Jeff Hart

Rick Stansbury laid out Mississippi State's case for a spot in the NCAA tournament. The coach stopped short of saying the Bulldogs have already played their way into a NCAA appearance, however they'll get a chance to ensure it themselves after upsetting No. 20 LSU 67-57 Saturday to advance to Sunday's SEC title game against Tennessee.

For Gainesville seniors George Manomano and Juwon Jeffries, their first trip to the state basketball Final Four in Macon was everything they thought it would be. Except for the storybook ending. The Elephants' quest for their first state title since 1984 ended Friday at the hands of Westover in a 59-56 loss in the Class AAA semifinals at the Macon Coliseum.

Lumpkin County baseball coach Nicki Jenkins warned his team Wednesday against taking an improving Chestatee team lightly. They got the message pounding out 22 hits against five Chestatee pitchers in a 20-12 Region 7-AAA win at Chestatee Field.

While most of the gallery at the Hall County Golf Championships was following the threesome of Grant Cagle, Jimmy Lloyd, and Justin Cochran, Josh Foster of Johnson was quietly stealing the show.

The Gainesville baseball team has been looking for that breakout game. The Elephants finally got it Monday night pounding out 11 hits, including three home runs, in a 14-4, six-inning win over Chestatee in a key Region 7-AAA game at Ivey-Watson Field to end a two-game losing streak.

Chase Davidson and Rich Poythress had three hits apiece and Justin Grimm went a career-long six innings as Georgia downed Quinnipiac, 19-6, Saturday at Foley Field.

Carlos Guillen and Melvin Mora hit solo home runs, Bobby Abreu singled in two runs in a four-run fifth inning and Venezuela defeated Italy 7-0 at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday night.

Ivan Rodriguez homered twice, Carlos Delgado also connected and Puerto Rico got off to a rousing start in the World Baseball Classic, beating Panama 7-0 on Saturday.

With big league stars on both sides and national pride at stake, the United States and Canada gave their World Baseball Classic opener an October feel. Adam Dunn and Brian McCann each hit a two-run homer, and Team USA held off feisty Canada 6-5 on Saturday to avenge a surprising loss three years ago.

Buford played the role of the wicked stepmother to Rabun County’s Cinderella status to near-perfection Saturday night in its 70-38 win over Rabun County the quarterfinals of the Class AA girls state basketball playoffs at the Rome Forum.