Hola mis amigos! Donde esta mi margarita... Oh, I’m sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. That part comes later... or does it?

            Anyhoo, before you go dancing around sombreros and discussing the finer points of tequila, let’s find a reason to celebrate: Bulloch Academy.

            There just might be a dynasty a-brewin’ down on Westside Road.

            This past weekend, the Gators swept the GISA Class AA state track and field state championships in Albany. Not only did both the boys and girls teams take home a team title, but eight individuals rose above to win individual titles in their respective events.

            For the Lady Gators, it was the first state title in 21 years. But for the boys, it was the second straight title, winning on Saturday by almost 30 points.

            Track and field is a team sport unlike any other. Teams have to win by getting solid performances all across the spectrum, from discus to the 3,200-meter to the relays — everyone has to chip in. Doing that year-in, year-out is tougher than it seems.

            That’s what BA has done now in consecutive years, and the Lady Gators don’t appear to be a one-shot wonder either. The little school nestled next to a busy bypass on the outskirts of the city limits may become synonymous with track and field in years to come. They’re certainly on their way.

            Congratulations to all the Gators on a memorable week.

Playoffs?!?

            The sun is quickly fading on the prep sports scene for the 2008-2009 season. While the GHSA track and field state championships will be held this weekend and next and the Statesboro soccer team’s run to a title ended on Saturday with a 3-1 loss to defending champ Lakeside of Dekalb, three of our baseball teams now take the torch in search of a state title.

            First — Statesboro. The Blue Devils laid it all on the line last Friday at Wayne County in a 1-0 win that they hoped would give them a Region 2-AAAA title.

            Instead, when all the dust settled, the Blue Devils (15-9) were handed a No. 3 seed in a mind-numbing, tie-breaker scenario. That means SHS gets to travel to, you guessed it, Harris County. It’ll be the third time in three different sports these two schools have met in the playoffs.

            Statesboro eliminated the Tigers in football and in soccer, now has a chance to do the same on the diamond in the first round of the GHSA Class AAAA state playoffs on Friday.

            Harris, however, is a tough squad, having won 12 straight and finishing the season at 19-5. The Devils will have their work cut out for them.

            At Bulloch Academy, the Gators (10-6) will hit the road as well for their first round game in the GISA Class AA state playoffs. Bulloch has a favorable matchup against Windsor Academy, and has won 6 of 8 going in. Anything can happen in the playoffs, so let’s see if the green-and-gold can keep it going.

            Finally — Screven County. The Gamecocks host Central of Macon on Friday in the first round of the GHSA Class AA state playoffs, and what impresses me about SCHS (18-6) is that they do it by committee.

            One through nine in the lineup, they get it done. On the mound, anyone’s willing to take the ball at anytime. They have speed, they have power, they get after it on defense.

            As a No. 1 seed, Screven should get past CHS. It’ll be an all-out war thereafter.

Feeling blue

            Well, let’s not sugarcoat it, Georgia Southern’s bullpen was a little disheveled this past weekend against Furman. While the boys down the third base line can’t be totally held responsible, a couple big innings late did contribute to a series loss to lowly Furman and a worrisome note for the diehard fan base.

            But there is a silver lining — the Eagles (32-14) have the week off. Southern doesn’t go back to work until Saturday, traveling to Samford for a doubleheader. That should give the blue-and-white time to recover.

            Forty wins by the end of the regular season is now impossible, but with the new college baseball season being exponentially shorter, GSU still looks like a sure bet to get a regional bid — should they not have a complete meltdown over the final three weeks.

            I’ll try myself to move back to .500 from 3-4 to 4-4: Eagles get back on track with a sweep of the Fightin’ Vince Johnson’s.