the Predators' region - Calhoun County, Blackville-Hilda and Williston-Elko. "I think the hard part is maintaining it because now everyone's expecting it," Schneider said.
Schneider led Fox Creek to best season
NORTH AUGUSTA --- Russ Schneider remembers a day when it wasn't unusual to go down the halls asking students, "Hey, you wanna play?" Students are now the ones asking if they can come out and join the Fox Creek football team. The young Predators program had its best season this year, as Fox Creek posted its first winning season, postseason appearance and playoff victory. After never winning more than two games in a season, the Predators went 8-4 and beat Calhoun Falls in the first round of the playoffs. Backed by those accomplishments, Schneider is The Augusta Chronicle's South Carolina Coach of the Year. Schneider has helped build a family atmosphere during his tenure at Fox Creek. He thinks if players know a coach cares, they'll play hard. But that changes if a player thinks he is seen as only a number. The coach believes in the importance of being there for kids who don't have what he did, so it's more than just teaching them on the football field. It's also being there for them even when they move on from Fox Creek. On the field, Schneider said he always thought Fox Creek could have the type of season it did in 2010. But with how it happened, he likened it to a Cinderella season. The Predators won by double digits in seven of their eight victories, including four by at least 30 points. Schneider said the team learned how to win and started believing. From there, he said it started to have a snowball effect. After a loss to Blackville-Hilda, Fox Creek won four in a row. One of the wins was a 14-0 result against Denmark-Olar despite a handful of starters sitting because of suspensions. That proved to Schneider the Predators had something special. Quarterback Marty Williams starred on offense, with Schneider calling the junior the best athlete "by far" he's coached in 17 seasons. Williams scored 27 touchdown this season. Besides the all-around play, the numbers have grown, too. After having a roster size in the low 20s his first season, Schneider has seen the total increase to the mid 40s. He's also noticed benefits from the new school, which is a place he said the players can call home after being forced to practice on a nearby softball field in the past. But the work isn't done just yet. "We got to continue to build on what we believe in -- our philosophy of loving kids," Schneider said. "I thought winning was what I wanted to do. It is, but it's not what happiness is. It's being there for the kids."
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