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

Mercer announces pregame concert performers

          Macon’s Molly Stevens and The Grapevine are among those who will perform at Mercer football games this fall.

Middle Georgia State hires a new softball coach

          Middle Georgia State’s new softball coach was years away from becoming a high school student when Middle Georgia State last had a new head softball coach.

          Rebecca Hewitt, who has played at four college programs and graduated from Georgia Southern, takes over after three seasons as head coach at East Georgia State, a junior college in Swainsboro.

          The Bobcats went 76-46 in three seasons under Hewitt, who was an assistant for a year at East Georgia State before taking over.

          The 2009 Pinewood Christian grad replaces Ken Phillips, who won more than 500 games as the Knights head coach for 17 seasons, from the junior college days to the transition to a four-year program and joining the NAIA in 2014-15.

          Phillips and the school parted ways after the season.

          MGSU went 28-26 overall, an increase of eight wins and the most wins since joining the NAIA.

          The Knights had several Central Georgians on last season’s roster: infielder Margaret Simmons of Dodge County, Lauren Heath of Perry, pitcher/infielder Savannah Osborne of Peach County, and infielder Taylor Sheffield of Northside. All are underclassmen.

Braves Report

          There was no O, a night after Atlanta wasted hits and wasn’t able to turn them into runs, as Kansas City’s two runs in the second held up in a 2-0 win at SunTrust Park.

          Kansas City swept the Braves, who stranded only five and had no runners in scoring position.

          Julio Teheran whiffed six with two walks and four hits in six innings, with Sean Newcomb and Luke Jackson providing quality relief that the offense couldn’t take any advantage of.

          The Braves were blanked for the second time this month, and held to two runs or less for the fourth time in July. It was the seventh time in July the opposition scored two runs or less.

          Atlanta are 4-6 in their last 10, and 10-7 in July.

          Washington and Colorado got a late start Wednesday. Philadelphia had Wednesday off, and opens the series Friday against the Braves 5.5 games back. The Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 and on a three-game winning streak.

Box

Next: Friday, at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m., FSSO/MLB; Saturday, at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m., FSSO; Sunday, at Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m., FSSO

Swanson sits

Webb’s injury a bigger issue

Waiting and watching as the deadline nears

Fried start moved up

Falcons Report

Julio’s cool with timeline

He’s cool with 3,000 yards, too

But, um, his foot

Watching the OL, and Lindstrom and McGary

Ishmael back to safety

Qs & As covering plenty

Around/About Central Georgia

Central Georgians lead Macon past Florence

          Cory Bivins (GMC) and Colton Yeager had two hits each, and Bivins three RBI, to lead Macon to a 6-1 win over Florence in Coastal Plains action at Luther Williams Field.

          Macon took control with three runs in the fifth, two coming on Bivins’ second homer of the season.

          Cory Bartholomew (Tattnall) went four innings for the win (3-1), with six strikeouts, four walks, and one hit. Forrest Wilson (Georgia College) threw two shutout innings, Josh Farmer (Mercer) had a two-strikeout seventh in relief.

Around/About Georgia

Versatile Thomas anchors a quality UGA line

Georgia Southern waiting on word on J.D. King appeal

GSU-Boro’s Bass on the Groza list

Joseph files suit against Tech

Can Georgia State deliver a big offensive year?

GSU-Atl’s Wright on Guy watch list

Time for the United to become road warriors

United owner would love Campeones Cup

Dream offense struggles in loss