Postseason for softball unkind to area pair
What a year for fastpitch softball in Columbia County.
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Evans and Greenbrier spent most of the season ranked near the top of the state polls, and both should hold their head high despite bowing out in the state finals.
Greenbrier finished with a spectacular 33-6 record, losing to eventual Class AAAAA champion Mill Creek 1-0 in the finals. The Wolfpack led all of Class AAAAA in wins and finished No. 5 in the state, despite having more wins and fewer losses than the teams ranked second, third and fourth.
The 'Pack entered the state finals ranked No. 1, but somehow fell four spots in the poll.
Evans also finished No. 5 in the state in Class AAAA and lost to the eventual champion, as the Knights dropped a 1-0 decision to Marist. Greenbrier has posted an astonishing 168-32-1 mark dating back to its 2004 state title. The 'Pack have averaged 33.6 wins a season over that stretch. But Colette Cassedy's squad at Evans has been pretty solid, too. The Knights have averaged 23.3 wins per season since 2005.
Belcher impresses in early workouts
Former Greenbrier pitcher Nolan Belcher seems to be making a smooth transition to the Southeastern Conference. The southpaw has turned some heads this fall with his confidence and ability on the mound.
In an intrasquad scrimmage at the University of South Carolina's Sarge Frye Field last Sunday, Belcher was solid. He worked three innings of shutout baseball. He yielded only one walk and two hits, while striking out five batters.
John Whittle, staff writer for www.thebigspur.com (a Gamecocks Web site), has raved about Belcher and is confident that Belcher will play a major role for the Gamecocks this spring.
Evans closing in on perfect regular season
The Knights' football squad got a scare from Hephzibah on Oct. 24, but held on to improve to 8-0 and appears primed for a 10-0 regular season. That has not happened since the Knights completed back-to-back 10-0 regular seasons in 1986 and 1987.
The Knights currently are leading Region 3-AAAA with a 7-0 region mark, and are ranked seventh in Class AAAA in the latest gasports.com poll.