Wednesday's Central Georgia Daily News 'n Notes: Draft good to GC, Mercer; Atlanta, Macon slowed; GMC golf rolling; area baseballers honored; signings and the Honor Roll (GC galore)

Wednesday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.

Georgia College, Mercer players get the draft call

          A record three Georgia College players have been drafted, all coming Wednesday, along with two from Mercer.

          Full story and multiple lists in The Latest Coverage

Atlanta's bats quieted, except Freeman's

          Mike Foltynewicz did his job, but Atlanta's offense didn't in a 3-1 afternoon loss at San Diego.

          The Braves threatened in the eighth, but the Padres' relievers continued a quality day and escaped, whiffing Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.

Macon returns to Luther Williams, losing streak continues

          Defending Coastal Plain League champ Gastonia enjoyed its first trip to Luther Williams Field with a 5-4 win.

          The Grizzlies got all they needed with five runs in the third, and held off a Macon rally with three in the seventh.

          The Bacon stranded a runner on third with one out in the eighth, and came up empty in the ninth despite getting the leadoff batter on.

          Riley King led Macon with two hits, the Bacon only managing six. Tate Pennington had three hits and Colton Thomas two for Gastonia.

          Pitcher Kyle King, a rising sophomore from Georgia College, went the first three innings and got the win.

          Macon hosts Florence at 7 p.m. Thursday, then visits Lexington County on Friday before entertaining Florence again on Saturday at 7 p.m.

GMC focused in on defending national title

          GMC's golf team has the lead after two rounds of the national junior college golf tournament, boosted by a Central Georgia alum. In The Latest Coverage.

Baseball America honors three Central Georgians

          A trio from the area - two from Mercer and a high school alum - are freshman All-Americans. In The Latest Coverage.

This Week's Signings

          Central Georgia Tech picked up a familiar name this week, with former Stratford forward Nate Brooks signing with the Titans.

          Brooks left Stratford after his juior year and moved with family to Michigan, becoming eligible midway through the season and averaging 16 points and 12 rebounds.

          He then played at Panola (Texas) College, a junior college. He played in 24 games, averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 24 minutes a game.

This Week's Honor Roll

          A pair of sisters from Georgia College can add academic honors to any competition they might have.

          Bobcat softball players Hannah and Holland Coursey have been named to an academic All-America team.

          Hannah has a 4.0 in accounting as a first-team pick at designated player, and Holland a 3.94 in accounting to make a spot as an outfielder on the second team.

          Holland was an all-conference and all-region selection, and this is Hannah's second academic honor. ...

          The Bobcat women's tennis team is No. 21 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll of the season.

          Georgia College finished fifth in the Southeast Region after reaching the PBC title game for the first time since 2003. ...

          Three Middle Georgia State baseball players earned NAIA All-American honorable mention this week.

          The trio is led by former Houston County standout Blake Jackson, who belted 12 homers for 79 RBI while hitting .312 for the Knights, who reached the NAIA national tournament.

          Zach Cornell led MGSU with a .404 average and 97 hits, while Trenton Nash batted .344 with 15 homers and 56 RBI.