A dream he's had since he was 15 years old has come true for Richard Bush.

When Antauwn Wade came back to Midland Valley High School to interview for the boys' basketball head coaching job, he found that he couldn't even make it through the school's hallways without being stopped.

Coach Michael Prandy is leaving South Aiken High School to become the new boys basketball head coach at Silver Bluff High School.

The South Carolina Coaches Association of Women's Sports released its All-State and All-Star softball lists this week, with 13 players - nine of them underclassmen - from the Aiken Standard coverage area earning recognition.

Seven local high school baseball players recently received All-State and All-Star honors from the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association.

Aiken High boys' soccer coach Roger Carpenter could count on Erik Strom's to be one of the first and last faces he saw every practice and game day.

Midland Valley's Elexis Craig paid her dues as a member of Midland Valley's softball program, working her way up through the ranks and taking full advantage when opportunity came her way.

It all hit Aiken High's AnDarius Lawton at the last minute.

South Aiken High School saved its biggest signing ceremony of the year for last, celebrating nine senior signees Monday night.

Conversations with Aiken High track and field coach John Hostetler typically begin with a single word before moving on to other topics.

CATAWBA RIDGE 5, NORTH AUGUSTA 2

NORTH AUGUSTA -- A venue change was almost necessary Thursday afternoon at North Augusta High School.

Softball

This year marks the first time that Mead Hall has produced seniors who will be participating in athletics at the collegiate level. This school achievement was celebrated with a signing day held Tuesday in the upper school auditorium.

NORTH AUGUSTA — The goal worked toward since last May for the North Augusta boys' golf team has been to get back to the state championship tournament and play up to their ability.

NORTH AUGUSTA — The champs aren't done with their title defense quite yet.

Aiken High boys' basketball coach Robbie McKenzie has been running workouts for his team since right around when the Hornets' season ended in February.

NORTH AUGUSTA -- What the North Augusta boys' golf team has looked forward to for an entire year is now here.

YORK 3, NORTH AUGUSTA 2

GRAY COLLEGIATE 3, STROM THURMOND 2 (9 innings)

Roby Gillespie was reminded of one those stock questions asked in interviews intended to gauge career growth and goals for the future:

Baseball

Softball

Three local high school soccer players have been selected for their respective All-State teams, the South Carolina Soccer Coaches Association announced Wednesday.

JOHNSTON -- The Strom Thurmond baseball team showed at times throughout the regular season that it could do the things that championship contenders do.

There wasn't much that went according to plan Friday night at the Region 4-AAAA track and field championships.

SOUTH AIKEN 8, AIKEN 4

PETTICOAT JUNCTION -- Silver Bluff High School celebrated two of the most prolific student-athletes on campus Friday afternoon at a signing ceremony, and the school's auditorium was appropriately full for the occasion.

CATAWBA RIDGE 4, SOUTH AIKEN 0

Aiken High senior Yolanda Ward was nervous Thursday.

NORTH AUGUSTA 1, INDIAN LAND 0

NORTH AUGUSTA — Some nerves struck the North Augusta softball team in the first inning of Tuesday's Class AAAA playoff opener against Easley.

Tuesday morning's signing ceremony was exciting but also a bit overwhelming for Midland Valley's Alissa Brophy.

NORTH AUGUSTA — The tone may have been set on the first pitch the North Augusta baseball team saw in Monday night's Class AAAA playoff opener at Riverview Park.

The North Augusta boys' golf team won the Region 4-AAAA title by 21 strokes Monday at West Columbia's Charwood Golf Club.

Luke Fundak came to Aiken High from Washington as a junior and thrived in a new environment.

The race to a state championship begins this week for four more spring sports in the South Carolina High School League.

The formula to winning high school baseball games is fairly simple to define, but often much more difficult to achieve.

Boys' Tennis

It was a long-awaited celebration last May for North Augusta High School's powerhouse softball.

North Augusta High School is looking for a head football coach following the resignation of Matt Quinn.

It was a waiting game Saturday during the final round of the 48th Southern Cross.

SOUTH AIKEN 1, AIKEN 0

Kyle Kaufelds was getting in an afternoon workout, just like any other day, only there was a slight problem with his timing Thursday.

Trophies are up for grabs Saturday afternoon for both the team and individual champions of the 48th Southern Cross.

State championship time is right around the corner for golf teams in the South Carolina High School League and South Carolina Independent Schools Association.

Baseball

SOUTH AIKEN 7, AIKEN 1