DEXTER — West Laurens shut out Statesboro in the first game, and the Blue Devils answered right back in the second to force game three in the first round of the GHSA CLass AAAA state playoffs Friday at WLHS.
    Statesboro (16-12) fell 5-0 in the first game, but Jordan Finch pitched a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts in the second.
    The Blue Devils got an unearned run to start the scoring in the second inning, and Conner Akins added an RBI single.
    An RBI fielder's choice by Ben Saunders drove in Colin Chance in the third, and Blakely Brown capped the scoring when he crossed the dish on an RBI single by Jordan Finch.
    The third and deciding game will be played today in Dexter at 3 p.m.
    Statesboro won the coin toss and will be the home team in game three.

Yellow Jackets force Game 3
    HOGANSVILLE —Southeast Bulloch got off to a great start in the Class AAA state baseball playoffs on Friday against Callaway, but wasn’t able to finish off the series.
    The Yellow Jackets blanked the Cavaliers 7-0 in the opener, but dropped a 13-2 decision in the second game.
    Drew Rushing was brilliant in the series opener, allowing just two hits in a complete game shutout for SEB in Game 1. The Jackets built a lead through the early innings before Ryan Adams put an exclamation point on the win with a two-run shot to center field in the sixth inning.
    Calloway — which boasted plenty of great pitching during the regular season —showed its own ability to dominate in pulling to an easy win to even up the series.
    The teams will square off in a decisive Game 3 this afternoon to determine the series winner.

SHS, SEB Day 1 track results
    JEFFERSON — Southeast Bulloch’s Preston Smith has highlighted the first two days of competition for Bulloch County participants at the GHSA state track and field meet in Jefferson.
    Smith placed third in Class AAA in the triple jump and followed that up with a fifth place showing in the high jump.
    Charles James capped a great sophomore campaign for SEB, finishing 12th in the pole vault.
    Statesboro’s Josh McCoy qualified for the Class AAAA pole vault finals, but wasn’t able to record an official height cleared.
    Statesboro’s Andreas Ward and Andrew Taylor were mainstays at the top of the 300 meter hurdle meets throughout the season. Both made it to the state meet, but fell just short of qualifying for today’s final heat.

GSU softball wraps regular season
    The 2013 regular season comes to an end this weekend for Georgia Southern softball with a three game set against Appalachian State at Eagle Field.
    Prior to Saturday’s 1 p.m. doubleheader there will be a ceremony to honor seniors from both the Mountaineers and the Eagles. The series concludes on Sunday with a single game which starts at 1 p.m.
    Appalachian State leads the Southern Conference with a 16-5 record in league play and a 29-18 overall mark. Georgia Southern enters the weekend with at 12-8 in the league and 26-26 overall.
    The Eagles can play the spoiler for the Mountaineers who need just one win to guarantee their first SoCon Regular Season Championship in program history. GSU’s seed in next week’s SoCon Tournament is still in flux with the ability to earn a seed between 2nd and 6th depending on results around the league.

SBCPRD Youth Triathalon
    Splashy’s Youth Triathlon was held on April 28, at Splash in the Boro inside Mill Creek Regional Park.         Forty-three boys and girls ages seven to 15  participated in the endurance-showcasing competition. The race was broken down into three age divisions: 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15, to equalize the field while distances are adjusted to create a more safe and fun-filled experience.
    For boys, ages 7-9, Tyler Bisseck finished in first place (14.59), Parker Stansel finished second (16.22), and John Proctor came in third place (16.26). For girls ages 7-9, Katherine Thomas finished in first place (14.37), Mary Gen Williams came in second, and Anslee Woods (18.25) finished third.
    For boys, ages 10-12, Logan Merry finished first (19.12), Jack Hardy finished second (22.14), and Josh Morris came in third (22.35). For girls ages 10-12, Lexie Merry came in first (22.45), Danielle Biseck (23.18) finished second, and Austyn Woods (24.07) placed third.
    For boys, ages 13-15, Christopher Kochanik finished in first place (29.13)  and Grant Fowler finished in second (33.05).
    For girls, ages 13-15, Kasey Baynon finished first (26.46), Anna Morris came in second place (34.17), and Katherine Barrs finished in third (36.11).
    For more information on standings, future events, or to get registered, visit www.bullochrec.com.

South Georgia Fury plays in tourney
    The South Georgia Fury competed in the April Slam Fastpitch tournament at Mill Creek on April 27. Four teams competed in three age brackets (12U, 14U, and 18U). 
    The 14U team, coach  by Bobby Costlow, Frank Britt and Al Mikell, won its bracket, going undefeated throughout the day and giving up only 10 runs total throughout the entire tournament.
    The 12U team, coached Joey Fennel, Joe Glisson and Brian Ritchie, and the 18U coached by Anthony Joyner and Jim Quigley finished second in their brackets. 
    The second 14U team coached by Stephen Hoyle and Bubba Fields finished 4th. 
    For more information about the organization, please visit www.southgeorgiafury.com.

SBCPRD softball scores
    In Midget softball, the Franklin Chevrolet LSU Tigers were defeated by the Chick-fil-A Auburn Tigers 9-3.
    The Kiwanis Club of Statesboro Hurricanes beat the Martin Clinic of Chiropractic Cowboys 13-1.
    The Springhill Suites Jayhawks defeated the Alltel Bulldogs 6-2 and the Franklin & Taulbee Seminoles beat the Statesboro ENT Yellow Jackets 9-4.

SBCPRD baseball scores
    In Midget Boys baseball, the Zaxby¹s Padres were defeated by the Walker Total Tree Service Braves 5-4.
 The Anderson Surveyors Orioles won against the 1st Franklin Financial Royals 5-3.
 The Heritage Bank of the South Pirates beat the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro Cubs 7-0.
 The Thigpen, Lanier, Westerfield, & Deal Nationals beat the Digital Office Equipment Giants 7-6, and Optim Healthcare Phillies beat the Statesboro Floor Covering Tigers 11-1.
    The Optim Healthcare Phillies defeated the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro Cubs with a score of 4-2.
    The Digital Office Equipment Giants won against the Anderson Surveyor Orioles 10-5.
    The Thigpen, Lanier, Westerfield, and Deal Nationals tied the Heritage Bank of the South Pirates 3-3.
    The 1st Franklin Financial Royals beat the Walker Total Tree Service Braves 9-4.

SBCPRD soccer scores
    On April 25 in U-10 Soccer, The Nevil Tire Whitecaps were defeated by the Assault 1-0.
    Avalanche tied the Dairy Queen Freeze 2-2.
The Impact beat the Y-Delta Storm 3 -0. The Thompson Pool Sidewinders beat the Outlaws 6-0.
    On April 27, in U-10 Soccer, The Nevil Tire Whitecaps were defeated by the Avalanche 5-0.
    The Thompson Pool Sidewinders beat the Dairy Queen Freeze 5-3.
    The Impact lost to the Assault 1-0.
    The Outlaws beat the Y-Delta Storm 3-0.
     In U-12 Soccer, the Earthquakes defeated the New Covenant Church Union 2-1. The Galactic Comics and Games Sounders beat the Blazers 4-2.
    On April 20, in U-10 Soccer, the Assault were defeated by the Avalanche with a score of 2-1.
    The Dairy Queen Freeze beat the Y-Delta Storm 4-1.
    The Impact lost to the Thompson Pool Sidewinders 3-0, and the Outlaws beat the Nevil Tire Whitecaps 3-2.
     In U-12 Soccer, the New Covenant Church Union beat the Blazers 2-1.
    The Galactic Comics and Games Sounders tied the Earthquakes with a score of 1-1.

GSU visits Langston Chapel
    Georgia Southern coaches and administrators took time out of their Friday morning to share their knowledge of their professions to fifth graders at Langston Chapel Elementary School.
    Head coaches Jeff Monken and Chris Vozab along with Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein talked to four different classes and took questions from 8-10 a.m.
    They shared their life experiences that led to them choosing their career path along with the training and education that helped them get there.

Eagles run in Relay for Life
    Supporting the Bulloch County Relay for Life event Friday night at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds, Georgia Southern student-athletes from all sports applauded those who walked in the “Survivors Lap” and then walked alongside their teammates and members of the community.         Storms in the area shifted the event from its originally-scheduled April 19. Survivors, family and friends, however, didn’t let anything dampen their spirits.