Newton Citizen

Georgia State's softball team is off to a fine start at 16-5, and former Heritage players Whitney Phillips and Callie Alford are a big reason why.

Phillips, a junior infielder leads the team with a .413 on-base percentage and is hitting .325 (13 of 40) in 19 games. And though Alford, an infielder/catcher, has cooled off a bit after a red-hot start, the freshman is second to Phillips in on-base (.412), has a pair of home runs and is tied for the team lead with Paige Nowacki with 13 RBIs.

The Panthers, who have won nine of 10 games, recently went 4-1 at the Buzz Classic in Woodstock and play a doubleheader in Jacksonville, Alabama against Jacksonville State tonight at 3 p.m.

McCray finishes regular season strong

Portia McCray completed a solid rookie season at Eastern Wyoming Junior College. The former Rockdale star, who led last year's Bulldogs team in scoring and to the Class AAAA state playoffs, finished the regular season averaging 12.5 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Lancers, who play in Region 9. In victories over Central Wyoming College, McCray poured in 26 points, then came off the bench to score 17 in a win over Sheridan College in the regular season finale. The Region 9 tournament begins March 9 at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming.

NOTEBOOK: Anthony Bazzani (Heritage) is off to a strong start for Eastern Kentucky. The right-handed junior, who Wednesday pitched a perfect 10th inning to pick up his second save in the Colonels' 6-5 win over UNC Greensboro, has allowed just one earned run in seven innings pitched (1.29 ERA), and in six appearances has struck out six batters. ... Former Heritage track and field athlete Chanti Harris helped Alabama State win its fourth consecutive SWAC Indoor Track and Field championship recently as the freshman finished third in the pole vault (2.51 meters).