Poythress receives honor for stellar season
Former Greenbrier High School and University of Georgia star Rich Poythress has been named the Seattle Mariners Minor League Player of the Year.
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Poythress, a four-time all-county performer during his prep career, spent this season with the High Desert Mavericks, the Mariners' Advanced Class A affiliate in Adelanto, Calif., where he put together one of the best statistical years of any minor leaguer in Mariners' history.
The slugger hit .315 with 33 doubles, 31 homers and 130 RBI. He did all this in just 123 games. The RBI total was the highest in all of professional baseball in 2010 and made Poythress the first Seattle prospect to reach 130 RBI in a season in more than a decade.
Hopefully, we will get to see Poythress in a big league uniform sooner than expected. A September call-up next season is not out of the question.
Golfers to get rings
When Lakeside's football team plays host to Greenbrier on Friday, they will share the stage with Lakeside's 2010 state championship golf team. During a ceremony at halftime, the reigning Class AAAA champs will be given their state championship rings.
What a great night for those talented kids. Football, basketball and baseball get most of the attention when it comes to prep sports. It is terrific to see the golf team get the recognition they deserve. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in putting this special ceremony together.
Also, the ceremony will be televised. The Lakeside-Greenbrier matchup is the GHSA Network Comcast Game of the Week and will be taped for broadcast on Comcast Channel 4 at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The game will also be available on On Demand for Comcast subscribers. During halftime, the bands and the ring ceremony will be featured.
Newman finishes 11th
Evans native Carter Newman stayed hot as he opened his 2010-11 golf season at the Olympia Fields/Illini Invitational. The Augusta State University senior continues to play with confidence since he helped the Jaguars capture the NCAA Division I national title in June.
Following a terrific summer that saw him win the Rice Planters Amateur and post several solid finishes, Newman and his Augusta State teammates opened defense of their national championship against a loaded field in Illinois. The Jaguars showed they will likely challenge for another title by finishing tied for second in the season-opening event with Oklahoma State -- the same team that Augusta State beat in the NCAA Championship final match this summer. The University of Florida won the event by seven shots.
As for Newman, the event was another feather in his cap. He entered last year battling just to be among head coach Josh Gregory's top five players. Now it seems like he can play with anyone in the nation.
At the Olympia Fields/Illini Invitational, he opened with a solid even-par 70, but slipped to a tie for 23rd after the second round after shooting 74. Newman battled back in the final round with one of the few rounds in the 60s. He finished with 1-under 69, which vaulted Newman up to a tie for 11th in the fall opener.
Good luck to Newman and his Jaguars teammates as they try to go back-to-back.