The running of the Kentucky Derby has always gotten my attention – long before I even had the opportunity to experience the “Run for the Roses” live and in living color. I will watch the 149th running of the Derby this Saturday via NBC with mixed emotions.

Titans win region title, sweep WilCo in first round The Lake Oconee Academy baseball team added two more accomplishments to its historic season last week as it captured the program’s first-ever region championship and won its 20th game. Last week, the Titans (22-4) secured the region title by winning four consecutive region games in five days.

Lake Oconee Academy’s tennis teams recently defeated Christian Heritage to advance to the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) Class A Division II quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. Last Friday, the two-time defending state champion Titans traveled north to face Christian Heritage.

Korbin Hegwood powered Morgan County to an 8-1 win over Dougherty last week in a first-round playoff tilt. The sophomore striker scored three of eight goals, helping the Dogs advance to the second round.

• Saturday’s AG-PRO 300, Talladega Superspeedway WINNER: JESSE LOVE TALLADEGA, Ala. — Jesse Love earned his first career Xfinity Series victory Saturday in a typically wild double-overtime finish in the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway — crossing the line by a slight 0.141-seconds ahead of Riley Herbst.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Tyler Reddick prevailed in a typically-frantic Talladega Superspeedway run to the checkered flag Sunday in the GEICO 500 Cup Series race, narrowly avoiding a multi-car crash in the closing 400 yards – coming from third place out of Turn 4, to earn the win by a slight 0.208-second when race leader Michael McDowell crashed trying to block competitors approaching the finish line. Reddick maneuvered around in the high lane to motor through to his first victory of the year and sixth of his career.

The Gatewood golf team left no stone unturned, capturing the Georgia Independent Athletic Association Class AA championship on its home course at Harbor Club in Greensboro earlier this week. As a team, five Gators shot a combined score of 332, edging out second-place finisher Heritage Preparatory School by nine strokes to secure the title win.

The Lake Oconee Academy girls’ soccer team started their playoff run Tuesday with a game against Lincoln County. The Lady Titans played the Lady Red Devils earlier in the year and lost 1-0, but got their revenge as they came out on top, 4-0, on Tuesday, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

Despite a tough week on the diamond, the Gatewood Gators won their second straight region championship last week. The Gators are 5-0 in region 2-AA, but four straight non-region losses have shown the Gators they still have room to improve with the playoffs nearing. Gatewood lost 1-0 to Pinewood and 7-0 to First Presbyterian Day prior to their second game with Pinewood last Friday. Lawson Moore got the start on the mound versus Pinewood in game two with the Patriots.

Putnam County begins its playoff quest April 25 as the No. 3 seed from Region 4-AA after going 2-1 last week.