Greenbrier softball team wins its 14th consecutive title in style

Nobody on Greenbrier's softball team wanted the distinction of being part of the first team in the program's history not to win a region title.

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Through seven innings of the Region 2-AAAAA softball final Thursday at Greenbrier, the thought had to be floating around.

"We would get so many calls from alumni," Greenbrier junior Savanah Coon said of the prospect. "I wouldn't want to take that phone call."

She didn't have to. With one swing of the bat Thursday, Coon silenced any doubt.

The Wolfpack third baseman blasted a game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Greenbrier beat Union Grove 3-0.

The victory gave Greenbrier its 14 consecutive region title, one for each year of the program's existence.

Coon's at-bat came with two outs in the extra inning, after Union Grove opted to walk slugger Kaila Hunt, who had reached safely her previous three at-bats.

Coon ripped the second pitch she saw on a line over the left field fence, scoring Hunt and senior Lindsey Sellers, who started the inning at second as the tiebreaker.

After the ball disappeared behind the fence, Greenbrier coach Garrett Black stopped waving the runners and threw his arms into the air.

"These kids just keep finding a way," said Black, who coached all 14 championship teams and won his 400th game this season. "I didn't know if we could top last year's (region championship). But I tell you what, that's pretty special right there."

Before the deciding swing, the teams were in a deadlock.

Greenbrier pitcher Katie Tracy faced the minimum number of Union Grove batters in seven of the eight innings, allowing only a two-out double in the sixth.

The Wolfpack had a chance to break through in the sixth, but a Rachel Nimmons line drive was caught in left field and Casey Rowland's towering shot with two outs landed just left of the left-field foul pole.

Grovetown No. 1

Georgia High School Football Daily , a news effort started by former Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Todd Holcomb, this past week ranked the progress of the state's 12 new programs.

Grovetown topped the list. Here was the accompanying note:

"1. Grovetown (5-2):The Augusta-area school in Columbia County has seven seniors and 20 juniors with varsity or junior varsity experience, most of them from Harlem High. Among them is Seth Hill, who is looking for his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Grovetown has beaten more established schools in Pacelli and Allatoona. The Warriors even took on Buford, but lost 51-0. They play Northside of Warner Robins on Oct. 17. Rodney Holder, who has been an assistant at Greenbrier, is Grovetown's head coach."

The rest of the GHSFD rankings of new programs:

2. Lambert (3-0)

3. Mountain View (2-0)

4. Archer (0-1)

5. Johns Creek (2-2)

6. Langston Hughes (1-5)

7. Locust Grove (3-2)

8. Drew (1-2)

9. Arabia Mountain (1-3)

10. Walnut Grove (1-3)

11. North Murray (1-1)

12. River Ridge (0-3)

Gone fishing

Those who need their cable fishing fix can see some local scenery today on Versus. The network will air coverage of the Walmart FLW Series fishing tournament recently held at Clarks Hill Lake. The broadcast will air today from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Wildwood Park will play host to another large fishing tournament this week.

The BFL Regional Championship will be held Thursday-Saturday. About 150 boats are expected on the lake. The top 12 anglers will hold the final weigh-in Saturday at Walmart in Evans.