Wednesday's Daily News 'n Notes: HS VB and SB; Mercer Tennis Classic; HS FB on Thursday; UGA, Tech, and more
Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
In Coverage: Monday Morning QB, with Central Georgia polls, and thoughts galore in Loughdmouthings, COVID protocol; the state polls
The only area home to updated state volleyball and softball scores and pairings
Coming Thursday: The Sports Report’s predictions, Monday Morning QB (yeah, again, but includes a link to Robert Davis’ memorial Saturday, with notable speakers)
Scoreboard
College
Golf
W-Callaway Gardens Invite, Mercer finishes third
Around/About Central Georgia
Thursday football schedule features three games
Two games in Bibb County and an early-week change make for some Thursday Central Georgia football action.
Southwest takes on Northeast at Henderson in Region 3-AA while Rutland welcomes Spalding at Ed DeFore in 4-AAAA.
The Patriots (1-3, 0-2) are looking for anything good after losing quarterback Travion Searcy, and falling to Lamar County 52-8 last week.
Northeast is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in region, opening 3-AA play with a comeback win over Washington County last week.
This series is tied at 25-25, with Northeast winning the last two, 27-26 and 28-22, breaking a four-games losing streak to Southwest.
Rutland’s momentum in some winnable losses has seemingly disappeared with losses to Perry and Baldwin by 49-12 and 52-12.
Spalding is 0-5 and 0-2, with its closest loss 14-7 to West Laurens. The next closest margin is 21 points against Griffin in the opener.
Rutland and Spalding haven’t played since 2013, a 42-23 Rutland win.
Putnam County’s game with Glenn Hills was moved early in the week to Thursday. That’s not necessarily good news for the winless Spartans, who come in having scored eight points and three straight shutouts.
The War Eagles, meanwhile have three shutouts and are 6-0.
Lepchenko wins burly three-setter in Mercer Tennis Classic
Former tournament champ Varvara Lepchenko and No. 2 seed Nine Stojanovic had to wait out some rain Wednesday as the main draw of the Mercer Tennis Classic got going.
It was worth the wait. Well, for one of them.
Stojanovic survived a shot-by-shot first set to win 7-6, but Lepchenko found her game better for a 6-2 second-set win.
They were back at it in the third set, Lepchenko regaining her backhand to win the third set 7-6.
Top seed Misaki Doi won in straight sets. Two of the top five seeds lost Wednesday.
The rain led to some schedule tweaks, but action resumes Thursday at 10 a.m. at John Drew Smith Tennis Center.
Hornets, Trojans start GISA battle
Southern Pine Recreation Complex in Dublin welcomes a pair of Central Georgia teams when the GISA Class AAA softball finals get going Thursday.
John Milledge and defending champ Westfield start the best of three at 5 p.m. with the second game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Westfield battled past Pinewood Christian (3-0, 7-1) and then hammered Bulloch (4-0, 19-1).
John Milledge did a little more damage, sweeping Southland (11-1, 15-3) and Trinity Christian (6-3, 10-0).
The Trojans are trying to break the Hornets streak of three straight, which including beating John Milledge last year in the finals.
Around/About Georgia
Smart on QBs, again, and Daniels
Gurley trying to stay consistent
Sports and racial/social awareness
Texas fight song causing issues, a decision?
Sports and COVID 19
Florida gets back to work next week
Bobby Bowden gives an update, and thanks
College Football
LSU negotiates with NCAA on penalties
BYU’s Wake honors mom after TD
NFL
Mayfield, Browns on a roller coaster
And speaking of OBJ and absurdities …
Fitpatrick stunned after QB decision
Around the nation/world
Rays survive shaky pen, even the Series
Pitching moves not so hot for Dodgers
Penn State hoops coach resigns amid investigation