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Ben Beitzel

Stories by Ben

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Garcia, tied for Masters lead, confident this time

Last year, Sergio Garcia set himself up. The enigmatic talent had just shot a 4-under 68 and was alone in third place heading into the weekend at the Masters.

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Professional golf returns to Gwinnett on frenetic schedule

Greater Gwinnett Championship came together in less than a year.

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Rain washes away G-Braves season opener

With a steady rain throughout the day and no promise of improving weather, the Gwinnett Braves decided early to push the team's Opening Day festivities off for one day, canceling Thursday's game against the Charlotte Knights at about 4 p.m.

Lefty prospect Gilmartin gets start for G-Braves

Carrying the same quiet and confident demeanor he brought with him after his promotion to Class AAA a season ago, Sean Gilmartin sat in front of his locker just more than 24 hours before he becomes the fifth Gwinnett Braves opening day pitcher.

Pop tops pitching in G-Braves first roster

Gwinnett Braves release season's first roster

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Meadowcreek finds early baseball success

Mustangs finding early baseball success this season.

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BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Hawks' Powell still has 'room to grow'

HOSCHTON -- Chris Powell came to serious swimming later than most.. He started racing young, 6-years-old, but he stayed away from the year-round programs widely available in Gwinnett County for years. He swam in summer leagues, but he played football in eighth grade.. Not until Powell entered

Lakers' show familiar to Meeks

It's a different color scheme, but it certainly feels familiar to Jodie Meeks. In his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, the former Norcross standout sees plenty of purple and gold in whatever arena he visits.

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GIRLS DIVER OF THE YEAR: Sachse learns from pride in final season

Looking at the past, Lexi Sachse sauntered into her final dive season carrying something more than confidence.

Mediate, Gwinnett both new to Champions Tour

For the Greater Gwinnett Championship, a start like Rocco Mediate's certainly seems in order.

Bronco girls, Hawk boys win 7 vs. 8 golf match

Brookwood's Allen, Mill Creek's Beard take low medal honors

Regions 7 and 8 meet in golf tourney

There are worse ways to spend a day off. With Gwinnett County scheduling one of its furlough days for a spring Monday for the second year in a row, Brookwood will again host a Region 7-AAAAAA vs. Region 8-AAAAAA golf tournament at Summit Chase Country Club.

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Seniors lead Wesleyan girls to sixth straight title

Wesleyan girls win sixth straight state title; program's 10th

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GAC's Swinton playing to honor his late father

NORCROSS -- It won't be the familiar seat, but it will still be empty.. Collin Swinton knows precisely the seat his father preferred in Greater Atlanta Christian's Long Forum. In four years on the varsity team he knew where to look when things went wrong. In that seat he found

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State title hopes abound for Gwinnett

Five teams travel to Macon chasing hoops titles after Final Four wins this past weekend

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North girls pull away from North Cobb

It's a strange venue and the highest of stakes, but in a week the most familiar of foes will meet once again.

Allred, Tanner spark Hawks girls past Dacula

Hawks girls avenge PK loss of a season ago

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Norcross, North girls win away from showdown

Don't get Shayla Cooper wrong, she understands this game is important.. But it wasn't just today's Class AAAAAA semifinal game against Langston Hughes that the Georgetown-bound Cooper looked toward after the Blue Devils dispatched Cherokee earlier this week.

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GAC's Tardy under more pressure in repeat bid

NORCROSS -- This year, there are no surprises.. Bailey Tardy showed up on the girls golf team at Greater Atlanta Christian a year ago relatively unknown. She had played some summer golf and in the small world her name was rising, but by the end of the high school season

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Buford grad Harris back on track

ATLANTA -- Melvin Harris didn't wait for the question. Like defenders the wide receiver attempts to make miss on the field, Harris tackled the looming issue of his career without prompting.. "Right now I am working on my character and working on building my self-esteem and confidence," the

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Durden, Doyle spark Buford to Final Four

Buford defeated Woodward Academy 60-53 in the quarterfinals of the Class AAA state boys basketball tournament.

Cooper scores season-high 34 in Blue Devils blowout

It's been a season coming for Shayla Cooper. Norcross' Georgetown-bound force in the paint kept approaching 30 points, but never quite reached the threshold.

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Warnock, unselfish Lions take down Shiloh

Peachtree Ridge beat Shiloh 67-60 in the second round of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs.

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GAC takes punch, dominates Spencer

GAC won 88-56 in the second round of the Class AA playoffs.

Norcross, Parkview girls meet again

Top teams highlight large Gwinnett crop of girls playoff hoops

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McConnell Middle claims girls county title

LOGANVILLE -- With 4:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, Duluth's middle school team took its first lead of the game against McConnell.. The Wildcats led 16-15 after the basket, giving them a lead against a team in the Tigers accustomed to winning their games by double-digit margins. But instead

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Hull Middle claims boys county title

LOGANVILLE -- As if to punctuate a dominant second quarter and issue the end to the game, Jay Estime nailed a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to give Hull Middle School a 27-12 halftime lead.. "It was good to get it at the end of the half," Estime

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Wesleyan boys come up short in OT, girls cruise in first round

Down four points with 30 seconds remaining, Jaye Rochell brought Wesleyan's boys back from the dead.

Broncos' offense comes up short at Cherokee

Early in the fourth quarter, Brookwood ripped off six straight points to break a 6-6 tie and take a 12-6 lead on the road at Cherokee.

Knights' Adams gets first playoff win

With 11.9 seconds left and leading by the eventual final score, Central Gwinnett head coach Jason Adams called timeout.

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Archer makes most of second chance

A second chance a year in the making made for early nerves. Archer, ousted a season ago by Central Gwinnett in the first round of the Region 8-AAAAAA tournament to end its season, got a second chance against the same Black Knights on Tuesday.

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Wesleyan's Frerking sisters enjoying season together

Sisters, often mistaken for twins but two years apart, both playing key roles for powerful Wolves

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Buford's standout Williams still learning his position

BUFORD -- One thing Isaiah Williams always knew he could do was score.. He can still score. Two weeks ago he scored 15 straight points against Wesleyan. But when the guard showed up at Buford for his junior season, head coach Allen Whitehart saw a player capable of more than

Peachtree Ridge seniors stick together for college football

Davidson, Stanley first met as first-graders, now heading to the next level together

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Central finds enough energy against Rams

Any change in this game was subtle. With the two teams combining for 76 points, the little things mattered and Central Gwinnett found a bit more energy and a few more loose balls in the third quarter as the Black Knights turned a 22-14 halftime deficit into a one-point game.

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Coach builds Meadowcreek swim team with family mentality

High school glories tend toward exaggeration in their retelling. Like fish, opponents and crowds swell in size. Loud cheers become deafening roars. Full bleachers turn to standing room only. But truths lie latent below the hyperbole and bravado.

GGC tennis gets first opponent today

GGC men kick off tennis season today at 2 p.m. at Collins Hill Tennis and Fitness Center.

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Bulldogs rally for region win over Peachtree Ridge

The Bulldogs hit seven 3s and Peachtree Ridge hit five, yet three straight layups by Malik Carter finished off the Lions in a 54-49 North Gwinnett win.

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Ready set to return to managing

New manager relies on playing days to develop players.

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Rutledge wins county crown on final dive

For Jeremy Rutledge, the last dive wasn't about form. It was about his mindset.

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Unselfish Generals win in all sorts of ways

Shiloh atop Region 8-AAAAAA playing different styles with different players taking their turn in the spotlight

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Shiloh's Mason stepping out of shyness to lead Generals

In his first year at Shiloh, the junior point guard is learning to take a leadership role.

Generals run past South Gwinnett

After the initial spark of two local and Region 8-AAAAAA rivals wore off, everything settled down for nearly eight minutes.

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Falcons' Palmer "more excited" for playoffs

FLOWERY BRANCH -- For Michael Palmer, things are not getting old, just better.. In the former Parkview standout's third NFL season he's back in the playoffs with the Falcons for the third season, but he still sees the postseason as games to relish.. "I am really more excited this year

G-Braves kick off fifth year celebration

Highlighted by alumni bobbleheads and a commemorative logo, the Gwinnett Braves announced a series of special events and ticket options for the team's fifth season.

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Gwinnett sends two to national Punt, Pass and Kick championships

Andrew Johns of Buford and Omar Zachery of Lawrenceville will represent Gwinnett County on Saturday after earning spots in the national finals in their respective age groups.

Wesleyan girls make statement in win over Lovett

If Wesleyan needed a stage to announce its return to Class AA girls basketball, certainly a showdown against the defending AA champion Lovett afforded the Wolves that opportunity.

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Devils' Goodwin finds perfect mix as point guard and scorer

There's a fulcrum between desire and necessity, and Brandon Goodwin lives on that tenuous, teetering middle. In his honest moments, the Norcross senior wants to take the shot; wants to make the shot.

Annual 'Rivalries' game last shot at fun

Annual All-Star game kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight at Peachtree Ridge

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Ambitious Sanders a spark for Lanier

Aside from a season as a defensive end when he was 10, Marty Sanders didn't play any organized football growing up.. Well, at least football organized by grownups.