Greenbrier slams Statesboro

Here we go again.

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Greenbrier's 7-0 win over Statesboro on Friday wrapped up the first week of Region 3B-AAAA play.

Most teams played two subregion games each last week. Each game added to the growing knowledge that the 2006-07 regular season would be another tightly contested race for the top spot in the subregion.

Greenbrier entered the week with a half-game lead over Lakeside in the subregion standings and a 2-0 subregion record.

After this week, no one knows for sure what the standings will look like.

"You can ask anyone. I think coach (Rodney) Holder will back me up on this. Our region is without a doubt the best region in the state," Statesboro baseball coach Chris Bishop said after Friday's game against Greenbrier. "Top to bottom it's the same with every team."

Last week's Class AAAA coaches poll backed up Bishop's claim. Three of the five teams in Region 3B-AAAA were ranked in the top 10.

Greenbrier led the subregion with a Class AAAA No. 6 ranking. Evans (No. 9) and Statesboro (No. 10) were also ranked. The Knights and Blue Devils, however, both have subregion losses. Lakeside, which beat the Academy of Richmond County on Friday, and Greenbrier entered the week as the only two undefeated subregion teams.

Lakeside will face Evans today at Evans in another subregion rivalry game.

After Greenbrier's subregion wins over Richmond Academy and Statesboro last week, the tough matchups haven't slowed down for the Wolfpack. The defending Class AAAA state champions will face Evans at Greenbrier on Friday.

"It doesn't get any easier with Lakeside and Evans next week," Holder said after Friday's game. "Every subregion game, as few as we get... each one is so vital."

In another subregion game this week, Lakeside will play host to Statesboro on Friday.

Teams in Region 3B-AAAA will face each other twice in home and away series this year, and the regular-season standings will determine seeding for the Region 3-AAAA Tournament.

Including the south subregion, Region 3-AAAA has 10 teams, but only the top four from the region tournament will advance to the state playoffs.