Tigers Thrash Trojans

DEFENSE! - Saluda’s JT Lott, Hayden Stoudemire and Javarious Stevens team up to bring down Ridge Spring-Monetta’s Nehemiah Brooks. Also, pictured is the Trojan’s William McKinney (66). (SHS photo by Dean Roesner)

Tigers Thump
Trojans, 43-6

In their second straight lightning delayed game, the Saluda Tigers got the same results, a blowout win over an old rival.
  The victim this time was Ridge Spring-Monetta, who fell 43-6 at the Bettis Herlong Stadium at Matthews Field.
  Saluda led Strom Thurmond 14-0 last week before the delay. Friday, the Tigers ran only one offensive play, and it resulted in an interception by the Trojans of a Jonah McCary pass.
  From their seven, the Trojans moved to the 45, before the lightning delay was called.
  After an over one hour break, the game resumed. On the second play, RSM elected to got for it on fourth and short and the Tigers Javarious Stevens threw Trojan quarterback Remedee Leaphart for a three yard loss and Saluda  took over at the Trojan 43-yard-line.
  Staying primarily on the ground, the Tigers drove in
the for the score in seven plays. The touchdown came on a three-yard run by Montrevious Baker. From their bucket conversion formation, McCary threw to Stevens for the 2-point play.
  Saluda held the Trojans on their next possession, and began their second scoring drive from their 23, after a 41-yard RSM punt. The big play in the drive was a 48-yard pass from McCary to Zion Wright to the RSM nine. On the second play, Baker scored from the three. Once again, the Tigers got two points from the bucket formation. This one was on a run by McCary. The Tigers led 16-0 with 1:42 to go in the first quarter.
  A personal foul penalty against the Trojans sparked Saluda’s next scoring drive. The Tigers mixed the pass and run to go the 69-yards in seven plays. Baker got his third TD of the night on a seven-yard run. This time, the Tigers sent Sam Espinoza to kick the extra and Saluda led 23-0 with 9:52 to go in the half.
  The Tigers’ final scoring drive of the half covered 73-yards and used five McCary completions to pace the march. McCary scored the touchdown on a one-yard run. Espinoza’s kick made the halftime score 30-0.
  Saluda received the second half kick-off and milked the clock on every play. They were able to take almost four minutes off the clock in the 63-yard scoring march. The touchdown came on an 18-yard pass from McCary to Stevens. Espinoza gave the Tigers a 37-0 lead with 8:14 to go in the third quarter.
  Midway in the quarter, Saluda punted for the only time in the game, and the Trojans put together a nice drive behind Leaphart, who completed tree passes and rushed three times on the 77-yard drive. The touchdown came on a three yard run by Ben Kirk. Jaden Jeffery’s kick was no good, making the score 37-6 with 1:16 to go in the quarter.
  The Saluda reserves came in and put together a 91-yard drive, begining in the third and ending in the fourth, continuing to snap the ball with only a few seconds from a delay of game penalty. Saluda used four different running backs along the way. The big play came on a 36-yard run by sophomore Arryion Brown to the Trojan one-yard line. Brown stayed on to score the touchdown. A bad snap foiled with extra point and Saluda led 43-6 with 4:10 to go in the game, and it stayed that way.
  McCary was once again the offensive statistical leader, completed 17 of 23 passes for 202 yards and one score. He also rushed for a touchdown and a two-point play.
  Baker had 64-yards rushing and three touchdowns. Wright led the receiving with seven catches.
  The Tiger defense had its second straight outstanding game. They only claimed one turnover, compared to last week’s five, but they held the Trojan team that beat Batesburg-Leesville last week to 47-yards rushing and 109 through the air.
  Due to McCormick’s region’s decision to move their region schedule to the front of the schedule, Saluda had to find and new opponent, and came up with a game at Midland Valley in two weeks.
  This Friday’s game with Ninety Six has been postponed due to a Covid issue with the Tigers.

TOP AGRICULTURE GRADUATE - Makayla Porter of Saluda was named Piedmont Technical College’s outstanding agriculture graduate at the 45th Annual Student Awards and Recognition Program.

August Council Meeting

Fee Protest Presentation
Cut Short At Meeting

At the Aug. 9. County Council meeting, a citizen’s protest of last year’s road user fee, was cut short when his presentation exceeded the allotted time limit.
  Sean Howard had been seen at the Courthouse last week holding up signs saying the road fee was illegal and the $25 should be refunded. Signs about the County  Council meeting were also placed at the Traffic Circle.
  Before Howard began his presentation, County Council Chairman Jerry Strawbridge informed him he had seven minutes, as per meeting policy.
  Howard said he did not think he could complete his presentation in seven minutes, but would cut some portions.
 The gist of Howard’s presentation was a ruling by the S.C. Supreme Court that a law in Greenville County, similar to Saluda, he said; was illegal.
  He then explained what Saluda County should have done, like creating special tax districts, and holding a referendum.
  As he read off more legal findings, Howard was informed that his time was up.
  Howard asked the Council members to vote to extend his time, but that did not happen.
  Strawbridge asked Howard to make five copies of  his presentation, so staff and council members could read it.
  Strawbridge then read a statement that a ruling against Greenvillle County does not invalidate anything to do with Saluda County. He said until Saluda’s fee is proved invalid, it will remain as an established county law.
  Council established the $25 per vehicle road use fee due to a budget shortfall in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The funds collected were designed to go to the Road & Bridge Department, replacing that department’s budget allotment and moving that allotment to the general fund.
  When the financial situation improved the next year, the fee was rescinded.
  In old  business, Council gave second reading to an ordinance to establish a county prohibition on the infringement of the right to keep and bear arms and designating Saluda County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
  Council approved a request to seek bids for construction of the Old Town Fire Department.
  A Covid Leave Policy update was approved at the recommendation of Hardee Horne, as was travel allowance changes.
  At the beginning of the meeting, the Council members applauded the Recreation Department’s two youth teams that made it to their respective World Series.

SAVE THE DATE For a Celebration
Of the Life of Bela P. Herlong

  On August 21, 2021, the family of Bela Herlong invite the public to join them at 2 p.m. at the Saluda Theater for a celebration of her life.   The event, entitled “A Certain View: A Celebration of the Life and Poetry of Bela Herlong,” is modelled after Mrs. Herlong’s own Prism events. As director of the Saluda High literary magazine, Mrs. Herlong worked with Gloria Caldwell each year to craft a dramatic piece showcasing the student’s work.
  “I did the same thing,” Madaline Herlong reported. “I used her poems to tell the story of her life.
  “It felt so wrong for Mama to leave us without our giving her a proper goodbye,” Madaline continued. “And we know that there are dozens of students, friends, church members—all kinds of people—who felt the same lack we did.
  “We hope EVERYONE can come and share with us our gratitude for her life, her poetry, and the love she held for family, friends, and the world.”

Museum Exhibit

  A celebration of the life of Dr. Bela Herlong will be held at the Saluda Theater and Museum on August 21.
  If you have any Saluda High School memorabilia that you’d like to share, please contact Bob Horne at 864-992-6754 -OR- call the museum at 864-445-8550 during regular hours M-F 10am-4pm or Saturday 10am-1pm.....you can also drop off at the museum.
  ALSO, currently on display at the museum are five trophies won by the 10U Girls Angels All-Star District Champions, the 10U Angels Softball team - State Champions —AND— the 10U Boys Baseball State Runner-up , and 10U Dixie Youth World Series - Runner-up —AND— 8U Boys Baseball State Runner-up.

NEW TEAM - The Saluda County Sheriff’s Office would like to welcome the newest member of our team. Pictured  is K-9 Grizzly along with his partner, Corporal James Schaffer. Grizzly and Corporal Schaffer recently graduated from an extensive certification training at Custom K-9’s. Grizzly will serve as a patrol K-9 and will work to keep Saluda County safe.

World Series Runner-Up

WORLD SERIES RUNNERS-UP

  Saluda’s Minor League All-Star team (10u) made it all the way to the Dixie Youth AAA Division II World Series championship game, before falling to North Carolina, 7-3, Wed., Aug. 4, in Laurel, Miss.
  Saluda made it to the World Series as S.C.’s runner-up, and made a remarkable run, defeating the those host team, and state champions from N.C., Fla., Ga., and S.C. A loss to Florida in the third round, send the local team to the loser’s bracket, where the defeated S.C.’s state champions, Lower Florence, 11-2. This set-up a rematch with Florida, and this time Saluda won, 2-1.
  Saluda’s win left three teams with one loss, so one team got a bye, and North Carolina got the luck of the draw.
  To win the World Series, Saluda would have two play a doubleheader on Wednesday and win both games. The local team got things off to a good start with a 5-0 win over Georgia in the 10:30 a.m. game. They then had to come back at 3 p.m. to meet North Carolina for the title, and the ran out of steam, and the team from the Tar Heel state won 7-3 to take the title.
  Saluda’s march to the finals is remarkable considering the field included state champions from Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and runners-up from Texas, Mississippi, and the local team, the S.C. runner-up.
  Members of the team are Bryson Burnett, Will Wideman, Corbin Shaw, Cayden Rogers, Abraham Del Valle, Eduardo Dominguez, Javier Sorcia, Westan Rowe, Hayes Shealy, Maverick Quattlebaum, Tripp McCullough. Coaches are William Wideman, Dustin Burnett, Andrew Shaw.
  Coach Dustin Burnett said, “I want to say Thank You to Saluda for all your support. We couldn’t have gotten here without y’all. Thanks to Paul Ergle for all he has done for us over the years. It’s been a long four year journey to get to this point. I’m so proud of the determination and grit these young men have shown. They have grown into some solid ball players and a band of brothers that fights for each other and do their part. It’s hard to beat someone who never quits and this team shows just that. They have dedicated their whole summer to accomplish the goals they set and they did just that. I’m honored to be able to be in these young men’s life and something we will cherish forever. I’m proud of our coaches, our players, our parents and, of course, proud to be from Saluda. We ain’t done yet! More things to come!”
  Recreation Director Paul Ergle announced his resignation earlier, and he finished with the program accomplishing things that haven’t happened in the 60 years of youth baseball’s existence in Saluda County.
  Three all-star teams won their District tournaments and played in the state championships. The 10u Angels softball team won the state championship and became the first youth team from Saluda to qualify for and play in the World Series. Saluda’s Minor League All-Stars finished second in the state and became the second youth team from Saluda to qualify for and play in a World Series. Finally, the Coach Pitch All-Stars played in the championship in their age group before losing to Central/Clemson. That team went on to win the CP World Series.

Armed Robbery Suspect

On Saturday night, July 30, shortly after 8:00pm, the County Line Store on Greenwood Highway was robbed at gun point. At this time investigators have several physical items of evidence that we believe will lead to the arrest of this individual. Any help from the public identifying this person is appreciated.