The semester ended yesterday, so today is reading day for students around Athens as they prepare for finals in the coming week plus. So with that in mind, how about a little light reading for the UGA sports fan on what’s recently gone on outside the hedges.
GYMNASTICS
So, the axe fell on Danna Durante, and what was once the nation’s premier gymnastics program is looking for a new coach (and that may not be the only axe used this spring). Lauren Johnson will be looking for a fifth year after a medical redshirt.
SOFTBALL
The last mid week game of the season was a win over Georgia St, followed by a sweep at the hands of Texas A&M in College Station. They’ll be hosting South Carolina Friday at 6, and then again on Saturday and Sunday at 2, off South Milledge. A trip to Arkansas the first weekend in May will end their regular season with the SEC Tournament starting in Knoxville on May 10th. And in draft news, remember this is beyond the hedges now but, Sydni Emmanuel was the 16th overall selection in the recent National Pro Fastpitch Softball league draft for the Akron Racers, an appropriate name for the speedy top of the order hitting outfielder.
BASEBALL
It’s always a good day when Georgia beats Georgia Tech, and the Diamond Dawgs did just that last night. The win in Atlanta comes after winning earlier this season in Athens, so Georgia can claim the season series from the Yellow Jackets regardless of what happens May 9th at SunTrust Park. The highly ranked with multiple soon to be highly drafted prospects Florida Gators come to Athens this weekend for a three game set. First pitch Friday is at 7, followed by 2 on Saturday and 1 on Sunday (weather permitting). Last week saw the Dawgs squeeze a double header in on Saturday in Athens due to expected rain, that was ultimately split with Vanderbilt. Scott Stricklin’s pups are sitting at 17-25 on the season, and just 5-13 in SEC play.
TENNIS
The ladies fell to Auburn in their opening match of the SEC Tournament, while the men get going this weekend in Knoxville. The NCAA regionals will begin on May 13, with the National Championships held in Athens throughout the last half of May.
GOLF
The PGA Tour heads to New Orleans this weekend. The men finished a disappointing ninth at the SEC Tournament, with the NCAAs getting underway after finals. The ladies had a much better weekend, finishing second with an eagle by second place finisher and senior Harang Lee to cap off her rounds. They’ll also host an NCAA Regional at the course off Riverbend from May 8-10. Second ranked Alabama and a no. 8 Georgia headline the field, and will be joined by Arizona (ranked 14th), Auburn, Augusta, Baylor (19th), Central Florida, Clemson, Kansas St, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Florida, Northwestern (11th), Princeton, Quinnipiac, Tennessee, Troy, and No. 22 Wake Forest.
TRACK AND FIELD
The running and throwing Dawgs were in Virginia last week, and had a good weekend as they continued their excellent season. Dutch sophomore Denzel Comenentia earned SEC Field Athlete of the Week thanks to a personal best throw of 66 feet, 8 1⁄2 inches in the shot put, good enough to also be the longest from someone in the SEC this year. He was joined by redshirt freshman Kate Hall, named SEC Freshman of the Week after victory in her first time running the 100 meters (an 11.36 for the second fastest among freshman nationally this year), after excelling in the long jump for much of the season so far. The Torrin Lawrence Invitational will be held in Athens on May 6th, with that the only meet between now and the SEC Championships in South Carolina in mid May.
As always, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!