Athletes rack up miles in pre-season games

Columbia County schools might want to invest in a membership with the American Automobile Association after the miles they logged last weekend.

Various teams traveled to tournaments and games at different corners of the state, compiling nearly 2,000 miles on buses.

Some schools' trips were more successful than others, but they all shared one experience.

"Teams must play in these large tournaments," said Greenbrier volleyball coach Debbie Born. "They provide our team an opportunity to play different teams and it allows us to see where we are at. Plus, we don't have to worry about region standings."

The Lady Wolfpack volleyball team was the perfect example of a team getting experience for the region slate.

Greenbrier took on a slew of Class-AAAAA teams at the McEachern Play Day and went 3-1. The seventh-ranked Wolfpack knocked off Sprayberry, Marietta and McEachern. They did lose, however, in three sets to ninth-ranked Lassiter.

While their classmates were busy in Powder Springs, the softball team competed in the Madison County Leadoff Classic, which started Wednesday.

The first-ranked Wolfpack won its two Wednesday games and went 5-1 over the weekend, losing to Morgan Co., the first-ranked team in Class-AA.

The Evans softball team also was in action over the weekend, traveling to the South Gwinnett Diamond Classic in Snellville, Ga.

Augusta Prep, meanwhile, finished third with a 2-1 record in the Viking Cup hosted by First Presbyterian Day School in Macon.

The Cavaliers knocked off Central Fellowship, 2-0, on goals by Cary Goldsmith and Bowen Dennis. David Knerr and Chase Prescott scored a goal a piece and Thomas Knerr added two more when Augusta Prep beat North Cobb Christian, 4-0, on Saturday. The Cavaliers lost, 4-0, to defending state champion Mount de Sales later in the day.

The Lady Cavaliers volleyball team was in action in Marietta at the Dominion Christian High School Invitational.

Lakeside's volleyball team was the final squad that traveled over the weekend, playing in at South Forsyth High.

Miles traveled by Columbia County Teams

Greenbrier softball - to Danielsville (3 times) Round trip-600 miles

Greenbrier volleyball - to Powder Springs-324 miles

Augusta Prep soccer - to Macon-250 miles

Augusta Prep volleyball - to Marietta-324 miles

Lakeside volleyball - to Cumming-351 miles

Evans softball - to Snellville-268 miles