Friday night’s baseball game against South Effingham was an important one for Lakeside High School.

The Panthers have struggled in the three weeks since they last faced the Mustangs, and entered the game 0-5 in Region 2-AAAA play. Unfortunately, the Panthers’ slide continued as they lost a tough, eight-inning affair 6-5.

After a 7-1 start to the season, the Panthers (9-7, 0-6) lost to the Mustangs 15-3 on March 9.

Lakeside coach Jay Matthews kicked four players off the team after that game, and the team has lost six of eight games since.

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A Columbia County Magistrate judge ruled Tuesday that two alleged burglars involved in fatal home invasion last month proceed to prosecution in Superior Court.

The men, along with another fatally shot during the Feb. 29 attempt to rob a Martinez apartment, targeted resident Bruce Barrett because they believed he had cash for buying video games.