Jeff Hart

The presumed demise of Hall County softball may have been a tad premature.

The Atlanta Falcons signed running back Steven Jackson to a three-year, $12 million contract to firm up a soft spot in their offense. After their preseason opener, questions remain about the running game.

The Atlanta Braves' 14-winning streak ended Saturday night with a 1-0 loss to the last-place Miami Marlins, who scored the lone run on reliever Jordan Walden's wild pitch in the ninth inning.

In front of a season-best crowd of 9,372 at Coolray Field, the Gwinnett Braves were pummeled by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 9-2 on Saturday night. Jose Constanza went 3-for-5 with a run scored in his first game back with the G-Braves since being optioned by the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day.

With All-Star Shavante Zellous sidelined by a foot injury, the Indiana Fever had to make another lineup change Saturday.

The Jefferson girls softball team opened its season with a 6-0 loss to Madison County Saturday.

Hall County teams enjoyed some early success Friday in the opening rounds of the Lanier Pointe Invitational softball tournament at the Lanier Pointe softball complex.

Justin Upton, Chris Johnson and Brian McCann homered, Brandon Beachy pitched eight strong innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 5-0 Friday night for their 14th straight victory.

In his first start in the state of Georgia since being selected by Philadelphia in the seventh round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft, former Georgia State University right-hander David Buchanan hurled seven innings of one-run baseball to lead the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to a 6-1 victory over the Gwinnett Braves on Monday night.

When the Eagles kickoff the 2013 season in just a few weeks, Georgia Southern Coach Jeff Monken wants to make sure his team has made the best use of its practice time.