Two teams stay on top
As the prep baseball season winds down, two Columbia County teams who remain in top spots in their region will face off tomorrow night in a contest expected to showcase the talent of local players and offer spectators an evening of great baseball.
Greenbrier's Brooks Robinson pitches during practice as the team prepares for the state playoffs. Greenbrier and Lakeside are ranked in the top of Region 3-AAAA.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
The Lakeside High School Panthers and the Greenbrier High School Wolfpack, ranked in the top of Region 3 AAAA, haven't met this season, but they will come together Thursday at 6 p.m. at Greenbrier.
The Wolfpack has been nipping at the Panthers' heels all season, and with a 9-1 victory April 28 over Burke County, they've moved up to challenge their cross-town rival for first place. Lakeside, which had been leading the region, fell to Jones County 2-1 on April 30. It seems certain both teams will advance to state playoffs, but whichever squad earns the region crown will get a better berth.
Greenbrier had been third in the region behind Richmond County's Cross Creek, which slipped after losing a 2-5 contest to Statesboro April 30. Lakeside, Greenbrier and Cross Creek have similar records. According to box scores, overall records have Lakeside at 19-4, while Greenbrier is 20-2 and Cross Creek is 18-6.
Region 3 AAAA is considered one of the toughest divisions, and the four top teams should bring a sophisticated level of play to the state tournament, scheduled to begin May 14.
The Panthers have plenty of strength on the mound, and solid batting, but defending division champ Greenbrier is gifted, too, and has a cast of experienced seniors who know the drill.
If they can retain some of their earlier momentum, Cross Creek will remain a challenge to the Columbia County teams in the state playoffs.