Tennis and Track 👣 and Field are a smidgen different from other team sports in that teams can qualify for the post season but individual players can do so as well.

  While the Girls Tennis team didn’t qualify for the team competition, the top singles and doubles team still can.

On the Boys side, Head Coach Christy Shupe and her team managed to land a spot as a team in addition to the separate individual / doubles event.

Ethan Richardson and Paul Marshall are the Seniors on this squad. They now qualify as recent graduates 🎓 of CCHS and they will head up US-221 to Cave Spring High School later this morning.

Cave Spring is the higher seeded team and thus gets to host the match. Six singles and three doubles contests will be played at the first team to five will advance to the next round.

Richardson will also compete in the individual tournament in addition to teaming up with Maverick Baker in the doubles event.

Last season, Jabin Talley and Richardson teamed up to finish in the Elite Eight in doubles.

Carroll County High School opened its doors over 50 years ago now and it would be hard to imagine any 12 month stretch where more has been accomplished than what Casey Burcham and his Burcham’s Bunch has already done.

  There have been a trio of State Championship teams in the Schools history, including consecutive titles for Girls Basketball but when one stops to absorb the accomplishments of Carroll County Baseball ⚾️ since Burcham was named Head Coach and Steve Combs slid into the position of his right hand man.

Starting with the Alumni Game which was perfectly timed. Welcoming the past back into the fold at a time where people were searching for something positive to believe in was The definition of perfect timing.

The next piece of the puzzle came in the form of the Indoor Hitting Center that now stands just above Bill Worrell Field. The process of creating a plan for the facility and getting it up and running in such a small time frame was amazing.

Making sure to share it with your Sister program, Carroll County High School Softball was just the next step 🚶‍♂️along the path that has become the Yellow Brick Road if you will.

Fast Forward to having Adam Nester in place to take over the Junior Varsity program after Combs had captured five straight District titles. The Nester Nine simply steamrolled its way to crown 👑 number six while only losing one game.

The improvements that were made to the stands at Bill Worrell Field would be the next piece to this puzzle. Perfect timing as the Cavalier Express continued to build up steam.

Carroll County lost its second game of the season at Pulaski County by one run. Burcham took the loss in stride (10-9 on March 21st), saying afterwards that he really liked what he was seeing from his team. Here we are, over two months later and the team sits at 19-1.

Next up, signing day as three of the Cavaliers inked their names on College Letters of Intent. It’s not uncommon for a Cavalier to play at the next level but having three from the same graduation class is special !

The number of banners hanging on the fences at the East end of the Campus increased ten fold and then some. The amount of Community pride now on display is contagious. Again, all in one season.

The most enjoyable thing about the environment at the Baseball field is how much of it is Family 👪. Three generations of Family as Mom is seen here standing by former Coach and current Athletic Director, Kevin DeHaven. The Concession Stand in full of smiling faces and Family recipes.

When giving credit for the incredible amount of progress that has been made over the past 12 months, it starts at the top, with Principal Chuck Thompson.

Next up would be anyone who played a role in Burcham taking over the program. Don’t forget the number of folks that surround Burcham, including Rick Carlson, pictured below with five other Veterans. Also in the picture 📷 is Seth Greer who has worked with the team through a weight program.

The Three Rivers District crown 👑 has been secured and now the team has the #2 seed in the Regional tournament. They open up at Home on Friday night and need to claim two more victories to advance to the State Tournament.

Both of those needed wins can take place without the team having to leave The Hill. We don’t know what the future holds in regards to the post season but its easy to see what has already been accomplished by this group that compile Burcham’s Bunch.

Britt Berrier, pictured above was awarded the Best of Preps for Baseball this season. Five counties across two States compile the pool of Athletes eligible for the Award. But fitting of this group of team-furst Student Athletes, the moment was shared with the entire team.

The team has a facility soaked in Carroll County history, a Head Coach who understands the importance of managing a program versus Coaching a team and a talented roster full of arms and bats ➕ gloves.

  The final chapter of this story begins on Friday night 🌙!

Friday Night 🌙 on The Hill we see how far down the Yellow Brick Road the Burcham Bunch will take us ! Remember that its already been a year of serious advancement !

Anytime you can experience something on a National stage for the first time its going to be memorable and was certainly the case for a group of Cavaliers over the weekend. CCHS Graduation 🎓 was taking place back home at the same time so the underclassmen carried the banner for Shannon Dalton and Company.

https://www.facebook.com/

The link above gives even more information about the experience and what the group was involved with while down in the Georgia State Capitol.

https://www.naqt.com/nationals/liveblog.jsp?tournament_id=16002&liveblog_code=3850864928991822074

A second link, where if you scroll down you will find the details of Carroll County High School 🏫.

” This was an amazing experience for all of us, kids and adults alike, ”  said Shannon Dalton. ” We weren’t sure what to expect when in our very first round we had to play the team that is now leading the entire tournament (hence the score…). We could not beat them to any questions at all.”

As the Cavaliers became more comfortable in their surroundings they found more success.

” But things got better as the day went on and today we were 2-1, for the 4-6 overall record.”

All of this took place under the watchful eye and guidance of Paxton Berrier, with Dalton in the co-pilot seat. The Cavaliers were supported by Seth & Kristy Newman along with Trenton’s younger Sister, Maci.

Also making the journey was Thomas Talbert in support of Jake as well as Brad Dalton in support of his family 👪.

When the group was not competing, the mixed in some fun and managed to make some new memories. By the end, the group was ready to return to The Hill.

” We’re all really done with heights and elevators and city street walking for at least a few days!” added Dalton. ” Until the next time.”

  Carroll County High School 🏫 continues to excel in regards to Academics and for a few days it was on Full Display on a National stage!

Thank You Paxton Berrier for your time, energy and encouragement for our Youth!

___________________________________

It’s worth noting that two reigning champs of NAQT nationals (small school and last year’s winner of this event) played this morning for the finals at 5-4, only one win more than us for a reigning champ team. Luck and knowledge were really on our side!