Stories can slip through the cracks

I sometimes don't see and hear everything.

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At dinner one evening last week, the conversation turned to the College World Series. Someone asked me where the University of North Carolina stood.

I didn't know.

The person looked incredulous.

"You're a sportswriter," was the response.

Yes, I am.

I am a writer and -- if we can squeeze a space between the words -- a sports writer. I cover six (almost seven) high schools and community sports in Columbia County.

I enjoy sports. But I don't always know everything going on outside my bubble.

I know the Penguins won the Stanley Cup and the Tar Heels won the NCAA men's basketball title.

I will know at the end of the day who the 2009 U.S. Open champion is.

If UNC was my beat, I would know everything about the Tar Heels.

But I shouldn't be trusted as a source on all things sports. I couldn't tell you Major League Baseball's division leaders or what place my fantasy team is in.

I can hold a conversation about Columbia County sports. I have a pretty good idea of everything going on.

But sometimes I miss things inside the bubble.

I received a couple of e-mails last week regarding Augusta Prep's year in review.

The Cavaliers boys swim team won the GISA Class AAA state swimming title. One of their swimmers, Gabe Eichel, is the top swimmer in his age group in the country in the 100-meter and 200-meter breastrokes.

Both Augusta Prep tennis teams, the volleyball team and the boys cross country team finished as state runners-up, and the girls soccer team reached the semifinals. Region championships were won by the golf and boys track and field teams.

I highlighted the biggest stories, but did not know them all.

I'm glad to have people to fill me in. If they want me to know something and are afraid I already know it, they should let me know anyway.

At the MELL game last week, I was tested.

"Why haven't we seen anything about Lakeside beating Greenbrier?"

I guessed he was talking about baseball.

"Summer league, right?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter if it's summer league. It still happened."

Good talk. Another nugget.

I try to have ears on everything inside my bubble. I thought my ears were big enough to handle it.

But readers' ears are more plentiful.

If I miss something significant, let me know. And I'll backtrack.

Meanwhile, I'll brush up on the College World Series.