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Atlanta Braves in tight race for National League East
_ . . ... ... ... • ...... . • .n-r ...,a Ko.
By Lindsay Murray
Staff Writer
Imurrayl @my.westga .edu
With only one
full month left to play in
the season, the Atlanta
Braves are in a close
race to win the National
League East. The New
York Mets. defending
NL East champions,
have led the division
since May 20 and are
currently ahead of the
Braves by 3.5 games.
However, the Braves
and the Philadelphia
Phillies are going back
and forth, battling for
the second place spot.
Making a
huge trade with the
Texas Rangers for
UWG Soccer ready for new season
By Lindsay Murray
Staff Writer
Imurrayl @my.westga edu
After making their
second consecutive
appearance in the
Gulf South
Conference
To urnament
last season,
West Georgia's
soccer team
looks forward
to the start
of another
successful
season this
weekend at
the Tusculum
Tournament.
With the
Photo Courtesy of uwgsports eom
competition in the GSC
improving each year, the
team will rely heavily on
their experienced players.
The Wolves return GSC
Co-Player of the Year
Alex Udin, along with
her co-captains, Rachel
Doody and Sam Jones.
Unfortunately,the
Upcoming UWG Wolves Football Schedule
September Ist
• at Clark-Atlanta, 6:00 pm
September Bth
• at Georgia Southern, 6:00 pm
September 19th
• vs ARKANSAS TECH, 7:00 pm
Upcoming UWG Wolves Volleyball Schedule
August 24th
• vs Midwestern State/West Florida Tourney, 11:00 am
August 24th
• vs Southern Indiana / West Florida Tourney, 3:30 pm
August 25 th
• vs Flagler / West Florida Tourney, 10:00 am
two-time Gold Glove
winner Mark Teixeira
right before the trade
deadline, the Braves
hoped to increase their
offensive power and
score more runs.
Fortunately, the Braves
have been getting just
that with Teixeira. The
potent first baseman has
certainly impressed the
team by hitting the ball
out of the park three
times in his first three
starts as a Brave, while
hitting .273 w'ith 12
RBls. Teixeira’s power
at the plate from the
first base position gives
the Braves something
they haven't had all
season. The inclusion
of a powerful offense
will definitely greet
team will have to start the
year without midfielder
Jessica Taylor, who is
recovering from an ACL
tear suffered last season.
However, the coaching
staff expects Taylor to
see some action later in
the season.
The Wolves are
excited about newcomers
to the team. Mandy Nolin,
a transfer from Kennesaw
State University, Lauren
Bagwell, who was
previously signed with
Jacksonville State, and
Atlanta’s pitchers with
plenty of run support.
The Braves
also look forward
- ' ' *
to returning All-
Star shortstop Edgar
Renteria, who has been
on the disabled list after
suffering a high ankle
sprain on August 2. The
veteran shortstop was
in the middle of a hot
Melanie Kilburn, a
freshman from Canada.
All three recruits are
expected to make huge
contributions this season.
Last year. West
Georgia finished fourth
in the GSC.
despite an injury
plagued season.
Coincidentally,
the GSC
preseason poll
has picked
the Wolves to
finish fourth
again, but head
coach Marisa
Kovacs isn’t too
concerned.
Coa c h
Kovacs uses the
low rating as a motivating
force for her team. "It
gives the girls something
to prove,” Kovacs said.
West Georgia’s soccer
team will definitely
have the chance to prove
something all season.
Sports
streak when the injury
occurred, hitting .336
with a .424 on-base
percentage. Renteria
was projected to stay
on the down low for
about six weeks, but
after just three weeks
of extensive training,
the shortstop looks to
return this week against
the Cincinnati Reds.
Love to go to uwg
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Then why not get paid to take photographs
of your favorite athletes and their amazing
plays? What's better than earning money
for your interest in Wolves athletics and
supporting your campus teams?
To be published in the West Georgian by
emailing Erik Waters at:
uwgpaper@westga.edu
Upcoming UWG Wolves Basketball Schedule
i
September Ist
• vs JSU Labor Day Invitational, 10:00 am
September 15th
• vs Peach Belt Pre-Conference Invitational, 8:30 am
September 29 th
• vs Auburn Invitational, 10:00 am
Upcoming UWG Wolves Soccer Schedule
August 25th
• at Tusculum / Tusculum Tourney, 4:00 pm
August 26th
• vs Mars Hill / Tusculum Tourney, 1:00 pm
August 31st
• at Lynn, 2:00 pm
With his return, Kelly
Johnson and Yunel
Escobar will once again
platoon at second base.
Even though the
Braves are 3.5 games
out of controlling the
NL East, they remain
optimistic about
reaching the postseason.
While the Braves have
stayed behind the Mets
the entire season, they
currently are only 1.5
games out of the NL
Wildcard. Even with
the wild card, it still
gives the team hope
for October play in the
World Series, something
the entire team has
been eyeing since they
acquired Teixeira last
month.
The Phillies
*
and Mets begin a
pivotal four-game series
this week, giving the
Braves an opportunity
to move up in the
standings, depending
on the outcome of the
series. The Braves
may gain separation
from one of the two
teams and get closer to
winning the NL East.
The Braves
have six games left
with each team; two
series in Atlanta, one
in Philadelphia and one
in New York. As the
month of September
approaches, there are
still a lot of games to be
played and the Braves
still have a chance to
regain the NL East
title.