Two sports completed their respective regular seasons last week at . Volleyball (No. 1-AAA) and softball are the top seeds in their tournaments with softball opening with a win in the first round. The Golden Lions boys’ cross country team continues to be the top-ranked team in the AAA ga.milesplit.com poll and moved up in the All-Classification poll to No. 5. The girls’ cross country team retained its second spot in the AAA poll. Football continues to sit in the No. 3 spot in both the Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings as well as the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association poll.
The football team defeated Riverwood, 45-6 to up its record to 6-0, and remain undefeated in Region 5 play. Geno Smith rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns and Logan Rosborough, Trey White and Nick Ruffin all added rushing scores. Jacob Hambrick recorded 11 tackles to lead the defense while Joseph Crochet had nine tackles and a blocked punt. Smith and Michael Sikorski each intercepted a pass for St. Pius. The Golden Lions are idle this week before hosting Druid Hills Oct. 14.
The volleyball squad ran its record to a gaudy 41-5 winning five out of six matches last week to wrap up the regular season. St. Pius knocked off No. 9 Westminster (AA/A) and No. 9 Marist (AAAA) Wednesday and Thursday, before defeating Kennesaw Mountain, No. 4 Oconee County (AAA) and No. 5 Columbus (AAA) on Saturday at the Harrison Play-Day. The Golden Lions dropped a match to No. 2 Sandy Creek (AAA) for its lone loss at the event. St. Pius is the top seed entering the Area 5 playoffs Tuesday versus Towers. The playoffs will continue through Thursday at North Springs.
The boys’ cross country team finished 13th overall and as the second highest Georgia finisher at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, NC. Austin Sprague placed 22nd and Calvin Tirrell ran in 33rd to pace the Golden Lions in the national event in which nine states were represented. The boys’ will travel to McDonough to run in the Golden Eagle Invitational this Saturday.
The girls’ cross country team travelled to Albany Saturday to run in the Robert Wood Invitational. The Golden Lions finished fourth overall and as the top AAA finisher. Devon Dabney completed the race in 11th place while Sarah Fristoe finished 26th to lead the lady harriers. St. Pius is back in action at the Southeast Showdown in Hoover, AL, this Saturday.
The softball squad defeated rival Marist to complete the home regular season schedule on Monday of last week, before ending Region 5 play undefeated on the year as the team routed Washington. The Golden Lions lost the last game of the regular season against non-region Eastside. On Saturday, St. Pius thumped Cedar Grove, 15-0, in the first round of the region tournament, advancing to play Riverwood Monday afternoon. The region tournament continues all week at Riverwood. The Golden Lions currently sit at 17-11 on the year.
The competition cheer squad travel to Parkview this weekend for the Rumble in the Jungle on Saturday. The squad will look to build on its third place finish earlier this season at Mill Creek.
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