Augusta Christian places four players on All-Region first team

Augusta Christian's football season might not have finished the way the Lions planned, but many of its players took home All Region honors.

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Quarterback William Banks, defensive lineman Jonathan Gibbs, wide receiver Evan Wells and linebacker Cole Turner earned first team honors for South Carolina Independent Schools Association Region I-AAA.

Second team honors went to Lions tight end Mike Robinson, center Corey Levi, receiver Caleb Harmon, kicker Steven Bloedel, defensive back Micah Herriman and defensive end Cameron Hoover.

State champion Hammond School, in Columbia, led the way with eight first team selections and had six chosen for the second team. Hammond coach Erik Kimrey was named the region's Coach of the Year after leading the Skyhawks to a third consecutive state title.

Banks and Gibbs were invited to play in Friday's Shrine Bowl, a game pitting South Carolina against North Carolina that was held in Charlotte, N.C. Herriman and Levi have been invited to play in the North-South All Star Game, to be held Saturday at noon at Orangeburg (S.C.) Prep.

Augusta Prep soccer accolades

Augusta Prep's boys and girls soccer teams were recently recognized for performance in the classroom as well as on the field.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America awarded both Cavaliers squads its team academic award. Prep was among 52 schools awarded for both its boys and girls teams.

To qualify, teams must have an average GPA of at least 3.25. The Cavaliers girls finished the 2007-08 academic year with a 3.6 GPA. The Cavaliers boys had a team GPA of 3.5.

Both teams are coached by Forrest Wimberly, who recently was named GISA Region I-AAA Coach of the Year after leading the Cavaliers boys to the region title this fall. Five of his players earned all region honors, and two were named all state.

Joseph Hall, Alex Levy, John Paul Lynn, Daniel Hull and Griffin Eubanks were all named to the Region 1-AAA All Region squad. Hall and Levy were named to the GISA Class AAA All State team.

Harlem holds softball banquet

Harlem High School recently held its softball banquet. The Bulldogs finished second during their first season in Region 3-AAAA and earned a trip to the Class AAAA state sectionals.

Center fielder Alana Dyson was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Catcher Ashley Waites was named the team's Best Defensive Player.

Alex Johnson earned the Coaches Award. KaLeigh McNair was named its Most Improved Pitcher.

Pitcher Kristen Mills was named Most Promising Freshman. Adrianna Woodard was named Most Improved Player.

At the junior varsity level, Tamara Kophazy was named Most Improved Player and Hadley Beggs won the Coaches Award.

Club Car chairman honored

Club Car chairman Phil Tralies, a Charleston, S.C., resident, has been named the recipient of the PGA Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contributions to the golf industry.

Tralies will be presented with the award by the PGA of America on Jan. 29, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. Tralies began at the Augusta golf car company in May 2001 as its president and chief executive officer.