Big sports weekend looms for schools

John Kerry was the big winner on Super Tuesday earlier this month, but there will be more than one victor on Super Saturday in Columbia County.

This Saturday there will be a slew of high-school sports events, as the spring sports season hits full stride.

The slate features 11 baseball games, including a grudge match between Evans and Lakeside, a soccer tournament, two invitational track meets, a tennis tournament, and even a tennis triple-header for Evans, which travels to Atlanta for a trio of Region 7-AAAAA matches.

Closer to home, the national pastime takes center stage when Harlem plays host on its Diamond Dog Day. The action begins at 10 a.m. with the Bulldogs taking on Hephzibah. Harlem later faces Oglethorpe County and Thomson.

"It's going to be a challenge," Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis said. "We've got tough games with three good teams, but our kids ought to be able to handle that. This will get us ready for doubleheaders if we make the playoffs."

Diamond Dog Day was washed out by rain last year, but if the weather cooperates this weekend, Dog fans can enjoy chicken dinners and a day full of baseball.

"We've been doing this for a long time," Lewis said. "People tend to like it."

Lewis liked what he saw last week at Evans, where the Bulldogs beat the Knights 3-1 on Friday.

"Anytime you beat Evans in a good, tough game you realize you have the potential to be pretty decent," Lewis said. "We have a scrappy bunch and they work hard and practice hard."

Hard work also is paying off for the Augusta Preparatory Day School baseball team. The Cavaliers won just four games last season, but Prep has raced to a 3-1 start this spring.

"The school is really excited about the baseball team," Augusta Prep athletic director Tom Holodak said. "It looks like we aren't going to be a doormat anymore."

Augusta Prep is at home Saturday in a doubleheader against John Milledge Academy. The Cavs will be attempting to win their first-ever Region 4-AAA game.

Another Augusta Prep team will be making its pitch on the pitch this weekend, when the Lady Cavaliers play host to the Augusta Prep Soccer Classic.

The four-team event begins Friday and concludes with four matches on Saturday. Augusta Prep coach Doug Williamson organized the inaugural tournament, which will crown a champion using a points system based on the outcome of all head-to-head matches.

"Doug wanted to do something like this early in the season, and before region play is the best time," Holodak said. "It's a good way to get some games in and allow some open dates during the week so we can get some breathing room."

Super Saturday

Baseball: Greenbrier at South Forsyth-Loganville (doubleheader), 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Diamond Dog Day at Harlem - Harlem vs. Hephzibah, 10 a.m.; Oglethorpe vs. Hephzibah, 12:30 p.m.; Harlem vs. Oglethorpe, 3 p.m.; Harlem vs. Thomson, 5:30 p.m.; Lakeside at Evans, 3:30 p.m.; North Augusta at Evans, 6 p.m.; First Presbyterian Day at Augusta Christian, 1 p.m.; John Milledge Academy at Augusta Prep (doubleheader), noon.

Soccer: Augusta Prep Spring Soccer Classic - Prep vs. Frederica Academy, 9 a.m.; Dominion Christian vs. Westminster Christian, 11 a.m.; Frederica Academy vs. Westminster Christian, 1:30 p.m.; Augusta Prep vs. Dominion Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Tennis: Greenbrier-Lakeside at LaGrange tournament, TBA; Evans at Redan, 10 a.m.; Evans vs. Lakeside-DeKalb, 2 p.m.; Evans vs. Southwest DeKalb, 4 p.m.

Track: Augusta Prep at Mount de Sales Invitational, 10 a.m.; Wolfpack Classic (Greenbrier), 9 a.m.