County's teams have had busy seasons

With apologies to the Evans baseball team, which is still playing, the 2004-05 varsity season has come to an end.

It has been a banner season for Columbia County, with the county's six schools winning a combined five state team titles and 11 individual state crowns.

The prep season started with the first pitch of softball and will end with the last pitch of baseball, whenever Evans' baseball season comes to a close.

We all watched as Greenbrier pitcher Kristan Glover's legacy as one of the greatest prep athletes in state history was cemented when she didn't give up a run for the final seven games of the season, and the Wolfpack marched to its first state softball title in school history. It also was the first team state title in Columbia County since Greenbrier won the baseball title and Lakeside won the golf championship in 1999.

Then, after a four-year absence, Evans reached the playoffs in football after beating Lakeside, Harlem and Greenbrier in 2004.

The magic continued into the winter season with the Greenbrier girls and boys and Harlem girls teams having their best basketball seasons in a long time.

Garrett Black pulled off another magic act by turning the Greenbrier girls basketball team into a state power. The Lady Wolfpack made the playoffs for the first time in school history and then went all the way to the Class AAAA state quarterfinals in Columbus before losing on a controversial call to state runner-up Westside-Macon.

The Greenbrier boys also made a run into the state basketball playoffs for the first time in school history, but were drilled by Douglas County.

Lakeside wrestling finished in the top 10 in the state and Lakeside and Evans had stellar state swim meets.

The most exciting time, however, was the spring season.

When I moved to the area, everyone I spoke with told me spring sports in Columbia County were second to none.

They were right.

Evans, Greenbrier, Harlem, Lakeside and Augusta Prep all fielded playoff soccer teams, with the Evans boys and the Greenbrier girls going deep into the playoffs.

Evans made it all the way to the final four, its best run in school history.

Augusta Christian and Augusta Prep won numerous state tennis titles, while the Lakeside boys made a trip to the state semifinals and the Greenbrier girls to the state quarterfinals.

Greenbrier and Augusta Christian had individual track and field champions.

Lakeside came within one shot of winning a state golf championship and Augusta Prep finished fourth.

The varsity season has come to a close with Lakeside and Harlem making it to the second round of the state playoffs in baseball.

Augusta Christian won the state title in baseball with a dramatic two-run single by Wayne House to end the game.

Evans could really put some icing on the cake with a state baseball title. The Knights are but three series from the championship.

It has been quite a year for the county, and I'm already looking forward to 2005-06.

State Championships: Greenbrier softball, Augusta Prep girls cross country, Augusta Prep boys tennis, Augusta Prep girls tennis, Augusta Christian baseball.

Individual State Championships:

Casey Brush, ACS, track; Jordan Little, ACS, track; Howard Walls, ACS, track; Chris Motes, ACS, tennis; Joseph Tingen and Troy Freeman, ACS, tennis; Peyton Bell and Michael Crosland, AP, tennis; Kathryn Stone and Matha Burton Nally, AP, tennis; Alisha Simmons, GB, track; Tyler Warren, GB, cross country; Tim Mitchem, LS, wrestling; Payne Kassinger, LS, golf.