Saturday events cater to sports fans

Columbia County sports fans should be satisfied Saturday, as local the action will feature something for everyone. Following is a look at the slate, which includes baseball, soccer, track and field, gymnastics and kickboxing.

Baseball: The national pastime gets prime treatment at two county high schools, as Evans and Harlem each will hold diamond day festivities.

Diamond Dawg Day at Harlem features four games. The 10 a.m. opener pits Harlem and Lincoln County; Harlem and Hart County compete at 12:30 p.m.; Lincoln County and Oglethorpe hit the field at p.m.; and, Oglethorpe battles Hart in the 5:30 p.m. finale.

Diamond Day at Evans begins with a showcase of junior varsity squads, and concludes with a renewed prep rivalry.

In junior varsity action, Lakeside plays Evans (11 a.m.) and Evans plays North Augusta (1:30 p.m.). At 4 p.m. the varsity squads step in, with North Augusta tangling with Evans.

Then, at 6:30 p.m., comes the game Columbia County fans have been waiting for - Evans vs. Lakeside. The arch rivals have not squared off since the 2000 season.

Gymnastics: The Haydens Rising Stars Invitational, a two-day meet at Haydens International Gymnastics Academy, will be held Saturday and Sunday in Evans. Sessions one and two are set for Saturday.

Session One will have a combined 56 competitors in Class VII and V. The gymnasts will compete from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Session Two is Class VII, with 64 gymnasts and competition from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The meet concludes Sunday with Session Three competition (Class VI) set for 10:30 till noon, and Session Four (classes I-IV) from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Track and Field: The Greenbrier Invitational begins at 9 a.m., and the action continues through 5 p.m. at the Brierpatch.

Girls Soccer: The Augusta Preparatory Day School girls soccer team plays host to Trinity Christian. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Kickboxing: Columbia County-based Augusta Martial Arts Academy conducts Winter Wars 2002 Saturday at the Augusta State University Athletic Complex. The daylong event features kickboxing and mixed martial arts matches, and will include some of the most preeminent kickboxers in the Southeast.

At 9:30 a.m., the daytime martial tournament will get underway. From 2-4 p.m., Dan "The Beast" Severn will hold an Ultimate Grappling seminar. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the night fights, which start at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Augusta Martial Arts Academy at 855-5269.