Baseball trio makes decisions on colleges

Greenbrier High School had a baseball season that will go down in the record books. If you ask the players what was the key to their success, many immediately talk about how well the team got along. They all talk of the close-knit group the Wolfpack became this season.

Two of the team's star players will remain close once they wrap up their careers at Greenbrier next spring.

Standout pitcher Brandon Cumpton and star center fielder Jeff Rowland have decided to play their college ball at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Augusta Christian Schools star Josh Whitaker also has put the decision-making behind him. The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound shortstop has verbally committed to baseball power Kennesaw State.

All three players still have their senior seasons coming up, and they will not actually sign until November. It appears that with these verbal commitments they are each quite sure where they would like to play on the collegiate level.

The Major League Baseball draft next June could change these plans. Cumpton and Whitaker are among the most closely watched players by Major League scouts. Because of his slick fielding and huge junior season, Rowland also could emerge as a draft prospect.

Regardless of what happens in the draft, the talented trio has a pretty nice backup plan.

Former Augusta Prep stars heading to Athens next month

Back in 2003, Augusta Preparatory Day School claimed the Georgia Independent School Association state golf title led by a group of extremely talented young golfers. Two of those golfers, Rob Bennett and Jefferson Know, chose to transfer to the Academy of Richmond County after their sophomore season. They have been lifelong friends and will be heading to college together next month. Both Bennett and Knox have decided to play their college golf at the University of Georgia.

Bennett, who spent last season as the top-ranked junior golfer in Georgia, chose the Dogs over Auburn and Alabama. Knox is not only joining his friend in Athens but he also is following in his father's footsteps. Jeff Knox played his college golf at UGA and is one of the premier amateur golfers in the Southeast.

He got a chance to play as a marker for two rounds at this year's Masters Tournament. He carded rounds of 73 and 74 playing with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Even though Bennett and Knox finished their high school careers at ARC, their contribution to Augusta Prep's 2003 state championship should not be forgotten. They will play for one of the nation's elite college programs at UGA.