New youth flag football league on tap

Kudos to Emily McDonald.

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She's the Augusta GreenJackets employee who called area schools to gauge the interest of baseball coaches in having their teams play a game in Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Who would turn that down?

With the GreenJackets not starting their season until April, several area high school teams took advantage of the offer.

Westminster played Augusta Christian in the stadium last week.

Evans and Harlem, the oldest rivals in Columbia County, will meet at Lake Olmstead at 7 p.m. March 22. Grovetown will open with Hephzibah at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes a ticket to a future GreenJackets game and a GreenJackets cap.

"Every time you play Harlem, it's great," Evans coach Ricky Beale said. "When you get to play them at Lake Olmstead, that's even better."

Harlem coach Jimmie Lewis joked that the large park would allow the Bulldogs to keep Evans batters inside it. The meeting will be the first of two between the region and county rivals this season.

"I mean, heck, these kids will love that," Lewis said. "Might be the only time they get on a field like that."

Some college teams also took advantage of the open facility. Augusta State will play a doubleheader Saturday with Georgia Southwestern and another game March 21. Augusta State will play rival USC Aiken at 6:30 p.m. March 23.

Prep coach to start another program

Harry Bacheller knows about building football programs. He did it as a coach in Atlanta. He did it again this past season as the first football coach at Augusta Prep.

Now he's taking on a different challenge -- flag football.

Prep and NFL FLAG Football are pairing to start a youth flag football league for boys and girls ages 5-12. The schedule will include 15- to 20-minute practices on Sundays, followed by 45-minute games. Games are currently scheduled for each Sunday from April 18 until May 23. An informational meeting and registration will be held at 2 p.m. March 28 on Prep's football field.

Free tennis, anyone?

If you have ever wanted to learn tennis, there will never be a cheaper way than what Petersburg Racquet Club is again offering.

The club will hold free beginner lessons for adults and juniors. Adult lessons will be held March 25 and April 1 from 7-8:30 p.m. Juniors can get a free lesson Saturday from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For more information, call (706) 860-9288.