Baseball reclaims its throne as Greenbrier meets Evans

This is the week. Al-though I've been here since only September, I'm quickly learning that in this county, baseball is king.

Sure, basketball was big this year. The Evans boys, Greenbrier girls and Augusta Christian girls went further than any team before them. Explain to me how the Lady Wolfpack reached the Final Four but finished the season ranked No. 5. It's a slap in the face to a team that deserves a pat on the back.

Either way though, it's over. Baseball is here, and The Big One is coming. This week, Greenbrier faces Evans. The world, at least in Columbia County, will stop.

There's no complaint about the state rankings. Both Greenbrier and Evans are in the top 5. The winner could (and probably should) be considered the best team in the state. With the level of competition, the loser should remain in the top 10.

The game has plenty of great match-ups. At the plate is Greenbrier's Chris Johnson (four home runs in his first two games), Rich Poythress (future Georgia Bulldog), and leadoff man Jeff Rowland (a Lakeside transfer) bring plenty of Wolfpack offense. At Evans, Shawn Ward (led the area with 55 RBI last year), Kevin Millward (yes, he's only a sophomore) and the four guys who hit home runs to score 17 runs in six innings against Lincoln County will bring their bats.

So far, this will be the biggest game in the county.

Sure, it's still early in the season, but it still counts. It's Greenbrier vs. Evans, and for at least one day the state will turn its eyes to Columbia County. We'll give them a show.

The game is at Green-brier, but I have a feeling the Evans fans won't allow for much of a home-field advantage. They will be there. Then they'll get their home game against the Wolfpack on April 11.

Someone pass the sunflower seeds; baseball is here.