Area athletes get G.A.M.E.S. awards

Three Columbia County prep athletes were announced as winners this week in the third-trimester Great Augusta Medals For Excellence in Sports (G.A.M.E.S.) Awards.

Augusta Christian School senior Crystin Cromer was named All-Around Female Athlete. She is a standout on the softball, basketball and track teams at AC.

In softball, Cromer was selected to the 2002 Georgia Independent Schools Association All-Star, All-State and All-Region teams. The softball team co-captain was voted Lady Lions MVP the past two seasons, and was Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002. Cromer also is a four-year starter for the varsity basketball team, and will begin her fourth season of varsity track this spring.

Evans High School senior Steven Rogers was named All-Around Male Athlete. In football, he has led all area receiver in receptions and yardage the past two seasons, and was selected as one of the top 30 Georgia high school players outside of Atlanta by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Additionally, Rogers was named All-Southeast region by both PrepStar Magazine and SuperPrep Magazine, and was one of Insiders.Com's Top 50 player in Georgia.

Rogers also is one of the top basketball players in Columbia County.

Greenbrier High School senior Katie Sutherland was named Outstanding Female Athlete. She underwent knee surgery as a junior, but came back to win Region 3-AAAA Softball Player of the Year honors in 2002.

Sutherland was also an All-Region softball selection as a freshman and sophomore, plus she is a three-time member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Academic Team. She also is a solid performer for the Greenbrier basketball team.

As third-trimester honorees, Cromer, Rogers and Sutherland become finalists for the overall G.A.M.E.S. Award recognition, to be presented at the Greater Augusta Sports Award Gala in January.