Teams set sights on region titles
When Masters Week is over, Columbia County's high school athletic teams will return to action, and several squads are positioned to become maters of their domain.
The Evans Knights soccer team has been having some kicks against its new Region 7-AAAAA opponents. Evans posted a 6-1 win over Southwest DeKalb in its last match before spring break, giving the Knights a perfect 6-0 mark in region play.
This week the Knights can nail down the region soccer title with a win at Redan High School. Even if Evans drops that Tuesday match, a victory at home Saturday against Douglass would secure the crown, which would be the first region soccer title for Evans since 1998.
"We've really been playing well," Evans coach Brian Killips said. "Our goal was to win region, and now we're in a good position to go undefeated in the region."
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The key game for the Knights was March 28 at Lakeside-DeKalb. Evans forced overtime against the three-time defending region champions, then beat the Panthers in a penalty-kick shootout.
"Our guys wanted that game really bad, and we've just been rolling since then," Killips said. "We're excited. A lot of good things are happening, and we're playing with confidence."
The Augusta Christian Lions will attempt to defend the Region 3-AAA tennis title Tuesday at Newman Tennis Center, but the Augusta Preparatory Day School squads should challenge for the top spot in girls and boys region play.
Greenbrier's soccer teams take another step down the road to Region 3-AAAA titles this week. By virtue of their wins earlier this season at Lakeside, the Wolfpack and Lady Pack control their own destiny. If Greenbrier wins the two matches Tuesday at Statesboro, the girls and boys will be poised for their first soccer championships since 1998.
In prep baseball, it's still to early to start talking about region titles, but this week's outcomes will be part of that puzzle.
"It's a big week for us," Greenbrier baseball coach Ed Williams said. "It's scary to play these important region games right after Masters Week, but we're trying to stay focused and take it one game at a time."
Greenbrier got in some games during the spring break, and Williams also planned to conduct a couple of practices to get his players ready for two Region 3-AAAA battles at the Brierpatch this week. The Pack takes on Hephzibah Tuesday and Jones County visits Thursday.
In other Region 3-AAAA baseball action, Lakeside will take on Cross Creek Wednesday at Panther Stadium. Harlem hits its home diamond for Region 3-AAA contests Wednesday with the Academy of Richmond County and Friday against Washington County.
"We have a key stretch after Masters Week," Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis said. "We need to have some people step up."
The Evans baseball team, meanwhile, embarks on its Region 7-AAAAA slate this week. The Knights begin region play Tuesday at Redan, then play host to Douglass Friday.