Jeff Hart

Ivan Rodriguez homered twice, Carlos Delgado also connected and Puerto Rico got off to a rousing start in the World Baseball Classic, beating Panama 7-0 on Saturday.

With big league stars on both sides and national pride at stake, the United States and Canada gave their World Baseball Classic opener an October feel. Adam Dunn and Brian McCann each hit a two-run homer, and Team USA held off feisty Canada 6-5 on Saturday to avenge a surprising loss three years ago.

Buford played the role of the wicked stepmother to Rabun County’s Cinderella status to near-perfection Saturday night in its 70-38 win over Rabun County the quarterfinals of the Class AA girls state basketball playoffs at the Rome Forum.

Sophomore Chestatee pitcher Scott Chewning kept asking for the ball and coach Wes Gentry kept letting him have it. Fortuntaely, it turned out well for both as Chewning kept the War Eagles in the game long enough for them to rally for an 8-7 win over White County Friday in a Region 7-AAA battle.

A week ago Lakeview Academy junior pitcher Ralston Cash didn’t even have a catcher to warm up with since battery-mate Brett Armour was still on the basketball team. On Thursday, a catcher is almost all he needed in the first three innings against East Jackson in the Lions’ 9-2 win in their season opener at Lions Field.

For three quarters Chestatee played toe-to-toe with No. 1 Carrollton in the second round of the Class AAA girls state basketball playoffs Tuesday. But the Lady Trojans showed why they are so tough holding the Lady War Eagles to just three fourth quarter points and eventually pulled away for a 40-24 win.

For one quarter the East Hall girls basketball team had everything going its way in its Class AAA second round state playoff game against Dunwoody. Unfortunately, Dunwoody owned the other three quarters as the Lady Wildcats battled back from a 14-point deficit to knock off the Lady Vikings 46-43 Tuesday night.

Rookie Michael Frolik scored two goals, Stephen Weiss had three assists and the Florida Panthers held off the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Tuesday night.