As the games get more important on the baseball diamond for the Statesboro Blue Devils, Colin Chance’s pitching just gets better and better.
    Two weeks ago, Chance pitched his team into the state playoffs with a complete game gem against Cross Creek. On Monday afternoon, the Devils found themselves in a do-or-die game against West Laurens and again turned to Chance.
    Once again, Chance was nothing short of brilliant. He worked out of two early jams, and then cruised to a three-hit, shutout performance over 5.2 innings of work. He made an early run of support stand up as he was credited with the win in Statesboro’s 1-0 victory.
    “Our pitchers have really stepped it up down the stretch,” SHS coach Jim Simmons said. “Colin is no exception to that. The last few times he’s gone out to the mound, he’s given us every opportunity to win games.”
        Unfortunately, Chance’s performance on Monday prevented him from taking the mound Wednesday as Crisp County defeated Statesboro twice to end the Devils’ season.

    Competing for Bulloch Academy’s varsity track and field squad during her eighth and ninth grade seasons, Mary Margaret Reeves celebrated a pair of state championships.
    The stellar all-around athlete has starred for the Lady Gators on the track, the softball diamond and the basketball court throughout her tenure at Bulloch Academy, but wasn’t able to call herself a state champion again until last weekend when the Gators won the Class AAA meet in Albany.
    “I think that, as a team, we were very prepared and focused,” Reeves said. “We’ve been dedicated to winning this all season. It was great to be able to go out there and accomplish what we worked so hard for.”
    In addition to the team title, Reeves also took a state title in one of her events. Reeves teamed up with Anna Newton, Pate Lomax and Ashley Burke to claim the top spot in the 4x400 relay.
    “It was pouring down rain,” Reeves said. “That made it a little tougher, but we got it done. We weren’t going to let the weather stop us.”