Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.

The Scoreboard is in The Latest Coverage.

Mercer men add two in-state basketball signees

The first two signings of the Greg Gary era with Mercer men’s basketball are in the books.

Point guard Kamar Robertson and forward James Glisson III have signed with the Bears and will be ready for the 2019-20 season.

Mercer picks up a pair of big-school recruits, Robertson from Class 6A Cambridge and Glisson from Class 5A Southwest DeKalb.

“I am extremely excited to add Kamar and James – two great young men from the state of Georgia – to our Mercer Family,” Gary said in a release. “Kamar possesses great leadership qualities on and off the court and brings competitiveness and an excellent skill set with him.

“I love James’ size and skill set. His motor and desire are what can really set him apart from other players on the court at any given time. Our staff believes James has a very high ceiling and we can’t wait to get started with him on campus.”

Robertson was the Region 7 player of the year a in 2018, earning a pair of all-state honors. The 6-2 guard averaged 22 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in his career, helping Cambridge to a 44-12 record his final two seasons.

Glisson III finished with more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 100 blocks, assists and steals.

He also earned assorted all-state honors and two-time all-region.

The 6-6 forward helped Southwest DeKalb to the GHSA 5A state championship semifinals with a 24-7 record.

About a year ago, we met Ronald Acuna

And he hasn’t slowed down.

Braves Report

Mike Soroka sizzled, and the bullpen held up on a sluggish offensive night – 12 LOBs – and a 3-1 Braves win. The bullpen gave up no hits, no runs, and had three strikeouts to one walk.

Box

Next: at Cincinnati, Thursday, 6:40 p.m., FSSE; vs. Colorado, Friday, 7:20 p.m., FSSO; vs. Colorado, Saturday, 7:20 p.m., FSSE; vs. Colorado, 1:20 p.m., FSSO.

Soroka able to just bear down

McCann was sure impressed

Minor-league update

Around/about Central Georgia

Al Lucas Scholarship Award winners named

          Seven athletes from Bibb County public high schools were honored Wednesday as recipients of this year’s Al Lucas Scholarship Awards.
          A ceremony was held at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame for the yearly presentation in honor of the Northeast grad and former assistant coach who died after a spinal injury suffered during an arena football game in 2005.
          Each student-athlete earned a $1,000 award, with two going to his alma mater, one to a female athlete and one to a male.

Honorees

ACE: Jonathan Jones
Central: Jonica Hill
Howard: Jordan Rozier
Northeast: Ty’Ree Gilbert and Nautica Howard
Rutland: Jordan Cervantes
Southwest: Kenzavious Coats
Westside: Sheddrick Risper

FVSU honors athletes at year-end banquet

Football player Zaquan Baldwin and runner April Rogers took the top academic awards Tuesday night at the Wildcats Awards Night at Fort Valley State. In The Latest Coverage.

Mercer teams up with local animal rescue

          Critical Care for Animal Angels and Mercer are hosting a shoe drive during the Bears’ weekend baseball series with ETSU.
          New or gently-used shoes and rubber-bottom cleats can be donated during any game – and donating people get a $4 concession stand voucher – and help CCAA, a non-profit volunteer dog rescue organization, and “microenterprise partners” through GotSneakers to help impoverished citizen in developing nations begin business, as well as keep shoes from piling up in landfills in America.
          The games are 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Around/About Georgia

Peach State draft prospects

What’s up with the United?

NCAA denies transfer request of ex-Bulldog Ford

And it’s not going over well

At all