After a successful eight-year run at Great Falls, Brett Blackmon got the job he's been waiting for.
Blackmon stepped down at Great Falls to teach in Lancaster, where he and his family live, doing so in hopes of landing the Lancaster High School baseball job that came open after longtime coach Steve Williams announced his retirement.
Blackmon got the job earlier this week.
"Steve was a coach at Lancaster when I was in school there," Blackmon said. "I have the utmost love and respect for him.
"I'm fortunate to replace someone of his character. The kids love him and I want to carry on his tradition."
Blackmon took a job at A.R. Rucker Junior High, where he'll teach physical education and coach the football team.
A former coach at Dreher, Blackmon won his 200th game last season, 77 of them at Great Falls. Blackmon took Great Falls to the playoffs the last six seasons, and the Red Devils have been ranked in Class A's top 10 the last five years.
"It's a very emotional ride for myself and my wife to leave Great Falls," Blackmon said. "It was rough on both of us.
• LADY WARRIORS: Congratulations to Indian Land girls soccer coach Mark Bonda and his team.
The Lady Warriors were 12-6-0 in the regular season and won the Region 3-A title. Indian Land made it to the second round of the Class A/AA playoffs and placed fourth in the (Rock Hill) Lady Bearcats preseason tournament.
The roster included seniors Elizabeth Rowe, Amber Smith, Daysi Perez and Michelle Cato.
Rowe, a midfielder, had 16 goals and two assists and will attend Clemson. Bonda said she turned down several offers from smaller schools to pursue a major in pre-dentistry.
Brittany Kronquist, a goalkeeper, will attend either Anderson or Erskine and play soccer. She had shutouts against Lancaster, South Pointe, Chester and Andrew Jackson.
• STEPHON: South Pointe quarterback Stephon Gilmore has been nominated to play in another of the nation's top high school all-star football games.
He's on the long list of players for the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl at 1 p.m. on Jan. 3 in San Antonio's Alamodome. The game will be broadcast live on NBC.
Earlier this year, Gilmore was invited to play in the Under Armour/ESPN High School All-America Football Game on Jan. 4 in Orlando, Fla. Gilmore reportedly accepted the offer.
• COUGARS AWARDS: On Thursday, York recognized its spring sports teams and handed out awards.
The Noah Williams Solid Citizen Awards went to Ruth Anne Hall and Ryan Dennis.
The award winners were:
• NO SPIT: The 10 finalists for the South Carolina "No Spit" All-Star of the Year award include four area baseball players -- Great Falls' Gaither Bumgardner and Isaiah Lynn, South Pointe's Brad Zebedis and Fort Mill's Charlie McCready.
They were chosen from a list of weekly winners who were selected for their play and for pledging not to use spit or smokeless tobacco products on or off the field.
Fans across the state can vote for the S.C. "No Spit" All-Star of the Year at TheSportsFlash.com. Voting ends at 8 p.m. on May 22.
The winner receives a trophy.
The other finalists are Melton Bristow, Heathwood Hall; William Chandler, Aynor; Rob Dobbins, Berea; John McInnis, North Myrtle Beach; Reese Poole, Lamar; and Justin Turbeville, Carolina Forest.
