Local sports calendar gets crowded

You could argue that this week is the busiest of the high school season, the only time of year when sports from three seasons collide.

National Signing Day for football is Wednesday, winter sports in Georgia and South Carolina are approaching the postseason, and spring sports officially began their seasons Monday, the first day practices were allowed.

"We're going to go out in this beautiful weather (Monday), and (Tuesday) there is supposed to be a 100 percent chance of rain," Harlem baseball coach Jimmie Lewis said, chuckling. "We may be in for a rainy season, but I hope not."

Baseball teams in Georgia can play their first games Feb. 22.

SURVIVE A TEST: Richmond Academy remained undefeated in 15 Region 3-AAAA games this season with a flurry of points late in the third quarter and early in the fourth against Evans on Friday.

"That's why they are one of the top teams in the state -- they are probably the best in the area turning turnovers into quick points," said Evans coach Kevin Kenny , whose team gave the Musketeers a tough game before losing by six.

Richmond Academy faces its toughest week of the season beginning tonight against Glenn Hills. The Musketeers also play at second-place Josey on Friday and against Westside on Saturday. Westside took the Musketeers to overtime earlier in the season.

ANOTHER BULLDOG: Running back Seth Hill will sign to play football at The Citadel on Wednesday, according to Grovetown coach Rodney Holder .

Hill will become Grovetown's first football recruit. He rushed for 1,410 yards and 17 touchdowns this last season during the school's first year of football.

Hill joins North Augusta seniors Charles Coleman and L.J. Perry as area Citadel recruits.

SIGNING DAY: Radio personality Ashley Brown will hold his annual signing day party at Indigo Joe's restaurant on Wednesday night.

Brown will interview many area signees live on the air at the restaurant, beginning at 5 p.m.. All three hours of interviews can be heard on WRDW-AM 1630; and on WGAC-AM 580 and WGAC-FM 93.1 from 6-8 p.m. Indigo Joe's is at 3730 Wheeler Road in Augusta.

NICE WIN: Thomson had one of the biggest upsets of the basketball season Saturday when its girls beat Washington County 38-35.

It was Washington County's first loss in Region 3-AAA and second overall. Thomson, which improved to 9-13, lost to Washington County by 43 points earlier in the season.

TONIGHT'S BIG GAMES

BOYS

Dreher at Midland Valley, 7:30 p.m.: Midland Valley has lost just once in its region, by 13 points at Dreher. Dreher has won seven games in a row.

GIRLS

Josey at Laney, 6 p.m.: Laney has won 11 in a row heading into its third game of the year against a Region 3-AAAA opponent. The Wildcats are 2-1 against the region this season, including an 18-point defeat of Josey in December.