Rankings falls short; standouts see college success

Here is another example of why, other than for compiling statistics, computers have no business being involved in sports.

In the latest Georgia Varsity Sports Vent (Gasv.com) power rankings of prep football teams, Harlem High School dropped all the way down to No. 37 in the Class AAA poll.

The Bulldogs had lost two straight games, but both defeats were to ranked teams, including a 31-27 thriller against Westside High School.

Another reason these rankings are rank is that the Laney Wildcats checked in at No. 15, and Harlem beat Laney by 12 points earlier this season.

There's no doubt the Dogs have been dissed.

Crouse sees action

Former Evans High School basketball standout Jason Crouse scored two points and grabbed a rebound during five minutes of action with his Presbyterian College team.

Those numbers were posted during an exhibition game with the Columbia Sharkheads, and while the statistics aren't eye-popping, consider that Crouse missed his entire senior season last year at Evans with a knee injury.

Presbyterian opened the regular season this weekend, and the Blue Hose will be in Aiken on Nov. 23-24 for the SAC/Peach Belt Clash. Crouse and company will square off against Lander at 3 p.m. Friday and will take on USC Aiken Saturday at 5 p.m.

Another county basketball product also is performing at the next level: former Augusta Christian Schools star James Seegars is off and running for the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.

The team recently completed an intrasquad scrimmage and Seegars, a 6-3 junior wing, scored 10 points.

Seegars is the team's top returning scorer, and second-year coach Jim Pitts is counting on Seegars' production this season.

"We are farther along now than we were at this point last year, and the experience of our guards is a key. James is a key component of our team," said Pitts, who was named coach of the year in the Big South conference last year.

Greene speaks

For those of you who missed New York Yankees baseball player Todd Greene's appearance on my radio show last week, I submit a few of the most-asked questions and the responses from the former Evans High School athlete.

Q: What was it like catching the first pitch from President Bush in a World Series game at Yankee Stadium?

Greene: "It was awesome. I didn't know I was doing it until the last minute. Jorge (Posada, New York's starting catcher) was supposed to, but he got caught up in the bullpen. They asked me if I had my glove ... it was pretty amazing."

Q: Will you be back with the Yankees next season?

Greene: "I hope so. They control whether or not I'm back. I'm arbitration-eligible, but I don't really have a case; so I will have to wait and see. I do want to stay in New York. Everyone that knows me knows how competitive I am. I just want to win, and obviously we should be good next season."

Q: What about those two amazing comebacks (rallying for late wins over Arizona in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series) at Yankee Stadium?

Greene: "It's hard to explain. This club is so professional. Everyone is on the same page. We all just want to win, and we knew we would make a run at them. But to win two games that way, I'll never forget it."

Ashley Brown's radio program can be heard from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday on News-Talk Sports 1630 AM. His e-mail address is AB@WRDWAM.com.